Map of Australia

The list of marine animals of Australia (temperate waters) is a list of marine and shore-based species that form a part of the fauna of Australia. This list includes animals which either live entirely marine lives, or which spend critical parts of their lives at sea.

The geographical range is south of Perth, Western Australia and the border of New South Wales and Queensland, including the whole of the coasts of South Australia and Tasmania and their offshore islands. Tropical species which are also found in this range may also be listed here.

The listed organisms are generally identifiable to the naked eye. Many microscopic animals also inhabit this region.

Ranges are generally given relating to Australian waters. If listed as endemic, they have been found only in the listed range. Others may have much greater ranges.

Phylum Porifera

Tethya sp. (Golfball sponge)

Phylum Cnidaria

Class Hydrozoa

Order Hydroida

Ralpharia magnifica
(Magnificent hydroid)

Order Limnomedusae

Order Siphonophora

Order Stylasterina

Class Anthozoa

Order Actiniaria

Order Corallimorpharia

(Jewel anemones)

Corynactis australis
(Southern jewel anemone)

Order Zoanthiniaria

(Zoanthids)

Order Scleractinia

(Stony corals)

Balanophyllia bairdiana
(Orange cup coral)

Order Ceriantharia

(Tube anemones)

Order Antipatheria

(Black corals)

Order Alcyonacea

(Octocorals, soft corals, gorgonians, sea whips)

Sphaerokodisis australis
(Southern sea fan)

Order Pennatulacea

(Sea pens)

Class Scyphozoa

(Jellyfish)

Order Semaeostomeae

(Scallop-margined jellies)

Pelagia noctiluca
(Purple-streaked jelly)

Order Rhizostomeae

(Lobed jellies)

Class Cubozoa

Order Cubomedusae

(Box jellies, cubomedusans)

Phylum Ctenophora

Phylum Platyhelminthes

Phylum Nemertea

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (December 2013)

Phylum Nematoda

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (December 2013)

Phylum Annelida

Class Oligochaeta

Class Hirudinea

Class Polychaeta

Family Polynoidae – Scale worms

Family Eunicidae

Family Nereididae – Ragworms

Family Onuphidae

Family Opheliidae

Family Syllidae – Frilled worms

Family Terebellidae

Family Pectenariidae

Family Sabellariidae

Family Sabellidae

Sabellastarte australiensis (Southern fanworm)

Family Serpulidae

Family Spirorbidae

Phylum Echiuroidea

Phylum Sipuncula

Phylum Arthropoda

Subphylum Chelicerata

Class Pycnogonida

(Sea spiders, pycnogonids)

Subphylum Crustacea

Class Cirripedia

(Barnacles)

Tesseropora rosea (Rosy barnacle)
Lepas australis
(Southern Goose Barnacle)

Class Malacostraca

Order Stomatopoda
Order Mysidacea
Order Isopoda
Order Amphipoda
Ceradocus sellickensis
Order Euphausiacea
Order Decapoda

Family Penaeidae – Prawns, shrimps

Family Palaemonidae – Palaemonid shrimps

Family Rhynchocinetidae – Hinge-back shrimps

Rhynchocinetes serratus
(Serrated hinge-back shrimp)

Family Hippolytidae – Hippolytid shrimps

Family Alpheidae – Snapping shrimps, pistol shrimps

Family Pandalidae – Pandalid shrimps

Family Crangonidae – Crangonid shrimps

Family Stenopodidae – Cleaner shrimps

Family Callianassidae – Ghost shrimps, marine yabbies

Family Laomediidae – Mangrove yabbies

Family Upogebiidae – Mud shrimps, upogebid shrimps

Family Palinuridae – Rock lobsters, spiny lobsters, crayfish, langouste

Jasus verreauxi
(Eastern rock lobster)

Family Scyllaridae – Shovel-nosed lobsters, slipper lobsters

Family Diogenidae – Diogenid hermit crabs

Family Paguridae – Pagurid hermit crabs

Family Porcellanidae – Porcelain crabs

Family Lomisidae – Hairy stone crabs

Family Galatheidae – Squat lobsters, craylets, Lobster krill

Family Dromiidae – Sponge crabs

Family Cancridae – Edible crabs

Family Leucosiidae – Pebble crabs

Family Majidae – Spider crabs

Family Hymenosomatidae

Family Portunidae – Swimming crabs

Family Xanthidae - Stone crabs

Family Eriphidae – Pebble crabs

Family Pilumnidae – Hairy shore crabs

Family Goneplacidae – Goneplacid crabs

Family Grapsidae – Shore crabs

Family Ocypodidae – Ghost crabs, Stalk-eyed crabs

Mictyris longicarpus
(Soldier crab)

Family Mictyridae – Soldier crabs

Family Pinnotheridae – pea crabs

Phylum Mollusca

Class Aplacophora

Class Polyplacophora

Family Ischnochitonidae

Family Mopaliidae

Family Schizochitonidae

Family Chitonidae

Family Acanthochitonidae

Class Gastropoda

Subclass Prosobranchia

Family Haliotidae – Abalone, earshells

Haliotis scalaris
(Grooved abalone)

Family Fissurellidae – Keyhole limpets, slit limpets

Family Patellidae – Patellids, true limpets

Family Nacellidae – Nacellid limpets

Family Lottiidae – Owl limpets, lottiid limpets

Family Trochidae – Top shells

Family Neritidae – Nerites

Family Littorinidae – Periwinkles

Austrolittorina unifasciata
(Blue periwinkle)

Family Turritellidae – Screw shells

Family Siliquariidae – Slit worm shells

Family Batillaridae – Mudwhelks

Family Cerithiidae – Ceriths, creepers

Family Campanilidae – Lighthouse shells

Family Vermetidae – Worm shells

Family Hipponicidae – Bonnet limpets

Family Janthinidae – Violet snails

Family Naticidae – Moon snails

Family Velutinidae – Velvet snails

Family Cypraeidae – Cowries

Family Ovulidae – Spindle cowries, egg cowries

Family Cassidae – Helmet shells

Family Ranellidae Tritons, trumpet shells

Family Muricidae – Murex shells

Family Turbinellidae – Vase and Pagoda shells

Family Fasciolariidae – Tulip shells, spindle shells

Family Buccinidae – Whelks

Family Columbellidae – Dove shells

Family Nassariidae – Dog whelks

Family Conidae – Cone shells

Family Mitridae – Mitres

Family Volutomitridae

Family Volutidae – Volutes

Cymbiola magnifica
(Magnificent volute)

Family Olividae – Olive shells

Family Harpidae – Harp shells

Subclass Pulmonata

Family Amphibolidae

Family Siphonariidae – Pulmonate limpets, siphons

Family Onchidiidae – Air-breathing sea slugs

Subclass Opisthobranchia

Bulla quoyii (underside)
(Botany Bay bubble shell)

Family Bullidae

Family Bullinidae

Family Philinidae

Family Gastropteridae

Family Aglajidae

Family Aplysiidae

Family Oxynoidae

Family Plakobranchidae

Family Limapontiidae

Family Tylodinidae

Family umbraculidae

Family Pleurobranchidae – Side-gilled slugs

Family Polyceridae

Family Dorididae - Dorids

Family Chromodorididae – Chromodorids

Family Dendrodorididae – Dendrodorids

Family Phyllidiidae - Phyllidid nudibranchs

Family Aeolidiidae

Austraeolis ornata
(Ornate facelinid)

Family Glaucidae – Glaucids

Family Facelinidae

Family Flabellinidae

Family Arminidae

Class Bivalvia

Family Solemyidae – Date shells

Family Arcidae – Ark shells

Family Nuculanidae – Beaked nut shells

Family Glycimeridae – Dog cockles

Family Mytilidae - Mussels

Family Pinnidae – Razor clams

Family Pteriidae – Pearl oysters

Family Malleidae – Hammer oysters, finger oysters

Family Pectenidae – Scallops, fan shells

Family Spondylidae – Thorny oysters

Family Anomiidae – Jingle shells, windowpane shells

Family Limidae – File shells

Family Ostreidae – Oysters

Family Trigoniidae – Brooch shells

Family Lucinidae - Lucinids

Family Galeommatidae – Luna shells

Family Carditidae – Carditas

Family Crassatellidae – Crassatellas

Family Cardiidae – Cockles

Family Mactridae – Trough shells

Family Mesodesmatidae – Wedge shells

Family Solenidae – Razor shells

Family Tellinidae – Tellins

Family Donacidae – Pipis

Family Psammobiidae – Sunset shells

Family Veneridae – Venus shells

Family Cleidothaeridae

Family Hiatellidae

Family Pholadidae – Angel wings, piddocks

Family Teredinidae – Shipworms, teredos

Class Scaphopoda

Class Cephalopoda

Family Octopodidae – Octopuses

Family Argonautidae – Argonauts, paper nautiluses

Family Sepiidae – Cuttlefish

Sepia plangon
(Mourning cuttle)

Family Loliginidae – Squid

Family Idiosepiidae – Pygmy squid

Family Sepiolidae – Bobtail squids, dumpling squids

Family Sepiadariidae – Bottletail squids

Family Serpulidae – Ram's horn squid

Phylum Brachiopoda

Phylum Phoronida

Phylum Bryozoa

Triphyllozoon moniliferum
(Lace bryozoan)

Phylum Entoprocta

Phylum Chaetognatha

Phylum Echinodermata

Class Crinoidea

(Feather stars, crinoids)

Comanthus trichoptera
(Feather star)

Family Comatulidae

Family Antedonidae

Family Aporometridae

Family Ptilometridae

Class Asteroidea

(Sea stars, starfish)

Family Luidiidae

Family Astropectinidae

Family Archasteridae

Family Goniasteridae

Family Oreasteridae

Family Asterodiscididae

Family Pterasteridae

Family Asteropseidae

Family Ophidiasteridae

Family Echinasteridae

Family Asterinidae

Family Asteriidae

Class Ophiuroidea

(Brittle stars)

Family Ophiomyxidae

Family Gorgonocephalidae – Basket stars

Family Asteroschematidae – Snake stars

Family Amphiuridae

Family Ophiactidae

Family Ophiotrichidae

Family Ophiocomidae

Family Ophionereidae

Family Ophiodermatidae

Family Ophiuridae

Class Echinoidea

(Sea urchins, heart urchins and sand dollars)

Family Cidaridae

Family Diadematidae

Centrostephanus rodgersii
(Hollows-spined sea urchin)

Family Temnopleuridae

Family Toxopneustidae

Family Echinometridae

Family Clypeasteridae

Family Laganidae

Family Loveniidae

Family Schizasteridae

Family Brissidae

Class Holothuroidea

(Sea cucumbers, holothurians, beche-de-mer)

Family Cucumariidae

Family Stichopodidae

Family Holothuriidae

Family Caudinidae

Family Synaptidae

Family Chiridotidae

Phylum Hemichordata

Phylum Chordata

Class Ascidiacea

(Ascidians, seasquirts) Family Ascidiidae

Family Styelidae

Family Pyuridae

Pyura stolonifera
(A field of cunjevoi)

Family Diazonidae

Family Clavelinidae

Family Clavelinidae

Family Holozoidae

Family Polycitoridae

Family Polyclinidae

Family Ritterellidae

Family Didemnidae

Class Thaliacea

(Salps, thaliaceans)

Class Larvacea

(Appendicularians, larvaceans)

Class Cephalaspidomorphi

Family Petromyzontidae – Lampreys

Class Chondrichthyes

Family Heterodontidae – Hornsharks, Port Jackson sharks, bullhead sharks.

Family Parascylliidae – Collar carpetsharks, collared catsharks

Family Scylliorhinidae – Catsharks

Family Orectolobidae – Wobbegongs

Family Odontaspididae

Family Squalidae – Dogfishes

Family Lamnidae – Makos, Mackerel sharks

Family Triakidae – Houndsharks

Family Carcharhinidae – Whaler sharks

Family Squatinidae – Angelsharks

Family Rhinobatidae – Guitarfishes

Family Hypnidae – Coffin rays, electric rays

Family Narcinidae – Numbfishes

Family Rajidae – Skates

Family Dasyatidae – Stingrays

Family Myliobatidae – Eagle rays

Family Urolophidae – Stingarees

Urolophus kapalensis
(Kapala stingaree)

Class Osteichthyes

Family Muraenidae – Moray eels

Family Congridae – Conger eels

Family Ophichthidae – Snake eels, worm eels

Family Anguillidae – Freshwater eels

Family Clupeidae – Herrings, pilchards, sardines

Family Engraulidae – Anchovies

Family Salmonidae – Salmons, trouts

Family Galaxiidae – Galaxias, mountain trout, native trout

Family Aplochitonidae – Whitebait

Family Prototroctidae – Southern graylings

Family Aulopodidae – Threadsails

Family Synodontidae – Lizardfishes

Family Gonorhynchidae – Beaked salmon

Family Plotosidae – Eeltail catfishes

Family Batrachoididae – Frogfishes

Family Antennariidae – Anglerfishes

Family Brachionichthyidae – Handfishes

Family Gobiesocidae – Clingfishes, shore eels

Family Moridae – Morid cods

Family Ophidiidae – Cusk eels, lings

Family Hemiramphidae – Garfishes, halfbeaks

Family Atherinidae – Hardyheads, silversides

Family Monocentridae – Pineapplefishes

Family Trachichthyidae – Roughies, sawbellies

Family Berycidae – Alfonsinos, Red snapper

Family Zeidae – Dories

Family Syngnathidae – Pipefishes, pipehorses, seahorses, seadragons

Phycodurus eques
(Leafy seadragon)

Family Pegasidae – Seamoths, dragonfishes

Family Ambassidae – Glassfishes

Family Scorpaenidae – Scorpionfishes

Family Pteroididae – Lionfishes

Family Tetrarogidae – Fortescues, waspfishes

Family Neosebastidae – Gurnard perches, gurnard scorpionfishes

Family Sebastidae – Rockfishes

Family Triglidae – Sea robins, gurnards

Family Pataecidae – Prowfishes

Family Gnathanacanthidae – Red velvetfishes

Family Aploactinidae – Velvetfishes

Family Platycephalidae – Flatheads

Family Congiopodidae – Pigfishes

Family Serranidae – Rockcods, seaperches

Family Callanthiidae – Rosy perches

Family Plesiopidae – Prettyfins, blue devilfishes, hulafishes

Family Pseudochromidae – Dottybacks

Family Glaucosomatidae – Pearl perches

Family Terapontidae – Striped grunters

Family Apogonidae – Cardinalfishes, gobbleguts

Family Dinolestidae – Longfin pike

Family Sillaginidae – Whitings

Family Pomatomidae – Tailor, bluefishes

Family Carangidae – Trevallies

Family Arripidae – Australian salmons

Family Gerreidae – Silverbiddies, silverbellies

Family Sparidae – Breams

Family Sciaenidae – Jewfishes, croakers, drum

Family Haemulidae – Sweetlips, grunter breams

Family Nemipteridae – Threadfin bream, spinecheeks

Family Mullidae – Goatfishes, red mullet

Family Monodactylidae – Silver batfishes, pomfrets

Family Pempheridae – Bullseyes, sweepers

Family Kyphosidae – Drummers, rudderfishes

Family Girellidae – Blackfishes

Family Scorpididae – Sweeps

Family Chaetodontidae – Butterflyfishes

Family Enoplosidae – Old wife

Family Pentacerotidae – Boarfishes

Family Pomacentridae – Damselfishes

Family Cirrhitidae – Hawkfishes

Family Chironemidae – Kelpfishes

Family Aplodactylidae – Marblefishes, sea carps

Family Cheilodactylidae – Morwongs

Family Latridae – Trumpeters

Family Mugilidae – Mullets

Family Sphyraenidae – Pikes, barracudas

Family Labridae – Wrasses

Howe Island, Norfolk Island and New Zealand.)

Family Odacidae – Rock whitings, weed whitings

Family Pinguipedidae – Grubfishes, weevers

Family Bovichthyidae – Thornfishes

Family Blennidae – Blennies

Family Tripterygiidae – Triplefins, threefins

Family Clinidae – Weedfishes

Family Ophiclinidae – Snake blennies

Family Callionymidae – Dragonets, stinkfishes

Family Gobiidae – Gobies

Family Uranoscopidae – Stargazers

Family Leptoscopidae – Sandfishes, sand stargazers

Family Gempylidae – Gemfishes

Family Centrolophidae – Trevallas

Family Scombridae – Mackerels, tunas

Family Siganidae – Rabbitfishes, spinefeet

Family Paralichthyidae – Sand flounders

Family Pleuronectidae – Righteye flounders

Family Soleidae – Soles

Family Cynoglossidae – Tongue soles

Family Monacanthidae – Leatherjackets, filefishes

Brachaluteres jacksonianus
(Pygmy leatherjacket)

Family Aracanidae – Temperate boxfishes

Family Ostraciidae – Boxfishes, cowfishes, trunkfishes

Family Tetraodontidae – Toadfishes, pufferfishes

Family Diodontidae – Porcupine fishes

Class Reptilia

Class Aves

Class Mammalia

Order Pinnipedia

Order Cetacea

Megaptera novaeangliae
(Humpback whale)

Geographical position of places mentioned in species ranges

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd fe ff fg fh fi fj fk fl fm fn fo fp fq fr fs ft fu fv fw fx fy fz ga gb gc gd ge gf gg gh gi gj gk gl gm gn go gp gq gr gs gt gu gv gw gx gy gz ha hb hc hd he hf hg hh hi hj hk hl hm hn ho hp hq hr hs ht hu hv hw hx hy hz ia ib ic id ie if ig ih ii ij ik il im in io ip iq ir is it iu iv iw ix iy iz ja jb jc jd je jf jg jh ji jj jk jl jm jn jo jp jq jr js jt ju jv jw jx jy jz ka kb kc kd ke kf kg kh ki kj kk kl km kn ko kp kq kr ks kt ku kv kw kx ky kz la lb lc ld le lf lg lh li lj lk ll lm ln lo lp lq lr ls lt lu lv lw lx ly lz ma mb mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr ns nt nu nv nw nx ny nz oa ob oc od oe of og oh oi oj ok ol om on oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd pe pf pg ph pi pj pk pl pm pn po pp pq pr ps pt pu pv pw px py pz qa qb qc qd qe qf qg qh qi qj qk ql qm qn qo qp qq qr qs qt qu qv qw qx qy qz ra rb rc rd re rf rg rh ri rj rk rl rm rn ro rp rq rr rs rt ru rv rw rx ry rz sa sb sc sd se sf sg sh si sj sk sl sm sn so sp sq sr ss st su sv sw sx sy sz ta tb tc td te tf tg th ti tj tk tl tm tn to tp tq tr ts tt tu tv tw tx ty tz ua ub uc ud ue uf ug uh ui uj uk ul um un uo up uq ur us ut uu uv uw ux uy uz va vb vc vd ve vf vg vh vi vj vk vl vm vn vo vp vq vr vs vt vu vv vw vx vy vz wa wb wc wd we wf wg wh wi wj wk wl wm wn wo wp wq wr ws wt wu wv ww wx wy wz xa xb xc xd xe xf xg xh xi xj xk xl xm xn xo xp xq xr xs xt xu xv xw xx xy xz ya yb yc yd ye yf yg yh yi yj yk yl ym yn yo yp yq yr ys yt yu yv yw yx yy yz za zb zc zd ze zf zg zh zi zj zk zl zm zn zo zp zq zr zs zt zu zv zw zx zy zz aaa aab aac aad aae aaf aag aah aai aaj aak aal aam aan aao aap aaq aar aas aat aau aav aaw aax aay aaz aba abb abc abd abe abf abg abh abi abj abk abl abm abn abo abp abq abr abs abt abu abv abw abx aby abz aca acb acc acd ace acf acg ach aci acj ack acl acm acn aco acp acq acr acs act acu acv acw acx acy acz ada adb adc add ade adf adg adh adi adj adk adl adm adn ado adp adq adr ads adt adu adv adw adx ady adz aea aeb aec aed aee aef aeg aeh aei aej aek ael aem aen aeo aep aeq aer aes aet aeu aev aew aex aey aez afa afb afc afd afe aff afg afh afi afj afk afl afm afn afo afp afq afr afs aft afu afv afw afx afy afz aga agb agc agd age agf agg agh agi agj agk agl agm agn ago agp agq agr ags agt agu agv agw agx agy agz aha ahb ahc ahd ahe ahf ahg ahh ahi ahj ahk ahl ahm ahn aho ahp ahq ahr ahs aht ahu ahv ahw ahx ahy ahz aia aib aic aid aie aif aig aih aii aij aik ail aim ain aio aip aiq air ais ait aiu aiv aiw aix aiy aiz aja ajb ajc ajd aje ajf ajg ajh aji ajj ajk ajl ajm ajn ajo ajp ajq ajr ajs ajt aju ajv ajw ajx ajy ajz aka akb akc akd ake akf akg akh aki akj akk akl akm akn ako akp akq akr aks akt aku akv akw akx aky akz ala alb alc ald ale alf alg alh ali alj alk all alm aln alo alp alq alr als alt alu alv alw alx aly alz ama amb amc amd ame amf amg amh ami amj amk aml amm amn amo amp amq amr ams amt amu amv amw amx amy amz ana anb anc and ane anf ang anh ani anj ank anl anm ann ano anp anq anr ans ant anu anv anw anx any anz aoa aob aoc aod aoe aof aog aoh aoi aoj aok aol aom aon aoo aop aoq aor aos aot aou aov aow aox aoy aoz apa apb apc apd ape apf apg aph api apj apk apl apm apn apo app apq apr aps apt apu apv apw apx apy apz aqa aqb aqc aqd aqe aqf aqg aqh aqi aqj aqk aql aqm aqn aqo aqp aqq aqr aqs aqt aqu aqv aqw aqx aqy aqz ara arb Edgar, Graham J. (2008). Australian Marine Life: The plants and animals of temperate waters (Second ed.). Sydney: New Holland. ISBN 9781921517174.
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