Related FAQs: Nephtheids, Nephtheids 2, Dendronephthya, Neptheid Identification, Nephtheid Behavior, Nephtheid Compatibility, Nephtheid Selection, Nephtheid Systems, Nephtheid Feeding, Nephtheid Disease, Nephtheid Reproduction/Propagation, Soft Coral Propagation, Soft Coral Health, Related Articles: Dendronephthya and Scleronephthya, Corals to Avoid, by Adam Blundell, Soft Corals, Order Alcyonacea, /The Best Livestock For Your Reef Aquarium: Soft Corals of the Family Nephtheidae, Part 1 To: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4,

By Bob Fenner

Capnella sp.

Genus Capnella Gray 1869: (Kenya) Tree Coral. Have small arborescent headed colonies, with polyps that are non-retractile.

Capnella sp. Indo-Pacific. Polyps found on small branches at end of only a few branchings, and are not retractable. Have club-shaped sclerites within. Often misidentified as Litophytons. Aquarium photo and close-up.

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Capnella imbricata (Quoy & Gaimard 1833). Distinctive compact colonies with short branches that occur straight up from their basal stalk. Polyps are crowded and don't retract, restricted to terminus of branches. Western Pacific; New Guinea, Philippines. N. Sulawesi pix.

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Genus Chironephthya:

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Chironephthya, stalks appear same thickness. Here in Sipadan

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Genus Dendronephthya Kukenthal 1905: Strawberry Corals. Greatly bunched, bushy colonies. Common in many areas of the tropical Indo-Pacific. Lack Zooxanthellae, dependent of nano-plankton and dissolved organics for food. Some grow exposed, many others in caves, sheltered settings, mostly "upside down". Some 250 species are said to exist... not able to be discerned in the field... must be microscopically examined.

Dendronephthya sp. Indo-West Pacific. Polyps in groups of varying number on the distal branches of colonies. These are supported by internal and surface (visible) sclerites. Feed on very fine plankton and dissolved organic matter. Very difficult to maintain in captivity. Close up at right in the Red Sea, two below in the Andaman Sea off of Thailand and one in Fiji in a typical (upside down) orientation in a cave.

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To: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4,