Coral reefs are one of the most complex and colorful tropical ecosystems.
Coral reef organisms build massive and intricate physical structures that
are home to some of the most fascinating plants and animals in the world.
Although coral is often mistaken for a rock or a plant, it is actually
composed of tiny, fragile animals called coral polyps. When we say "coral"
we are actually referring to these animals and the skeletons they leave
behind after they die. The group includes the important reef builders known
as hermatypic corals, found in tropical oceans. The colony of polyps
functions essentially as a single organism by sharing nutrients via a well
developed gastrovascular network, and the polyps are clones, each having the
same genetic structure. Each polyp generation grows on the skeletal remains
of previous generations, forming a structure that has a shape characteristic
of the species, but subject to environmental influences. Most reefs are
located between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, in places such as the
Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, the Red Sea and the Arabian
Gulf.
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