Science is an ever changing thing. That is what makes it science. There will always be innovation, and new light that shines on every topic imaginable. One of the most interesting parts of science, is how often opinions and classifications are reworked. Lets look first at something like red wine. For the longest time it was said to do great things for your body when it was consumed in moderation on a daily basis. Years later, that "Fact" has been proven untrue. Next, let's look at our favorite dwarf planet, PLUTO. I think we all know the story behind that classification which resulted in an 8 planet solar system.
My question/ theory, is regarding the classification of coral. I am not closed minded on the topic, but would really like to see a good discussion with all of us playing devil's advocate to our own ideas so that we can more thoroughly study the classification of coral in the animal kingdom.
My research shows that coral is classified as an animal because:
- Coral has a mouth used to collect food
- Coral has a digestive system
- Reef-building corals contain algal cells that photosynthesize and produce some sugars and other chemicals, but ALL reef building corals need additional sources of nutrition, and most are actively predatory and MUST be fed.
- Most coral lack symbiotic algae and are incapable of photosynthesis
- Corals contain muscles, nerves, digestive and reproductive tissues, and capable of sensing and rapidly responding to their environment.
I am sure there are a few other things that classify coral as animals as well, but are they classified as animals because they are closer to animal classification than plant classification?
To me, comparing to either family only drives me to believe that coral should be a family of its own, here is why:
- What other animals in the animal kingdom are stationary?
- What animal has potentially thousands if not millions of mouths attached to one skeleton?
- Are Venus Fly Traps animals since they catch food and absorb it? What about other carnivorous plants?
- What controls a coral's nervous system? Why is damage done to one part of a coral not felt on the opposing end of that same animal?
- What animal is most similar to a coral and in what ways?
- A jelly Fish, a Coral, and a Jellyfish are all related
I am sure there are a lot more questions, but in the animal kingdom, are there other animals that have loosely related characteristics that define them as animals?
I think that there will be a day when science creates a family specific to coral, but I am VERY interested to hear your take on coral family classification. I am sure there are many of you who know a lot more about it than I do. I would like to hear from some of your biology buffs who can really help me get how coral is clearly defined as an animal.
Should be interesting, thanks for joining the conversation!
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Tanuki wrote: