15 creatures that could disappear with the Great Barrier Reef
This minute master of camouflage survives by adapting its body to closely resemble sea fans, the soft coral it calls home.
It's just one of the many creatures that could disappear along with the Great Barrier Reef because of global warming.
Reef stonefish (Synanceia Verrucosa)
The stonefish hides itself amongst coral using its crusty exterior as camouflage. It's earned the title of most venomous fish in the world, thanks to two sacs of poison on each of its 13 spines. The spines have pierced the soles of shoes. So look out!
Spotfin lionfish (Pterois Antennata)
Don't touch those pretty dorsal fins -- they're venomous. Stealthy during the daylight hours, they are active at night, feeding on small fish and crustaceans.
Potato cod (Epinephelus Tukula)
These prehistoric-looking fish are large, curious beings, reaching lengths of nearly 9 feet. They're fond of reefs off northeast Queensland.
Clownfish (Amphiprion Ocellaris)
Pixar's 2003 "Finding Nemo" brought these guys to the big screen, acquainting us with their symbiotic relationship with sea anemone. They start life as males and later develop into females, a process known as sequential hermaphroditism.
Nudibranch (Chromodoris Amoena)
Vividly vibrant, shell-less and often referred to as "sea slugs", these gastropods are known to come in 2,300 individual species.
Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus Undulatus)
This predator of the coral-munching crown-of-thorns starfish has been classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Green turtle (Chelonia Mydas)
These endangered turtles can live up to 80 years old, almost all of which is spent underwater. They routinely dive for 4 to 5 minutes, before surfacing for a gulp of air.
Giant oceanic manta ray (Manta Birostris)
As the name suggests, these rays are, well, giant. The largest type of ray in the world, they can reach up to 7 meters in width.
Giant clam (Tridacna Gigas)
Listed as "vulnerable" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), these bottom-feeders can live more than a century and have been recorded weighing more than 200 kilograms.
Dugong (Dugong Dugon)
Affectionately dubbed the "sea cow," these creatures normally eat seagrass, which grows abundantly at the Great Barrier Reef. They can live as long as seven decades.
Cuttlefish (Sepia Latimanus)
Despite the name, these alien-looking creatures are actually molluscs. They're also among the most intelligent of invertebrates, with a huge brain-to-body ratio.
Crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster Planci)
These spiky, venomous invertebrates are one of the Great Barrier Reef's chief nemeses. Scientists estimate it's responsible for nearly a quarter of coral destruction over the past three decades.
Box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri)
Extremely venomous and nearly invisible, the Box Jellyfish can extend its translucent tentacles up to 3 meters. Good luck, swimmers.
Barrel sponge (Xestospongia testudinaria)
Sponges filter and clean the ocean, as well as serve as homes for smaller invertebrates. Similar to coral, these animals are also suffering because of changes in the ocean's temperature.
This photo gallery originally appeared on CNET.