LPS 3" Single Polyp...Lobo?, Scoly?, ???

[Nano sapiens]

I purchased this wonderful LPS from a respected on-line vendor as an 'Ultra Lobo':

But I have my doubts based on a number of characteristics. The coral is known to have come from Australia, is very florescent, has a wide, squat 2" base skeleton and has attacked and consumed a head of a neighboring Lobophyliia hemprechii.

After looking at photos and threads on the Web, I am leaning towards Scolymia australis.

For those who know these coral types well, thoughts?

 

[82engineer]

Look like a scoly to me as well

 

[larcomak11]

+3 on scolymia

 

[shrimplet]

Im going to say lobo. I used to have a lobo identical to that

 

[dougers31]

Very nice either way

 

[Nano sapiens]

Thanks for the input, everyone. It sure is tough properly identifying these. Growth is much slower than my Lobo and I believe that Scollys are known as slow growers. I'll lean towards it being a Scolly...for now.

Maybe one day in the future we'll all have hand-held DNA sampling devices to help with identification.

 

[Tab28]

A few a these have shown up in my friends LFS. He hand picked them. They are lobos.

 

[Zero Nitrates]

Beautiful no matter what!

 

[lakeviewink]

If it has one mouth it's probably a scoli, if it gets multiple mouths it's a lobo…

 

[Tab28]

If it has one mouth it's probably a scoli, if it gets multiple mouths it's a lobo…

Not true. I have an entire clump colony of lobos. All round tightly clumped and all with one mouth. Same can be said for my branching lobos. It depends on the variety of lobo.

 

[lakeviewink]

Not true. I have an entire clump colony of lobos. All round tightly clumped and all with one mouth. Same can be said for my branching lobos. It depends on the variety of lobo.

So sorry… I must be wrong. It happens often…you are right, it must be a lobo.…or a scoli…

 

[Nano sapiens]

I don't think it's a Lobophyllia hemprechii since the species, morphs are known to play well together, which didn't happen here...

Could possibly be some other species of Lobo...or a Scoly...

Thanks, again all for your input.

 

[evolved]

I see a scoly.

 

[Tab28]

I don't think it's a Lobophyllia hemprechii since the species, morphs are known to play well together, which didn't happen here...

Could possibly be some other species of Lobo...or a Scoly...

Thanks, again all for your input.

Just this week a new lobo i bought. Very bright yellow with orange spots. Did the same thing to a neighbor lobo. I told a friend at a lfs. He never heard of a lobo doing it. But when i got up one morning exactly have the neighboring lobo had that greyish slime look. I knew what happened. I moved the culprit lobo away from any other lobos. It seems the victim lobo may come back. Started seeing flesh regrow and it is eating. Thankfully it left one mouth. I will take pictures of my two lobos tonight and post.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

Looks like a zoa to me... :eyebrows:

 

[evolved]

Can you make it angry and take a picture with the tissue retracted? Or take a picture from the side/bottom with the skeleton visible?

 

[Tab28]

Shouldn't the bottom be the tell tale sign?

 

[Tab28]

Here is injured of my lobo war.

Here is the winner.

This lobo also attacked another lobo. I was able to catch it while the web looking stuff was just about to encase the other victim.

 

[Nano sapiens]

Articles I've read always mention that Lobos won't hurt other Lobos. That statement is likely true with L. hempechii. For a long time that's the only one that was available, but with Australia and other areas opening up we are seeing other Lobo species which may not play nice together. On top of that, we are seeing specimens that may be new species (or possibly even hybrids).