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12.5.1. Fire corals


They are more closely related to jellyfish than corals. On contact, one usually feels a burning sensation similar to a sting from a jellyfish.

Habitat: Generally found in murky inshore waters and display a tolerance for siltation. They often are found in clear offshore sites.

Distribution: Indonesia, Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama Pacific Province. Possibly extinct from Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Panama, Singapore and Thailand.

Threats: Collected for decoration and jewellery trade. This group is also sensitive to temperature rise, and is thought to have completely disappeared from the majority of marine areas possibly because of growing global warming related bleaching effects.