Merulina Coral (13"x7"x4”) birdsnest and the exterior is sculpted

and the exterior is sculpted with wide ridges that spiral down the whorls

the ivory bush coral builds a skeleton of calcium carbonate – a compound that will become increasingly more rare as the ocean acidifies (a phenomenon caused by the ocean’s absorption of acidic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere)

with females attaining up to 16 inches in length

Widest pacific conch seashells are extremely thick and heavy shells with beautiful patterns

Merulina Coral (13"x7"x4”) birdsnest and the exterior is sculptedThis coral is found in shallow waters on reefs and in lagoons in tropical parts of the IIndo Pacific region. Colonies of this species have vertical, irregular, two sided fronds about 5 cm (2 in) tall and not more than 5 mm (0. 2 in) thick. The corallites housing the polyps are very shallow and form widely separated rows parallel to the margins of the fronds. The bases of these fronds may be dead while the upper parts are still alive supported by the