Red coral (Corallium rubrum L., 1758)

Abstract

Crveni koralj je od davnina zadivljavao ljude. Kroz povijest je bio svrstavan u minerale, biljke i životinje. Korišten je kao ukras još od pretpovijesti, ali ima i mnogo dublje značenje. Zbog svoje jarke crvene boje povezivali su ga s krvlju, Grci s Meduzinom, a kršćani Isusovom. Šitio je od mržnje, uroka i bolesti. Ovo misteriozno i veličanstveno biće je zapravo kolonija sastavljena od tisuća sitnih životinjica. Jedina je vrsta roda Corallium koja živi u Mediteranu. Izrazito je stenoterman i stenohalina vrsta. Živi pričvršćen na kamenoj podlozi na dubinama od 30 do 200 metara, iako se nalazi i na manjim dubinama na zasjenjenim mjestima. Slaba osvjetljenost i strujanje vode koje ne dopušta sedimantaciju su vrlo važni za život crvenog koralja. Zbog svoje visoke ekonomske vrijednosti u opasnosti je od izlova.The red coral has fascinated people since ancient times. Throughout history it has been allied to minerals, plants and animals. It has been used as an ornament since prehistory, but has a much deeper meaning. Because of it's brilliant red colour, people have associated it with blood, the Greeks with Medusa's and the Christians with Jesus'. It protected people from hate, curses and diseases. This mysterious and precious creature is actually a colony of thousands of tiny animals. It is the only species of the order Corallium that inhabitates the Mediterranean. It is very stenothermic and stenohaline. It lives adhered to a rocky substrate in dephts ranging from 30 to 200 meters, though it can also be found in shallower waters in semidark caves. Dim light and low sedimentation are essential for the red coral. Because of it's high economic value, it is in threat of overharvesting