coral

Sea slugs, corals, clams and sponges may not get as much of the spotlight as blue whales or sharks, but these curious creatures come with a host of unique, hard-to-believe abilities.

The team linked algae growth, enhanced nitrogen fixation, and the upwelling of cool, nutrient-rich waters by studying coral cores collected across the Caribbean.

Warming oceans and the decline of coral ecosystems correlate with higher tumor rates in marine turtles and fish.

After examining their form, habitat, and shell structure, the team concluded that Salterella and Volborthella most likely belonged to the cnidarian group -- relatives of modern corals, jellyfish, and sea anemones.

There had been some sort of colossal explosion on a coral island in the South Pacific.