Coral reefs are tropical and subtropical ecosystems that flourish at temperatures between 25 and 29° centigrade in insular and continental platforms. Living coral cover and species diversity is highest where waters are clear due to low input of nutrients and fine sediments. Recent Caribbean coral reefs are about 5,000-12,000, years old and started developing when insular and continental shelves drowned after the last glacial period (ADEY, 1978). They are spread throughout the Wider Caribbean from the Gulf of Mexico south to Panamá and Tobago and north to Bahamas and represent 9% (1,000 Km2) of the total area covered by these ecosystems in the world (SMITH, 1978). Bermuda and northern Brazil (Recife) contain the northernmost and southernmost coral reefs, respectively, in the Atlantic Ocean. These are biogeographically related to Caribbean reefs but are impoverished in terms of reef related species. Those off Brazil exhibit relatively high endemicity (MARGARIDA, 1982).