Invertebrates

Invertebrates abound on land and in the water in Shark Bay. Surveys of spiders, centipedes and millipedes suggest the diversity of invertebrates is high. In one survey 169 species of ground spider and 34 trapdoor spiders were found. Seventeen species of millipedes and centipedes have also been recorded.

Divers can seek 80 or more coral species around Dirk Hartog, Bernier and Dorre islands, and in the South Passage. Hard corals include vase, plate and brain corals and a great variety of colourful staghorn species. Soft corals, nudibranchs, anemones, brittle stars and cowries nestle among sponges on reefs.

Banana prawns, brown tiger prawns and western king prawns are all found in the region and support a significant prawn fishery. Scallops, squid and lobsters are also important to commercial and recreational fishers. Pearl oysters are cultured and farmed.

Intertidal flats and shores support thriving communities of crabs and snails while sandy shallows are home to at least 218 bivalve species. The area’s best-known bivalve is the Hamelin or Fragum cockle, Fragum erugatum.