Tubastrea and Dendrophyllia differences.

[Kev s]

I've been looking in Veron but can't seem to find much difference between Tubastrea and Dendrophylia.

Does anyone have knowledge on the differences between these corals.

Thanks,

Kev

[evilervin]

Good Question!

Dendrophyllia sp are from the same family a Tubastraea sp; Dendrophylliidae, and over the past hundred, plus, years both genus has been confused with each other, as well as some Tubastraea sp being originally recorded as Dendrophyllia.
eg Tubastraea micrantha was also recorded as Dendrophyllia micranthus, and Tubastraea coccinea was recorded as Dendrophyllia aurantiaca. Just to confuse matters T. coccinea has also previously been recorded as another 8 species of Dendrophyllia, 9 species of Coenopsammia, Lobophyillia Aurea and Placopsammia dawini… basically it blood hard to tell sometimes.

Unfortunately many Dendrophyllia sp are not distinguishable from Tubastraea sp without examination of septal arrangement and fusion, namely the secondary septa, which are normally fused in a wishbone formation. There are also some ‘rules of thumb’ and generalisations.

The Rules of Thumb and generalisations:

Mature Tubastraea calices are normally no bigger then 13mm across, circular in shape with polyps that extend in the region of approx 18mm across the oral disc (average is approx 10mm-15mm). Most of Tubastraea sp form colonies, Tubastraea aurea is the main (if not only) exception.

Mature Dendrophyllia calices are generally circular too oval in shape, twice as big as Tubastraea sp. calices, and also have an oral disc 1.5.x – 2x the size of their cousins.
The corallites also flare slightly towards the calyx.
There are many Dendrophyillia sp that form colonies and equally as many that live a single solitary polyp.

Septa arrangement:


http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/gogcalyxup01.jpg Typical septa arrangement for Dendropyllia sp, (pictured Dendropyllia cornucopia).

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/gogcalyxup02.jpgTypical septa arrangement for Tubastraea sp. (pictured Tubastraea coccinea)

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/gogcalyxup03.jpgTypical septa arrangement for Tubastraea micranthia.

As for care, there are no real differnces, other then food quanties.
I almost forgot, Dendrophyillia sp also cost a lot more if purposefully imported.... but on the other hand, if they come in as hitch hikers you can occasionally get them very cheaply.

HTH and that was the type of info you where after,
Roger

[Kev s]

Thanks Roger,

I was offered both and wasn't sure of the differences!

From your post I guess that in reality for a reefkeeper there really are no massive noticable differences other than the calice size.

Kev

[evilervin]

there really are no massive noticable differences other than the calice size.

Sorry kev, should of also mentioned that the polyp and coenosarc colours can varry wildly in comprison to Tubastraea sp, as wel as polyp size. For example;

Dendrophyllia ramea
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/gogramea.jpg

Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=201447) is an old thread with pics of my Dendropyllia. BTW I no longer think its Dendropyllia arbuscula, but it is a Dendropyllia sp (i still refer to it arbuscula though... I'll have to get out of that habit)

Roger