That’s what I said…It’s not a plant or a fungus…
It’s a living, breathing animal, and it is precious! In fact, it is often called precious coral when it is red or pink in coloration.
The coral that is of red or pink “skeleton” is often used in jewelry making and sculpted art. It is soft and opaque making it ideal to use as beads or cabochon-type settings.
In fact, the coral is the word used to describe the color of the coral too…
It is mostly made up of calcium carbonate, similar to the material pearls are made of and is considered a precious gemstone.
Originally, this species was found in the Mediterranean Sea and is found on non-sedimentary, rocky seabottoms and prefers dark environments.
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Subclass: Alcyonaria
Order: Gorgonacea
Family: Coralliidae
Genus: Corallium
***
I hope you enjoyed this Invertebrate post on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…
Live Exotically,
Kimberly Edwards 
P.S. Please be sure to Subscribe to this Blog.
Technorati Tags: coral, red coral, pink coral, coral jewelry, precious coral, precious gemstones, gemstones
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