Hard Coral
About Hard Corals in Singapore
Last updated 31 May 2026
Corals are colonies of many tiny animals known as polyps. In Hard Corals (also known as Scleractinia or Stony Corals), polyps are surrounded by a hard calcium carbonate skeleton. Some species of Hard Corals are reef builders, as their skeleton provides the foundation upon which young coral settle and grow.
Their beautiful colours are the result of a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae – tiny algae living within the coral tissue. The algae provides food for the coral, while the coral acts as a habitat for the algae.
Identifying features
Check out some of the identifying features of Hard Corals below.
This is a species of Hard Coral known as a Zebra Coral (Oulastrea crispata).
Habitat and ecology
Coral reefs provide an important habitat to many marine organisms. They also benefit us by protecting our coastlines. Coral reefs diffuse the energy from incoming waves, reducing coastline erosion and lowering the risk of floods.
Did you know?
Singapore lies within the coral triangle, a small region spanning 6 countries that reaches all the way to the Solomon Islands. This tiny region alone contains 76% of all coral species in the world!
Learn more about the Hard Coral!
Curious about the Hard Coral? Here are some interesting articles you can read to learn more about them.
