Glossary

coral

Any marine animal of the class Anthozoa, these being characterised by possessing a horny or calcareous skeleton, aggregations of which form coral reefs and islands.

Used in 13 species profiles

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Related terms

allelopathy
A biological phenomenon by which an organism produces one or more biochemicals that affect the growth, survival, and reproduction of others. Typical in certain plants, algae, bacteria, coral, and fungi.
calcareous
Composed of, containing, or characteristic of calcium carbonate, calcium, or limestone; chalky.
Cnidaria
Phylum of aquatic organisms that includes the corals, jellyfishes, sea anemones, hydrae, etc., and characterised by possession of specialised venomous cells known as cnidocytes. Formerly included in the now-defunct phylum Coelenterata.
coral reef
Erosion-resistant aquatic structure formed from living corals, their rock-like skeletal secretions and calcium carbonate deposits from other organisms such as calcareous algae, molluscs, and protozoans.
coral sand
Sand originating from marine environments via bioerosion of the calcareous skeletal structures possessed by some organisms. Coral is not the chief constituent, however, with the majority of material deriving from foraminifera, calcareous algae, molluscs, and crustaceans.
horny
Hard and rough in texture.
marine
Of, relating to, native to, inhabiting, or formed by the sea or ocean.
skeleton
In vertebrates, the internal structure composed of bone and/or cartilage that supports the soft tissues and protects the internal organs.
zooxanthella
Any member of the yellow-green algae genus Symbiodinium, comprising unicellular, flagellate protozoa that exist within the cells of other protozoa and some invertebrates, especially corals. They thus form an endosymbiosis in which they can provide up to 90% of the host's energy requirements.

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