Description: Structure-forming corals have an upright orientation and a rigid, complex branching structure of calcium carbonate or horn-like protein. The group includes black corals (Antipatharia), stony corals (Scleractinia), sea fans (Gorgonacea, aka gorgonians), and lace corals (Stylasterina), among others.
Copyright Text: National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce; National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), NOS, NOAA, Department of Commerce