Marine Life of Moreton Bay: Common Species Guide

Moreton Bay (Queensland, Australia) hosts a rich subtropical ecosystem. Key species groups:

Marine Mammals

• Bottlenose Dolphins – Common near shores; playful.
• Humpback Whales – Migrate through winter/spring (Antarctica to tropics).
• Dugongs – Graze seagrass beds; vulnerable.

Fish

• Bream (Yellowfin) – Popular recreational catch.
• Flathead (Dusky, Sand, Tiger) – Ambush predators on sandy/muddy bottoms.
• Snapper (Mangrove Jack) – Rocky reefs, prized eating.
• Tailor – Fast, schooling, surface feeders.

Sharks & Rays

• Bull Shark – Estuaries, aggressive.
• Tiger Shark – Occasional visitor.
• Wobbegongs – Camouflaged bottom-dwellers.
• Giant Manta Ray – Seasonal plankton feeders.
• Yellow Stingray, Bull Ray – Sandy areas.

Reptiles & Cephalopods

• Green & Loggerhead Turtles – Nest on bay beaches (summer).
• Australian Giant Cuttlefish – Spectacular mating displays near reefs.
• Spotted Seahorse – Seagrass beds.

The bay is a designated Marine Park balancing conservation and recreation.