If the corals had been officially re-classified there would likely be new cites permits issued denoting the classification. However the corals are still imported under Trach permits or Wellso permits. In the past Acanthaphylia were classified as Scolymia. Recently biologists decided that they weren't scolymia after all and re-classified them as Acanthaphylia. There was a lag in importation on Acanthaphylia while permits for the "new" coral were issued.
If the corals had been officially re-classified there would likely be new cites permits issued denoting the classification. However the corals are still imported under Trach permits or Wellso permits. In the past Acanthaphylia were classified as Scolymia. Recently biologists decided that they weren't scolymia after all and re-classified them as Acanthaphylia. There was a lag in importation on Acanthaphylia while permits for the "new" coral were issued.
that is a really helpful post andy wow, i haven't see a response to this debate in a while that was this well thought out.
The old Wellsophyllia Radiata has been found to actually be Trachyphyllia Radiata. Whether this is "official" in the form of permits, etc. I do not know, however the proper scientific name is Trachyphyllia Radiata. Many people will still refer to this type of brain as a Wellso so as to not confuse it with second type of Trachy brain ( Trachyphyllia geoffroyi.) While Wellso may not be the most accurate name, it helps reduce ambiguity.
Now having said all of that, the brain in your picture is actually a Trachyphyllia geoffroyi which is different from the Wellsophyllia/Trachyphyllia Radiata. You can commonly refer to this brain as a "Trachy" without any fear of that being wrong based on classifications, as this coral has not been reclassified.