What is the best LPS VOTE #16!

Whats your preference VOTE #16

  • "Helmet" fungia

    Votes: 6 42.9%
  • Heliofungia

    Votes: 8 57.1%

  • Total voters
    14
  • Poll closed .

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You know the drill.

Here are our previous winners!


Scolymia
--------------------Scolymia
Cynarina

Frogspawn (branching or wall)
-----------------------------------------------torches
Torches

Favia
------------------favia
Platygyra

Trachyphyllia
------------------------Acanthophyllia
Acanthophyllia

Blastomoussa
-------------------------Duncan
Duncan

Lobophyllia
-----------------------Lobophyllia
Symphyllia

Favities
------------------Favities
Leptastrea

Alveopora
-------------------goniopora
Goniopora

Chalice
----------------chalice
Pectinia

Hammer (branching or wall)
--------------------‐---------------------hammer
Octospawn

Acan lord
-----------------------------acan lord
Acan bowerbanki

Galaxea
-----------------Frammer
Frammer

L. Rowleyensis (australomussa)
--------------------------‐-‐--------L. rowleyensis
Moseleya

Physogyra
------------------Pleogyra
Pleogyra

Cyphastrea
---------------------Cyphastrea
Turbinaria
 
What are "helmet" fungia? Do you mean Cycloseris Cycloites? From what I have seen, the overwhelming majority of what we call "Fungia" are actually Cycloseris. I have not seen any Fungia fungites (the only Fungia species) in the hobby, as they are usually not fluorescent.

Fungia fungites: Credit: Damien Brouste
1696392459772.png


Cycloseris cycloites: Credit: Damien Brouste
1696392599868.png


A common misconception is that Fungia are flat while Cycloseris have an oral hump. Although Fungia fungites generally are flat, this is not always true, and flat Cycloseris do exist. Fungia are characterized by having fine, grainy septal teeth on numerous, even septa, with light brown coloration and pink splotches Cycloseris, on the other hand are characterized by having thick, smooth septa, enlarged tentacles (when extended), and more often have a bright, fluorescent coloration. Complicating fungiid idenfication even more is that there are also a few other "Fungia-like" genera/species, including Lithophyllon (cocinna, repanda, scabra, spinifer), and Danafungia. Lithophyllon (cocinna and repanda) are characterized by having thin, alternating septa, while Danafungia are characterized by having coarse, jagged septal teeth.

Cycloseris (with a flat corallum): Credit: Franca Wermuth
1696393607424.png


Lithophyllon (cocinna or repanda): Credit: Dan Schofield
1696393882454.png


Danafungia horrida: Credit: Scott and Jeanette Johnson
1696394124154.png


Fun Fact: There is actually a second species of Heliofungia, H. fralinae, which looks similar to Cycloseris, but is separated by having exert, alternating septa and purple acrospheres.
Credit: Lesley Clements
1696392295831.png
 
This is difficult as I like both but honestly, the true fungia is what I’d love compared to the Heliofungia and others that are thrown in as ‘Fungia’.
But I guess I’ll have to settle for a Cycloseris when I sort out my tank.
 
What are "helmet" fungia? Do you mean Cycloseris Cycloites? From what I have seen, the overwhelming majority of what we call "Fungia" are actually Cycloseris. I have not seen any Fungia fungites (the only Fungia species) in the hobby, as they are usually not fluorescent.

Fungia fungites: Credit: Damien Brouste
1696392459772.png


Cycloseris cycloites: Credit: Damien Brouste
1696392599868.png


A common misconception is that Fungia are flat while Cycloseris have an oral hump. Although Fungia fungites generally are flat, this is not always true, and flat Cycloseris do exist. Fungia are characterized by having fine, grainy septal teeth on numerous, even septa, with light brown coloration and pink splotches Cycloseris, on the other hand are characterized by having thick, smooth septa, enlarged tentacles (when extended), and more often have a bright, fluorescent coloration. Complicating fungiid idenfication even more is that there are also a few other "Fungia-like" genera/species, including Lithophyllon (cocinna, repanda, scabra, spinifer), and Danafungia. Lithophyllon (cocinna and repanda) are characterized by having thin, alternating septa, while Danafungia are characterized by having coarse, jagged septal teeth.

Cycloseris (with a flat corallum): Credit: Franca Wermuth
1696393607424.png


Lithophyllon (cocinna or repanda): Credit: Dan Schofield
1696393882454.png


Danafungia horrida: Credit: Scott and Jeanette Johnson
1696394124154.png


Fun Fact: There is actually a second species of Heliofungia, H. fralinae, which looks similar to Cycloseris, but is separated by having exert, alternating septa and purple acrospheres.
Credit: Lesley Clements
1696392295831.png
Yes, my bad.
 
ATTENTION: Poll closing in 12 hours! Be sure to cast your vote!
 
Also, is that white cycloseris Deepwater, bleached, young or NPS?
Bleached corals are usually "highlighter white," not cream-colored like this. To my knowledge, none of the fungiids are facultatively zooxanthellate or azoox. Cycloseris, along with other zooxanthellate corals have been known to be white or pale-colored, although the pigment involved is unknown.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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