The Coral Reef
Coral reefs are found in all tropical oceans
around the equator. The water temperature
never gets below 68°F. They grow in warm
shallow water close to land where there is a
lot of wave action. The waves bring food and
oxygen to the reef dwellers.
These reefs may look like beautiful underwater
gardens, but they are made from the skeletons
of billions of tiny animals called coral polyps.
Coral is a tiny, fragile animal that attaches
itself to the hard reef. It builds a chalky, cup
shaped shelter to protect its soft body. When
the polyp dies this shelter or skeleton is left to
build the reef.
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Corals live in colonies, or groups. Some
colonies grow quite large and others
branch out. Some corals form columns
or pipes. There are many kinds of coral
polyps and they come in colors such as blue,
yellow, green, purple, orange, and white.
The polyp is related to sea anemones and
sea jellies. They have a stomach with a mouth
at one end. The mouth is surrounded by a
number of tentacles which have poisonous
stingers on them. Coral polyps catch their
food with these tentacles. They eat tiny
animals in the water called zooplankton.
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A sample of coral types:
1. Staghorn Coral
2. Table Coral
3. Club Coral
4. Chalice Coral
5. Plate Coral
6. Brain coral
7. Mushroom Coral
8. Boulder Coral
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Even though coral reefs make up 1% of
the ocean floor, they are home to nearly
25% of the animals that live in the ocean.
Animals use coral reefs either as a stopping
off place as they migrate, or they are full time
residents. Brightly colored fish, like the
clownfish and parrot fish, swim in and out of
the coral. Shellfish, like crabs and clams, live
among the many hiding places in the reef.
Other creatures like sea anemone, sea fans,
sea urchins and sponges fasten onto the coral.
Parrot Fish
These blue and pink fish have mouths
that look like a parrot’s beak. Their
bright colors blend in with the waters
of the coral of the reef. They use
their strong teeth and parrot-shaped
mouths to scrape away the shells of
coral so they can feed on the living
polyps inside.
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Jellyfish
Clown Fish
Jellyfish have fish in their name, but they
are not fish. They do not have brains, hearts,
bones or blood. Jellyfish are fish-eating animals
that float in the sea. They are found in every
zone.
Jellyfish come in many sizes, shapes and
colors. Some jellyfish only grow to be an inch
across while others can be as big as 7 feet.
They have soft bodies and long, stinging,
tentacles that they use to catch their prey.
Jellyfish are a very important part of the
marine food web. Jellyfish eat zooplankton,
comb jellies and fish.
The clown fish is a brightly colored
red or orange fish with two white stripes
on its sides. It swims safely among the
stinging tentacles of the sea anemone.
The anemone’s tentacles keep the
clown fish safe from its enemies. In
return, the anemone gets a share of the
clown fish’s leftover food.
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Coral reefs provide homes for hundreds
of sea creatures. They also are valuable to
humans. Coral reefs provide us with food
and medicines. They help protect the land
from strong ocean currents and waves. Yet,
we are killing the reefs. Pollution caused by
soil erosion along the shores keep sunlight
from reaching the coral. Waste water
from our homes and factories dump chemicals
and bacteria in the oceans that harm the
animal life. Fisherman are breaking up the
coral to catch the fish that hide in its crevices.
There are some simple things you
can do to help save coral reefs.
1. Don’t put chemicals down your
drain or on your lawn. Use
natural products instead.
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Recycle paints and motor oil
3. Be a responsible diver. When
snorkeling on a coral reef, do not touch
the animals or stand on them.
We all need the coral reefs. Who
knows, they may hold the key to
curing cancer.
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