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Vertebrate Animals:
Among vertebrate animals, only a relative few groups contain species that are regularly found within coral reefs.
Some are:
Sea snakes
Sea turtles
Fishes
Dugongs
Manatees
Sea snakes:
There are between 55 to 65 recognized species of sea snakes, but of these only a relative few are commonly found in coral reef areas. Sea snakes are evolved to snakes and like all reptiles are air breathers. Specialized adaptations for aquatic life include paddle-like tails and laterally compressed bodies and enhance swimming ability. Sea snakes are found only in the Indo Pacific Ocean (including the Red Sea). Many species are highly venomous, and should never be closely approached or threatened by coral reef divers or snorkelers.
Dugongs and Manatees:
Dugongs are found in the Indo Pacific Ocean and manatees are found in the Caribbean. These two creatures were found in the Coral Reef lagoons. These peaceful giants consume quantities of sea grasses, and were presumably the most prolific herbivores in coral reef lagoons prior to recent levels of human interference with these ecosystems.
Over the last two or three centuries however, extensive hunting, habitat loss, and coastal pollution have contributed to the rapid decimation of these animals. It is feared that they may soon become extinct.
Sea Turtles:
Of the seven recognized species of sea turtles, three are regular or occasional visitors to coral reefs in some parts of the world. Due to loss of nesting habitat and over harvesting, all three species are now considered either threatened or endangered. On both Indo Pacific and the Caribbean Sea, the species most often seen resting on the reef proper is the Hawks bill turtle is a species that also feeds in the lagoon or back reef zone of coral reef ecosystems.
Fishes:
Of all vertebrate animals that live on coral reefs, it is the fishes that are by far the most numerous, varied, and critical to coral reef health. In the Greater Caribbean region alone some 500 to 600 species of coral reef fish are recognized in the Indo-Pacific region houses at least 8 to 10 times that number. Many species have evolved thin, flattened bodies that are effective in making sharp turns. This trait greatly facilitates a fish's ability. The functionality of the pancake like shape is further enhanced by specialized positioning of the pectoral and pelvic fins. These are situated and oriented on the body in a way that facilitates sharp turns and sudden stops. Coral reef fishes are perhaps best known for their bold, and striking color patterns. Coral reefs have a array of different types of possible fish prey items. As might be expected there are varieties of coral reef fish species well adapted to make use of each of these ready food resources.
Herbivore Fishes:
Herbivorous fishes are those that feed mainly or entirely on plant material.
Parrot fishes:
They are the largest and most colorful of coral reef herbivores. They are named for their brilliant hues and beak. Parrot fishes are believed to play a key role in maintaining coral reef health through their feeding activities.
Surgeon fishes:
They are the closely related rabbit fishes. They are the mid-size models of herbivorous coral fishes. The name surgeon fish stems from the retractable scalpel-like spines at the base of each side of the tail, used as defensive weapons.
Rabbit fishes:
Rabbit fishes are named for their blunt, elongated snouts. These herbivores are closely allied with the surgeon fishes, and are common members of reef fish assemblages throughout the Indo Pacific region from Hawaii to the Red Sea.
Damesl fishes:
Unlike the wide ranging parrot fishes, surgeon fishes, and rabbit fishes, small herbivorous damsel fishes are more sedentary, territorial "farmers" that maintain small patches of algae on the reef.
Invertebrate animals:
Among coral reef animals, invertebrates are animals without backbones. In coral reefs they are by far the most diverse and numerous. Invertebrates are the primary builders of coral reefs, and an integral part of almost every aspect of the ecology of coral reef ecosystems.
Some are:
Sponges
Echinoderms
Mollusks
Crustaceans
Sponges:
Sponges are animals that filter feed on tiny food particles carried in the water sweeping over them. Coral reef sponges commonly exhibit one of three different body forms vase sponge, tube sponge, and encrusting sponge.
Vase sponge:
Vase sponges are usually found in deep water, and some have internal spaces big enough to contain a fully equipped scuba diver.
Tube sponge:
Tube sponges have a branched body form. They tend to be highly colorful, with many species display brilliant yellow, orange, or reddish hues. Tube sponges are common in both shallow and deeper waters. Some species grow quite large, while others are fairly small.
Encrusting sponge:
Encrusting sponges often cover reef surfaces between coral colonies. Like tube sponges, these forms are often brightly colored, displaying a variety of hues in the yellow to red range.
- Crustaceans:
- Coral reef crustaceans include the large, more familiar animals such as shrimps, lobsters, and crabs. They have an external jointed skeleton.
- Spiny lobsters:
- Spiny lobsters have considered by many the premier delicacy of the tropics, are probably the best-known and most sought after of all coral reef crustaceans. They are not full time reef members, but rather visitors that spend a good part of the year in deep habitats distant from reefs. Typically, spiny lobsters remain safely positioned by day in cracks and crevices.
- Shrimps:
- Shrimps are common coral reef crustaceans that come in many sizes and colors. They represent an important food source for a number of reef fishes. On coral reefs, some shrimp are called "cleaners". Cleaner shrimp can be distinguished from most other types of shrimps by their particularly long antennae.
- Crabs:
- Crabs that live on reefs generally remain well hidden within the reef structure by day. Most are omnivores, feeding on a wide variety of food items including algae, worms, mollusks, bacteria, other crustaceans, and fungi. Certain types of crabs may play a more prominent role in coral reef health
- Mollusks:
Coral reef mollusks are invertebrates, but there are a few open water swimmers included as well. Three classes of mollusks are common in coral reef ecosystems:- Gastropods:
- Gastropods are mostly herbivorous marine snails. They are slow moving with a one piece shell. Most species are small, and are usually well camouflaged or well hidden.
- Example: snails, chitons, and nudibranchs
- Bivalves:
- Bivalves have a shell composed of more or less equal halves. These are active filter feeders, pumping water through strainers to remove food. The most frequently mollusks of this group are the clams and scallops.
Example: clams, mussels, scallops - Cephalopods:
- Cephalopods are among the most highly advanced of all invertebrate animals. These swift, intelligent predators have well developed nervous systems complete with relatively large brains and eyes very much like our own.
- Example: squid, cuttlefish, and octopus
Sea urchins:
Sea Urchins are active herbivores and are among the most common of all coral reef echinoderms. Some live in sea grass meadows of the lagoon, while others shelter in crevices on reefs by day.
Sea stars:
Sea stars also known as "starfish", are often found in sand and sea grass habitat around coral reefs as well as upon the hard reef. As with echinoderms in general, these animals are able to move slowly. They have tube feet located under each of the arms.Most sea stars prey heavily upon mollusks, but there are exceptions. Some species hunt upon the reef itself.
Planktivores:
Planktivores coral reef fishes are those that prey upon small animal plankton.
Open Water Plankton Feeders:
The daytime open water plankton feeding of coral reef fish consists of a hodgepodge of species of diverse heritage, including damsel fishes, wrasses, snappers, sea basses, and surgeon fishes.
Benthic Planktivores:
A diverse group of small daytime plankton feeders, such as the jaw fish avoid the dangers of open water hunting by remaining close to the safety of the reef or other nearby habitats while capturing their tiny prey.
Nocturnal Planktivores:
When darkness comes, planktivores seek shelter within the reef and are replaced by a "night shift" of species adapted to low light conditions. These night hunters include cardinal fishes, squirrel fishes and soldier fishes.
Coral Reef Visitors:
Several other types of vertebrates are seen hunting or feeding in waters around coral reefs. The most common visitors are dolphins, porpoises, and sea birds.
- Crustaceans:
- Coral reef crustaceans include the large, more familiar animals such as shrimps, lobsters, and crabs. They have an external jointed skeleton.
- Spiny lobsters:
- Spiny lobsters have considered by many the premier delicacy of the tropics, are probably the best-known and most sought after of all coral reef crustaceans. They are not full time reef members, but rather visitors that spend a good part of the year in deep habitats distant from reefs. Typically, spiny lobsters remain safely positioned by day in cracks and crevices.
- Shrimps:
- Shrimps are common coral reef crustaceans that come in many sizes and colors. They represent an important food source for a number of reef fishes. On coral reefs, some shrimp are called "cleaners". Cleaner shrimp can be distinguished from most other types of shrimps by their particularly long antennae.
- Crabs:
- Crabs that live on reefs generally remain well hidden within the reef structure by day. Most are omnivores, feeding on a wide variety of food items including algae, worms, mollusks, bacteria, other crustaceans, and fungi. Certain types of crabs may play a more prominent role in coral reef health
- Mollusks:
Coral reef mollusks are invertebrates, but there are a few open water swimmers included as well. Three classes of mollusks are common in coral reef ecosystems:- Gastropods:
- Gastropods are mostly herbivorous marine snails. They are slow moving with a one piece shell. Most species are small, and are usually well camouflaged or well hidden.
- Example: snails, chitons, and nudibranchs
- Bivalves:
- Bivalves have a shell composed of more or less equal halves. These are active filter feeders, pumping water through strainers to remove food. The most frequently mollusks of this group are the clams and scallops.
Example: clams, mussels, scallops - Cephalopods:
- Cephalopods are among the most highly advanced of all invertebrate animals. These swift, intelligent predators have well developed nervous systems complete with relatively large brains and eyes very much like our own.
- Example: squid, cuttlefish, and octopus