93 - Corals

Hello friends, Welcome to the Fossil Repository at the Department of Geology, Shivaji Science College, Nagpur.

I am coral. I am a fossil. We corals often form colonies composed of numerous individual polyps, with each of us connected by tissue. These colonies can range in size from small to massive structures, such as coral reefs.Each of us coral polyps typically has a cylindrical body with a central mouth surrounded by tentacles used for feeding and defence.We secrete a hard external skeleton made primarily of calcium carbonate, providing support and protection for our polyps.

Many of us have a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae, which live within our tissues and provide us with energy through photosynthesis.

We come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colours, ranging from small, solitary polyps to large, branching colonies.

Some of us, known as reef-building or stony corals, contribute to the formation of coral reefs by secreting calcium carbonate skeletons that accumulate over time and create underwater structures.We provide essential habitat for numerous marine species, supporting high levels of biodiversity in coral reef ecosystems, which are often referred to as the “rainforests of the sea.”We corals are sensitive to changes in environmental conditions, particularly temperature, and are threatened by factors such as coral bleaching, ocean acidification, pollution, and physical damage.

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