Species database

Marine species in Samoa

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
Convict Surgeonfish (Acanthurus triostegus)common

Acanthurus triostegus

Convict Surgeonfish

Fish
Orange-Lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus)common

Balistapus undulatus

Orange-Lined Triggerfish

Fish
Oval Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus)common

Chaetodon lunulatus

Oval Butterflyfish

Fish
Black Butterflyfish (Chaetodon reticulatus)common

Chaetodon reticulatus

Black Butterflyfish

Fish
Vagabond Butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus)common

Chaetodon vagabundus

Vagabond Butterflyfish

Fish
Burnt Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus)common

Chlorurus sordidus

Burnt Parrotfish

Fish
Lined Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus striatus)common

Ctenochaetus striatus

Lined Bristletooth

Fish
Cushion Star (Culcita novaeguineae)common

Culcita novaeguineae

Cushion Star

Invertebrates
Rock-Boring Urchin (Echinometra mathaei)common

Echinometra mathaei

Rock-Boring Urchin

Invertebrates
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
White-Banded Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus)common

Rhinecanthus aculeatus

White-Banded Triggerfish

Fish
Blue Parrotfish (Scarus oviceps)common

Scarus oviceps

Blue Parrotfish

Fish
Common Parrotfish (Scarus psittacus)common

Scarus psittacus

Common Parrotfish

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.

Threespot Angelfish (Apolemichthys trimaculatus)occasional

Apolemichthys trimaculatus

Threespot Angelfish

Fish
Darkfin Hind (Cephalopholis urodeta)occasional

Cephalopholis urodeta

Darkfin Hind

Fish
Citron Butterfly (Chaetodon citrinellus)occasional

Chaetodon citrinellus

Citron Butterfly

Fish
Blackblotch Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium)occasional

Chaetodon ephippium

Blackblotch Butterflyfish

Fish
Chevron Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifascialis)occasional

Chaetodon trifascialis

Chevron Butterflyfish

Fish
Floral Wrasse (Cheilinus chlorourus)occasional

Cheilinus chlorourus

Floral Wrasse

Fish
Japanese Parrotfish (Chlorurus japanensis)occasional

Chlorurus japanensis

Japanese Parrotfish

Fish
Blackeye Thicklip (Hemigymnus melapterus)occasional

Hemigymnus melapterus

Blackeye Thicklip

Fish
Blackspot Emperor (Lethrinus harak)occasional

Lethrinus harak

Blackspot Emperor

Fish
Pinktail Triggerfish (Melichthys vidua)occasional

Melichthys vidua

Pinktail Triggerfish

Fish
Orangespine Unicornfish (Naso lituratus)occasional

Naso lituratus

Orangespine Unicornfish

Fish
Bridled Monacle Bream (Scolopsis bilineata)occasional

Scolopsis bilineata

Bridled Monacle Bream

Fish
Scribbled Rabbitfish (Siganus spinus)occasional

Siganus spinus

Scribbled Rabbitfish

Fish
Twotone Tang (Zebrasoma scopas)occasional

Zebrasoma scopas

Twotone Tang

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
Acropora intermediarare

Acropora intermedia

Corals
Small Toothed Jobfish (Aphareus furca)rare

Aphareus furca

Small Toothed Jobfish

Fish
Peacock Grouper (Cephalopholis argus)rare

Cephalopholis argus

Peacock Grouper

Fish
Clown Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus)rare

Chaetodon ornatissimus

Clown Butterflyfish

Fish
Honeycomb Grouper (Epinephelus merra)rare

Epinephelus merra

Honeycomb Grouper

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

Halichoeres trimaculatus

Spotted-Tail Rainbow-Fish

Fish
Horned Bannerfish (Heniochus varius)rare

Heniochus varius

Horned Bannerfish

Fish
Blacktail Snapper (Lutjanus fulvus)rare

Lutjanus fulvus

Blacktail Snapper

Fish
Bigeye Emperor (Monotaxis grandoculis)rare

Monotaxis grandoculis

Bigeye Emperor

Fish
Blotcheye Soldierfish (Myripristis murdjan)rare

Myripristis murdjan

Blotcheye Soldierfish

Fish
Sammara Squirrelfish (Neoniphon sammara)rare

Neoniphon sammara

Sammara Squirrelfish

Fish