Echinata vs. Granulosa vs. Loripes

[fivesmallworlds]

What's the difference???

I'm confused. I'm more of an LPS guy, but I have a half dozen or so SPS pieces that I like. 1 of which I don't know exactly what it is...

I've searched over a million pics (or so it seems) and it comes down to either an echinata, a loripes or a granulosa.

So, for the more experienced SPS keepers here, what's the difference between them.

I got it from OD a while back, but it didn't have a name. Becky, if you have any clue (or even remember which one I'm talking about) please chime in.

Here are a couple pics of ones that look very much like it, then a couple pics of mine. (as best I can get anyway)

Echinata - web pic
http://www.aquafauna.be/marins/Hard%20Corals%20SPS/Acropora%20echinata.JPG

Granulosa - web pic
http://aixaquarium.com/acropora%20Granulosa.jpg

Loripes - web pic
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/colingallows/AcroLoripes.jpg

Couple shots from my tank and the coral in question...
(disregard the cyano in the pics, it's gone now :biggthumpup:)

Daylight pic
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/colingallows/UnknownAcro2.jpg

Actinic pic
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/colingallows/UnknownAcro.jpg

Thanks for the input!

[benihana]

Looks like an A. Loripes to me

[kensilvey]

I would agree with Ben, Loripes. the other two have much thiner side branches like Bottle Brush.

[Screwtape]

I'm no expert but I'm going to give it a run, it will give me a chance to use these Corals of the World books I've been going through lately. It might be a little early to tell what species it is unless you have a picture of the mother colony though. It can be more difficult with small frags because so much is dependant on the overall growth form as it gets larger.

I think you can rule out granulosa because the axial corallites (on the tip of the branch) are more elongated than the loripes and your picture has new radial corallites (coming out of the side of the branch) right next to the axial corallite.

Echinatas form branches and have radial sub-branches, loripes can be bushy or have a plate form. If it ends up plating I would guess it's a loripes. I think it also looks like a loripes because it has some denser developing corallites next to the tip. I think echinatas have more distinct axial corallites and the newly developing radial corallites look identical to the axial corallite. In your picture the newly developing radial corallites are just little bumps, and aren't forming protruding round corallites.

Anyways, that's my guess and explanation based off of what I'm seeing in the book and I'm still getting used to all of the terms etc. Acropora are tricky!

[fivesmallworlds]

Thanks Ben and Ken and WOW Screwtape!!!! Wasn't expecting such an involved explanation. That really helps!

Where did you pick up that book? Sounds like I need to pick one up!

[coralreefer]

Coral is probably too small to identify at this point but I would rule out an echinata. A. echinata are collected from deeper waters and have been the hot identity to post on any deepwater looking coral for some time. I even saw liveaquaria's diver's den naming certain acroporids "gomezi/echinata". Both of these corals look very different and this is testament to the fact that if you call something an echinata you will probably get more money for it. This coral is rarely collected and there are likely only a handful that are regularly traded in this hobby.

That said, Acropora echinata generally have a bottlebrush growth pattern. They have long, thin corallites and a very characteristic appearance once you know what you are looking for IMO. Granulosa and Loripes look more similar to one another than to echinata. Granulosa can take a table forming growth pattern (among others) and I believe loripes takes on either that pattern or a more bush like pattern IIRC. Both have much stubbier coralites than A. echinata. If you are ever in Saltwater Empire check out their "Corals of the World" by Veron and you will be able to see some characteristic appearances. If I have some time I will post some good pics.

To get a TRUE identification of an acroporid you will likely need a good book, a microscope, and dissecting tools. Apart from that you can let it grow out longer and give it a name you think fits best or just be happy with it's appearance in color.

[Screwtape]

Thanks Ben and Ken and WOW Screwtape!!!! Wasn't expecting such an involved explanation. That really helps!

Where did you pick up that book? Sounds like I need to pick one up!

It's a set of 3 books and is a little pricy but AFAIK it's the best coral ID book/set in print these days. It's quite technical but it has lots of great pictures of colonies in the wild (not necessarily photographically great but just good reference pictures for ID'ing) and skeletal details.
I agree going to page through them at SWE would be a good idea even if just to get an idea of what they contain. It's sort of mindboggling at first and some corals are just really difficult to identify even with closeup skeletal pictures and descriptions.

[coralreefer]

Alright, I think i found some decent pics. Finding some pics of A. loripes was unusually difficult. Again, granulosa and loripes can look a little similar. Also, growth patterns in an aquarium tend to be different than the wild so this makes it much more difficult...

A. echinata:

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm283/timjernberg/TCMAS%20images/Aechinata1.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm283/timjernberg/TCMAS%20images/Aechinata2.jpg

A. granulosa:

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm283/timjernberg/TCMAS%20images/Agranulosa1.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm283/timjernberg/TCMAS%20images/Agranulosa2.jpg

A loripes:

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm283/timjernberg/TCMAS%20images/Aloripes.jpg