Not Just Pretty Rocks
Corals may look like colorful underwater plants or rocks, but they’re actually tiny animals called polyps that live together in colonies.
Glow-in-the-Dark Roommates
Corals get their amazing colors from tiny algae called zooxanthellae that live inside them. These algae help corals by giving them food, and the corals give the algae a cozy home in return!
Old and Gold
Many coral reefs are thousands of years old. Some reefs we see today started growing 10,000 years ago!
Beach-Making Machines
Ever wonder where white sandy beaches come from? Thank parrotfish! They eat coral, digest the soft parts, and poop out the leftover coral skeleton as sand—up to 200 pounds a year!
How do coral reefs get their amazing colors?
