Types of Corals
There are over 2,500 known species of corals. These corals belong to two major groups: hard corals (Scleractinia) and soft corals (Alcyonacea). Hard corals are the primary reef-building corals, while soft corals lack a solid calcium carbonate skeleton and have a flexible, fleshy structure. The most commonly found corals worldwide are hard corals, specifically those that are part of the group Scleractinia, also known as stony corals. These corals are the primary reef-building corals and form the backbone of coral…