Octocorals: Difference between revisions
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Soft corals are known to often change forms so to adapt with water flows and types of prey. Some species, like the Xeniidae family, are known to exhibit a 'pulsing' motion. This happens when the polyps retract, extend, and retract again on the surface of the coral in order to capture prey. | Soft corals are known to often change forms so to adapt with water flows and types of prey. Some species, like the Xeniidae family, are known to exhibit a 'pulsing' motion. This happens when the polyps retract, extend, and retract again on the surface of the coral in order to capture prey. | ||
[[File:softcoral.jpg]] | |||
== Reef Creatures == | == Reef Creatures == | ||
Revision as of 10:11, 25 February 2015
Soft Corals
Soft coral is also known as Alcyonacea and ahermatypic coral, which is a type of coral that does not secrete calcium carbonate skeleton or forms reefs. They are normally colorful and look like underwater plants that swing with the wave in the ocean. They are colonial, and often times little polyps combine together to form a large organism.
Structure and Biology
Soft corals have sclerites, which is a spiky skeleton element that soft coral secretes that supports their vertical structure as well as give them texture. They also has gorgonin in the inner core of their colony, which is a type of fibrous protein that enables the flexibility of soft corals and their swinging movement along with the ocean waves (NOAA). Their polyps are anatomically different.
Suborders
| Alcyoniina |
| Calcaxonia |
| Holaxonia |
| Protoalcyonaria |
| Scleraxonia |
| Stolonifera |
Distribution and Habitats
Soft Corals can be found in waters world wise; however, primarily exist in tropical climates. They are typically found in intertidal zones. Some are found at depths up to six hundred and fifty feet or more. Soft corals exist on inner reefs just below the stony corals. They are not often the dominant corals within the reef, inhabiting dim areas such as caverns. Soft corals are easily collected from the wild and most will thrive and grow quickly in captivity. Because of this, soft corals are popular for domestic aquariums.
Behavior
Soft corals are most known for getting their nutrients from multiple sources such as symbiotic relationships, planktonic organisms, microscopic food particles in the water, and dissolved organic matter. Many soft corals obtain the largest portion of their nutrients from symbiosis with the marine algae, zooxanthellae. Soft corals that are kept in captivity will thrive well being given plankton or brine shrimp.
Soft corals are known to often change forms so to adapt with water flows and types of prey. Some species, like the Xeniidae family, are known to exhibit a 'pulsing' motion. This happens when the polyps retract, extend, and retract again on the surface of the coral in order to capture prey.
Reef Creatures
Class Photos from the US/British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean
References
animal-world.com