Updated by: Arabinda Naik
Coral Polyps: Tiny coral animals called polyps live in colonies and secrete calcium carbonate to form hard exoskeletons. They reproduce asexually, budding to create genetically identical polyps.
Accumulation and Growth: As these polyps grow and multiply, their exoskeletons accumulate over time, forming the structural basis of the reef. Each polyp adds a small contribution to the overall reef structure.
Zooxanthellae Symbiosis: Corals have a symbiotic relationship with algae called zooxanthellae, which live within their tissues. The algae photosynthesize and produce food, which provides energy for the coral and gives the reefs their vibrant colors.
Reef Building: Over hundreds to thousands of years, the accumulation of these calcium carbonate exoskeletons from countless coral polyps forms the complex structures known as coral reefs.