Invertebrate animals, particularly sessile organisms such as sponges, ascidians, bryozoans, hydroids and soft corals, are key features of most Tasmanian reefs.

Large species of crustacea, such as the southern rock lobster, hide in nooks and crannies all along the Tasmanian coastline. Molluscs, such as abalone, oysters, scallops and sea slugs (sea hares and nudibranchs) are also common – incredibly there are more than 500 recorded species of sea slugs. Echinoderms (sea stars, sea urchins, featherstars and sea cucumbers) are also found in Tasmanian waters.

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