Are you a budding oceanographer or just someone who interested in underwater life?
If so, a good place to start learning about the ocean is with the coral. Coral reefs help to improve surrounding water quality, and they act as a filter that traps things in the floating water. This helps make the water cleaner all around.
But, what kinds of corals are there?
Check out this guide to learn about the different coral types.
Types of Coral
Coral is divided into two main categories: soft coral and hard coral. Hard coral, often referred to as reef-building coral, forms a rock-like skeleton that’s made from calcium carbonate (the same material as chalk).
Soft coral, on the other hand, is held together by a jelly-like substance called mesoglea, as well as spiny, rigid structures called sclerites.
There are different types of hard coral and different types of soft coral. Let’s start by talking about the different types of hard coral.
Hard Coral
Listed below are some of the common types of hard coral.
Staghorn Coral
Staghorn coral is characterized by its cylindrical branches. These branches can range from a few centimeters to over 6 feet in length. Out of all the corals in the Western Atlantic, the staghorn coral is the fastest growing.
This coral is found primarily in the Caribbean and it plays a huge role in reef growth and fish life.
Pillar Coral
Pillar coral grows up from the ocean floor. It can grow up to 8 feet tall, but it doesn’t have any secondary branching.
Pillar coral grows on both sloping and flat seafloors, and it’s one of the only types of hard coral that feeds during the daytime.
Table Coral
Table coral is a branching type of coral similar to staghorn coral. However, it grows in flat plates.
This is an ideal shape, as it allows the coral to expose as much surface as possible to the sunlight. Typically, table coral is green or dull brown, but the reef fish that surround it tends to brighten it up.
Brain Coral
Brain coral is named due to its spherical shape and grooved surface that resembles a human brain. Brain corals can live up to 900 years and they can grow as tall as 6 feet.
Blue Coral
Blue coral is named after its distinctive blue skeleton. However, the skeleton is typically hidden by a blue or greenish-gray polyp. You’ll find this type of coral on upper reef slopes and in tropical waters.
Great Star Coral
Great star coral is found in the Caribbean sea and it’s considered to be a colonial stony coral.
It creates massive boulder formations and sometimes it forms itself into plates. Its polyps (tissue growth) are the size of a human thumb and can be seen fully extended at night.
Tube Coral
Tube coral is a large stony coral that’s found in a variety of colors. Depending upon the species, it can take on many different shapes.
Elkhorn Coral
Last but not least we have the elkhorn coral. Elkhorn coral is considered to be one of the primary reef-building corals in the Caribbean.
This type of coral is very structurally-complex and it has many large branches that resemble elk antlers (hence, the name). Snappers, lobsters, parrotfish, and other reef fish often call this type of coral their home.
Types of Soft Coral
Now that we’ve talked about the main types of hard coral, let’s take a look at the most common types of soft coral.
Gorgonian Coral
Made up of tiny polyps that form colonies, Gorgonian coral is often referred to as sea fan coral. These colonies are typically erect, flat, and branching. In other words, they’re very similar to a fan.
However, some types of gorgonian corals are bushy, encrusting, or even whiplike. Colonies of gorgonian coral can grow up to several feet high but tend to only be a few inches thick. They’re primarily found in shallow waters, and they tend to be bright colors like yellow, purple, and red.
Carnation Coral
Carnation coral flourishes in caves and comes in a wide range of beautiful colors. This type of coral is typically found in Indo-Pacific islands like Tonga, Fiji, the Soloman Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef.
Unfortunately, this type of coral is on the decline as it is very sensitive to changes in water chemistry.
Toadstool Coral
Toadstool coral is also typically referred to as leather coral or leather mushroom coral. This type of coral is found in a variety of whites, browns, and golds, and it takes on the appearance of a mushroom or toadstool.
You can grow this coral in an aquarium by following these saltwater coral tips.
Tree Coral
Tree coral is a flowery coral that’s commonly found near the seashore. It typically attaches itself to hard surfaces like coral rubble, boulders, and jetty piling.
This coral is identified by its thick main trunk that has many small branches. Hence, the name, tree coral.
Sea Pen Coral
Sea pen coral is characterized by its feather-like appearance that resembles an antique quill pen.
This type of coral is often brightly colored, and it can rise as high as 6.5 feet. You’ll find sea pen coral in the deep waters, where it’s less likely to be uprooted from turbulence.
Bubble Coral
The last type of soft coral is the bubble coral. Bubble coral is characterized by its large, water-filled bubbles that make it look like a bunch of grapes. This type of coral is found in the Pacific Ocean as well as parts of the Red Sea.
During the day, the bubble coral maintains its grape-like appearance. At nighttime, the coral deflates and releases finger-like tentacles that feed on plankton.
Coral Types: Are You Ready to Explore Corals?
As you can see, there are many interesting coral types that can be found at in reefs across the globe. Next time you’re swimming, you’ll hopefully be able to identify some of them.
If you liked this article, be sure to check back in with our blog for more news and info related to the ocean.
