Corals

Corals are fascinating marine invertebrates that form the backbone of reef ecosystems. They belong to the phylum Cnidaria and are closely related to jellyfish and sea anemones. Corals are known for their vibrant colors, which come from the symbiotic relationship they share with zooxanthellae, a type of photosynthetic algae. These algae live within the coral's tissues, providing them with nutrients through photosynthesis and, in return, receiving protection and access to sunlight.

Corals are broadly categorized into two types: hard corals (Scleractinia) and soft corals (Alcyonacea). Hard corals, also known as stony corals, have rigid calcium carbonate skeletons and are the primary builders of coral reefs. Soft corals, on the other hand, lack a solid skeleton and are more flexible, often swaying with the currents.

Large Polyp Stony (LPS) corals are known for their large, fleshy polyps and vibrant colors. They are generally easier to care for compared to Small Polyp Stony (SPS) corals, making them a popular choice for beginners. Examples include Acanthastrea, Euphyllia, and Favia.

Mushrooms, or corallimorphs, are soft corals that resemble the cap of a mushroom. They are hardy and adaptable, making them ideal for novice reef keepers. They come in a variety of colors and can spread quickly under the right conditions.

Polyps include species like Zoanthus and Palythoa. They are small, colonial corals that can form dense mats or carpets on the rockwork. They are known for their vibrant colors and patterns, making them a favorite among reef enthusiasts.

Small Polyp Stony (SPS) corals are characterized by their small polyps and rigid skeletons. They are more demanding in terms of water quality and lighting, making them suitable for experienced aquarists. Examples include Acropora, Montipora, and Seriatopora.

Sea fans, or gorgonians, are a type of soft coral with a tree-like structure. They have a flexible skeleton made of a protein called gorgonin. Sea fans are filter feeders and require moderate to strong water flow to thrive.

Soft corals, such as Sinularia and Sarcophyton, lack a solid skeleton and are more flexible. They are generally easier to care for and can tolerate a wider range of water conditions. They often have a leathery texture and can grow quite large, adding movement and diversity to the reef tank.

1. 
   Common name: Starry Cup Coral

   Scientific name: Acanthastrea echinata
2. Common name: Acan Coral

   Scientific name: Acanthastrea hemprichii
3. Common name: Abrolhos Acropora

   Scientific name: Acropora abrolhosensis
4. Common name: Aculeus Staghorn Coral

   Scientific name: Acropora aculeus
5. Common name: Acropora azurea

   Scientific name: Acropora azurea
6. Common name: Acropora batunai

   Scientific name: Acropora batunai
7. Common name: Acropora bifurcata

   Scientific name: Acropora bifurcata
8. 
   Common name: Bushy Acropora

   Scientific name: Acropora bushyensis
9. 
   Common name: Staghorn Coral

   Scientific name: Acropora carduus
10. 
    Common name: Staghorn Coral

    Scientific name: Acropora caroliniana
11. Common name: Corymbose branching plate coral

    Scientific name: Acropora cerealis
12. Common name: Chesterfield Staghorn Coral

    Scientific name: Acropora chesterfieldensis
13. 
    Common name: Digitate Acropora

    Scientific name: Acropora digitifera
14. 
    Common name: Staghorn Coral

    Scientific name: Acropora divaricata
15. 
    Common name: Blueberry Sea Fan

    Scientific name: Acropora echinata
16. 
    Common name: Acropora elseyi

    Scientific name: Acropora elseyi
17. 
    Common name: Stout irregular branching coral

    Scientific name: Acropora florida
18. 
    Common name: Formosa Staghorn Coral

    Scientific name: Acropora formosa
19. Common name: Acropora forskali

    Scientific name: Acropora forskali
20. 
    Common name: Branching Acropora

    Scientific name: Acropora gemmifera
21. Common name: Staghorn Coral

    Scientific name: Acropora grandis
22. Common name: Granulosa Acropora

    Scientific name: Acropora granulosa
23. 
    Common name: Hemprich's Acropora

    Scientific name: Acropora hemprichii
24. Common name: Acropora horrida

    Scientific name: Acropora horrida
25. 
    Common name: Finger coral

    Scientific name: Acropora humilis
26. Common name: Acropora jacquelineae

    Scientific name: Acropora jacquelineae
27. Common name: Acropora kimbeensis

    Scientific name: Acropora kimbeensis
28. 
    Common name: Lamarck's Staghorn Coral

    Scientific name: Acropora lamarcki
29. 
    Common name: Acropora latistella

    Scientific name: Acropora latistella
30. Common name: bluetip coral

    Scientific name: Acropora loripes
31. Common name: Acropora lovelli

    Scientific name: Acropora lovelli
32. Common name: Acropora maryae

    Scientific name: Acropora maryae
33. 
    Common name: Acropora microphthalma

    Scientific name: Acropora microphthalma
34. 
    Common name: Fluro scale cushion coral

    Scientific name: Acropora millepora
35. 
    Common name: Montipora Capricornis

    Scientific name: Acropora monticulosa
36. Common name: Acropora multiacuta

    Scientific name: Acropora multiacuta
37. Common name: Acropora nana

    Scientific name: Acropora nana
38. 
    Common name: Acropora nasuta

    Scientific name: Acropora nasuta
39. 
    Common name: Acropora nobilis

    Scientific name: Acropora nobilis
40. 
    Common name: Column Staghorn Coral

    Scientific name: Acropora palifera
41. 
    Common name: elkhorn coral

    Scientific name: Acropora palmata
42. Common name: Acropora parilis

    Scientific name: Acropora parilis
43. 
    Common name: Pharaoh's Acropora

    Scientific name: Acropora pharaonis
44. Common name: fused staghorn

    Scientific name: Acropora prolifera
45. 
    Common name: Acropora pulchra

    Scientific name: Acropora pulchra
46. 
    Common name: Acropora robusta

    Scientific name: Acropora robusta
47. Common name: Acropora sarmentosa

    Scientific name: Acropora sarmentosa
48. Common name: Acropora schmitti

    Scientific name: Acropora schmitti
49. Common name: Acropora secale

    Scientific name: Acropora secale
50. Common name: Acropora selago

    Scientific name: Acropora selago
51. Common name: Acropora seriata

    Scientific name: Acropora seriata
52. 
    Common name: Staghorn Coral

    Scientific name: Acropora spicifera
53. 
    Common name: Acropora squarrosa

    Scientific name: Acropora squarrosa
54. 
    Common name: Acropora subulata

    Scientific name: Acropora subulata
55. Common name: Acropora suharsonoi

    Scientific name: Acropora suharsonoi
56. 
    Common name: purple tipped acropora

    Scientific name: Acropora tenuis
57. Common name: Blue Tort Acropora

    Scientific name: Acropora tortuosa
58. Common name: Acropora tumida

    Scientific name: Acropora tumida
59. Common name: Acropora valenciennesi

    Scientific name: Acropora valenciennesi
60. 
    Common name: Acropora valida

    Scientific name: Acropora valida
61. Common name: Acropora variolosa

    Scientific name: Acropora variolosa
62. Common name: Acrozoanthus Australiae

    Scientific name: Acrozoanthus australiae
63. 
    Common name: Haeckel's Anemone

    Scientific name: Actinostephanus haeckeli
64. 
    Common name: sheet coral

    Scientific name: Agaricia lamarcki
65. 
    Common name: dead man's fingers

    Scientific name: Alcyonium digitatum
66. 
    Common name: Red sea fingers

    Scientific name: Alcyonium glomeratum
67. 
    Common name: Dead Man's Fingers

    Scientific name: Alcyonium palmatum
68. 
    Common name: Net coral

    Scientific name: Alveopora catalai
69. 
    Common name: Alveopora Coral

    Scientific name: Alveopora gigas
70. 
    Common name: Giant Cup Mushroom Coral

    Scientific name: Amplexidiscus fenestrafer
71. 
    Common name: False flower coral

    Scientific name: Anacropora forbesi
72. 
    Common name: Anomastraea irregularis

    Scientific name: Anomastraea irregularis
73. 
    Common name: Waving Hand Coral

    Scientific name: Anthelia glauca
74. Common name: slimy sea plume

    Scientific name: Antillogorgia americana
75. 
    Common name: forked sea feather

    Scientific name: Antillogorgia bipinnata
76. Common name: Sea Plume

    Scientific name: Antillogorgia elisabethae
77. Common name: Galapagos black coral

    Scientific name: Antipathes galapagensis
78. 
    Common name: Starflower coral

    Scientific name: Astreopora listeri
79. 
    Common name: Branching Frogspawn Coral

    Scientific name: Australogyra zelli
80. 
    Common name: Branched cup coral

    Scientific name: Blastomussa merleti
81. 
    Common name: Branched cup coral

    Scientific name: Blastomussa wellsi
82. Common name: corky sea fingers

    Scientific name: Briareum asbestinum
83. 
    Common name: Kenya Tree Coral

    Scientific name: Capnella imbricata
84. 
    Common name: carnation coral

    Scientific name: Caryophyllia inornata
85. 
    Common name: Devonshire cup-coral

    Scientific name: Caryophyllia smithii
86. 
    Common name: Elegance coral

    Scientific name: Catalaphyllia jardinei
87. 
    Common name: Candy Cane Coral

    Scientific name: Caulastraea connata
88. 
    Common name: Finger coral

    Scientific name: Caulastraea echinulata
89. 
    Common name: Finger coral

    Scientific name: Caulastraea furcata
90. 
    Common name: Finger coral

    Scientific name: Caulastraea tumida
91. 
    Common name: Finger coral

    Scientific name: Caulastrea curvata
92. 
    Common name: Cavernularia obesa

    Scientific name: Cavernularia obesa
93. 
    Common name: whip Coral

    Scientific name: Cirrhipathes anguina
94. Common name: Colt Coral

    Scientific name: Cladiella australis
95. 
    Common name: Cauliflower Coral

    Scientific name: Cladiella pauciflora
96. 
    Common name: tube coral

    Scientific name: Cladocora arbuscula
97. 
    Common name: Green Star Polyps

    Scientific name: Clavularia viridis
98. 
    Common name: Feather Star Coral

    Scientific name: Coelogorgia palmosa
99. Common name: Tombstone coral

    Scientific name: Coeloseris mayeri
100. 
     Common name: large-grooved brain coral

     Scientific name: Colpophyllia natans
101. 
     Common name: strawberry corallimorpharian

     Scientific name: Corynactis californica
102. 
     Common name: Jewel anemone

     Scientific name: Corynactis viridis
103. Common name: Wrinkle coral

     Scientific name: Coscinaraea crassa
104. Common name: Chagos Brain Coral

     Scientific name: Ctenella chagius
105. 
     Common name: Button Coral

     Scientific name: Cynarina lacrymalis
106. 
     Common name: Lesser knob coral

     Scientific name: Cyphastrea agassizi
107. 
     Common name: Lesser knob coral

     Scientific name: Cyphastrea chalcidicum
108. 
     Common name: Lesser knob coral

     Scientific name: Cyphastrea decadia
109. 
     Common name: Lesser knob coral

     Scientific name: Cyphastrea serailia
110. 
     Common name: pillar coral

     Scientific name: Dendrogyra cylindrus
111. 
     Common name: Carnation Coral

     Scientific name: Dendronephthya klunzingeri
112. 
     Common name: Carnation Coral

     Scientific name: Dendronephthya rubeola
113. 
     Common name: domed star coral

     Scientific name: Dichocoenia stokesi
114. Common name: Jeweled Coral

     Scientific name: Dichotella gemmacea
115. 
     Common name: colorful sea rod

     Scientific name: Diodogorgia nodulifera
116. 
     Common name: Honeycomb coral

     Scientific name: Diploastrea heliopora
117. 
     Common name: grooved brain coral

     Scientific name: Diploria labyrinthiformis
118. Common name: Moon Coral

     Scientific name: Dipsastraea faviaformis
119. 
     Common name: Discosoma Mushroom

     Scientific name: Discosoma nummiforme
120. 
     Common name: Violet Lace Coral

     Scientific name: Distichopora violacea