Branching Non-Branching Hammer (I know it sounds weird)

[theclearblue]

I bought a hammer yesterday (euphyllia ancora), and it hadn't really occurred to me until now that this was extremely odd. It is obviously a wall hammer, but off of one of the sides there is a branch forming. Pretty weird, huh? I blew some current onto the main body and all of it receded... but the branch, so it looks to be living independently. Any ideas what's going on?

 

Here are some pics:

 

Here is the Hammer expanded

 

Here is a top view of the branch

 

And from the side

 

What do ya think, is this common?

[pyrrhus]

not uncommon for a coral to change growth forms with different current light etc.

[theclearblue]

Hmm... well at least it'll be easy to frag and trade in the future.

[Steve973]

Wow, what a beautiful specimen. Congratulations on this find.