Trachyphyllia, Lobophyllia and Symphyllia Identification

[sbash]

Hi folks,

Can anyone help me properly identify the three corals, Trachyphyllia, Lobophyllia and Symphyllia? I can't find a reasonable explanation on the difference. For example, I have these three:

Which are which and how do I know the difference? (I just moved the middle one, so the flesh is retracted, it is almost a puffy as the right one).

Thanks!

 

[DSC reef]

Looks like you have a symphyllia to the left, and 2 trachyphyllia on the right. Lobophyllia corallites have separate walls where symphyllia corallites have shared walls.

 

[sbash]

Looks like you have a symphyllia to the left, and 2 trachyphyllia on the right. Lobophyllia corallites have separate walls where symphyllia corallites have shared walls.

Interesting, glad to know I'm not going mad. I was under the same impression until I started looking into it, there are articles and videos out there that contradicted what I thought... Combined with the misinformation the store gave me, I thought I would post up and see!

Thanks :)

 

[cristata.reef]

Just FYI Sympyllia doesn't exist as a valid taxonomic name anymore. The genus was split and its species were added to the genera Lobophyllia, Acanthastrea, Mussimilia, and Australophyllia.

 

[sbash]

Just FYI Sympyllia doesn't exist as a valid taxonomic name anymore. The genus was split and its species were added to the genera Lobophyllia, Acanthastrea, Mussimilia, and Australophyllia.

Interesting, I read something similar, which is why I posted this up...

So the left one, under the new taxonomy, would likely be an Australophyllia then?

 

[DSC reef]

Instead of symphyllia radians it would be australophyllia radians.

 

[Krzydmnd]

Beautiful pieces. If you send them to me I'll do long term study on them for you! [emoji57]

 

[cristata.reef]

Instead of symphyllia radians it would be australophyllia radians.

Agreed