Goniopora columna - A few days after being added to display
Picture taken May 2006, Nikon D70 Digital SLR, Sigma 105mm EX macro lens

Family: Poritidae.

Goniopora (goh-nee-oh-pohr'-ah) tend to have very light porous round, columnar or massive skeletons. All species of goniopora have 24 tentacles on each polyp.

I'm not 100% positive on the species identification with the specimen. It appears to be G. columna base on its physical structure and how it appears to have been sawed off a larger colony. This is clearly not one of the free living species.

If you are considering keeping a Goniopora species are currently have one, please be sure to review the web site http://www.goniopora.org/ for details and excellent information on proper care. I watched John Kelly present his finding at IMAC in April 2006 and spent some time one-on-one drilling him with my question about this coral. After over 10 years of reef keeping experience, after talking to him I finally felt it was time to try one. This is the first time I have ever attempted to keep a Goniopora specimen.

Goniopora columna - polyp close up.
Picture taken May 2006, Nikon D70 Digital SLR, Sigma 105mm EX macro lens

Close up of the polyps. There are 24 tentacles per polyp. It is common for goniopora to retract is polyps partly or completely at night. It tends to only extend during the day.

Goniopora are members of the family Poritidae along with members such as Alveopora (looks much like Goniopora but has 12 tentacles instead of 24) and Porites. Interesting how something with polyps that can reach 12 inches is related to Porites which are considered SPS corals with polyps often smaller than montipora species.