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Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary is one of the largest nearshore sandstone reefs in the southeastern United States. The series of rock ledges and sand expanses has produced a complex habitat of caves, burrows, troughs, and overhangs that provide a solid base for the abundant sessile invertebrates to attach and grow. This topography supports an unusual assemblage of temperate and tropical marine flora and fauna. The reef attracts numerous species of benthic and pelagic fish. Since Gray's Reef lies in a transition area between temperate and tropical waters, reef fish population composition changes seasonally. The 100 species selected for inclusion in the Encyclopedia project represent species that are both economically and ecologically important. We hope you find this to be a valuable resource and visit often.