Simple SPS ID place

[110galreef]

Ok,
Help here:
I am not really looking to learn or know all the variations of each SPS, just a simple general term.

Is there a simple pyramid or tree. Like 5 main species, then like another level to make this somewhat simple to follow?

I get there are Acro's, mille's, montipora, stylo, birdsnest, etc....tabeling, or what not.....

Can someone dumb this down for a starter!:sad2:
Is there a simple site to reference and with good pictures? Again the indepth ones just are more confusing and WAY to indepth and the pics are so far away I can't really make out what the heck i could compare it too.

 

[needmore-reef]

I have Corals by Julian Sprung and its got some good descriptions to help you identify the basics. Good book.

 

[Brian Chong]

the more i try to learn id's the more i get confused so i dont even bother. you can check out zeovit's sps id database.

 

[110galreef]

Ok, so what are the basic laymans terms:

We have:

Acropa,
millepora,
montipora,
stylophora,
montipora,
poccilloproa,
birdnest? or is it one of the above?

Any others to add to the list?

Also how do you tell the difference between a stylo & birdnest? They both appear to have the same polyps, but one seems to have round tips while the other has pointy tips?

 

[Nanighan]

Your list made me chuckle a bit. Reminds me of sesame st. where one of those things don't belong there... All are latin(?) type of names and the last one is birdsnest. lol
Anyway a birdsnest is a hobbyist name for a Seriatopa sp. which there are many.

Other than buying a book a good way to learn all the names is to hang out here and look at the pics. It wont be long before you can identify certain popular species by looking at them.

 

[110galreef]

Lol....see I am in the preschool stages! :hmm4:

I feel like an 8yr old walking into a pre med school! I know what 2+3 equals, but no idea how to calcualte the hypotnus of a equa-lateral triangle when the moon is in the 3rd house of aphrodity during the vernal equanox!:eek2:

I've been lurking in SPS forum for years off & on. :reading: Now just time to get them going!

 

[dvanacker]

Here is a good resource. Basically aims site organized and redone by a club.

http://sdmas.com/corals/species.php

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

That's an awesome link. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[dudley moray]

Here is a good resource. Basically aims site organized and redone by a club.

http://sdmas.com/corals/species.php

the best coral i.d reference site i have seen

 

[Brian Chong]

the best coral i.d reference site i have seen

+1