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Concept

Scleractinia

Known as stony corals, these marine animals are the primary builders of modern coral reefs. They secrete a hard skeleton of calcium carbonate that forms the reef's structural framework. Unlike soft corals, Scleractinia host symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae within their tissues, which provide them with energy via photosynthesis. They are the primary food source for specialized predators like the crown-of-thorns starfish.

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