Biology

In the depths of the blue Mediterranean Sea, coral, the true red treasure of this town, abounds. Corals are colonial species with hard skeletons looking to us like compact red tree-like organisms.
They are often anchored on the seabed, although in the Gulf of Alghero they have also been found on amphorae, sunken boats, ancient cannonballs or fishermen's pipes that fell into the sea. Poor light levels, relatively high salinity and calm, clear waters are ideal conditions for the Corallium Rubrum to grow and survive as long as possible.
Corals are currently classified as species of animals within the Anthozoa class. Experts refer to them as Octocorallia because they include polyps having eight thin, mobile tentacles with pinnules, calling to mind tiny white flowers.
These tentacles enable each polyp to capture and filter a wide variety of small organisms floating in the surrounding seawaters. Polyps’ feeding, therefore, depends on spatial and temporal distribution as well as on hydrodynamic conditions.