Central Indo-Pacific (CI)

The Central Indo-Pacific (CI) realm is the global epicenter of marine biodiversity, centered on the "Coral Triangle" in Southeast Asia. It encompasses the seas surrounding the northern half of Australia, the Indonesian archipelago, the Philippines, and parts of Melanesia. This realm contains over 75% of the world’s coral species and more than 2,000 species of reef fish. It is home to the world’s two largest coral reef systems: Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the New Caledonia Barrier Reef. Its warm, shallow waters and complex coastline provide an immense variety of niches, fostering unparalleled levels of richness in nearly all groups of marine organisms.