Great Barrier Reef Animals

It would be a near-impossible task to list all the animals of the Great Barrier Reef, such is the immense diversity of species.

The number of separate species of animals living on the Great Barrier Reef is very high - exactly what you'd expect from the planet's largest and most complex ecosystem.

These species range from microscopic plankton to whales and sharks, the ocean's largest inhabitants.

To list a few numbers relating to Great Barrier Reef animals, the whole reef system supports over 1500 different species of fish, over 4000 different species of mollusc and shellfish, such as clams, crabs and lobster, more than 350 species of hard and soft coral and nearly 200 species of seabird!

Add to that list nearly 30 different species of marine animals, such as whale and dolphin, marine turtles and also animals such as octopus, sea snakes, jellyfish, starfish, sea sponge, sea cucumber and even saltwater crocodiles and it's easy to see why the Great Barrier Reef is one of the most diverse animal kingdoms in the world!

The largest animals to be seen in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef are also the largest living animals in the world - whales.

Sightings of whale species are common all along the Reef. Most notably, Humpback whales put in appearances each winter, especially around the southern end of the Reef - the Hervey Bay area - between the months of July and November, and Dwarf Minke whales which were identified as a new sub-species of Minke whale in the early 1980s.

The Humpbacks at this time are on their migration routes, heading north from Antarctica and they stop by this area for what seems to be nothing more than some 'playtime'.

A whale watching trip from Hervey Bay is a fantastic experience for anyone, a real chance to get very close to these magnificent animals of the sea.

Of course, the best way to see any of the more common Great Barrier Reef animals is to join them in their own environment by either scuba diving or snorkelling.

Both of these activities are very popular and put you right in the middle of this underwater animal kingdom. But if you don't like the idea of either, then you can always take a trip in a glass-bottom boat to see them from above.

Other Great Barrier Reef animals worthy of a mention are the Whale shark, Manta ray, Hammerhead shark and Grouper (Potato Cod). On a smaller scale, Christmas Tree worms are also a common site in the corals.

The whale shark is the planet's largest fish and feeds only on plankton, not divers!. It can grow to lengths of up to 20 meters and is a seasonal visitor to the Reef.

Manta Rays are the largest of all rays, growing up to 5 meters across from wingtip to wingtip. They glide gracefully through the deeper waters of the reef feeding on microscopic plankton.

Hammerhead sharks gather on the Reef in their thousands and are very distinguishable from other sharks because of their 'T' shaped head that gives the appearance of a hammer. Hammerheads can grow up to lengths of 6 meters and sit near the very top of the Great Barrier Reef food chain, alongside Tiger Sharks, another very common shark to be found all along the Reef.

Grouper are very common and vary in size, depending on the species. Most grouper are quite small, around half a meter or so in length, but larger ones such as the Potato Grouper can reach lengths of a couple of meters. Grouper are favorites among scuba divers, as they're quite docile and don't object to being approached!

Christmas Tree worms are small and brightly coloured animals that reside on the coral itself. They fan the water to sift out microscopic organisms and are easily seen if you're snorkelling.

The Great Barrier Reef animals and wildlife in general are a huge draw to the area, and it's a nature-lover's paradise.

Whether you see it from above or below the water, you'll be amazed at the variety of animal life in even the smallest of rockpools!

For more information about the Animals of the Great Barrier Reef take a look at our pages on the Endangered Animals of the Reef; the Dangerous Great Barrier Reef Animals; and the Hammerhead Shark.

*References for information and photos: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, ReefEd