A Canadian scientist leading a research expedition that studies marine life on Australia's Great Barrier Reef says hundreds of new species have been documented there - including 300 colourful soft corals and a parasite that eats the tongues of fish.

Researchers are analysing and naming the marine life as part of an ongoing inventory of fragile reef ecosystems that will give scientists a baseline from which to judge whether species are thriving or dying from the impact of pollution and climate warming, said Julian Caley, a University of Guelph alumnus.

"We went to places where people have been going for a long time ... so they were all very accessible places. And despite that, under our noses, we were picking up hundreds of new species," Caley said in a telephone interview from Australia.

"The important message is that there is an awful lot of stuff out there that we really don't know about."

Researchers left behind artificial homes - like underwater dollhouses - which they expect will become new residences for reef species, planning to collect them over the next three years for future studies. The same structures will be placed in waters near Brazil, Hawaii and Pacific islands such as those of American Samoa.

The three expeditions, all part of the global Census of Marine Life marking the international year of the reef, examined species living near the Lizard and Heron Islands, part of the Great Barrier Reef, and the Ningaloo Reef in northwestern Australia.

Researchers explored those waters starting last April and took samples from dead coral, which becomes home to thousands of other species. Scientists have long worried about the impact coral die-offs will have on ocean life.

While many fish and stony corals have been thoroughly studied, some known reef species, such as the soft corals, haven't been properly documented, analyzed or named, Caley said.

"We really haven't had many (scientists) available with resources to work on them, so for some groups we are really looking at them for the first time, knowing that they were out there," he said.

Among the species they are studying:

About 300 soft corals, roughly half of which are scientifically undocumented, described as showy and vividly colourful. Because they are soft, they are not reef-builders, but many do dominate the landscape and provide homes for other species.

"Vultures of the sea," isopod parasites that burrow into the flesh of live fish. One such parasite is known as the "tongue biter" because it invades a fish host, eats its tongue away and replaces it by attaching to its mouth.

I was convinced this thread was going to be about New Zealanders judging from the title.

Or Tasmania!?!

pfffff.... luckily, it's not bkk post!

But they couldn't find an Abbo working !!

These guys put in a decent weeks work.

- THERE are 71 indigenous players listed with AFL clubs representing nearly 10 per cent of players, the most to be listed in a single season in VFL/AFL history.

- FREMANTLE currently has the highest number of indigenous players on an AFL list with eight.

- Indigenous players have won:

Three Brownlow Medals

Six Norm Smith Medals

Three AFL NAB Rising Star awards

Carlton:

Eddie Betts

Joey Anderson

Andrew Walker

Fremantle:

Jeff Farmer

Antoni Grover

Roger Hayden

Des Headland

Brett Peake

Calib Mourish -R

Adelaide:

Graham Johncock

Andrew McLeod

Brisbane:

Rhan Hooper

Jason Roe

Ashley McGrath

Albert Proud

Anthony Corrie

Collingwood:

Leon Davis

Chris Egan

Brad Dick

Essendon:

Alwyn Davey

Courtenay Dempsey

Leroy Jetta

Andew Lovett

Nathan Lovett-Murray

Patrick Ryder

Geelong:

Nathan Djerrkura

Liam Bedford

Travis Varcoe

Hawthorn:

Chance Bateman

Buddy

Mark Williams

Cyril Rioli

Kangaroos:

Eddie Sainsbury

Lyndsay Thomas

Daniel Wells

Demons:

Aaron Davey

Matthew Whealan

Austin Wonaeamirri - R

Port Adelaide:

Peter Burgoyne

Shaun Burgoyne

Nathan Krakouer

Daniel Motlop

Marlon Motlop

Danyle Pearce

Richmond:

Richard Tambling

Jarred Oakley Nichols

Saints:

Xavier Clark

Raphel Clark

Sydney:

Adam Goodes

Michael O'Lachlan

West Coast:

David Wirrpanda

Western Bulldogs:

None.

Impressive list.

One could mention for the history buffs, the first ever Australian Cricket tourists were an Aboriginal team in 1868. Chap named johnny Mullagh took 261 wickets and scored 1,177 runs.

Wot about the new hopeful unknown species in rundown boats from nowhere, no passports or ID?

But they couldn't find an Abbo working !!

I know one working Aboriginal.

But they couldn't find an Abbo working !!

I know one working Aboriginal.

How much did she charge you?

But they couldn't find an Abbo working !!

I know one working Aboriginal.

How much did she charge you?

funny boy. she was a he Ohh no and it wasnt like that the more i say the more i get in trouble with you harcourt

Impressive list.

One could mention for the history buffs, the first ever Australian Cricket tourists were an Aboriginal team in 1868. Chap named johnny Mullagh took 261 wickets and scored 1,177 runs.

It must have been a limited overs match...

I'm sure a lot of the new species and sub-species have migrated to Thailand and ended up on thaivisa forums. At least by the various posts I've come to that conclusion.

Impressive list.

One could mention for the history buffs, the first ever Australian Cricket tourists were an Aboriginal team in 1868. Chap named johnny Mullagh took 261 wickets and scored 1,177 runs.

It must have been a limited overs match...

Naaaaaaah, early T20 game

Wow a parasite that eats fish tongues, no wonder I've never heard a fish say anything intelligent. If only they had hands they could learn sign language

Wow a parasite that eats fish tongues, no wonder I've never heard a fish say anything intelligent. If only they had hands they could learn sign language

They must have hands. Have you never heard of fish fingers?