Coral life span?

[Forge77]

Most seem to be in a constant state of growth and reproduction. Do they ever die from old age?

It might be a silly question.

 

[dwd5813]

given proper conditions, your corals will outlive you. like you say they're constantly growing, spreading, reproducing, etc..
have a look at this, for example.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1608472

 

[sassafrass]

Corals have been found in the ocean that are estimated to be over a thousand years old and scientist's believe that certain colonial hydroids are immortal in that they have no gene for ageing !!!

 

[rkelman]

Some deep water corals have been dated 3000 years old. Their life span is really unlimited as they are always renewing.

 

[redfishsc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14718038#post14718038 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sassafrass
Corals have been found in the ocean that are estimated to be over a thousand years old and scientist's believe that certain colonial hydroids are immortal in that they have no gene for ageing !!!

Well.... immortal until that Crown 'o thorns sea star comes rolling by... .nom nom nom nom........



That being said, I believe corals are basically like a lot of plants that form "colonies"---- the parent plant (the original that started the "colony") can be very, very hard to locate and identify, and thus, age. You never quite know how old any plant, or polyp, actually is.

 

[reefergeorge]

Here is a thread from a while back.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1475229