[Coral-List] New tool for Caribbean coral species identification

Mark J A Vermeij vermeij at hawaii.edu
Fri Nov 27 12:52:05 EST 2009


Dear All

In an attempt to aid people new to identifying corals, Carmabi compiled a series of pictures that show combinations of corals that are often mistaken for one another. Because terminology to describe each species is often subjective (i.e. has larger polyps or smaller ridges) having both species in one picture might help to get a better idea of how such closely related/ similar looking "species" can be distinguished from one another.Corals are now divided in four main groups (Montastraea, Agaricidae, Brain-looking corals and the Rest). All identifications are based on commonly used species names here on Curacao. This overview is a work in progress, but I thought it would be useful to throw it out as it is. 

The four aforementioned coral groups can be found at Carmabi's research website: http://www.researchstationcarmabi.org/ 
Click on "Publications" and a drop-down menu will appear with all the coral combinations for all four coral groups. 

The following links take you directly to each group:
For Montastraea: http://www.researchstationcarmabi.org/publications/coral-id-curacao-montastraea
For Agaricidae: http://www.researchstationcarmabi.org/publications/coral-id-curacao-agaricidae
For "Brain"corals: http://www.researchstationcarmabi.org/publications/coral-id-curacao-braincorals
For "The Rest": http://www.researchstationcarmabi.org/publications/coral-id-curacao-the-rest

Hopefully you'll find this overview useful.

Best regards

Mark

__________________________________
Dr. M.J.A. Vermeij
Science Director
Carmabi Foundation
Piscaderabaai z/n
Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles
Phone: +5999-5103067  NEW NUMBER 
Email: m.vermeij at carmabi.org
Skype: markvermeij
Web:http://www.researchstationcarmabi.org/






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