Please explain the difference...

[Weasel1960]

I didn‘t want to hijack @revhtree post on Blastos and please forgive an obvious newbie question but what is the difference between a Blasto, a Zoa, and a Paly? It seems to me these are all very similar when viewed individually. It may be that discussions of each only show pictures of the one being discussed and I can’t pick out subtle differences. I have done a basic internet search of each but again just pictures of what is being discussed. Does anyone have pictures of any 2 or all 3 in close proximity? Or can someone post a picture example of all 3 in the same thread and point out the differences?

 

[Anthony Scholfield]

Blastomusas are a large polyp stony coral. Zoanthids and Palyathoas are more of a soft coral in that they do not have a stony base. Zoas and palys are very similar and often it is hard to tell them apart in my opinion. I think zoas tend to be a bit smaller than palys. Also, blastos do not have "lashes" around there centers like palys and zoas do.