Dr. Paddy Ryan, USA
Info
Most black corals are deep-sea species, but in the dark waters of Fiordland, Antipathella fiordensis grows at depths of only 15 to 50 meters.
Black corals grow in densely branched tree-like colonies that reach a height of more than 5 meters. The tiny white polyps are arranged in rows. Six tentacles surround a raised mouth. The skeleton consists of a black protein and is covered with spines.
Antipathella fiordensis attaches itself to the walls of narrow sea bays that are 4 to 100 meters deep (from the first description)
This black coral grows in densely branched tree-like colonies that can reach a height of more than 5 meters.
Color: living corals are white,
Some brittle stars live in the colonies of Fiordland black coral.
Scientists believe that they help to keep the corals free of suffocating sediments.
Food: Black corals eat animal plankton, which they capture through direct contact with their tentacles.
Behavior and reproduction:
Black corals have fighting tentacles that are up to eight times longer and more densely covered with spines than other tentacles.
The corals use these tentacles to fight aggressively for living space.
Black corals have separate sexes. The male releases sperm into the water. After development in the female, the larvae are born free-swimming.
The skeleton of the black coral is used to make jewelry.
Synonym: Antipathes fiordensis Grange, 1990 · unaccepted (new combination)
Black corals grow in densely branched tree-like colonies that reach a height of more than 5 meters. The tiny white polyps are arranged in rows. Six tentacles surround a raised mouth. The skeleton consists of a black protein and is covered with spines.
Antipathella fiordensis attaches itself to the walls of narrow sea bays that are 4 to 100 meters deep (from the first description)
This black coral grows in densely branched tree-like colonies that can reach a height of more than 5 meters.
Color: living corals are white,
Some brittle stars live in the colonies of Fiordland black coral.
Scientists believe that they help to keep the corals free of suffocating sediments.
Food: Black corals eat animal plankton, which they capture through direct contact with their tentacles.
Behavior and reproduction:
Black corals have fighting tentacles that are up to eight times longer and more densely covered with spines than other tentacles.
The corals use these tentacles to fight aggressively for living space.
Black corals have separate sexes. The male releases sperm into the water. After development in the female, the larvae are born free-swimming.
The skeleton of the black coral is used to make jewelry.
Synonym: Antipathes fiordensis Grange, 1990 · unaccepted (new combination)
