Coral Reefs: Home to Millions of Species, and Older Than the Redwoods

Some coral reefs are older than old-growth redwood forests. Many U.S. reefs were alive and thriving centuries before Europeans colonized the nearby shores. They are living museums that hold thousands of years of history — and they are home to millions of species.

Coral reefs are home to millions of species. Credit: NOAA.

Who lives on a reef

Beneath the surface, coral reefs teem with life. Fish, corals, lobsters, clams, seahorses, sponges and sea turtles are only a few of the thousands of creatures that depend on reefs to survive.

More than a habitat

Reefs are also part of human history. They are woven into many cultures and are part of our shared natural heritage.

What threatens them

Human activities now put these habitats at risk. Many of the world's reefs have already been destroyed or badly damaged by:

• water pollution
• overfishing and destructive fishing practices
• disease
• global climate change
• ships running aground

The reefs that remain can still be protected and preserved — if we act now.

Sources

Based on "What species live in and around coral reefs?" from NOAA's National Ocean Service, a work of the United States government in the public domain.