What are ‘Coral polyps’? What are its kinds? State with an example.
Coral polyps are short lived microscopic organisms which live in colonies. They flourish in shallow, mud free and warm waters. They secrete calcium carbonate. The coral secretion ’ and their skeleton form coral deposits in form of reefs.
They are mainly of three kinds :
- Barrier reef
- Fringing reef
- Atolls
The Great Barrier Reef of Australia is a perfect example of the first kind of coral reefs. In India, ,1 Lakshadweep Island is composed of small coral islands. These coral islands are places of tourist interest.