1. Light Bulb Tunicate
Light Bulb Sea Squirt
(Scientific name: Clavelina Lepadiformis) is a colonial sea squirt. The
transparent tunic of the worm shows the yellow or white internal organs. This
gives them the glow of a light bulb and hence they got their name. They are
mostly found along the Norwegian Coast. Their colonies can also be seen in the
Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and in the Mediterranean
Sea. They sit together with a loose binding at the base. They are cylindrical
and have a 4cm long elongation. They grow in late winters and reproduce in
summers.
2.
Christmas Tree Worms
Christmas Tree Worms
(Scientific name: Spirobranchus Giganteus) are small, tube-building worms
belonging to the family Serpulidae. These attractive corals come in a variety
of colors ranging from yellow and orange to blue and white. They are widely
distributed throughout the world’s tropical oceans. The worm’s multicolored
spirals actually are highly derived respiratory structures. It lacks
specialized appendages for movement or swimming and does not move outside it’s
tube. They have two beautiful crowns which give them Christmas tree appearance and
hence they got their name. These crowns are specialized mouth appendages of the
worm. They are very sensitive to disturbances. Even a shadow causes an instant
reaction. It’s tube is it’s home.
3.
Bubble Coral
Bubble Corals (Scientific
name: Plerogyra Sinuosa) are beautiful and extinct water filled bubbles and
this property gives them their beautiful name. They need light to inflate and
expand. When they expand during daytime, they look like bubbles, pearls or grapes.
It has a hard skeleton which is visible when they deflate. These corals are
extremely fragile and puncture with touch. Care should be taken while handling
and collecting them because of their long tentacles. They are mostly found in
the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
4. Open
Brain Coral
Open Brain Coral
(Scientific name: Trachyphyllia Geoffroyi) is an oval shaped heavy skeleton
with a conical base. These are also known as Folded Brain or Crater Coral. They
are large polyp stony (LPS) with usually 2 to 3 polyps. The beautiful corals
are red, yellow, brown, green or blue in color. It has a shape of number 8 or
an hour glass shape. Tentacles come out of the mouth at evening and serve the
protection purpose. The are up to 80 mm in length with 2 to 3 mouths. It is
photosynthetic and requires no feeding. The red ones need less lightning than
the green ones. They are easy to be collected as they prefer attaching their
body to reefs, shells and dead corals.
5. Cup
Coral
Cup corals (Family name:
Dendrophyllidae ) are beautiful corals produced in deep water. They are
non-reef building species and live on zooplankton. They extend beautiful
translucent tentacles at night. Cup corals are found in extremely cold water
throughout the world. Cup corals are also known as flowers of the sea and are
famous due to their brilliant colors and bouquet formation. They usually take
the formation of cups and plate. This coral makes its own outer skeleton of
limestone.
6.
Finger Coral
Finger Corals (Scientific
name: Porites Compressa) are beautiful corals resembling fingers also known as
Commonly referred to as Thin Finger Leather Coral, Knobby Finger Leather Coral,
Devil’s Hand/Finger Leather Coral, Dead Man’s Finger Coral, Bushy Soft Coral,
Chili Pepper Coral, Cabbage Leather Coral, Trough Coral, Sinularia Finger Thick
and Lobed Leather Coral. They are naturally found in a number of shades
including brown, tan, yellow, green, pink and gray. They originally belong to
Indian and Pacific Ocean. These unique corals have an average size of 1-2
inches. They take their nutrition from an algae with the name of zooxanthellae.
This algae hosts within its body and depends on photosynthesis. They also
take their nutrients from micro plankton. Their appearance mainly depends on
the strength of the ocean currents.
No comments:
Post a Comment