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Coral Reefs in India

Corals

Coral polyps are short-lived microscopic organisms, which live in colonies. They flourish in shallow, mud free and warm waters. They secrete hard rock like substance.

The coral secretion and their skeletons from coral deposits in the form of reefs:. they are of three kinds:

1. barrier reef

2. fringing reef and

3. atolls.

The Great Barrier Reef (Near Eastern coast of  Australia) is a good example of the first kind of coral reefs.

Atolls are circular or horse shoe shaped coral reefs.

The coral reefs of the Indian Ocean have been built up during the tertiary and quaternary periods. The coral reef ecosystems are restricted in the main seven regions in India, such as :

1. Coral reef ecosystem in Kerala coast.

2. Coral reef ecosystem in Goa coast.

3. Coral reef ecosystem in Gulf of Kachchh.

4. Coral reef ecosystem in Lakshadweep Islands.

5. Coral reef ecosystem in Gulf of Manner.

6. Coral reef ecosystem in Palk Bay.

7. Coral reef ecosystem in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Among the coral reefs of India, fringing reefs are found in the Gulf of Manner and Palk bay, Platform reefs are found along the Gulf of Kuchchh, Atoll reefs are found in the Lakshadweep archipelago, Patchy reefs are found near Ratnagiri and Malwan coasts, Fringing and barrier reefs both are found in Andaman and Nicobar islands.