What plants and animals are found on and near coral reefs?
Coral reefs are home to more than one quarter of all the known marine fish species. The complex topography of reefs also provides exceptional habitat for a plethora of other marine organisms, such as lobsters, crabs, shrimps, mollusks, clams, starfishes, worms, sea urchins, algae, anemones, fishes, sharks, sponges, and thousands of microscopic bacteria, animals, and plants. -Bryant, D., Burke, L., McManus, J., and M. Spalding. 1998. “Reefs at Risk: A Map Based Indicator of Threats to the Worlds Coral Reefs.” World Resources Institure. Washington D.C.
