What a Solitaryensis isn't good enough for you Bub?!

[MammothReefer]

First let me say I'm not directing this at any specific individual. But I do feel as of late I've been spending a lot of time :deadhorse:

What is the deal with Efflos vs Solis. It seems nobody is ever happy with an ID of Solitaryensis for an acopora over the favored Efflorescens. Why is this? There seems to be this rather frustrating mis identification practice when it comes to these 2 corals. Where people seem to believe the difference in the species is based open the Growth. I believe some of the mis id issues may have come from a misquote from Tyree at some point? With Efflos being smoothed edge, and Soli's having branches, and able to form "levels" why efflos only cup. This can not be further from the truth. Both these features can or can not be present in EITHER Species.

I would say almost 70-80% of Soli's seem to get "ID'd" as Efflos? Why is this? Do efflos hold more value? Is there something more prestigious about an Efflo?

People also claim that they are almost impossible to tell apart. Again this is not true. Solis and Efflos have VERY different coralite structures. One is a smooth bump, where one side of the coralite is very often fused against the branch while the other has mildly elongated tubular coralites that have a straight cut (sharp edge), and often are detached from the main branch.


This is an efflo

This is a Soli

That coralites are VERY different.

Now onto the growth.

Here is a smoothed Edge Soli

and here is a smoothed edge Efflo

Here is a BRANCHING edged multi level efflo

and here is the same for a Soli

What are you thoughts?

 

[Bill@IA]

I agree. ...because of their table like growth structure, both of these coral look amazing when added to a reef aquarium already displaying many other SPS growing in the typical branching fashion.
When doing the research, identifying which one you have is hard if one is only using the pictures online because most of the identifying photos found may be wrong.
Hype aside, the only way to correctly ID some Acros may be by examining the skeletal structure. (If it were to perish)

 

[Big E]

I used to call mine a efflo/soli cause I didn't know. The last few years I've called it a soli, because of the growth. Also I think there are quite a few acros that can be identified by growth patterns.

7-8 years ago when the efflos started coming in from the wild they were all round plates without the branches. I still think they are more likely to have the rounded plate edges.

I can tell you this................I've had my soli for 8 years & have had many different flow patterns on it & it's impossible for me to get the rounded edges from those efflo pics.

I've looked at dead coralites of my piece & it's hard to differentiate those two pics you referenced. Flow changes the look of the tips and corallites, especially if the coral isn't constantly growing. On first look it seems easy to use a dead piece to make an identity, but actually it's very difficult, expecially looking at a flat picture versus a real frag.

If I had both frags in my hand it would be a lot easier.

 

[dvanacker]

I just posted this in the ID thread that started this debate....

Efflo is the most known name for a tabling acropora so people naturally gravitate to using it as an ID and lump many of these similar tabling acropora as "efflorescens".

People have to realize it is very hard to pinpoint an exact species name in some cases. I don't know of this is right but I have owned two similar types of tabling acropora and I think the soli is a thinner tabling acro and efflo is thicker. I dont know if this is right but this is the main difference in the two species that I have.

Also adding to the confusion is the fact that these corals will grow differently under different conditions.

In the end...we can only do our best.

 

[MammothReefer]

For me, when I first started really getting into these corals (as they are by far my favorite acros). Solis were always green and brown and meh, and Efflos were always the amazing Purple Rim awesome pieces. So I can see how Solis get a bad rep and I'm not the only person that held the semi sentiments.

Now I'm not trying to proclaim that I am some expert here just looking to have the conversation, but over the years I have gone out of my way to get as many "platting" acros as I can find so maybe I've got an eye for it, or maybe I'm just talking out my rear haha.. but I find Efflo/Solis more often then not EASIER to identify then a lot of other species as long as you focus in only on the coralites. As soon as you start looking at any other factor that's where things get mixed up.

While I will agree it can be very hard to ID fresh cut frags sometimes it really depends on what part of the coral that frag is from..

Take for example.. This piece Clearly you can see the coralites are round lumps, HOWEVER. Due to the immaturity of this frag it's not possible to be 100% for sure yet this time as if you look at the lower portion you will see a couple coralites starting to extrude become tublar and have straight cut ends. (This is a frag of 500$ efflo)

Same with this piece. If I took an updated photo) it's much more apparent. But you can see the rounded nubs starting to extrude. I believe this piece is also an efflo, but the immature coralites are rather "soli" looking.

Now lets look at this 2 pieces. These Corals would with out a doubt be refeered to as "elflo" it's the classic shape & coral pattern that is associated with "efflos"

However..on closer inspection. You can see how the coralites are much rounders and outside of the "termil" polyps not extruded tube/like. Which points me to believing these pieces are solis.

Here are a few more..what are your thoughts?

 

[MammothReefer]

 

[dvanacker]

After seeing all those my thoughts are......man there are a lot of brown efflo/soli's !....haha.

I have actually been through about 4 efflo/soli mariculture or frags trying to get one that is not brown in the body....no luck yet. I even have one that was sold to me as $500 efflo...but Im pretty certain at this point its not. My latest has only been in my tank for a few weeks...looks promising but currently blue tip with brown body....of course! We will see but if this one doesnt work out, someone slap me.

 

[selje]

How about this one? Bought as "Wet Thumb Acropora Efflorescens".

 

[selje]

Is that an Acropora or is my screen at work that bad?

 

[Big E]

Here are a few more..what are your thoughts?

Honestly, I don't think you can tell unless you are looking at it without the skin, but I wouldn't disagree with what you're saying.

I truely believe there are "hybrids" within both species. Not to say they are efflo/soli hybrids, but just hybrids in reference to growth patterns within each species. When I see frags from DD & how they look I'm thinking, huh? No way my coral would grow like those on a plug. It immediately starts to plate out.

Here's mine close up..........

[/IMG]

 

[dvanacker]

How about this one? Bought as "Wet Thumb Acropora Efflorescens".

I have one that looks very similar to that....Im thinking soli on that one...but Im definitately not certain.