 |  |  |
Diet The diet of this animal is really fascinating! The coral catches small fish and animals such as plankton. Sometimes these creatures even eat zoo plankton! They do this by using stinging cells on their tentacles. Can’t you almost see the snake like tentacles striking at algae! Although, these half plant half animal creatures obtain most of their nutrients from algae. | Habitat The habitat of this remarkable animal is usually beautiful! This unique species is usually found in the southern hemisphere. It lives here because it survives in tropical and warm climates. This makes me think of the movie Finding Nemo, and the part where they were at their home! This means that most corals depend on sunlight and grow in shallow waters. So, this habitat makes most sense for an animal related to the sea anemone. The water is typically at depths shallower than 200 feet (60 meters). There are however a number of coral species that have adapted to inhabiting the oceans at depths of up to 3,000 meters. | Movement Because this animal is half plant half animal, it’s movement is unique! The coral themselves are the most abundant animal in the reef. It is hard to believe, but most coral only move with the current.They are tiny organisms called polyps that attach themselves to the hard reef and live there forever. Coral moves only a very short distance unless they are picked up by the ocean current. Brain coral though, unlike the others, has microscopic legs that help it move from place to place. |
Diet
The diet of this animal is really fascinating! The coral catches small fish and animals such as plankton. Sometimes these creatures even eat zoo plankton! They do this by using stinging cells on their tentacles. Can’t you almost see the snake like tentacles striking at algae! Although, these half plant half animal creatures obtain most of their nutrients from algae.
Habitat
The habitat of this remarkable animal is usually beautiful! This unique species is usually found in the southern hemisphere. It lives here because it survives in tropical and warm climates. This makes me think of the movie Finding Nemo, and the part where they were at their home! This means that most corals depend on sunlight and grow in shallow waters. So, this habitat makes most sense for an animal related to the sea anemone. The water is typically at depths shallower than 200 feet (60 meters). There are however a number of coral species that have adapted to inhabiting the oceans at depths of up to 3,000 meters.
Movement
Because this animal is half plant half animal, it’s movement is unique! The coral themselves are the most abundant animal in the reef. It is hard to believe, but most coral only move with the current.They are tiny organisms called polyps that attach themselves to the hard reef and live there forever. Coral moves only a very short distance unless they are picked up by the ocean current. Brain coral though, unlike the others, has microscopic legs that help it move from place to place.
