Ouch! Fire coral not only looks like a flame, but can feel like one. This plant look-alike is actually hundreds of tiny animals living in a colony. They dwell inside a hard, protective skeleton, plus they have an extra line of defense. More like a jellyfish than coral, each polyp in a colony has tentacles that are loaded with stinging cells. They dig into the skin or scales of any creature that touches them. This leaves the sensation that can last for days.
Fired: Fire coral got its name from the stinging cells loaded into each polyp's tentacles. They stick out of the exoskeleton and shoot off at anything that touches them, causing intense pain that makes any creature that's stung feel like it has been burned by raging flames.
Don't Touch! Fire coral is usually easy to spot; it often looks like a cluster of flaming yellow shrub branches with white tips. Some species, however, take victims by surprise-they're shaped like big rocks or even dinner plates.
Attack Coral[]
Fish that stray too close to this coral get a stinging surprise.
With their stinging tentacles, fire coral colonies drive off potential predators, such as the coral-eating parrotfish. In addition, the polyps use their venom to protect and increase their territory on the reefs where they live. Fire coral colonies prevent other corals, sponges and similar creatures from taking root near them by stinging the intruders. Plus, new colonies "attack" other coral colonies by spreading onto rocks that are already occupied and killing the residents with their venomous stings.
Algae Welcome: Tiny bits of algae live inside of a fire coral's shell. The algae help produce the materials that harden the coral's shell, and even supply the coral with food. In return, the fire coral produces carbon dioxide that algae need to grow.
Jelly Coral[]
Fire coral shares similarities with other hard corals: Its tiny polyps live in a plant-shaped colony, and it protects itself with a tough skeleton. However, the stinging cells in fire coral tentacles make it more closely related to sea predators, such as jellyfish. Like jellyfish, fire coral kills some small prey with its venomous weapons, but the coral doesn't eat its victims.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The fire coral is featured in It's All Relative! on Monster Mania 98.