The Great Barrier Reef is home to thousands of different species of animals. Here are a few examples of the many beautiful creatures of the reef.



        Also known as an Anemone Fish, Clown Fish secrete special mucus that allows them to live in Anemones without being stung. These fish also help the Anemone by cleaning out fish and algae waste and help circulate water through the Anemone’s tentacles. These fish are very popular among exotic fish collectors for their bright colors and striped pattern.







        Mantis shrimp are part of the marine crustacean family that lives in the Great Barrier Reef. These shrimp can reach lengths up to 12 inches. They spend most of their life hidden in the holes the reef offers them. These shrimp have two different type of claws; one resembling a spear used to snag prey and one resembling a club used to fight other shrimp over territory and to kill prey.




        The Whitetip Reef Shark is one of the many shark species that occupies the Great Barrier Reef. This 5 foot shark is recognizable by the white tip on its dorsal and tail fin. These sharks spend most of the day hiding in reef crevices. The shark has a special ability unlike most sharks to circulate water over its gills without swimming. At night, the sharks emerge hunting fish, crustaceans and octopus.




        This large fish of the Great Barrier Reef is known as the Humphead Wrasse. These creatures tend to live along steep slopes of coral reefs. Males can reach 6 feet long while females reach about 3. Amazingly, some members of the Humphead Wrasse family have been known to switch sexes from female to male at about 9 years of age. Much of this process is still unknown to scientists.





        This marine reptile is known as the Belcher’s Sea Snake. This reptile has evolved from regular land dwelling snakes to have a fin like tail that is great for swimming. Their left lung has evolved taking up almost the entire length of their body giving them the ability to hold their breath for 7 to 8 hours. Although a very non-aggressive snake, it has noted as having the most potent venom of the entire snake kingdom. The venom is typically only used to quickly paralyze its prey consisting of small crabs, fish, and squid.