Learn about ten fish to keep an eye out for when exploring the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef is known for many things including colourful coral and fascinating fish. In fact, there are over 1,500 fish species that call the reef home. There are also around 400 coral species, 4,000 mollusk species and other diverse creatures.

Before embarking on a Great Barrier Reef adventure, here are ten beautiful fish to keep an eye out for. 

  1. Sweetlips Fish

Sweetlips fish can be recognised by the zebra-like stripes and dots on their bodies. Their markings help them to confuse predators, helping to increase their rate of survival.

There are 35 different species of this fish, each varying in colour, markings and size. However, every species has bright yellow lips!

  1. Wrasse

At first glance, you’ll probably find the Wrasse to look a little silly with its large bumpy forehead and large lips. But these fish are actually quite fascinating and have very intricate patterns decorating their bodies.

The Wrasse have long life expectancies and are huge fish. They are also curious and social fish. Sadly, they were overfished and are now on the endangered species list.

  1. Angelfish

Angelfish are some of the smaller fish at the Great Barrier Reef, but they are still easy to spot. The unique fish are quite beautiful with their colourful and unique patterns. They are another type of curious fish that likes to see what’s going on, making them easy to spot in the upper reef.

  1. Butterfly Fish

Butterfly fish are typically bright yellow in colour and have longer “noses” that stick out more than other fish. They have thin bodies that help with navigation, allowing them to squeeze through tight passages.

A fun fact about these fish is that they are incredibly loyal. That means they stick with the same mate for life.

  1. Parrotfish

Parrotfish are colourful like parrots and have a mouth that resembles a beak. They use their beaklike mouths to bite off pieces of coral and grind them up. They then excrete the coral as sand, which helps with the growth of coral. How cool is that?

  1. Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish look like Dori from Finding Nemo. They are bright blue with yellow tails and are easy to spot on the reefs. There are heaps of surgeonfish swimming around the Great Barrier Reef, so keep an eye out for them.

  1. Clownfish

The Clownfish is easily recognisable as the inspiration behind Nemo. These fish have bright orange and white coloured bands that wrap around their bodies and make them easy to spot. Clownfish live in sea anemones and have built up immunity to the poisonous plants.

Lucky for snorkellers, these fish live in shallower waters and are easy to spot.

  1. Coral Trout

Coral Trout are colourful fish that live in the reef, and the males can even change colour. The colour-changing process occurs as part of an attempt at courtship. It’s quite the spectacle to witness if you are able to see it in action!

  1. Triggerfish

Triggerfish have a distinctive mouth that makes it look like they are pouting. These fish are easy to spot with colourful stripes along their bodies. The Triggerfish is also known to have a bit of a temper and tend to bite critters that they view as a threat.

  1. Damselfish

Damselfish are one of the most common fish species living in the Great Barrier Reef. These fish are bright in colour, though some are duller in colour. They are known to be territorial and defend their homes against predators. These are just a few of the incredible fish species found in the Great Barrier Reef. Join one of our Great Barrier Reef tours for an unforgettable experience and to spot some of these colorful fish!

Previous article: