What Type of Sea Animal Lives Among the Coral Reefs?

One-quarter of all sea creatures live in coral reefs.

According to World Biomes at the University of California, Santa Barbara, coral reefs provide shelter for about 25 percent of all marine life. Some creatures simply use coral reefs as a temporary oasis, while others live in the reef full-time. Animals that live in or around coral reefs include crustaceans and echinoderms, manta rays, moray eels and symbiotic organisms like clownfish and sea anemone.

Coral Polyps and Zooxanthellae

Coral polyps create a hard, protective skeleton.

According to Microdocs at Stanford University, coral polyps create the basic structure of coral reefs by producing calcium carbonate skeletons as protection. Coral is actually a living creature with stinging tentacles. The hard outer skeleton, called corallite, protects the coral polyp while it catches food with its tentacles. Zooxanthellae is a type of algae that the coral polyps rely on to survive. The algae lives within the polyps and uses photosynthesis to provide up to 95 percent of polyp's food. This "working together" process is referred to as symbiosis.

Clownfish and Sea Anemones

Clownfish and sea anemones are symbiotic.

Symbiotic species in the reefs depend on one another for food, protection and reproduction. One such symbiotic pair is the clownfish and the sea anemone. The clownfish lays its eggs and hides in the sea anemone for protection. In return, the clownfish guards the anemone from predators and removes parasites from it.

Crustaceans and Echinoderms

Many types of crustaceans live within the coral reef, including crabs.

There are several types of crustaceans that live within the coral reef, including lobster, shrimp and crabs. According to the University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP), there are approximately 38,000 species of crustaceans in the sea, making them the dominant arthropods. Echinoderms also live within coral reefs. UCMP classifies these creatures as pentameral, which means they are symmetrical in multiples of five. Echinoderms include sand dollars, sea urchins and sea cucumbers. (ref 4)

Manta Ray

Manta rays are huge creatures who are often seen around coral reefs.

Manta rays are not full-time coral reef residents. Rather, they spend the majority of their time swimming through open sea and filter-feeding. However, manta rays often frequent coral reefs to feed and clean themselves. Tiny fish that live among the reef swarm around the manta ray and eat away parasites that are stuck to the ray's skin. Manta rays are huge animals that can weigh up to 3,000 lbs and stretch over 20 feet wide.

Moray Eel

Moray eels feed on small fish around the reef.

Moray eels have a number of different names including green moray, green cong, culebra murena and moreia-verde. They have a somewhat grotesque appearance, with thick, mucus-covered skin, long, sharp teeth and flattened bodies. These solitary fish lurk within crevices in the coral reef, popping its head out to catch small fish, crabs and shrimp. Moray eels are very dangerous to divers, as their bites are severe and can be deadly.

References

• World Biomes: Coral Reef
• Microdocs: What is Coral?
• University of California Museum of Paleontology: Introduction to the Crustaceamorpha
• University of California Museum of Paleontology: Introduction to the Echinodermata
• Microdocs: Manta Ray

Resources

• Florida Museum of Natural History: Green Moray