coral polyps
Tiny reef architects
Coral polyps are the tiny soft-bodied animals that build coral reefs.
Each polyp secretes calcium carbonate to form a hard external skeleton; colonies of millions create the massive reef structures.
The polyp itself resembles a small tube with a mouth surrounded by stinging tentacles for capturing plankton.
When polyps die, their skeletons remain, and new polyps build atop them.
- tentacleFlexible grasping appendage
- night feedingCaring for hungry infant overnight
- barrier reefOffshore coral formation
- buddingDeveloping from an outgrowth
- cnidariaStinging aquatic animal phylum
marine invertebrate · endosymbiosis · polyp · scleractinian · septa · colonial organism · exoskeleton · algae · ocean acidification · atoll · shallow waters · marine habitat · reef · anemone · colony · mucus · fluorescent · calcium
- coral reefclownfish, parrotfish, moray eel, grouper, anemone
- coral reefsreef, corals, soft corals, polyp, lagoon
- cnidarianssea anemone, corals, moon jelly, jellyfish, anemones
- filter feedersfilter feeder, filter feeders, filter feeding, baleen whale, whale shark
- Coral Feedersparrotfish, butterflyfish, soft corals
- macro photographymacro lens, macro shot, close-ups, magnification, shallow depth