Colors and shapes of corals are countless. They are one of the most beautiful marine animals in the world. Although there are no such spectacular coral reefs like in Australia or Africa, Europe is also a habitat for many coral species. There are corals in cold seas along Norwegian and Irish coast, some of them with funny names:

Dead man’s finger:Read more

Corals eat mostly microscopic – sized plant organisms which float in the water. They also could have a symbiotic relationship with single-celled algae called zooxanthellae. Corals and algae are like good friends who helps each other. What is more, zooxanthellae play a role of a cook who prepares food and feeds coral. Because of this relationship, coral reefs grow much faster in clear water, which admits more sunlight.   

Corals, like other living creatures have to breathe in order to live. It is not difficult to imagine how breathing process looks like on earth. Underwater it is completely different. Corals absorb oxygen which is dissolved in water with all their body surface. So it seems to be more like “drinking” oxygen rather than literally breathing!!

Anemones and certain species of coral live in isolation, however most corals form colonies made of many single polyps. Polyps are connected and can share “food”.

Stony corals secrete an exoskeleton of calcium carbonate ( CaCO₃ ) which makes it hard. The accumulation of skeletal material, broken and piled up by wave action produces a massive calcareous formation that supports and protect the living corals. Read more

There are about 6500 species of corals in the world. These strange animals occur both in tropical and cold oceans. The biggest coral reef is the Great Barrier Reef placed on the eastern coast of Australia. Corals can be also found along norwegian coast so in a very cold part of the world.