How to tell Ricordia from Rhodatis

[jadavis01]

I just inhertited a piece of liverock with a green hairy mushroom. How can I tell if it's a Ricordia or it's a Rhodatis sp.?
Thanks!

[Rick O]

Here are the results of my very un-scientific research on my two GHMs. The first one I believe to be a Ricordia and the second a Rhodactis. I asked Horge about this a few months back and I believe he said he couldn't positively identify them from the pics and it would require inspection under a microscope. Since then I have done a lot of reading about them and this is my conclusion.

HTH, Rick
http://home.mindspring.com/~rogletre...s/shroom01.jpg
http://home.mindspring.com/~rogletre.../1209ghm01.jpg

If possible try to find out the point of origin. Ricordea are primarily Caribean species and are rarely imported on live rock, usually sold unattached and get premium prices compared to hairy mushrooms. The first pic could be either but the second pic is a rhodactis or actindiscus

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I thought I was me, but we were wrong
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[horge]

Well, if I previously said positively ID'ing Ricordea was difficult, then I stand by it http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif --though Rhodactis is somewhat easier to distinguish from others.

Anyway, I would have to concur with Doug: the first one could be anyone's guess, and the second one is likely Rhodactis.

horge

P.S. Keep in mind that Corallimorpharian taxonomy is a messy barrel of guts right now, and headed for revision, but here's where things stand, with some relevant Genera noted:

Corallimorpharia (skeletonless corals)
...Sideractidae

...Corallimorphidae
.........Corynactis spp.
.........Pseudocorynactis spp.

...Ricordeidae
.........Ricordea spp.

...Discosomatidae
.........Discosoma spp. aka Actinodiscus spp
.........Rhodactis spp.
.........Amplexidiscus

[bill-e]

I usually tell the difference by looking at how they are spelled http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif

Happy Holidays!

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Bill Esposito
bespo@cereal.mv.com
JAqua for the AquaController 2
http//cereal.mv.com/jaqua.html
My Reef Page
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The box said "Use Win 95 or better", I chose better so I run OS/2!

[ReefJunkie]

Well my shot..

The first is a Ricordea sp.-or- a actinodiscus sp. (commonly imported as Ricordea) Because of there very close resemblance they are vey hard to distinguish between the two.

The second is most likley Rhodactis sp. I have some Rhodasctis by the common name as "Giant Brown".

Scott

[This message has been edited by ReefJunkie (edited 12-23-2000).]