There are three different forms of coral...fringing reefs, and atolls and Barrier.   Reefs  located near the shorline and only separated from land by shallow water are called fringing reefs. "A coral reef is a wave-resistant under water ridge or mound built  of fragments of  coral, coral sands, and solid limestone at or slightly below sea level (Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia Online)."   Animals that live near and on coral are snails, clams, alga, shrimp, damselfish, parrotfish, and sponges.