The Anatomy of Coral
- Kelly
- May 23, 2019
- 1 min read
Updated: May 23, 2019
What is Coral?
Coral is a combination of two different living organisms, polyps and zooxanthellae, living together in symbiosis (an arrangement in which both organisms benefit from the partnership).
Polyps
The structure of the coral is made of thousands of tiny creatures called polyps which secrete a hard outer skeleton of limestone that anchors it to the rock substrate or the skeletons of other polyps (Click here to learn how the skeleton structure differs in hard vs. soft corals). The skeleton gives the coral it's shape and provides a home for the polyp. Polyps use their tentacles to catch food from the surrounding water and sweep it into their mouths.
Zooxanthellae
Zooxanthellae are single celled organisms that create their own food via photosynthesis.
They live in the tissue of the polyps and are the reason coral are so brightly colored.
The Mutually Beneficial Relationship
Both the coral polyps and zooxanthellae benefit from living together. Polyps house zooxanthellae within it's tissues and provides protection from fish and other animals that would eat it. As the polyps consume particulates from the water, they secretes carbon dioxide as "waste". The zooxanthellae uses the carbon dioxide to create food via photosynthesis and in turn releases sugars, fats, and oxygen, which the coral consumes.
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