There are two actual divisions of coral in science. One is soft coral; and the other is hard coral.

This article is about hard coral: SPS/LPS.

In linguistics as far as breaking down the popular term coral into three usable terms that are compatible with science; the terms hard coral, soft coral, and other coral named animals are used to keep the colloquial and factual synced in definition.

Hard corals belong to the phylum Cnidaria, and the Class Hydrozoa.

Some animals that look like soft coral are actually hard coral. But, it takes a microscope to be able to determine this from the calcareous material they produce on a microscopic level.

Some of the features that define hard coral in addition to calcium processed into exoskeletons are:

• Hard coral have more defined tentacles

• Sectional body parts of the polyp

• Six smooth tentacles, rather than being like the soft coral which has 8.

• Multiples of six tentacles.

Out of 70 separate genus or genera there are approximately 359 known species of hard coral.

Some of these hard coral species are:

• Cup Coral

• Brain Coral

• Closed Brain Coral

• Mushroom Coral (This coral has only one polyp. In juxtaposition to having many).

• Table Top

• Stag Horn

• Turret Coral

• Elegance

• Torch

• Trumpet

• And many more stunning varieties.

Coloration of coral can come from algae in the tissue of the polyp. These symbiotic algae are referred to as zooxanthallae.

This algae coloration in hard coral gives these animals their brown gold hue.

Pigmentation’s in the tissue or exoskeleton give hard coral a great variety of other colors and combination’s of colors.

And unhealthy hard coral will loose the zooxanthallae symbiotic algae. This will cause the brownish areas to turn white.

Hard corals are the final stage in the difficulty level that an marine reef tank enthusiast can attain. These hard corals are considered the most difficult to maintain.