Milleporina
Quick Summary
Milleporina refers to an order of invertebrate marine animals, commonly known as millepores or hydrocorals. These animals are closely related to hydras and belong to the class Hydrozoa, distinguishing them from true corals which are in the class Anthozoa.123
Millepores are found in shallow tropical seas, typically at depths up to 30 meters (100 feet). They can form various structures, from treelike growths up to 50 cm high to massive, shapeless, or leaflike formations. Most millepores are whitish, yellowish, or beige and possess nematocysts, which are stinging structures used for defense and capturing food.1
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cnidarianSupport mechanisms and skeletonsHydrocorals, which include the order Milleporina (millepores), commonly called fire coral, and the precious red coral used for jewelry, form encrusting or branching skeletons similar to those of anthozoan corals.
Read MoreHydrocorals, which include the order Milleporina (millepores), commonly called fire coral, and the precious red coral used for jewelry, form encrusting or branching skeletons similar to those of anthozoan corals.
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Order Milleporina Fire coral. Colonial forms producing massive calcareous skeletons. Gastrozooids and dactylozooids project through pores in surface of skeleton. Reduced, acraspedote (lacking a velum) nonfeeding medusae are released. Tropical. Order Siphonophora Pelagic polypoid colonies with greatest degree of polymorphism in phylum; lack medusae.
Read MoreOrder Milleporina Fire coral. Colonial forms producing massive calcareous skeletons. Gastrozooids and dactylozooids project through pores in surface of skeleton. Reduced, acraspedote (lacking a velum) nonfeeding medusae are released. Tropical. Order Siphonophora Pelagic polypoid colonies with greatest degree of polymorphism in phylum; lack medusae.
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