Net fire coral
| Net fire coral | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Subkingdom: | Metazoa |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Hydrozoa |
| Order: | Anthoathecata |
| Family: | Milleporidae |
| Genus: | Millepora |
| Species: | M. dichotoma |
| Binomial name | |
| Millepora dichotoma Forsskål, 1775 | |
Like all fire corals, the net fire coral is a hydrozoan, consisting of a colony of polyps with a calcareous skeleton. Part of the metabolism of the fire coral relies on zooxanthellae included in their anatomy. They are found from the Red Sea to Samoa and South Africa.[1] They form fan-shaped colonies up to 60 cm across, but clumps may be several metres across. Coloured mustard to olive-yellow, the fans form in a single plane.
Feeding polyps snare plankton from the passing current along exposed portions of upper reef slopes up to 15 m depth, growing transverse to the prevailing current to ensure maximum exposure to passing foodstuff. The stinging nematocysts contain a toxin which causes painful burn-like wounds on contact. At worst, this may cause collapse in those with a severe allergic reaction. Skin irritation may continue for up to two weeks.
References
- ↑ Lieske, E. and Myers, R.F. (2004) Coral reef guide; Red Sea London, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-715986-2