How many species does Ningaloo Reef have?
The Ningaloo Reef contains over 250 species of coral and over 500 species of fish with numerous studies continuing and developing within the area.
What species live in the Ningaloo Reef?
The shallow lagoon, fringing reef and deeper offshore waters provide an array of habitats supporting a multitude of colourful corals, more than 500 species of fish and globally important and threatened mega marine fauna including whale sharks, turtles, dugongs, dolphins, manta rays, humpback whales and orcas.
What is the structure of the Ningaloo Reef?
As a fringing reef, Ningaloo coral reefs have developed out from the shoreline, varying from an extensive structure with offshore reef crest, back reef and lagoon to small fragmented reefs that extend only a small distance from the shore.
Are there seahorses in the Ningaloo Reef?
An additional 14 aquariums are displayed throughout and further highlight the impressive range of species found on the Ningaloo Reef (including fish, rays, eels, seahorses, starfish, coral and octopus).
What makes ningaloo unique?
Ningaloo Reef is one of only two coral reefs in the world that have formed on the western side of a continent! The water temperature at Ningaloo Reef is a balmy 22°C – 26 °C depending on the season, meaning you can enjoy swimming, snorkeling and scuba adventures in temperate conditions all year round!
Who manages Ningaloo Reef?
The Western australian government is committed in its responsibility for the day‑to‑day management of the ningaloo Coast, with traditional owners, local government and community partners.
What plants and animals live in Ningaloo Reef?
Brightly patterned sea snakes, eels, starfish, clams, graceful manta rays, seals, sharks and many colonies of various species of turtles all make Ningaloo Reef their home.
Is Ningaloo Reef under threat?
Ningaloo Reef is Australia’s second-largest reef, home to whale sharks, sea turtles, and sensitive corals. However, it is under threat from climate change, and pollution from the oil and gas industry, including the dumping of toxic waste.
What makes Ningaloo unique?
What is the rarest fish in the Great Barrier Reef?
scorpion fish
Researchers exploring the depths of the northern Great Barrier Reef have found a rare species of “walking” fish never before recorded in Australian waters. This type of scorpion fish is called the Rhinopias agriloba, is normally found in waters around Hawaii, in the central Pacific.
What is Ningaloo Reef known for?
Ningaloo Reef is the world’s largest fringing reef, and one of the longest near-shore reef systems in the world. Stretching 300km from Carnarvon’s Red Bluff to the Muiron Islands in the north and Exmouth Gulf’s Bundegi Beach in the east, Ningaloo Reef is regarded as one of the world’s last great ocean paradises.
How many fish are in the Ningaloo Reef?
Ningaloo Reef is home to 300 documented coral species, more than 700 reef fish species, approximately 650 mollusc species and more than 1,000 species of marine algae. The Ningaloo Coast’s remote and extensive reef systems also mean that monitoring and protecting this ecosystem is a huge undertaking.
What kind of turtles live in the Ningaloo Reef?
The Ningaloo Reef is home to four species of turtle out of seven in the world, most commonly the green turtle, the loggerhead turtle, the hawksbill turtle, and less frequently the leatherback turtle. They can commonly be found cruising around the reef in search of food.
Why are there heat waves at the Ningaloo Reef?
Tides are a response to the sun and moon’s gravitational pull on the earth’s water. Weather changes daily and the Ningaloo area is prone to heat waves in summer months. Heat stress causes the coral to exclude the zooxantellae algea which can result in coral bleaching. Increased bleaching will cause starvation, killing the coral.
Is the Ningaloo Reef affected by Crown of thorns?
Ningaloo’s reefs are not heavily affected by the crown of thorns starfish. However, outbreaks of Drupella (a type of snail) have drastically reduced coral cover, destroying 90% of corals in parts of the northern reef at Ningaloo Reef in 1997 ( Reef Resilience, 2016 ).