Species database

Marine species in Kenya

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.

Scissortail Sergeant (Abudefduf sexfasciatus)common

Abudefduf sexfasciatus

Scissortail Sergeant

Fish
Indo-Pacific Sergeant (Abudefduf vaigiensis)common

Abudefduf vaigiensis

Indo-Pacific Sergeant

Fish
Bristly Puffer (Arothron hispidus)common

Arothron hispidus

Bristly Puffer

Fish
common

Canthidermis maculata

Rough Triggerfish

Fish
Valentinni's Sharpnose Puffer (Canthigaster valentini)common

Canthigaster valentini

Valentinni's Sharpnose Puffer

Fish
Cigar Wrasse (Cheilio inermis)common

Cheilio inermis

Cigar Wrasse

Fish
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)common

Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

Reptiles
Burnt Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus)common

Chlorurus sordidus

Burnt Parrotfish

Fish
Domino (Dascyllus trimaculatus)common

Dascyllus trimaculatus

Domino

Fish
Rock-Boring Urchin (Echinometra mathaei)common

Echinometra mathaei

Rock-Boring Urchin

Invertebrates
Blackspot Emperor (Lethrinus harak)common

Lethrinus harak

Blackspot Emperor

Fish
Azure Sea Star (Linckia laevigata)common

Linckia laevigata

Azure Sea Star

Invertebrates
Blackspotted Grunt (Plectorhinchus gaterinus)common

Plectorhinchus gaterinus

Blackspotted Grunt

Fish
Red-Knobbed Sea Star (Protoreaster lincki)common

Protoreaster lincki

Red-Knobbed Sea Star

Invertebrates
Devil Firefish (Pterois miles)common

Pterois miles

Devil Firefish

Fish
White-Spotted Spinefoot (Siganus canaliculatus)common

Siganus canaliculatus

White-Spotted Spinefoot

Fish
Shoemaker Spinefoot (Siganus sutor)common

Siganus sutor

Shoemaker Spinefoot

Fish
Bischofsmützenseeigel (Tripneustes gratilla)common

Tripneustes gratilla

Bischofsmützenseeigel

Invertebrates

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Crown-of-Thorns (Acanthaster planci)occasional

Acanthaster planci

Crown-of-Thorns

Invertebrates
Bushy Staghorn Coral (Acropora valida)occasional

Acropora valida

Bushy Staghorn Coral

Corals
Allard's Anemonefish (Amphiprion allardi)occasional

Amphiprion allardi

Allard's Anemonefish

Fish
Silky Shark (Carcharhinus falciformis)occasional

Carcharhinus falciformis

Silky Shark

Fish
Oceanic Whitetip Shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)occasional

Carcharhinus longimanus

Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Fish
Cross-Stripe Butterfly (Chaetodon auriga)occasional

Chaetodon auriga

Cross-Stripe Butterfly

Fish
Pincushion Cushionstar (Culcita schmideliana)occasional

Culcita schmideliana

Pincushion Cushionstar

Invertebrates
Black Longspine Urchin (Diadema setosum)occasional

Diadema setosum

Black Longspine Urchin

Invertebrates
Rainbow Runner (Elagatis bipinnulata)occasional

Elagatis bipinnulata

Rainbow Runner

Fish
Checkerboard Wrasse (Halichoeres hortulanus)occasional

Halichoeres hortulanus

Checkerboard Wrasse

Fish
Lollyfish (Holothuria atra)occasional

Holothuria atra

Lollyfish

Invertebrates
Button Star (Nardoa variolata)occasional

Nardoa variolata

Button Star

Invertebrates
Big Blue Octopus (Octopus cyanea)occasional

Octopus cyanea

Big Blue Octopus

Invertebrates
Lagoon Brittle Star (Ophiocoma scolopendrina)occasional

Ophiocoma scolopendrina

Lagoon Brittle Star

Invertebrates

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Purple Tipped Acropora (Acropora secale)rare

Acropora secale

Purple Tipped Acropora

Corals
Spinytooth Parrotfish (Calotomus spinidens)rare

Calotomus spinidens

Spinytooth Parrotfish

Fish
Bennett's Sharpnose Puffer (Canthigaster bennetti)rare

Canthigaster bennetti

Bennett's Sharpnose Puffer

Fish
Spotted Sharpnose (Canthigaster solandri)rare

Canthigaster solandri

Spotted Sharpnose

Fish
Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus)rare

Carcharhinus limbatus

Blacktip Shark

Fish
Snooty Wrasse (Cheilinus oxycephalus)rare

Cheilinus oxycephalus

Snooty Wrasse

Fish
Multipore Sea Star (Linckia multifora)rare

Linckia multifora

Multipore Sea Star

Invertebrates
Twospot Wrasse (Oxycheilinus bimaculatus)rare

Oxycheilinus bimaculatus

Twospot Wrasse

Fish
Dash-and-Dot Goatfish (Parupeneus barberinus)rare

Parupeneus barberinus

Dash-and-Dot Goatfish

Fish
Blackmouth Sea Cucumber (Pearsonothuria graeffei)rare

Pearsonothuria graeffei

Blackmouth Sea Cucumber

Invertebrates
Striped Eel Catfish (Plotosus lineatus)rare

Plotosus lineatus

Striped Eel Catfish

Fish
Snake Sea Cucumber (Synapta maculata)rare

Synapta maculata

Snake Sea Cucumber

Invertebrates
Greater Pipefish (Syngnathus acus)rare

Syngnathus acus

Greater Pipefish

Fish