ID help

[gogregerson]

I'm trying to nail down what this coral is. I realize the picture isn't the best. The polyps extend further then show. Mary and Dustin, this came out of the tank we moved if that helps.
http://www.tcmas.org/forums/imagehosting/12471b61e98e779.jpg

[Redwinger]

Montipora digita?

[gogregerson]

No, I don't think so? Digi's have more of a bare nub on the new growth tips and have a shorter, tighter polyp grouping. This corals polyps look very simular to a Milli but the growth patern and tips look so different from the millis I have.

[gogregerson]

Montipora digita?

I hate my camera. Looking at the picture it really does look like a Digi.

[Turf]

If you put a magnifying glass in front of your lens sometimes that can help your camera focus through the glass... at least it does for mine.

[mtfatwork]

Maybe some sort of porites

[David Grigor]

Looks like a monti digitata to me, possibly just growing out a little differently under your lighting and flow conditions.

The polyps don't look like a porites to me.

[Boker420]

I'd say either a Seriatopora caliendrum or a Stylophora subseriata.

[mtfatwork]

Boker, I think you may be right on the Stylophora :). It took me a bit to remember which piece this is.

[Boker420]

Thats the closest one that looks like it from the Veron books.

[mattb]

Some ends look like there's an axial corallite though... tough to tell.

[gogregerson]

I'm going to be borrowing a better camera tonight.

[gitsumpottery]

kind of looks like the ORA Birdsnest to me....

Don't know the technical term off the top of my head, but I had something similar.

Zac

[rihanssu]

on honest first glance i thought it was an A. Humilis. but i'm probably wrong

[gogregerson]

Hopefully these pics will help ID them. Any Guesses?

http://www.tcmas.org/forums/imagehosting/124721f6eed017b.jpg

http://www.tcmas.org/forums/imagehosting/124720a6f7c2275.jpg

[gogregerson]

:bump1:

[mattb]

There's definitely an axial polyp... most likely A millepora, or A prostrata

[Boker420]

As said in the veron books. A milli has radial corallites that have prominent lower lips giving a scale-like appearance. I would stick with a stylo.

[David Grigor]

I've never seen a stylo look that hairy. Last pic looks like something that is commonly sold as a millepora. But then again, I really could care less on getting an exact identification. Either you like it or you don't. That's all that matters to me.

[mattb]

Stylos don't have axial polyps... Acropora is the only (sps) coral with axial corallites, though a sub genus called Isopora has multiple axial corallites. This appears to me to have an axial corallite. Look on the lower picture, the two upper most branches has what appears to be axial corallites. If this is the case, it has to be Acropora. As for the scales on the radial polyps, they definitely could be...

However if it's been in captivity for a long time (a frag of a frag of a frag), anyones guess could be right.

[Boker420]

Heres a milli
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c266/Boker420/pinkmilli.jpg

After looking up the stylos again I agree it's not that. It will be known as unknown Acro # 1279

[Boker420]

heres my Stylo for comparison
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c266/Boker420/stylo.jpg

[mattb]

Heres a milli
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c266/Boker420/pinkmilli.jpg

After looking up the stylos again I agree it's not that. It will be known as unknown Acro # 1279
and a nice one at that... I get quite a few millies in and have several in my tanks... Part of the problem is that they can change quite a bit after long term captivity, i.e. Stuber Acropora ID issue for the better part of 10 years. It was called everything from A gemmifera, humilis, etc until it was settled as A formosa, but that it changed a lot in captivity... It's not always the easiest to ID from a picture, unless they are exceptionally clear like yours was.

[mattb]

heres my Stylo for comparison
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c266/Boker420/stylo.jpg

Interesting.. I've got a couple that are thinner branched like those, one of which is turning blue. I also have a couple of thicker, compact ones too... nice pics.

[Boker420]

Its pretty thin branched now, it was just a frag in that pic.

[gogregerson]

It looks vary close to the stylo but there is a long tentacle in the middle of each polyp group and yes, some branches have developed axial polyps. It doesn't seem to fit either Acro or Milli because of the lack defined radial coralites. Maybe it is just a green hairy sps, but if I'm to give frags out I should be able to tell people what it is.

[David Grigor]

You don't need to know what it is to give out frags. How did you get it ? and why didn't someone tell you what it is if that was the case........ Basic description and a pic will do it.....

[mattb]

It looks vary close to the stylo but there is a long tentacle in the middle of each polyp group and yes, some branches have developed axial polyps. It doesn't seem to fit either Acro or Milli because of the lack defined radial coralites. Maybe it is just a green hairy sps, but if I'm to give frags out I should be able to tell people what it is.

If it has an axial corallite, it's an acro :) Green hairy sps is probably good enough for most people :) I agree with David, a proper ID shouldn't prohibit you from selling frags, at least 50% of the IDs on Acros are wrong anyways...