Today the term "Coral Reef" calls to mind one of the most fascinating and varied environments on our planet. Coral reefs are formed by timy polyps that draw lime from the sea water and shape it into cup-like habitats. Millions of these minuscule cups are joined together in rows and layers to form huge limestone structures. With more than 1000 photographs and several captivating short stories, this book provides a breathtaking panorama of the coral world and identifies its inhabitants like gorgonians, stoloniferans, soft corals, sea pens and the popular stony corals as well as sea anemones, black and fire corals.