Can anyone identify this coral?

Bob I · #1 03-02-2003, 12:58 AM

I am wondering if anyone can ID this. The guy I got it from a long time ago said it was Sinularia. I have had it well over a year, and it has quadrupled in size in that time.

BCOrchidGuy · #2 03-03-2003, 04:58 AM

I have two frags that are the same, I was told they are a Montipora... I find they like Medium light and alot of water movement, how about yours?

Samw · #3 03-03-2003, 05:17 AM

Well, it isn't Montipora which is an SPS. Its a Sinularia, Finger Leather.

See the Finger Leather Sinularias here:

http://www.masla.com/coral/softcoral.html

I'm guessing that Bob probably already suspects that it is a Sinularia and wanted to know which species of Sinularia which I have no idea.

Van down by the river · #4 03-03-2003, 08:39 AM

I would tend to lead more to Cladiella sp. Sometimes the polyps are much "fluffier".Although I've seen Alcyonium and Sinularia that look very similiar as well. Tough call. Colour polyps and lobe/finger shape seem to match better with Cladiella.

See Corals E. Borneman pg. 126
or
MCRA Vol2 pg 172-173

http://www.saltreef.com/galleries/leathers.htm

http://www.nano-reef.com/corals/colt.htm

Either way nice Coral.....

Samw · #5 03-03-2003, 08:54 AM

How about the 2 Paralemnalia finger corals on bottom of page 140 of Aquarium Corals?

Van down by the river · #6 03-03-2003, 08:58 AM

Good Call, I think we have a winner!

Bob I · #7 03-03-2003, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Van down by the river

I would tend to lead more to Cladiella sp. Sometimes the polyps are much "fluffier".Although I've seen Alcyonium and Sinularia that look very similiar as well. Tough call. Colour polyps and lobe/finger shape seem to match better with Cladiella.

See Corals E. Borneman pg. 126
or
MCRA Vol2 pg 172-173

http://www.saltreef.com/galleries/leathers.htm....

I think we may have a winner here. The coral looks very much like the last one in this link. Just to give more info. The polyps are soft, and slippery. When retracted it is whitish. The base is almost non-existent. The polyps are more reddish than in the picture.

This leads us to "encrusting leather" cladiella sp.

My thanks to you all for your efforts. I really like this thing, as it grows well, and looks very nice. I might just have to cut off a finger or two one day to frag it.