Species database

Marine species in Panama

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.

Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis)common

Acropora cervicornis

Staghorn Coral

Corals
Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata)common

Acropora palmata

Elkhorn Coral

Corals
Lettuce-Leaf Coral (Agaricia tenuifolia)common

Agaricia tenuifolia

Lettuce-Leaf Coral

Corals
Foureye Butterfly Fish (Chaetodon capistratus)common

Chaetodon capistratus

Foureye Butterfly Fish

Fish
Boulder Brain Coral (Colpophyllia natans)common

Colpophyllia natans

Boulder Brain Coral

Corals
Reef Urchin (Echinometra viridis)common

Echinometra viridis

Reef Urchin

Invertebrates
Variable Sea Urchin (Lytechinus variegatus)common

Lytechinus variegatus

Variable Sea Urchin

Invertebrates
Bladed Fire Coral (Millepora complanata)common

Millepora complanata

Bladed Fire Coral

Invertebrates
Great Star Coral (Montastraea cavernosa)common

Montastraea cavernosa

Great Star Coral

Corals
Speck-Claw Decorator Crab (Omalacantha bicornuta)common

Omalacantha bicornuta

Speck-Claw Decorator Crab

Invertebrates
Caribbean Star Coral (Orbicella annularis)common

Orbicella annularis

Caribbean Star Coral

Corals
Cushion Sea Star (Oreaster reticulatus)common

Oreaster reticulatus

Cushion Sea Star

Invertebrates
Palaemonella americanacommon

Palaemonella americana

Invertebrates
Knobby Porous Coral (Porites astreoides)common

Porites astreoides

Knobby Porous Coral

Corals
Knobbed Brain Coral (Pseudodiploria clivosa)common

Pseudodiploria clivosa

Knobbed Brain Coral

Corals
Brain Coral (Pseudodiploria strigosa)common

Pseudodiploria strigosa

Brain Coral

Corals
Striped Parrotfish (Scarus iseri)common

Scarus iseri

Striped Parrotfish

Fish
Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea)common

Siderastrea siderea

Massive Starlet Coral

Corals

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites)occasional

Agaricia agaricites

Lettuce Coral

Corals
Atlantic Anemone (Condylactis gigantea)occasional

Condylactis gigantea

Atlantic Anemone

Invertebrates
Spiny Urchin (Diadema antillarum)occasional

Diadema antillarum

Spiny Urchin

Invertebrates
Golf Ball Coral (Favia fragum)occasional

Favia fragum

Golf Ball Coral

Corals
Chocolate Chip Cucumber (Isostichopus badionotus)occasional

Isostichopus badionotus

Chocolate Chip Cucumber

Invertebrates
Jewelfish (Microspathodon chrysurus)occasional

Microspathodon chrysurus

Jewelfish

Fish
Coral Clinging Crab (Mithrax hispidus)occasional

Mithrax hispidus

Coral Clinging Crab

Invertebrates
Boulder Star Coral (Orbicella faveolata)occasional

Orbicella faveolata

Boulder Star Coral

Corals
Bermuda Lobster (Panulirus argus)occasional

Panulirus argus

Bermuda Lobster

Invertebrates
Amber Pen Shell (Pinna carnea)occasional

Pinna carnea

Amber Pen Shell

Invertebrates
Stoplight Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride)occasional

Sparisoma viride

Stoplight Parrotfish

Fish
Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus)occasional

Stenopus hispidus

Banded Coral Shrimp

Invertebrates
Arrow Crab (Stenorhynchus seticornis)occasional

Stenorhynchus seticornis

Arrow Crab

Invertebrates
occasional

Synalpheus brevicarpus

Invertebrates

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Blue Bleeder (Aiolochroia crassa)rare

Aiolochroia crassa

Blue Bleeder

Invertebrates
Atlantic Rough File Shell (Ctenoides scaber)rare

Ctenoides scaber

Atlantic Rough File Shell

Invertebrates
Pineapple Coral (Dichocoenia stokesii)rare

Dichocoenia stokesii

Pineapple Coral

Corals
Slate Pencil Urchin (Eucidaris tribuloides)rare

Eucidaris tribuloides

Slate Pencil Urchin

Invertebrates
French Grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum)rare

Haemulon flavolineatum

French Grunt

Fish
Grunt (Haemulon plumierii)rare

Haemulon plumierii

Grunt

Fish
Red Boring Sponge (Ircinia felix)rare

Ircinia felix

Red Boring Sponge

Invertebrates
Banded Clinging Crab (Mithraculus cinctimanus)rare

Mithraculus cinctimanus

Banded Clinging Crab

Invertebrates
Red-Ridged Clinging Crab (Mithraculus forceps)rare

Mithraculus forceps

Red-Ridged Clinging Crab

Invertebrates
Spotted Cleaner Shrimp (Periclimenes yucatanicus)rare

Periclimenes yucatanicus

Spotted Cleaner Shrimp

Invertebrates
Redband Parrotfish (Sparisoma aurofrenatum)rare

Sparisoma aurofrenatum

Redband Parrotfish

Fish
Atlantic Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla helianthus)rare

Stichodactyla helianthus

Atlantic Carpet Anemone

Invertebrates
rare

Synalpheus ul

Invertebrates