How Do You Identify A Fire Coral Fish?
“The marine organism we’re going to identify now is the fire coral. Although called a coral it’s not technically a member of the coral family. It’s more closely related to hydroids, stinging anemones, and jellyfish than it is to coral. It’s name derives not from it’s color but from the burning sensation it causes when bare skin inadvertently touches it. There are at least three specimens of fire coral found in the Caribbean but I’m not going to identify individual species. Instead I will discuss the class of organism in general since they pose a hazard to both the snorkelers and divers. Fire corals are usually a tan or mustard color but also may appear to have a greenish tint in some cases. They almost always have a whitish coloration at the edges of their plates or tips of their spikes. Some specimens grow in vertical plates or fingers while others are frequently found in crusting gorgonians, sea fans, or stony corals. Their texture looks a bit like sandpaper but on closer examination
