There are many marine animals that live in relatively deep waters, away from the surface, around structures known as corals.
Different types of marine animals are found living around coral reefs and can survive at great depths but sometimes coral reefs are subjected to coral bleaching in sea water. Coral bleaching is a process where the coral reef turns white because of the absence of food.
Some of the common corals found in the Indo-Pacific are brain coral, leaf coral, plate coral, elkhorn coral, star coral, and staghorn coral. Large polyps form on the surface of soft coral reefs and cover every coral colony giving it different colors like blue, purple, or brown. Every coral reef colony can grow up to 4 ft (1.2m) high.
Read on to know more about the types of coral reefs and species that live in the depths of the sea.
Seagrass (origin is from the United States) are often found at shallow depths with strong light levels.
Clown triggerfish(Balistoides conspicillum) (Latin origin) belongs to the family Balistidae. It gets its name from its clown-like look and the reaction it has when threatened.
Falco Hawkfish (Cirrhitichtys Falco) (Latin origin), the meaning of the name is 'Falcon', while waiting for their prey, these fish have a habit of pecking on the rocks.
Butterflyfish (English origin), The word 'butterfly' indeed comes from the word 'butter', but this is where things get a little slick.
Organ Pipe Coral (Tubipora musical), the alcyonarian octocoral is found in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean's central and western areas.
Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora) (Greek origin), meaning ‘nema, -atos = filament’.
Tamana Island (Arabic origin), meaning ‘his/her father.’
Seaweed (Old English origin) refers to any weed-like organisms that abound in the sea.
Orange-green Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) (Latin origin), meaning ‘ballistare, to throw), the body of the orange-lined triggerfish is dark brown to dark green with orange lines running from behind the head to the remainder of the body.
Algae (Latin origin), meaning ‘seaweed’. There are different kinds of algae-based on their coloration, red and green algae.
Mandarinfish, the name refers to extremely vibrant colors.
Pitti Island (Malayalam origin), meaning ‘bird’.
Regal Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) (Greek origin) and its name mean ‘having the color of the liver'. They have bright yellowtail.
Sea lettuce (Latin origin), meaning ‘lettuce.’
Bitra Island: with a surface size of 0.065 sq mi (0.105 sq km), Bitra Island is the smallest inhabited island in the region.
Vase Coral (Montipora capricornis) are easiest to identify due to their coloration and restricted growth.
Sweet peas (Latin origin), meaning ‘fragrant,’ hold a symbolic meaning of blissful flowers.
Harlequin Shrimp (English origin), found deeper in the Caribbean Ocean.
Walpole Island (English origin), words 'welle' and 'pol' meaning ‘a pool surrounded by a wall’.
Rose ‘Mosaico’ (Latin origin), meaning ‘desire,’ is loved by everyone.
Eelgrass (Greek origin), meaning ‘belt’, the leaves are dark green, long, slender, and ribbon-shaped.
Gray Angelfish (Pomacanthus arcuatus) (Greek origin), meaning ‘ cover thorn’, also known as the angelfish.
Jarvis Island (English origin), meaning 'spear'. It is also nicknamed bunker island.
Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) (Greek origin), meaning ‘both sides.’ They are the most beautiful among the clownfishes.
Clown Anemonefish get their name from the bright orange color and white stripes. They like to play around leaves.
Venus Sea Fan Coral (Gorgonia flabellum), the Venus sea fan, one of the most well-known species of soft coral, forms gigantic fan-like formations that grow vertically upward from the ocean floor and deeper inside the sea.
Marjani, Meaning: coral Origin: Arabic, Swahili ~ View Detail
Harlequin Tuskfish gets its name from its harlequin-like coloring and four projecting teeth that resemble tusks.
Black Triggerfish (Odonus niger) (Greek origin) means this name is specifically related to its teeth shape.
Coraline, Origin: Diminutive of Coral ~ View Detail
Queen Angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris) (Greek origin), meaning ‘full thorn’. It is found in the western Atlantis.
Peonies‘Coral sunset’ (Greek origin), meaning ‘flower.’
Copper-band Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus) (Latin origin), meaning ‘beaked,’ its name is due to its long nose. They are a really beautiful species.
Moon Jellyfish, its name is because it resembles the full moon.
Longnosed Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) (Greek origin), meaning ‘sharp curl'. It is the laziest. It sits still until its prey ventures to its trap.
Coralie, Meaning: coral Origin: French from Latin
Maroon Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus) (Latin origin), the meaning of the name is due to its beautiful maroon color with bright stripes over his body.
Pink Skunk Clownfish (Amphiprion perideraion) (Greek origin), the meaning of the name is due to its bright colors. They are fierce and can attack both sharks and divers.
Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) is a colonial stony coral species belonging to the Agariciidae family.
Banded Pipefish is named after its long snout, which resembles a pipe.
Kelp (originated in Europe) described as 'the ash of seaweeds burned'.
Neptune grass (Greek origin) is named after the Greek god of the sea.
Ranunculus (Latin origin), meaning ‘little frog.’ These are rare and are different kinds of coral flowers.
Fuccus Serratus has a common name of bladderwrack.
Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto) (Greek origin), the meaning of this name is based on its signaling characteristics.
Iceland poppy (Latin origin), meaning ‘naked stem.’ They have restricted growth and are mostly found in mountainous sites.
Coetivy Island (French origin), Chevalier de Cotivy, commander of the Ile de France, was the first to see the island in 1771.
Calcareous red seaweed (Latin origin), meaning ‘composed of calcium carbonate'.
Grooved Brain Coral (Diploria labrynthiformis), their spheroid form and grooved surface, which resembles a brain, have earned them the name.
Birnie Island is named after James Birnie, brother of London merchant Alexander Birnie.
Mangrove (English origin), meaning ‘it has roots above the ground.’
Bartlett's Anthias (Greek origin), meaning ‘fake fish’.
Tomato Clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus) (Greek origin), meaning ‘both sides, saw’.
Open Brain Coral (Trachyphyllia geoffroyi). The Trachyphyllia genus may be found in the Philippines, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, and then south to Passage Island on the west coast.
Koralia, Meaning: coral Origin: Greek
Sun Corals (Tubastraea), Cnidaria is a phylum of corals that includes the genus Cnidaria. It belongs to the Dendrophylliidae family of cup corals.
Lakshadweep Island (Malayalam origin), meaning ‘one lakh islands’.
Tulips (Turkish origin), meaning ‘turban’, is a famous name among young girls.
Stocks (Scientific name: Antigonon leptopus), meaning ‘queens’ wreath.’
Leaf Coral (Pavona decussata) have calcified, flattened joint stems.
Kadmat Island (Indian origin), Kadmat Island, also known as Cardamom Island, is a coral island in India's Lakshadweep archipelago that belongs to the Amindivi subgroup of islands.
Coral charm peony (Greek origin), the meaning of the name lies in the fact that Paeon (sometimes written Paean) was a disciple of Asclepius, the Greek deity of medicine and healing, and the peony bears his name.
Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata) (Mexican origin) is commonly known as staghorn coral.
Saddleback Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium) (Greek origin), meaning ‘hair teeth’. The markings on their backs resemble a saddle.
Flint Island (German origin), this island was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Ferdinand Magellan.
Coralia, Meaning: coral Origin: Variation of Coralie
Rock Beauty Angelfish(Holacanthus tricolor) (Greek origin), meaning ‘full thorn’. They can grow up to two feet in length.
Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sinuosa) is called bubble coral due to its bubble-like appearance.
Coral Amaryllis (Greek origin), meaning ‘sparkle.’ This flower signifies determination, beauty, and love.
Coral Snapdragon (Latin origin), the name 'snapdragon', comes from the flower's reaction to having their necks compressed, which causes the flower's 'mouth' to open like a dragon's.
Posidonia australis (Greek origin), Posidonia, the genus name for this species, is named after Poseidon, the Greek deity of the oceans, and australis alludes to its southern habitat.
Coral dahlias (Arabic/Hebrew origin), Carl Linnaeus, the pioneering Swedish botanist, and taxonomist, donated the name 'Dahlia' in honor of his late pupil Anders Dahl, author of Observationes Botanicae.
Yellow Tang (Latin origin), meaning ‘flavescens.’
Anthurium (Greek origin), meaning ‘tail flower,’ a more tropical looking flower
Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica) (Greek origin), meaning ‘nema, -atos = filament + The name of a Nile fish, eleotris.’
Lionfish (Greek origin), meaning ‘kind of serpent’.
