Located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is home to 1,500 species of fish, 6 different species of sea turtles, 30 species of whales and dolphins, and 400 types of coral. Below are 11 beautiful creatures among the countless creatures that live here.
Sea turtle
Six of the world’s seven species of sea turtles are found around the southern Great Barrier Reef. Lady Elliot and Heron Islands are also known for their green sea turtle populations.
Clownfish
There are 28 species of clownfish and anemones found around the world. Although sea anemones possess tentacles that can kill other fish, clownfish still survive and thrive in this unique home of theirs.
Hippocampus
Seahorses are interesting creatures, have unique beauty and often appear on the Great Barrier Reef. However, they are sometimes difficult to see because they change color and camouflage with their surroundings. Seahorses mainly live in seagrass and seaweed instead of coral because some types of coral can damage them.
Jellyfish
There are more than 100 species found along the Great Barrier Reef, with a variety of vibrant colors. However, most jellyfish are poisonous, so many people here are not very interested in this marine creature. Jellyfish season in the Queensland Islands lasts from November to March of the following year.
Whale shark
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world, swimming and diving to see whale sharks has been a famous service on the Great Barrier Reef in recent years. The gentle giant was discovered on the reef off the coast of Cairns and Whitsundays.
Sea snake
On the Great Barrier Reef, 14 species of sea snakes are found. Although they are venomous, sea snakes pose less of a threat to humans than their land counterparts. Sea snakes swirling in the water create a very eye-catching image.
Giant giant clam
Under the Great Barrier Reef, more than 10,000 species of molluscs are found, including colorful giant clams that make an impression thanks to their size. This is the largest mollusk in the world, it can weigh more than 200 kg. The giant clam is considered a vulnerable species due to overexploitation for food, shells and aquatic trade.
Bottlenose dolphin
Bottlenose dolphins are one of the friendliest creatures found in the world’s seas, including the Great Barrier Reef. Bottlenose dolphins are friendly to humans, a group that often appears to play around the tour boats that go out to the reef every day.
Angelfish
Angelfish are known for their striking and colorful patterns. There are more than 80 different species of angelfish found on the Great Barrier Reef. Angelfish are closely related to butterfly fish – a species that is also very beautiful and colorful.
Humpback whale
Humpback whales often appear on the Great Barrier Reef from June to October to breed. This is a fish that lives in Antarctica, they only move to warmer waters during the breeding season.
Emperor fish
Emperor fish is the largest fish in the coral reef fish population. An individual can be more than 2 m long and can weigh up to 200 kg. Male emperor fish are blue and green in color and have hard tissue on their heads. Currently, kingfish is being protected due to overexploitation.
