The Corals and Sea Anemone ClipArt gallery provides 241 images of corals and sea anemone in the phylum cnidaria. They attach themselves to the bottom using an adhesive 'foot', called a basal disc.

A living coral, a marine organism in the class Anthozoa.

Coral

A living coral, a marine organism in the class Anthozoa.

Corals are marine organisms from the class Anthozoa and exist as small sea anemone-like polyps, typically in colonies of many identical individuals. The group includes the important reef builders that are found in tropical oceans, which secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.

Coral

Corals are marine organisms from the class Anthozoa and exist as small sea anemone-like polyps, typically…

A massive branching coral with very small calices; an important reef builder.

Coral

A massive branching coral with very small calices; an important reef builder.

Corals are marine organisms from the class Anthozoa and exist as small sea anemone–like polyps, typically in colonies of many identical individuals. The group includes the important reef builders that are found in tropical oceans, which secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.

Coral

Corals are marine organisms from the class Anthozoa and exist as small sea anemone–like polyps,…

An illustration of coral. Corals are marine organisms from the class Anthozoa and exist as small sea anemone–like polyps, typically in colonies of many identical individuals. The group includes the important reef builders that are found in tropical oceans, which secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.

Coral

An illustration of coral. Corals are marine organisms from the class Anthozoa and exist as small sea…

Formation of Coral Reeds, according to Darwin.

Coral

Formation of Coral Reeds, according to Darwin.

A fossilized coral.

Coral Fossil

A fossilized coral.

Compound coral head with polyps partly expanded and partly contracted. The expanded polyps show the tentacles which surround the mouth; the contracted polyps show the polygonal outline from crowding.

Coral Head

Compound coral head with polyps partly expanded and partly contracted. The expanded polyps show the…

A compound coral head with crowded prismatic corallites. The specimen represents a worn pebble, formerly a part of a larger head.

Coral Head

A compound coral head with crowded prismatic corallites. The specimen represents a worn pebble, formerly…

"Part of a branch of a coral of the genus Gorgonia, showing one of the polyps expanded." -Dana, 1883

Coral Polyp

"Part of a branch of a coral of the genus Gorgonia, showing one of the polyps expanded." -Dana, 1883

"The polyp itself is formed of a whitish, membranous tube, nearly cylindrical, having an upper disk, surrounded by its eight tentacula, bearing many delicate pinnae spreading out laterally. These tentacula resemble the corolla of some flower."

Coral Polyp (Lacaze-Duthiers)

"The polyp itself is formed of a whitish, membranous tube, nearly cylindrical, having an upper disk,…

"The arms of the polyps are at times subject to violent agitation, and the tentacula become much excited. If this excitement continues, the tentacula can be seen to fold and roll themselves up. The little opening around which these tentacula are attached forms the mouth of the polyp."

Coral Polyp (Lacaze-Duthiers)

"The arms of the polyps are at times subject to violent agitation, and the tentacula become much excited.…

"The formation of a coral shell (Asteroides). st., Stomodaeum; ms., mesentery; s., calcareous septum; B., basal plate." -Thomson, 1916

Coral Shell

"The formation of a coral shell (Asteroides). st., Stomodaeum; ms., mesentery; s., calcareous septum;…

"Life history of a coral, Monoxenia darwinii. A, B, Ovum. C, Division into two. D, four-cell stage. E, Blastula. F, Free-swimming blastula with cilia. G, Section of blastula. H, Beginning of invagination. I, Section of completed gastrula, showing ectoderm, and archenteron. K, Free-swimming ciliiated gastrula." -Thomson, 1916

Coral Stages

"Life history of a coral, Monoxenia darwinii. A, B, Ovum. C, Division into two. D, four-cell stage.…

Head of brain coral with soft parts.

Brain Coral

Head of brain coral with soft parts.

Head of brain coral with corallum.

Brain Coral

Head of brain coral with corallum.

The chain coral. This is an important index fossil of the Silurian, and an important limestone builder as well.

Chain Coral

The chain coral. This is an important index fossil of the Silurian, and an important limestone builder…

Lophelia pertusa is a species of cold-water coral which grows in the deep waters throughout the North Atlantic ocean. L. pertusa reefs are home to a diverse community, however the species is extremely slow growing and may be harmed by destructive fishing practices, or oil exploration and extraction.

Cold-water Coral

Lophelia pertusa is a species of cold-water coral which grows in the deep waters throughout the North…

The common Devonian coral, Favosites polymorpha.

Common Devonian Coral

The common Devonian coral, Favosites polymorpha.

A characteristic a-separate compound coral. The columns are prismatic and their walls pierced by regular pores. Internally the tubes are divided by horizontal plates or tabulae. This is an important limestone builder in the Palaeozoic.

Compound Coral

A characteristic a-separate compound coral. The columns are prismatic and their walls pierced by regular…

The prehistoric hexacoral, Cyathophyllum hexagonum.

Cyathophyllum hexagonum

The prehistoric hexacoral, Cyathophyllum hexagonum.

Coral in a fan like shape.

Fan Coral

Coral in a fan like shape.

A large, thin, fan—like coral.

Fan Coral

A large, thin, fan—like coral.

Fire corals are colonial marine organisms that look rather like real coral. However they are technically not corals; they are actually more closely related to jellyfish and other stinging anemones. They are members of the phylum Cnidaria, class Hydrozoa, order Capitata, family Milleporidae.

Fire Coral

Fire corals are colonial marine organisms that look rather like real coral. However they are technically…

Favosites alcyonaria is a species of fossil corals from the Silurian, Devonian, and Carboniferous strata.

Fossil Coral

Favosites alcyonaria is a species of fossil corals from the Silurian, Devonian, and Carboniferous strata.

Coral in the shape of a tree.

Madrepore Coral

Coral in the shape of a tree.

Madrepore ("mother of pores") is a coral of the genus Madrepora, found often forming reefs or islands in tropical locations. They reproduce in three separate ways as discovered by the Victorian marine zoologist Anna Thynne (1806-1866). The name was formerly applied universally to any stone coral.

Madrepore Coral

Madrepore ("mother of pores") is a coral of the genus Madrepora, found often forming reefs or islands…

Madrepore ("mother of pores") is a coral of the genus Madrepora, found often forming reefs or islands in tropical locations. They reproduce in three separate ways as discovered by the Victorian marine zoologist Anna Thynne (1806-1866). The name was formerly applied universally to any stone coral.

Madrepore Coral

Madrepore ("mother of pores") is a coral of the genus Madrepora, found often forming reefs or islands…

A coral in the shape of a mushroom.

Mushroom Coral

A coral in the shape of a mushroom.

Coral in the shape of a mushroom.

Maushroom Coral

Coral in the shape of a mushroom.

Coral that resembles a pipe-organ.

Organ-Pipe Coral

Coral that resembles a pipe-organ.

"Corallium rubrum, portion of colony." -Parker, 1900

Precious Coral

"Corallium rubrum, portion of colony." -Parker, 1900

An illustration of part of a stock of precious coral (red coral). Precious coral or red coral is the common name given to Corallium rubrum and several related species of marine coral. The distinguishing characteristic of precious corals is their durable and intensely colored red or pink skeleton, which is used for making jewelry.

Precious Coral

An illustration of part of a stock of precious coral (red coral). Precious coral or red coral is the…

Used for jewellery, grows in a bushy form on rocks at the bottom of the Mediterranean and Red seas.

Red Coral

Used for jewellery, grows in a bushy form on rocks at the bottom of the Mediterranean and Red seas.

"It appears to be confined to the Mediterranean Sea, where it grows, especially on the southern coast, attached to rocks at considerable depths in the sea. It is fished up from the deep by means of nets and other instruments. The manufacture of ornaments of this coral at Naples is of great extent." — Goodrich, 1859

Red coral

"It appears to be confined to the Mediterranean Sea, where it grows, especially on the southern coast,…

Reef coral with slightly enlarged calices.

Reef Coral

Reef coral with slightly enlarged calices.

An illustration of a slipper coral fossil.

Slipper Coral

An illustration of a slipper coral fossil.

A fossil of the coral, Stauria astraeformis, a prehistoric hexacoral.

Stauria astraeformis

A fossil of the coral, Stauria astraeformis, a prehistoric hexacoral.

Echinopora rosetta is a species of stone coral belonging to the Echinoporidae family.

Stone Coral

Echinopora rosetta is a species of stone coral belonging to the Echinoporidae family.

Flabellum alabastrum is a fan-shaped stony coral in the suborder Caryophylliina.

Stony Coral

Flabellum alabastrum is a fan-shaped stony coral in the suborder Caryophylliina.

A fossil of the coral, Zaphrentis cornicula, an extinct rugosa.

Zaphrentis cornicula

A fossil of the coral, Zaphrentis cornicula, an extinct rugosa.

"Portion of a colony of Corallium rubrum, showing expanded and contracted zooids. In the lower part of the figure the cortex has been cut away to show the axis, ax, and the longitudinal canals, lc, surrounding it." — The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Corallium Rubrum

"Portion of a colony of Corallium rubrum, showing expanded and contracted zooids. In the lower part…

"Portion of a colony of <em>Corallium rubrum</em>, showing expanded and contracted zooids. In the lower part of the figure the cortex has been cut away to show the axis, ax, and the longitudinal canals, lc, surrounding it." &mdash;Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Colony of Collarium Rubrum

"Portion of a colony of Corallium rubrum, showing expanded and contracted zooids. In the lower…

"The Tubularidae are a family of hydroid polypes are for the most part social animals, frequently possessing a polypidom, which, however, when present, is of much less firm consistence than the horny framework of the Sertularidae. The polypes are never entirely retractable within their tubes; the upper extremity is enlarged into a clavate head, surrounded by a variable number of tentacles." &mdash; Goodrich, 1859

Tubularia coronata

"The Tubularidae are a family of hydroid polypes are for the most part social animals, frequently possessing…

"A, a hydriform person giving rise to medusiform persons by budding from the margin of the disc; B, free swimming medusa (Steenstrupia of Forbes) detached from the same, with manubrial genitalia (Anthomedusae) and only one tentacle." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Corymorpha

"A, a hydriform person giving rise to medusiform persons by budding from the margin of the disc; B,…

A fossil trapped in a crinoid.

Fossil Crinoid

A fossil trapped in a crinoid.

Crinoids that live in limestone.

Limestone Crinoids

Crinoids that live in limestone.

"Cunina rhododactyla, one of the Narcomedusae. c, circular canal; h, "otoporpae" (ear-rivets) or centripetal process of the marginal cartilaginous ring connected with tentaculocyst; k, stomach; l, jelly of the disc; r, radiating calan (puch of stomach); tt, tentacles; iw, tentacle root. The lappets of the margin of the disc, separated by deep notches, above which (nearer the aboral pole) the tentacles project from the disc (not marginal therefore), are characteristic of many Narcomedusae and Trachomedusae. Cartilaginous strands (the mantle rivets or peroniae) connect the tentacle root with the solid marginal ring." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Cunina Rhododactyla

"Cunina rhododactyla, one of the Narcomedusae. c, circular canal; h, "otoporpae" (ear-rivets) or centripetal…

"Diagram of a vertical section through a young Cunina rhododactyla, passing on the right side through a radiating pouch. b, tentaculocyst; c, circular canal; g, ovary; h, marginal cartilage and connecting process springing from a tentaculocyst (otoporpa); k, stomach; t, jelly of the disc; r, radiating canal or pouch; tt, tentacle (solid, cartilaginous); tw, tentacle root; v, velum." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Cunina Rhododactyla

"Diagram of a vertical section through a young Cunina rhododactyla, passing on the right side through…

A simple cup-coral attached to the sea-bottom.

Cup-coral

A simple cup-coral attached to the sea-bottom.

An illustration of a branch of dendrophyllia.

Dendrophyllia

An illustration of a branch of dendrophyllia.

"The Madrepores abound in all inter-tropical seas, taking a considerable part in the formation of the reefs which from the coral and madreporic islands so conspicuous in the three oceans. The treelike genus have cells of considerable depth, radiating into numerous lamellae, forming a widely branching, arborescent coral, externally striated, internally furrowed, and truncate at the extremities."

Dendrophyllia Ramea (De Blainville)

"The Madrepores abound in all inter-tropical seas, taking a considerable part in the formation of the…

"The Madrepores abound in all inter-tropical seas, taking a considerable part in the formation of the reefs which from the coral and madreporic islands so conspicuous in the three oceans. The treelike genus have cells of considerable depth, radiating into numerous lamellae, forming a widely branching, arborescent coral, externally striated, internally furrowed, and truncate at the extremities."

Dendrophyllia Ramea with Polypi (De Blainville)

"The Madrepores abound in all inter-tropical seas, taking a considerable part in the formation of the…

"The Madrepores abound in all inter-tropical seas, taking a considerable part in the formation of the reefs which from the coral and madreporic islands so conspicuous in the three oceans. The treelike genus have cells of considerable depth, radiating into numerous lamellae, forming a widely branching, arborescent coral, externally striated, internally furrowed, and truncate at the extremities."

Dendrophyllia Ramea, Magnified (De Blainville)

"The Madrepores abound in all inter-tropical seas, taking a considerable part in the formation of the…

"Diagram of a Diblastula. a, orifice of invagination (blastopore); b, archenteric cavity; c, endoderm; d, ectoderm." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Diblastula

"Diagram of a Diblastula. a, orifice of invagination (blastopore); b, archenteric cavity; c, endoderm;…

"Formation of the Diblastula of Eucope (one of the Calyptoblastic Hydromedusae) by delamination. A, B, C, three successive stages. ep, ectoderm; hy, endoderm; al, enteric cavity." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Diblastula

"Formation of the Diblastula of Eucope (one of the Calyptoblastic Hydromedusae) by delamination. A,…

"Diagram of a colony of dicoryne, showing three forms of persons. a, normal hydriform person; b, modified bud-bearing hydriform person (blastostyle); c, degenerate medusiform persons (sporosacs)." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Dicoryne

"Diagram of a colony of dicoryne, showing three forms of persons. a, normal hydriform person; b, modified…

"'Nurse' of Doliolum mulleri. I., Inhalant, E., exhalant aperture; C., ciliated band round pharynx (P.); En., endostyle; O., "otocyst"; N., nerve-ganglion; H., heart; (E., oesophageal opening; D., stomach; A., anus; Cl., cloaca; DO., dorsal organ; M., muscle bands." -Thomson, 1916

Doliolum Mulleri

"'Nurse' of Doliolum mulleri. I., Inhalant, E., exhalant aperture; C., ciliated band round pharynx (P.);…

"Sexual individual of Doliolum mulleri. G., gonads; B., gill-slits; I., Inhalant, E., exhalant aperture; C., ciliated band round pharynx (P.); En., endostyle; O., "otocyst"; N., nerve-ganglion; H., heart; (E., oesophageal opening; D., stomach; A., anus; Cl., cloaca; DO., dorsal organ; M., muscle bands." -Thomson, 1916

Doliolum Mulleri

"Sexual individual of Doliolum mulleri. G., gonads; B., gill-slits; I., Inhalant, E., exhalant aperture;…

"A, Edwardsia cliparedii (after A. Andres). Cap, capitulum; sc, scapus; ph, physa. B, Transverse section of the same, showing the arrangement of the mesenteries. s, Sulcus; sl, sulculus. C, Transverse section of Halcampa. d, d, Directive mesenteries; stm stomodaeum." &mdash; The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Edwardsia Cliparedii

"A, Edwardsia cliparedii (after A. Andres). Cap, capitulum; sc, scapus; ph, physa. B, Transverse section…