The Fauna Of The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest underwater habitat in the world. It’s so big that astronauts assure that the reef can be easily spotted from space. Hundreds of animal species live in this natural habitat. Learn about the unique fauna of the Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is located in Oceania, more precisely northeast of Australia. It’s hard to calculate its exact extent, but it’s over 2,600 kilometers long.
In reality, it’s not just a single reef, but the union of more than 2,000 individual corals and nearly 1,000 islands.
It is sometimes mentioned that this ecosystem is the largest living being on earth:
Thanks to its size, its temperate and pleasant climate and its geographical location, one of the greatest known biodiversity can be found here.
In the Great Barrier Reef, there is not only life under the water: thanks to the underwater world, there are also many species of birds. In addition, one has to consider the animals that live both on land and in the sea, such as crocodiles or turtles.
Protection of the natural parks
The Great Barrier Reef was declared a nature reserve in 1875 and a World Heritage Site in 1981. This means that it is legally protected against the alteration or destruction of a large part of its territory.
It is an area of the earth that is particularly attractive to underwater lovers and tourists. Thanks to this declaration of protection, all human activities are regulated: For example, it is forbidden to moor on corals with boats. And the number of tourists is limited.
In addition, fishing is prohibited so that all animal species that develop in this ecosystem can live and reproduce without feeling endangered.
This is of vital importance as some of the creatures found on the Great Barrier Reef are critically endangered.
The fauna of the Great Barrier Reef
Life thrives in this unique place: both animal and vegetable. Some of the animals that live in this reef are visiting, but many spend their entire lives in it.
Many are even endemic, which means that they do not exist anywhere else on earth. We then name a few animals that occur here:
Whales and other large mammals
The humpback whales, one of the largest species of whale in existence, are part of the Great Barrier Reef fauna as they reproduce there. Dolphins, minke whales, Chinese white dolphins and dugongos also occur here.
They are not whales, but they are large marine animals: almost thirty species of sharks and rays can be found in these waters. The great white shark, the tiger shark, and even the hammerhead shark are residents of this ecosystem.
Turtles and saltwater crocodiles
Six species of sea turtles have been counted, including the hawksbill and leatherback turtle, both of which are critically endangered. Saltwater crocodiles also live in and benefit from the mangroves near the reef.
There are also around 15 species of sea snakes among the fauna of the Great Barrier Reef. You can even find them up to 50 meters deep. They are descendants of terrestrial species and can grow up to two and a half meters in length.
Fish and small marine animals
More than 1,500 species of fish live in its waters. Some are as amazing as the toad fish and the napoleon wrasse, or as well known as the clown fish and the pallet surgeon fish.
They come in all sizes and colors: many are very noticeable and have unique colors like the mandarin fish.
Nine different species of seahorses have also been discovered. There are 400 species of mollusks, 1,400 species of coral, and the plankton is so abundant that the humpback whales come to the water to feed on them.
The giant clams are one of the most amazing mollusks of the Great Barrier Reef.
Sea birds
More than 20 species of marine birds live throughout the reef, in addition to nearly 50 species of shorebird that feed on the ocean but nest in the surrounding islands. In addition, around thirty species of migratory birds pass this area on their travels.
Protecting the sea is everyone’s responsibility, and especially ecotourists, who visit such unique places.
