Corky finger spreading?

[JoJosReef]

I posted previously about a strange growth on the rocks, that I thought was xenia (photo taken July 17th):

@vetteguy53081 thought it might be anthellia, and I thought it looked about right.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-pulsing-xenia-like-growth-on-rock.997198/post-11569302
I always wondered where that came from.

This is what it looks like now:

Notice the corky finger in the background. Here's a closeup of the corky finger:

A while back, that corky finger was always falling down and would sometimes go days (maybe many days) laying on its side on the rock where the suspect polyps are growing. Now it is fixed in place on a rock island. But now I'm wondering if it didn't encrust a bit on the foreground rock and leave some tissue there that is starting to grow as a new corky finger.

Do you think this is what happened? Is this a new corky growing? I'm perfectly happy if it is :)

 

[tbrown]

Sure looks like the polyps! I know my Pocillopora does the same (not a leather, but drops polyps).

 

[JoJosReef]

Sure looks like the polyps! I know my Pocillopora does the same (not a leather, but drops polyps).

I'm OK with that, then! The corky doesn't grow too fast, so I'm sure it won't be invasive. Happy to have another one on the way!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I posted previously about a strange growth on the rocks, that I thought was xenia (photo taken July 17th):

@vetteguy53081 thought it might be anthellia, and I thought it looked about right.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-pulsing-xenia-like-growth-on-rock.997198/post-11569302
I always wondered where that came from.

This is what it looks like now:

Notice the corky finger in the background. Here's a closeup of the corky finger:

A while back, that corky finger was always falling down and would sometimes go days (maybe many days) laying on its side on the rock where the suspect polyps are growing. Now it is fixed in place on a rock island. But now I'm wondering if it didn't encrust a bit on the foreground rock and leave some tissue there that is starting to grow as a new corky finger.

Do you think this is what happened? Is this a new corky growing? I'm perfectly happy if it is :)

Anthellia xenia

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I don't know what it is, but I'm almost positive its not a corky sea finger, its too slim. Corky is fatter, and grows very slow. Perhaps some other type of gorgonian?

 

[F i s h y]

not sure that your gorg was originally ID'd correctly as it doesnt quite look like a corky (not saying it isnt)
but i believe that what is growing is a clone from that, and it got there as you described. i have seen this happen.
it for sure is not anthelia or xenia

 

[JoJosReef]

not sure that your gorg was originally ID'd correctly as it doesnt quite look like a corky (not saying it isnt)
but i believe that what is growing is a clone from that, and it got there as you described. i have seen this happen.
it for sure is not anthelia or xenia

It was given to me, along with a bunch of other gorgs. I also suspected it might be different since the stem doesn't grow very thick. It's a nice gorg, either way!