FratFiles

• Save Paper

Introduction

Coral, common name for members of a large class of marine invertebrates characterized by a protective calcium carbonate or horny skeleton. This protective skeleton is also called coral. Corals are divided into two subclasses, based on differences in their radial symmetry. One subclass consists of colonial, eight-tentacled animals, each with an internal skeleton. Among them are whip corals, gorgonians, and the red coral used in making jewelry. Members of the other subclass commonly have six tentacles, or multiples of six, but other patterns are also observed. They include the stony, or true, corals. Another class of the same phylum also contains forms known as coral that are not considered here. Coral reefs are arguably the world's most beautiful habitats. Coral reefs have been called the rainforests of the oceans, because of the rich diversity of life they support. Scientists have not yet finished counting the thousands of different species of plants and......

View the rest of this paper...

Approximate Word Count: 2223
Approximate Pages: 9 (250 words per double-spaced page)

Similar Essays

1. Economic Valuatio Of Coral Reefs
   

   Economic Valuatio Of Coral Reefs Coastal Capital - Economic Valuation of Coral Reefs in Tobago and St. Lucia by Lauretta Burke, Suzie Greenhalgh, Daniel Prager and Emily Cooper

2. Coral Reefs
   

   coral reefs Coral reefs are one of the oldest types of living systems on earth, and certainly one of the most spectacular (Goreau, 1987). They are massive underwater structures

3. Coral Reefs
   

   Coral Reefs Introduction Coral, common name for members of a large class of marine invertebrates characterized by a protective calcium carbonate or horny skeleton. This protective

4. Coral Reefs 2
   

   Coral Reefs 2 The report that you are about to read is about coral reefs, their habitats, and the problems that they are facing. I chose coral reefs for my project because I have

5. Coral Reefs And Bleaching Phenomenon
   

   Coral Reefs And Bleaching Phenomenon Imagine yourself observing one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth. Thousands of species of plants and animals provide a dizzying array of