Black coral

Black coral

Taxobox



name = Black coral
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Cnidaria
classis = Anthozoa
subclassis = Ceriantipatharia
ordo = Antipatharia
ordo_authority = Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1857
familia = Antipathidae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision =
* "Antipathes"
* "Aphanipathes"
* "Bathypathes"
* "Cirripathes"
* "Leiopathes"
* "Parantipathes"
* "Stichopathes"
* "Taxipathes"

Black coral is a term given to a group of deep water, tree-like coral related to sea anemone which normally occurs in the tropics although it is also found in shallow water non-tropical areas such as Milford Sound in New Zealand where it can be seen in an underwater observatory.

Though its living tissue is brilliantly colored, black coral takes its name from the distinctive black or dark brown color of its skeleton. Also unique to black coral are the tiny spines that cover the surface of the skeleton, the origin of the nickname little thorn coral. In the Hawaiian language, black coral is called "‘ēkaha kū moana" and is the official state gem of Hawaii. Black coral is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

External links

* "Antipathidae" entry at [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/classification/Antipathidae.html#Antipathidae Animal Diversity Web]
*
* National Geographic, [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/06/0606_blackcoral.html Research Expedition Aimed at Halting Loss of Black Coral]
* ARKive, Identification of black corals [http://www.arkive.org/coral/Coral/antipatharia_id.html]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • black coral — Coral Cor al, n. [Of. coral, F, corail, L. corallum, coralium, fr. Gr. kora llion.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) The hard parts or skeleton of various Anthozoa, and of a few Hydrozoa. Similar structures are also formed by some Bryozoa. [1913 Webster] Note: The… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • black coral-pea — juosvoji kenedija statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Pupinių šeimos dekoratyvinis augalas (Kennedia nigricans), paplitęs Australijoje. atitikmenys: lot. Kennedia nigricans angl. black coral pea; black bean šaltinis Valstybinės lietuvių kalbos… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • black coral — /blæk ˈkɒrəl/ (say blak koruhl) noun a group of deepwater antipatharian corals with tree like shapes; the stems are black or dark brown and are covered with very small coloured spines. Also, thorny coral …  

  • black coral — noun : an antipatharian coral having a black horny axis …   Useful english dictionary

  • black coral — noun Any of various tropical corals of the family Antipathidae …   Wiktionary

  • “black coral.” —    Ekaha kū moana …   English-Hawaiian dictionary

  • Coral sand — from a beach on Aruba Coral sand is sand of particles originating in tropical and sub tropical marine environments from bioerosion of limestone skeletal material of marine organisms. One example of this process is that of parrot fishes which bite …   Wikipedia

  • Coral — Cor al, n. [Of. coral, F, corail, L. corallum, coralium, fr. Gr. kora llion.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) The hard parts or skeleton of various Anthozoa, and of a few Hydrozoa. Similar structures are also formed by some Bryozoa. [1913 Webster] Note: The large… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Coral animal — Coral Cor al, n. [Of. coral, F, corail, L. corallum, coralium, fr. Gr. kora llion.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) The hard parts or skeleton of various Anthozoa, and of a few Hydrozoa. Similar structures are also formed by some Bryozoa. [1913 Webster] Note: The… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Coral fish — Coral Cor al, n. [Of. coral, F, corail, L. corallum, coralium, fr. Gr. kora llion.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) The hard parts or skeleton of various Anthozoa, and of a few Hydrozoa. Similar structures are also formed by some Bryozoa. [1913 Webster] Note: The… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”