SEVENSEAS Marine Conservation & Travel Issue 19, December 2016 | Page 79

1 Topic : 5 Facts

How well do you know the ocean?

This regular feature will help acquaint you with our blue planet.

Topic: Soft Coral

Soft corals are members of the subclass Octocorallia, which includes sea fans, sea pens, and sea whips.

Most soft coral polyps have eight tentacles as opposed to six like hard corals.

Sclerites, spiny internal structures, give soft coral some support.

Soft corals are described as ahermatypes, or non-reef building corals.

Sea whips contain chemicals that have been studied for their anti-inflammatory effects.

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SEVENSEAS - 79

December 2016 - Ocean Literacy