Can anyone identify this hitchhiker coral?

[Brett S]

I believe this coral came in on my TBS live rock when I purchased it more than three years ago. Originally it was so small that I didn’t even notice it, but it’s been growing over the years and now it looks like this...

It’s good inch and a half in diameter now.

 

[jda]

I am not a LPS guy, but you might get more luck in that forum. Sorry... and free bump...

 

[Brett S]

I am not a LPS guy, but you might get more luck in that forum. Sorry... and free bump...

I don’t think it’s an LPS... the polyp extension you see in the picture is the most there ever is.

 

[Justin Cook]

Is that all they open up? If that's the case, I'd guess a Eusmillia. They always appear to be "pulled in" and are found in the Caribbean. However, if they do "open up" I'd have to see that to make a better guess.

Edit: You answered my question before I got to post it.

 

[Stuartmercer]

I can't say for sure, looks like a Galaxia skeleton, but it seems alive.

 

[Highgrade]

Looks like some sort of Madrepora coral. Cladocora caespitosa

 

[Brett S]

It’s definitely alive and growing and not just a dead skeleton. I had thought the little ‘rings’ were part of the skeleton and there was no polyp on them, but now I’m not so sure. I tried to get a better picture...

 

[Justin Cook]

Looks like some sort of Madrepora coral. Cladocora caespitosa

That was my initial thought but don't those show a little more zest for life by having longer polyp extensions? I'm not the best at ID but that's what I based my initial decision on. The size does seem to suggest a cladocora though...

 

[DangerDave]

What ever it is, it's a neat looking coral...

 

[Highgrade]

That was my initial thought but don't those show a little more zest for life by having longer polyp extensions? I'm not the best at ID but that's what I based my initial decision on. The size does seem to suggest a cladocora though...

I want to say they can vary with polyp extension. I've seen some with shorter polyps and longer polyps about the size of a sun coral/Duncans

 

[Justin Cook]

To @Highgrade 's point - "Cladocora species are very common in turbid, sandy reef areas... This genus also tends to be a "pioneer," and many of the aquacultured live rocks from the Atlanta and Gulf of Mexico areas bear small colonies of this hardy faviid." - Aquarium Corals - Eric Borneman, 2001.

You guys made me search through a book when I'm supposed to be working!

 

[Highgrade]

To @Highgrade 's point - "Cladocora species are very common in turbid, sandy reef areas... This genus also tends to be a "pioneer," and many of the aquacultured live rocks from the Atlanta and Gulf of Mexico areas bear small colonies of this hardy faviid." - Aquarium Corals - Eric Borneman, 2001.

You guys made me search through a book when I'm supposed to be working!

Get back to work!

 

[Whisperer]

Montastrea cavernosa, probably.

 

[minus9]

Eusmilia fastigiata?