Species database

Marine species in Aruba

45 species divers have recorded here, each verified against the World Register of Marine Species. Log your dives on DIVR to add to the record.

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Commonly seen

18

You have a good chance of spotting these on a typical dive.

Cow Pilot (Abudefduf saxatilis)common

Abudefduf saxatilis

Cow Pilot

Fish
Granulated Chiton (Acanthopleura granulata)common

Acanthopleura granulata

Granulated Chiton

Invertebrates
Ocean Surgeon (Acanthurus bahianus)common

Acanthurus bahianus

Ocean Surgeon

Fish
Blue Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus)common

Acanthurus coeruleus

Blue Tang

Fish
Candle Sponge (Aplysina fistularis)common

Aplysina fistularis

Candle Sponge

Invertebrates
Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon striatus)common

Chaetodon striatus

Banded Butterflyfish

Fish
French Grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum)common

Haemulon flavolineatum

French Grunt

Fish
Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus)common

Halichoeres bivittatus

Slippery Dick

Fish
Bluefish (Halichoeres radiatus)common

Halichoeres radiatus

Bluefish

Fish
Squirrelfish (Holocentrus adscensionis)common

Holocentrus adscensionis

Squirrelfish

Fish
Smooth Trunkfish (Lactophrys triqueter)common

Lactophrys triqueter

Smooth Trunkfish

Fish
Yellow Goatfish (Mulloidichthys martinicus)common

Mulloidichthys martinicus

Yellow Goatfish

Fish
Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus)common

Ocyurus chrysurus

Cola

Fish
French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru)common

Pomacanthus paru

French Angelfish

Fish
Green Parrotfish (Scarus vetula)common

Scarus vetula

Green Parrotfish

Fish
Redfin Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne)common

Sparisoma rubripinne

Redfin Parrotfish

Fish
Stoplight Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride)common

Sparisoma viride

Stoplight Parrotfish

Fish
Bluehead (Thalassoma bifasciatum)common

Thalassoma bifasciatum

Bluehead

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus)occasional

Acanthurus chirurgus

Doctorfish

Fish
Atlantic Turkey Wing (Arca zebra)occasional

Arca zebra

Atlantic Turkey Wing

Invertebrates
Atlantic Trumpetfish (Aulostomus maculatus)occasional

Aulostomus maculatus

Atlantic Trumpetfish

Fish
Foureye Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon capistratus)occasional

Chaetodon capistratus

Foureye Butterfly Fish

Fish
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)occasional

Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

Reptiles
Flying Gurnard (Dactylopterus volitans)occasional

Dactylopterus volitans

Flying Gurnard

Fish
Rock Urchin (Echinometra lucunter)occasional

Echinometra lucunter

Rock Urchin

Invertebrates
Green Moray (Gymnothorax funebris)occasional

Gymnothorax funebris

Green Moray

Fish
Ischnochiton striolatusoccasional

Ischnochiton striolatus

Invertebrates
Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus)occasional

Lutjanus apodus

Schoolmaster

Fish
Yellowhead Jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons)occasional

Opistognathus aurifrons

Yellowhead Jawfish

Fish
Brain Coral (Pseudodiploria strigosa)occasional

Pseudodiploria strigosa

Brain Coral

Corals
Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)occasional

Sphyraena barracuda

Great Barracuda

Fish
Gaff-Topsail Pompano (Trachinotus goodei)occasional

Trachinotus goodei

Gaff-Topsail Pompano

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Common West Indian Bubble (Bulla occidentalis)rare

Bulla occidentalis

Common West Indian Bubble

Invertebrates
Marbled Chiton (Chiton marmoratus)rare

Chiton marmoratus

Marbled Chiton

Invertebrates
Spiny Urchin (Diadema antillarum)rare

Diadema antillarum

Spiny Urchin

Invertebrates
Chain Moray (Echidna catenata)rare

Echidna catenata

Chain Moray

Fish
Bluestripe Grunt (Haemulon sciurus)rare

Haemulon sciurus

Bluestripe Grunt

Fish
Queen Angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris)rare

Holacanthus ciliaris

Queen Angelfish

Fish
Jewelfish (Microspathodon chrysurus)rare

Microspathodon chrysurus

Jewelfish

Fish
Knobby Porous Coral (Porites astreoides)rare

Porites astreoides

Knobby Porous Coral

Corals
Spotted Goatfish (Pseudupeneus maculatus)rare

Pseudupeneus maculatus

Spotted Goatfish

Fish
Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans)rare

Pterois volitans

Red Lionfish

Fish
Spotted Scorpionfish (Scorpaena plumieri)rare

Scorpaena plumieri

Spotted Scorpionfish

Fish
Beaugregory (Stegastes leucostictus)rare

Stegastes leucostictus

Beaugregory

Fish
West Indian Sea Egg (Tripneustes ventricosus)rare

Tripneustes ventricosus

West Indian Sea Egg

Invertebrates