Content
- Characteristics of corals
- What is the function of corals?
- Hermatypic corals: explanation and examples
- Types of corals: gender acropora or deer antler corals:
- Types of corals: gender Agaricia or flat corals:
- Types of corals: brain corals, of various genres:
- Types of corals: Hydrozoa or fire corals:
- Ahermatypic corals: explanation and examples
- Types of corals: some species of Gorgonia
It is normal that, when thinking about the word coral, the image of the animals of the Great Barrier Reef comes to mind, since without these animals capable of forming limestone exoskeletons, the reefs, essential for life in the ocean, would not exist. there are several types of corals, including types of soft corals. But do you know how many types of coral there are? In this article by PeritoAnimal we will explain what types of corals are and also some interesting facts about them. Keep reading!
Characteristics of corals
The corals belong to the phylum Cnidaria, just like the jellyfish. Most corals are classified in the Anthozoa class, although there are some in the Hydrozoa class. It is the hydrozoans that generate a limestone skeleton, called fire corals because their bite is dangerous and they are part of the coral reefsthere.
There are many types of marine corals, and about 6,000 species. It is possible to find types of hard corals, which are those that have a calcareous exoskeleton, while others have a flexible horny skeleton, and others do not even form a skeleton in themselves, but have spikes embedded in the dermal tissue, which protect them. Many corals live in symbiosis with zooxanthellae (symbiotic photosynthetic algae) that provide them with most of their food.
Some of these animals live in great colonies, and others in a solitary way. They have tentacles around their mouths that allow them to catch food that floats in the water. Like a stomach, they have a cavity with a tissue called gastrodermis, which can be septate or with nematocysts (stinging cells like jellyfish) and a pharynx that communicates with the stomach.
Many coral species form reefs, they are symbiosis with zooxanthellae, known as hermatypic corals. Corals that do not form reefs are of the ahermatypic type. This is the classification used to know the different types of corals. Corals can reproduce asexually using various mechanisms, but they also carry out sexual reproduction.
What is the function of corals?
Corals have an extremely important function as they have ecosystems with great biodiversity. Within the functions of corals are the filtration of water for the production of their own food, and they also serve as a refuge for the food of most fish. Furthermore, they are home to several species of crustaceans, fish and molluscs. are under extinction risk due to climate change, pollution and irregular fishing.
Hermatypic corals: explanation and examples
You hermatypic corals are the types of hard corals that have a rocky exoskeleton formed by calcium carbonate. This type of coral is dangerously threatened by so-called "coral bleaching". The color of these corals comes from the symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae.
These microalgae, the main source of energy for corals, are being threatened by the increase in temperature in the oceans as a result of changesclimatic, excessive sunlight and certain diseases. When zooxanthellae die, corals bleach and die, which is why hundreds of coral reefs have disappeared. Some examples of hard corals are:
Types of corals: gender acropora or deer antler corals:
- Acropora cervicornis;
- Acropora palmata;
- Acropora proliferates.
Types of corals: gender Agaricia or flat corals:
- Agaricia undata;
- Agaricia fragilis;
- Agaricia tenuifolia.
Types of corals: brain corals, of various genres:
- Clivosa Diploria;
- Colpophyllia natans;
- Diploria labyrinthiformis.
Types of corals: Hydrozoa or fire corals:
- Millepora alcicornis;
- Stylaster roseus;
- Millepora squarrosa.
Ahermatypic corals: explanation and examples
The main feature of ahermatypic corals is that they don't have a limestone skeleton, although they can establish a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae. Hence, they do not form coral reefs, however, they can be colonial.
The gorgonians, whose skeleton is formed by a protein substance secreted by themselves. In addition, within the fleshy tissue are the spicules, which act providing support and protection.
Types of corals: some species of Gorgonia
- Ellisella elongata;
- Iridigorgia sp;
- Acanella sp.
In the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, it is possible to find another kind of soft coral, in this case of the subclass Octocorallia, the hand of the dead (Alcyonium palmatum). A small soft coral that sits on the rocks. Other soft corals, such as those of the Capnella genus, have an arboreal conformation, branching out from a main foot.
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