How related are they?
Same genus, Lobophyllia (carpet brain coral): very close cousins
They split at the species level.
Find the Lobophyllia Coral on the tree · Find the Scoly Coral on the tree
Family lines, side by side
Highlighted rows are groups both animals belong to. The marked row is where their lines go separate ways.
| Rank | Lobophyllia Coral | Scoly Coral |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia Animals | |
| Phylum | Cnidaria Cnidarians | |
| Subphylum | Anthozoa Corals and sea anemones | |
| Class | Hexacorallia Hexacorals | |
| Order | Scleractinia Stony corals | |
| Suborder | Vacatina Robust corals | |
| Family | Lobophylliidae Lobophylliid corals | |
| Genus | Lobophyllia carpet brain coral | |
| Species split | — | Lobophyllia vitiensis Scoly Coral |
Care, side by side
| Fact | Lobophyllia Coral | Scoly Coral |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Coral · LPS coral | Coral · LPS coral |
| Care level | Moderate | Easy |
| Reef safe | Yes | Yes |
| Temperament | Aggressive | Semi-aggressive |
| Diet | Photosynthetic | Photosynthetic |
| Favorite foods | Light (photosynthesis by symbiotic algae), Mysis and other frozen meaty foods, Coral pellets and powders | Mysis shrimp, Brine shrimp (enriched), Chopped krill or shrimp |
| Max size | — | 4 in (10.2 cm) |
| Minimum tank | — | 30 gal |
| Temperature | 72–78 °F | 74–78 °F |
| Salinity (SG) | 1.023–1.025 | 1.023–1.026 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 | 8.1–8.4 |
| Nitrate | 5–10 ppm | — |
| Lifespan | No published lifespan. Colonies grow slowly and can persist for many years once settled; Tidal Gardens notes that survival improves the longer a coral has been in captivity. | No fixed lifespan. A single scoly can live for many years in a stable aquarium if it is fed and kept out of harm's way; growth is slow. |
| Breeding | Moderate | Hard |
| Conservation (IUCN) | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |