I was pondering some of the important things in life. Like what makes a person prefer tea over coffee? Why do we respond to some colours, and not others? What makes us think the person, is THE PERSON? And the one that preoccupied me the longest – if I could come back in another life as something other than human, animate or inanimate, what would it be?

My mind of course first fled to the obvious, such as some domesticated cat or dog, but then I thought that life is not always nine lives for a cat, and dogs continually have smelly breath and eat atrocious articles that necessitate fast trips to the vet and emergency surgeries. Not quite my style. No, it didn’t take me long to decide on my choice. If given another round, I would request to come back as a coral polyp.

A coral polyp?

Yes, sir/madam!

Think about it.

Coral polyps are major contributors to the physical structure of the coral reefs, and everyone loves coral reefs. They are so pretty, just like me! Coral develops in tropical and subtropical waters. I for one could live in the Great Barrier Reef quite happily.

I could be a brain coral and grow to 1.8 meters (5.9 ft) in width. I could have position by being a staghorn coral, growing fast and large and be an important reef-builder, or a star coral; another important reef-builder. Maybe, I will be a pillar coral forming a pillar which can grow to 3 meters (9.8 ft) in height. I have always wanted to be a couple of inches taller.

Maybe, I will be a soft coral such as black coral, bamboo coral, organ pipe coral, sea fans or a sea pen. Then I could be flexible, undulating back and forth in the current, with a lacy appearance. Doesn’t that just sound like a Flamingo Dancer coral? Oh yes, it does!

While a coral head appears to be a single organism, it is actually a group of many individuals, so I would have my family with me too! Over many generations we would form the large calcareous structures of corals and ultimately coral reefs. Cool, right? The family that sticks together, makes the reef! I can participate in budding to expand colony size, thus maintaining a connection to the community! Who wouldn’t want to buddy up with me! That was not a question, notice the exclamation mark?

If however, all that togetherness becomes too much for me, and we all know how being nice exhausts me, I can select bailout which occurs when a single polyp abandons the colony and settles on a different substrate to create a new colony. Who has never dreamed of just leaving it all behind, when it all gets too much?

Spoilt for polyp choice, if I feel the imperative to maintain some connection , I can go for fragmentation, which involves individuals breaking from the colony. Usually this happens during storms , but “other situations as required” is no doubt built into the work description, which I will opt for if need be . The separated individuals can start new colonies, and so I will just got off and do my own thing. Reign as I should.

When a polyp is physically stressed, its tentacles contract so that virtually no part is exposed above the skeletal platform. This protects the organism from predators and the elements. A strong self defence mechanism is essential for a happy existence, in whatever form, and now that I think about it, the more I wish I had this ability right now!

Coral reefs have perhaps the greatest concentration of symbiosis within one single habitat on the planet. The human race is yet to achieve anything remotely similar to symbiosis as a species. Universal peace and harmony? Elusive as ever.

Not to mention the fact, but I will, that reefs are extremely diverse marine ecosystems hosting over 4,000 species of fish, massive numbers of cnidarians, molluscs, crustaceans, and many other animals, so I can sit back there, and we all know how much I like sitting, and watch the passing parade.

Do polyps blog? I am sure I would, and so no doubt the activities of my neighbours and the reef visitors would provide me with material to blog! Talk about win, win!

The polyps in fact are interconnect by a complex and well developed system of gastrovascular canals allowing significant sharing of nutrients and symbiotes. No one goes hungry, we all get a fair share! Works for me!

Typically a polyp harbours one species of algae. Via photosynthesis, these provide energy for the coral, and aid in calcification. The algae benefit from a safe environment, and consume the carbon dioxide and nitrogenous waste produced by the polyp. Due to the strain the algae can put on the polyp, stress on the coral often drives the coral to eject the algae. Ejection increases the polyp’s chances of surviving short-term stress—they can regain algae at a later time.

Once again, this is a little like you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours, but if your demands get out of hand, I can just say, “hit the seaway” and show you the portal.. Who wouldn’t like to be able to treat guests who out stay their welcome in the same way? I am on a winner here!

Polyps feed on a variety of small organisms, from microscopic plankton to small fish. I like a little variety in my diet as do polyps, and we all know how good omega 3 is for the brain, so if I was a brain coral polyp think what I might achieve – reef domination at least!

Corals can be both gonochoristic (unisexual) and hermaphroditic, each of which can reproduce sexually and asexually. Reproduction also allows coral to settle new areas. A polyp for all camps, that is me! What is there is complain about? I mean, if I can’t find the ployp for me, and let us admit that the chances of getting out and meeting other polyps is fairly limited, I can look after my own needs. Men have been doing just that for years!

Apparently, I can be a broadcaster, and participate in mass spawning, or a brooder releasing only sperm, which is negatively buoyant, and can harbor unfertilized eggs for weeks, lowering the need for mass synchronous spawning events. Indeed a polyp for all occasions!

When the middle age spread forms, as it always do, no need to worry or seek stomach banding, no, I can just select longitudinal division which will begin when I, the polyp, broaden and then divide my coelenteron. I am yet to discover what my “coelenterons” is, but there is time, as I expect to be in this life until I am 102. My mouth also divides and new tentacles form – Mr FD would love that, wouldn’t he? .The two “new” polyps, old me and new me, then generate missing body parts and exoskeleton. Doesn’t get much better than that, does it?

The only downer is that corals are highly sensitive to environmental changes. Scientists have predicted that over 50% of the world’s coral reefs may be destroyed by 2030. Murder! Seaweed and algae can be my enemy! Overuse of artificial chemicals in agriculture can feed seaweed and algae, and cause me great stress. Coral die if surrounding water temperature changes by more than a degree or two beyond their normal range, or if water salinity drops. I may not fair so well, if climate change runs rampant. I need time to adjust, evolve, people! I need love!

Human activities including runoff, mooring, fishing, diving, mining and construction damage reefs, I could have a short second life, people! Please think of me, and my chance of a second coming, next time you flush a cleaner down your toilet. What the environment needs now, is friends, lots of friends. And a Flamingo Dancer coral!

Do it for the Flamingo Dancer! I would be such a magnificent coral polyp…