Although there are over 600 varieties of coral within the ocean many of them belong to a general gene group of coral. As hard coral is known as the reef builder with it’s ability to form a protective limestone skeleton called a caliche which when cemented together by the calcium carbonate 'skeletons' they secrete form the foundation of a coral colony, yet many of these corals have their own unique structure.
Acropora cervicornis or as its better known, Staghorn coral is a branching coral with cylindrical branches ranging from a few centimetres to over 6.5 feet in length. This coral is the fastest growing coral compared to most known western Atlantic corals, with its branch like structures increasing in length by 4-8 inches per year and it is also one of the three most important contributing Caribbean corals in terms of reef growing abilities and fish habitat, Staghorn Coral is one of the most common species to find in all habitats as it has a high resilience to both cold and warm water climates.
Acropora a.k.a Table Coral is the same species as branching counterpart Staghorn coral, yet it grows as a flat tightly woven plate. The shape of table coral is ideal for exposing as much of their surface as possible to sunlight in turn helping to feed it’s burrowing algae. The usual colour of table coral is a dull brown or green, although it is already a contributor to the foundation that go into building a reef it also plays a vital role to the numerous reef fish that shelter under and around its plates.
Great star coral is considered to be one of the least contributing hard corals to a reef colonies as it can only be found in the Caribbean seas, by also forming into massive boulders it doesn’t act well as a growing plat for other softer corals, however this does allow it to act as a protective barrier for younger nursing coral its Polyps are also the size of a person’s thumb and can be seen fully extend at night.
Pillar corals grows up from the sea floor, but without any for of secondary branching like that of stag or elk horn coral. They can grow to be up to 8 ft tall on average to be able to reach the necessary light as they commonly only grow on flat or sloping sea floors at a depth of between 1 and 20 m. They are one of the few types of hard coral whose polyps can commonly be seen feeding during the day meaning very little activity happens around them.
Tube Coral is a large polyp stony coral, and is found in a variety of colours and forms depending upon location, temperature and ocean currents some species have been known to adapt to fish in it environment. The tube coral is known as the Orange Cup or Sun Coral. Tube Coral is Commonly confused with natural ocean sponge so it can often be accidentally harvested making it one of the most threatened specie.
Elkhorn coral is considered to be one of the most important reef-building corals in the Indo-Pacific region. This species of coral is structurally complex with many large branches. The coral structure closely resembles that of elk antlers hence the name. making it a popular choice to act as a shelter for lobsters, parrot-fish, snappers and other reef fish. Elkhorn coral colonies are incredibly fast growing with an average growth rate of 5 to 10 centimetres per year and can eventually grow up to 3.7 metres in diameter, it sheltering branches also helps young and soft corals to root and develop safely.
Brain coral named because of it’s spheroid shape and grooved surface which can often resemble that of an animal brain. The longest recorded life span of the largest brain corals is 900 years and commonly its colonies can grow as large as 6 or more feet high. If a brain coral is found within a coral reef it is often used to help identify the age of the community’s with carbon dating.
Although I already mentioned that soft coral aren’t a major component for creating the foundations need to build a coral reef as soft corals are composed of very little calcium carbonate and a blend of proteins causing it to be less rigid than hard corals as these types of corals do not produce their own exoskeletons, instead they are rooted into rock faces and other hard corals meaning they can sway back and forth with the currents giving their appearances that more of plant. It this motion and the forms that they grow in that I think would be beneficial to include in my designs as the scaffolds would be out-planted in ocean then adapting them to have features like this could improve their ability to help coral to grow.
The Gorgonian family of soft coral is also known as the sea whips or sea fans of the ocean depending on which variety of this species you are looking at as Individual tiny polyps form colonies that are then flattened by pressure and the currents forming them into branching like structure which can resemble that of a fan. Others may be whiplike, bushy or even encrusting depending on their environment. A colony can be several feet high and across but only ever a few inches thick. They may be brightly coloured, often purple, red, or yellow. Gorgonians can be found primarily in shallow waters, though some have been found at depths of several thousand feet. The size, shape, and appearance of the gorgonians are highly connected with their location. The more fan-shaped and flexible gorgonians tend to populate shallower areas with strong currents which forces them to remain flexible, while the taller, thinner, and stiffer gorgonians can be found in deeper, calmer waters where they become more stagnated.
carnation coral comes is a soft coral that comes in the largest range of colours and prefers to grow below rocky under-hangs and in caves. They are found mostly in Indo-Pacific – Islands of the Indopacific including Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. Unfortunately this specimen of soft coral is extremely sensitive to even the slight of changes in water chemistry, temperature and current so it is currently on a rapid decline. This coral can also take on various bush like form depending on the chemicals in its environment.
Sea Pens are a unique soft coral as it is a relation of the hard coral Tubipora aka tube coral yet Sea pens are grouped with the octocorals the soft corals category, together with sea whips and gorgonians. What separates the sea pen from its hard coral relatives is it’s inability to grow a exoskeleton which results in there feather-like appearance as it resembles that of a antique quill pens. Sea pens commonly grown up to 2 metres in some species, and are sometimes brightly coloured depending on of acidic their environment is. They can rarely be found above depths of 10 metres, sea pens prefer deeper waters where ocean currents are more steady and less likely to uproot them.
Tree Corals are a flowering soft corals and are the most commonly seen on many of cost built reefs. They are usually attached to hard surfaces including boulders, jetty pilings and deceased coral remains. These soft corals look like bushes as they are a branching coral then when expanded release a soft bushel of feeding pods. The common tissue is generally rubbery but rough to the touch with a thick main trunk that is attached to a hard surface on one end.
Bubble corals is possible the most unique formation of coral as they have large water filled bubbles (vesicles) covering the large sharp sepia. Commonly found within the Pacific Ocean and parts of the Red Sea, bubble coral can be seen in varying species, colours and forms. They only maintain their bubble like appearance during the daylight hours, then deflate at in the evening when it manifests its finger like tentacles to feed on plankton, etc. bubble coral can often form to creat a protective barrier around the nursing coral unintentionally but this can have a negative impact on the feeding habitats of young coral specimens.