Lobo - Wellso

[daveverdo]

May sound ignorant but what's the difference?

Any different needs?

Dave

 

[reefscape15]

no idea! I used to have a pink Lobo which was probably one of my favorite corals ever, but it got all screwed up in the tank switch and I lost it. My Black Saddleback Clown used to "sleep" in it.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Wellsophyllia and Trachyphyllia have similar care.
Lobophyllia tends to appreciate brighter lighting.

 

[reefboy87]

Wellsophylia normally have a flat surface on the bottom of them, Trachyphyllia have a point to them.

I always thought trachs were just "baby brains" and when I bought my wellso at ARC, the guy chris explained the difference to me.

 

[daveverdo]

Actually did a little more research and found out there is no difference at all. In fact they are the same thing. Wellsophylia is a old name for Trachyphyllia and is no longer used by biologist but has hung on in the trade.

Thanks anyway.

Dave

 

[superkat]

hmmmmm...are you sure about that? Wellsos and Trachys do look a little different. Am I wrong?

 

[daveverdo]

From peteducation.com at Drs Foster and Smith

There are two common species of Trachyphyllia: T. geoffroyi and T. radiata. T. geoffroyi can be found in several colors. T. radiata, which is usually more convoluted in appearance and has fused walls, is found in varying shades of metallic green. It was formerly called Wellsophyllia radiata, but the genus Wellsophyllia has now been eliminated.

Similarly from wetwebmedia

According to current taxonomists, popular and scientific there is just one species in the family, Trachyphyllia geoffroyi... with Wellsophyllia radiata Pichon 1980, the Pacific Rose Coral a nomen nudum. The latter name is (unfortunately) still used in the ornamental aquatics field

Two sources I have typically trusted in the past. It appears the difference is at the species level geofrroyi vs radiata.

Dave

 

[superkat]

ok, so they are the same family, just different genus, correct?

 

[daveverdo]

so they are the same family, just different genus, correct

No, same genus, different species.

Appears two different people named the same genus, one name stuck, the other didn't.

Dave

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

well... as long as we're gettin' down to the nitty gritty, currently (and this keeps changing!) there is only one valid species in family Trachyphylliidae: Trachyphyllia geoffroyi. All the previous T. radiata and "Wellsophyllia" designations are now considered to be morphotypes of Trachyphyllia geoffroyi.

That means ONE species.
That also means the care is the same for Wellsophyllia and Trachyphyllia

Lobophyllia is a different animal and appreciates brighter lighting IME.

 

[reefscape15]

good question Dave, and good info everyone!

 

[pimpinitup6969]

Very Interesting I always thought that welsos and trachys looked similiar but could always tell the difference. Guess I was wrong

 

[teamdulski]

Very Interesting I always thought that welsos and trachys looked similiar but could always tell the difference. Guess I was wrong

Same here, I swear the the tissue looks different. I wonder if RandyO could chime in on this one.

 

[reefscape15]

Same here, I swear the the tissue looks different. I wonder if RandyO could chime in on this one.

I'd rather he donated me a frag of both corals and I'll do the research on my own

 

[daveverdo]

I'd rather he donated me a frag of both corals and I'll do the research on my own

Any good research project needs to be duplicated