The stony corals, or scleractinians, are some of the major components of a coral reef. Over thousands of years the calcareous skeletons deposited by these tiny animals accumulate and are cemented together by algae, sponges, other corals, etc. This has led to the formation of some of nature's most awe-inspiring structures. All Photos © Janine Cairns-Michael 2000, All Rights Reserved. CoralRealm supporters may click the thumbnails to view larger images
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