Fire corals - Genus Millepora
© Francis Abbott / www.naturepl.comStatus
Listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). International trade in live or dead specimens
is subject to licensing. Trade without such permits is likely to constitute
a criminal offence. Individual countries may have bans or restrictions on
the collection or export of Millepora.
Description
Fire coral may grow in a variety of shapes, including column-like, encrusting (flattened), branching, rounded, plate-like or box-shaped. Live colonies are usually yellow-brown usually with pale edges or branch tips. Occasionally colonies may be green or pink. Tiny, hair-like dactylozooids may be visible during the day and night. Fire coral skeletons may retain the colouration of the live coral. The skeleton has a smooth surface covered in pores of two different sizes. Millepora species are known as fire corals because the stinging cells (nematocysts) contained in the dactylozooids are powerful enough to cause a reaction in humans.
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