Species database

Marine species in Sao Tome and Principe

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.

Monrovia Surgeonfish (Acanthurus monroviae)common

Acanthurus monroviae

Monrovia Surgeonfish

Fish
Cardinalfish (Apogon imberbis)common

Apogon imberbis

Cardinalfish

Fish
Atlantic Cornetfish (Aulostomus strigosus)common

Aulostomus strigosus

Atlantic Cornetfish

Fish
Horse-Eye Jack (Caranx latus)common

Caranx latus

Horse-Eye Jack

Fish
African Hind (Cephalopholis taeniops)common

Cephalopholis taeniops

African Hind

Fish
Cratena scintillacommon

Cratena scintilla

Invertebrates
Flying Gurnard (Dactylopterus volitans)common

Dactylopterus volitans

Flying Gurnard

Fish
Rainbow Runner (Elagatis bipinnulata)common

Elagatis bipinnulata

Rainbow Runner

Fish
Rock Hind (Epinephelus adscensionis)common

Epinephelus adscensionis

Rock Hind

Fish
Slate Pencil Urchin (Eucidaris tribuloides)common

Eucidaris tribuloides

Slate Pencil Urchin

Invertebrates
Hairy Blenny (Labrisomus nuchipinnis)common

Labrisomus nuchipinnis

Hairy Blenny

Fish
Hump (Megaptera novaeangliae)common

Megaptera novaeangliae

Hump

Mammals
Honeycomb Moray (Muraena melanotis)common

Muraena melanotis

Honeycomb Moray

Fish
Blackbar Soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus)common

Myripristis jacobus

Blackbar Soldierfish

Fish
Devilfish (Ophioblennius atlanticus)common

Ophioblennius atlanticus

Devilfish

Fish
Atlantic Creolefish (Paranthias furcifer)common

Paranthias furcifer

Atlantic Creolefish

Fish
São Tomé Comber (Serranus pulcher)common

Serranus pulcher

São Tomé Comber

Fish
Pearly Razorfish (Xyrichtys novacula)common

Xyrichtys novacula

Pearly Razorfish

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Large-Spotted Sea Hare (Aplysia dactylomela)occasional

Aplysia dactylomela

Large-Spotted Sea Hare

Invertebrates
Bluespotted Triggerfish (Balistes punctatus)occasional

Balistes punctatus

Bluespotted Triggerfish

Fish
Frillfin Goby (Bathygobius soporator)occasional

Bathygobius soporator

Frillfin Goby

Fish
Orangespotted Filefish (Cantherhines pullus)occasional

Cantherhines pullus

Orangespotted Filefish

Fish
Niger Seabass (Cephalopholis nigri)occasional

Cephalopholis nigri

Niger Seabass

Fish
Three-Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon robustus)occasional

Chaetodon robustus

Three-Banded Butterflyfish

Fish
Gulf Coris (Coris atlantica)occasional

Coris atlantica

Gulf Coris

Fish
Round Scad (Decapterus punctatus)occasional

Decapterus punctatus

Round Scad

Fish
Balloonfish (Diodon holocanthus)occasional

Diodon holocanthus

Balloonfish

Fish
Guinean Angelfish (Holacanthus africanus)occasional

Holacanthus africanus

Guinean Angelfish

Fish
Squirrelfish (Holocentrus adscensionis)occasional

Holocentrus adscensionis

Squirrelfish

Fish
Bigtooth Cardinalfish (Paroncheilus affinis)occasional

Paroncheilus affinis

Bigtooth Cardinalfish

Fish
Guinean Parrotfish (Scarus hoefleri)occasional

Scarus hoefleri

Guinean Parrotfish

Fish
Red Lizardfish (Synodus synodus)occasional

Synodus synodus

Red Lizardfish

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Cow Pilot (Abudefduf saxatilis)rare

Abudefduf saxatilis

Cow Pilot

Fish
Bogue (Boops boops)rare

Boops boops

Bogue

Fish
Wide-Eyed Flounder (Bothus podas)rare

Bothus podas

Wide-Eyed Flounder

Fish
Silky Shark (Carcharhinus falciformis)rare

Carcharhinus falciformis

Silky Shark

Fish
Porcupinefish (Diodon hystrix)rare

Diodon hystrix

Porcupinefish

Fish
Moray (Echidna peli)rare

Echidna peli

Moray

Fish
Viper Moray (Enchelycore nigricans)rare

Enchelycore nigricans

Viper Moray

Fish
Goldspot Goby (Gnatholepis thompsoni)rare

Gnatholepis thompsoni

Goldspot Goby

Fish
Common Comet Star (Linckia guildingi)rare

Linckia guildingi

Common Comet Star

Invertebrates
bigeye (Priacanthus arenatus)rare

Priacanthus arenatus

bigeye

Fish
West-African Parrotfish (Sparisoma choati)rare

Sparisoma choati

West-African Parrotfish

Fish
Common Torpedo (Torpedo torpedo)rare

Torpedo torpedo

Common Torpedo

Fish
Houndfish (Tylosurus crocodilus)rare

Tylosurus crocodilus

Houndfish

Fish