The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs noted the location of the different types of coral around the reef and in the lagoon. In his diary, he described, "examining the very interesting yet simple structure & origin of these islands. The water being unusually smooth, I waded in as far as the living mounds of coral on which the swell of the open sea breaks. In some of the gullies & hollows, there were beautiful green & other colored fishes, & the forms & tints of many of the Zoophites were admirable. It is excusable to grow enthusiastic over the infinite numbers of organic beings with which
Deep-water coral than tropical corals because there are no zooxanthellae to feed them. "Lophelia" has a linear polyp extension of about per year. By contrast, branching shallow-water corals, such as "Acropora", may exceed 10–20 cm/yr. Reef structure growth estimates are about per year. Scientists have also found "Lophelia" colonies on oil installations in the North Sea. Using coral age-dating methods, scientists have estimated that some living deep-water corals date back at least 10,000 years. Deep-water corals use nematocysts on their tentacles to stun prey. Deep-water corals feed on zooplankton, crustaceans and even krill. Coral can reproduce sexually or asexually. In asexual reproduction