Many fish live in the coral reefs. Coral reefs occupy a very small portion of the ocean floor. When you add up all the area of the coral reefs scattered around the world, it is roughly the area of Texas. But do you know, that despite the fact it is such a small fraction of the total ocean floor it has more than a quarter of marine life? It is estimated that over 950,000 species of life exist in the reef. Amazing, isn't it? That is why the coral reefs are such an important habitat. They are a safe haven for many marine lives that could otherwise be so easily harvested by humans. Coral reefs provide a complex habitat of caves and tunnels for many different marine creatures. The coral reefs are sometimes called the rainforests of the sea. The coral reefs are second only to the tropical rain forests when you consider the number of species of animals that live in them.