Coral Reefs?
There are more species on a coral reef than on any other underwater habitat. Part of the reason for this is that the fundamental structure or architecture of the reef is not rock, but is instead corals and coralline algae. That is, the structure itself is alive! This means that the living part of the habitat can adapt and be influenced by the creatures that live within it. This is an organic matrix, and it makes the diversity skyrocket. So here are some more underwater coral reef critters. Gorgonians and corals are closely related. In fact, the main difference between them is the “skeleton.” In corals it is calcareous, but in gorgonians it is a material, something like your hair, called keratin. In this case, the keratin is a tough and very flexible material, perfect for a branching, tree-like structure. Behold — a gorgonian. Coral reefs are aragonite structures produced by living organisms, found in shallow, tropical marine waters with little to no nutrients in the water. High nutrie
