Id

[Steve Ruddy]

I was thinking either Favites flexuosa or Ancanthastrea echinata.

http://www.coralreefecosystems.com/images/bluepurplebrain.jpg

http://www.coralreefecosystems.com/images/brainmacro.jpg

[cmondo]

My guess would be echinata..any pics that are not close ups?

[RedClay]

+1 echinata
Nice pic! (second one)

[Cptn Spaulding]

definite acan. beautiful one too

[Steve Ruddy]

I'm tending to agree with the A. enchinata ID. Even though F. flexuousa has similar costae and septa it has angular corallites which my specimen doesn't.

Thanks all!

[BlastoEric1589]

it almost looks like echinophyllia chalice with the lumpy polyps.

thats not a color morph of echinata that ive ever seen.

Justin would be a good one to ask on this one... im kinda at a loss myself

[Steve Ruddy]

it almost looks like echinophyllia chalice with the lumpy polyps.
thats not a color morph of echinata that ive ever seen.


IMO color is usually not a good way to ID corals. However to quote Charles Veron on the color description of Acanthastrea echinata.

Uniform or mottled dull brown, grey or green, but sometimes brightly colored.

So this coral does fit that color description in that it is mottled (see solid black splotches) and brightly colored.

The other thing I noticed is that the tissue does form concentric folds which is also part of the description for A. enchinata.

[oddballs]

I had a A.Echinata about 4 years ago with that same coloration.

[bigdaddy76]

Echinata +1

[BlastoEric1589]

ok, that makes sense then. ive just only seen echinata as brown, green, and orange.

im no expert, so i guess ill just go along with you guys...