Question 1

What is a coral?

Accepted Answer

A coral is a tiny sea animal that often lives in groups. They build hard, colorful structures in the ocean called reefs.

Question 2

How do corals start their life?

Accepted Answer

Corals start their life as tiny floating babies called larvae. They travel in the ocean until they find a good spot to settle down and grow.

Question 3

What happens when coral larvae find a place to settle?

Accepted Answer

When coral larvae find a spot they like, they stick to it and start turning into a hard coral. This is the start of a new coral colony.

Question 4

How do corals grow?

Accepted Answer

Corals grow by building a skeleton around themselves. Over time, more and more corals join together to form a bigger coral reef.

Question 5

What do corals eat?

Accepted Answer

Corals get food from tiny plants called algae that live in them. These algae make food using sunlight, and corals eat it to grow.

Question 6

Why are corals important?

Accepted Answer

Corals are important because they make homes for lots of ocean animals. They also help protect coastlines from big waves.

Question 7

How do corals reproduce?

Accepted Answer

Corals reproduce by releasing eggs and sperm into the water. These join together to make new larvae, which grow into new corals.

Question 8

Can corals live forever?

Accepted Answer

Corals can't live forever, but they can grow very old and keep building reefs for a long time. Some reefs have been around for thousands of years.

Question 9

What do coral reefs look like?

Accepted Answer

Coral reefs are colorful and are often called the 'rainforests of the sea'. They come in lots of shapes and sizes like branches, fans, and even giant rocks.

Question 10

Where can we find coral reefs?

Accepted Answer

Coral reefs are usually found in warm, shallow ocean waters. Some of the biggest reefs are near Australia, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia.

Question 11

Do corals need sunlight to grow?

Accepted Answer

Yes, corals need sunlight because the algae inside them use sunlight to make food. That's why most reefs are in shallow waters where the sun can reach them.

Question 12

Why are coral reefs endangered?

Accepted Answer

Coral reefs are endangered because of climate change, pollution, and overfishing. Hotter water and dirty oceans can harm corals.

Question 13

How can we help protect coral reefs?

Accepted Answer

We can help coral reefs by reducing pollution and being careful with the ocean. Recycling, using less plastic, and not touching corals are good ways to help.

Question 14

What animals live on coral reefs?

Accepted Answer

Coral reefs are home to fish, sea turtles, sharks, and many other creatures. They make great hiding places and food sources for these animals.

Question 15

What happens if a coral reef dies?

Accepted Answer

If a coral reef dies, many ocean animals lose their homes. It can also make coastlines weaker against big waves.

Question 16

How do scientists study corals?

Accepted Answer

Scientists study corals by diving and taking pictures, or even using underwater robots. They look at how corals grow and what makes them sick.

Question 17

What colors can corals be?

Accepted Answer

Corals can be many colors like pink, red, yellow, and blue. The algae inside them help give them these bright colors.

Question 18

Do corals move?

Accepted Answer

No, once corals settle, they stay in one place. However, coral larvae can float around until they find a good spot to settle.

Question 19

How big can coral reefs get?

Accepted Answer

Coral reefs can be very big. For example, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest and can be seen from space!

Question 20

What is coral bleaching?

Accepted Answer

Coral bleaching happens when corals get stressed and algae leave. This can make corals turn white and weak, and if it lasts too long, the coral can die.

The Life Cycle of Corals - 20 FAQs Explained Simply