- Many fish call coral reefs home.Cozumel coral reef image by aurorapoint from Fotolia.com
Twenty-five percent of the ocean's wildlife--including both plants and animals--depends on coral reefs to survive, according to National Geographic. Coral reefs provide marine life animals with some of their most colorful homes. From clown fish living among stinging sea anemones to octopuses squeezing into tiny crevices of coral, coral reefs are teeming with life. - The seahorse is one of many fish that depend on coral reefs to survive.Seahorse image by Kimprebble from Fotolia.com
Fish are perhaps the most famous inhabitants of coral reefs. They keep the reef's ecosystem alive by preying on other creatures and leaving food for others. Eels--which are a type of fish--fit into cracks and small corners of the reef during the day, then pop out at night to hunt. According to Seaworld, parrot fish possess sharp teeth to bite through coral, feeding on algae inside. Wrasses live on reefs and clean parasites off other fish. Snappers, seahorses, puffer fish and barracudas also call the reef home. - Coral reefs rely on crabs' cleaning services to live.crab image by Amjad Shihab from Fotolia.com
Crustaceans such as lobsters, crabs, and shrimp hide from enemies in coral branches and cracks in the reef. They are also vital to the reef's ecosystem. For instance, banded coral shrimp--like wrasse fish--clean parasites off passing fish. Another cleaner is the crab, whose services keep corals alive. Researchers at the University of California at Santa Barbara found that at least half--and sometimes up to 80 percent--of corals died without crabs to care for them. - Sea anemones catch fish in their tentacles.sea anemone image by Earl Robbins from Fotolia.com
Brightly colored sea anemones attach themselves to coral reefs and use their tentacles to snatch passing fish. However, anemones are not always enemies of fish: Clown fish, immune to anemones' poison, seek protection from predators by resting within the anemone's tentacles. Anemones benefit when clown fish scare off butterfly fish who would otherwise feed on them, according to University of Hawaii ichthyologist John Randall. - In spite of its size, the octopus can fit into tiny cracks in coral reefs.octopus image by Matthias Kr??ttgen from Fotolia.com
Several types of mollusk call coral reefs home, including octopuses, squids and clams. The Monterey Bay Aquarium states that octopuses camouflage to hide themselves from predators. Although they are often over 6 feet across and weigh 50 pounds, they can squeeze into small crevices. Meanwhile, giant clams--which can grow to lengths of more than 4 feet--depend on algae for food, which requires them to grow in shallow reef waters where they have sufficient sunlight for growth.
Fish
Crustaceans
Sea Anemones
Mollusks
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