L.I Exploring coral reefs

Coral reefs are large rocky structures built

by small animals

Dave Peake

Coral reefs are found in warm tropical

waters

Coral reefs are colourful habitats

There are several

different types of coral

Many different animals live on coral reefs

Different corals have different shapes - lumpy, branching, flat

Each coral consists of a chalky skeleton

Dave Peake

The polyps are like small sea-anemones, joined together to cover the skeleton

The coral skeleton is built by small animals called polyps

The coral skeleton has a ridged or pitted surface The individual coral polyps

are joined together

Mouth Tentacle

STEP

Reefs can grow to be very large

Coral reefs grow in shallow water along the coast and around islands

Sea level

STEP

Here, the coral reef continues to grow, forming a ring around the island

In some places, the level of the sea has risen

Top of the original island - now nearly below sea level

Shallow, sandy area between the reef and

the island

New coral islands form on top of the reef

Reef grows upwards as sea level rises

STEP

There are many more types of animals in coral reefs than in the open ocean

nearby

Coral reefs are important habitats for many different types of animal

There is a huge variety of fishes

They also contain plant cells in their bodies. This provides them with another

source of food

The coral animals - polyps - feed on tiny food particles floating in

the water

Coral polyps contain plant cells in their

bodies

Giant clams also contain plant cells

Some animals eat the coral

Crown-of-thorns starfish sometimes eat enough coral

to kill parts of a reef

Parrot fish have strong teeth to bite

off coral

The coral provides a home for many types of animal

Moray eels hide in holes

in the reef

Some remove parasites from other animals

Different animals may have complicated relationships

Cleaner wrasse removes parasites from other fishes

Cleaner shrimp also removes

parasites

The shape and colour of fishes are linked to their way of life

Features of an animal which make it fit for its lifestyle are called

adaptations

Lion fish have bright warning

colours to warn other predators about their

poisonous spines

Butterfly fish have a ‘false

eyespot’ to confuse predators

Porcupine fish are slow swimmers

They can puff themselves up

into a spiny ball

You have learnt that -

Coral reefs are built by small animals called polyps

Reefs are found in shallow tropical seas

You have learnt that -

Coral reefs grow in rings around islands

Reefs are home to many different types of animal

Fishes and other animals have different adaptations to life on the reef

Coral polyps, and some other animals on the reef, contain plant cells in their bodies

You have learnt that -