Wild Windows · Coral Reef Community
Coral Reef Community
Anthozoa
Coral reefs are dense underwater communities built by colonies of stony corals and inhabited by an extraordinary diversity of fish, invertebrates, and microbial life. Considered the rainforests of the sea, reefs support 25% of marine biodiversity despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor.
Natural History
Habitat
Shallow tropical and subtropical seas where light penetrates clearly enough to power symbiotic photosynthesis.
Diet
Mixed feeding strategies — corals host photosynthetic algae and also capture plankton; reef inhabitants range from herbivores to apex predators.
Lifespan
Individual coral colonies can persist for centuries; reef systems for millennia.
Behavior
A reef is a city of life — clownfish in anemones, parrotfish grazing algae, cleaner shrimp working stations, octopuses tucked in crevices, sharks patrolling the edges.
Classroom Facts
- A single coral colony is made up of thousands of identical genetic clones called polyps.
- Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean but support about 25% of all marine species.
- Many corals spawn just once a year, releasing eggs and sperm in synchrony with the lunar cycle.
Live Cameras
16 coral reef community cameras in the catalog.
Each listing shows its current source, permission, and playback-verification state.
