Tiny tentacled polyps called corals secrete calcium carbonate, which hardens to give the creatures a skeleton. The exoskeletons of millions of the individual polyps fused together provide the backbone of a whole underwater ecosystem for 25% of the sea’s creatures, the coral reef.
Southern Stingray: Caught on Camera
Stingrays are occasional passers-by on the Cayman Reef Cam. This one gave us a great view!
Trumpetfish toot their own horns in the coral reef concert
Some animals like to toot their own horn and make a statement. Others just want to hide from their predators! Trumpetfish? They do a little of both.
Squirrelfish – The reef fish you want on your hide-and-seek team
If you’ve ever dove on a coral reef – or watched the Cayman Reef Live Cam here on explore.org, you may have seen a red and white fish with massive eyes hanging out close to the shelter of a big coral head or under a ledge…
Underwater Birds: Parrot Fish
You might think the parrotfish was named for its bright colors resembling its feathered namesake, but the clue is actually on the tip of the nose.
