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Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

author:Chinese Academy of Sciences China Science Expo

Producer: Popular Science China

Production: Miaozi culture was quiet

Producer: Computer Network Information Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences

After the end of the eleventh long holiday, until New Year's Day, the word "holiday" can only be tasted and cannot be understood.

But the holidays leave not only memories, but also some profound questions: how to stand out in the Circle of Friends photo contest? How do I get 999 likes for a photo? How to send a high-quality circle of friends gracefully?

These are all questions well worth pondering.

To be sure, first of all, a high-quality photo is essential; secondly, a high-quality caption is more icing on the cake.

For example, to dive, now diving is becoming more and more popular, every three to five to see someone in the circle of friends show OW, AOW diving license, just show a diving license, the traces of the show are too heavy, not recommended. Seeing the strange corals and fish, I took a beautiful photo back and would only say "Wow! This one is so pretty! "Wow! That's cool! ”。 Then this circle of friends is sent without any point of view, and the quality is slightly lower.

The little king next door is a diving enthusiast, from time to time in the circle of friends to send diving photos, all kinds of corals, fish, the color is amazing, but the text is really nothing to see.

The other day, he posted a photo of the dive with the caption: "Wow! This red seaweed is so beautiful! ”

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

The following unsuspecting melon eaters praised until someone commented: "This is soft coral, not seaweed." "Do you feel the contempt from the school bully?

Send a circle of friends, the correct text posture should be like this:

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

"Today I went diving and encountered a giant gorgonian coral, to say that this gorgonian coral is also commonly known as the sea fan, this fan is estimated to have hundreds of millions of coral bones to accumulate to grow so big." Then pull a geolocation in Tahiti.

I give 9 points for this caption, first of all, this positioning Tahiti will shake off the islands of Sanya, Pattaya, Bali for hundreds of miles; secondly, without a trace, there is a small science popularization, it seems that you are not a melon diver who casually experiences, but a slightly learned, quiet can read, move and go to the sea.

So, in order to send out a high-quality diving circle of friends, you can consider making up for the coral knowledge first. As a diving enthusiast, it is even better to identify various marine fish and corals while diving. There are many kinds of corals on the seabed, the number is huge, it is difficult to complete them all, and today the compounder will delete the complexity and simplify it, and list some common coral species when diving for you.

<h1>Common misconceptions about coral</h1>

Because corals are often used to process them into crafts and jewelry, many people mistakenly believe that corals are plants or rocks, but in fact, corals are made up of small marine invertebrates ( corpses ) , tiny invertebrates called polyps.

Polyps feed on plankton, and when night falls, the polyps will stick out of their calcareous shells with tiny tentacles to grab the plankton in the seawater and deliver them to their mouths. After digesting food, polyps secrete calcareous matter (the main component is calcium carbonate), forming bones and shells. When the polyps die, their shells accumulate, and the newborn polyps continue to multip and grow on the skeletons of these ancestors, accumulating for a long time, forming a variety of coral reefs on the seabed.

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

The hydra body of the polyp

There are two main types of corals – hard corals and soft corals. Many people mistake soft corals for seabed plants, and some mistake anemones for soft corals.

So, what is the difference between hard corals and soft corals?

<h1>Hard coral</h1>

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

Coral crafts and coral jewelry commonly found on the market are made from hard coral. Red coral, in particular, is listed alongside pearls and amber as the top three organic gemstones.

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

Red coral ring

Hard corals are made up of hard calcareous matter (calcium carbonate), which looks like rock, is mostly gray or yellow, and is mainly formed by the calcium carbonate shell and endoskeleton of the polyps. After the polyps die, their bones and shells remain in place, and as the polyps continue to die and multip, the coral shells gradually accumulate, so the corals grow slowly. Because polyps are tiny, hard corals grow very slowly.

Several common hard corals are rough staghorn coral, pillar coral, table staghorn coral, brain coral, star coral, flies, elk antler coral, orange cup coral and so on.

<h1>Rough staghorn corals</h1>

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

This coral, which looks a lot like antlers, is a branched coral with cylindrical branches of varying in length, some only a few centimeters, some up to 2 meters long. Rough staghorn corals are the fastest growing of all known western Atlantic corals, with their branches increasing by 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) per year.

They are one of the three most important Caribbean corals and make an important contribution to the growth of coral reefs and the habitat of fish.

<h1>Pillar corals</h1>

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

As the name suggests, pillar corals look very much like pillars, have no branches, can grow to 2.5 meters high, and are easier to identify corals on the seabed. They are mainly distributed on flat or sloping seabeds at depths of 1 to 20 meters and are one of several common hard corals.

During the day, the tentacles of the polyps can often be seen protruding from the coral body to feed.

<h1>Moss-table staghorn coral</h1>

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

Moss-table staghorn coral, the English name is table coral, it looks like a table, it is very easy to distinguish, it is the same as the rough staghorn coral, is a branch type of coral, but they are horizontal growth, forming a larger surface layer to receive more sunlight.

Its color is usually brownish yellow or green, and the flat table top provides shelter for many coral fish, and these colorful reef fish swimming around mossy staghorn corals add a lot of life and color to it.

<h1>brain coral</h1>

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

Brain corals, named after the shape of corals and the grooves on their surfaces resemble animal brains. Brain corals are aggressive, and at night, they stretch out their tentacles to sting neighboring corals or release toxins to inhibit the growth of other types of corals around them.

These corals come in a wide range of colours, including red, green, orange or grey. The largest brain coral has a lifespan of 900 years. Corals can grow up to 1.8 meters tall. Shown in the figure is a figure-eight brain coral.

<h1>Flies</h1>

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

Phylloxes, also known as blue corals, are the only corals in the suborder Of the eight-ample coral suborder that can grow large bones. The skeleton of the flies, made up of calcium carbonate and metal salts, is distinctively blue in color, and the skeleton is usually covered by greenish-gray or blue polyps and hydras.

Flies grow mainly in tropical waters, located on intertidal reef platforms and shallow reef slopes, forming shallow coral reefs.

<h1>Star Coral</h1>

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

Star coral is a type of stony coral found in the Caribbean. It can form huge rocks, sometimes in the form of plates. The hydra body of star coral is the size of a human thumb and will fully stretch at night.

<h1>Orange cup coral</h1>

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

The orange cup coral is a stony coral formed by relatively large corals, and the colors and forms of corals formed are diverse according to the types of hydras of the corals. Shown in the picture are orange-cup corals.

<h1>

Elk antler coral

</h1>

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

Elkhorn coral is considered one of the most important reef-building corals in the Caribbean.

This coral has a complex structure with many large branches. The coral structure is very similar to that of elk antlers, with lobsters, parrotfish, snappers and other reef fish preferring to call elk antler corals their home. Elkhorn coral colonies grow very fast, growing on average 5 to 10 cm per year and eventually to 3.7 m.

<h1>Soft corals</h1>

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

Soft corals are harder corals, more colorful in color, and more morphological. Although it has some hard skeleton, its skeleton is composed of calcium carbonate mixed with protein, so it is not as hard as hard coral. These corals have "roots", but because they don't have a hard calcareous shell, swaying back and forth in the sea with the currents of water, they look more like plants swaying in the breeze.

Let's take a look at a few common soft corals.

<h1>Gorgonian corals</h1>

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral
Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

Gorgonian corals are a type of soft coral, also known as sea whips or sea fans. Communities formed by individual tiny polyps of hydra, which branch in a vertical plane and resemble a fan. Some gorgonians, like whips, or shell-shaped. Typically a coral colony can reach several feet in height and width, but it may be only a few inches thick. They are brightly colored, usually purple and yellow.

Gorgonian corals grow mainly in shallow waters, but have also been found in waters thousands of feet deep. The size, shape and appearance of gorgonians are related to their location. Gorgonian corals with more pronounced fan shapes and more complex structures grow mainly in shallow or rapid areas. Taller, thinner, harder gorgonian corals are more common in deep-sea areas.

<h1>Spiny soft corals</h1>

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral
Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

It looks a lot like a flowering tree, because the "flowers" at the end resemble carnations, also known as carnation spiny corals.

They are one of the most beautiful soft corals in the ocean, very rich in color and flourishing underwater and in caves. It is found mainly on the Indo-Pacific islands, including Fiji, Tonga, solomon islands and the Great Barrier Reef.

Unfortunately, this soft coral is very sensitive to changes in water quality, and the number of spiny soft corals is declining as the ocean becomes more polluted.

Leather coral

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

Leather coral, also known as mushroom leather coral, is a leather coral with a variable shape, mostly gray, and has white or golden hydra tentacles on the surface. It is very difficult to distinguish the specific categories of leather corals, as they all look like mushrooms and look very similar, and each leather coral has a distinct tree stem and mushroom head. As corals age, folds form on the surface.

<h1>Sea pen</h1>

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

Like sea whips and gorgonian corals, the sea pen belongs to the suborder Bafang coral. They are named for their feather-like shape, reminiscent of ancient quill pens. Some types of sea pens can grow up to 2 meters, such as high sea pen corals, and some kinds of color are particularly bright.

To avoid being uprooted by eddies (probably because they grow too big trees), they live mainly in deeper seas. In seas with a depth of less than 10 meters, they are rarely seen.

Bubble corals

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

Bubble corals grow mainly in the Pacific Ocean and parts of the Red Sea. It looks like a bunch of blisters or bunches of grapes, and the surface is covered with many large water-filled vesicles, and underneath these vesicles is a hard skeleton.

Bubble corals are divided into different species, colours and morphologies. These vesicles expand and expand under sunlight to form white or yellow bubbles that look like bubbles, eggs or grapes. At night, the vesicles shrink into finger-like tentacles that capture plankton for food. This coral is sometimes referred to as a grape or pearl coral, also known as a bladder coral. Well, a vivid name.

When you have these skills, the next time you send a circle of friends, you can accompany the text like this:

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

"When we were closest, the distance between me and it was only 0.01 cm. Half a minute later, because of this white soft coral, I fell in love with this coral reef. ”

Perfect!

Half a diving circle is basking in corals, how to gracefully participate in the circle of friends diving photo contest common misconceptions about corals rough antlers coral pillar coral moss table staghorn coral brain coral flies coral star coral orange cup coral elk antler coral soft coral gorgonian coral spiny spike soft coral leather coral sea pen bubble coral

"Science Popularization China" is an authoritative scientific brand of the China Association for Science and Technology and all parties in society that use information technology to carry out scientific communication.

This article is produced by popular science China Fusion Creation, please indicate the source when reprinting.

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