Coral Identifier

How It Works

Upload a clear photo of any coral and the identifier analyzes the image using the same visual cues an experienced reef keeper would: growth form, polyp structure, tissue texture, color pattern, and overall morphology. It works across SPS, LPS, and soft corals and can recognize both common hobby species and named collector morphs.

The more detail in the photo, the better the result. Full tank shots where the coral is tiny in the frame will produce lower confidence results. A tight shot showing the coral clearly against a dark background, ideally with lights on and polyps extended, gives the identifier the most to work with.

What It Can Identify

The identifier covers the corals most common in the hobby: acros, montis, and other SPS, chalice corals, Blastomussa, Acanthastrea, gonis, free-living LPS, zoas, Palythoa, Ricordea, Discosoma, leathers, and softies like pulsing Xenia.

For named collector morphs, results depend on how visually distinctive the morph is. Morphs with strong pattern signatures tend to identify well. More generic color variants may return a species-level result rather than a specific trade name, which is still useful for care guidance.

Accuracy and Limits

The identifier returns a confidence level with every result. High confidence means the visual features were distinctive enough to make a clear call. Medium confidence means the coral fits a type but the photo leaves some ambiguity. Low confidence means the identifier is making a best guess and the result should be treated as a starting point rather than a definitive ID.

Some coral families are genuinely difficult to distinguish from photos alone, particularly similar Acropora species, Favites versus Goniastrea, and Turbinaria versus some plating Montipora. Even experienced reef keepers rely on skeletal structure and polyp detail under magnification for certain IDs. If the identifier returns a low confidence result or you have reason to doubt it, we recommend cross-referencing with a reef community forum or submitting a correction using the feedback link below the tool.

The identifier is still learning and improving. Every correction submitted through the feedback link helps refine future results.