There is a few marine species which are a big part of the Paronella Park experience.

Hephaestus fuliginosus - (Sooty Grunter / Black Bream)

Description
As the name suggests, sooty grunter are sooty-black, ranging to blackish-purple. They can also be dark brown or various shades of gold. Some fish have irregular patches of gold on a dark body. They are stocky-bodied fish and specimens up to 7kg have been recorded. At sexual maturity these fish are around 26-27cm in length. Sooty grunter have an anal fin with 8 or 9 rays.

Habitat/distribution
Sooty grunter prefer rivers with clear flowing water and a sandy or rocky substrate, but have a wide range of environmental tolerance. They occur naturally in the coastal rivers north of and including the Burdekin River, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and westwards to the Daly River in the Northern Territory.  Many north Queensland dams have been stocked with sooty grunter.

Kuhlia rupestris - (Jungle Perch)

Description
Jungle perch are also known as rock flagtail, due to the colour of their tail. The tail is usually barred and spotted, giving it a flag-like appearance. Jungle perch are closely related to two other species, but can be distinguished using a number of features. They have distinctive lateral line counts and tail patterns. Their lateral line count is 41-44, which is less than the two other species. Young fish have an oblique black blotch across each lobe of their tail, which fuses to become a broad, black vertical bar as they age. They are olive-brown above and silvery below, with black spots covering their body. Jungle perch grow up to 56cm in length and 2.4kg. At maturity they are around 26-27cm in length.

Habitat/distribution
Jungle perch are brackish-water fish found in northern Queensland waters. Although they prefer tidal waters, many fish readily move into freshwaters. They are often seen in fast-flowing rivers and streams in coastal areas.

Elseya Latisternum (Saw shelled Snapping Turtle)

Description
The skin of the snapping turtle is brown, except for on the underside of the neck, which is creamy-coloured. Under the lower jaw of turtle are two small barbells of projecting skin, which look almost like a little beard. The neck is covered with nodules of scaly skin, not always evident in babyhood. The skin on top of the head becomes coloured to match the carapace, so that when the turtle has withdrawn it's head, the vulnerable top of the head looks like part of the shell.

Habitat
The Saw Shelled Snapping Turtle is found along Eastern Australia from North-Eastern New South Wales to the tip of Cape York Peninsula, where it lives in rivers.

Nesting
September to January, 9-17 hard-shelled eggs, hatching after 60 days, several clutches can be laid each season.

Feeding
Feeds on aquatic insects, fish, tadpoles and frogs. One of few native animals which successfully preys on Cane Toad.

Freshwater eel
Anguilla reinhardtii (Long-finned eel)
Antuilla australis (Short-finned eel)
Anguilla obscura (South Pacific eel)

Description
Freshwater eels become sexually mature at a wide range of ages, even as late as 96 years, at which time they migrate to the sea to breed and die. Female longfins mature at an average length of about 93cm, and males at around 56cm, though individuals vary a great deal, with some females reaching lengths of more than 200cm, girths of about 50cm and weights of more than 20kg. Female shortfins mature at around 70cm, and males at around 42cm. Long-finned eels are olive-green mottled with darker green, brown and black, adult short-finned eels are olive-green without mottling, and south Pacific eels are uniformly dark brown.

Habitat/distribution
Long-finned eels are common throughout Queensland, while short-finned eels are more common in southerly areas of Australia. All Freshwater eel species can be found in freshwater rivers, dams, lagoons and lakes. All species migrate to sea to breed.