8. INDENTIFICATION OF THE WESTERN 



ATLANTIC REEF CORALS 



THE CHARACTERS used iti the scientific classi- 

 fication of corals are difficult to study outside 

 of the laboratory or without a detailed 

 knowledge of their structure. Nevertheless it 

 is possible to identify with fair accuracy the 

 greater number of reef corals without special training, 

 by means of the simplified key which follows. The key 

 is based upon characters which may be seen with the 

 naked eye or with a small hand lens, after the coral has 

 been taken from the water and the flesh removed. A 

 ruler graduated in centimeters and calipers for measuring 

 the diameter of the coral cup are very useful aids. 



Technical terms have been avoided as far as possible 

 in the key, but it is advisable to read the section on 

 coral structure before attempting to use it. 



The first and most obvious character to look for is 

 the presence of typical coral cups or calices. The false 

 or stinging coral does not have these, but instead is 

 covered with fine pinholes. 



Some adult corals remain as single cups either com- 

 pletely isolated or connected only by a thin plate at 

 the very base. The majority, however, are united to 

 form massive structures, which may be evenly dome 

 shaped or more irregular (Plates 14, 23, 25). Others 

 have their cups united to form a branching structure 

 (Plates 2, 3, 22, 28, 35, 41). The branches may each 

 consist of a single cup (Plates 22, 41) , or they may be 

 covered with many cups. In the latter case the cups 



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