When we hear the word ‘reef’ we most often think of tropical coral reefs and, indeed, those are the most diverse habitats with thousands of different species living on them. But reefs can also be found off the coast of Canada, Brazil and even further north. Off Canada’s coast there are both the Atlantic deep-water coral habitat and the Pacific rocky reef habitat. Reefs is a pictorial celebration of the hugely varied marine life on coral, rock and sand reefs all around the world. From the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland, Australia, to Mabul Island off Borneo, from east African coral reefs stretching from the Red Sea down to Madagascar to the Amazon Reef off Brazil, from the Mesoamerican Reef off Belize to Vancouver Island, the book explores how life on each reef is interdependent. The book also includes examples of how coral bleaching has killed off reefs. Arranged geographically by reef and illustrated with more than 200 colour photographs, each entry is completed with a caption explaining the magnificent natural world on display. From the gender-swapping clownfish to single-cell zooxanthellae, from coral polyps to purple starfish to harlequin shrimp and octopuses, the book is a feast of marine life.

Table of Contents:
Contents to include: Introduction AFRICA African coral reefs – Red Sea to Madagascar THE AMERICAS Amazon Reef – Off Brazil and French Guiana. The Amazon Reef (also referred to as the Amazonian Reef) is an extensive coral and sponge reef system. It is one of the largest reef systems in the world known to exist, with scientists estimating its length to be over 600 miles (970 km) long Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, Mexico – part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System Belize Barrier Reef – part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System Bullenbaai, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean Tofino, Vancouver Island, Canada – Purple Starfish and green anemone PACIFIC Great Barrier Reef – Queensland, Australia – School of Sweet Lips, Lionfish Cape Tribulation, Daintree region, Queensland, Australia Lansdowne Bank, Coral Sea – between Australia and New Caledonia Apo Reef – Philippines. The world’s second-largest contiguous coral reef system. Tubbataha Reef – Philippines North Sulawesi, Indonesia – Pseudanthias Bunaken Marine National Park, North Sulawesi, Indonesia – Blue Seastar Mabul Island, Borneo, Malaysia – maroon clownfish and bubbletip anemone, jellyfish, sea slug Bohey Dulang Island, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia – including Soft Coral, western clownfish Minami-Tori-shima – Japan’s most easterly island French Frigate Shoals – Northwestern Hawaiian Islands