Cynarina lacrymalis is one of the more unique corals out on the reef, often endowed with a unique combination of polyp shape and vibrant coloration. A ‘typical’ colorful Cynarina is frequently a bright pinkish red overall with large inflated bubbly vesicles reminiscent of Plerogyra bubble corals but in a nice rounded polyp like other solitary large polyp stony corals.
Over the years we’ve seen some interesting color forms of Cynarina corals including a bicolored specimen, but most of the wickedly colored specimens we’ve seen have been the closely related Indophyllia coral which commonly displays wicked patterns and brilliant colors. But finally while visiting Worldwide Corals a few weeks back we saw with our own eyes one of the most sensationally colored Cynarina glowing as bright as any other LPS coral.
This particular specimen at WWC was planted in a deep reef wall style aquarium with an assortment of bombastic Micromussa Lord corals that include every color of the rainbow twice over. Despite this flamboyant company the rainbow Cynarina was impossible to miss with splotchy green vesicles, a bold red oral disc, and a shimmering spectrum of pink to gold pigment in between the bubbly flesh.
Before you ask, this masterpiece of color is already spoken for and while we may not be able to get our hands on this particular Cynarina, specimens like this inform us of how much more potential these corals hold even more than the classic red or pink Cynarina. We shouldn’t have to wait too long for the next awesome Cynarina to come along because just earlier this year Unique Corals started receiving their first shipments of Solomon Island corals where we’ve personally seen some spectacular Cynarina from this part of the Coral Triangle.
