Coral ID

[ID-Reefer]

Can someone identify what this is? Have had for about 6 months. Seems healthy but slow growing. Large thick “limbs” bigger than my fingers. Colony is about 6” tall. Thanks

 

[Jdadams]

My guess is Acropora humilis.

 

[ID-Reefer]

My guess is Acropora humilis.

Thanks. I think you are right after looking up others.

 

[encrustingacro]

My guess is Acropora humilis.

There is a group of acropora corals that look like acropora humilis and have a digitate or corymbose growth form. It could be any one of those corals.

 

[ID-Reefer]

There is a group of acropora corals that look like acropora humilis and have a digitate or corymbose growth form. It could be any one of those corals.

Happen to know what they are called? Only thing that makes me wonder still is it looks like most Acropora humilis I’ve seen photos of are smaller in scale. This thing has fingers about the same diameter as a quarter. But then I haven’t seen other Acropora humilis in person.

 

[Jdadams]

There is a group of acropora corals that look like acropora humilis and have a digitate or corymbose growth form. It could be any one of those corals.

Yes there are others like acropora robusta, acropora abrotanoides and I’m sure a few others. But this one has a smoother more rounded appearance just like a humilis. I could be wrong but for a common aquarium type acro I’m sticking with it.

 

[encrustingacro]

Yes there are others like acropora robusta, acropora abrotanoides and I’m sure a few others. But this one has a smoother more rounded appearance just like a humilis. I could be wrong but for a common aquarium type acro I’m sticking with it.

No, Acropora Robusta and Abrotanoides have much thicker branches and grow in a staghorn growth. I’m talking about stuff like Acropora digitifera and Acropora Gemmifera.

 

[encrustingacro]

Happen to know what they are called? Only thing that makes me wonder still is it looks like most Acropora humilis I’ve seen photos of are smaller in scale. This thing has fingers about the same diameter as a quarter. But then I haven’t seen other Acropora humilis in person.

I don’t know what the group is called but some species in the group are a. digitifera and gemmifera.

 

[Jdadams]

No, Acropora Robusta and Abrotanoides have much thicker branches and grow in a staghorn growth. I’m talking about stuff like Acropora digitifera and Acropora Gemmifera.

Gemmifera have a more cone shape to them and digitifera also is more pointed and a rougher texture with the coralites sticking out. But I get what your saying about the group they are in.

 

[Graffiti Spot]

I would agree with probably being a humilis. The wild colonies like that come in with large branches like that often. Digitifera are shorter normally and cluster a little better and gemmifera have more unique oval coralites. Good luck with that one! One of my favorites for sure. Monticulosa is my number one favorite though all of the digitate acros are just breathtaking and I wish more reefers would attempt to keep them.

 

[ID-Reefer]

I would agree with probably being a humilis. The wild colonies like that come in with large branches like that often. Digitifera are shorter normally and cluster a little better and gemmifera have more unique oval coralites. Good luck with that one! One of my favorites for sure. Monticulosa is my number one favorite though all of the digitate acros are just breathtaking and I wish more reefers would attempt to keep them.

I believe this was a wild colony so your reasoning makes a lot of sense.

 

[Damage12]

Agreed.

 

[sculpin01]

Acropora humilis is a “species complex” which means what we call “humilis” is probably a group of several similar species that will need genetic work to untangle.

It also could be a lanky A. globiceps. I’m growing one out from an AquaSD frag currently and it looks similar.

 

[sculpin01]

I've been shocked by how readily this guy has adapted to tank life. It encrusted rapidly and is growing well. By comparison, a monticulosa I tried RTN'ed down to 4 polyps and is barely holding on.

 

[Graffiti Spot]

Acropora humilis is a “species complex” which means what we call “humilis” is probably a group of several similar species that will need genetic work to untangle.

It also could be a lanky A. globiceps. I’m growing one out from an AquaSD frag currently and it looks similar.

Good call, i would agree it could be a really long globiceps. Certainly a real id for many acropora involves more than just looking at a picture and we are always guessing what it is likely to be. That’s the fun part though
I love aqua sd because they are still cutting these nice varieties of mariculture and wild corals and keeping them healthy enough to ship out successfully. Not many still doing this, well not too many ever really were good at this really. Mr. Coral used to be a good variety and good for me only because he was a drive up the road but the stuff he shipped out was just never healed. Aqua sd has always been solid though.