Eudendriidae
Eudendriidae is a family of colonial, carnivorous hydrozoans that includes the common name “fire corals” (although this name is often applied to corals belonging to the genus Millepora, which are members of the family Milleporidae). Eudendriidae contains about 50 described species within four genera: Eudendrium, Stylactis, Ptilo, and Cladocora. Although they share the same common name as true corals, fire corals are not closely related. They are cnidarians, like jellyfish, and belong to the class Hydrozoa, whereas true corals are members of the class Anthozoa. This means that fire corals are more closely related to hydroids and jellyfish than to true corals.
Characteristics
Eudendriidae are characterized by their branching, colonial structure. These colonies are formed by individual polyps, which are tiny, sac-like animals that are connected to each other by a network of tubes. The polyps can be either feeding polyps (gastrozooids) or reproductive polyps (gonozooids). The gastrozooids have tentacles that they use to capture prey, while the gonozooids produce medusae, which are free-swimming, jellyfish-like forms that are responsible for sexual reproduction.
Fire corals are named for the stinging cells (nematocysts) they possess. These cells are found on the tentacles of the polyps and can deliver a painful sting to humans. The sting can cause skin irritation, redness, and swelling, and in some cases, it can even cause more severe symptoms such as fever and chills. While most members of Eudendriidae are relatively small in size, there are some species that can grow to be quite large, forming colonies that extend for several feet.
Environment
Eudendriidae can be found in a variety of marine environments, including shallow reefs, rocky shores, and seagrass beds. They are typically found in warm, tropical waters, but some species can tolerate cooler temperatures. Fire corals are important members of the marine ecosystem, as they provide habitat for a variety of other organisms. For example, fish often use fire coral colonies as shelter from predators, and some invertebrates, such as sea urchins and crabs, graze on fire coral polyps.
Genera
- Eudendrium
- Stylactis
- Ptilo
- Cladocora
References
The Eudendriidae (Hydrozoa, Athecata): A Revision of the American Species