Species database

Marine species in Malaysia

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.

Yellowtail Clownfish (Amphiprion clarkii)common

Amphiprion clarkii

Yellowtail Clownfish

Fish
Western Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)common

Amphiprion ocellaris

Western Clownfish

Fish
Blackspotted Puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus)common

Arothron nigropunctatus

Blackspotted Puffer

Fish
Chinese Trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis)common

Aulostomus chinensis

Chinese Trumpetfish

Fish
Green Humphead Parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum)common

Bolbometopon muricatum

Green Humphead Parrotfish

Fish
Bigeye Trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus)common

Caranx sexfasciatus

Bigeye Trevally

Fish
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)common

Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

Reptiles
De Beaufort's Flathead (Cymbacephalus beauforti)common

Cymbacephalus beauforti

De Beaufort's Flathead

Fish
Giant Moray (Gymnothorax javanicus)common

Gymnothorax javanicus

Giant Moray

Fish
Azure Sea Star (Linckia laevigata)common

Linckia laevigata

Azure Sea Star

Invertebrates
Variable Neon Slug (Nembrotha kubaryana)common

Nembrotha kubaryana

Variable Neon Slug

Invertebrates
Clown Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides)common

Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides

Clown Sweetlips

Fish
Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans)common

Pterois volitans

Red Lionfish

Fish
Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus)common

Stenopus hispidus

Banded Coral Shrimp

Invertebrates
Leaf Scorpionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus)common

Taenianotus triacanthus

Leaf Scorpionfish

Fish
Reef Stingray (Taeniura lymma)common

Taeniura lymma

Reef Stingray

Fish
Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus)common

Triaenodon obesus

Whitetip Reef Shark

Fish
Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)common

Zanclus cornutus

Moorish Idol

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Map Puffer (Arothron mappa)occasional

Arothron mappa

Map Puffer

Fish
Humphead Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)occasional

Cheilinus undulatus

Humphead Wrasse

Fish
Domino (Dascyllus trimaculatus)occasional

Dascyllus trimaculatus

Domino

Fish
Fimbriated Moray (Gymnothorax fimbriatus)occasional

Gymnothorax fimbriatus

Fimbriated Moray

Fish
Yellow-Edged Moray (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus)occasional

Gymnothorax flavimarginatus

Yellow-Edged Moray

Fish
Black and White Snapper (Macolor macularis)occasional

Macolor macularis

Black and White Snapper

Fish
Crested Nembrotha (Nembrotha cristata)occasional

Nembrotha cristata

Crested Nembrotha

Invertebrates
Shadowy Wrinkle Dorid (Nembrotha milleri)occasional

Nembrotha milleri

Shadowy Wrinkle Dorid

Invertebrates
Big Blue Octopus (Octopus cyanea)occasional

Octopus cyanea

Big Blue Octopus

Invertebrates
Red-Toothed Triggerfish (Odonus niger)occasional

Odonus niger

Red-Toothed Triggerfish

Fish
Emperor (Pomacanthus imperator)occasional

Pomacanthus imperator

Emperor

Fish
Blue-Face Angelfish (Pomacanthus xanthometopon)occasional

Pomacanthus xanthometopon

Blue-Face Angelfish

Fish
Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus)occasional

Pygoplites diacanthus

Regal Angelfish

Fish
Moon Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare)occasional

Thalassoma lunare

Moon Wrasse

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Clownfish (Amphiprion perideraion)rare

Amphiprion perideraion

Clownfish

Fish
Clown Triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum)rare

Balistoides conspicillum

Clown Triggerfish

Fish
Bluefin Trevally (Caranx melampygus)rare

Caranx melampygus

Bluefin Trevally

Fish
Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)rare

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

Grey Reef Shark

Fish
Coral Grouper (Cephalopholis miniata)rare

Cephalopholis miniata

Coral Grouper

Fish
Sunburst Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii)rare

Chaetodon kleinii

Sunburst Butterflyfish

Fish
Grainy Cushion Star (Choriaster granulatus)rare

Choriaster granulatus

Grainy Cushion Star

Invertebrates
Green Barrel Sea Squirt (Didemnum molle)rare

Didemnum molle

Green Barrel Sea Squirt

Invertebrates
Black-Blotched Porcupinefish (Diodon liturosus)rare

Diodon liturosus

Black-Blotched Porcupinefish

Fish
Fire Dartfish (Nemateleotris magnifica)rare

Nemateleotris magnifica

Fire Dartfish

Fish
Ivory Wrinkle Dorid (Nembrotha lineolata)rare

Nembrotha lineolata

Ivory Wrinkle Dorid

Invertebrates
Golden Rabbitfish (Siganus guttatus)rare

Siganus guttatus

Golden Rabbitfish

Fish
Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)rare

Sphyraena barracuda

Great Barracuda

Fish