Sydney: Nearly 200 coral species in the deeper regions of Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef have been found instead of about 30 species previously recorded, pointing to the significant role of the major marine organisms' habitat, according to the latest research.

The latest count represented about half of the coral species in the region and suggested an important function of deeper habitats which could be crucial in preserving biodiversity and helping to regenerate damaged shallow reef areas, research team leader Paul Muir from the Museum of Tropical Queensland said in a statement on Wednesday.