There are many different types of coral but I will be only talking about two; the fire coral and the pillar coral.
Fire corals are found on reefs in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans and the Caribbean Sea. The diet of the fire coral is made up of plankton, brine shrimp, and any small animals that mysis that gets in their stingers. Photosynthesis also makes up 75% of their diet.
Fun facts: Even though coral can use photosynthesis for food, they are still technically a carnivore. Fire coral gets their name from stinging divers. Fire coral colonies are typically composed of long, tree like branches with a dome top.
Classification:
Domain-Eukarya
Kingdom-Anamalia
Phylum-Cnidaria
Class-Hydrozoa
Order-Anthoathecatae
Family-Milleporidae
Genus-Millepora
Species-Millepora alcicornis
Pillar coral is located on flat or gently sloping reefs. It can occur at depths between 1 and 25 metres, although is most commonly found at depths between 5 and 15 metres. Pillar coral gets its food from zooplankton and photosynthesis.
Fun facts: Pillar coral releases its eggs into the water, where the fertilize, find a place to root, and grow. Pillar coral can grow up to 3 metres in height. Whenever a pillar is knocked down, new pillar columns will start growing from along the length of the horizontal fallen pillar.
Classification:
Domain-Eukarya
Kingdom-Anamalia
Phylum-Cnidaria
Class-Anthozoa
Order-Scleractinia
Family-Meandrinidae
Genus-Dendrogyra
Species-Dendrogyra cylindricus