Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Subclass: Hexacorallia

Order: Scleractinia

 

Norwegian: steinkoraller

(Gloskjæret - Vestfold / 14 meters / 9.25.2004)

The members of the Hexacorallia subclass may be solitary or colonial. The polyps are usually cylindrical with arms (septa) in multiples of six. Three well known orders of this subclass are stony corals, tube anemones and anemones.

Two stony corals are common along the coast of Norway, the solitary coral Caryophyllia smithii and the colonial coral Lophelia pertusa. A second colonial stone coral, the rare Madrepora oculata has also been registered. L. pertusa is known to build coral reefs on 40 meters depth in the Norwegian fjords. Huge reefs have been found by the oil industry mapping the sea bed.