stony coral
Quick Summary
Corals are marine invertebrates belonging to the class Anthozoa. They are characterized by skeletons, which can be stony, horny, or leathery. The term "coral" also refers to these skeletons, particularly those of stony corals.
A coral animal, or polyp, is a hollow cylinder with a mouth surrounded by tentacles used for gathering food. These tentacles possess stinging structures to paralyze prey. Corals reproduce both sexually, releasing eggs and sperm into the water, and asexually through budding, where new polyps grow attached to the original.
Stony corals (Scleractinia) are the most common type and are responsible for building reefs. Their skeletons are made of calcium carbonate. These corals thrive in shallow, sunlit waters with specific temperature and salinity requirements. While corals form the primary framework of reefs, other organisms like calcareous algae, mollusks, and echinoderms also contribute to reef structure.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
