Sinularia or Nepthea?

[elkinsda]

Could this be Nepthea?

 

[crispyreef]

Sinularia

 

[gflat65]

From what I've heard, it is impossible to tell by looking at them. You hav eot look at the sclerite structure to determine which it is. There is a thread somewhere around here on properly identifying. That polyp structure looks like what I've always called nephthea, but they say polyp structure isn't enough...

 

[elkinsda]

Anyone know where i can find that thread to properly identifying this coral?

thanks,


Derek

 

[Patwa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10993005#post10993005 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gflat65
From what I've heard, it is impossible to tell by looking at them. You hav eot look at the sclerite structure to determine which it is. There is a thread somewhere around here on properly identifying. That polyp structure looks like what I've always called nephthea, but they say polyp structure isn't enough...

that's what i've heard too...

BUT...in my case, i've seen numerous corals identified as Sinularia..and they tend to look exactly like what elkinsda posted.....that being said, I have a coral that was bought as a Palau Nepthea, and it's similar, but defintiely not the same as sinularia (as I know it, at least...lol)

soo.....here is how I distinguish Sinularia from Nepthea

Sinularia
-pastel green
-multiple stringy branches - long, finger-like structure
-polyps are not tightly packed, more spread out
-polyps have a more dark, grey-ish colour tone

Nepthea (as in the "nepthea" I have)
-very, very intense pastel green (ie. waaay more bright than any sinularia i've ever seen)
-multiple stubby branches
-polyps are very tightly packed
-polyps have a white-ish/beige appearance

here's a pic of the "Palau Nepthea" I have.....this pic is from a buddy's mother colony.....I guess i should take a pic of mine, eh? hahaha but his pic is so good!

Zach

 

[gflat65]

That is sick, Zach. What I've been calling Nephthea is very similar to what you describe on several points. My 'Nephthea' is very neon green, but I've been told by another friend with the Palau Nephthea that it is even more green than my 'Nephthea'. Mine's polyps are pretty white (whie what I call Sinularia are more brown), but the branches aren't as stubby. The 'celia' like tentacles around the main structure of the polyp is more pronounced on what I've been calling Nephthea than on what I've been calling Sinularia (looks like your pic of the Palau Nephthea doesn't exhibt the 'celia' as much as I'm seeing). I'm gonna have to break down and give a scientific ID a shot. I haven't even read over the procedure, but I'm sure there are some holes for ambiguity...

 

[elkinsda]

thanks for the help guys, in helping me get a better id of this coral.

 

[Nanook]

[moved]