Animal Family > Ocean Aquarium
Coelenterate--Corals (Specimen)
Release Time:2023-02-14      Author:     Share with:

Corals are known as “flowers of the sea”. Many people think corals are plants, but they are actually coelenterates. The vast majority of corals live in seawater. There are about 10,000 species of corals in existence. Corals have many “mouths” without anus, and only have a “stomach”. Their food enters the stomach through the mouth, and after digestion, the residue is expelled from the mouth, so corals are relatively low coelenterates. Due to the gorgeous colors and different postures of corals, people are often named after their shapes and colors. The coral specimens in this showcase include Antler coral (Acropora austera), Christmas tree coral (Sphaerella krempfi) and Cockscomb coral. Corals are closely related to humans. Some are edible, some can treat diseases, and some have high ornamental value. Coral reefs are formed by the accumulation of coral bones over hundreds of years of growth. Over time, the accumulated coral skeletons, combined with the calcareous skeleton secreted by other organisms such as shellfish, calcareous algae and foraminiferans, cemented together and gradually formed large reef bodies, forming the coral reefs you see today.