Different Kinds of Coral
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/4/3/19439029/828604.jpg?1366239149)
This is a picture of Brain Corals or Hard Corals
Corals come in a variety of shapes, sizes and color. But there are two types of corals: Soft Corals and Hard Corals
Soft Corals: Called soft corals because they do not have hard, rigid permanent skeletons, this group is made up of the Gorgonians and the Black Corals.
Hard Corals: This group is made of the hydrocorals and the stony corals. Both types of coral have hard skeletons made up of calcium carbonate.
Soft Corals: Called soft corals because they do not have hard, rigid permanent skeletons, this group is made up of the Gorgonians and the Black Corals.
Hard Corals: This group is made of the hydrocorals and the stony corals. Both types of coral have hard skeletons made up of calcium carbonate.
4 Types of Coral Reefs
- Fringing Reef: This is the most common type of reef. They are located very close to land, and often form a shallow lagoon between the beach and the main body of the reef.
- Barrier Reef: This type of reef resembles a fringing reef, but they are located further from the shore and can be much bigger than fringing reefs. For example, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia lies 300 – 1000m (328 - 1093 yards) from shore, and 2000km (1243 miles) long
- Atoll: These circular or horseshoe-shaped reefs encircle a lagoon. No apparent landmass is normally associated with an atoll.
- Patch Reef: These outcrops of coral usually lie within a lagoon.