How related are they?
Same family, Euphylliidae (Euphylliid corals): close cousins
They split at the genus level: the Torch Coral belongs to Euphyllia (Torch corals), the Hammer Coral to Fimbriaphyllia (Hammer and frogspawn corals).
Find the Torch Coral on the tree · Find the Hammer 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 | Torch Coral | Hammer Coral |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia Animals | |
| Phylum | Cnidaria Cnidarians | |
| Subphylum | Anthozoa Corals and sea anemones | |
| Class | Hexacorallia Hexacorals | |
| Order | Scleractinia Stony corals | |
| Suborder | Refertina Complex corals | |
| Family | Euphylliidae Euphylliid corals | |
| Genus split | Euphyllia Torch corals | Fimbriaphyllia Hammer and frogspawn corals |
| Species | Euphyllia glabrescens Torch Coral | Fimbriaphyllia ancora Hammer Coral |
Care, side by side
| Fact | Torch Coral | Hammer Coral |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Coral · LPS coral | Coral · LPS coral |
| Care level | Moderate | Moderate |
| Reef safe | Yes | With caution |
| Temperament | Aggressive | Aggressive |
| Diet | Photosynthetic | Photosynthetic |
| Favorite foods | Mysis shrimp, Enriched brine shrimp, Fine coral foods such as Reef Roids | Mysis shrimp, Brine shrimp, Fine coral foods such as Reef Roids |
| Max size | 10.5 in (26.7 cm) | 31.5 in (80 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 30 gal | 30 gal |
| Temperature | 75–78 °F | 75–78 °F |
| Salinity (SG) | 1.024–1.026 | 1.024–1.026 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 | 8.1–8.4 |
| Nitrate | 5–15 ppm | 5–15 ppm |
| Lifespan | No fixed lifespan: colonies grow by budding and splitting heads and can persist for many years in a stable aquarium. Individual heads can be lost to stress (polyp bailout) while the rest of the colony survives. | No fixed lifespan: colonies keep growing by budding and splitting heads and can persist for many years in a stable aquarium. Single heads can be lost to stress (polyp bailout) while the rest of the colony lives on. |
| Breeding | Easy | Moderate |
| Conservation (IUCN) | Least Concern | Least Concern |