What Makes a Reef a Reef

Stony corals (or scleractinians) are the corals primarily responsible for laying the foundations of, and building up, reef structures. Massive reef structures are formed when each individual stony coral organism—or polyp—secretes a skeleton of calcium carbonate.

What is considered a reef?

A reef is a ridge of material at or near the surface of the ocean. Reefs can occur naturally. Natural reefs are made of rocks or the skeletons of small animals called corals. Reefs can also be artificial—created by human beings. Artificial Reefs.

Is a reef the same as a coral reef?

What is the difference between Coral and Reef? Coral is a live animal while reef is a physical structure. Reef is the habitat of the corals, which has been created through the secretions of coral polyps over many generations.