Found this sweet frogspawn at the LFS

[MinibowMatt]

I have never heard of such a thing...

 

[chrissreef]

ROFL

 

[Solitaryensis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12791340#post12791340 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tacocat
Agreed. It's not a wall or branched variety. Look closely at the skeleton. It has the same skeleton as a Scolymia or Cynaria. If you were to bleach the skeleton out, and put it next to another meat coral on a shelf. The two would look indistinguishable. I believe it's actually a hybrid of sorts. Perhaps it's a Euphyllia mimic and needs to be classified with the Scolymia genus.

It growth pattern is radial unlike most other Euphyllia, and I've only seen a handful in the last 10 years. The translucent tissue is a dead giveaway.

An LFS very near to me has had a similar one for about 10 years, and I have had the privellige to study it over a long period of time.

A few caveats to consider:

These things get massive. Their growth pattern tends to radiate out along a flat plane. They are real estate hogs.

Can't frag them, and they are susceptible to injury. They get burned or stung badly.

They are a "single polyp" coral and may have a limited lifespan. The one at the LFS here has been decline over the last two years.

Agreed. If any of you guys are in the Bay Area, Lucky Goldfish usually has these in stock (http://www.colorfulcoral.com/coral.php?id=492#coral) and Dr. Bao has one in his display that is 10-12" across, ONE single head with a single skeleton much like a Scolymia. Bleached or not, these corals do exist and in this area, are not all that uncommon

 

[tacocat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12792172#post12792172 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Solitaryensis
Agreed. If any of you guys are in the Bay Area, Lucky Goldfish usually has these in stock (http://www.colorfulcoral.com/coral.php?id=492#coral) and Dr. Bao has one in his display that is 10-12" across, ONE single head with a single skeleton much like a Scolymia. Bleached or not, these corals do exist and in this area, are not all that uncommon

Hey Theo,

I didn't know Bao had one in the shop. I'm actually going to be in the area tomorrow. I should have been more specific. I've only seen a handful that I thought had a chance. Of course we don't have the selection you do.

 

[Solitaryensis]

Hey,
Yeah, its in his smaller display out front with all the SPS. If you are looking straight at the tank, its on the left side. IIRC, there were a couple in the store too. But you are right, for some reason highly sensitive and not too many people keep them succesfully. I would say Dr. Baos might be an exception and not the rule. Have fun out here. Beware of the heat!

 

[MinibowMatt]

can you guys who know about this coral point the rest of us toward a reference? Aims or anything else on the net?

I dont have Veron's books , but I am searching and cant locate anything.... all sources I have found list only ancora/parancora, cristata, divisa/paradivisa, glabrescens, in the euphyllia genus.

Borneman lists yayamaensis, but states its a single tip, unlike the pic.