Corals are marine invertebrates. They typically live in compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. Each polyp is an individual sac-like animal.
stony coral
leather coral
blue coral
black coral
wire coral
bubble coral
soft coral
xenia soft coral
Sea pens are colonial marine cnidarians. The individual polyps each have eight tentacles, but are specialized. One polyp develops into a rigid erect stalk (called the rachis) and loses its tentacles. Other polyps form branches, water intake structures, feeding structures, and reproductive structures.
Sea fans are sessile colonial cnidarians. Individual polyps form colonies that are erect, flattened, and branching, resembling a fan.
gorgonium sea fans
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Last modified 20 February 2019