The Reef
A coral reef, like the one seen here, is a massive limestone structure which provides shelter for over one-third of the earth’s marine life. Although it is often mistaken as rock or plant life, coral is actually a living organism made up of tiny fragile animals called polyps, which are both plant and animal.
Coral reefs develop in shallow waters and cover approximately 20% of the oceans area. Two well-known residents of the coral reef are the clownfish and the sea anemone. These creatures live together in what is known as a symbiotic, or mutually beneficial relationship. The anemone feeds on fish paralyzed by its tentacles and the clownfish feeds on the leftovers, dead anemone tentacles, and plankton.
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