Hall 2: Coral Reef
Our stunning, living coral reefs are beautiful as well as fascinating. They are also home to the most colourful fish in the Aquarium!
Hall Two's tanks contain coral reef fish - such as copperband butterflyfish - which can be spotted in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Reefs are vital for the environment and they protect the land from big waves by breaking them before they reach the shore.
Tropical coral reefs have the highest species diversity of all marine ecosystems. They are also a critical source of food for over a billion people and provide other important services to mankind especially through coastal protection. Thousands of fish make their homes in coral reefs, which are under threat from pollution, global warming and fishing with dynamite.
Three-quarters of the world's reefs are at risk. ZSL’s coral reef conservation efforts involve supporting and implementing effective marine protected areas through Project Seahorse
, building conservation and management capacity in coral reef nations
, supporting the most vulnerable countries, and influencing policy.
Reef fish
Just one of the many colourful fish you can find swimming among the coral reef is the Regal tang. If they become alarmed, they take refuge in the coral branches.
You may recognise the regal tang as the character Dory in the animated film Finding Nemo.
As the reef tanks come to an end, our Big Fish Tank features the largest fish in the Aquarium!
