Book 6, Question 80
Why Can't You Stand on Coral?
Coral looks like a rock, but it is alive! It is a thin layer of living animals called polyps growing on a skeleton they built. One step can crush years of slow growth in a single second.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 6
More fun facts
- Coral may look and feel like rock, but it is a very fragile animal.
- Each tiny coral animal sits inside a little cup-shaped skeleton called a calyx.
- Standing on coral while snorkeling or diving damages the reef.
- Corals that took hundreds of years to grow can be badly damaged in seconds by anchors or boats.
- Divers and snorkelers are asked never to touch, stand on or kick coral.
Sources: nature.com, NOAA Ocean Service, National Park Service, NOAA
Questions kids ask
What should you do near a coral reef?
Look, but never touch, stand on or kick the coral.