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Reef-building corals

Distribution : This group also occurs outside the Red Sea. Distribution depends on the species; this guide presents the representatives filmed here.

The reef may seem motionless, but the corals building it are animals. Their colonies form a landscape where many other inhabitants find food or shelter. Watching them changes our view of this living setting, gradually built by small organisms. Depths vary between species in this group and with their habitat.

Habitat of Reef-building corals Habitat
Coral reef, Rocky habitat
Depth range of Reef-building corals Depth
Varies with species and habitat
Biological group of Reef-building corals Group
Ecological role of Reef-building corals Role
Filter feeder, Ecosystem engineer

WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?

Reef-building corals are made up of small animals called polyps. The polyps build a calcareous skeleton; colonies may form branches, plates or rounded masses. These forms depend on species and growth conditions; a general reef view does not identify every colony.

WHERE DO THEY LIVE?

Reef-building corals with algal partners occupy waters receiving sufficient light. Growth also depends on temperature, water conditions, sediment and local circumstances. Deeper communities exist; depth varies among species rather than following one universal limit.

WHAT DO THEY EAT?

Polyps capture zooplankton; algal partners supply material made using light. Corals therefore combine food capture with an association with photosynthetic partners. The balance between these sources varies; corals do not all share the same partners or diet.

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Reef-building corals

Watch this species in filmed dives

Other species — Cnidarian

Acropora corals Tree-like soft corals Tropical sea fans Xeniid soft corals

Same habitat

Rocky seabed species

Same ecological role

Filter-feeding species Ecosystem engineer species

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DEPTH HABITAT PHYLA ECOLOGICAL ROLE