• The corals that make up the reefs in the Indo-Pacific are the most diverse in the world.coral reef image by Christian Schoettler from Fotolia.com
  
  Approximately 70 percent of the world's coral reefs can be found in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific ocean region, which the Indo-Pacific Conservation Alliance describes as an expanse that stretches from Indonesia to Polynesia and northward to Micronesia. The Indo-Pacific encompasses a region known as the "Coral Triangle," which is the "the epicenter of global marine diversity," according to the organization.
  
  

Corals

• Collectively, the exoskeletons of coral polyps form reefs.coral 6 image by Christian Schoettler from Fotolia.com
  
  The structure of coral reefs is made up of the limestone exoskeletons of tiny coral organisms known as polyps, which come together to form colonies. These corals are known as hard corals (as opposed to soft corals, which do not build reefs). Corals are considered carnivores because they consume zooplankton, which they capture with the help of stinging tentacles.
  
  Corals coexist with microscopic plants known as zooxanthellae algae in a symbiotic relationship--one that benefits both organisms. The algae are housed in the tissues of the corals and, in return, provide their hosts with additional energy through photosynthesis.
  
  

Blacktip Reef Shark

• The blacktip reef shark gets its name from the black tips of its fins. It can grow up to 6 feet in length. According to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, unlike the larger blacktip shark that lives in the open ocean, the reef variety usually remains within 1 square mile of a reef and rarely swims deeper than 33 feet.
  
  Blacktips usually hunt for prey in groups. Their diet consists primarily of reef fish but also includes crabs, octopuses, squids and sea snakes. Unlike most species of fish, which lay eggs, blacktips give birth to live young.
  
  

Dragon Moray Eel

• The dragon moray eel elicits comparison to a dragon because of its horn-like nostrils, jagged, protruding teeth, and a coloring pattern that includes black and white dots on its rust-colored body and white and orange bands on its head. These eels live in crevices and caves within coral formations and can grow to 3 feet in length.
  
  Dragon moray eels hunt at night, and their highly developed olfactory sense allows them to detect the presence of their prey--fish and octopuses--even in pitch darkness.
  
  

Zebra Shark

• The zebra shark draws its name from the zebra-like pattern of yellow on black stripes it exhibits as a juvenile. These stripes disappear as it matures. An adult zebra shark can grow to 11.5 feet long, with its tail accounting for approximately half of its body length.
  
  Zebra sharks feed at night. Since they are slow swimmers, instead of chasing prey, they wiggle into crevices in the reef and eat the snails, clams and small fish that dwell inside. These sharks are solitary creatures, and during the day they rest on the floor of the reef in waters between 17 and 100 feet deep. Like most fish, zebra sharks reproduce by laying eggs.
  
  

Anemone Clownfish

• Clownfish depend on anemones for survival.Striped Clownfish image by Lucid_Exposure from Fotolia.com
  
  The anemone clownfish can be identified by its brightly colored body and distinct vertical white bands. It is usually no longer than 4 inches.
  
  The skin of clownfish is covered with a mucus that allows them to get close to anemones, which they depend on for shelter, without getting stung by their tentacles. As part of a symbiotic relationship, a clownfish chases away the anemone's would-be predators, cleans it and helps feed it by dropping pieces of food.
  
  Clownfish are born with both male and female reproductive organs. They start their lives as males and may turn into females as they mature. In addition to protective shelter, the host anemone provides a clownfish with a safe place to lay its eggs.