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The Secret Sex Life of Coral Trivia Quiz

Did you know that coral, the beautiful colored rock-like formation to be found on reefs and cays has a reproductive life of its own? Find out more with this quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by Exit10. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Exit10

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
89,360

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
5

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
3 / 5

Plays
2197

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 5

1. On the Great Barrier Reef just off the coast of Queensland, Australia, there are many different forms and patterns of coral. How many have been identified? Hint

Under 100

About 150

Over 400

243

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Question 2 of 5

2. The bottom of a reef is a limestone base of dead coral and the colored parts you see are living. Living reef coral is made up of tiny creatures called polyps. What are some of their characteristics? Hint

they have a body similar to a sack that has a hole with stinging tentacles around it

their size varies from the size of a pinhead to more than a foot

they are invertebrates

all of these

NEXT>

Question 3 of 5

3. Reproduction of coral requires the assistance of zooxanthellae (pronounced zo-zan-thell-y). There is some question over whether they are animals or plants but there is no question that they are essential to the reproductive process. Do they live outside the polyp or inside the polyp?

Answer: (One word - Inside or Outside)

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Question 4 of 5

4. Asexual fragmentation is a reproductive method in coral. When does this occur? Hint

When there is a change in water temperature of more than 11 degrees Celsius (52 Farenheit)

Every 49 weeks

When a piece of living coral breaks off

When someone or something touches it

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Question 5 of 5

5. Coral ________ is when the polyp will eject brightly colored, coordinated bundles of eggs and sperm. What is the recognised term for this kind of reproduction? Hint

impregnation

spawning

fertilization

seeding

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. On the Great Barrier Reef just off the coast of Queensland, Australia, there are many different forms and patterns of coral. How many have been identified?

Answer: Over 400

In addition to the coral, there are also 1500 species of fish, 4000 different types of molluscs, 215 different types of birds and 6 types of turtles.

Answer: all of these

Each polyp has a nematocyst (stinging tentacle). The polyps themselves are roughly tubal-shaped, and the tentacles are located at the top of the hole. If they are touched by any other organism they will attack and catch prey, hence the need for the stinger. There are also sticky tentacles as well.
Polyps live in colonies, that is, hundreds of thousands together, and each individual one comprises an inner wall and an outer wall.
There are two types of coral - hard and soft.
No coral should ever be touched because it can break off, and both the piece that has broken off can die and the coral on the reef is also endangered. They can also cause very serious injury in the form of cuts and scratches which infect very quickly. Another threat to the coral is the residue of sun protection cream, even if you think your hands are clean there will be residue.

Answer: Inside

They are single-celled organisms that actually live inside the polyp and rely on sunlight for photosynthesis for its own food. At the same time it supplies nearly all of the nutrients required for the polyp.

4. Asexual fragmentation is a reproductive method in coral. When does this occur?

Answer: When a piece of living coral breaks off

This occurs when a fragment breaks off due to some disturbance such as a storm. It quickly reproduces and becomes a new independent colony of active polyps and settles back down on the reef.

5. Coral ________ is when the polyp will eject brightly colored, coordinated bundles of eggs and sperm. What is the recognised term for this kind of reproduction?

Answer: spawning

The sperm and eggs travel to the surface and then move out through the water to form new polyps. Research has shown that scientists are now able to determine at what time of the year various spawnings will take place.

Source: Author Exit10

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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