Light Zone

Discover why light is important to the living reef and how animals use their vibrant colours to their advantage.

Light is necessary for the survival of reef- building corals. The tiny plants (zooxanthellae) living within the corals’ tissues use light to make substances that the corals need to survive and grow.

The Great Barrier Reef is a colourful place. Many reef animals are brightly coloured and use colour to communicate. Colours and patterns serve many different functions on the reef including:

Attracting

Warning

Hiding

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Many fish, such as butterflyfish, have patterns of stripes and spots. The patterns help to conceal the size and shape of their bodies and may function to confuse predators. Some butterflyfish have a black stripe concealing their eyes. Many also have a false eyespot near their tails, which also helps to confuse potential predators. Enjoy the beauty of butterfyfish and other colourful marine creatures in the Light Zone.