Coral Reef Information and Facts

Corals are small marine animals found in dense colonies under the ocean. They are made up of tiny, fragile animals called coral polyps and their skeletons. Corals secrete calcium carbonate and can be either hard or soft. Corals are generally found in shallow water, because they require sunlight to survive.

Coral Reef Facts

• Coral reefs are among the oldest eco-systems on Earth.
• Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the planet’s surface.
• The world’s first coral reefs occurred about 500 million years ago.
• Charles Darwin was the first to put forward theories on the formation of coral reefs.
• It is estimated that 70% of the world’s coral reefs will be destroyed by the year 2050.
• Puna is the Hawaiian word for lobe coral.
• Coral reefs are the most structurally complex of all marine biomes.
• Corals reproduce in two ways; asexually and sexually.