Species database

Marine species in Sri Lanka

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.

Planning a trip? Browse dive sites in Sri Lanka

Commonly seen

18

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

Powder-Blue Surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucosternon)common

Acanthurus leucosternon

Powder-Blue Surgeonfish

Fish
Lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus)common

Acanthurus lineatus

Lined Surgeonfish

Fish
Convict Surgeonfish (Acanthurus triostegus)common

Acanthurus triostegus

Convict Surgeonfish

Fish
Acropora abrotanoidescommon

Acropora abrotanoides

Corals
Purple Tipped Acropora (Acropora secale)common

Acropora secale

Purple Tipped Acropora

Corals
Clownfish (Amphiprion nigripes)common

Amphiprion nigripes

Clownfish

Fish
Blue Rorqual (Balaenoptera musculus)common

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue Rorqual

Mammals
Bigeye Trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus)common

Caranx sexfasciatus

Bigeye Trevally

Fish
Brown Butterflyfish (Chaetodon collare)common

Chaetodon collare

Brown Butterflyfish

Fish
Black-Finned Vagabond (Chaetodon decussatus)common

Chaetodon decussatus

Black-Finned Vagabond

Fish
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)common

Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

Reptiles
Lollyfish (Holothuria atra)common

Holothuria atra

Lollyfish

Invertebrates
Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus)common

Labroides dimidiatus

Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse

Fish
Olive Ridely (Lepidochelys olivacea)common

Lepidochelys olivacea

Olive Ridely

Reptiles
Sea Goldie (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)common

Pseudanthias squamipinnis

Sea Goldie

Fish
Devil Firefish (Pterois miles)common

Pterois miles

Devil Firefish

Fish
Central American Spinner (Stenella longirostris)common

Stenella longirostris

Central American Spinner

Mammals
Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)common

Zanclus cornutus

Moorish Idol

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Crown-of-Thorns (Acanthaster planci)occasional

Acanthaster planci

Crown-of-Thorns

Invertebrates
Table Coral (Acropora cytherea)occasional

Acropora cytherea

Table Coral

Corals
Acropora glaucaoccasional

Acropora glauca

Corals
Finger Coral (Acropora humilis)occasional

Acropora humilis

Finger Coral

Corals
Brown Staghorn Coral (Acropora muricata)occasional

Acropora muricata

Brown Staghorn Coral

Corals
Bushy Staghorn Coral (Acropora valida)occasional

Acropora valida

Bushy Staghorn Coral

Corals
Yellowtail Angelfish (Apolemichthys xanthurus)occasional

Apolemichthys xanthurus

Yellowtail Angelfish

Fish
Orange-Lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus)occasional

Balistapus undulatus

Orange-Lined Triggerfish

Fish
Vagrant Moray (Gymnothorax buroensis)occasional

Gymnothorax buroensis

Vagrant Moray

Fish
Humpback Snapper (Lutjanus gibbus)occasional

Lutjanus gibbus

Humpback Snapper

Fish
Emperor (Pomacanthus imperator)occasional

Pomacanthus imperator

Emperor

Fish
occasional

Sillago sihama

Silver Sillago

Fish
common spirula (Spirula spirula)occasional

Spirula spirula

common spirula

Invertebrates
Six-Banded Wrasse (Thalassoma hardwicke)occasional

Thalassoma hardwicke

Six-Banded Wrasse

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Plate Coral (Acropora clathrata)rare

Acropora clathrata

Plate Coral

Corals
Acropora digitiferarare

Acropora digitifera

Corals
Acropora intermediarare

Acropora intermedia

Corals
Blackspotted Puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus)rare

Arothron nigropunctatus

Blackspotted Puffer

Fish
Bluefin Trevally (Caranx melampygus)rare

Caranx melampygus

Bluefin Trevally

Fish
Bluelined Grouper (Cephalopholis formosa)rare

Cephalopholis formosa

Bluelined Grouper

Fish
Lipspot Moray (Gymnothorax chilospilus)rare

Gymnothorax chilospilus

Lipspot Moray

Fish
Yellow-Edged Moray (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus)rare

Gymnothorax flavimarginatus

Yellow-Edged Moray

Fish
Splendid Rainbow Wrasse (Halichoeres marginatus)rare

Halichoeres marginatus

Splendid Rainbow Wrasse

Fish
Multipore Sea Star (Linckia multifora)rare

Linckia multifora

Multipore Sea Star

Invertebrates
Red-Toothed Triggerfish (Odonus niger)rare

Odonus niger

Red-Toothed Triggerfish

Fish
Java Rabbitfish (Siganus javus)rare

Siganus javus

Java Rabbitfish

Fish
Moon Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare)rare

Thalassoma lunare

Moon Wrasse

Fish