Blue coral, Heliopora coerulea
© Eric H. Borneman
Status
Listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES). International trade in live or dead specimens is regulated and subject to
licensing. Trade without such permits is likely to constitute a criminal offence
In addition to CITES requirements, regions and countries may have legislation
banning or limiting the collection or trade of blue coral.
Description
Blue coral colonies can be tree-like, plate-like or column-like. The skeleton is dense and blue in colour. Living colonies are brown, or greenish-grey with minute transparent polyps. Blue coral has a calcified skeleton but does not belong to the order Scleractinia.
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