Coral and Reef Organisms Overview

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to corals and reef organisms, providing definitions for better understanding.

Anthazoa

The class that includes both hard and soft corals.

Scleractinia

The order of hard corals that includes species like Acropora and Pocillopora.

Acropora

A genus of branching corals characterized by axial coralites.

Pocillopora

A branching coral with knobbly branches and fuzzy tentacles.

Cyphastrea

A massive coral with separate coralite walls and low cones.

Montipora

A branching coral with tiny coralites and shared walls, less defined than Porites.

Millepora

Commonly known as 'Fire Coral' but not a true coral.

Favites

A massive coral with shared coralite walls and messy, angular or round coralites.

Leptoria

A (Sub)Massive coral with shared walls forming meandering valleys and very neat zipper-like septa.

Goniopora

A (Sub)Massive coral known for its large polyps and 24 tentacles surrounding the mouth.

Sarcophyton

Also known as leather or toadstool coral, characterized by a plain stalk and broad mushroom-shaped top.

Zoanthids

Colonial anemones with permanent true connective tissue between polyps.

Crustose Coraline Algae (CCA)

Hard calcareous red algae that cements and binds reefs and encourages coral larval settlement.

Scaridae

The family that includes parrotfish, known for their large scales and stiff bodies.

Acanthuridae

The family of surgeonfish that have a disc-shaped body and scalpel at the caudal peduncle.

Chaetodontidae

The family of butterflyfish with small terminal mouths and disc-shaped bodies.

Siganus guttatus

Commonly known as golden rabbitfish, characterized by blue and silver coloring.

Tridacnidae

A family consisting of giant clams that have symbiotic relationships with algae.