ANIMAL CURIOSITIES

Five curiosities about corals that you didn't know

Corals are incredible marine organisms, fascinating and full of surprises. 

First of all, it is important to know that there are two main types of corals: hard corals and soft corals. The former are responsible for creating the wonderful coral reefs we know, such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. 

Contrary to popular belief, corals are neither plants nor stones, but animals that gather in colonies to form the typical skeleton. Here are some curiosities you might not have known about corals.

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Five curiosities you didn't know about corals
Corals are incredible marine organisms, fascinating and full of surprises. First of all, it is important to know that there are two main types of corals: hard corals and soft corals. The former are responsible for creating the wonderful coral reefs we know, such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Contrary to popular belief, corals are neither plants nor stones, but animals. Here are some curiosities you might not have known about corals.
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Plants or animals?
Contrary to popular belief, corals are neither plants nor stones, but animals. They are part of the phylum Cnidaria, like jellyfish. They are colonial organisms, composed of hundreds, sometimes thousands of individuals called polyps.
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What is the difference between hard corals and soft corals?
The main difference is that hard corals are reef builders and take on the characteristic branching appearance, while soft corals have no calcareous shell and are more similar in appearance to anemones.
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How do corals feed themselves?
Another curiosity is that many corals host special algae inside them called zooxanthellae, with which they establish a symbiotic relationship. Corals derive 90% of their nutrition through this relationship.
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Why can some corals glow in the dark?
Corals are well known for their bright colours. Most coral species are able to emit light with biofluorescent proteins. According to some researchers, this could help protect corals from the effects of the sun's UV rays.
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5. The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is located off the east coast of Australia, covering a sea area of 344 000 square kilometres. This reef is larger than the whole of Italy.
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The marine ecosystem
Finally, not everyone knows that corals are a fundamental part of the marine ecosystem and are under serious threat due to climate change and pollution.
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