Hormigaquatica
Active member
What I tend to go by without being able to see a skeleton is the way the tissue looks when inflated- its not a foolproof method, but for the species that are common to the hobby in the US< it works 9 times out of 10.
When inflated, the tissue of a Scolymia gets wrinkled 'rings' of tissue that run around the entire polyp. The animal is very textured, but with a large number of smaller horizontal ripples. The oral disk also tends to be somewhat larger in proportion to the rest of the polyp when fully inflated compated to a Cynaria.
Cynaria on the other hand develops smoother, vertical, bubble-like vesicles in its tissue. Tissue on a healthy Scolymia is pretty much always opaque; its very very common to see through the tissue of an iinflated Cynaria to see the skeletal structure underneath.
Like I said, certainly not fool proof, but I think its a great guide.
When inflated, the tissue of a Scolymia gets wrinkled 'rings' of tissue that run around the entire polyp. The animal is very textured, but with a large number of smaller horizontal ripples. The oral disk also tends to be somewhat larger in proportion to the rest of the polyp when fully inflated compated to a Cynaria.
Cynaria on the other hand develops smoother, vertical, bubble-like vesicles in its tissue. Tissue on a healthy Scolymia is pretty much always opaque; its very very common to see through the tissue of an iinflated Cynaria to see the skeletal structure underneath.
Like I said, certainly not fool proof, but I think its a great guide.
