Species introCountry intro
Sea Ginger Fire coral
Sep 14, 2017. Dive site the sampler, Klein Bonaire.
Pretty but 'touch-me-not'. In general, corals are not to be touched because we harm them but fire corals will retaliate with a painful burning sensation if you dare to touch them. We often see tiny fishes hiding on them as they probably develop resistance to the toxins and this protects them from predators.
''Millepora alcicornis'', or sea ginger, is a species of colonial fire coral with a calcareous skeleton. It is found on shallow water coral reefs in the tropical west Atlantic Ocean. It shows a variety of different morphologies depending on its location. It feeds on plankton and derives part of its energy requirements from microalgae found within its tissues. It is an important member of the reef building community and subject to the same threats as other corals. It can cause painful stings to unwary.. more
