Species database

Marine species in Philippines (Tubbataha & Sulu Sea)

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.

Lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus)Common

Acanthurus lineatus

Lined Surgeonfish

Fish
Brown Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus)Common

Acanthurus nigrofuscus

Brown Surgeonfish

Fish
Convict Surgeonfish (Acanthurus triostegus)Common

Acanthurus triostegus

Convict Surgeonfish

Fish
Orange-Lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus)Common

Balistapus undulatus

Orange-Lined Triggerfish

Fish
Peacock Grouper (Cephalopholis argus)Common

Cephalopholis argus

Peacock Grouper

Fish
Blueribbon Damsel (Chrysiptera brownriggii)Common

Chrysiptera brownriggii

Blueribbon Damsel

Fish
Lined Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus striatus)Common

Ctenochaetus striatus

Lined Bristletooth

Fish
Honeycomb Grouper (Epinephelus merra)Common

Epinephelus merra

Honeycomb Grouper

Fish
Spotted-Tail Rainbow-Fish (Halichoeres trimaculatus)Common

Halichoeres trimaculatus

Spotted-Tail Rainbow-Fish

Fish
Long-Nosed Parrotfish (Hipposcarus longiceps)Common

Hipposcarus longiceps

Long-Nosed Parrotfish

Fish
Twinspot Snapper (Lutjanus bohar)Common

Lutjanus bohar

Twinspot Snapper

Fish
Black Durgon (Melichthys niger)Common

Melichthys niger

Black Durgon

Fish
Australian Squirrel-Fish (Myripristis violacea)Common

Myripristis violacea

Australian Squirrel-Fish

Fish
Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus)Common

Parupeneus multifasciatus

Banded Goatfish

Fish
Common Parrotfish (Scarus psittacus)Common

Scarus psittacus

Common Parrotfish

Fish
Banda Wrasse (Stethojulis bandanensis)Common

Stethojulis bandanensis

Banda Wrasse

Fish
Six-Banded Wrasse (Thalassoma hardwicke)Common

Thalassoma hardwicke

Six-Banded Wrasse

Fish
Houndfish (Tylosurus crocodilus)Common

Tylosurus crocodilus

Houndfish

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Gendarme Fish (Acanthurus olivaceus)Occasional

Acanthurus olivaceus

Gendarme Fish

Fish
Bluefin Trevally (Caranx melampygus)Occasional

Caranx melampygus

Bluefin Trevally

Fish
Darkfin Hind (Cephalopholis urodeta)Occasional

Cephalopholis urodeta

Darkfin Hind

Fish
Bicolour Parrotfish (Cetoscarus bicolor)Occasional

Cetoscarus bicolor

Bicolour Parrotfish

Fish
Vagabond Butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus)Occasional

Chaetodon vagabundus

Vagabond Butterflyfish

Fish
Humphead Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)Occasional

Cheilinus undulatus

Humphead Wrasse

Fish
Blue-Green Damselfish (Chromis viridis)Occasional

Chromis viridis

Blue-Green Damselfish

Fish
Humpback Snapper (Lutjanus gibbus)Occasional

Lutjanus gibbus

Humpback Snapper

Fish
Red-Toothed Triggerfish (Odonus niger)Occasional

Odonus niger

Red-Toothed Triggerfish

Fish
Pyjama (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)Occasional

Pseudocheilinus hexataenia

Pyjama

Fish
Big Belly Parrotfish (Scarus forsteni)Occasional

Scarus forsteni

Big Belly Parrotfish

Fish
East-Indies Parrotfish (Scarus hypselopterus)Occasional

Scarus hypselopterus

East-Indies Parrotfish

Fish
Jewel Damsel (Stegastes lacrymatus)Occasional

Stegastes lacrymatus

Jewel Damsel

Fish
Moon Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare)Occasional

Thalassoma lunare

Moon Wrasse

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Green Humphead Parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum)Rare

Bolbometopon muricatum

Green Humphead Parrotfish

Fish
Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesii)Rare

Chaetodon rafflesii

Latticed Butterflyfish

Fish
Starspotted Grouper (Epinephelus hexagonatus)Rare

Epinephelus hexagonatus

Starspotted Grouper

Fish
Black and White Snapper (Macolor niger)Rare

Macolor niger

Black and White Snapper

Fish
Sleek Unicornfish (Naso hexacanthus)Rare

Naso hexacanthus

Sleek Unicornfish

Fish
Sammara Squirrelfish (Neoniphon sammara)Rare

Neoniphon sammara

Sammara Squirrelfish

Fish
Rockmover Wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus)Rare

Novaculichthys taeniourus

Rockmover Wrasse

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

Parupeneus barberinus

Dash-and-Dot Goatfish

Fish
Dark-Banded Fusilier (Pterocaesio tile)Rare

Pterocaesio tile

Dark-Banded Fusilier

Fish
Wedge-Tail Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus)Rare

Rhinecanthus rectangulus

Wedge-Tail Triggerfish

Fish
Sabre Squirrelfish (Sargocentron spiniferum)Rare

Sargocentron spiniferum

Sabre Squirrelfish

Fish
Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus)Rare

Triaenodon obesus

Whitetip Reef Shark

Fish
Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)Rare

Zanclus cornutus

Moorish Idol

Fish