A little puzzled (ID-Thread Parascolymia/Australomussa)

[Gaufl]

Hey there!

In my journey to collect some oddball corals I came across a Parascolymia vitiensis form an online vendor (I know that these have been reclassified to Lobophyllia vitiensis).

Normally, they are quite rare and expensive here so I immediately jumped on it as it was quite a deal.

After receiving it, I am quite puzzled. It doesn't look like a Parascolymia to me. Sometimes, Australomussa sp. are being imported as Parascolymia (so I've read).. in fact, I think it looks more like that species (which also has been reclassified to Lobophyllia, just to make it more easy )

So, I am searching for an ID on this coral. The growth form is really flat (it doesn't "puff up" a lot, and it is encrusting the rock (difficult to see). It the skin is quite smooth when happy. It is receeding a little bit from the edges (which also speaks for Australomussa). Atm, it is growing a second mouth at the edge.

I would be super thankful for any ID-pros to step forward and point me in the right direction.

Many thanks!

(And yeeees, I know the Aiptasia.. nudis on the way )

Greetings,
Flo

 

[Gaufl]

Let´s try this again

TTT

 

[Lingwendil]

In my opinion it's a Lobo for sure.

 

[Gaufl]

In my opinion it's a Lobo for sure.

Hey there!
Thank you for your reply.
So it seems like I overpayed big time on a regular red lobo?

Greetings
Flo

 

[Lingwendil]

To be perfectly honest, it can be very hard to tell on some of these without being able to see skeletal structure, but I've had a few that could easily have been that coaral's twin, so... I wouldn't set it in stone without an expert opinion.

 

[Gaufl]

To be perfectly honest, it can be very hard to tell on some of these without being able to see skeletal structure, but I've had a few that could easily have been that coaral's twin, so... I wouldn't set it in stone without an expert opinion.

I understand. I just find it to be really flat, too flat for a Lobo. I actually bought a Australomussa rowleyensis today and they look completely different... so I am still searching. Maybe it is a Parascoly ;Bookworm

Greetings,
Flo

 

[sixty_reefer]

Did the second mouth got to grow?

 

[Gaufl]

Did the second mouth got to grow?

Hey there,
No real growth yet. The coral still looks the same.
I am still not sure what it really is.. and like others mentioned I will probably not be able to tell without looking at the skeleton.

 

[sixty_reefer]

It’s not a fairly common coral, I believe the best way to have a positive id is wend there is a mouth present on its outer body. Very cool coral