Scoly reproducing??

coolhandcub · Sep 20, 2023

Is this scoly budding a new head? Just now noticed it when feeding.

Rusty_L_Shackleford · Sep 20, 2023

I'm not sure that's a true scoly but you've definitely got yourself a baby there.

coolhandcub · Sep 20, 2023

Rusty_L_Shackleford said:
I'm not sure that's a true scoly but you've definitely got yourself a baby there.

What else would it be? I was told it was a UFO scoly.

coolhandcub · Sep 20, 2023

coolhandcub said:
What else would it be? I was told it was a UFO scoly.

i cant think · Sep 21, 2023

coolhandcub said:

That isn’t a UFO Scoly and I also wouldn’t say that’s a Scoly as they are single polyp organisms and don’t have more than one ‘head’.

encrustingacro · Sep 21, 2023

coolhandcub said:
What else would it be? I was told it was a UFO scoly.

It looks more like a Moseleya to me, but I'm not sure.

Mr_Knightley · Sep 21, 2023

Looks more like Parascolymia vitiensis, which does bud on occasion.

encrustingacro · Sep 22, 2023

Mr_Knightley said:
Looks more like Parascolymia vitiensis, which does bud on occasion.

Lobophyllia (formerly Parascolymia) vitiensis has a different, more velvety flesh texture similar to Lobophyllia hemprichii or L. hataii.

coolhandcub · Sep 22, 2023

encrustingacro said:
It looks more like a Moseleya to me, but I'm not sure.

I had posted this on Facebook, as well, and "The local fish store" commented that it is a parascolymia aka australomussa. I looked them up and it seems to be a correct ID on my coral.

http://www.coralsoftheworld.org/species_factsheets/species_factsheet_summary/parascolymia-australis/

encrustingacro · Sep 22, 2023

coolhandcub said:
I had posted this on Facebook, as well, and "The local fish store" commented that it is a parascolymia aka australomussa. I looked them up and it seems to be a correct ID on my coral.

http://www.coralsoftheworld.org/species_factsheets/species_factsheet_summary/parascolymia-australis/

Parascolymia australis was reclassified to Homophyllia australis in 2016. I also wouldn't trust hobbyist IDs as hobbyists often misidentify corals and use outdated taxonomy. In your coral, the corallum is too flat and the mantle too large compared to the oral disc to be Homophyllia australis. Homophyllia australis also doesn't bud extra corallites.