Identify GSP vs Encrusting Gorgonia
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: SPS
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions SPS corals.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=31336
Printed Date: June 08 2025 at 12:43pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Identify GSP vs Encrusting Gorgonia
Posted By: ss_corvette
Subject: Identify GSP vs Encrusting Gorgonia
Date Posted: February 05 2009 at 2:49pm
|
Is there a difference, I have large piece and a small piece that grew off the large one. It has purple mat and green polyps with green centers which is where i get confused. All the green start polyp pictures I have seen have a whitish center. But all the green gorgonia pictures I have seen look different than my polyps. I've read they are close relatives. I can get a better picture of mine when I get home from work but you can kind of see the small piece in bottom left corner of the following picture. Thanks  |
Replies:
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: February 09 2009 at 11:55am
|
GSP/Green Star Polyps/Pachyclavularia and Encrusting Gorgonia/Briarium) each have 8 tentacles, which makes them an octocoral, or in other words a soft coral. The easy way to tell the difference between them is that GSP tentacles are smooth and more robust whereas Briarium tentacles are are more delicate and also "fuzzy", not smooth. This tentacle fuzziness may be why it got the name Encrusting Gorgonia.  Of course each comes in various colors like brown, pink and green. It's really hard to tell from your pic but at first glance I'd say that is green Briarium. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
|