Difference between Favia and Acan Echinata

[that Fish Guy]

I was wondering what the difference is between Favia and Acan Echinatas?

The traditional Acan Lords have big puffy polyps.

But the Acan Echinata looks just like Favia to me. Hard as a Rock with no puffy polyps.

Here is a picture. I have not seen one in person.

http://www.cherrycorals.com/product.php?productid=9941&cat=0&page=1

Click on the Picture in the Link to get a close up view.

That looks like a Favia to me not an Acan.

What do you think? :fish2:

[srf11]

Interesting question.

One extra thought is -- how do people get these great colors and vibrancy from acan pics? Favia and favites seem to naturally have them, but acans dont seem to "flash" in any way for me.

(Radion LEDs FWIW)
Are Acans better under t5 or MH??

[rtparty]

This thread belongs in the LPS forum.

[Myka]

If you know what you're looking for they look very different. The coral in the link is definitely Acanthastrea sp. You are also comparing a species of Acan to a whole Genus of Favia. There are many different looking Favia. I will pick F rosaria to compare for you since it does look quite similar to A echinata.

The skeletal structure of A echinata is very similar to F rosaria.

The flesh of a Favia sp has many tiny ridges (which is actually the corallites under the flesh) running perpendicular to the mouth.

The flesh of A echinata looks almost like tiny wrinkles circling parallel to each other around each mouth when it is very happy. A echinata under most conditions will have many, many little bumps all over the surface of the flesh, those that are not as fleshy will have many whitish dots spread out randomly across the coral surface which may be the skeleton pushing against the flesh.

Favia rosaria skeleton:
http://coral.aims.gov.au/coral-images/wide-preview/0693_BW2_04.jpg

A echinata skeleton:
http://coral.aims.gov.au/coral-images/preview/0002_BW2_05.jpg

Favia rosaria flesh (the well known Dragon Soul Favia is also a rosaria):
http://coral.aims.gov.au/coral-images/wide-preview/0693_C1_01.jpg

Here's a link to a bigger version to show the detail: http://coral.aims.gov.au/coral-images/largest/0693_C1_01.jpg

A fleshy A echinata:
http://coral.aims.gov.au/coral-images/preview/0002_C1_06.jpg

Bigger:
http://coral.aims.gov.au/coral-images/largest/0002_C1_06.jpg

A less fleshy A echinata (showing the whitish dots):
http://coral.aims.gov.au/coral-images/preview/0002_C1_05.jpg

Bigger:
http://coral.aims.gov.au/coral-images/largest/0002_C1_05.jpg