Definitions for alcyonacea
al·cy·onacea

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Alcyonacea, suborder Alcyonaceanoun

   comprising the soft corals

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Alcyonacea

   Alcyonacea, (gorgonian corals or soft corals), are an order of corals. In addition to the fleshy soft corals, the order Alcyonacea now contains all species previously known as "gorgonian corals", that produce a more or less hard skeleton, though quite different from "true" corals (Scleractinia). These can be found in suborders Holaxonia, Scleraxonia, and Stolonifera. They are sessile colonial cnidarians that are found throughout the oceans of the world, especially in the deep sea, polar waters, tropics and subtropics. Common names for subsets of this order are sea fans and sea whips; others are similar to the sea pens of related order Pennatulacea. Individual tiny polyps form colonies that are normally erect, flattened, branching, and reminiscent of a fan. Others may be whiplike, bushy, or even encrusting. A colony can be several feet high and across, but only a few inches thick. They may be brightly coloured, often purple, red, or yellow. Photosynthetic gorgonians can be successfully kept in captive aquaria. About 500 different species of gorgonians are found in the oceans of the world, but they are particularly abundant in the shallow waters of the Western Atlantic, including Florida, Bermuda, and the West Indies.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. alcyonacea

   Alcyonacea, also known as soft corals, is an order of corals which do not produce a hard skeleton. Instead, their tissues are often reinforced with tiny, spiny skeletal elements called sclerites. This order includes several known types of coral, like sea fans, sea whips and leather corals. They are primarily found in deep waters and other hard submarine surfaces that are low in sedimentation.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Alcyonacea

   a group of soft-bodied Alcyonaria, of which Alcyonium is the type. See Illust. under Alcyonaria

2. Etymology: [NL.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Alcyonacea

   The Alcyonacea, or the soft corals are an order of corals which do not produce calcium carbonate skeletons. Soft corals contain minute, spiny skeletal elements called sclerites, useful in species identification. Sclerites give these corals some degree of support and give their flesh a spiky, grainy texture that deters predators. In the past soft corals were thought to be unable to lay new foundations for future corals, but recent findings suggest that colonies of the leather-coral genus Sinularia are able to cement sclerites and consolidate them at their base into alcyonarian spiculite, thus making them reef builders. Unlike stony corals, most soft corals thrive in nutrient-rich waters with less intense light. Almost all utilize symbiotic photosynthesizing zooxanthella as a major energy source. However, most will readily eat any free floating food, such as zooplankton, out of the water column. They are integral members of the reef ecosystem and provide habitat for fish, snails, algae and a diversity of other marine species. Many soft corals are easily collected in the wild for the reef aquarium hobby, as small cuttings are less prone to infection or damage during shipping than stony corals. Nevertheless, home-grown specimens tend to be more adaptable to aquarium life and help conserve wild reefs. Soft corals grow quickly in captivity and are easily divided into new individuals, and so those grown via aquaculture are often hardier and less expensive than imported corals from the wild. The most common examples of this are various species of Actinodiscus, especially common red mushroom coral.

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1. • Animal Order

How to pronounce alcyonacea?

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Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of alcyonacea in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of alcyonacea in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=alcyonacea
2. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcyonacea
3. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
4. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alcyonacea
5. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=alcyonacea