Due to the range of different and some uncommon habitats in the area, Wilsons prom supports quite a diverse range of marine Fauna.
During the night octopus can be found present in the area whilst in the day a wonderful and brightly colored array of sea species roam the waters in Wilson Promontory Marine National Park.
Some of the known Marine life in Wilsons Promontory National Park is listed below:
Below is a list of some of the marine life you can expect to find during your time in Wilson's Prom:
Small Green Sea star
Often found in rock pools and crevices, the small Green Sea star prefers moderate wave exposure and can survive in shore.
The Sea star grows to 2 cm across. It is green-brown in colour with a lighter colour on the underside. This sea star has 5 arms spanning out from the central disc.
It feeds on tiny plant and does so by hovering it's body over the food.
Notched Shore Crab
Often found in rocks in the lower littoral zone in sheltered areas
The crab is 3 cm across and has a spotty brown carapace, it is also slightly squared.
This crab is a scavenger meaning it eats whatever it can find. The crabs are often pray from larger fish and birds due to their small size and their high exposure.
Warrener
Found in rock pools and lower littoral areas of the shore, happy with any wave exposure.
This shell can grow up to 5cm in diameter, the shells has blue green and white marking stripped across it and possibly a translucent brown covering.
The snail in this shell survives on algae form lower levels of the shore.
Terebellid Worm
Often found under rocks and in sheltered areas with low wave exposure.
Can grow up to 5cm long in the body with a large amount of long tentacles coming from the head, they are salmon pink in colour and sometimes have white dots scattered across the back.
Feeds on organic matter from sediments.
Common Surf Barnacle
Often found on slopping shores with a strong wave exposure in the mid littoral zone.
Has a diameter of 2 cm and grows to 1.5cm tall. Mature shells have a strong pink tinge and the younger shells are a greyish colour with a pink tinge at the top of the barnacle.
Little is known about what this barnacle feeds on.
Ragworm
Found in algal mats and mussel beds on shores with any wave exposure.
A worm that grows up to 6cm in length, it had four eyes, a pair of antennas and two palps, this worm has a dark green back and head.
eats plants and animal matter but is also a forager.
Blue Ringed Octopus
Found under rocks, ledges and seaweed in the lower littoral zone with low to moderate wave exposure.
Can grow anywhere up to 10cm in length it is a mottle brown colour when undisturbed, but when disturbed bright blue rings become present around all of the tentacles and body (giving it the name blue ringed octopus.)
The Octopus feeds on crabs and snails, using the poison in its tentacles to grasp and kill it prey before consumption.
During the night octopus can be found present in the area whilst in the day a wonderful and brightly colored array of sea species roam the waters in Wilson Promontory Marine National Park.
Some of the known Marine life in Wilsons Promontory National Park is listed below:
- Eastern Blue Groper
- Barber Perch
- Limpets and snails
- Leafy sea-dragons
Below is a list of some of the marine life you can expect to find during your time in Wilson's Prom:
Small Green Sea star
Often found in rock pools and crevices, the small Green Sea star prefers moderate wave exposure and can survive in shore.
The Sea star grows to 2 cm across. It is green-brown in colour with a lighter colour on the underside. This sea star has 5 arms spanning out from the central disc.
It feeds on tiny plant and does so by hovering it's body over the food.
Notched Shore Crab
Often found in rocks in the lower littoral zone in sheltered areas
The crab is 3 cm across and has a spotty brown carapace, it is also slightly squared.
This crab is a scavenger meaning it eats whatever it can find. The crabs are often pray from larger fish and birds due to their small size and their high exposure.
Warrener
Found in rock pools and lower littoral areas of the shore, happy with any wave exposure.
This shell can grow up to 5cm in diameter, the shells has blue green and white marking stripped across it and possibly a translucent brown covering.
The snail in this shell survives on algae form lower levels of the shore.
Terebellid Worm
Often found under rocks and in sheltered areas with low wave exposure.
Can grow up to 5cm long in the body with a large amount of long tentacles coming from the head, they are salmon pink in colour and sometimes have white dots scattered across the back.
Feeds on organic matter from sediments.
Common Surf Barnacle
Often found on slopping shores with a strong wave exposure in the mid littoral zone.
Has a diameter of 2 cm and grows to 1.5cm tall. Mature shells have a strong pink tinge and the younger shells are a greyish colour with a pink tinge at the top of the barnacle.
Little is known about what this barnacle feeds on.
Ragworm
Found in algal mats and mussel beds on shores with any wave exposure.
A worm that grows up to 6cm in length, it had four eyes, a pair of antennas and two palps, this worm has a dark green back and head.
eats plants and animal matter but is also a forager.
Blue Ringed Octopus
Found under rocks, ledges and seaweed in the lower littoral zone with low to moderate wave exposure.
Can grow anywhere up to 10cm in length it is a mottle brown colour when undisturbed, but when disturbed bright blue rings become present around all of the tentacles and body (giving it the name blue ringed octopus.)
The Octopus feeds on crabs and snails, using the poison in its tentacles to grasp and kill it prey before consumption.