• Question: I have snorkled on the Great Barrier Reef and was fascinated by the amount of sea life. I was wondering how many species lived on the Great Barrier Reef?

    Asked by melbluetoffee to Clare, Dave, Glo, Sean on 23 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Sean Clement

      Sean Clement answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      Lucky you! I remember reading that the estimated number of species of fish living on the GBR is around 3000. There are probably many, many more though as some species live what are known as cryptic lifestyles in that they have such good camouflage and live within the reef itself (in amongst the bases of the coral skeletons that form the reef) It’s possible that a lot of these species are poorly known to science and possibly undescribed.

      Of course, that’s before we start to take into account the species of coral, marine plant and bottom-dwelling invertebrates that live there… And the species that spend only part of their life on the reef… I think it’s safe to say that it would be a pretty huge number!

    • Photo: Dave Sproson

      Dave Sproson answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      I shall bow to Sean’s superior knowledge here! I remember snorkelling and diving on the barrier reef when I was a kid, it rates as one of the best experiences of my life!

    • Photo: Gloeta Massie

      Gloeta Massie answered on 23 Jun 2011:

      Well, according to the Cooperative Research Centre for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area there are: 30 species of whales and dolphins, dugongs, >200 species of birds, 6 breeding sea turtle species, 14 species of sea snakes, 1500 species of fishes, 5000(!) species of molluscs, 400 species of coral, 15 species of sea grasses, and 500 species of seaweed. That doesn’t include all of the crustaceans and other critters, such as sponges and worms. HOW COOL IS THAT! 🙂 http://www.reef.crc.org.au/discover/plantsanimals/facts_plantanimal.htm

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