The The Rainforests of Rainforests of

the seathe sea

Coral reefsCoral reefs• Coral reefs are Coral reefs are

underwater underwater habitats or natural habitats or natural environmentsenvironments

• Coral reefs grow in Coral reefs grow in warm shallow warm shallow waters for example waters for example the Indian Ocean the Indian Ocean and Red Seaand Red Sea

Coral lifeCoral life

• Coral reefs are called Coral reefs are called the rainforests of the the rainforests of the sea because they are sea because they are bursting with lifebursting with life

• Coral animals need Coral animals need warmth & only live in warmth & only live in water higher than 21 water higher than 21 degrees degrees

Coral fishCoral fish• Coral reefs are filled Coral reefs are filled

with millions of fish & with millions of fish & other sea creaturesother sea creatures

• Fish that live in coral Fish that live in coral reefs are usually reefs are usually brightly coloured so brightly coloured so other fish can then other fish can then spot them in the spot them in the crowded reefcrowded reef

The corals foodThe corals food• The coral reefs The coral reefs

have food for have food for many creatures many creatures

• Many animals Many animals enter the reefs enter the reefs to find preyto find prey

The polypsThe polyps

• A coral polyp has a A coral polyp has a single body with an single body with an opening at the top opening at the top this is surrounded this is surrounded by tentacles armed by tentacles armed with sting cells used with sting cells used to pass food to their to pass food to their mouth at the centre mouth at the centre of their bodyof their body

How reefs formHow reefs form• The reefs are made The reefs are made

up of the skeleton of up of the skeleton of the coral polypsthe coral polyps

• When polyps die its When polyps die its skeleton remains. skeleton remains. Over time more Over time more skeletons form on skeletons form on top of each other top of each other begin to create a begin to create a reefreef

Facts about the oceanFacts about the ocean• Jellyfish and sponges Jellyfish and sponges

were among the first were among the first sea creatures & sea creatures & appeared about 700 appeared about 700 million years agomillion years ago

• There are more then There are more then 14,000 kinds of fish & 14,000 kinds of fish & 160,000 kind of 160,000 kind of invertebrates or invertebrates or animals without animals without backbonesbackbones

So much moreSo much more • Huge areas of the Huge areas of the

ocean are still not ocean are still not been explored there been explored there may still be thousands may still be thousands of species still to be of species still to be discovered. Amazing discovered. Amazing creatures such as creatures such as giant squid and huge giant squid and huge fish are known to exist fish are known to exist but are rarely if ever but are rarely if ever seen alive seen alive

Thank you Thank you

Any QuestionsAny Questions??

Sadbh Dunne