Identification
of fire coral,
Millepora species
Common names:
Fire coral, stinging coral (1).
Trade:
Live colonies are commonly traded for the aquarium trade (2). Skeletons may also be traded as curios (3). There are an estimated 17 species in this genus (1). Millepora must be identified to genus level on CITES permits, although it is desirable to identify it to species level where possible (4).
Colony shape:
Colonies may be a wide range of shapes; they may be branching (forming tree-like, or fan-like shapes), column-like, encrusting, plate-like or box-shaped (1,6).
 Fire coral Millepora species. |
Fire coral, Millepora species. |
Fire coral, Millepora species with dactylozooids
extended. |
Millepora artefacts:
May be sold as curios (3).
Fire coral skeleton, Millepora species. |
Authentication
Information authenticated by E.H. Borneman
References
1) Borneman, E.H. (2001) Aquarium
corals; Selection, Husbandry and Natural History. T.F.H. Publications. New
Jersey, USA. ISBN: 1-890087-47-5
2) Bruckner, A. (1998) Guide to Indo-Pacific Corals in International Trade.
Online (April 2002)
3) Corrochano, V. R. (1996) Guía de identificatión de conchas y corales includios
en el convenio de Washington. Ministerio de Comercio y Turismo. Spain ISBN:
84-7415-289-0
4) Cairns, S.D., Hoeksema, B.W, and Van der land, J. (1999) List of extant
stony corals. Atoll Research bulletin, 459: 13-46.
5) CITES Notification to the Parties No. 2002/072. Trade
in stony corals. (February 2003) http://www.cites.org/eng/notifs/2002/072.shtml
6) Veron, J.E.N. (2000) Corals of the world, Volume 3. Australian Institute
of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia ISBN: 0-642-32237-6