By phylum

In the Maldives, lagoons and reefs border the atolls. Brown algae attach to sunlit surfaces. Their fronds shelter small animals and can provide food for herbivores.

In the Maldives, lagoons and reefs border the atolls. Green algae use sunlight to grow. They feed herbivores and, depending on their shape, provide small shelters in coastal habitats.

In the Maldives, corals build reefs and some sea anemones host clownfishes. Cnidarians include corals, sea anemones and jellyfish. Their stinging cells help capture prey or provide defence; reef-building corals also create habitats.

In the Maldives, lagoons and reefs border the atolls. Crustaceans have an outer shell and jointed legs. Crabs, shrimps and other species explore shelters, catch prey or consume remains, depending on their way of life.

In the Maldives, lagoons and reefs border the atolls. Molluscs include gastropods, bivalves and cephalopods. With or without a visible shell, they feed in very different ways, including grazing, filtering and hunting.

In the Maldives, plankton carried by currents provides food for mantas. Plankton consists of organisms carried by currents. From microscopic forms to visible animals, it provides food for many marine inhabitants.

The sandy floors of Maldivian lagoons alternate with reef shelters. Benthic fishes live in close contact with the seabed. They use sand, rocks or shelters to hide, rest and find food.

In the Maldives, lagoons and reefs border the atolls. Demersal fishes swim close to the seabed without remaining on it all the time. This proximity gives them access to shelters and food resources.

Channels through Maldivian atolls connect lagoon waters with the open ocean. Pelagic fishes live in the water column. Their movements, sometimes in schools, connect them with food carried by currents and with open-water predators.

In the Maldives, lagoon floors and the water column host rays with different behaviours. Rays have flattened bodies and broad pectoral fins. Stingrays frequent the seabed, whereas mantas swim in the water column; each guide explains the species’ way of life.

In the Maldives, sharks use reefs, channels or offshore waters, depending on the species. Sharks have cartilaginous skeletons and varied ways of life. Some rest near the seabed, while others range through the water column; their feeding role depends on the species.

In the Maldives, turtles move between feeding areas and resting sites. Sea turtles breathe at the surface and feed underwater. Depending on their species and age, they seek plants or animals and connect different habitats as they travel.

In the Maldives, lagoons and reefs border the atolls. Marine worms occupy sediments, crevices and sometimes tubes built on the seabed. Depending on the species, they filter water, consume deposited matter or capture prey.

In the Maldives, lagoons and reefs border the atolls. Sea stars, sea urchins and sea cucumbers belong to the echinoderms. They live on the seabed, where their varied diets help move matter through the ecosystem.