Covering composed of panels which can be mechanically connected to one another with following characteristics: a) the panels (1, 2; 51, 52) have at their sides (5, 10) which can be connected to one another a corresponding profile, by means of which adjoining first and second panel (1, 2; 51, 52) can be locked together when they are put together; b) the locking is achieved through at least one tongue (6, 60, 60a) which is held at the second panel (2, 52) in a holding groove (7, 61) and which during the joining movement can be partially pivoted behind a locking edge (29, 68) of a locking groove (8, 59) of the adjacent first panel (1, 51); c) the tongue comprises a foot (15, 62) held in the holding groove (7, 61) and externally to the holding groove (7, 61) a connecting section (16, 63) attached to the foot (15, 62) and a locking body (17, 64) attached to the connecting section (16, 63), for the engagement with the adjoining panel (1, 51), wherein the free end of the locking body (17, 64) provides the locking engagement and wherein the holding groove (7, 61) has the function of holding the foot (15, 62) and of transferring the force of the tongue (6, 60, 60a) starting from the locking onto the panel (2, 52); d) the locking groove (8, 59) has a shorter upper groove flank with the opening-sided latching edge (29, 68) and a longer lower groove flank with an end-sided support protrusion (22, 66, 66a) which has a support surface angled to the locking groove, at which support surface the tongue (6, 60, 60a) is supported during the locking, so that the locking body (17, 64) when the panels (1, 2; 51, 52) are being put together is movable in the direction of the locking groove; characterised in e) that the connecting section (16, 63) in its two transition areas to the foot (15, 62) and to the locking body (17, 64) is formed jointedly, at least however elastically deformable, in order to facilitate a relative movement of the locking body (17, 64) with respect to the foot (15, 62), f) and that the second panel (2, 52) has a protruding press edge (26, 69), which is designed, when the panels (1, 2; 51, 52) are being put together, to press the locking body (17, 64) on one hand against the support surface and on the other hand to push the locking groove (8, 59) behind the latching edge (29, 68), wherein the press edge (26, 69) in the latched position viewed from an upper side (4, 57) of the first panel (1, 51) has a greater spacing than the latching edge, wherein the position of the press edge (26, 69) reliably prevents the free end of the locking body (17, 64) from slipping out of the locking groove. a) the panels (1, 2; 51, 52) have at their sides (5, 10) which can be connected to one another a corresponding profile, by means of which adjoining first and second panel (1, 2; 51, 52) can be locked together when they are put together; b) the locking is achieved through at least one tongue (6, 60, 60a) which is held at the second panel (2, 52) in a holding groove (7, 61) and which during the joining movement can be partially pivoted behind a locking edge (29, 68) of a locking groove (8, 59) of the adjacent first panel (1, 51); c) the tongue comprises a foot (15, 62) held in the holding groove (7, 61) and externally to the holding groove (7, 61) a connecting section (16, 63) attached to the foot (15, 62) and a locking body (17, 64) attached to the connecting section (16, 63), for the engagement with the adjoining panel (1, 51), wherein the free end of the locking body (17, 64) provides the locking engagement and wherein the holding groove (7, 61) has the function of holding the foot (15, 62) and of transferring the force of the tongue (6, 60, 60a) starting from the locking onto the panel (2, 52); d) the locking groove (8, 59) has a shorter upper groove flank with the opening-sided latching edge (29, 68) and a longer lower groove flank with an end-sided support protrusion (22, 66, 66a) which has a support surface angled to the locking groove, at which support surface the tongue (6, 60, 60a) is supported during the locking, so that the locking body (17, 64) when the panels (1, 2; 51, 52) are being put together is movable in the direction of the locking groove; e) that the connecting section (16, 63) in its two transition areas to the foot (15, 62) and to the locking body (17, 64) is formed jointedly, at least however elastically deformable, in order to facilitate a relative movement of the locking body (17, 64) with respect to the foot (15, 62), f) and that the second panel (2, 52) has a protruding press edge (26, 69), which is designed, when the panels (1, 2; 51, 52) are being put together, to press the locking body (17, 64) on one hand against the support surface and on the other hand to push the locking groove (8, 59) behind the latching edge (29, 68), wherein the press edge (26, 69) in the latched position viewed from an upper side (4, 57) of the first panel (1, 51) has a greater spacing than the latching edge, wherein the position of the press edge (26, 69) reliably prevents the free end of the locking body (17, 64) from slipping out of the locking groove.