Is this an anacropora or acropora (ID help)

[Reeftogo]

Was given these frag and was told it’s a green goblin. I’m new to sps and it was brown at first and then turned into a forest green color.

All I could found online was an anacropora, but I heard they don’t encrust so much. But this one has encrusted a significant portion of the rock. Tia.

 

[Alex Cataldo]

yeah thats a anacropora the polyps are a bit large tho

 

[KJAhp098]

Looks like a montipora spongeodes.

 

[BranchingHammer]

My guess is a species of Montipora.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

@encrustingacro whats ur guess?

 

[SaltCreepReef]

I’ll 2nd that its a Montipora Spongoedes

 

[encrustingacro]

Montipora sp.

 

[OrionN]

All Acroporas have terminal polyps. This is one of the defined characteristics of the genus Acropora. Anacropora do not have terminal polyps. However, that coral is not an Anacropora.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Was given these frag and was told it’s a green goblin. I’m new to sps and it was brown at first and then turned into a forest green color.

All I could found online was an anacropora, but I heard they don’t encrust so much. But this one has encrusted a significant portion of the rock. Tia.

For sure anacropora. I have a good size one

 

[OrionN]

Neither the coral from OP or Vette coral are Anacropora. There are only a handful Anacropora. All in muddy type environment and are not colorful. They have pointed terminal branches but without terminal polyps. From Dr. J.E.N. Verona’s book

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

One thing to easily determine anacropora from acropora (even montipora) is that anacropora does not encrust onto the rock or plug.

 

[encrustingacro]

For sure anacropora. I have a good size one

Neither the coral from OP or Vette coral are Anacropora. There are only a handful Anacropora. All in muddy type environment and are not colorful. They have pointed terminal branches but without terminal polyps. From Dr. J.E.N. Verona’s book

@vetteguy53081 's coral is probably an Anacropora. The only other thing it could be is a Montipora, but Montipora has tuberculae or papillae while Anacropora has hooded corallites, which this coral has.

 

[vetteguy53081]

@vetteguy53081 's coral is probably an Anacropora. The only other thing it could be is a Montipora, but Montipora has tuberculae or papillae while Anacropora has hooded corallites, which this coral has.

This is from a known anacropora breeder in our area who sells to many pets stores. I saw same at MACNA from east coast vendor as anacropora. Im convinced it is

 

[vetteguy53081]

WWC is selling this as a slimeball anacropora also

 

[vetteguy53081]

Neither the coral from OP or Vette coral are Anacropora. There are only a handful Anacropora. All in muddy type environment and are not colorful. They have pointed terminal branches but without terminal polyps. From Dr. J.E.N. Verona’s book

Google search shows this as a green Goblin anacropora

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I have a green goblin anacropora in the back there...


Let me get a top down photo that hopefully is clearer.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Zoomed in:

 

[OrionN]

Just someone somewhere said the species of a coral is such does not mean it is the case. I would trust it if there is some bases to it. Looking are the species of Anacropora in the coral book by Dr Veron I did not think it is anything near the pictures of these species.
the thing about reference book is that they don’t have the latest information.
I am not a coral biologist, but I certainly read enough to know when to trust an ID and when not to. The one thing is none of the Anacropora have polyps that is recessed into the skeleton. All the polyps are protruded from the skeleton. One of the green corals in this thread have protrude polyps.

 

[encrustingacro]

WWC is selling this as a slimeball anacropora also

This is from a known anacropora breeder in our area who sells to many pets stores. I saw same at MACNA from east coast vendor as anacropora. Im convinced it is

I do agree with you that it is probably an Anacropora, but you shouldn't just trust vendor IDs, as even reputable vendors misidentify corals all the time.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I do agree with you that it is probably an Anacropora, but you shouldn't just trust vendor IDs, as even reputable vendors misidentify corals all the time.

very true