Coral Reef

ocean · animals · ecosystem

Built by tiny creatures. Coral reefs are made by millions of super small animals called polyps that live together and build hard skeletons out of calcium carbonate, the same stuff that makes seashells and eggshells.

Underwater apartment complexes. Thousands of different fish, sea stars, and other creatures live among the coral because it gives them food, shelter, and protection from bigger predators.

Stony coral colonies. Most reefs are built by stony corals whose polyps cluster together in groups, creating the hard rocky structures that make reefs look like underwater gardens or cities.

Explosion of colors. Coral reefs are the most colorful places in the ocean, with brilliant blues, purples, oranges, and reds from both the corals and all the fish that call them home.

Everything depends on them. Although reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, they're home to about one quarter of all ocean fish and many other creatures that depend on them to survive.