Efflantounaria

[MixedFruitBasket]

I received the book I'd been wanting. The in-depth id book for soft corals and sea fans. And in my reading I discovered something. I'm pretty sure what we call efflantounaria, isn't. The physiology shown in the book is completely different. What we have is simply a type of Xenia. True efflantounaria does grow in stalks, but the polyps run the entire length of the stalk.

Just FYI.

 

[reef lover]

Pics from the book?? Curious.

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

I’ll ask the author if I can do that. I don’t want to infringe on copy right. I’d have to take a photo too since it’s only in print.

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

When I did a quick search on the net, this is the closest photo to what it looks like in the book but I'm not 100% sure it's exactly what's in the book.

 

[reef lover]

What book then?

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

Here is another photo online that I found that looks very similar to another variation.

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

What book then?

What book then?

Book is Soft Corals and Sea Fans: By Katharina Fabricus PHD and Phillip Alderslade PHD

It's out of print though.

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

I wanted to borrow the book from the library but it wasn't available in our library system (even the lending system) but if you are in a bigger city you may have it available. If they're smart they'll keep it in the reference section so you may have to read it there and take notes. But if you can borrow a copy do it. I'm really surprised about a lot of things. Such as what we call Xenia isn't. It's in the Xeniidae family but it's not Xenia.

 

[reef lover]

I wondered mostly to see how old the book was...alot of corals have been regrouped and classed differently in the past years .

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

I wondered mostly to see how old the book was...alot of corals have been regrouped and classed differently in the past years .

Yes you are right. And Alderslade has said a few of the ones known as efflantonaria will be recategorized as cespitularia. Just as nepthea is now under litophyton.
I'm sure there will be many changes from then to now, just as from now to ten years from now.

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

But from what I can tell: (And sure it could change, and yeah I could be completely wrong) is true Xenia occurs on a stalk that tall or short, but a stalk. And tentacles can be long or short but usually in a "dome" shape.
True Xenia isn't all that common.
And what a lot of us call Xenia is actual Sansabia.

I think the confusion is, it's all in the Xeniidae family, but not Xenia.

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

I said this above "True efflantounaria does grow in stalks, but the polyps run the entire length of the stalk." I should have said, doesn't seem to grow in a stalk with a cap at the top, it grows in a stalk but with polyps all the way down the stalk or something similar. Basically the growth pattern we use to categorize it isn't indicative as what's pictured.

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

But he's also said that being in captivity can change the morphology of a coral as well. So that makes me wonder if some of the multi-generation aquaculture corals would/could become their own species or subspecies if there are enough changes. I don't know enough about biology to be sure.

 

[reef lover]

See here where xenia spp is encrusting also.

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

Pretty sure it can encrust and still be on stalks.

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

What book is that one btw?

 

[reef lover]

Julian sprungs book of corals.

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

Is that the book that's about 40 years old?
I don't remember. Is he a biologist? I know the two who wrote soft corals and sea fans are both PHD in marine biology, do active research, and Alderslade has actually discovered a few species. His work is often cited in research papers as well in peer reviewed science journals.
He'll be the first to tell you they reclassify stuff all the time too and or when they've changed stuff. Some of which is recent enough it's not in the book.

 

[reef lover]

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

Ah. Thank you.