Identification
of black corals
Family Antipatharia
Common names:
Black coral, bushy black coral, whip coral (1).
Description:
Corals from the order Antipatharia are commonly traded as skeletons, ornaments and jewellery (2), they are rarely traded as live specimens.
Distribution:
Found worldwide (3).
Colony shape:
Colonies may be branching (bushy, bottle-brush-like, pinnate, fan-shaped), or whip-like (1, 4).
Black coral skeleton, Leiopathes glaberrima. |
Black coral skeleton, Cupressopathes abies. |
Antipathella aperta, ripe female polyps. |
Bushy black coral, Antipathes species.
|
Whip coral, Cirrhipathes anguina. |
Antipatharian Artefacts:
Commonly seen as jewellery and ornaments, also used as a medicine (1).
Shiny if polished (1)Dark brown or black (1)
May be moulded or shaped e.g. beads bracelets (1)
Black coral can be distinguished from plastic objects by scraping the artefact, genuine black coral produces rust coloured dust (1).
Authentication
Information authenticated by D. M. Opresko, Oak Ridge National Labratory,
TN.
References
1) Oliver, J.K., (1986) Stony corals: Classes Hydrozoa and Anthozoa, In: CITES Identification manual , Gland, Switzerland.
2) Green, E., and Shirley, F. (1999). The global trade in coral. World Conservation Monitoring Centre. World Conservation Press, Cambridge, UK.)
3) Opresko, D.M. (1974) A Study of the classification of the Antipatharia
(Coelenterata: Anthozoa) with descriptions of eleven species. PhD Thesis.
University of Miami. Photocopy from University Microfilms, USA.
4) Opresko, D. M. (2003) Personal communication.