English: Black corals; Thorn corals.
Region: cosmopolitan.
Habitat:marine, deep water, on continental slopes under 50 m deep; except brackish waters.
Culture: threatned by poaching, ocean acidification and climate change.
Use: medical; in rituals; modern is making jewelry.
ZoologyAntipatharia are soft deep-water corals with jet-black or dark brown chitin skeletons, surrounded by the polyps.
Antipatharia reproduces both sexually and asexually throughout its lifetime. Many black corals provide housing, shelter, food, and protection for other animals.
TaxonomyBlack corals were originally classified in the subclass Ceriantipatharia along with Ceriantharians, but were later reclassified under
Hexacorallia.
FamiliesAntipathidaeAphanipathidae
Cladopathidae
Leiopathidae
Myriopathidae
Schizopathidae
Stylopathidae