In geography coral reef is a barrier, lying at or just below the surface of the sea, built up of the skeletons of immense numbers of small creatures called coral polyps. Research Coral Reef
A lagoon is a shallow stretch of salt water partly or wholly separated from the sea by a narrow strip of land or a low sand-bank or coral reef. Research Lagoon
Pink is an effeminate colour merging purple with red. Traditionally associated with femininity, young girls, innocence. Pink is associated with gentleness, with delicate blooms and with blossom.
Bubblegum - A non-descript term often applied to a vivid, bright rose or coral pink.
Coral - A reddish-pink.
Flamingo - An orangey-pink reminiscent of the colour of a flamingo.
Magenta - A brilliant purple-pink.
Rose - An effeminate, gentle pink.
Rosy - A effeminate, gentle pink usually associated with complexion.
In western cultures wedding anniversaries are traditionally associated with the giving of gifts made of materials which vary depending upon the number of years the couple has been married. Similarly, wedding anniversaries are also known by the material, so the 25th wedding anniversary is popularly known as the 'silver wedding anniversary' after the material associated with it. While there are variations to the list, a general one follows: 1st Paper 2nd Cotton 3rd Leather 4th Fruit 5th Wood 6th Sugar 7th Copper 8th Bronze 9th Pottery 10th Tin 11th Steel 12th Silk 13th Lace 14th Ivory 15th Crystal 20th China 25th Silver 30th Pearl 35th Coral 40th Ruby 45th Sapphire 50th Gold 55th Emerald 60th Diamond 70th Platinum Research Wedding Anniversaries
Alcyonaria are coelenterate animals forming a great division of the class Actinozoa. These animals are nearly all composite, and the individual polyps have mostly eight tentacles. They include the organ-pipe corals, sea-pens, fan-corals, etc, as also the red coral of commerce. The polyps essentially resemble those of the genusAlcyonium in structure, and in the number and arrangement of the tentacles. Research Alcyonaria
Angelfish is any of a number of unrelated fishes. The freshwater angelfish, genus Pterophyllum, of South America, is a tall, side-to-side flattened fish with a striped body, up to 26 centimetres long, but usually smaller in captivity. The angelfish or monkfish of the genus Squatina is a bottom-living shark up to 1.8m long with a body flattened from top to bottom. The marine angelfishes, Pomacanthus and others, are long narrow-bodied fish with spiny fins, often brilliantly coloured, up to 60cm long, living around coral reefs in the tropics. Research Angelfish
Aucuba is a genus of plants of the order Cornaceae, one species of which, Aucuba japomoa, a laurel-like shrub with spotted leaves, a native of Japan and China, is now common in ornamental grounds in Europe. The flowers are dioecious and inconspicuous. For a long time only the female plant was cultivated, but during the 19th century the male was introduced, and the fruit, which consists of beautiful coral-red berries, was subsequently developed, and added greatly to the attractiveness of the plant. Aucuba himalaica, also brought to Europe, is less hardy. Research Aucuba
Brain Coral (Meandrina) is one of the madreporian or reef-forming corals, which has the surface of the corallum curiously convoluted, so that in surface view it somewhat resembles the humanbrain. Research Brain Coral
Coral is a vast commune made up of tiny marine organisms called polyps, which are related to sea anemones.
Corals are of two types: perforate and imperforate. Perforate corals have porous skeletons with connections between the polyps through the skeleton. Imperforate corals have solid skeletons. Many corals have different growth forms. They can be plocoid as in Tubastrea coccinea (orangecup coral) and Favia fragum (golf ball coral). They can also be meandroid in which corallites form a series within the same walls, as in the species Dendrogyra cylindrus (pillar coral). Other growth forms include cocoid, spherical shaped and phalecoid, as in Eusmilia fastigiata.
Corals can obtain food in a variety of ways. Reef-building corals rely on the photosynthetic products of zooxanthellae for the majority of their nutrients. However, corals also capture zooplankton for food using their tentacles.
Coral is essential to the world's eco-system as it absorbs vast quantities of carbon dioxide from the water and converts it into calcium carbonate. More carbon dioxide is absorbed by the world's coral reefs than by the rain- forests on land. In 1998 70% of the world's coral was destroyed by a freak weather system, leading to fears that global warming could increase. Research Coral
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Atoll
