2017National Species (Red Coral) - Sheetlets

Mineral by its skeleton, vegetable by appearance, but truthfully an animal, red coral, Corallium rubrum, has fascinated mankind since the prehistoric era. Essentially an endemic species to the Mediterranean, its magical and medicinal properties feature in many legends. The red coral lives affixed on substratum rocks from 5 m deep, but it can be most often found in depths ranging from 30 to 400 m. Over time, it grew very appreciated as a commercial commodity, notably for its use in jewellery. It is a species whose fishing is regulated.