False Coral

Overview

Myriapora truncata, commonly known as the False Coral, is a colonial bryozoan frequently mistaken for a cnidarian coral due to its striking appearance. It forms rigid, calcareous, and bushy structures that are a prominent feature of Mediterranean rocky reefs.

Distribution & habitat

This species is native to the Mediterranean Sea and parts of the adjacent eastern Atlantic. It is a shade-loving organism typically found in environments with reduced light, such as cave entrances, crevices, vertical walls, and rocky overhangs. It thrives in areas with good water flow.

Appearance

The colony features a vibrant red to orange-red coloration, often leading to confusion with the Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum). Unlike true coral, its branches are cylindrical with truncated, blunt ends. The surface of the colony is porous, covered in tiny openings that house the individual zooids. When active, these zooids extend small, tentacle-like structures called lophophores to feed.

Biology & behavior

Myriapora truncata is a colonial organism composed of thousands of tiny, filter-feeding individuals. It is a passive filter feeder, using its lophophores to capture plankton, bacteria, and suspended organic particles from the surrounding water. Research indicates that this species is notably resilient to the levels of ocean acidification projected for the coming centuries. The colony grows through a combination of sexual reproduction, which produces larvae for dispersal, and asexual budding, which expands the existing structure.