Experiences

The Great Eight of the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the richest and most diverse ecosystems in the world - home to an incredible array of marine life, both plant and animal.

The reef system supports over 1625 types of fish, 3000 different species of molluscs, more than 550 species of hard and soft coral and six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles.

The “Great Eight” are the iconic creatures of the Great Barrier Reef.  While some of the members of the “Great Eight” are seen throughout the Great Barrier Reef year-round, others visit the certain areas at very specific times of the year.   Most visitors will be able to meet a number of these magnificent creatures as part of their Great Barrier Reef experience.  

Whales
Each year from June, up to 10,000 whales make the journey north from the cool waters of Antarctica to the warm, shallow waters of the Great Barrier Reef to breed and have their calves.

Species that can be found on the Great Barrier Reef include Humpback whales, dwarf minke whales, false killer whales, killer whales, short-finned pilot whales, sperm whales and various beaked whales.

The Humpback whale is the most commonly sighted species of whale on the Great Barrier Reef, measuring around 50 feet long and weighing anywhere up to 100,000 pounds.

Whales are renowned for their unique methods of communication.  They possess the ability to utilize echo location where they bounce sound waves off objects to determine what and where they are. Humpbacks also have an intriguing ability to ‘sing’ underwater. Songs are used to communicate with other humpback whales and some can last for up to 30 minutes.

Turtles
With six of the world’s seven turtle species making their home on the Great Barrier Reef, it’s not hard to stray upon them as they forage for food in the wild.

The most commonly sighted sea turtles of the Great Barrier Reef are Green, Hawksbill and Loggerhead Turtles.

The islands of the Great Barrier Reef and the beaches of the east coast of Queensland are critical breeding areas for rare and endangered species such as the Green Turtle, Flatback Turtle and Loggerhead Turtle.

Female turtles take between 30 and 50 years before they commence breeding. Then they breed every 2 – 8 years. Female sea turtles always return to the same area to nest.  Some females found on the Great Barrier Reef are thought to have travelled from places such as Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and New Caledonia.

Sharks
There are many different species of sharks found in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, ranging from small bottom-dwelling sharks such as wobbegongs to larger types like tiger sharks and the distinctive hammerhead shark that has a nose shaped like the letter ‘T’.

The most common species of sharks seen on the Great Barrier Reef are white tip or black tip reef sharks. These sharks feed on fish and pose no danger to humans - in fact they are timid and are easily scared.

Clownfish
This bright orange fish found fame in the Disney feature film Finding Nemo as a playful and active member of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem.

Clownfish are small, striped fish that can be seen the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef swimming amongst the coral.  

Known as anemones, these fish have a unique partnership with coral that sees them live inside its stinging tentacles. This protects them from their predators and, in return the clownfish stops other fish from feasting on the coral.

Clownfish have the incredible ability to change from male to female. If a female dies, the male will change sex in order to reproduce. The larger clownfish are usually female.

Giant Clams
Weighing up to 500 pounds and measuring up to 5 feet in length, these solitary creatures are the daddy of all molluscs. Giant clams are a type of mollusc, and a significant proportion of the world’s molluscs call the Great Barrier Reef home.

Molluscs come in many shapes and sizes. Most have a soft body, comprising a head and a ‘foot’ (a muscular body). The majority also have a hard external shell.

Giant clams have a large, thick and unique shell that they close quickly if threatened by predators, providing an effective defense mechanism.

Interestingly, they have both male and female parts enabling them to produce and fertilize their own eggs. Some Giant clams found on the Great Barrier Reef are estimated to be around 120 years old.

Rays
Rays are closely related to sharks. They both share a skeleton made of cartilage, rough skin and gills exposed on their bodies.

Most rays have a flat, disc shaped body. They glide elegantly through the waters of the Great Barrier Reef by waving their pectoral fins.

The most common ray sighted on the reef is the blue spotted fantail ray.

One type of ray found on the Great Barrier Reef is also the world’s largest fish – the Manta Ray. These massive marine creatures can grow up to 23 feet wide and weigh up to 2,800 pounds.

Manta rays are often seen in groups and they tend to be found near the surface of the water. They are known to leap out of the water and splash back into it in a spectacular display.

Maori Wrasse
Wrasses are a large and diverse group of fish, the second most abundant found on the Great Barrier Reef. They are easily recognized by a distinctive hump on their head that develops as they age.

Maori Wrasses are the largest in the wrasse family. They can grow up to 6 feet in length and can weigh up to 400 pounds.

Wrasses have the ability to change sex from female to male. When a dominant male of a school of fish dies, the largest female will change to become a male so that reproduction can continue.

Most Wrasses display different colors at different stages of their life.

Cods and Groupers
Cods and Groupers are large fish with big mouths. They tend to be slow swimmers and are not known for their agility.  

The Queensland Grouper is the largest bony fish found on the Great Barrier Reef. It is known to grow to 9 feet in length and weigh around 880 pounds.  

The Potato Cod is another large fish of the grouper family. It can grow up to 6 feet and 220 pounds. Potato cods are friendly and inquisitive. They are usually a blue-grey color with distinctive brown markings in the shape of potatoes on their bodies.

Cods and groupers don’t have many teeth. Instead they swallow their prey whole rather than tear it into smaller pieces. They have crushing plates inside their pharynx used to crush their food.

They begin their lives as females and as they mature they soon transform into males.