Shape-Shifting in Coral

[Boomer]

Shape-shifting in corals makes identification almost impossible for all.
Just when you thought it was possible to ID species of sps corals apart, as many led you to believe or think that they can or you think you can, along comes some smart-ass, that has his terds all wrapped up in a neat little ball, that tells you, you are talking out of your butt end and are really clueless most of the time, which I have always believed in. This means, in short, that Veron's book on coral ID has many errors on species ID

Shape-shifting corals: Molecular markers show morphology is evolutionarily plastic in Porites
Zac H Forsman, Daniel J Barshis, Cynthia L Hunter, Robert J Toonen
BMC Evolutionary Biology 2009, 9:45 (24 February 2009)

http://www.biomedcentral.com/content...-2148-9-45.pdf



Zac is very proud of this accomplishment and here is more in the News

Shape-shifting Coral Evade Identification
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090223221343.htm

Shape-shifting coral evade identification
http://www.physorg.com/news154684953.html

Shape-shifting coral evade identification | Eureka! Science News
http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/02/24/shape.shifting.coral.evade.identification

Science Centric | News | Shape-shifting coral evade identification
http://7thspace.com/headlines/30420...ogy_is_evolutionarily_plastic_in_porites.html

Shape-shifting corals: Molecular markers show morphology is evolutionarily plastic in Porites - 7thSpace Interactive

Shape-shifting coral evade identification - GeneRef
http://www.generef.com/newsstory.rss.html?pid=61018


wild shores of singapore
http://wildshores.blogspot.com/

 

[danno14]

LMAO!!!!
Nominated for phrase of the week!

along comes some smart-ass, that has his terds all wrapped up in a neat little ball

 

[dots]

Remember the old days when everything was acropora sp.?

I guess the saying now goes....."Horseshoes, Hand Grenades.......and......Visual Coral ID"

I have always thought a larger reference sample selection in the id references showing both wild and captive examples was needed.

Havn't read it yet, but does it mention the degree of variance observed or potential? I have no problem with narrowing pieces to 3 or 4 then making further determinations down the line as the colony matures and others observed.

But just like anything else in the hobby......Identification will get further refined as we learn more.

See: "Watts per gallon"