Species database

Marine species in Australia (Great Barrier Reef)

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.

Commonly seen

18

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

Spiny Chromis (Acanthochromis polyacanthus)Common

Acanthochromis polyacanthus

Spiny Chromis

Fish
Silvertip Shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus)Common

Carcharhinus albimarginatus

Silvertip Shark

Fish
Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)Common

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

Grey Reef Shark

Fish
Pigeye Shark (Carcharhinus amboinensis)Common

Carcharhinus amboinensis

Pigeye Shark

Fish
Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus)Common

Carcharhinus limbatus

Blacktip Shark

Fish
Blacktip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)Common

Carcharhinus melanopterus

Blacktip Reef Shark

Fish
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)Common

Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

Reptiles
Daisy Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus)Common

Chlorurus sordidus

Daisy Parrotfish

Fish
Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)Common

Galeocerdo cuvier

Tiger Shark

Fish
Brassy Chub (Kyphosus vaigiensis)Common

Kyphosus vaigiensis

Brassy Chub

Fish
Blacksaddled Coralgrouper (Plectropomus laevis)Common

Plectropomus laevis

Blacksaddled Coralgrouper

Fish
Blue-Spot Trout (Plectropomus leopardus)Common

Plectropomus leopardus

Blue-Spot Trout

Fish
Lemon Damsel (Pomacentrus moluccensis)Common

Pomacentrus moluccensis

Lemon Damsel

Fish
Australian Sharpnose Shark (Rhizoprionodon taylori)Common

Rhizoprionodon taylori

Australian Sharpnose Shark

Fish
Rivulated Parrotfish (Scarus rivulatus)Common

Scarus rivulatus

Rivulated Parrotfish

Fish
Barred Spinefoot (Siganus doliatus)Common

Siganus doliatus

Barred Spinefoot

Fish
Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran)Common

Sphyrna mokarran

Great Hammerhead

Fish
Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus)Common

Triaenodon obesus

Whitetip Reef Shark

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Brown Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus)Occasional

Acanthurus nigrofuscus

Brown Surgeonfish

Fish
Black-Snouted Sergeant-Major (Amblyglyphidodon curacao)Occasional

Amblyglyphidodon curacao

Black-Snouted Sergeant-Major

Fish
Golden Butterflyfish (Chaetodon aureofasciatus)Occasional

Chaetodon aureofasciatus

Golden Butterflyfish

Fish
Rainford's Coralfish (Chaetodon rainfordi)Occasional

Chaetodon rainfordi

Rainford's Coralfish

Fish
Redbreasted Wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus)Occasional

Cheilinus fasciatus

Redbreasted Wrasse

Fish
Blunt-Head Parrotfish (Chlorurus microrhinos)Occasional

Chlorurus microrhinos

Blunt-Head Parrotfish

Fish
Jawslinger (Epibulus insidiator)Occasional

Epibulus insidiator

Jawslinger

Fish
Bird Wrasse (Gomphosus varius)Occasional

Gomphosus varius

Bird Wrasse

Fish
Checkerboard Wrasse (Halichoeres hortulanus)Occasional

Halichoeres hortulanus

Checkerboard Wrasse

Fish
Barred Thicklip (Hemigymnus fasciatus)Occasional

Hemigymnus fasciatus

Barred Thicklip

Fish
Blackeye Thicklip (Hemigymnus melapterus)Occasional

Hemigymnus melapterus

Blackeye Thicklip

Fish
Bridled Parrotfish (Scarus frenatus)Occasional

Scarus frenatus

Bridled Parrotfish

Fish
Dusky Parrotfish (Scarus niger)Occasional

Scarus niger

Dusky Parrotfish

Fish
Brown Tang (Zebrasoma scopas)Occasional

Zebrasoma scopas

Brown Tang

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Crown-of-Thorns (Acanthaster planci)Rare

Acanthaster planci

Crown-of-Thorns

Invertebrates
Whitebelly Damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster)Rare

Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster

Whitebelly Damselfish

Fish
Eastern Triangle Butterflyfish (Chaetodon baronessa)Rare

Chaetodon baronessa

Eastern Triangle Butterflyfish

Fish
Blue-Dash Butterflyfish (Chaetodon plebeius)Rare

Chaetodon plebeius

Blue-Dash Butterflyfish

Fish
Melon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifasciatus)Rare

Chaetodon trifasciatus

Melon Butterflyfish

Fish
Black-Axil Chromis (Chromis atripectoralis)Rare

Chromis atripectoralis

Black-Axil Chromis

Fish
Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus)Rare

Labroides dimidiatus

Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse

Fish
Blue-Spine Nosefish (Naso unicornis)Rare

Naso unicornis

Blue-Spine Nosefish

Fish
Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)Rare

Rhincodon typus

Whale Shark

Fish
Chameleon Parrotfish (Scarus chameleon)Rare

Scarus chameleon

Chameleon Parrotfish

Fish
Schlegel's Parrotfish (Scarus schlegeli)Rare

Scarus schlegeli

Schlegel's Parrotfish

Fish
Blue-Spotted Spinefoot (Siganus corallinus)Rare

Siganus corallinus

Blue-Spotted Spinefoot

Fish
Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)Rare

Zanclus cornutus

Moorish Idol

Fish