Lettuce Coral -- Not for salads

Wordless Wednesday
Watery Wednesday

What: Lettuce Coral (Turbinaria mesenterina).
This coral colony was large -- nearly two meters across.

Where: I took this photo in the Red Sea at a reef called Umm Hal Hal,
off the coast of Safaga, Egypt.


Turbinaria mesenterina
[Click on the photo to enlarge.]
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34 comments:

  1. Nice and clear shot you have got there, Bobbie. Happy WW! :)
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  2. Amazing shot, as usual. I love that you also captured those cute little fishies swimming around it.
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  3. Wow! You always have such amazing photography!
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  4. wow!!! i love it! i love corals! =) esp the sea!
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  5. That's so beautiful ! I took a submarine in Hurghada to see some corals and fishes but was very disappointed there is not a lot left. On the other side it's far better.
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  6. It certainly lives up to its name!
    Beautiful - loved enlarging and seeing all the little fish.
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  7. I agree with Carletta!
    And I have to return the compliment - you are such a great tour guide under the sea :)
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  9. Sure looks like a salad :D
    Lovely shot, I love underwater pics!
    Happy WW!
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  10. That green is gorgeous. It looks delicious, too! Coral is so fluid. Thanks for this.
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  11. Wow it really does look like lettuce. Is it a hard or soft coral? It looks soft. Have a great day!
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  12. Absolutely beautiful -- as always!
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  13. So they eat salads down there too?!

    I liked the green down there very much.
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  14. Great shot. The coral is such a unique color.
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  15. Wow! I can see why it's called lettuce coral. Wonderful. You certainly give me an appreciation for what lies below the surface of the sea. Happy WW.
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  16. Very cool. It certainly does look like lettuce. Now, why do the polyps arrange themselves in the way that they do? Is there some advantage?
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  18. Wow! Gorgeous photography. Love your site.
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  19. This is so neat, and the fish swimming around it are beautiful. Great picture.
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  20. What a beautiful photo, with a sense of pure serenity to it.
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  21. Excellent photo. It's the green salad that Spongebob uses for patties. I liked the sea turtle, too.
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  22. I have to say that looks better than some lettuce that I've seen at the grocery store. LOL! Beautiful shot. You captured the colors perfectly.

    Misty
    Social Media/Community Relations Manager, Viscape.com

    Write a review, and you could win a chance to become a travel writer in Belize or Key West!
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  23. wow. underwater creatures are amazing, aren't they?
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  24. That looks like beautiful lettuce...yep, you're right...not for salad but a really cool shot. Happy WW my friend. Thanks for dropping by to say HI:) Its always great to see you.
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  25. Thanks to all of our WW friends for visiting. We appreciate your visits and your feedback.

    @ Gattina - You are right. The corals on most of the reefs around Hurghada are no match for those farther south along the Egyptian coast, and around Sinai.

    @ Shannon - This species is a hard coral in the family Dendrophylliidae.

    @ ScinceGuy - The corallites of this species don't always grow in this pattern. This is quite a mature, dense colony. We also have seen smaller colonies of the same species that are less dense, and form cup-like shapes.

    To those who mentioned the unusual green color, that color comes from symbiotic algae that live in the coral's tissues.

    Bobbie
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  26. Looks like it has many little hiding places for little fish. Do they use it as such? Beautiful green colors!
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  27. This coral certainly has some savoy-faire, doesn't it? (Get the hook...)
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  28. Enlarged. Can tell it is coral then. And can see all the little fish swimming around it.

    Leedra’s Photos For Fun
    Photography By Leedra
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  29. Gorgeous shot. I love the colors and contrast.
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  31. Salad of the sea...I was there. The question was ranch or Italian? rjs
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  32. It does look like lettuce, and I love the texture. I see some little fish swimming near-by.
    B.
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  33. @ Kathy -- Yes, the little fishies do take shelter in this and other corals.

    @ Lavender -- Savoy-faire? You crack me up! :-D

    Bobbie
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  34. I have never seen anything like it! Thanks for sharing!
    I also agree with your stand on hunting, whether by spear or rifle. I would say one should only use a camera, but I am not willing to become a vegetarian. Kill with mercy, and only for a good reason.
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We welcome your comments and invite your questions. Dialogue is a good thing!

Bobbie & Jerry

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