Coral polyps are small, soft-bodied organisms that form the building blocks of coral reefs. They are related to jellyfish and sea anemones and typically measure just a few millimeters in diameter. Each polyp has a central mouth surrounded by tentacles that capture food, such as plankton, from the water. Coral polyps live in colonies, where many individuals connect to create a larger structure. They secrete a hard calcium carbonate skeleton, which forms the reef over time. These reefs provide essential habitats for a diverse range of marine life, making them vital to ocean ecosystems.