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What are the main features of corals?
Body Shape. A coral polyp is a tubular sac-like animal with a central mouth surrounded by a ring of tentacles.
What is the role of coral animals?
Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Coral polyps, the animals primarily responsible for building reefs, can take many forms: large reef building colonies, graceful flowing fans, and even small, solitary organisms.
What are some geographical features of a coral reef?
There are three kinds of coral reefs: fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. A fringing reef forms along the edge of a coast and is attached to land. It extends outward from shore like a shelf, just below the surface of the water. A fringing reef is composed of a reef flat and a reef slope.
What are the major water features of a coral reef?
Most reef-building corals also require very saline (salty) water ranging from 32 to 42 parts per thousand. The water must also be clear so that a maximum amount of light penetrates it. This is because most reef-building corals contain photosynthetic algae, called zooxanthellae, which live in their tissues.
What is a coral animal quizlet?
Coral animals are. tiny relatives of jellyfish that live together in vast numbers. Reef. made of tiny soft-bodied animals with skeletons of calcite.
What kind of animals live in coral reefs?
Coral polyps, the animals primarily responsible for building reefs, can take many forms: large reef building colonies, graceful flowing fans, and even small, solitary organisms. Thousands of species of corals have been discovered; some live in warm, shallow, tropical seas and others in the cold, dark depths of the ocean.
What are the benefits of a coral reef?
Benefits of coral reef ecosystems. Coral reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion, provide jobs for local communities, and offer opportunities for recreation. They are also are a source of food and new medicines. Over half a billion people depend on reefs for food, income, and protection. Fishing, diving, and snorkeling on
What kind of skeleton does a hard coral have?
Hard Corals Have a White Skeleton That Is Made of Limestone (Calcium Carbonate) Hard corals are reef builders and are responsible for the creation of the structure of a coral reef.
What kind of color does a coral have?
Natural pigments in coral tissue produce a range of colors including white, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Colored calcareous spicules (needle-shaped structures) give some octocorallians their colors.