The world’s coral reefs provide some of the most spectacular natural colour on the planet. Despite an appearance of simplicity, the tiny individuals that make up those reefs are some of the most complex in the living world.
While often referred to as the ‘rainforest of the ocean’, corals are actually animals, not plants. But much of their colour comes from the algae (not plants either, strictly speaking) that live in a remarkable symbiotic (‘living together’) relationship with them.
An individual coral is known as a polyp, a soft organism comprising a base, a hollow gastro-vascular (‘stomach-vessel’) tube, and a mouth opening surrounded by tiny tentacles.
Each polyp is hermaphrodite (i.e. having both male and female sexual organs). There are two types of sexual reproduction in coral. In ‘brooder’ corals, the egg is fertilized within the polyp, incubated and then later released into the ocean. In externally fertilizing corals, some polyps release sperm, others eggs. In the awesome phenomenon known as mass coral spawning, all the corals in one geographic region release their eggs/sperm on the same night, all synchronized by the phases of the moon.

wow! santooos · 2007-10-26: 11:31

love colours in #4 in particular. janec · 2007-10-26: 12:45

Csodálatosak!!! facan · 2007-10-26: 14:52

beautiful! Karibbean · 2007-10-26: 18:07

Simply stunning. Congrats RodolpheDeus · 2007-10-26: 20:01

Lovely. ????? · 2007-10-27: 04:19

these photos are amazing because they show some of the many wonders our planet has. unfortunately many will be destroyed by mankind's bottomless ambition. so this is an excellent way of having an archive of what once we had. thanks for that Longimanus, you make me feel like I've been to these beautiful paradises. keep them pictures coming storytaylor · 2007-10-27: 05:20

very pretty and delicate, like them alot fionarobinson · 2007-10-27: 05:21

So beautiful. Stunning set! jet28 · 2007-10-27: 05:47

amazing set agandia · 2007-10-27: 06:36

Beautiful closeups and excellent explanation sparkylu25 · 2007-10-27: 08:24

so gorgeous to see! I love snorkeling. Are you a scuba diver? JuliaGotz · 2007-10-27: 08:46

Great set. Compliment peregol · 2007-10-27: 08:46

Georgous colours and interesting stories as u have as used to! TIM927 · 2007-10-27: 10:43

Simply awesome, aded the 4 to favorites!! Agodashi · 2007-10-27: 13:26

Beautiful.... #2 & #4 are my favorites! DancingDolphin · 2007-10-27: 20:00

Phenomenal! I think coral is the coolest. It grows in every color, and is reffered to as undersea gardens. Spectacular! pixkid · 2007-10-27: 21:26

wow.... complimenti..... Andrea67 · 2007-10-28: 16:08

wow...Spectacular. Not only the pics (they are all stuning), but all the info you give...Visiting your blog is like opening a beautiful book... izalan · 2007-11-01: 07:39

really amazing emmetan · 2007-11-02: 09:54

WOW. Wonderful Shot's & Color. tsimpson · 2007-11-06: 09:01

jogos online jogos online · 2012-12-16: 01:35