What are the different types of coral reefs?

The three main types of coral reefs are fringing, barrier, and atoll. Schools of colorful pennantfish, pyramid, and milletseed butterflyfish live on an atoll reef in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The most common type of reef is the fringing reef. This type of reef grows seaward directly from the shore. read more

The three main types of coral reefs are fringing, barrier, and atoll. Schools of colorful pennantfish, pyramid, and milletseed butterflyfish live on an atoll reef in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. read more

Types of Coral Reefs Most reef scientists generally recognize three MAJOR types of coral reefs: Fringing Reefs, Barrier Reefs, and Atolls. The traditional and most widely recognized basis for differentiating these reef types is large-scale reef morphology; the size and shape of a reef, and its relation to nearby land (if any). read more

Scientists generally divide coral reefs into four classes: fringing reefs, barrier reefs, atolls, and patch reefs. Fringing reefs grow near the coastline around islands and continents. They are separated from the shore by narrow, shallow lagoons. Fringing reefs are the most common type of reef that we see. read more