Abstract
Precious corals within Japanese waters have long been commercially traded as valuable marine resources. To manage and recover coral resources toward sustainable use, the accumulation of scientific knowledge including coral biology and ecology is essential. This study aimed to obtain biological and structural information on the white coral Corallium konojoi, a Japanese precious coral, using a synchrotron X-ray micro-computed tomography. Tomographic images of a high spatial resolution and edge-contrast showed morphological features of not only the skeletal structures, axial skeleton, and sclerites but also of living tissue, leading to the identification of polyps (autozooids and siphonozooids) and gastrovascular canals. A coenenchyme with a multilayered structure of the dispersed sclerites and the gastrovascular canals were also observed. External and internal forms of the axial skeleton suggested that skeleton formation at an apical part was in combination with incorporations of the sclerites and a biomineralization through a skeletogenic epithelial layer surrounding the axial skeleton.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
