Acro ID

ccoons43 · 08/15/2008, 05:26 PM

I bought this acro last week and was looking for an exact ID on it. The person working at the lfs at the time could not ID it for me.

Without Flash

With flash

Thanks

Tang Salad · 08/15/2008, 05:52 PM

It's an Acropora.

iwishtofish · 08/15/2008, 06:45 PM

Sometimes they try to get a little more specific in the SPS ID forum...

Tang Salad · 08/15/2008, 06:58 PM

Yes, they certainly do try

Nevertheless, identification to the species level is all but impossible without skeletal comparison. Not to mention the fact that the species concept in corals is not like the species for other animals. Some coral 'species' are actually different varieties of the same 'species' and other 'species' are in fact devolved, or more evolved, or different geographic variants of the same species, but still capable of reproducing with others of other 'species'.

But anyway...it looks a bit like that which is often called Acropora valida.

ccoons43 · 08/15/2008, 07:02 PM

Thanks all I was hoping for something to call it more than just an acro.

Iwishtofish I posted it there also.

Either way the colony only cost me $20. and it has an acro crab in it.

Capt_Cully · 08/15/2008, 07:04 PM

Score

Hormigaquatica · 08/15/2008, 07:13 PM

As Tang Salad said, its essentially impossible to give a positive ID without putting the coral under a microscope- and even then the taxonomy of Acropora is pretty much a free-for-all guessing game at this point. Some researchers claim there are in excess of 400 species, others claim there are as few as 8 highly variable species. Anyone who says they can ID an Acro from a photo is either lying, or doesnt know what theyre talking about (sounds harsh, but its the truth- no matter what those crazy SPS people like to think.. lol).

If you really want to try and get a name on it, THIS SITE gives a pretty good guide. It wont give you an exact species, but ranks potential IDs by probability based on your responses to a number of questions. Just click "Key to the Acropora" on the front page and follow the prompts.

Tang Salad · 08/15/2008, 10:10 PM

For $20 you got an excellent deal!

And Hormigaquatica's link above is great.

mborn · 08/15/2008, 10:52 PM

My guess is A. cerealis.

ccoons43 · 08/16/2008, 07:19 AM

Thanks all.

Yeah it was on a $20 or 2 for $35 shelf and I asked the guy what it was and he did not know. I asked him if it was $20 and he said if its on that shelf it is. I also got a 2" digi frag w/ red polyps and I only paid $35 for both.

Alpi · 08/16/2008, 08:30 AM

I think itÂ´s an acropora valida.

08/15/2008, 05:26 PM	#1
ccoons43 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 141	Acro ID I bought this acro last week and was looking for an exact ID on it. The person working at the lfs at the time could not ID it for me. Without Flash With flash Thanks __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon Display, 20 gal sump, 30 lbs LR, 1X seio 820, 1X seio 620, 1x Koralia #3, 1x Koralia #4, 2x 175W Halides W/ Ushio 20 K, 4x 55W PC's, Mated Pair of Ocelleris Clowns, 1 Cromis, LPS, SPS Frags

08/15/2008, 05:52 PM	#2
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	It's an Acropora. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

08/15/2008, 06:58 PM	#4
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Yes, they certainly do try Nevertheless, identification to the species level is all but impossible without skeletal comparison. Not to mention the fact that the species concept in corals is not like the species for other animals. Some coral 'species' are actually different varieties of the same 'species' and other 'species' are in fact devolved, or more evolved, or different geographic variants of the same species, but still capable of reproducing with others of other 'species'. But anyway...it looks a bit like that which is often called Acropora valida. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

08/15/2008, 07:02 PM	#5
ccoons43 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 141	Thanks all I was hoping for something to call it more than just an acro. Iwishtofish I posted it there also. Either way the colony only cost me $20. and it has an acro crab in it. __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon Display, 20 gal sump, 30 lbs LR, 1X seio 820, 1X seio 620, 1x Koralia #3, 1x Koralia #4, 2x 175W Halides W/ Ushio 20 K, 4x 55W PC's, Mated Pair of Ocelleris Clowns, 1 Cromis, LPS, SPS Frags

08/15/2008, 07:04 PM	#6
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	Score __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

08/15/2008, 06:45 PM	#3
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	Sometimes they try to get a little more specific in the SPS ID forum...

08/15/2008, 07:13 PM	#7
Hormigaquatica Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 3,022	As Tang Salad said, its essentially impossible to give a positive ID without putting the coral under a microscope- and even then the taxonomy of Acropora is pretty much a free-for-all guessing game at this point. Some researchers claim there are in excess of 400 species, others claim there are as few as 8 highly variable species. Anyone who says they can ID an Acro from a photo is either lying, or doesnt know what theyre talking about (sounds harsh, but its the truth- no matter what those crazy SPS people like to think.. lol). If you really want to try and get a name on it, THIS SITE gives a pretty good guide. It wont give you an exact species, but ranks potential IDs by probability based on your responses to a number of questions. Just click *"Key to the Acropora"* on the front page and follow the prompts. __________________ Reaching up and reaching out and reaching for the random, or whatever will bewilder me. Have Some Personal Accountability Current Tank Info: 240g LPS/Softie Reef

08/15/2008, 10:10 PM	#8
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	For $20 you got an excellent deal! And Hormigaquatica's link above is great. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

08/15/2008, 10:52 PM	#9
mborn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Escondido, CA Posts: 346	My guess is A. cerealis.

08/16/2008, 07:19 AM	#10
ccoons43 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 141	Thanks all. Yeah it was on a $20 or 2 for $35 shelf and I asked the guy what it was and he did not know. I asked him if it was $20 and he said if its on that shelf it is. I also got a 2" digi frag w/ red polyps and I only paid $35 for both. __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon Display, 20 gal sump, 30 lbs LR, 1X seio 820, 1X seio 620, 1x Koralia #3, 1x Koralia #4, 2x 175W Halides W/ Ushio 20 K, 4x 55W PC's, Mated Pair of Ocelleris Clowns, 1 Cromis, LPS, SPS Frags

08/16/2008, 08:30 AM	#11
Alpi Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 4	I think itÂ´s an acropora valida.