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The Australian Great Barrier Reef is located on the northeastern coast of Australia and is recognized as the largest living marine organism seen from space. The stunning biodiversity from this great reef is one of their most highlighted features and helps the country to attract thousands of tourists every year.
Their large size may reach almost 1,450 miles and 3.7 trillion square feet. It is the habitat of more than 25% of existing marine species, containing over 600 types of soft and hard coral. Today we will display to you the most emblematic species from this great paradise:
Green Sea Turtle
Six of the seven known turtles species are present in the great barrier coral. They may be found along the great coral reef, from the Western in Shark Bay to the southern in Moreton Bay. Some of these turtles also travel to coastal areas of Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia y Solomon Island to get some food. As unique herbivorous turtles, they play a key role in coral reef beds' healthy.
Giant Clam
These giant clams are located in the north-central Great Barrier Reef, and they act as a purifying body from water pollution. They are considered the largest living bivalve mollusk and their weight may get up to 500 pounds, raising over four feet. Due to their hygiene process, the coral reef is kept healthy and safe for the endemic colonies that live there. In areas where giant clams are dying or getting migrated, the coral has turned a white color due to pollution.
Blacktip reef shark
Blacktip reef shark lives and hunt in and around the coral borders where the amount of food is generous. Around 130 kinds of sharks and rays live there. Due to their closeness to the coast, these types of sharks tend to encounter humans in the water. They can be also found in Galapagos and Pacific Islands, Tahiti, Hawaii, and other south pacific islands near to Australian coast.
Clownfish
Clownfish are one of the most captivating fishes in the coral barrier and they were world-famous in the movie Finding Nemo. They live in anemone, which is a coral organism that depends on clownfish to be fed. These species can be seen in a variety of colors, such as orange, red, black, and yellow. They are very-small fishes with sizes of around 7-8 cm and a length of 17 cm approximately.
Humpback Whale
During the summer, many whale species go to the great barrier due to their warmer water. There, they mate and give birth. Around 30 whale species visit the area and breed there. Humpback whales tend to be located along the Kimberly coast in the Northwest Shelf.
Ocean acidification is affecting the great coral reef environment, altering the habitat where live more than 9,000 species. These changes in the water conditions are making it extremely difficult for organisms to survive within the coral reef. Up to this moment, the most remarkable affection has been seen in the bleaching of coral. We are still in time to make decisions that mitigate the pollution effects and help them to continue living.
More interesting articles:
- Top 5 Spots to travel the ocean
- 10 of the Largest Living Sea Creatures
- SEAFOOD ANIMALS UNDER JEOPARDY
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