Corals are animals that build their own homes
Tiny coral animals build vast underwater cities from secreted calcium carbonate, creating vital reef ecosystems that support a quarter of all marine life.
Often mistaken for rocks, corals are actually marine animals that construct their intricate homes by secreting calcium carbonate. These tiny polyps extract calcium from seawater, gradually building hard, protective skeletons that form the backbone of coral reefs. This amazing process is boosted by microscopic algae living inside them, which provide energy through photosynthesis.
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