Brunei has uncovered rich coral fauna in its coastal waters, which might reach more than 400 species, the Brunei Times reported on Wednesday.

The 369 reef-building coral species and other 29 unknown species were discovered by Brunei's Fisheries Department together with a team of scientists in a survey, the Brunei Times reported.

In five of the sites surveyed, more than 200 species of coral were recorded, which was exceptional even in global standard.

Several coral species, thought to be rare elsewhere were found to be relatively common in Brunei waters.

The follow-up study was expected to be carried out next month.

As for wildlife found near the reefs, the survey found 217 fish species which had not been previously recorded from past surveys, bringing the total known reef fish fauna in Brunei to 551 species, the Brunei daily said.

The survey also found that Brunei has a high live coral cover, with an average of 37 percent coverage of the sea floor recorded in 19 sites.

The ratio of live to dead coral cover was noted to be "strongly positive" at 6:1, an indication that Brunei possesses healthy reefs.

As Brunei forms part of the South China Sea coral ecoregion, the findings of the follow-up survey could boost the region, including Brunei, into the Coral Triangle -- an area known to be the world's richest concentration of coral, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and marine plants.