Smart reefing: Which type of brain coral do you prefer?

[Peace River]

Smart reefing: Which type of brain coral do you prefer?

There are so many different types of brain corals and just figuring out how to pronounce the names requires some “smarts” let alone trying to differentiate all the genus that fall under the Mussidae and Merulinidae families of corals. The good news is that many of the common groups of brain corals that we know are also their assigned genus (or shorted versions of the genus) such as Trachophyllia, Lobophyllia, Favia, Favites, Symphyllia, Platygyra, Cyphastrea, Wellsophyllia (note: the Wellso is now grouped as a Trachy) and many more. Do you have a favorite type of brain coral? Maybe it is one that isn’t even on this list! Let us know your thoughts about brain corals in the related discussion thread.

Photo by @uniquecorals

To add a layer of complexity to the naming, there are some groupings of corals that fall under other genus such as the Micromussa Lords (formerly known as an Acan Lord) that are are in the family Lobophylliidae. With the recent changes in genus names related to brain corals, sometimes keeping all the details of brain corals straight can hurt my brain! In fact, I may still not have it right - feel free to jump in a provide corrections.

Want to explore brain corals a little more? Please check out the following R2R articles:

• How to love your Lobo: Tips for success with lobophyllia
• Symphyllia symphony
• How to take care of your brain

[Edited to correct the spelling of Trachyphyllia and how the Lords are classified; see thread below for other corrections and related discussion. Thanks for the input!]

 

[encrustingacro]

Smart reefing: Which type of brain coral do you prefer?

There are so many different types of brain corals and just figuring out how to pronounce the names requires some “smarts” let alone trying to differentiate all the genus that fall under the Mussidae and Merulinidae families of corals. The good news is that many of the common groups of brain corals that we know are also their assigned genus (or shorted versions of the genus) such as Trachophyllia, Lobophyllia, Favia, Favites, Symphyllia, Platygyra, Cyphastrea, Wellsophyllia (note: the Wellso is now grouped as a Trachy) and many more. Do you have a favorite type of brain coral? Maybe it is one that isn’t even on this list! Let us know your thoughts about brain corals in the related discussion thread.

View attachment 2987309
Photo by @uniquecorals

To add a layer of complexity to the naming, there are some groupings of corals that fall under other genus such as the Micromussa Lords (formerly known as an Acan Lord) that are a type of Lobophyllia. With the recent changes in genus names related to brain corals, sometimes keeping all the details of brain corals straight can hurt my brain! In fact, I may still not have it right - feel free to jump in a provide corrections.

Want to explore brain corals a little more? Please check out the following R2R articles:

• How to love your Lobo: Tips for success with lobophyllia
• Symphyllia symphony
• How to take care of your brain

Some corrections:
1. Indo-pacific brain corals actually fall under the LOBOPHYLLIIDAE and Merulinidae families, not Mussidae. Mussidae has been reduced to a subfamily within the family Faviidae.
2. The Favias in our hobby are actually Dipsastraea.
3. Symphyllia is a synonym of Lobophyllia.
4. Cyphastrea is not really considered a brain coral.
5. It's TrachYphyllia, not TrachOphyllia.
6. Micromussa lords are not a type of Lobophyllia, but are in the family Lobophylliidae. Saying that they are a Lobophyllia would be like saying that a Blastomussa is a type of Plerogyra just because it is in the family Plerogyridae.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Australophyllia wilsoni

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

@OrchidMiss. Hey hey. How u been?

 

[OrchidMiss]

@OrchidMiss. Hey hey. How u been?

Hey hey! I'm hanging in there. How about you?

 

[littlebigreef]

After collecting nearly every zoa out there I’ve been changing gears recently. Love my little collection of Trachy and wilsoni.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Hey hey! I'm hanging in there. How about you?

Same. Just at work. Days draggin. Only few hours left tho.

 

[design.maddie]

Common!! Seriously? Platygyra are amazing. Don't make me go take a photo of mine and show you.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

In what universe is cyphastrea a brain coral?

 

[OrchidMiss]

Same. Just at work. Days draggin. Only few hours left tho.

Not me, working til close to 9 tonight.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Trachy and wilsoni for me

 

[flashsmith]

Trachy for sure

 

[thermoJoe]

Not sure what species. It's about 2' in diameter now, and it might be needing another brain coral transplant...I've had it for over 10 years now, from when it was just a wee lad.

 

[Peace River]

In what universe is cyphastrea a brain coral?

Great question and thanks for engaging! One of the things that I like about this forum is the information that can emerge through healthy discussion. Cyphastrea are part of the family Merulinidae which contains many of the brain corals. At least a few online retailers have identified the cyphastrea that they have for sale as brain corals so there appears to be some confusion or misinformation. How would y'all categorize what is and isn't a brain coral?

 

[JoJosReef]

Trachy. Interested in lobos too, though.

 

[code4]

Trachy. Have had this guy for about 4 years.

 

[Mark Bradley]

One of my fav’s

 

[BeanAnimal]

I think it is very shallow to look only at beauty or intelligence, there are brain corals out there that just need love… even if they are not that smart.

 

[Peace River]

I think it is very shallow to look only at beauty or intelligence, there are brain corals out there that just need love… even if they are not that smart.

No worries! We'll talk about them tomorrow!!!

 

[Tcook]

Trachy-O!