CLASSIFICATION OF TUBIPORA MUSICA
PHYLUM :- COELENTRATA (Tissue grade, diploblastic and acoelomate. )
CLASS :- ANTHOZOA OR ACTINOZOA (Only polypoid generation. sedentary, solitary, colonial.)
SUB-CLASS :- OCTOCORALLIA (Polyps with 8 tentacles, bioluminescent. )
ORDER :- STOLONIFERA (Polyps not fused and communicate with each other by basal mat. )
GENUS :- Tubipora (Organ pipe coral)
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Found abundantly among corals in hot waters of Atlantic-Indian and Pacific ocean.
HABIT AND HABITAT
Tubipora is a marine, colonial polypoid Actinozoa found in shallow waters of tropical and temperate regions
GENERAL CHARACTERSTICS OF TUBIPORA MUSICA
- Commonly called as organ pipe coral and is much calcified anthozoan.
- Highly calcified coral consisting of compact bright red coloured vertical tubes and transverse platforms.
- Genus Tubipora occupies an isolated position.
- Colony is composed of long parallel upright tubes having polyps in living conditions springing from basal plate and through the opening of polyp.
- Colony is supported by skeletal tubes of fused spicules embracing gastrovascular tubes. The tubes are joined together by transverse partition or stolons forming platforms by fused spicules.
- Skeleton is internal and is covered by ectoderm in living condition. Tubipora is very favourite museum specimens.
- Mesogloeal spicules become closely fitted together and form a continuous tube for each polyp.
- Reproduction by budding. Basal plate expands to give new polyps.
- Budding is peculiar. The base of original polyp expands from which new polyps originate.
- Living colony contains polyps.
IDENTIFICATION
- The animal contains compact red coloured vertical tubes and all above characters, hence it is Tubipora.
