Pocillopora ID please

[wbdevers]

I bought this frag yesterday. The seller said it was Pocillopora. When I asked him which one he said, "it's just a standard brown Pocillopora". I've tried to look that up and all I get is "cauliflower coral" etc. Can someone please tell me (if possible) what this coral truly is? Here are a couple of pics. One under actinics the other not.

Thanks

http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee415/bluwtr/Critters/PocilloporaActinic3-14-11.jpg

http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee415/bluwtr/Critters/Pocillopora23-14-11.jpg

[gon08]

P. damicornis

[Steedy]

+1 P.Damicornis

[wbdevers]

Thanks to both of you. I appreciate it. So is it a "cauliflower", a "birdsnest", a "brush" or a "lace" coral. I see all of those names used for that Genus and species or is it all one in the same?

[returnofsid]

It's a Pocillopora damicornis. Why are you insisting on finding a "generic name" for it? It's generically known as Pocillopora.

[wbdevers]

Because I want to know. There are tons of names for the same thing and if you look them up by the common name you get different pics and sometimes different care. Why does it matter why I asked my question?

[returnofsid]

There are tons of names for the same thing and if you look them up by the common name you get different pics and sometimes different care.

All the more reason to stick to scientific names. Obviously, knowing a generic name, isn't going to provide you the proper information, considering "There are tons of names, for the same thing, and if you look them up by the common name, you get different pics and sometimes different care."

Take, for instance, "cauliflower coral." While some may call Pocillopora a "cauliflower coral," "cauliflower coral," more commonly refers to a soft coral, in the Capnella family, or even a particular Leather coral, which have completely different requirements than a Pocillopora.

Sticking to scientific names, will usually get you the best advice, even if all you know is a genus.

In the case of Pocillopora, "Pocillopora" is a much more commonly used "generic" name, than any other word. You'll find it's almost always referred to, as "Pocillopora."

[wbdevers]

I know all of that; I'm a marine fisheries scientist. I could sit here and give you a dozen examples of colloquial names for species. If you type Pocillopora damicornis into Google and look at the images it will bring up no less than 8,700 image results. They are almost all different and not just by color or size but morphology. This is why I want to know. I'm trying to find out what this coral will look like when it grows. I completely understand using a Genus as a common name; it happens all of the time. Same idea that all adhesive bandages are Band-Aides etc. The other thing I'm trying to figure out about this coral is that fact that a vast majority of the pics are a heavy robust branched coral. My frag has very delicate branches, which again makes me ask questions about it. I appreciate the advice but try and understand where I'm coming from.

[returnofsid]

The normal growth form does consist of somewhat thin, fragile branches (Though not near as thin as Seriatapora hystrix (birdsnest), that grow in a pretty thick "Bushy" formation. In time, your frag will fill out. Pocillopora are quite easy to care for, when it comes to light and flow. However, it's sensitive to stress. It's one of the most common corals to perform "Polyp Bail-Out." This will present itself with a white skeleton, on a few branches, quite suddenly. Pocillopora polyps are unique in that they're large enough and heavy enough that they don't get sucked up by our filtration. The polyps will settle in your tank. For this reason, you'll soon find it sprouting up, in odd areas of your tank...lol.

[wbdevers]

Thanks for the info. I kind of figured that the frag is just young and that's why it looks so fragile. The guy I bought it from mentioned that they will drop polyps. He told me that they frag I bought grew that way. I hope it happens--always up for free stuff!

Thanks again for the help. One more question. From what I've read, it seems that brown is the most common color. Is this true, or can I expect for it to maybe change depending on lighting?

Thanks.

[seapug]

I know all of that; I'm a marine fisheries scientist. I could sit here and give you a dozen examples of colloquial names for species. If you type Pocillopora damicornis into Google and look at the images it will bring up no less than 8,700 image results. They are almost all different and not just by color or size but morphology. This is why I want to know. I'm trying to find out what this coral will look like when it grows. I completely understand using a Genus as a common name; it happens all of the time. Same idea that all adhesive bandages are Band-Aides etc. The other thing I'm trying to figure out about this coral is that fact that a vast majority of the pics are a heavy robust branched coral. My frag has very delicate branches, which again makes me ask questions about it. I appreciate the advice but try and understand where I'm coming from.

I'm confused. You say you want to see what it will look like when it gets bigger, but at the same time are questioning why the pictures you are finding look different than your frag. Your google search is showing pictures of what the coral may look like when it grows. You are seeing exactly what you are looking for.

That said, the appearance of corals is greatly influenced by the conditions in which they grow. If you take 5 pieces of the same mother colony and put them in different light and flow conditions for a year they will all look very different from one another in terms of density, branching and color. Your coral looks delicate because its a small captive grown frag. Wild colonies are generally exposed to much stronger light and current than we provide in our tanks which usually results in the "heavy robust branching" you describe.

[wbdevers]

You miss the point I was getting at. I know all about natural variability and understand what you are saying. My question was that some of the pics showed flat very thick branches whereas some showed thin and delicate; more like an acro IMO. Mine resembles the second. Why is it so bloody hard to question answers given--that's how we learn--keep asking.

Here are links to the pics as an example:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.marinelifephotography.com/corals/cauliflower/pocillopora-damicornis-15.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.marinelifephotography.com/corals/cauliflower/pocilloporidae.htm&usg=__NiHMc4qmEJoI5rHJqddHMYvrK0g=&h=200&w=300&sz=37&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=T_TRTcfcPRFldM:&tbnh=147&tbnw=201&ei=jjmATa6fAYy5twfMwdzSCA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpocillopora%2Bdamicornis%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1259%26bih%3D823%26tbs %3Disch:1%26prmd%3Divns&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=785&vpy=478&dur=3234&hovh=160&hovw=240&tx=114&ty=95&oei=jjmATa6fAYy5twfMwdzSCA&page=1&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:0

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.captured-sea.net/pinkpoc.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.captured-sea.net/corals.htm&usg=__9ZVwrfg_oMHPBVxgPld3PZSgG-U=&h=300&w=400&sz=42&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=ySAMuKdIuI_bXM:&tbnh=154&tbnw=241&ei=jjmATa6fAYy5twfMwdzSCA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpocillopora%2Bdamicornis%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1259%26bih%3D823%26tbs %3Disch:1%26prmd%3Divns&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=157&vpy=550&dur=9156&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=160&ty=162&oei=jjmATa6fAYy5twfMwdzSCA&page=1&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:0

Both are listed as P. damicornis look totally different but are of similare size. Granted, most likely it is due to growing conditions, but still doesn't change the fact that they are named the same but look different. Hence my questions.

[returnofsid]

Personally, I'd question the ID, of the second photo.

It's possibly a Pocillopora, but IMO, it could also be a Stylophora pistillata or even Seriatapora Guttata.

[gon08]

Go here if you want a more accurate ID on a coral.

http://sdmas.com/corals/species.php

[wbdevers]

Thanks for the further info. LOL!, see that's why I kept asking! Man, these things are hard to ID.

Thanks for the link. I'm trying to find a helpful one since Reefpedia is down.

Appreciate the help.

[returnofsid]

Use Reef Central's Search Tool and type in "Pocillopora." You'll get tons of very useful information.