Yellow Encrusting Xenia (YEX)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8963181#post8963181 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Samson8
According to the pictures, its Anthelia.
Click to expand...

Wht do you say this? Please elaborate and tell us why you think it's anthelia and not xenia.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8965302#post8965302 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hormigaquatica
chrisaggie, your inbox was full, so Im not sure if you received my pm
Click to expand...

Please try again. :)

BTW, I have no more frags at this time.
 
Genus Anthelia Lamarck 1816: "Clusters of polyps all arising from a united stolon base that is soft, ribbon-like. Polyp pinnules in rows of 1-4 in number; slightly contractile, not retractile; some don't even respond to touch. Unlike Heteroxenia and Xenia species, Anthelia colonies branch at their base of attachment."

Genus Xenia Lamarck 1816: "Small cylindrical colonies (up to 4 cm in all dimensions typically), dome shaped. Sometimes branched, with polyps only at apical stems. One-shape polyps with varying capacity to retract, 1-6 pinnules on both sides (number of rows, pinnules species-specific). Some pulsate, some don't. Forty plus species, scattered over the Indo-Pacific. Fed on by similar appearing Nudibranchs of the genus Phyllodesmium."



If you look at the pictures the polyps do have the ability to retract, so it can't be anthelia, right?
 
I'm not trying to create a debate, argument, etc.. I just want a good idea of what is shown in the pictures provided, and what I also personally have.
Here is what my research yielded based on Lamarck 1816:
Family Xeniidae
Genus Xenia- Colonies upright, lobes capitate, polyps concentrated on well defined capitulum.
Polyps NOT retractable. Monomorphic.

Genus Anthelia- Colonies forming soft spreading membranes from which the polyps arise.
Polyps NOT retractable. Monomorphic.

So according to what I researched, I would think the shown coral to be an Anthelia sp.. It does not have the polyps concentrated on a well defined capitulum, and is formed from a soft spreading membrane where the polyps arise
In your photos the polyps contract, but don't retract. Mine do the same.
Thoughts?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8966189#post8966189 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aphenes
Here is what my research yielded based on Lamarck 1816:
Family Xeniidae
Genus Xenia- Colonies upright, lobes capitate, polyps concentrated on well defined capitulum.
Polyps NOT retractable. Monomorphic.
Click to expand...

What is your source for this info?
 
That is a description from the National Museum of Natural History- "Reef Corals of the Indo-Malayan Seas"
Ribbon like is an odd term.
Point being it "sheets out", it isn't a "trunk with a cap" before the polyps. Hence, my questioning of Anthelia or Xenia.
 
I don't have a lot of experience with anthelia. Does anthelia grow from an encrustin base like GSP or a string type base? I thought I have seen anthelia with the string type bases.
 
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I think it's great that we are having an anthelia vs. xenia debate. I would love to really fugure out what this coral is. I'll get some close up pictures posted soon.
 
Close up

YEXpinate.jpg
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8965839#post8965839 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrisaggie
If you look at the pictures the polyps do have the ability to retract...
Click to expand...

I was wrong in saying this...I confused retract and contract.
 
It is cool getting to the bottom of things! :)
The coral that has "runners" or stolens, is typically Clavularia sp. ("daisy polyps, clove polyps"). They look similar to Anthelia sp.
Anthelia sp. do grow "similar" to green star polyps/ starburst (Pachyclavularia sp.) polyps by "encrusting/ sheeting".
That close up photo really looks like an Anthelia polyp.
 
Ok, now I have a question. I thought I had pink star polyps, but am now not sure. This stuff RETRACTS into it's encrusting....it is like a sheet of rubber type substance that is completely covering a 4" X 8" rock, it has little "dimples" where the actual coral "comes out" of the encrusted surface, it even encrusted over a frag of acro about 2" away, completely covering the upright branch.

When it comes out, it looks like little star polyps, but more feathery then the GSP I have, almost fragile looking.
I saw some anthelia, and thought maybe that was what I have... Now I don't know!

Will try to get a pic of it inside it's surface membrane, and one of it out....
 
MBuck- your description sounds more like Clavularia sp. polyps ( "daisy/ glove/ clove").
Will be interested to see some photos!
 
I agree with chrisaggie.
It looks like the "encrusting gorgonian", Briarium, or possibly Erytropodium.
Great looking specimen!
 
Thanks!! I bought a combo of corals from a guy getting out of the hobby, and really have no idea what some of this stuff is!! I am slowly getting ID's. Good luck on your search!
 
After reading online and speaking with several folks I have come to the conclusion that a good ID on this coral is not likely. I hope I can spread this coral around for many to enjoy.
 
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