Milleporidae
4 species
Fire corals (Millepora) are a genus of colonial marine organisms that exhibit physical characteristics similar to that of coral. The name coral is somewhat misleading, as fire corals are not true corals but are instead more closely related to Hydra and other hydrozoans, making them hydrocorals. They make up the only genus in the monotypic family Milleporidae.
Fire corals are found on reefs in tropical and subtropical waters, such as the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The highest densities of fire coral are found in the marine waters of South and Southeast Asia; from India in the west to as far east as French Polynesia; south to coastal northern Australia, and north to Okinawa and extreme southern Japan. They are common in all coastal regions of the Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf, as well as off of South Africa, and up the entire eastern side of the African continent; Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, the Maldives, Cape Verde and the Galápagos Islands support known populations of fire coral. Additionally, they are found throughout the Caribbean, along Brazil’s Atlantic coast (near the equator), and both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Panamá. Fire corals form extensive outcrops on projecting parts of reefs where the tidal currents are strongest. They are also abundant on upper reef slopes and in lagoons, and occur down to 40 metres (131 ft) deep.
Fire corals (Millepora) are a genus of colonial marine organisms that exhibit physical characteristics similar to that of coral. The name coral is somewhat misleading, as fire corals are not true corals but are instead more closely related to Hydra and other hydrozoans, making them hydrocorals. They make up the only genus in the monotypic family Milleporidae.
Fire corals are found on reefs in tropical and subtropical waters, such as the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The highest densities of fire coral are found in the marine waters of South and Southeast Asia; from India in the west to as far east as French Polynesia; south to coastal northern Australia, and north to Okinawa and extreme southern Japan. They are common in all coastal regions of the Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf, as well as off of South Africa, and up the entire eastern side of the African continent; Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, the Maldives, Cape Verde and the Galápagos Islands support known populations of fire coral. Additionally, they are found throughout the Caribbean, along Brazil’s Atlantic coast (near the equator), and both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Panamá. Fire corals form extensive outcrops on projecting parts of reefs where the tidal currents are strongest. They are also abundant on upper reef slopes and in lagoons, and occur down to 40 metres (131 ft) deep.
