Do fish feed on coral reefs?

More than 1,800 species of reef fish, 140 species of corals and 500 species of other invertebrates are used by the pet, curio and home décor trades. Although trade can be conducted sustainably, wildlife populations are often overexploited to feed the demand for these animals. read more

Most fish do not feed directly on coral reefs. However they do serve as nurseries for many fish species that are then in turn eaten, and are an environment rich in life for those juvenile fish to eat. A few, species do directly eat coral. Notably, to my mind, the parrotfish goes around and munches on the coral, tiny polyps and calcium shell together. read more

Coral reefs provide homes and nursery grounds to many fish species. In fact, about one-third of all saltwater fish species live at least part of their lives on coral reefs. That’s at least 5,000 different species of wildlife! This is especially amazing when you consider that coral reef habitat makes up less than one percent of our oceans. read more

Coral Reef Animals; Coral Reef Fish; Coral Reef Food Web; Structure. Types of Coral Reefs; Coral Reef Formation; Distribution. Global Distribution; Caribbean Reefs; Red Sea Reefs; Indo-Pacific Reefs; Coral Reef Fish. Of all vertebrate animals that dwell on coral reefs, it is the fishes that are by far the most numerous, varied, and critical to coral reef health. read more