Soft coral (Order Alcyonacea). Corals are small colonial invertebrate animals. Individual polyps may join together to make large structures,which are the basis of coral reefs. Soft corals differ from hard corals in that there is no hard calcium skeleton laid down. Instead the polyps are connected by spongy tubes,which are strengthened by small calcium carbonate fragments called sclerites. Each soft coral polyp (at the ends of the branches) has eight tentacles with which it filters food from the water. Photographed in the Red Sea | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Lionel, Tim & Alistair |
Taille de l’image : | 5252 px × 3555 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |