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Double take lookalike corals

Mimicry exists among corals, sometimes quite overtly evolved, and other times as a result of chance processes, a sort of convergence that produces look-alike corals that are not related. Recently I saw some examples of convergent look-alike corals that, together, captivated my attention. We have an example of Sandalolitha dentata in one of the aquariums at Two Little Fishies that has a pattern of dark grey and bright green bands. In my recent visit to Advanced Aquarium Consultancy in the UK I noticed an exquisite Lithophyllon undulatum in one of their display aquariums that very strongly resembles my Sandalolitha dentata. That fun fungiid look-alike "match" alone warranted a blog post, but then I visited Top Shelf Aquatics in Orlando this month and was astonished by their "Cold Fusion Montipora" produced in house by grafting that bears striking resemblance to the aforementioned fungiids. A "Reverse Cold Fusion" was also produced there. A diver swimming over these could certainly imagine all were the same type of coral. Only in our aquariums can we appreciate the differences in fine detail. 

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