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In the tropical areas, corals with varied forms and colors can enjoy good conditions to largely develop and constitute reefs. The latter then form the base of an exceptional ecosystem including quantities of species each one more spectacular than the other. While clicking on the following links you will be able to discover 118 species characteristical of the underwater fauna of the coral reefs, represented to date, by 3 countries:
These few precisions about these animals were in particular inspired to me by various observations carried out speaking with tourists who were discovering the reefs. Indeed, on several occasions, I could observe people who, undoubtedly because they thought they were walking on rocks, naively crushed tens of Madre pores whose growth is often very slow. It seems to me that the variety and the abundance of the coral in certain sites should not make us forget the corals brittleness. Without considering that corals are at the base of a unique ecosystem in the world and that their future is already threatened by a quantity of other factors. In a nonexhaustive way, one can quote: - Global climate warming and its consequences - Intensive fishing, in particular fishing with dynamite - Indirect incidence of fishing on the equilibrium of the food chain. For example, proliferation of coral eating thorny starfishes due to the disappearance of its principal predator. - Tourist development with the multiplication of infrastructures and urban waste, the boats which seek to cut a path through  (in the coral) to the beach etc While it is known that 25% of the coral disappeared in 30 years and that 40% could still disappear from it in the years to come, these few observations should invite each one to observe a minimum of precaution, in particular,  not to touch the coral other than with the eyes. Even more so as it can cause bad cuts, itching and even serious burns in the case of fire corals. To the wise…
Characteristics of the corals : There is a large variety of corals among which one distinguishes the hard corals, soft corals and gorgones. The hard corals, also called Madre pores which, when they amalgamate, are responsible for the formation of the reef. A coral reef can develop only if the water temperature is higher than 20° Celsius, as well as when the luminosity and salinity rate of the sea are sufficient, which explains why the areas where coral abounds can be found near the equator.
Contrary to certain appearances, the corals are animals which have the characteristic of having an external skeleton. This exosquelette contains tiny small gelatinous bags surrounded by poisoned tentacles: polyps. During the night the polyps open to catch the plankton. In the Madre pores the polyps also contain unicellular algae: the zooxanthelles. Those bring energy substances to them and receive nitrogenized elements coming from the plankton. The zooxanthelles are particularly appreciated by butterfly fish, triggerfish, diodons and certain parrot fish.
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The text and images on this website are under copyright. If you wish to acquire one or several photos, and thus support my project, please contact me. Copyright © Philippe Faret, 2005
Madrepores
Underwater fauna of coral reefs
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