Different types

There are many types of coral including Brain coral, pillar coral, Acropora coral, and fire coral. But that's just the start! There are about 6,000 known species of coral and 4 main types of coral reef: Atolls, Fringing reefs, Patch reefs, and Barrier reefs, . Each coral is different, ranging from close to microscopic , to as much as the largest being about 6.4 meters across! The rarest type of coral is the Chagos Brain Coral. There are few left in the world. Some relatives of coral are jellyfish and sea anemones. Corals are facing extinction which would have a dominoes effect on the food chain and would ultimately destroy the ocean life. (To learn more see section "Dangers they face", "Coral bleaching", or "A world without corals").

Brain Coral

It's scientific name is Ctenella Chagius, and is one of the rarest corals in the world. They can live to as much as 900 years! Some types include Favia, Diplora, and Favites. Brain Coral got its name from the distinctive brain-like pattern it has in its grooves.

Corals also come in tons of different colors which makes them some of the most magnificent underwater sights in the world but it's important to not touch them. When you touch coral, it kills millions of polyps (see Glossary for definition). Corals depend on these polyps for food and color.

Acropora Coral

This coral is a category of polyps that lives on stone. (see section "What lives in and around it" to get more information). Acropora corals include Elkhorn coral and staghorn coral. Acropora is an important reef building coral that shelters fish, clams, etc. even sharks! It is known for its branch-like structure. Acropora coral is actually a type of stony coral.

Stony Coral

Stony coral includes many other types of coral including Favia, Fungia, Favites, Euphyllia, and more!! corals can be colorful like blue coral (the rarest color) or more tan like pillar coral (shown below).

Pillar coral

According to the Endangered Species Act Pillar coral are an endangered coral. There are only about 40 left in Florida's waters!

Fire Coral

Millepora, or fire coral, gets its name by the burning pain obtained by touching it! This is caused when it's venom is injected into you.

Water Black Coral

Water Black Coral is the oldest known coral species of coral and can live to over 4,000 years old! Zooplankton is their main food source and they also have stinging tentacles!

Carnation Coral

They use small tentacles to catch bits of food such as micro-plankton, baby shrimp, and other small animals. They are also known as tree corals, strawberry corals, and cauliflower corals. You can see why, right?

Fox Coral

Its scientific name is Nemenzophyllia Turbida and it can grow to 6 inches, and can be a range of colors from white to pink, green to cream, and tan to brown!

Grass Coral

Grass coral grows in colonies and suffocates any nearby coral. Like most coral, GSP (Green Star Polyps) eats zooxanthellae, an algae that lives inside it.

Bubble Coral

Also known as Pearl Coral, Grape Coral, and Bladder Coral, Bubble coral will sting other coral if provoked. These are another Stony Coral and look as the name suggests. Like bubbles. Do not mistake this for some balloons. Same as other coral, if you touch it, you will kill millions of polyps.

Sun Coral

This vibrant orange coral is a type of cup coral, and even though their name is 'sun coral', it can live without sunlight! Sun coral has sun-like polyps that are bright orange and give the sun coral it's namesake.

Elkhorn Coral

These strange Stony Corals are easily recognizable by their distinctive elk-horn shape. Elkhorn Coral offers protection from large waves such as tsunamis or tidal waves. It also looks like one of those turkey-tail mushrooms.

Each coral is different, but we are hurting them! (go to Dangers They Face to see exactly what's hurting them). Go to section "How to help" to learn more about how to help the coral reefs.

Agaricia Agaricites

Also Known as Lettuce Coral, This species can be found at up to 75 meters! Lettuce Coral are omnivorous but their diet is mainly photosynthesis.

These are Great Star Corals. Pay close attention to these pictures and then look at how big your thumb is. That's how big its polyps are! At night, they are able to absorb water and expand their tentacles.

Coral Reefs consist of many species of coral in a variety of colors. They are home to many sea creatures and vital to the ecosystem which is why we have to protect them! Coral Reefs have been around for about 5 million years and have been helping the world long before humans came in.

Finger Coral

Another name for Finger Coral is Hump Coral but the scientific name is Porites Compressa. It is a Stony Coral and one of the most popular reef building corals in Hawaii. A single finger coral can grow to 200 millimeters!

Tubipora musica

More commonly known as Tube Coral and Organ pipe coral, it feeds on plankton and grows pretty slow. This makes it a popular choice for smaller fish tanks.

Bamboo Coral

Some types of Bamboo coral have harp-like branches, while others twist and turn. Either way, bamboo coral has a knobby, stony skeleton. Bamboo coral is also said to bring good luck, warn against jealousy, and deter negative thoughts and feelings, but that doesn't mean you should take one.

Most people mistake coral for an exotic plant. They are not. In fact, corals are completely living with living creatures inside them! Corals actually create their own sunscreen! This is where we get most of our sunscreen.

But, to uproot all this happiness, coral is being made into jewelry for its beautiful colors. This could endanger the species even further. And what for? Jewelry? Who would trade beauty for our ecosystem? People need to stop, and if you want to help us stop them, go to "How to Help to learn more.

In conclusion, we need to stop polluting and actually try to help corals. Although some are invasive like Grass coral or Orange-Cup coral the coral species is overall vitally important for our ecosystem.

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