TM

Limited Edition
Ghost Corals
The Green Leviathan
Deepwater Acropora


The Limited Edition Green Leviathan Ghost Corals Colony. A deepwater flat branching Acropora colony
that has adapted well to captivity. Developing fluorscent green pigmentation with exposure to
moderate light. Areas on the right sides were shaded from direct light and were receiving only
weak light levels. Areas on the left sides were exposed to moderate to strong direct light.
Image Copyright © 2011 by Reeffarmers All Rights Reserved.

A Deepwater Sea Monster Acropora called The Green Leviathan. This very uniquely flat and thin branching Acropora has recently developed some fluorescent green pigmentation in captivity. It is a very rare and slightly difficult to maintain Acropora species morph. Definitely a coral for morphology collectors and it has a lot of potential to adapt and morph in captivity over the long term. The coral is named after the Leviathan a mythical and great sea monster. Also known as the Dragon of the Sea, it has a form that is generally accepted to be that of an unusually enormous sea serpent. Each branch of The Green Levathan Acropora has a basic morphology remotely similar to that of a serpent.

The Green Leviathan Acropora was originally acquired by Hugo of Ghost Corals in late 2009. It was part of a group of deepwater Acropora coral colonies that were imported at that time. Some of these uniquely branched Acropora corals were labelled as A. pichoni, A. simplex, A. tenella and A. elegans. This particular coral was initially thought to be an A. pichoni. Many of these imported coral colonies did not fully adapt to captivity. That is typically the case when new species and morphs are first imported. The collectors, exporters, distributors, retailers and end purchasers all need to learn the sensitivities of the new specimens.

Hugo believes that The Green Leviathan might be an A. rambleri. Reeffarmers thinks it might be an A. tenella. It is also possible that it might be an A. elegans. Very remote possibility that it might be an A. pichoni. The Green Leviathan has some unique structure and morphology that does not exactly match any of the listed possible species. The coral was initially only colored brown. In low light it remained light brown colored and did not grow well. Hugo exposed the coral to moderate light levels where it has developed fluorescent green pigmentation. It has also sprouted numerous axial corallites orientated toward the light sources. Coloration is more of a cream to fluorescent green in moderate light levels. There is also some hint of developing turquoise blue pigmentation.

Steve Tyree is maintaining a seed section of this coral for Reeffarmers.com in a 130 gallon Raceway Gyre BiZonal system. This system is naturally filtered with a semi-cryptic zone and a reef flat exposed zone. In Steve's captive reef the coral is positioned to receive weak to moderate light levels from a 400 watt 20,000 K Radium metal halide. Water current is also weak to moderate. The First Edition for this coral was sold to coral collector Gunter Adkins.


Limited Edition The Green Leviathan Ghost Corals Colony Branch Closeup.
After being exposed to stronger light, numerous new axial polyps developed.
Note how the branches have not primarily fused together. They initially grew very flat.
A faint turquoise blue pigmentation is visible on these branch stems.
Image Copyright © 2011 by Reeffarmers All Rights Reserved.

Reeffarmers Actual The Green Leviathan First Edition fragment.
This is the actual First Edition small multibranch fragment.
It was harvested from the original colony one week prior to image.
Maximum Dimensions of Fragment are 3/8 x 3/8 inch.
Image Copyright © 2011 by Reeffarmers All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2011 by Reeffarmers All Rights Reserved.

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