Coral polyps

Coral polyps are small, soft-bodied marine animals that are part of the coral family. Each polyp resembles a tiny jellyfish and has a cylindrical body with tentacles that they use to capture food, such as plankton. They live in colonies, building hard exoskeletons made of calcium carbonate, which form coral reefs over time. These reefs provide habitat and protection for a diverse range of marine life. Coral polyps rely on a symbiotic relationship with tiny algae called zooxanthellae, which provide them with energy through photosynthesis, making them vital to ocean ecosystems.