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Blastomussa is a celebrated genus of stony corals in the home aquarium, but there’s still a lot we don’t know about the biodiversity of this coral group. For starters, we confused the Indo-Pacific Blastomussa for B. wellsi for many years, until the unique and wildly colorful Indonesian Blastos were described as a separate species, Blastomussa vivida.
A little while before that, a previously described and then demoted species of Blastomussa, B. loyae was ressurected as a good and valid species. While the redescription of this species did include some images of the living Blasto-loyae, it wasn’t until this weekend that we uncovered an image of this little-known species in all its glory.
You may remember the ethereal photographs of Alexander Semenov featuring otherworldy antarctic sea animals. Mr. Semenov’s photographic artistry has also been employed in the Red Sea where he composed this photo of a gorgeous Blastomussa loyae.
Blastomussa vivida and B. wellsi get the lion’s share of the aquarium attention for this genus but the lesser known B. loyae can be equally and uniquely attractive. The white ‘spokes’ contrast so nicely on the deep red oral disc, unlike any other morph of Blastomussa we’ve ever seen, and the small bright green tentacles hint at the tricolor potential of this species.
Alas, being recorded only from the Red Sea we don’t expect to see corals coming from the Red Sea anytime soon. But one can hope and dream, right?
Readers also viewed:
Click here to read the article...
A little while before that, a previously described and then demoted species of Blastomussa, B. loyae was ressurected as a good and valid species. While the redescription of this species did include some images of the living Blasto-loyae, it wasn’t until this weekend that we uncovered an image of this little-known species in all its glory.
You may remember the ethereal photographs of Alexander Semenov featuring otherworldy antarctic sea animals. Mr. Semenov’s photographic artistry has also been employed in the Red Sea where he composed this photo of a gorgeous Blastomussa loyae.
Blastomussa vivida and B. wellsi get the lion’s share of the aquarium attention for this genus but the lesser known B. loyae can be equally and uniquely attractive. The white ‘spokes’ contrast so nicely on the deep red oral disc, unlike any other morph of Blastomussa we’ve ever seen, and the small bright green tentacles hint at the tricolor potential of this species.
Alas, being recorded only from the Red Sea we don’t expect to see corals coming from the Red Sea anytime soon. But one can hope and dream, right?
Readers also viewed:
- Blastomussa loyae resurrected as a valid species from the Red Sea
- Sweet video by Tidal Gardens is your two minute guide to Blastomussa corals
- New Royal Nature Ion Balanced Pro salt mixes up quickly
- Lessepsian migration between the Mediterranean and Red Seas via the Suez Canal
- All in one Aquariums: Critical to the Success of the hobby
- Cyphastrea kausti, a new stony coral species from the Red Sea
- Red Sea Reefer Tank makes American debut at ReefStock 2015
- Sclerophyllia margariticola is a new species of ‘Mini Scoly’ from the Red Sea
Click here to read the article...