Merulina Coral (13"x7"x4”) birdsnest They are predatory

They are predatory

the ivory bush coral builds a skeleton of calcium carbonate – a compound that will become increasingly more rare as the ocean acidifies (a phenomenon caused by the ocean’s absorption of acidic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere)

Energy is directed through and radiates from the point of the crystal

they eat food such as plankton or suspended detritus as it passes them

It can grow to be nearly 2 feet in length

Merulina Coral (13"x7"x4”) birdsnest They are predatoryThis coral is found in shallow waters on reefs and in lagoons in tropical parts of the IIndo Pacific region. Colonies of this species have vertical, irregular, two sided fronds about 5 cm (2 in) tall and not more than 5 mm (0. 2 in) thick. The corallites housing the polyps are very shallow and form widely separated rows parallel to the margins of the fronds. The bases of these fronds may be dead while the upper parts are still alive supported by the