Telling the difference

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Can anyone help me tell the differences between acans, blastomussas, and micromussas? They all look so similar to me that I can't confidently confirm identity.

 

[Jlobes]

blastos are very different and should be fairly easy to ID.

micros/acans can be a bit more tough, especially since the "acan lordhowensis" is now micromuss lordhowensis. link: https://reefbuilders.com/2016/02/05...ro-lordscan-lords-are-now-a-species-of-micro/

so, if we now know that acans and micros are in the same family, that makes sense as to the ID confusion. I generally think of acans as larger, more individual "lobes" polyps than the micros, are obviously smaller polyps but tend to share walls and not form individual polyps. thats my take/opinion, I suppose I should consult the "bible" and get back to ya with a definitive answer.

 

[Tab28]

+1 jlobes summed it up. Blastomussa look nothing like acans and micros. The only thing i can add to the confusion between the two. Without seeing the two to compare size. It may be harder than you would expect. Micros are generally less detailed in color patterns. But basically look like a half size acan lord. My blasto and micro take take more lighting than acan lords.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

maybe it's my untrained eye, but to me large polyp blastomussa look like acans, and small polyp blastomussa look like micromussa.

 

[Tab28]

Blastomussa look like an umbrella opened up. The polyp looks like one thin round piece. Thin fleshy material like an open umbrella. Acans and micromusa's look like a doughnut shaped ballon. More solid flesh has no edges rounded top connects to the underside skeleton.

 

[Jlobes]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=blastomussa+coral+image

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=acan+lord+image

see the difference. donuts vs umbrells. acans done have lil tentacle around the edge/perimeter. only feeders, when feeding...obviously.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

FWIW, I did Google the different corals, but they all look similar to me. lol

 

[Jlobes]

Lol

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Alright, I give up. LOL. Here are some pics...please forgive my poor photographic skillz :)

Pic 1--I believe this is an Acan:

Pic 2--I also think this is an Acan:

Pic 3--I was told this is an Acan:

Pic 4--I was told this is a Micromussa:

Pic 5--My guess is that this is an Acan:

Pic 6--And I have no idea what this is:

 

[tupes]

Pic 3 is a dragon soul favia and 6 also looks to be a favia of some sort the others you have labeled correct

 

[tupes]

Photo 4 looks like a blasto a micromussa is like an a can just smaller heads


Hope this helps

 

[Wiz]

Agreed 3&6 are favia and 4 is blasto. The rest are acan. Favias don't "fluff " like the rest. Kinda smooth looking. The blastos fluff a lot, overhang there base quite a bit more and have a wrinkly texture to there fluff. And micros don't fluff that much at all and don't overlap heads like the others.
Acans
Blasto

• Micro

 

[Sabellafella]

4 is a blasto merletti. You can tell the difference between blasto and acans (because sometimes they look similar with a glimps) by making the polyp close up, the blasto will fold in like a mushroom and the acan will retract into skeleton or show feeders. Micros on the otherhand, ill just concider what looks to be a smaller polyp lord as one. But nice collection you got there =)