Acropora name questions

[Curiousbranching]

Hello,

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different names for the same type of Acropora corals in the market? It's like trying to navigate through a labyrinth of confusing names and variations. Are there any official regulations or unwritten rules when it comes to naming these corals?

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Hello,

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different names for the same type of Acropora corals in the market? It's like trying to navigate through a labyrinth of confusing names and variations. Are there any official regulations or unwritten rules when it comes to naming these corals?

I feel your frustration. There aren't any regulations at all regarding naming coral with nicknames. While helpful to distinguish certain color morphs of a species, it gets abused by those wanting to cash in on hype.
Coral do have proper scientific names at the species level, such as Acropora Millepora (my favorite), but there are many colors of that same species. In reefing, coral are often priced by color and availability. But cost varies wildly.

 

[Waters]

Unfortuantely as stated, there are not, other than the scientific names. There can be hundreds of the same acro with different common names. To make it even more difficult, the same acro can look completely different from one tank to the next. I no longer buy by names and just go by the appearance of the acro. Unless you know the lineage of each one, you have no idea of knowing what you are actually buying.

 

[Curiousbranching]

I feel your frustration. There aren't any regulations at all regarding naming coral with nicknames. While helpful to distinguish certain color morphs of a species, it gets abused by those wanting to cash in on hype.
Coral do have proper scientific names at the species level, such as Acropora Millepora (my favorite), but there are many colors of that same species. In reefing, coral are often priced by color and availability. But cost varies wildly.

Honestly, it's a mind-boggling mystery. You'd think that there would be some sort of naming convention or official guidelines to ensure consistency. But nope, it's like a free-for-all out there. It's as if coral vendors decided to play a game of "let's see who can come up with the most creative (and potentially outrageous) name for our Acropora."

Unfortuantely as stated, there are not, other than the scientific names. There can be hundreds of the same acro with different common names. To make it even more difficult, the same acro can look completely different from one tank to the next. I no longer buy by names and just go by the appearance of the acro. Unless you know the lineage of each one, you have no idea of knowing what you are actually buying.

How to check lineage

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Honestly, it's a mind-boggling mystery. You'd think that there would be some sort of naming convention or official guidelines to ensure consistency. But nope, it's like a free-for-all out there. It's as if coral vendors decided to play a game of "let's see who can come up with the most creative (and potentially outrageous) name for our Acropora."

How to check lineage

There are a few sellers that will give you a piece of paper stating the source of a coral, and that it is what they say it is. But I don't know if it would hold up in court because there is no other way to prove a frag came from someone's tank, or is a certain coral. It is usually to just support selling it at a higher price. (Lineage)
I believe that in mariculture, or growing frags in the ocean, they (indo,etc.) are required to tag them for export purposes so the importer knows the source. But once it gets fragged, those tags are not placed on the new frags.
My personal opinion is that the hobby needs it's own regulation from within itself to help alleviate these problems.