Benthic juvenile and adult urochordates (ascidians or sea squirts) can be found attached to most hard substrata and they are a major part of the cryptic communities living under boulders and ledges located in the outer reef zones, rubble crest, the seaward platform and reef slope. Ascidians have a pelago-benthic life cycle and their tadpole larvae can be found in the plankton around Heron Island Reef. Also in the water column throughout the year are a range of holoplanktonic salps and larvaceans.
reef zones of the southwest end of Heron Island Reef
(Image provided by Digital Globe Inc and Biophysical Remote Sensing Group, The University of Queensland)