Page 271 - The Virgin Islands

The Fire Coral Patch: Beware and Do Not Touch

Fire corals are colonial marine organisms that look rather like real coral. Technically they are not
corals, since they are more closely related to jellyfish and other stinging anemones. Fire corals
have a bright yellow-green and brown skeletal covering and are widely distributed in tropical
and subtropical waters. Many of the sea critters living in this large homogeneous patch of fire
coral have adapted colors similar to the fore coral itself.

F ire corals are colonial marine organisms that that protrude from numerous surface pores simi- pores of two sizes: gastropores and dactylopores.
look rather like real coral. Technically they are lar to jellyfish stings. In addition, fire corals have a In fact, Dactylopores have long fine hairs that pro-
not corals, since they are more closely related to sharp, calcified external skeleton that can scrape trude from the skeleton. The hairs possess clus-

jellyfish and other stinging anemones. They are the skin. ters of stinging cells and capture prey, which is

members of the phylum Cnidaria. Fire corals have then engulfed by gastrozooids, or feeding polyps,
Fa bright yellow-green and brown skeletal cover-
ire corals are found on reefs in the Indian, Pa- situated within the gastropores.
ing and are widely distributed in tropical and sub- cific and Atlantic Oceans and the Caribbean
tropical waters. Many of the sea critters living in Sea. They form extensive outcrops on project-
s well as capturing prey, fire corals gain nutri-
Athis large homogeneous patch of fire coral have ing parts of the reef where the tidal currents are ents via their special symbiotic relationship

adapted colors similar to the fore coral itself. strong. They are also abundant on upper reef with algae known as zooxanthellae. The zoox-

Fire coral appears in small brush-like growths slopes and in lagoons and can be widespread in anthellae live inside the tissues of the coral, and
on rocks and coral. Divers often mistake fire the Shallow Shore zone. provide the coral with food, which they produce
coral for seaweed, and accidental contact is com- through photosynthesis, and therefore require
mon. Upon contact, an intense pain can be felt The polyps of fire corals are near microscopic sunlight. In return, the coral provides the algae
size and are mostly embedded in the skel- with protection and access to sunlight.

that can last from two days to two weeks. The very eton and connected by a network of minute ca-

small nematocysts on fire corals contain tentacles nals. All that is visible on the smooth surface are