CORAL & SPONGES IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

The following guide should help you identify the various marine life, that you may see while on your diving adventure tour.  All of these animals are indigenous to the waters of Belize.

While it would be impractical to list all of the species you are most likely to see these, while diving in Belize.  This section will identify some of the more common forms of marine life that you may encounter.

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CORAL

The coral reef is an association of ancient life forms that has been in existence for thousands of years.  Its structure is dependent on individual coral polyps that range in size from a pinhead to one foot across.  The slitlike mouth opening of each polyp is surrounded by tentacles that may sting and trap food.  Limestone that builds reefs is produced by cells on the lower sides and bottom of the polyps.  Living within reef corals are minute plant cells called zooxanthellae.  These organisms are the primary source of color in reef coral, which varies locally.  Each species has its own growth pattern.

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Sheet Coral

Flower Coral

Club Finger Coral

Yellow Pencil Coral

Mountain Star Coral

Scroll Coral

Leaf Coral

Fused Staghorn Coral

Staghorn Coral

Ivory Bush Coral

Ribbon Coral

Elliptical Star Coral

Pillar Coral

Green Cactus Coral

Smooth Starlet Coral

Rough Starlet Coral

GOLFBALL CORAL

May encrust on rocks or form golfball size pebbles.

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BLUSHING STAR CORAL

Blushes white when touched.  Note the pale center in each cup.

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LARGE FLOWER CORAL

Branches have oval cups at the ends.

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KNOBBY BRAIN CORAL

Forms flat mats or mounds up to three feet wide with an irregular, knobbed surface.

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CAVERNOUS STAR CORAL

Has large projecting cups with ribbed sides.  Boulders or plates may exceed five feet wide.

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MUSTARD HILL CORAL

Sometimes encrusts dead coral.

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ORANGE TUBE CORAL

Has tubular cups that project shallowly from its clumpsy encrusting base.

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SMOOTH STAR CORAL

Is somewhat like lobed star coral, but has smaller cups.  It forms rounded domes rather than irregular lobed masses or crusts.

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GIANT BRAIN CORAL

Has a halfway break along the sides of its deep ridges, often associated with a color change from green to brown.  Mounds reach six feet wide.

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LOBED STAR CORAL

With its raised cups, has a "blistered" look.  Height is about two feet.

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GROOVED BRAIN CORAL

Has a deep groove along the center of its ridges.  Size is three feet.

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BUTTERPRINT BRAIN CORAL

Forms mounds two feet wide.

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ELKHORN CORAL

Is a master builder of shallow reefs.  It has flattened, palmate branches.  Colonies can grow six to ten feet high, and cover acres of reef.

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SPONGES

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BORING SPONGE

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YELLOW TUBE SPONGE

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BARRELL SPONGE

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ORANGE WALL SPONGE

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RED WALL SPONGE

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BLUE BELL TUNICATE

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VASE SPONGE

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GIANT TUBE SPONGE

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