The individual polyps of soft corals or Gorgonia grow in a kind of “communal skin” that secretes the skeleton that gives the colony its structure like a small tree. (Philippines, Indian Ocean)

A large Brain Coral. The individual polyps are fused together so they cannot be told apart any more. (Bonaire, Caribbean)

At night the tentacles of the brain coral come out to catch plankton. Bonaire, Caribbean)

During the day, the Basket Star, a finely branched starfish, rests folded up in the branches of a Gorgonian. (Bonaire, Caribbean)

At night, the Basket Star unfolds its arms to catch plankton. (Bonaire, Caribbean)

At night the coral reef becomes a big sieve when all corals extend their polyps to catch plankton. (Bonaire, Caribbean)

The Hawkfish lives in a Gorgonian, his color pattern perfectly adapted to the branches of his host. (Egypt, Red Sea)

This species of crab finds two stinging sea anemones on the reef, detaches them, and keeps them in his claws for the rest of his life in order to protect himself. When attacked he pushes the stinging anemones in the face of his attacker. That’s why he is called a “Boxing Crab”. (Mauritius, Indian Ocean)

Some Sea Slugs can actually swim by an undulating movement of their body. This and their bright red color has given them the name “Spanish Dancer”. They possess a tuft of gills on their back. (Mozambique, Indian Ocean)

Hiding at the base of the gills of the “Spanish Dancer” is a species of shrimp that is only found there, the emperor shrimp (Periclimenes imperator). It gets a free ride, protection and probably some food from its host in the form of mucous and skin fragments. (Mauritius, Indian Ocean)
Discover more about coral reefs:
Magic Porthole will have substantial background information about coral reefs as well as links to other sources such as information provided by NOAA's National Ocean Service where you can find:

What are Corals?
Where Are Coral Reefs Found?
Zooxanthellae…What's That?
How Do Coral Reefs Form?
How Do Stony Corals Grow?
How Do Corals Reproduce?
Importance of Coral Reefs,
Natural Threats to Coral Reefs,
Anthropogenic Threats to Corals,
Coral Diseases
Protecting Coral Reefs
NOS Education Discovery Kits References


Magic Porthole invites you to write to us about your efforts, to become youth advisors, and to participate in the Horizon Solutions Site coverage with your articles and photographs.


Locate and Find out the conditions of your favorite coral reefs:


Magic Porthole will bring you many resources you will have fun exploring that bring you exciting, current information about coral reefs and ocean conditions. These will enrich your explorations as you learn more about dynamics affecting oceans and coral reefs including weather, salinity, temperature of water, and other conditions. For now, use these sources to learn to locate coral reefs with satellite imagery, to check weather conditions, and to get news about the ecosystems in which your favorite reefs creatures live, and to find ideas for what you can do to help coral reefs such as helping to reduce Global Climate Change.


For example, go to Mauritius where Boxing Barry’s real life boxing crabs live.
Download for free: Google Earth
http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html
Check the weather conditions
See Ocean Surface Topography from Space, from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory: http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov
Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring with a reef fish database


NOAA's Coral Reef Information System (CoRIS) is designed to be a single point of access to NOAA coral reef information and data products, especially those derived from NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program.
Find ideas for what you can do to help coral reefs from these and other sources:


Coral Reef Conservation


Help reduce Global Climate Change:
Making Global Warming Solutions Locally Relevant and Accessible
Alaska’s new state specific Website provides a calculator and comprehensive, heavily linked local solutions section with solutions that can be applied throughout the United States


Consumer awareness:
Check regularly to see which fish you and your family and schools should avoid by visiting Web sites that provide updated information.

Your choice of fish to avoid because they are endangered or whose loss will endanger coral reef ecosystems can be found on many Web sites.

These lists and other provide names of fish available to consumers which are most vulnerable to over-fishing and/or are fished using methods which cause damage to the environment or non-target species. For example, Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch is a program “…designed to raise consumer awareness about the importance of buying seafood from sustainable sources. We recommend which seafood to buy or avoid, helping consumers to become advocates for environmentally friendly seafood.”

Fish to Avoid Eating:

Check regularly to see which fish you and your family and schools should avoid because they are endangered or whose loss will endanger coral reef ecosystems by visiting Web sites that provide updated information.

Among the sites that provide names of fish available to consumers which are most vulnerable to over-fishing and/or are fished using methods which cause damage to the environment or non-target species include: Oceans Alive and Fish Online

Fish to avoid collecting for aquariums are provided by many sites including: Aquatics Unlimited

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