coral
Most reef-building corals live in warm, shallow marine waters. This topic is part of Marine Life within Science & Nature. This page currently draws on 43 supporting questions, with answers and bonus facts available below.
coral trivia questions
Corals are animals that usually live in what environment?
Answer: Ocean
Bonus fact: Most reef-building corals live in warm, shallow marine waters.
What tiny animals make up a coral colony?
Answer: Polyps
Bonus fact: Coral colonies consist of many genetically related polyps.
What symbiotic algae live inside many reef-building corals and provide much of their energy?
Answer: Zooxanthellae
Bonus fact: Zooxanthellae are photosynthetic dinoflagellates that live within coral tissues.
Sea anemones belong to which class of cnidarians, along with corals?
Answer: Anthozoa
Bonus fact: Anthozoa includes sea anemones and corals and lacks a medusa stage.
What type of island forms from coral reefs surrounding a central lagoon?
Answer: Atoll
Bonus fact: Atolls often develop around subsiding volcanic islands in tropical seas.
What kind of lagoon forms inside a ring-shaped coral reef?
Answer: Atoll lagoon
Bonus fact: Atolls surround central lagoons.
A coral reef is built mainly by what animals?
Answer: Coral polyps
Bonus fact: Polyps secrete calcium carbonate skeletons.
What process occurs when stressed coral loses its symbiotic algae?
Answer: Bleaching
Bonus fact: Bleached coral turns pale and is vulnerable.
Coral reefs are built mainly by tiny animals called what?
Answer: Polyps
Bonus fact: Coral polyps secrete calcium carbonate skeletons.
What algae live symbiotically inside many reef-building corals?
Answer: Zooxanthellae
Bonus fact: These algae provide much of the coral's energy.
What vast coral system lies off Australia's northeastern coast?
Answer: Great Barrier Reef
Bonus fact: The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system.
The Maldives consists mainly of what ring-shaped coral formations?
Answer: Atolls
Bonus fact: The islands are grouped into natural coral atolls.