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Coral reefs off of Fiji

Reefs

Reefs have existed since at least the Cambrian, although the familiar coral-dominated, reefs of today are a much later arrival. A coral reef is much more than old rock lying on the sea bed. An intricate structure, complex set of relationships and distinct zones (reef top, reef sides, debris piles around the base) offer myriad places for animals to live and hide, which leads to incredible diversity.

Did you know?
Australia's Great Barrier Reef is larger than the Great Wall of China and is visible from space.

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Where you find Reefs

Map showing the location of the Reefs habitat

About Reefs

In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water (six fathoms or less beneath low water).

Many reefs result from abiotic processes—deposition of sand, wave erosion planning down rock outcrops, and other natural processes—but the best-known reefs are the coral reefs of tropical waters developed through biotic processes dominated by corals and calcareous algae. Artificial reefs such as shipwrecks are sometimes created to enhance physical complexity on generally featureless sand bottoms in order to attract a diverse assemblage of organisms, especially fish.

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Behaviours

Useful behaviours for this habitat

Ecozones

Ecozones where this habitat is found

Habitats

Other Marine habitats

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