Fig 2. A high diversity of coral thrives in the Bonaparte intertidal zone.

(a) Thickets of branching Acropora aspera and A. muricata dominate the inner reef platform at north Patricia I., (b) On low tides corals are exposed to air for up to three and a half hours at a time, (c) A high diversity of Acropora species thrive on the outer fringing reef platform at north Patricia I., (d) An aggregation of juvenile and subadult corals inhabiting a steep granite cliff-face on the east side of Walker I., (e) Goniastrea coral heads dominate the inner platform at north-west Patricia I.,(f). Oulastrea crispata a rare and distinctive species that normally occurs subtidally was encrusting a granite boulder on the rocky shore of Walker I.