Dactylozooids have long fine hairs that protrude from the skeleton. In fact, Millepora means ‘thousand pores’. All that is visible on the smooth surface are pores of two sizes: gastropores and dactylopores. The polyps of fire corals are near microscopic size and are mostly embedded in the skeleton and connected by a network of minute canals. They are also abundant on upper reef slopes and in lagoons, and occur down to 40 m deep. They form extensive outcrops on projecting parts of the reef where the tidal currents are strong. Distribution and habitatįire corals are found on reefs in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans and the Caribbean Sea. The gonophores in the family Milleporidae arise from the coenosarc (the hollow living tubes of the upright branching individuals of a colony) within chambers embedded entirely in the coenosteum (the calcareous mass forming the skeleton of a compound coral). In encrusting growth, the fire coral forms on the calcerious structure of other coral or gorgonian structures. Plate growth adopts a shape similar to that of the smaller nonsheet lettuce corals - erect, thin sheets, which group together to form a colony. Branching adopts a calcerious structure which branches off, to rounded, finger-like tips. In addition, fire corals have a sharp, calcified external skeleton that can scrape the skin.įire coral has several common growth forms these include branching, plate, and encrusting.

The very small nematocysts on fire corals contain tentacles that protrude from numerous surface pores (similar to jellyfish stings). Upon contact, an intense pain can be felt that can last from two days to two weeks. Divers often mistake fire coral for seaweed, and accidental contact is common. They appear in small brush-like growths on rocks and coral. Distinguishing characteristicsįire corals have a bright yellow-green and brown skeletal covering and are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical waters. They are members of the phylum Cnidaria, class Hydrozoa, order Capitata, family Milleporidae. The name coral is somewhat misleading, as fire corals are not actually true corals but are more closely related to Hydra and other hydrozoans, making them hydrocorals. Fire corals are colonial marine organisms that exhibit physical characteristics similar to that of coral.

Breakwaters fire coral