Coral reefs today
Use your mouse to explore the reef and find out more about the different types of animals which make up the reef community.
- area 1
As well as building the reefs, corals slow the flow of water over the reef, creating sheltered homes for other animals.
- area 2
Broken fragments of old coral and shells accumulate on the reef.
- area 3
Small fish are some of the many animals which shelter and feed among the corals in modern reefs.
- area 4
The calcite skeletons of corals form the main structure of the reef.
- area 5
New corals grow over the skeletons of older ones, creating huge, living mounds on the sea bed.
