What is the Difference Between Coral and Reef?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Coral and reefs are related but not the same. Here are the main differences between them:
- Coral: Corals are marine invertebrate animals with hard exoskeletons made of calcium carbonate. They are sessile, meaning they are permanently fixed in one place. Corals can be found in all of Earth's oceans, from tropical to freezing temperatures, but they only build reefs in warm, shallow seas in the tropics. There are two main types of corals: hard (hermatypic) corals, which are responsible for building reefs, and soft corals, which are not involved in reef building.
- Reef: A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Coral reefs are sometimes referred to as "the rainforests of the sea" due to their biodiversity. They support approximately 25% of all known marine species and provide homes for more than 4,000 species of fish, 700 species of coral, and thousands of other plants and animals.
In summary, corals are the individual marine invertebrate animals responsible for building reefs, while reefs are the large underwater structures composed of the skeletons of coral.
Comparative Table: Coral vs Reef
Here is a table highlighting the differences between coral and reefs:
| Feature | Coral | Reef |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Coral is a living organism related to sea anemones, with a simple structure called the polyp. | A reef is a structure made up of the skeletons of coral, which can be classified into three main types: fringing, barrier, and atoll. |
| Structure | Corals secrete a mineral skeleton, Hunger Games style. | Reefs have various structures, such as table-like structures (table corals) and branching structures (Elkhorn coral). |
| Role in the Ecosystem | Corals provide food and shelter for various marine species and contribute to the ocean's overall health. | Coral reefs are home to millions of aquatic species, protect coastal homes from storms, support tourism, and contribute to the development of medical treatments. |
| Formation | Coral reefs begin to form when free-swimming coral larvae (planulae) attach to the submerged edges of a rock. | Reefs form from the skeletons of coral, which grow and expand over time. |
Please note that some sources refer to "table corals" as a type of coral structure, but this term is unrelated to the topic of corals versus reefs.
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- Cnidaria vs Porifera
- Beach vs Coast
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- Aquatic vs Marine
- Shark vs Dolphin
- Shark vs Whale
- Mycorrhiza vs Coralloid Roots
- AQUARIUMS vs AQUARIA
- Seabed vs Land
- Kelp vs Seaweed
- Algae vs Plants
- Teal vs Aqua
- Rock Salt vs Sea Salt