| Blue coral | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Octocorallia |
| Order: | Scleralcyonacea |
| Family: | Helioporidae |
| Genus: | Heliopora |
| Species: | H. coerulea
|
| Binomial name | |
| Heliopora coerulea Pallas, 1766
| |
Blue coral (Heliopora coerulea) is a species of colonial coral. It is the only octocoral known to produce a massive skeleton.[3] This skeleton is formed of aragonite, similar to that of scleractinia. Individual polyps live in tubes within the skeleton and are connected by a thin layer of tissue over the outside of the skeleton.
- ^ Obura, D.; Fenner, D.; Hoeksema, B.; Devantier, L.; Sheppard, C. (2008). "Heliopora coerulea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T133193A3624060. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T133193A3624060.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ Barnes, Robert D. (1982). Invertebrate Zoology. Philadelphia, PA: Holt-Saunders International. p. 169. ISBN 0-03-056747-5.