Corals

by
Sophie Walker

Did you know that corals are not rocks or plants? Even though they stay in one place, they are actually tiny animals! Meet Finn. He is a young sea turtle who loves to explore the ocean. Today, he is going to show us the amazing world of coral reefs.

Corals are made of many tiny individuals called “polyps”. One polyp looks like a small, soft tube with a mouth and stinging tentacles. These tentacles help the polyp catch even tinier pieces of food that float by in the water. Finn likes to watch them wave in the current.

Most corals build a hard home around their soft bodies. They use minerals from the ocean to make a limestone skeleton. Galene is a parrotfish who lives on the reef. She knows that when polyps die, their hard skeletons stay behind, and new polyps grow on top of them.

Did you know that corals have a secret partner? Tiny plants called algae live inside the coral polyps! These algae use sunlight to make food. They share this food with the coral, giving the polyps the energy they need to build the reef. Finn thinks this is a great friendship.

This partnership is also why corals have such beautiful colors. The algae provide the bright oranges, pinks, and purples we see. Finn and Galene love to swim through the reef and look at all the different colors together. It is like an underwater rainbow!

A coral reef is like a big, busy city under the sea. It is one of the most crowded and exciting places in the whole ocean! Thousands of different animals live, eat, and hide among the different shapes of the coral. Galene always finds something new to see in her reef city.

Many animals find a safe place to stay here. Small fish hide from bigger fish inside the coral branches. Tiny crabs and shrimp make their homes in the cracks. Finn spotted a little friend hiding today. Can you see him?

Coral reefs are important for people, too. They act like a big wall under the water. When big storms come, the reef breaks the power of the waves. This protects the beaches and the houses on the land from being washed away. Finn feels safe swimming behind the reef.

But corals need our help. If the ocean water gets too warm or too dirty, the tiny algae leave the polyps. When the algae leave, the coral loses its color and turns completely white. Galene feels sad when she sees “bleached” coral because it means the coral is sick.

We can help by keeping the ocean clean and protecting the climate. When the water is healthy, the corals stay happy and colorful. Finn and Galene want to share the beauty of the reef with everyone. Remember, every tiny polyp helps build a giant world!