Species database

Marine species in France

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.

Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)common

Caretta caretta

Loggerhead

Reptiles
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)common

Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

Reptiles
Brown Chromis (Chromis chromis)common

Chromis chromis

Brown Chromis

Fish
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 (Dermochelys coriacea)common

Dermochelys coriacea

Leatherback

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
Common Sunfish (Mola mola)common

Mola mola

Common 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

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

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
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
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
Red Scorpionfish (Scorpaena notata)occasional

Scorpaena notata

Red Scorpionfish

Fish
Largescaled Scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa)occasional

Scorpaena scrofa

Largescaled Scorpionfish

Fish
East Atlantic Peacock Wrasse (Symphodus tinca)occasional

Symphodus tinca

East Atlantic Peacock Wrasse

Fish
Ornate Wrasse (Thalassoma pavo)occasional

Thalassoma pavo

Ornate Wrasse

Fish

Rare finds

13

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
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