Species database

Marine species in Malta

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.

Planning a trip? Browse dive sites in Malta

Commonly seen

18

You have a good chance of spotting these on a typical dive.

Brown Chromis (Chromis chromis)common

Chromis chromis

Brown Chromis

Fish
Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse (Coris julis)common

Coris julis

Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse

Fish
Dusky Grouper (Epinephelus marginatus)common

Epinephelus marginatus

Dusky Grouper

Fish
Bluespotted Cornetfish (Fistularia commersonii)common

Fistularia commersonii

Bluespotted Cornetfish

Fish
Marbled Rock Crab (Pachygrapsus marmoratus)common

Pachygrapsus marmoratus

Marbled Rock Crab

Invertebrates
Forsskal's Goatfish (Parupeneus forsskali)common

Parupeneus forsskali

Forsskal's Goatfish

Fish
Mauve Stinger (Pelagia noctiluca)common

Pelagia noctiluca

Mauve Stinger

Invertebrates
Rhomboid Sweeper (Pempheris rhomboidea)common

Pempheris rhomboidea

Rhomboid Sweeper

Fish
Devil Firefish (Pterois miles)common

Pterois miles

Devil Firefish

Fish
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
Dusky Spinefoot (Siganus luridus)common

Siganus luridus

Dusky Spinefoot

Fish
Marbled Spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus)common

Siganus rivulatus

Marbled Spinefoot

Fish
European Parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense)common

Sparisoma cretense

European Parrotfish

Fish
Reticulated Leatherjacket (Stephanolepis diaspros)common

Stephanolepis diaspros

Reticulated Leatherjacket

Fish
Ornate Wrasse (Thalassoma pavo)common

Thalassoma pavo

Ornate Wrasse

Fish
Flavimaculosus Puffer (Torquigener flavimaculosus)common

Torquigener flavimaculosus

Flavimaculosus Puffer

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Acanthochitona fascicularisoccasional

Acanthochitona fascicularis

Invertebrates
Cardinalfish (Apogon imberbis)occasional

Apogon imberbis

Cardinalfish

Fish
Mediterranean Intertidal Hermit Crab (Clibanarius erythropus)occasional

Clibanarius erythropus

Mediterranean Intertidal Hermit Crab

Invertebrates
Cratena Slug (Cratena peregrina)occasional

Cratena peregrina

Cratena Slug

Invertebrates
White Seabream (Diplodus sargus)occasional

Diplodus sargus

White Seabream

Fish
Two Banded Sea Bream (Diplodus vulgaris)occasional

Diplodus vulgaris

Two Banded Sea Bream

Fish
Italian Box Crab (Eriphia verrucosa)occasional

Eriphia verrucosa

Italian Box Crab

Invertebrates
Goatfish (Mullus surmuletus)occasional

Mullus surmuletus

Goatfish

Fish
Mediterranean Moray (Muraena helena)occasional

Muraena helena

Mediterranean Moray

Fish
Flat Crab (Percnon gibbesi)occasional

Percnon gibbesi

Flat Crab

Invertebrates
Rhyssoplax olivaceaoccasional

Rhyssoplax olivacea

Invertebrates
Peacock Blenny (Salaria pavo)occasional

Salaria pavo

Peacock Blenny

Fish
Madeira Rock-Fish (Scorpaena maderensis)occasional

Scorpaena maderensis

Madeira Rock-Fish

Fish
East Atlantic Peacock Wrasse (Symphodus tinca)occasional

Symphodus tinca

East Atlantic Peacock Wrasse

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Opelet Anemone (Anemonia viridis)rare

Anemonia viridis

Opelet Anemone

Invertebrates
Blue Runner (Caranx crysos)rare

Caranx crysos

Blue Runner

Fish
Fried Egg Jellyfish (Cotylorhiza tuberculata)rare

Cotylorhiza tuberculata

Fried Egg Jellyfish

Invertebrates
Annular Sea Bream (Diplodus annularis)rare

Diplodus annularis

Annular Sea Bream

Fish
Mediterranean Violet Aeolid (Flabellina affinis)rare

Flabellina affinis

Mediterranean Violet Aeolid

Invertebrates
Ischnochiton rissoirare

Ischnochiton rissoi

Invertebrates
Ribbed Chiton (Lepidopleurus cajetanus)rare

Lepidopleurus cajetanus

Ribbed Chiton

Invertebrates
Purple Sea Urchin (Paracentrotus lividus)rare

Paracentrotus lividus

Purple Sea Urchin

Invertebrates
Black Scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus)rare

Scorpaena porcus

Black Scorpionfish

Fish
Largescaled Scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa)rare

Scorpaena scrofa

Largescaled Scorpionfish

Fish
Common Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)rare

Sepia officinalis

Common Cuttlefish

Invertebrates
Five-Spotted Wrasse (Symphodus roissali)rare

Symphodus roissali

Five-Spotted Wrasse

Fish
Goldband Goatfish (Upeneus moluccensis)rare

Upeneus moluccensis

Goldband Goatfish

Fish