Species database

Marine species in France

55 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

19

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

Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)Common

Caretta caretta

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Reptiles
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)Common

Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

Reptiles
Brown Chromis (Chromis chromis)Common

Chromis chromis

Brown Chromis

Fish
Common

Corbicula fluminea

Asian basket clam

Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse (Coris julis)Common

Coris julis

Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse

Fish
Bumping Encrusting Sponge (Crambe crambe)Common

Crambe crambe

Bumping Encrusting Sponge

Invertebrates
Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)Common

Dermochelys coriacea

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Reptiles
White Seabream (Diplodus sargus)Common

Diplodus sargus

White Seabream

Fish
Two Banded Sea Bream (Diplodus vulgaris)Common

Diplodus vulgaris

Two Banded Sea Bream

Fish
Dusky Grouper (Epinephelus marginatus)Common

Epinephelus marginatus

Dusky Grouper

Fish
Yellow Gorgonian (Eunicella cavolini)Common

Eunicella cavolini

Yellow Gorgonian

Invertebrates
Red Sea-Squirt (Halocynthia papillosa)Common

Halocynthia papillosa

Red Sea-Squirt

Invertebrates
Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola)Common

Mola mola

Ocean Sunfish

Fish
Mediterranean Moray (Muraena helena)Common

Muraena helena

Mediterranean Moray

Fish
Chameleon Sea Fan (Paramuricea clavata)Common

Paramuricea clavata

Chameleon Sea Fan

Invertebrates
Yellow Cluster Anemone (Parazoanthus axinellae)Common

Parazoanthus axinellae

Yellow Cluster Anemone

Invertebrates
Salema (Sarpa salpa)Common

Sarpa salpa

Salema

Fish
Comber (Serranus cabrilla)Common

Serranus cabrilla

Comber

Fish
Painted Comber (Serranus scriba)Common

Serranus scriba

Painted Comber

Fish

Occasionally seen

22

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Occasional

Ameiurus melas

black bullhead

Opelet Anemone (Anemonia viridis)Occasional

Anemonia viridis

Opelet Anemone

Invertebrates
Marine Goldfish (Anthias anthias)Occasional

Anthias anthias

Marine Goldfish

Fish
Cardinalfish (Apogon imberbis)Occasional

Apogon imberbis

Cardinalfish

Fish
Black Sea Urchin (Arbacia lixula)Occasional

Arbacia lixula

Black Sea Urchin

Invertebrates
Occasional

Bufo bufo

European Toad

Chicken Liver Sponge (Chondrosia reniformis)Occasional

Chondrosia reniformis

Chicken Liver Sponge

Invertebrates
Precious Coral (Corallium rubrum)Occasional

Corallium rubrum

Precious Coral

Invertebrates
White Horny Coral (Eunicella singularis)Occasional

Eunicella singularis

White Horny Coral

Invertebrates
Occasional

Ichthyosaura alpestris

alpine newt

Occasional

Lissotriton vulgaris

smooth newt

European Hake (Merluccius merluccius)Occasional

Merluccius merluccius

European Hake

Fish
Goatfish (Mullus surmuletus)Occasional

Mullus surmuletus

Goatfish

Fish
Common Crawfish (Palinurus elephas)Occasional

Palinurus elephas

Common Crawfish

Invertebrates
Occasional

Pelophylax ridibundus

marsh frog

Occasional

Rana temporaria

European frog

Red Scorpionfish (Scorpaena notata)Occasional

Scorpaena notata

Red Scorpionfish

Fish
Largescaled Scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa)Occasional

Scorpaena scrofa

Largescaled Scorpionfish

Fish
Occasional

Spongilla lacustris

freshwater sponge

Invertebrates
East Atlantic Peacock Wrasse (Symphodus tinca)Occasional

Symphodus tinca

East Atlantic Peacock Wrasse

Fish
Ornate Wrasse (Thalassoma pavo)Occasional

Thalassoma pavo

Ornate Wrasse

Fish
Occasional

Triturus cristatus

great crested newt

Rare finds

14

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Leathery Gold Sponge (Agelas oroides)Rare

Agelas oroides

Leathery Gold Sponge

Invertebrates
Conger (Conger conger)Rare

Conger conger

Conger

Fish
Cratena Slug (Cratena peregrina)Rare

Cratena peregrina

Cratena Slug

Invertebrates
Common Dentex (Dentex dentex)Rare

Dentex dentex

Common Dentex

Fish
Sharp Snout Bream (Diplodus puntazzo)Rare

Diplodus puntazzo

Sharp Snout Bream

Fish
Mediterranean Violet Aeolid (Flabellina affinis)Rare

Flabellina affinis

Mediterranean Violet Aeolid

Invertebrates
Sunset Cup Coral (Leptopsammia pruvoti)Rare

Leptopsammia pruvoti

Sunset Cup Coral

Corals
Rare

Natrix natrix

Common Grass Snake

Purple Sea Urchin (Paracentrotus lividus)Rare

Paracentrotus lividus

Purple Sea Urchin

Invertebrates
Brown Meagre (Sciaena umbra)Rare

Sciaena umbra

Brown Meagre

Fish
Black Scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus)Rare

Scorpaena porcus

Black Scorpionfish

Fish
Violet Sea Urchin (Sphaerechinus granularis)Rare

Sphaerechinus granularis

Violet Sea Urchin

Invertebrates
Blue Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)Rare

Stenella coeruleoalba

Blue Dolphin

Mammals
Black-Face Blenny (Tripterygion delaisi)Rare

Tripterygion delaisi

Black-Face Blenny

Fish