- Coral - Wikipedia
Corals are colonial marine invertebrates within the subphylum Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria They typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps Coral species include the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton
- Coral | Definition, Types, Location, Facts | Britannica
Coral, any of a variety of invertebrate marine organisms of the class Anthozoa that are characterized by skeletons—external or internal—of a stonelike, horny, or leathery consistency The term coral is also applied to the skeletons of those animals, particularly to those of the stonelike corals
- Are corals animals or plants? - NOAAs National Ocean Service
Coral, a sessile animal, relies on its relationship with plant-like algae to build the largest structures of biological origin on Earth Corals are sessile animals that "take root" on the ocean floor
- Coral reef ecosystems - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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
- Corals - NOAA Fisheries
Corals are animals that "take root" on the ocean floor and can live in shallow waters or the deepest ocean canyons They create underwater habitats that support more species than any other marine environment Learn more about corals and what they do
- NOAAs Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) - Coral Facts
There are over 600 species of coral found in the Coral Triangle alone—a region encompassing the waters around the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands—making this region the global hotspot of coral diversity
- Coral: Facts, Conservation, Ecological Importance | IFAW
Coral reefs, often called the ‘rainforests of the sea’, are among the most biologically diverse and economically valuable ecosystems on Earth Despite occupying less than 1% of the ocean, coral provides a habitat for approximately 25% of the world’s marine life, sustaining more than 4,000 fish species
- Corals - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Reef-building corals create habitats for many other organisms Coral reefs are highly diverse and unique around the world, providing shelter and sustenance for abundant fishes and other marine life (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) Many people think of coral as hard, rock-like formations that attract abundant, diverse marine life In fact, corals are themselves tiny marine animals called
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