Species database

Marine species in Japan (mainland)

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.

Indo-Pacific Sergeant (Abudefduf vaigiensis)common

Abudefduf vaigiensis

Indo-Pacific Sergeant

Fish
Beadlet Anemone (Actinia equina)common

Actinia equina

Beadlet Anemone

Invertebrates
Anteaeolidiella takanosimensiscommon

Anteaeolidiella takanosimensis

Invertebrates
Blue-Spotted Sea Hare (Bursatella leachii)common

Bursatella leachii

Blue-Spotted Sea Hare

Invertebrates
Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)common

Caretta caretta

Loggerhead

Reptiles
Black Longspine Urchin (Diadema setosum)common

Diadema setosum

Black Longspine Urchin

Invertebrates
Green-Striped Anemone (Diadumene lineata)common

Diadumene lineata

Green-Striped Anemone

Invertebrates
Rock-Boring Urchin (Echinometra mathaei)common

Echinometra mathaei

Rock-Boring Urchin

Invertebrates
Largescale Blackfish (Girella punctata)common

Girella punctata

Largescale Blackfish

Fish
Asian Shore Crab (Hemigrapsus sanguineus)common

Hemigrapsus sanguineus

Asian Shore Crab

Invertebrates
Asian Brush Crab (Hemigrapsus takanoi)common

Hemigrapsus takanoi

Asian Brush Crab

Invertebrates
Atlantic Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)common

Isurus oxyrinchus

Atlantic Mako Shark

Fish
Pacific Oyster (Magallana gigas)common

Magallana gigas

Pacific Oyster

Invertebrates
Flathead Grey Mullet (Mugil cephalus)common

Mugil cephalus

Flathead Grey Mullet

Fish
Elegant Blenny (Omobranchus elegans)common

Omobranchus elegans

Elegant Blenny

Fish
Japanese Sillago (Sillago japonica)common

Sillago japonica

Japanese Sillago

Fish
Asian Tunicate (Styela clava)common

Styela clava

Asian Tunicate

Invertebrates
Asian Sea Squirt (Styela plicata)common

Styela plicata

Asian Sea Squirt

Invertebrates

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Brooding Snake Star (Amphipholis squamata)occasional

Amphipholis squamata

Brooding Snake Star

Invertebrates
Chain Tunicate (Botrylloides violaceus)occasional

Botrylloides violaceus

Chain Tunicate

Invertebrates
Bulbaeolidia japonicaoccasional

Bulbaeolidia japonica

Invertebrates
Brown-Lined Puffer (Canthigaster rivulata)occasional

Canthigaster rivulata

Brown-Lined Puffer

Fish
Lined Cratena (Cratena lineata)occasional

Cratena lineata

Lined Cratena

Invertebrates
Anvil Sea Hare (Dolabella auricularia)occasional

Dolabella auricularia

Anvil Sea Hare

Invertebrates
Breadcrumb Horny Sponge (Halichondria (Halichondria) panicea)occasional

Halichondria (Halichondria) panicea

Breadcrumb Horny Sponge

Invertebrates
Red Stingray (Hemitrygon akajei)occasional

Hemitrygon akajei

Red Stingray

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

Hymeniacidon perlevis

Crumb-of-Bread Sponge

Invertebrates
Footballer (Microcanthus strigatus)occasional

Microcanthus strigatus

Footballer

Fish
occasional

Mustelus manazo

Starspotted Smooth-Hound

Fish
Muzzled Blenny (Omobranchus punctatus)occasional

Omobranchus punctatus

Muzzled Blenny

Fish
Brazilian Aeolid (Spurilla braziliana)occasional

Spurilla braziliana

Brazilian Aeolid

Invertebrates
Bischofsmützenseeigel (Tripneustes gratilla)occasional

Tripneustes gratilla

Bischofsmützenseeigel

Invertebrates

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Blackspot Sergeant (Abudefduf sordidus)rare

Abudefduf sordidus

Blackspot Sergeant

Fish
rare

Acropora japonica

Corals
Acropora pruinosarare

Acropora pruinosa

Corals
Pom-Pom Single-Stalk (Babakina indopacifica)rare

Babakina indopacifica

Pom-Pom Single-Stalk

Invertebrates
Baeolidia japonicarare

Baeolidia japonica

Invertebrates
Cerberilla asamusiensisrare

Cerberilla asamusiensis

Invertebrates
Golden Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auripes)rare

Chaetodon auripes

Golden Butterflyfish

Fish
Gray Encrusting Compound Tunicate (Diplosoma listerianum)rare

Diplosoma listerianum

Gray Encrusting Compound Tunicate

Invertebrates
Facelina bilineatarare

Facelina bilineata

Invertebrates
Rippled Rockskipper (Istiblennius edentulus)rare

Istiblennius edentulus

Rippled Rockskipper

Fish
Little Six-Arm Brittle Star (Ophiactis savignyi)rare

Ophiactis savignyi

Little Six-Arm Brittle Star

Invertebrates
Cocktail Wrasse (Pteragogus aurigarius)rare

Pteragogus aurigarius

Cocktail Wrasse

Fish
Olive-Tailed Flathead (Rogadius asper)rare

Rogadius asper

Olive-Tailed Flathead

Fish