Tube Coral – Sarcodictyon catenatum

, Tube Coral, Sarcodictyon catenatum
Depth: 0 - 342 m

Afghanistan, Alaska, Algeria, Andaman and Nicobar, Angola, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Arctic, Argentina, Ascension Island, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores Islands, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Cocos Islands, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Corsica Island, Crete Island, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, Galapagos Islands, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira Islands, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Saint Martin, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sardinia Island, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Sicily Island, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, US Minor Islands, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Alboran Sea, Amvrakikos Gulf, Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Aral Sea, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Barents Sea, Bay of Bengal, Bay of Biscay, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Black Sea, Bohai Sea, Cantabrian Sea, Celtic Sea, Chukchi Sea, Coral Sea, Dead Sea, English Channel, German Bight, Great Barrier Reef, Greenland Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Fonseca, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Halmahera Sea, Iberian Sea, Indian Ocean, Java Sea, Korinthiakos Gulf, Labrador Sea, Levantine Sea, Lingayan Gulf, Marmara Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Moro Gulf, Okhotsk Sea, Pacific Ocean, Pagassitikos Gulf, Salish Sea, Saronikos Gulf, Scotia Sea, Sea of Azov, Sea of Marmara, Siberian Sea, South China Sea, Southern Ocean, Thermaikos Gulf, Yellow Sea

The Tube Coral, scientifically known as Sarcodictyon catenatum, is a unique and fascinating species of colonial coral that thrives in the depths of the ocean. This captivating organism, known for its intricate tubular structure and vibrant colors, is a significant contributor to the biodiversity of the underwater world.

Description & Characteristics

Sarcodictyon catenatum is a colonial coral characterized by its intricate network of interconnected tubes. These tubes, typically ranging in diameter from a few millimeters to several centimeters, are formed by a colony of tiny polyps. Each polyp possesses eight tentacles, which are used for capturing food. The polyps are interconnected by a network of canals, allowing for the efficient flow of nutrients and communication within the colony. The color of the Tube Coral can vary significantly, ranging from pale yellow to deep orange and even shades of red and purple, depending on the species and location.

Habitat and Occurrence

The Tube Coral, Sarcodictyon catenatum, is typically found in subtidal, sublittoral, and infralittoral zones, extending to the deep zone of the oceans from the lower limit of the intertidal zone down to the shelf edge at approximately 200 meters. These marine zones, often classified as neritic, provide suitable environments for the coral’s growth and development. Sarcodictyon catenatum often inhabits rocky outcrops, rock ledges, underwater caves, and underwater caverns, forming intricate and vibrant colonies in these diverse marine habitats.

Taxonomy

Sarcodictyon catenatum belongs to the Class: Octocorallia, Order: Scleralcyonacea, and Family: Sarcodictyonidae. This classification highlights the evolutionary relationships of the Tube Coral within the broader coral lineage, emphasizing its unique characteristics and adaptations.

Feeding

Sarcodictyon catenatum is a carnivorous organism, relying primarily on plankton and small invertebrates for sustenance. The polyps, with their eight tentacles, capture prey that drifts past them, utilizing stinging cells called nematocysts to paralyze and ingest their food. The captured prey is then digested within the polyp’s body, and nutrients are distributed throughout the colony via the interconnected canals.

Associated Species

Image References

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