Zigzag Coral

Image: NOAA
Madrepora oculata

Behold the glowing zigzag!

The Zigzag Coral is among the most widespread corals in all the world.

Image: NOAA

They dominate the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea and nearby Atlantic areas, but they can be found everywhere outside of the coldest Arctic and Antarctic waters. In fact, it's one of just 12 corals that have managed to spread to every ocean in the world.

Zigzag Corals may have spread across the world, but they're not spread thin. They live at depths from a mere 50 metres (165 ft) off the coast of Brazil, to some 2,000 metres (6,560 ft) near Iceland.

Image: NOAA

Zigzags are a kind of stony coral, which are the ones that produce a tough, calcareous skeleton that can go on to make up coral reefs.

In the case of Zigzag Corals, the skeleton is quite fragile and doesn't make for impressive reefs. However, they're often found sheltered and protected among the branches of more powerful corals like Lophelia.

Image: NOAA

Zigzag Corals are much better climbing frames, though.