1 hard corals

Upload: dina-peter-shawn

Post on 02-Mar-2018

227 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

  • 7/26/2019 1 Hard Corals

    1/5

    NO. PICTURE DESCRIPTION

    1

    Staghorn Coral:

    - Staghorn Coral is a branching coral withcylindrical branches ranging from a fewcentimeters to over 6.5 feet (2 m) inlength. This coral exhibits the fastestgrowth of all known western Atlanticcorals, with branches increasing in lengthby 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) per year and isone of the three most importantCaribbean corals in terms of itscontribution to reef growth and fishhabitat.

    2

    Pillar corals:

    - This type of coral grows up from the seafloor, but without any secondarybranching. They can grow to be up to 2.5m (8 ft) tall. They can grow on both flatand sloping sea floors at a depth ofbetween 1 and 20 m (65 ft). They are oneof the few types of hard coral whosepolyps can commonly be seen feedingduring the day.

    3

    Table Coral:

    - Table Coral is the same branching type ofcoral as Staghorn coral, however it growas flat plates. The shape of table coral isideal to expose as much of their surfaceas possible to sunlight. The usual color oftable coral is a dull brown or green, but itis brightened up by the numerous reef fishthat shelter under and around its plates.

    Stag-horn Coral

    Pillar Coral

    Table Coral

  • 7/26/2019 1 Hard Corals

    2/5

    NO. PICTURE DESCRIPTION

    4

    Brain coral:

    - Named because of this corals spheroidshape and grooved surface whichresembles an animal brain. The life spanof the largest brain corals is 900 years.Colonies can grow as large as 6 or morefeet (1.8 m) high.

    5

    Great st ar coral:

    - This type of coral is a colonial stony coralfound in the Caribbean seas. It forms intomassive boulders and sometimesdevelops into plates. Its Polyps are thesize of a persons thumb and can be seenfully extend at night.

    6

    Tube Coral:

    - Tube Coral is a large polyp stony coral,and is found in a variety of colors andforms depending upon species. Thetubastraea faulkneri is known as theOrange Cup or Sun Coral, pictured above.

    Brain Coral

    Great Star Coral

    Tube Sponge Coral

  • 7/26/2019 1 Hard Corals

    3/5

    NO. PICTURE DESCRIPTION

    7

    - Normally found where there is a heavywave action and low light; these thin

    colonies adhere closely and are attachedto the substrate. A wonderfully sculpturedcoral, distinctively yellow-green with brightmargins. Found on reef tops to 20m depth

    8

    - The genus Lobophyllia is distributed withseveral species in reefs of indo-pacific.The colonies are massive, flat orhemispherical. The corallites are large,variable in shape and separated fromeach other. Their polyps are fleshy, activeat night and are mostly nourished by theproducts of their zooxanthellae. Thecolour of the polps is variable.

    9

    - Normally found at the deeper end of reefslope; these structures enjoy lightwave/current action and low light. Theseare fast growing corals which caneventually dominate a reef, and whoseloss is rapidly repaired. Regeneration ofthese corals can be good in as little asfive years.

    10

    - These coral generally settle in calmlagoons where they can form extensivethickets. Their bushy, needle-likebranches are delicate and fragile. Thepolyps are arranged in axial rows.

    Cabbage Coral

    Lobophyll ia Coral

    Seriatopora Coral

    Plate Coral

  • 7/26/2019 1 Hard Corals

    4/5

    NO. PICTURE DESCRIPTION11

    - These coral grow spiraling leaf-shapedcolonies with flat, thin, delicate andpartially erect branches. This species arevery similar to Leptoseris species, whichalso develop leaf-shaped structures. Theprimary differentiating feature is the factthat pavona cactus has polyps on bothsides of the lamella, while the similarleptoseris species only have themunilaterally.

    12

    - The mushroom coral is very common inshallow waters on both east and westcoast of Peninsular Malaysia. Whenyoung the disc-shaped coral is attachedby a stalk to the substrate. It later breaksoff to lie freely on the sea floor. Usuallyanother polyp then grows on the old stalk.

    13

    - Ahermatypic non reef coral Tubastreamicrantha form elongated branches indeeper parts of slopes or underoverhangs in low light conditions .

    14

    - Turret coral growing in small massive

    clumps in low-light conditions in deeperparts of the deep slopes or underoverhangs, with protruding corollites ofbright brilliant orange.

    15

    - Fire coral can deliver nasty sting tocareless divers. Fire coral grow in avariety habitats which include sheltered

    silty reefs but also Clearwater reef withstrong currents. They are dominantspecies able to spread rapidly andsmother other corals.

    Pavona Cactus Coral

    Mushroom Coral

    Tree Coral

    Turret Coral

    Fire Coral

  • 7/26/2019 1 Hard Corals

    5/5

    NO. PICTURE DESCRIPTION16

    - A Vase Coral is the only reef-building(hermatypic) coral in the familydendrophyllidae.

    17

    Blue coral:

    - Blue corals is named for their distinctive,permanently blue skeleton, which is

    generally hidden by greenish-grey or bluepolyps. Blue corals occur in tropicalwaters, on intertidal reef flats and upperreef slopes.

    Vase Coral

    Blue Coral