Brain coral grows in warm, shallow water, like the water around the Great Barrier Reef.
Brain coral is a type of rocky coral named for its unusual appearance. As brain coral grows, it develops a rounded surface covered in deep ridges and sinuous grooves, giving it an eerily brain-like appearance. This coral can be found in warm, shallow waters in many parts of the world, most notably the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Like many other coral species, the brain coral is endangered due to changes in the marine environment, many of which are caused by human activity.
The Great Barrier Reef is located off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
Like other corals, the brain coral is not a single organism. Rather, it is a colony of individuals known as polyps. The polyps unite and slowly build a skeleton of calcium carbonate. Each species builds a slightly different style of skeleton, which explains why corals are so physically diverse, and indeed several species, including polyps in the genera Meandrina and Diploria, build brain-like skeletons. Brain coral’s hard layers of calcium carbonate explain why it is known as a “stony” coral.
This coral is a major player when it comes to reef building. Brain corals develop very slowly, channeling resources to develop a very strong skeleton and foundation. This means that the coral is difficult to dislodge, so it will resist upheaval, hurricanes, and other threats. Once the brain coral becomes established, it can provide shelter for other corals and organisms, contributing over time to the development of a true coral reef.
Most brain corals reproduce by “transmitting” sperm and eggs. The polyps in the coral simply release their sperm and eggs into the water, relying on currents to bring the reproductive material close enough to create a gamete, which then wanders the ocean until it finds a place to settle and start a new colony. of brain coral. .
Polyps in brain corals have various food sources. They can feed on the algae that exist in symbiosis with them, growing within the protective grooves of the coral, and can also use sweeping tentacles to capture free-floating organisms. When threatened, the polyps retract their tentacles into grooves in the coral so they cannot be eaten by predators or destroyed by rough waters. The organisms also use their tentacles to clean the house from time to time, removing accumulated sand and other materials.
As this coral takes a long time to grow, it should always be appreciated in situ. Harvesting brain coral almost always kills it, unless harvesting is done by a trained professional, and the loss of a brain coral can be a serious blow to a reef. For the same reason, divers should be careful around brain coral and other corals to avoid damage that can kill the coral or inhibit its growth.