Black coral
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Black coral is a term given to a group of deep water, tree-like tropical coral related to sea anemone. Though its living tissue is brilliantly colored, black coral takes its name from the distinctive black or dark brown color of its skeleton. Also unique to black coral are the tiny spines that cover the surface of the skeleton, the origin of the nickname little thorn coral. In the Hawaiian language, black coral is called ‘ēkaha kū moana and is the official state gem of Hawaii. Black coral is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
People have used black coral since prehistoric times, as a medicine (its Latin family name, Antipathes, means “against suffering”), a charm (to ward off evil spirits and natural disasters) and in carved ornaments. Native to the tropics, local craftsmen have been carving black coral for hundreds of years. Mariners brought back gifts of black coral to their royal sponsors, who prized its rarity and beauty. In time, black coral came to be known as the "King’s Coral".
Unlike more common stony corals, which inhabit shallow water and are composed mostly of calcium carbonate, black corals live in deep water (up to 300 feet) and consists primarily of conchiolin, the same protein that contributes to the iridescent beauty of pearls.
[edit] External links
- Antipathidae entry at Animal Diversity Web
- Antipathidae (TSN 51941). Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- National Geographic, Research Expedition Aimed at Halting Loss of Black Coral
- ARKive, Identification of black corals [1]
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