Blue coral

Blue coral
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this 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.

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ Barnes, Robert D. (1982). Invertebrate Zoology. Philadelphia, PA: Holt-Saunders International. p. 169. ISBN 0-03-056747-5.