''Millepora complanata'', commonly known as blade fire coral, is a species of
fire coral
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 t ...
in the
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
Milleporidae. It is found in shallow waters in the
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere, located south of the Gulf of Mexico and southwest of the Sargasso Sea. It is bounded by the Greater Antilles to the north from Cuba ...
where it is a common species. The
International Union for Conservation of Nature
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the stat ...
has assessed its conservation status as being critically endangered.
Description
Fire corals are
colonial coral-like organisms that secrete calcareous skeletons. Colonies of ''Millepora complanata'' have an encrusting base and thin upright plates or blades growing to a height of about . The plates of ''Millepora complanata'' grow perpendicular to the current direction, with some colonies not growing larger than the encrusted base if the current is too strong. The surface of the blades is smooth and the outer margins irregular, with many stumpy protrusions. This fire coral is pale brown or cream coloured, with white tips to the blades. The feeding and defensive polyps are hair-like and project through fine pores on the surface of the blades. Contact with this fire coral by bare skin can cause a severe stinging sensation.
Distribution and habitat
''Millepora complanata'' has a widespread distribution in the Caribbean Sea. It often grows in areas with vigorous water movement and turbid waters, and is tolerant of siltation.
Biology
Some of the polyps of ''Millepora complanata'' are dactylozooids with hair-like processes and stinging cells that detect the presence of
zooplankton
Zooplankton are the heterotrophic component of the planktonic community (the " zoo-" prefix comes from ), having to consume other organisms to thrive. Plankton are aquatic organisms that are unable to swim effectively against currents. Consequent ...
and help entrap it. The nematocyst in the dactylozooid is discharged and injects venom into the prey, all within three milliseconds. Other polyps are