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Identification of coral, Chili Coral
(Nephthyigorgia) 2/27/07
Hello from Belfast, Ireland!
<Top O' the morning to you, Jason! Mich here.>
I'd like to say thanks for doing a great job - I've found your site very
helpful while getting started with my marine setup.
<Tis good to hear!>
I was wondering if you could ID this coral for me. It was sold to me as
a fire coral, but having checked out the descriptions of fire coral on
your site, it appears to be something quite different - no white tips or
hairs, and it has star shaped polyps.
<Not a fire coral.>
The polyps are retracted during the day, and the coral shrinks to about
1/3 of its nighttime size.
<Very accurate description.>
So, unfortunately for me, it's full splendour is only visible early in
the morning before it retracts again.
<Yes this is normal behavior for this coral, is nocturnal, like me,
commonly called a Chili coral (Nephthyigorgia). It is aposymbiotic,
meaning that it has no zooxanthellae, and therefore
non-photosynthetic. This means this coral must be target fed, typically
when the lights are out and the polyps are extended. Their nutritional
requirements are poorly understood, but are filter feeder, so think tiny
planktonic foods.>
Cheers,
Jason
Good day to you!
<And to you! -Mich> |
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