Endangered animals in the Great Barrier Reef always become a concern for the government. This is because, the Great Barrier Reef it self is also classified as a marine protected areas where it isn’t only protecting the reefs but also some endangered animals in it. Great Barrier Reef may become the best place that can be lived by many marine living beings because its ecosystem is still protected. The ecosystem that is away from destruction, virgin, and protected surely will be a great choice as a habitat for many marine living beings
See also: Marine Protected Areas – Prevention of Marine Pollution
There are so many species of animal that is endangered in the Great Barrier Reef as you can see in this article endangered species in the Great Barrier Reef. And now, I will make it more general by showing to you some animals that become the endangered animals in the Great Barrier Reef.
See also:
- Animals in The Great Barrier Reef –
- Plants in The Great Barrier Reef
- Threats to the Great Barrier Reef –
- Human Impacts on the Great Barrier Reef
- Conservation of The Great Barrier Reef
1. Hawksbill Sea Turtle
The population of Hawksbill Sea Turtle that has a scientific name of Eretmochelys imbricata is decreasing. The decreasing number may be caused by the habitat destruction, trading for its meat, and etc. Fun fact about the hawksbill sea turtle is that its shell can change its color based on the water temperature it lives within.
See also: Threats to Sea Turtles – Endangered Sea Turtles List
2. Dugong
Dugong also become an endangered species because of so many factors. It is also a close relative from manatee. This species of marine mammal is believed has a life span up to 70 years.
See also: Threats to Marine Mammals
3. Humpback Whale
Humpback whale that can reach its weight up to 36 tonnes and length up to 16 m also classified as an endangered species. Just like any other whale, this species of whale also loves to migrate and that is why you can find it in the Great Barrier Reef.
See also: Endangered Species of Whales
4. Whale Shark
This species of shark is known because it is friendly to human compare to another species of shark. Even though its body size is big because it can grow and reach the number of 12.65 m it feeds on krill, fish eggs, copepods, and red crab larvae.
See also: Facts of Whale Shark
5. Giant Clam
Another endangered animal in the Great Barrier Reef is giant clam. It is called giant because its size can reach the number of 1.2 m in length with its weight more than 200 kg. In Philippines people called the giant clam as taklobo. The giant clam life span also can reach the number of 100 years.
Meanwhile, to find this species of clam, you don’t need to dive too deep because in the depth of 20 m you can already found the giant clam.
See also:
6. Humpback dolphin
Unlike another species of dolphin, humpback dolphin can be found in the coastal areas. The size of this species of dolphin can reach the number of 2.6 m in length and 139 kg in weight. Its diet is included mullet and another fish. There are also another species of humpback dolphin that can be found in Altantic and Indo – Pacific waters.
See also: Endangered Dolphin Species – Conservation of Dolphins
7. Box Jellyfish
Next up, we have box jellyfish. Even though this species of jellyfish is known by its deadly venom that can kill human directly but it is still classified as endangered because it has a low number of population. Its life span is short which can only reach the number of 1 year in the wild.
Furthermore, compare to another species of jellyfish, box jellyfish has a high ability to adapt with its environment.
See also: Types of Jellyfish in The Atlantic Ocean
8. Moray Eel
Moray eel can be found in the depth between 20 m to 90 m beneath the sea. There are about 200 different species of moray eel where most mot them live in the salt water.
However, there are also some species of them that live in the fresh and brackish water. In general, its body can grow up to 30 m long with 30 kg in weight.
See also: Threats to Ocean Ecosystems
9. Green Abalone
Haliotis fulgens is the scientific name of green abalone. Fun fact about green abalone is that even though its name is green abalone, but actually the color of its shell is brown. If you wanna find this species of abalone, you have to dive between 9 m to 18 m beneath the sea.
See also:
10. Starfish
Starfish basically can be found in the world’s ocean. Starts from the shallow area until the depth of 6000 m beneath the ocean you can find starfish. Even though it looks beautiful but starfish is actually a carnivore. It feeds on worms, sea urchin, and crustaceans.
See also: Facts about Starfish – Decomposers of The Ocean
11. Booby
Bobby is a subtropical and tropical bird that feeds on flying fish. This species of bird has six different species of them. Then even though booby is believed already extinct, but not all species of booby is extinct. It is also a close relative to the gannet and it also feeds on fish.
See also:
12. Sea Cucumber
Sea cucumber can be considered as a tame animal to human. This animal is endangered because human loves to consume it as delicacy. You can find many species of sea cucumber starts from the shallow water area until the deeper water area.
See also:
- Endangered Sea Cucumbers
- Animals in the Ocean Biome
13. Reef Manta Ray
Reef manta reef is also known as Manta alfredi as their scientific name. This species of manta ray can dive up to 300 m depth. The population of reef manta ray recently is decreasing because it also become the target of fishing.
See also:
- Types of Ocean Rays
- Conservation of Oceans
14. Stagger banded Sea Snake
Next up, as the endangered animals in the Great Barrier Reef we have stagger banded sea snake. This species of sea snake can be found from the shallow water area up to 100 m depth. Stagger banded sea snake loves to hide behind and inside the coral reef
See also:
15. Fire Coral
Fire coral can be found in the depth of 40 m beneath the sea. There are some factors that made fire coral become endangered such as pollution, low management system of coral reef, low nutrient, and etc.
See also: Threats to Coral Reefs – Effects of Coral Reefs Destruction
16. Blue Coral Crab
Blue coral crab lobes to hide in the branches of coral reef. This species of crab is relatively small and its body is covered with furry. Usually this species of crab has a black color in the edge of its claw. It is classified as endangered because its body is vulnerable toward disease. So, when the coral reef dies because of bleacing, this species of crab will also die. Not only that, the reproduction rate of this crab is also low, so you will only find one to two crabs in the coral reef.
See also: Types of Ocean Crabs
17. Australian Giant Cuttlefish
Next up we have Australian Giant Cuttlefish that is also known as Sepia Apama. Thus species of cuttlefish can grow and reach the number of 10.5 kg in weight and 50 cm for its mantle length.
Meanwhile, to find this species of cuttlefish, you have to go to the rocky substance and bottom because it likes to be around it. Besides that you can also find them in the mud bottom, seagrass bed, and sandy seafloor in the depth of 100 m.
See also: Endangered Species in The Indian Ocean – Endangered Species in Atlantic Ocean
That’s all for today’s article about the endangered animals in the Great Barrier Reef. Hopefully now you can understand and know better about the animals that is endangered besides you develop your knowledge about it. Thank you for reading this article until the end and still being our loyal follower. Don’t forget to keep following our website because there will be more interesting article to come.