Fungia vs Cycloseris

[Petunia]

What, exactly, is the difference between a fungia and a cycloseris?

I know that the fungia is flate and the cycloseris is mounded... but, what else is there for a difference between the two?

[Twitterbait]

Not sure... looks like homework time...

[Twitterbait]

It looks like the big difference is tentacle length and extension. skeleton structure is the same and i would say the general requirements are the same too. I would not call these beginner coral though. they can be very picky esp. when moved. plus they can move on their own and sting other coral.

[wharyat]

Really not much difference at all. They are both in the Fungiidae family, the differences are only in skeletal formation and corallite/polyp size.

• Cycloserus corallites (where the polyp attaches to the skeleton) are smaller than Fungia.
• Cycloserus septo-costae¹ are inconspicuous.
• Cycloserus is solitary and circular like Fungia, but septa (radial wall like divisions of the corallite) have fine saw-like teeth.
• Fungia has nipple like projections on the underside, whereas Cycloserus is smooth.

¹Septo-costae - vertical skeletal partitions extending between corallites composed of both septa and costae
Costae - radial skeletal elements that extend out of the corallite wall

[tims]

they do look very close to eachother that is for sure..
Cycloseris costulata
Cycloseris cyclolites
Cycloseris erosa
Cycloseris marginata
Cycloseris patelliformis
Cycloseris sommervillei
Cycloseris vaughani