We saw a few impressive new coral species that were defined previous year; some overwhelmed us and some failed to generate any buzz. Here comes this year’s first new species of corals defined recently and thought not much have been known about this species we are pretty positive that this one is going to make it to the top of the list by the end of the year.
Newly described stony corals are scarce and outlying between but West Africa and seem to have been hiding more than that in reachable, comparatively shallow water. The new coral Balanopsammia wirtzi is an azooxanthellate stony coral from West Africa which was of late revealed to be dissimilar from comparable species in the family Dendrophyllidae including Balanophyllia and Cladopsammia, enough so to call for the composition of a new genus.
Balanopsammia wirtzi is found to dwell in well flowed intertidal pools and shallow rocky reefs down to a depth of 10m (33 feet). The new Azoox coral has been established budding in a few different regions of the Cape Verde Islands of West Africa including Sao Tiago Island and Sal Island. Colonies of the Balanopsammia are moderately colonial, forming clusters of up to 15 corallites that can have living tissue in pink, reddish and orange. The color pattern is bright and will add a new envy to your tank if added amongst the rest of the corals. If you are bored of the same pattern and colors of the tank, this species could be your new guest of entertainment.
The taxonomists responsible for describing the new genus and species noted the similarity between Balanopsammia and related genera but that this particular coral is predominantly dissimilar in both growth form and habitation. The colonial growth form of B. wirtzi is somewhat diverse with “persistence of fused septa” from young to maturity being a unique feature.
Well these are the only known information about this species of coral that is soon to make entry into the saltwater aquarium trade but we will keep your updated with the latest news about this bright new discovery. Stay tuned reef fanatics!