Species database

Marine species in Palau

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.

Backsurgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricans)common

Acanthurus nigricans

Backsurgeonfish

Fish
Orange-Lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus)common

Balistapus undulatus

Orange-Lined Triggerfish

Fish
Leopard Sea Cucumber (Bohadschia argus)common

Bohadschia argus

Leopard Sea Cucumber

Invertebrates
Cross-Stripe Butterfly (Chaetodon auriga)common

Chaetodon auriga

Cross-Stripe Butterfly

Fish
Blackblotch Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium)common

Chaetodon ephippium

Blackblotch Butterflyfish

Fish
Sunburst Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii)common

Chaetodon kleinii

Sunburst Butterflyfish

Fish
Oval Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus)common

Chaetodon lunulatus

Oval Butterflyfish

Fish
Vagabond Butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus)common

Chaetodon vagabundus

Vagabond Butterflyfish

Fish
Redbreasted Wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus)common

Cheilinus fasciatus

Redbreasted Wrasse

Fish
Burnt Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus)common

Chlorurus sordidus

Burnt Parrotfish

Fish
Lined Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus striatus)common

Ctenochaetus striatus

Lined Bristletooth

Fish
Rock-Boring Urchin (Echinometra mathaei)common

Echinometra mathaei

Rock-Boring Urchin

Invertebrates
Jawslinger (Epibulus insidiator)common

Epibulus insidiator

Jawslinger

Fish
Lollyfish (Holothuria atra)common

Holothuria atra

Lollyfish

Invertebrates
Azure Sea Star (Linckia laevigata)common

Linckia laevigata

Azure Sea Star

Invertebrates
Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus)common

Parupeneus multifasciatus

Banded Goatfish

Fish
Greenfish (Stichopus chloronotus)common

Stichopus chloronotus

Greenfish

Invertebrates
Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)common

Zanclus cornutus

Moorish Idol

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Peacock Grouper (Cephalopholis argus)occasional

Cephalopholis argus

Peacock Grouper

Fish
Chevron Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifascialis)occasional

Chaetodon trifascialis

Chevron Butterflyfish

Fish
Cushion Star (Culcita novaeguineae)occasional

Culcita novaeguineae

Cushion Star

Invertebrates
Honeycomb Grouper (Epinephelus merra)occasional

Epinephelus merra

Honeycomb Grouper

Fish
Blackeye Thicklip (Hemigymnus melapterus)occasional

Hemigymnus melapterus

Blackeye Thicklip

Fish
Humpback Snapper (Lutjanus gibbus)occasional

Lutjanus gibbus

Humpback Snapper

Fish
Bigeye Emperor (Monotaxis grandoculis)occasional

Monotaxis grandoculis

Bigeye Emperor

Fish
Orangespine Unicornfish (Naso lituratus)occasional

Naso lituratus

Orangespine Unicornfish

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

Parupeneus barberinus

Dash-and-Dot Goatfish

Fish
Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus)occasional

Pygoplites diacanthus

Regal Angelfish

Fish
Sabre Squirrelfish (Sargocentron spiniferum)occasional

Sargocentron spiniferum

Sabre Squirrelfish

Fish
Blue-Bridle Parrotfish (Scarus dimidiatus)occasional

Scarus dimidiatus

Blue-Bridle Parrotfish

Fish
Barned-Face Spine-Cheek (Scolopsis margaritifera)occasional

Scolopsis margaritifera

Barned-Face Spine-Cheek

Fish
Barred Spinefoot (Siganus doliatus)occasional

Siganus doliatus

Barred Spinefoot

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus)rare

Acanthurus lineatus

Lined Surgeonfish

Fish
Brown Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus)rare

Acanthurus nigrofuscus

Brown Surgeonfish

Fish
Dwarf Angelfish (Centropyge vrolikii)rare

Centropyge vrolikii

Dwarf Angelfish

Fish
Darkfin Hind (Cephalopholis urodeta)rare

Cephalopholis urodeta

Darkfin Hind

Fish
Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesii)rare

Chaetodon rafflesii

Latticed Butterflyfish

Fish
Melon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifasciatus)rare

Chaetodon trifasciatus

Melon Butterflyfish

Fish
Humphead Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)rare

Cheilinus undulatus

Humphead Wrasse

Fish
Fivelined Cardinalfish (Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus)rare

Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus

Fivelined Cardinalfish

Fish
Anchor Trunkfish (Choerodon anchorago)rare

Choerodon anchorago

Anchor Trunkfish

Fish
Shadowfin Soldierfish (Myripristis adusta)rare

Myripristis adusta

Shadowfin Soldierfish

Fish
Bridled Monacle Bream (Scolopsis bilineata)rare

Scolopsis bilineata

Bridled Monacle Bream

Fish
Masked Rabbitfish (Siganus puellus)rare

Siganus puellus

Masked Rabbitfish

Fish
Twotone Tang (Zebrasoma scopas)rare

Zebrasoma scopas

Twotone Tang

Fish