Emelie Dahlskold, 30 January, 2025 | Orange Fungia coral
Exploring the Wonders of Walking Corals
Have you ever heard of corals that can walk? It might sound like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. Still, these incredible creatures are real, and they're revealing fascinating insights about the natural world.
Based on recently published research findings from Dr Brett Lewis and his colleagues in the QUT School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, we're going to dive deep into the world of "walking corals" – specifically, Cycloseris Cyclolites, a type of mushroom coral known for its ability to move across the seafloor.
These tiny, colourful creatures, less than an inch across, use a clever technique called "pulsed inflation" to propel themselves forward, inch by inch. But what's even more impressive is that these corals seem to have a strategic plan for their movements.
QUT researchers have discovered that these corals are drawn to blue light, which acts like a beacon, guiding them to their ideal habitat in deeper, calmer waters. It's like they have their own personal GPS system!
Even more mind-blowing is the fact that these corals don't have a centralised brain, yet they're able to coordinate their movements and respond to their environment in sophisticated ways. Instead, they have a decentralised nervous system, with a network of nerve cells that act as messengers, relaying information about light, touch, and chemical changes.
This decentralised intelligence is similar to the nerve net found in jellyfish, another fascinating creature.
By studying the connections between corals and jellyfish, scientists are uncovering clues about the evolution of nervous systems and complex behaviour in the animal kingdom. But the implications of this research go beyond just understanding these unique creatures.
The walking corals' ability to migrate to deeper, cooler waters could be a key to their survival in the face of climate change. As ocean temperatures rise, many coral species struggle to adapt, but these walking corals might have a fighting chance.
This research is a great example of how even the smallest, seemingly insignificant creatures can hold the key to unlocking big secrets about our world. These research findings act as a reminder that curiosity and a willingness to explore the unknown can lead to incredible discoveries.
So, if you're interested in science, biology, the environment or just exploring the wonders of the natural world, keep an eye out for research on walking corals and other fascinating creatures. You never know what amazing insights they might reveal about the evolution of life on our planet.
