A Closer Look At Hydrocorals

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Fire Coral: Not What You Think

A Closer Look at Hydrocorals

Despite their common name, fire corals are not true corals. Scientifically classified as Millepora, fire corals belong to the hydrocorals class, a distinct group of marine animals characterized by their unique skeletal structure and colonial growth pattern.

Sessile and Stinging

Fire corals are sessile animals, meaning they are permanently attached to the substrate and cannot move. They form large, encrusting colonies that can cover rocks, reefs, and other hard surfaces in tropical and subtropical waters. Fire corals possess stinging cells called nematocysts, which they use to capture prey and defend themselves against predators.

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