Red coral
Average size: 10 cm
Maximum size: 25 cm
The coral is made of a skeleton composed of intermeshed spicules of hard calcium carbonate. The skeletal branches are overlaid with soft bright red integument, from which numerous retractable white polyps protrude. Thanks to its peculiar compactness, it is used by the jewelers of Torre del Greco and Alghero for their works. Red corals grow on rocky seabottom with low sedimentation, typically in dark environments, either in the depths or in dark caverns or crevices. It can be found up to 45 meters of depth. During the ’60-‘80 there was an intensive fishing activities for the coral but the technique used caused to destroy the bottoms.
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Notes
Roberto Sandulli, “Dentro al mare della Costa d'Amalfi" guida alla fauna marina della Costiera Amalfitana, Ecostiera edizioni, anno 1999