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Glite Dictionary
Alcyonacea

Alcyonacea

9.9
A group of soft corals with flexible, fleshy bodies that do not build hard skeletons and live in warm seas
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Alcionáceos
  • Unlike hard corals, members of the Alcyonacea do not build massive calcium carbonate skeletons.

Examples

  • The Alcyonacea are widely distributed in shallow tropical reefs around the world.

  • The Alcyonacea thrive in warm, shallow waters.

  • Marine biologists study Alcyonacea to understand coral reef biodiversity and health.

  • Many species of Alcyonacea can be found around the Great Barrier Reef.

  • Marine biologists study Alcyonacea to understand coral reef biodiversity and health.

  • The Alcyonacea are widely distributed in shallow tropical reefs around the world.

  • Unlike hard corals, members of the Alcyonacea do not build massive calcium carbonate skeletons.

Compounds

suborder Alcyonacea
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of soft sea corals that do not make hard skeletons

Surface Forms

Alcyonacea singular
Alcyonaceas plural

Etymology

Alcyonacea comes from the Greek name Alcyon ('kingfisher') and the story of Alcyone, which gave English the word halcyon meaning 'calm'; naturalists liked this sea story. Scientists used the root alcyon- for sea animals, so Alcyonacea is the name given to a group of soft corals that live in the ocean, which is why the word refers to these marine, fleshy corals.