How Coral Reef Animals Adapt to Their Habitat

Coral reefs are a widespread habitat strung along the world's tropical belt. Immensely diverse, they're home to the greatest densities of animal life in the world.

The Habitat

Reefs are shallow-water marine habitats constructed by colonial corals and their calcium-carbonate skeletons. They vary widely in growth rate, can be millions of year old and come in a variety of forms, from atolls to barrier reefs.

Animals

Coral reefs host a great diversity of animal forms: invertebrates, fish, seabirds and marine mammals, and reptiles.

Camouflage and Shelter

The convoluted surface of coral reefs presents countless opportunities for sequestration, and many reef-dwellers take refuge in the interstices. Brightly colored clownfish haunt the venomous tendrils of sea anemones, which protect them from predators; urchins retire to crevices in coral and rock. The spotted wobbegong of the western Pacific blends into the seafloor with its flattened and blotchy body, and ambushes unwary fish and octopi.

Nurseries

Coral reefs can provide nursery grounds for certain fish species, as do other coastal sanctuaries such as mangrove shores and seagrass beds.

Feeding

The throngs of life associated with coral reefs attract many predators. White-breasted sea eagles target fish in the Great Barrier Reef from shore vantages. Large predatory fish such as groupers, requiem sharks and barracuda patrol reef edges.

References

• World Atlas of Coral Reefs; Mark Spalding et al.; 2001
• Plants and Animals on the Great Barrier Reef
• Urchins of Hawaii

Resources

• Florida Keys Coral Reef Monitoring Project