Anatomy of the Corals

Anatomy of the corals we will share here is still basic.

Do you know that many people wondered if corals including species of animals or plants?

In fact, coral is an animal that has a shape like a tube with a mouth on that also serves as an anus.

In the vicinity of the mouth surrounded by tentacles which serves as a food catcher.

In addition to the mouth, coral also has a throat that is directly connected to the abdominal cavity. In the belly of coral, there is a kind of gut that serves as a means of digesting. We can see, the picture on the right is a picture of the anatomy of the corals.

We need to know that these corals also have some of the cells. Two of these cells is: nematocyts cell and mocus cell. Nematocyts cell is stinging cell that serves as a means of catching food and defend themselves. While mocus cell, functioning as a production mocus to help catch food and to cleanse themselves of sediment attached.

The main building corals, is a scleractinian, or coral rock. Most of the corals, live in symbiosis with unicellular algae inside the coral endoderm tissue.

Single-celled algae with microscopic size and the color brown is called Zoozanthellae.

Zooxanthellae require sunlight for photosynthesis so it can grow and breed well. Besides sunlight, zooxanthellae need other nutrients namely nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients are absorbed directly by the coral in the body tissues leading to tissue algae through photosynthesis and respiration processes.

Each type of coral requiring different light intensity. It depends on the depth of coral origin. Coral from shallow seas require sunlight intensity is very high. Unlike the coral from the deep ocean, the intensity of sunlight that is needed is very low.

Examples of coral, which is derived from the shallow sea, among others: polyps, mushrooms, Acropora formosa, and so forth.

Examples of coral, which comes from the deep ocean, among others: blustomusa, scolymia, Favia and others.

That is why it is important to us, before we preserve coral in the aquarium, is expected to first learn about Anatomy of the Corals.

Anatomy of the Corals that we share in this thread may be useful for visitors.

At another occasion I hope we can add some other things about the Anatomy of the Corals.