Species database

Marine species in Cape Verde

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.

Planning a trip? Browse dive sites in Cape Verde

Commonly seen

18

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

Monrovia Surgeonfish (Acanthurus monroviae)common

Acanthurus monroviae

Monrovia Surgeonfish

Fish
Large-Spotted Sea Hare (Aplysia dactylomela)common

Aplysia dactylomela

Large-Spotted Sea Hare

Invertebrates
Atlantic Cornetfish (Aulostomus strigosus)common

Aulostomus strigosus

Atlantic Cornetfish

Fish
African Hind (Cephalopholis taeniops)common

Cephalopholis taeniops

African Hind

Fish
Three-Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon robustus)common

Chaetodon robustus

Three-Banded Butterflyfish

Fish
Balloonfish (Diodon holocanthus)common

Diodon holocanthus

Balloonfish

Fish
Striped White Bream (Diplodus lineatus)common

Diplodus lineatus

Striped White Bream

Fish
Bright Glasseye (Heteropriacanthus fulgens)common

Heteropriacanthus fulgens

Bright Glasseye

Fish
Hairy Blenny (Labrisomus nuchipinnis)common

Labrisomus nuchipinnis

Hairy Blenny

Fish
Hump (Megaptera novaeangliae)common

Megaptera novaeangliae

Hump

Mammals
Yellow Goatfish (Mulloidichthys martinicus)common

Mulloidichthys martinicus

Yellow Goatfish

Fish
Honeycomb Moray (Muraena melanotis)common

Muraena melanotis

Honeycomb Moray

Fish
Blackbar Soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus)common

Myripristis jacobus

Blackbar Soldierfish

Fish
Lemon Shark (Negaprion brevirostris)common

Negaprion brevirostris

Lemon Shark

Fish
Rock-Pool Blenny (Parablennius parvicornis)common

Parablennius parvicornis

Rock-Pool Blenny

Fish
Atlantic Weasel Shark (Paragaleus pectoralis)common

Paragaleus pectoralis

Atlantic Weasel Shark

Fish
European Parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense)common

Sparisoma cretense

European Parrotfish

Fish
Ornate Wrasse (Thalassoma pavo)common

Thalassoma pavo

Ornate Wrasse

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Night Sergeant (Abudefduf taurus)occasional

Abudefduf taurus

Night Sergeant

Fish
Scrawled Filefish (Aluterus scriptus)occasional

Aluterus scriptus

Scrawled Filefish

Fish
Common Sea Hare (Aplysia punctata)occasional

Aplysia punctata

Common Sea Hare

Invertebrates
Blue Runner (Caranx crysos)occasional

Caranx crysos

Blue Runner

Fish
Spotfin Burrfish (Chilomycterus reticulatus)occasional

Chilomycterus reticulatus

Spotfin Burrfish

Fish
Gulf Coris (Coris atlantica)occasional

Coris atlantica

Gulf Coris

Fish
Porcupinefish (Diodon hystrix)occasional

Diodon hystrix

Porcupinefish

Fish
Slate Pencil Urchin (Eucidaris tribuloides)occasional

Eucidaris tribuloides

Slate Pencil Urchin

Invertebrates
occasional

Girella zonata

Verdean Nibbler

Fish
Goldentail Moray (Gymnothorax miliaris)occasional

Gymnothorax miliaris

Goldentail Moray

Fish
Purplemouth Moray (Gymnothorax vicinus)occasional

Gymnothorax vicinus

Purplemouth Moray

Fish
Devilfish (Ophioblennius atlanticus)occasional

Ophioblennius atlanticus

Devilfish

Fish
Knobby Porous Coral (Porites astreoides)occasional

Porites astreoides

Knobby Porous Coral

Corals
Guinean Parrotfish (Scarus hoefleri)occasional

Scarus hoefleri

Guinean Parrotfish

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Cow Pilot (Abudefduf saxatilis)rare

Abudefduf saxatilis

Cow Pilot

Fish
Gray Triggerfish (Balistes capriscus)rare

Balistes capriscus

Gray Triggerfish

Fish
Wide-Eyed Flounder (Bothus podas)rare

Bothus podas

Wide-Eyed Flounder

Fish
Toby (Canthigaster capistrata)rare

Canthigaster capistrata

Toby

Fish
Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)rare

Caretta caretta

Loggerhead

Reptiles
Shortnose Greeneye (Chlorophthalmus agassizi)rare

Chlorophthalmus agassizi

Shortnose Greeneye

Fish
Flying Gurnard (Dactylopterus volitans)rare

Dactylopterus volitans

Flying Gurnard

Fish
Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum)rare

Ginglymostoma cirratum

Nurse Shark

Fish
Guinean Angelfish (Holacanthus africanus)rare

Holacanthus africanus

Guinean Angelfish

Fish
Striped Seabream (Lithognathus mormyrus)rare

Lithognathus mormyrus

Striped Seabream

Fish
bigeye (Priacanthus arenatus)rare

Priacanthus arenatus

bigeye

Fish
Milk Shark (Rhizoprionodon acutus)rare

Rhizoprionodon acutus

Milk Shark

Fish
Red Lizardfish (Synodus synodus)rare

Synodus synodus

Red Lizardfish

Fish