Species database

Marine species in Japan

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.

Indo-Pacific Sergeant (Abudefduf vaigiensis)common

Abudefduf vaigiensis

Indo-Pacific Sergeant

Fish
Acropora digitiferacommon

Acropora digitifera

Corals
Brown Staghorn Coral (Acropora muricata)common

Acropora muricata

Brown Staghorn Coral

Corals
Brown-Lined Puffer (Canthigaster rivulata)common

Canthigaster rivulata

Brown-Lined Puffer

Fish
Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)common

Caretta caretta

Loggerhead

Reptiles
Green-Striped Anemone (Diadumene lineata)common

Diadumene lineata

Green-Striped Anemone

Invertebrates
Largescale Blackfish (Girella punctata)common

Girella punctata

Largescale Blackfish

Fish
Asian Shore Crab (Hemigrapsus sanguineus)common

Hemigrapsus sanguineus

Asian Shore Crab

Invertebrates
Rippled Rockskipper (Istiblennius edentulus)common

Istiblennius edentulus

Rippled Rockskipper

Fish
Atlantic Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)common

Isurus oxyrinchus

Atlantic Mako Shark

Fish
Pacific Oyster (Magallana gigas)common

Magallana gigas

Pacific Oyster

Invertebrates
Footballer (Microcanthus strigatus)common

Microcanthus strigatus

Footballer

Fish
Flathead Grey Mullet (Mugil cephalus)common

Mugil cephalus

Flathead Grey Mullet

Fish
Oriental Grass Shrimp (Palaemon macrodactylus)common

Palaemon macrodactylus

Oriental Grass Shrimp

Invertebrates
Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus)common

Parupeneus multifasciatus

Banded Goatfish

Fish
Amur Goby (Rhinogobius brunneus)common

Rhinogobius brunneus

Amur Goby

Fish
Japanese Sillago (Sillago japonica)common

Sillago japonica

Japanese Sillago

Fish
Hood Coral (Stylophora pistillata)common

Stylophora pistillata

Hood Coral

Corals

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Acropora intermediaoccasional

Acropora intermedia

Corals
Branching Staghorn Coral (Acropora nasuta)occasional

Acropora nasuta

Branching Staghorn Coral

Corals
Acropora tenuisoccasional

Acropora tenuis

Corals
Bigeye Trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus)occasional

Caranx sexfasciatus

Bigeye Trevally

Fish
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)occasional

Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

Reptiles
Black Longspine Urchin (Diadema setosum)occasional

Diadema setosum

Black Longspine Urchin

Invertebrates
Rock-Boring Urchin (Echinometra mathaei)occasional

Echinometra mathaei

Rock-Boring Urchin

Invertebrates
Crumb-of-Bread Sponge (Hymeniacidon perlevis)occasional

Hymeniacidon perlevis

Crumb-of-Bread Sponge

Invertebrates
Hump (Megaptera novaeangliae)occasional

Megaptera novaeangliae

Hump

Mammals
Pore Coral (Montipora digitata)occasional

Montipora digitata

Pore Coral

Corals
Mottled Spinefoot (Siganus fuscescens)occasional

Siganus fuscescens

Mottled Spinefoot

Fish
Asian Tunicate (Styela clava)occasional

Styela clava

Asian Tunicate

Invertebrates
Asian Sea Squirt (Styela plicata)occasional

Styela plicata

Asian Sea Squirt

Invertebrates
Blue-Fin Wrasse (Thalassoma lutescens)occasional

Thalassoma lutescens

Blue-Fin Wrasse

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Blackspot Sergeant (Abudefduf sordidus)rare

Abudefduf sordidus

Blackspot Sergeant

Fish
Table Coral (Acropora cytherea)rare

Acropora cytherea

Table Coral

Corals
Acropora gemmiferarare

Acropora gemmifera

Corals
Finger Coral (Acropora humilis)rare

Acropora humilis

Finger Coral

Corals
Acropora microphthalmarare

Acropora microphthalma

Corals
Acropora pruinosarare

Acropora pruinosa

Corals
Beadlet Anemone (Actinia equina)rare

Actinia equina

Beadlet Anemone

Invertebrates
Yellowtail Clownfish (Amphiprion clarkii)rare

Amphiprion clarkii

Yellowtail Clownfish

Fish
Striated Hermit Crab (Dardanus arrosor)rare

Dardanus arrosor

Striated Hermit Crab

Invertebrates
Pore Coral (Montipora aequituberculata)rare

Montipora aequituberculata

Pore Coral

Corals
Pore Coral (Montipora informis)rare

Montipora informis

Pore Coral

Corals
Cauliflower Coral (Pocillopora verrucosa)rare

Pocillopora verrucosa

Cauliflower Coral

Corals
Barracuda (Sphyraena japonica)rare

Sphyraena japonica

Barracuda

Fish