Understanding Coral Reefs

What type of animal are corals classified as?

• Animals

• Fungi

• Plants

• Fish

What substance do corals secrete to help form reefs?

• Magnesium

• Calcium carbonate

• Phosphorus

• Silica

What shape is the skeleton of a coral?

• Star-shaped

• Cup-shaped

• Flat

• Spiral

What surrounds the mouth of a coral polyp?

• Fins

• Shells

• Scales

• Tentacles

What is the primary function of the tentacles on a coral?

• For swimming

• To attract mates

• For decoration

• For capturing prey

What do corals primarily feed on?

• Seaweed

• Small fish and plankton

• Coral fragments

• Sand particles

How large can a mushroom coral grow?

• Up to 10 cm

• Up to 25 cm

• Up to 100 cm

• Up to 50 cm

What type of coral lives alone?

• Brain coral

• Elkhorn coral

• Staghorn coral

• Mushroom coral

What connects the stomachs of some coral species?

• Nemosarc

• Polypsarc

• Hydrosarc

• Coenosarc

What helps corals withstand turbulent seas?

• Their color

• Their ability to move

• Their durable skeletons

• Their flexible branches