Today is known about 5000 species of coral.They resemble something like a tree, shrub, carpet, ball, etc.Popular jewelry made of coral.This is due to the fact that they are very similar to precious stones.But most people do not even know what a coral.This is an animal or a plant?On this question we will answer in this article.
Corals - an animal or plant
naked eye is very difficult to understand what kind of organisms.This is due to several reasons.But it is worth to say that the coral - the animal, not a plant.They have a skeleton that can be felt only if you touch it.You've probably heard about coral reefs.So, they are composed of millions of dead organisms, which after the death harden like a stone.If you deal in more detail, the coral is a huge number of tiny organisms, which together form a coral polyp.The structure of the polyp is quite simple.It consists of a cylindrical body with tentacles.Between the latter is the mouth.
Dimensions corals and something else
pretty tiny polyps, their size does not usually exceed a few centimeters.As a colony, which is formed by these creatures, it is quite another matter.For example, polyps stony corals can reach 40-50 cm in diameter.Some individuals are connected by tsenosarka.The result is a single organism.All individuals gather food together.Larger particles are trapped, minor involved in reproduction.So we have to understand what the coral.This is an animal or a plant?You already know the answer to this question.It is worth noting that the most ancient coral reefs were created 23 million years ago.This suggests that the polyps appeared a long time ago.As mentioned above some, mostly reefs are a large number of dead individuals.An exception is the upper layer, which was formed recently.
shapes and sizes of coral
can endlessly talk about the fact that there are a variety of paint polyps.The same applies to their forms.If the majority of corals and have the same shape, although there are exceptions, the form and they are the most susceptible variety colonies.This concerns not only the form, but the colors and sizes.The smallest colonies not longer than a few centimeters, and giant kind may reach 5-6 meters.As for the form, it is a different story.
Some colonies can be very simple and be a twig, or a hook.Others are characterized by their complexity.For example, the shape of the bush, or colonies, resembling the shape of a tree, is not uncommon.You can endlessly wonder how these simple organisms form something so beautiful and complex.There are representatives, not growing up, and breadth.Such colonies resemble mushrooms or small carpets.You probably wonder what corals eat?This is an animal or a plant?Of course, in most cases they capture microorganisms, which may include both it and the other (plankton).
color coral habitat
Coloring can be different.But more often we can see a colony of brown and red.Several rarer orange.More difficult to find green, pink or black colonies.After all, not everyone saw the diver coral blue-purple or bright yellow.They are considered very rare and do not live anywhere.As you can see, very different colors can be coral.This is an animal or a plant, you already know, so let's talk about where live colonies.
main habitat of coral - a tropical and subtropical waters.The fact that most of the species of thermophilic.But gersemiya, one of the subspecies inhabits the far North.It is noteworthy that all the polyps can not survive in fresh water, so absolutely all individuals living in the salty environment.Colonies were settled at a shallow depth of 50 meters in places with the greatest coverage.For corals it is imperative that they are constantly in the water, otherwise imminent death comes, but some individuals have learned to retain moisture for some time, for example, at low tide.The bottom line is a special form of a polyp that resembles a shell, which retains moisture.
few more features
You must have noticed that the most different shapes and colors can be even the simplest coral.This is an animal or a plant?The answer to this question was in the beginning of this article.But it is worth noting that if you do not touch the polyp, it is difficult to understand, live or not.However, you can find a touch of the skeleton of an animal.Interestingly, the polyps always settle on a hard surface, as sludge is not suitable for them.Often one can observe large colonies on the long-sunken ships.
Lifestyle many species of sedentary.However, some are constantly moving along the bottom in search of food.By the way, the corals can be safely attributed to predators.On the hunt, they come out at night.Protrudes its tentacles and catch plankton and other organisms in the water.By the way, they are not engaged in the search for the day due to the fact that the tentacles are very sensitive to UV radiation, such radiation can burn them.We have already answered your question about how the corals - they are animals or plants.Picture the most interesting colonies can be found in this article.
Conclusion Despite its simplicity, polyps surprised by its beauty, and this attracted many corals.The sea, especially if it is salty, can always show you the most interesting settlements of these animals.Today, very often deliberately caught the whole colony and make jewelry.And they grow very slowly, roughly 1-3 cm per year.By the way, the process of growth depends on light and oxygen saturation.It is for this simple reason this question more and more often pops up at meetings of researchers and conservationists.For tens of thousands of years formed the whole reef islands, which are destroyed by man in one day.Well, that's all you can tell us about what is coral.Animals or plants?Of course, the animal, because these organisms can grow and be connected to the entire colony, and the end result is to build a reef island.
