Identification Please

[b.branscombe]

Hi. I took these photos while diving in Honduras. I believe them to be an SPS coral, but have had no luck so far ID'ing it. Can anyone tell me what it is? Also, does anyone keep this coral in captivity?

 

[coralfever]

I don't have an ID for you but agree that it may be a SPS. I have a frag of something very similar that I got in a trade, only mine is green. Did it look a little "fuzzy" up close? I will see if I can get a pic up. Good luck on the ID, I will be tagging along.

 

[b.branscombe]

Hmm, not really fuzzy, but I only observed it during the day, so I don't know what it looks like with the polyps extended. It's a shallow water coral, the most common kind in 20 feet or less of water. It grows into very large heads, grows everywhere all over the island (I was in Roatan). It's very sharp on the edges.

 

[hobogato]

i would guess that it is related to a pavona.

 

[jeffbrig]

My money says Agaricia tenuifolia, since you were in Honduras (caribbean/atlantic). Kinda looks like Pachyseris gemmae, but that's only found in the pacific.

source: corals of the world, vol2 p170, p224-5

 

[bulfraw215]

I agree with JeffBrig
This is a protected coral you will not find in in an LFS because it is illegal to collect being from the caribbean/atlantic

 

[JackKerouac]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9236971#post9236971 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeffbrig
My money says Agaricia tenuifolia, since you were in Honduras (caribbean/atlantic). Kinda looks like Pachyseris gemmae, but that's only found in the pacific.

source: corals of the world, vol2 p170, p224-5

ditto here the link
http://whelk.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/html/501-600/Species pages/565.htm

 

[coralfever]

Could this be the same type of coral? I got it in a trade, it was given to me as Hydnophora but I don't think so. He said that it will plate out similar to a monti cap. If you look on the right side it looks like it is begining to shoot out. If not, does anybody have any idea of what it is?