Each of these flower-shaped polyps has a mouth and tentacles. Polyps secrete calcium carbonate that creates their skeleton. It gives them structure and anchors them to a rock or the seafloor.
Since they can't move to find a partner and mix up the gene pool, most warm-water corals practice 'broadcast spawning.' But with such a short window to meet up, they have to sync it just right. The warming summer waters cue the right month. The light from a waning moon cues the right day, and the setting sun cues the exact minute. Good luck out there!
[
add
]
[
|
|
...
]