Marine Species: Antipathella wollastoni

Photographed by: Luis Miguens

Taxonomy Structure

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Common Name:	Black coral
Description:	The Antipathella wollastoni belong to the group of black corals, named because their black skeletons. The black corals form branched structures, where each polyp measures 0.5 to 1 millimetre across, and bears six simple tentacles arranged around a slit-like mouth. The skeleton is covered with a thin layer of pale, living tissue, which connects all the individual polyps, and the entire colony is covered with small protuberances. The A. wollastoni occurs only in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. The number of black coral-associated-species is considerable, and includes copepods, brittle-stars, shrimp and crabs, demonstrating the importance of black corals in providing habitat and enhancing the diversity of other invertebrate groups.
Habitat:	Usually the black corals occur in vertical walls, below 30 m deep.
Color:	Pale.
Geographical Distribution:	Atlantic Ocean