Coral reef

Coral reef

Introduction to coral reef

• Coral reef are amazing,natural wonders that live in warm waters of the tropics. Providing habitat fot thousands of marine creatures.

Corals are animals or plants?

Coral is an animal!

• They live attached to the sea floor.• A single coral animal is called a coral polyp.• The coral polyps live together in colonies.• Coral polyps live inside here

Tiny little animals!

• Polyps inside polyps outside

What do they eat?

• The polyps use their tentacles to catch tiny animals that float in the water called zooplankton.

• But corals most of their food from marine plants that actually live inside the coral.

• They are solar powered just like trees.

Corals have the second highest

biodiversity after rainforest

Why are important?

• They are home to 33% of all known fish species.

• And a nursery around for over 25% of all marine species.

• They have the potential to be used as medical cures.

• They protect 20% of the world’s coast from wave erosion.

What plants live on coral reefs?

• Algae-lots of different type

What animals live on the reef?

• Turtles!

• Giant clams

• Parrot fish

• Damselfish including clownfish like nemo!

• Cleaner shrimp

Most larger coral reefs in the world!

• The Great Barrier Reef- Queensland, Australia; the largest coral reef system. Is in first place

• In second place-honduras,islas de la bahia.

Perhaps you can join them one day!