Tort ID Please

[matts125]

I just got this Tort from an online order and I need to know what species it is. I must say it is different than any I have seen, I love it.

Thanks in advance!
Matt

 

[SueT]

acropora tortuosa is the full name for what everyone calls torts. What did this vendor call this?? It doesn't look like any tort that I know of or have seen. I have any acropora austera that looks more like this, but I believe some refer to the austera's as torts too.

 

[matts125]

They referred to it as Acropora Austera but called it a Tort, this came from Live Aquaria's Maricultered WYSIWYG..

Matt

 

[SueT]

Do you happen to know who exactly this piece came from?? Was it LA or did someone sell frags to them. I just got some from the guy that is the director of LA and the frags were from a guy I know who nows sells his stock exclusively through LA. Just interested.

 

[matts125]

I couldnt tell you. so is this not a tort then? it sure looks like one..
by the way the stems are each about the diameter of a dime..

Matt

 

[SueT]

it actually looks like the austera. The ORA tort and the cali torts are not the same thing. They are different species. My bad about who LA might have gotten this from. If it's maricultured then I think then thats like being grown out in the ocean. Isn't it??

The big difference to me in this species versus the torts. are the corallites. In this austera the corallites are very irregular in size while the actual A. tortuosa are not.

 

[matts125]

I wander why they would call it a tort if it is not a tort?

 

[matts125]

Can some one show me a picture of another Acro Autrera similar to this? I a little upset that they would sell this as a tort if it is not one!

Matt

 

[matts125]

I think I found it, they call it a yellow tort. check this link and let me know if this resembles mine. it is the top left acro...

http://www.keystonecorals.com/SPS colony.html

Matt

 

[kevinpo]

Here is a picture of my Acropora austera.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[kevinpo]

Here's my Acropora tortuosa:

Regards,
Kevin

 

[spongebob lover]

nice tort Kevin .

 

[matts125]

So kevin you do agree that mine is an austera?
And do you know of the (hobby name of it?)

Matt

 

[matts125]

BTW Nice Acro's!!!

Matt

 

[SueT]

great example of the difference between the austera and the actual tortuosa. I have a yellow austera, and this species is sometimes referred to as tort's. I wouldn't be mad for any reason. I think this is where lots get into the name thing. To be purchasing an actual tort. the name should be referred to as an acropora tortuosa.

 

[kevinpo]

Hi Matt,
Yes I believe yours is A. austera. I don't know of any common name. The A. tortuosa has become so popular that people/companies want their coral to be associated with it, you know, for marketing reasons. There's not really anything wrong with that if they also give the correct name. Most commercials I see on TV are deceptive. That's why they have that tiny print that flashes across the bottom of the screen that nobody can read :lol:

The A. austera often has contrasting colored polyps. For some reason it's very difficult to capture with the camera. Mine has dark blue polyps on a lighter blue base. I have a couple of nice colonies of it. I will see if I can get some better pictures with my newer camera. Both the pictures above were taken with an old Sony Mavica 1.3 mega pixels (you know the one you put the floppy disk in) I have a Nikon Coolpix 5.1 mega pixels now.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[matts125]

Thanks for your help guys! I guess it is still a very nice acro. I cant believe how thick the branches are they are the diameter of a dime!

Matt

 

[kevinpo]

A wonderful coral indeed!

Kevin

 

[SueT]

thick branches mean lots of flow..

 

[ReeferPatt]

Here's a couple pics of my ORA A. Tortusa and yellow A. Austera.