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A coral reef is a community of organisms that exist in shallower ocean depths. The key component is coral, which often forms the foundation of the reef ecosystem. Coral species may either be photosynthetic or non-photosynthetic, however, the foundational species as well as the predominant majority are often photosynthetic.

Most people define a 'reef' as a 'coral reef', but there are however manmade reefs, often called artificial reefs. These reefs are usually made from scrap material such as bridge rubble, or sunken ships. I would also call underwater rock formations that are often inhabited by various marine species a type of reef as well.

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13y ago
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5mo ago

A coral reef is a type of reef that is formed primarily by coral polyps. Reefs, on the other hand, are underwater ridges, rock formations, or sandbanks that can be made up of coral, rock, or other materials. In summary, all coral reefs are reefs, but not all reefs are coral reefs.

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14y ago

Coral is the plant and a Reef is its geographical location.

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Q: What is the difference between coral reef and reef?
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Related questions

What is the difference between deep sea and reef building coral?

How should I know


What is the difference between coral reefs and The Great Barrier Reef?

A fringing reef forms a continuous underwater "wall" for some distance, where as a "barrier Reef" are shorter in distances, and have large gaps in them....and will be between shore and the Barrier Reef..............Sea Rambo


What is the sandy area between shore and reef?

Coral reef


What are the difference of corals and coral reefs?

A coral reef is a colony of corals. A coral reef can be formed on rock rubble, but old established coral reefs are actually structured out of dead coral. This is one of the reasons it takes so long for a reef to form. Some corals may life for tens or even hundreds of years before they die and allow another coral to grow on top of their skeleton. There are many types of coral reefs, but the real difference is that coral is what makes up a coral reef.


Is the great coral reef the same as the Great Barrier Reef?

No. A coral reef is just a reef made out of coral. There are many other kinds of reefs. A coral reef is just one kind. The Great Barrier Reef is a specific coral reef. There are many other coral reefs in the world.


Which major reef lies between Australian and the Coral Sea?

Great Barrier Reef


What type of site is the Great Barrier Reef?

The Great Barrier Reef is a coral reef.


What are some similarties between an ecosystem and coral reefs?

A coral reef is an ecosystem, that is the similarity.


What is the longest reef in Africa?

Red Sea Coral Reef is located between Asia and Africa, It is the second largest reef in the world with over 1,900 kilometers of coral reefs.


Does it rain in the coral reef?

It does not rain in a coral reef because the wind near the coral reef is dry and has no moisture


What is coral reef?

A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals


What is a coral reef?

A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals