Species database

Marine species in Panama (Pacific)

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.

Commonly seen

18

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

Panamic Sergeant Major (Abudefduf troschelii)common

Abudefduf troschelii

Panamic Sergeant Major

Fish
Yellowfin Surgeonfish (Acanthurus xanthopterus)common

Acanthurus xanthopterus

Yellowfin Surgeonfish

Fish
Bristly Puffer (Arothron hispidus)common

Arothron hispidus

Bristly Puffer

Fish
Guineafowl Puffer (Arothron meleagris)common

Arothron meleagris

Guineafowl Puffer

Fish
Scissortail Chromis (Azurina atrilobata)common

Azurina atrilobata

Scissortail Chromis

Fish
Panama Graysby (Cephalopholis panamensis)common

Cephalopholis panamensis

Panama Graysby

Fish
Coral Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus)common

Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus

Coral Hawkfish

Fish
Flag Cabrilla (Epinephelus labriformis)common

Epinephelus labriformis

Flag Cabrilla

Fish
Flagfin Mojarra (Eucinostomus melanopterus)common

Eucinostomus melanopterus

Flagfin Mojarra

Fish
Tomtate (Haemulon aurolineatum)common

Haemulon aurolineatum

Tomtate

Fish
King Angelfish (Holacanthus passer)common

Holacanthus passer

King Angelfish

Fish
Blue-Black Mullet (Mugil curema)common

Mugil curema

Blue-Black Mullet

Fish
Rockmover Wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus)common

Novaculichthys taeniourus

Rockmover Wrasse

Fish
Blunthead Triggerfish (Pseudobalistes naufragium)common

Pseudobalistes naufragium

Blunthead Triggerfish

Fish
Blue-Barred Parrotfish (Scarus ghobban)common

Scarus ghobban

Blue-Barred Parrotfish

Fish
Bicolor Parrotfish (Scarus rubroviolaceus)common

Scarus rubroviolaceus

Bicolor Parrotfish

Fish
Orangeside Triggerfish (Sufflamen verres)common

Sufflamen verres

Orangeside Triggerfish

Fish
Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus)common

Triaenodon obesus

Whitetip Reef Shark

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Backsurgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricans)occasional

Acanthurus nigricans

Backsurgeonfish

Fish
Spotted Sharpnose Puffer (Canthigaster punctatissima)occasional

Canthigaster punctatissima

Spotted Sharpnose Puffer

Fish
Cevalle Jack (Caranx hippos)occasional

Caranx hippos

Cevalle Jack

Fish
Bluefin Trevally (Caranx melampygus)occasional

Caranx melampygus

Bluefin Trevally

Fish
Bigeye Trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus)occasional

Caranx sexfasciatus

Bigeye Trevally

Fish
Threebanded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon humeralis)occasional

Chaetodon humeralis

Threebanded Butterflyfish

Fish
Balloonfish (Diodon holocanthus)occasional

Diodon holocanthus

Balloonfish

Fish
Porcupinefish (Diodon hystrix)occasional

Diodon hystrix

Porcupinefish

Fish
Snowflake Moray (Echidna nebulosa)occasional

Echidna nebulosa

Snowflake Moray

Fish
Bluespotted Cornetfish (Fistularia commersonii)occasional

Fistularia commersonii

Bluespotted Cornetfish

Fish
Brassy Chub (Kyphosus vaigiensis)occasional

Kyphosus vaigiensis

Brassy Chub

Fish
Gray Dog (Lutjanus griseus)occasional

Lutjanus griseus

Gray Dog

Fish
Barred Serrano (Serranus psittacinus)occasional

Serranus psittacinus

Barred Serrano

Fish
Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)occasional

Zanclus cornutus

Moorish Idol

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Crown-of-Thorns (Acanthaster planci)rare

Acanthaster planci

Crown-of-Thorns

Invertebrates
Convict Surgeonfish (Acanthurus triostegus)rare

Acanthurus triostegus

Convict Surgeonfish

Fish
Finescale Triggerfish (Balistes polylepis)rare

Balistes polylepis

Finescale Triggerfish

Fish
Pacific Creole-Fish (Cephalopholis colonus)rare

Cephalopholis colonus

Pacific Creole-Fish

Fish
Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)rare

Eretmochelys imbricata

Sea Turtle

Reptiles
Zebra Moray (Gymnomuraena zebra)rare

Gymnomuraena zebra

Zebra Moray

Fish
Panamic Green Moray (Gymnothorax castaneus)rare

Gymnothorax castaneus

Panamic Green Moray

Fish
Undulated Moray (Gymnothorax undulatus)rare

Gymnothorax undulatus

Undulated Moray

Fish
Cortez Sea Chub (Kyphosus elegans)rare

Kyphosus elegans

Cortez Sea Chub

Fish
Bluestriped Chub (Kyphosus ocyurus)rare

Kyphosus ocyurus

Bluestriped Chub

Fish
Bigscale Soldierfish (Myripristis berndti)rare

Myripristis berndti

Bigscale Soldierfish

Fish
Spotted Boxfish (Ostracion meleagris)rare

Ostracion meleagris

Spotted Boxfish

Fish
Houndfish (Tylosurus crocodilus)rare

Tylosurus crocodilus

Houndfish

Fish