Author: Coral Reef Survey Working Group, South China Sea Environmental Monitoring Center
In the ocean, coral reefs, which make up less than 0.1 percent of the area, provide a living environment for nearly 25 percent of marine species, making coral reefs one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. Because of its rich biodiversity, high primary productivity, and rapid material circulation, it is called "tropical rainforest in the ocean". In the South China Sea, coral reefs provide habitat for many marine life. In this hidden underwater world, what are the little-known marine spirits? Through a set of beautiful coral pictures, let's get to know and get to know them. At the same time, we also hope that more people will cherish marine resources and protect marine biodiversity.
Horned corals
Horned corals are reef-building corals belonging to the genus Corals of the order Lithophyllaceae in the order Lithopodaceae.
Horned corals are very characteristic in their morphology, with thick and porous corals and large, succulent polyps. In the water, polyps can be seen with 24 tentacles of different colors and shapes, which usually stretch and wield during the day, preying on planktonic microorganisms.
Spikes of soft coral
Soft-eared corals are non-reef-building corals belonging to the suborder Phylum Pylocyles, the suborder Soft-coral order, The Spike Coral Family.
The soft corals are composed of many branches or leafy branches, up to 2 meters in height, and can be roughly divided into three forms: bifurcated, spherical and umbel. Polyps are distributed in bunches containing 2 to 5 polyps per bunch, distributed only at the tip of the branches.
Polyps have well-developed bone needle support bundles with strong contractility. Polyps usually only stretch at night or when the currents are slightly stronger. When colonies of polyps shrink, they may be less than one-fifth the height of the stretch. Its bone needles are thick, irregular in shape, and usually have color.
Panicle soft corals are mainly distributed in tropical to temperate waters of the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, usually growing in the slightly stronger currents below 15 meters in depth, and can also grow on the muddy seabed.
Vesicular corals
Vesicle corals are reef-building corals belonging to the family Lilac corals of the order Lithophyllaceae in the order Phylum Spiny polyptera.
Vesicle corals have smooth and prominent edges and vesicle-like tentacles. Coral life groups are grey or pale green due to the outstretched tentacles.
It is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific coral reef area, and is a common species in the waters of the Spratly Islands, mainly living in the hidden environment of coral reefs, but also in turbid water environments.
Tube star coral
Tube star corals are non-reef-building corals belonging to the genus Of the genus Tubular Corals of the order Phylum Spiny Corals.
Tube star corals are commonly known as "sunflowers", the polyps are larger, have hard bones, and their polyps are colorful, yellow, orange and other colors.
The difference between the tube star coral and the reef coral is that although it is brightly colored, there is no symbiotic zooxanthellae in the body, so the tube star coral cannot rely on photosynthesis to replenish energy, and can only "forage" at night.
Source: Field Scientific Observation and Research Station of Coral Reef Ecosystems in Nansha, Ministry of Natural Resources
Editor-in-Charge: Song Xi