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A coral outcrop on Flynn Reef, Great Barrier Reef
Photo: Toby Hudson, CC BY-SA 3.0

Marine park · Australia

Great Barrier Reef Animal Checklist

The Great Barrier Reef, off Queensland in Australia, is the world's largest coral reef system, stretching more than 2,300 km. It is famous for sea turtles, reef sharks, manta rays and clownfish, and for the Great Eight, the reef's most wanted animals. This checklist covers 46 animals. June to October is best for whales and clear water, November to March for nesting turtles.

Most trips leave from Cairns, Port Douglas, Airlie Beach for the Whitsundays, or the islands of the southern reef such as Heron and Lady Elliot. Coral cays add seabird colonies on top of the reef.

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The Barrier Reef checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked
Animals to find
46
Where
Australia
Best time
Jun to Oct
Great Eight
All eight

The Great Barrier Reef's Great Eight

  • Giant Clam, one of the animals to look for in Barrier Reef

    Giant Clam

    Can live for more than 100 years and grow over a metre across. The coloured mantles are easy to spot while snorkelling.

    Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Reef Manta Ray, one of the animals to look for in Barrier Reef

    Reef Manta Ray

    Reef mantas visit cleaning stations around Lady Elliot Island, most often in the cooler months from May to August.

    Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate John S. Stadelman, Public domain

  • Orange Clownfish

    Orange clownfish shelter in anemones in shallow water. Hover still and watch them dart in and out of the tentacles.

  • Humphead Wrasse

    Also called the Maori wrasse: a huge, blue-green fish with a bulging forehead, often curious around divers and snorkellers.

  • Potato Cod

    A big spotted grouper. The Cod Hole near Lizard Island, reached by liveaboard, is the famous site.

  • Whitetip Reef Shark

    Often rests on the sand or under ledges by day. Blacktip reef sharks patrol the shallows nearby.

  • Green Sea Turtle

    The turtle you are most likely to see snorkelling. Nests on Heron Island from November to March; follow the island's turtle-watching rules, with no torches or flash.

  • Humpback Whale

    Migrates north to breed in winter. Seen in the Whitsundays from about July to September.

  • Minke Whale

    Dwarf minke whales visit the Ribbon Reefs in June and July, where permitted operators offer swims.

All 46 animals to spot in the Barrier Reef

Grouped the way you'll meet them. Tips show where to look.

Turtles and sea snakes 5

Whales, dolphins and dugong 4

Sharks and rays 7

Reef fish and other sea life 12

Seabirds and island birds 18

  • Last reviewed September 2026.
  • Sources are listed below the questions.
  • Wild animals only. Please give them space.

Best time to see wildlife in the Barrier Reef

The reef can be visited all year, and the seasons decide which animals you add. June to October is the dry season, with calm weather and clear water. Dwarf minke whales visit the Ribbon Reefs in June and July, humpback whales migrate along the coast from June to September, and manta rays are most often seen at Lady Elliot Island from May to August. November to March is turtle season: green turtles nest on Heron Island and loggerheads at Mon Repos near Bundaberg, and the hatchlings emerge from January to April. The wet season from November to April brings heat, rain and possible cyclones, and dangerous stinging jellyfish are a risk in coastal waters, so wear a stinger suit.

  • Jun-JulDwarf minke whales, mantas, clear water
  • Jul-SepHumpback whales, calm seas
  • OctWarming water, good visibility
  • Nov-MarTurtle nesting, stinger season
  • Jan-AprTurtle hatchlings

Tips for spotting wildlife in the Barrier Reef

  1. Pick the right base

    Cairns and Port Douglas are best for the outer reef and the Ribbon Reefs. Heron Island and Lady Elliot Island put you on the reef with turtles and mantas right off the beach.

  2. Join a guided reef walk

    On Heron Island, guided low-tide reef walks show epaulette sharks walking across the reef flat, and giant clams and octopuses in the pools. Keep to sand and look without touching.

  3. Wear a stinger suit

    From about November to May, dangerous jellyfish are a risk. Wear a full-length stinger suit, which also protects you from sunburn.

  4. Book a turtle tour at Mon Repos

    Loggerhead nesting and hatching can only be watched on ranger-guided tours. Book ahead, especially in December and January.

  5. Keep your distance

    Do not touch, chase or feed any animal, and never stand on coral. Follow your crew's rules around turtles and whales.

The Wilder app

Take the Barrier Reef with you

Tick off turtles, mantas and the Great Eight in Wilder after each Great Barrier Reef dive or snorkel. Free to start.

  • Tick off as you goOut in the field with no signal, too.
  • Add your photosEach sighting keeps its date and picture.
  • A summary of the tripEverything you saw, day by day.
  • A passport stampOne for the Barrier Reef, kept in your Wilder passport.
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The Barrier Reef checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked

Barrier Reef wildlife FAQ

What are the Great Barrier Reef's Great Eight?

The Great Eight is a list of the reef's most wanted animals, used by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Tourism Australia. It includes the clownfish, giant clam, manta ray, Maori wrasse, potato cod, sharks, sea turtles and whales. Most can be seen on a good day trip to the outer reef, but whales and mantas are seasonal.

What can you see snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef?

Snorkellers often see green sea turtles, clownfish in anemones, giant clams, moorish idols, blue tangs and reef sharks. Humphead wrasse are common at popular outer reef sites. Manta rays are regular around Lady Elliot Island in winter. Visibility and the variety of life are usually best on the outer reef rather than near the coast.

When is the best time to see turtles and whales on the reef?

Turtles nest from November to March, with hatchlings emerging from January to April. Heron Island and Mon Repos near Bundaberg are the best places. For whales, humpbacks are seen from June to September, especially in the Whitsundays, and dwarf minke whales visit the Ribbon Reefs in June and July. Green turtles can be seen snorkelling all year.

What animals live on the Great Barrier Reef?

The reef holds thousands of species, including more than 1,500 types of fish, six of the world's seven marine turtles, sharks, rays, dolphins, dugongs and whales, plus hundreds of corals. Coral cays add seabirds such as noddies, terns and boobies. This checklist covers 46 of the animals visitors are most likely to see.

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026

Photo credits

All photo credits. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, resized.

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