El Coral, a mystery of nature; Is it a plant or animal? This says a biologist

The coralswith their vibrant colors and exotic shapes, they usually generate confusion about their true nature. Are plants or animals? To clear this doubt, the biologist María L. Thomann, a specialist in marine biodiversity, explains that the corals are, in fact, invertebrate animals that belong to the cnidary edge, the same group that includes jellyfish and anemones.

The corals not only embellish the seas, but also create essential habitats for thousands of marine species. Source: Freepik.

According to the specialist, the corals They have characteristics of animals:

• They do not do photosynthesis: unlike plants, they do not produce their own food. Instead, they capture plankton with tentacles equipped with urticating cells called cnidocytes.

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• Animal cell structure: their cells lack cell wall, typical of plants.
• Sexual and asexual reproduction: corals They can release water gametes or form colonies by geming or fragmentation.
• Mobility in its Larval phase: although the corals Adults are fixed to the marine substrate, their larvae (called plánulas) can swim freely before settle.

Many corals They establish a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae called zooxantelas, which live inside their tissues and provide them with nutrients through photosynthesis. This association has led to the wrong belief that corals are plants, but María L. Thomann clarifies that this symbiosis does not change its biological classification as animals.

The corals not only embellish the seas, but also create essential habitats for thousands of marine species. Source: Freepik.

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Beyond confusion, corals They play a fundamental role in marine ecosystems, says María L. Thomann: “Coral reefs are home to a quarter of known marine species and provide protection to the costs.” However, he warns that climate change and pollution are threatening their survival, which urgently makes conservation.

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