Coral ID

[bang guy]

OK Coral Experts, I described this coral to someone as a Flourescent Green Nepthia. I was told, by someone that should know, that Flourescent Green Nepthia is a myth and doesn't exist.
Before I put my foot in my mouth and take a frag of this mythical coral to them I'd like to know if I'm wrong.
What is this? (under full Actinic)

 

[j21kickster]

do you mean Nepthea- or is it reallt nepthia- if it is Nepthea then yes there are flourscent green morphs- but i was thinking more along the lines of a Sinularia species- is there a way to get a closer shot of the polyps or describe them?

 

[spsfreak100]

I'm no soft coral expert, but that looks like a Nepthae sp. to me. They're usually a dull cream color, although bright green species are somtimes availible. It usually turns brown under intense ligting, due to increased amounts of zooxanthellae.
My second guess would possibly be a green Sinularia spp., although I'm almost positive that it's a Nepthae sp.
Take Care,
Graham
EDIT: Kickster beat me to it

 

[j21kickster]

well at least we are on the same wavelength-
Bang Guy- if you could get a close shot of the flesh-on the main stalk it would meke for an easy ID- Sinularia is most ofetn uniform in color and texture- Nepthea would be more striated and textured in apperance

 

[bang guy]

Thanks for the spell check

 

[bang guy]

...

 

[spsfreak100]

Originally posted by Kipass4130
i thought the less the light, the more the zoox because the coral needs more zoox to absorb more light in a deprived situation.
same way with too intense light... they turn white (bleach) because they dont need as many zoox to photosynthesize and the zoox jump ship
or does this vary from coral to coral?
i thought i understood this, ,maybe i dont....
Per Eric Borneman's book, Corals, on page 142-143, it states:
"It normally turns brown under intense lighting, indicating the presence of zooxanthellae."
Graham

 

[j21kickster]

From the looks of it it is a nepthea with it polyps contracted- do the open at night and look a bit more "fuzzy"?

 

[bang guy]

Nope. Polyps are closed when the lights are out and open an hour or so after the lights come on.

 

[jonthefb]

i agree that the striations on the stalk make it seem like a nepthea.....the only way to tryul id it would be to try and carve or srape out a sclerite and check it out under a scope
but that seems a little intrusive
good luck Guy
jon