corallite

Summary

a tube-like or conical skeletal structure consisting of a combination of radial elements (mainly, septa, septal spines, costae), axial structures, concentric elements (e.g. dissepiments, synapticulae), basal elements (tabulae) and enclosing thecal elements (walls). This complete suite of elements is not necessarily present in every coral. The corallite includes both the distal structure last occupied by a polyp (i.e. calice) and all the more proximal structures representing its successive growth history from the point of its inception. In the complete or partial absence of wall structures, there is no clearly definite visual limit to a corallite, and in this case the other structures present are collectively referred to as centres.

Orthography

Not yet available.

Modifiers

• nariform corallite
• rasp-like corallite
• axial corallite corallite
• axial plus radial corallite systems corallite
• central corallite corallite
• monocentric corallite
• polymorphic corallite corallite
• protocorallite corallite
• radial corallites corallite
• secondary corallite corallite

Description

Not yet available.

This version was contributed by Ken Johnson on 22-Apr-2008 14:35.