| Coralliidae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Corallium rubrum | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Octocorallia |
| Order: | Alcyonacea |
| Suborder: | Scleraxonia |
| Family: | Coralliidae Lamouroux, 1812 |
| Genera | |
|
see text | |
Coralliidae, also known as precious corals, is a taxonomic family of soft corals belonging to the suborder Scleraxonia of the phylum Cnidaria.[1] These sessile corals are one of the most dominant members of hard-bottomed benthic environments such as seamounts, canyons and continental shelves.[2] From this coral family results 69 descendants[3] in which each species plays a key role in forming habitats for a variety of marine species.
Due to their unique trait of possessing a red calcium carbonate skeleton, these corals can be harvested in order to create handcrafted amulets, jewelry and other valuable artifacts, giving rise to its reputed name of "precious corals".[4] Correspondingly, members of this family are vulnerable to the negative impacts of overharvestation imposed by mass coral trade.[5]
- ^ "Coralliidae Lamouroux, 1812". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ Tu, Tzu-Hsuan (2015). "Phylogeny and systematics of deep-sea precious corals (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Coralliidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 84: 173–184. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.09.031. PMID 25600709 – via Elsevier Science Direct.
- ^ "Lifemap". NCBI. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ de Carvalho, Rui Galopim (2018). "Precious corals" (PDF). InColor. 37. International Colored Gemstone Association: 70–78 – via Google Scholar.[dead link]
- ^ Bruckner, A.W. (2014). "Advances in management of precious corals in the family Corallidae: are new measures adequate?". Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 7: 1–8. doi:10.1016/j.cosust.2013.11.024 – via Elsevier Science Direct.