Species database

Marine species in Tanzania

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.

Scissortail Sergeant (Abudefduf sexfasciatus)common

Abudefduf sexfasciatus

Scissortail Sergeant

Fish
Indo-Pacific Sergeant (Abudefduf vaigiensis)common

Abudefduf vaigiensis

Indo-Pacific Sergeant

Fish
Allard's Anemonefish (Amphiprion allardi)common

Amphiprion allardi

Allard's Anemonefish

Fish
Bristly Puffer (Arothron hispidus)common

Arothron hispidus

Bristly Puffer

Fish
Valentinni's Sharpnose Puffer (Canthigaster valentini)common

Canthigaster valentini

Valentinni's Sharpnose Puffer

Fish
Melon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifasciatus)common

Chaetodon trifasciatus

Melon Butterflyfish

Fish
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)common

Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

Reptiles
Pincushion Cushionstar (Culcita schmideliana)common

Culcita schmideliana

Pincushion Cushionstar

Invertebrates
Domino (Dascyllus trimaculatus)common

Dascyllus trimaculatus

Domino

Fish
Rock-Boring Urchin (Echinometra mathaei)common

Echinometra mathaei

Rock-Boring Urchin

Invertebrates
Azure Sea Star (Linckia laevigata)common

Linckia laevigata

Azure Sea Star

Invertebrates
Multipore Sea Star (Linckia multifora)common

Linckia multifora

Multipore Sea Star

Invertebrates
Big Blue Octopus (Octopus cyanea)common

Octopus cyanea

Big Blue Octopus

Invertebrates
Blackspotted Grunt (Plectorhinchus gaterinus)common

Plectorhinchus gaterinus

Blackspotted Grunt

Fish
Red-Knobbed Sea Star (Protoreaster lincki)common

Protoreaster lincki

Red-Knobbed Sea Star

Invertebrates
Devil Firefish (Pterois miles)common

Pterois miles

Devil Firefish

Fish
Bischofsmützenseeigel (Tripneustes gratilla)common

Tripneustes gratilla

Bischofsmützenseeigel

Invertebrates
Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)common

Zanclus cornutus

Moorish Idol

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Powder-Blue Surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucosternon)occasional

Acanthurus leucosternon

Powder-Blue Surgeonfish

Fish
Skunk Clownfish (Amphiprion akallopisos)occasional

Amphiprion akallopisos

Skunk Clownfish

Fish
Cross-Stripe Butterfly (Chaetodon auriga)occasional

Chaetodon auriga

Cross-Stripe Butterfly

Fish
Cigar Wrasse (Cheilio inermis)occasional

Cheilio inermis

Cigar Wrasse

Fish
Burnt Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus)occasional

Chlorurus sordidus

Burnt Parrotfish

Fish
Black Longspine Urchin (Diadema setosum)occasional

Diadema setosum

Black Longspine Urchin

Invertebrates
Moray (Gymnothorax griseus)occasional

Gymnothorax griseus

Moray

Fish
Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus)occasional

Labroides dimidiatus

Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse

Fish
Lagoon Brittle Star (Ophiocoma scolopendrina)occasional

Ophiocoma scolopendrina

Lagoon Brittle Star

Invertebrates
Blackside Hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri)occasional

Paracirrhites forsteri

Blackside Hawkfish

Fish
Band-Dot Goatfish (Parupeneus macronemus)occasional

Parupeneus macronemus

Band-Dot Goatfish

Fish
Arabian Monocle Bream (Scolopsis ghanam)occasional

Scolopsis ghanam

Arabian Monocle Bream

Fish
Leaf Scorpionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus)occasional

Taenianotus triacanthus

Leaf Scorpionfish

Fish
Houndfish (Tylosurus crocodilus)occasional

Tylosurus crocodilus

Houndfish

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Chinese Trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis)rare

Aulostomus chinensis

Chinese Trumpetfish

Fish
Peacock Grouper (Cephalopholis argus)rare

Cephalopholis argus

Peacock Grouper

Fish
Cloudy Dascyllus (Dascyllus carneus)rare

Dascyllus carneus

Cloudy Dascyllus

Fish
Snowflake Moray (Echidna nebulosa)rare

Echidna nebulosa

Snowflake Moray

Fish
Blacktip Grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus)rare

Epinephelus fasciatus

Blacktip Grouper

Fish
Bird Wrasse (Gomphosus caeruleus)rare

Gomphosus caeruleus

Bird Wrasse

Fish
Checkerboard Wrasse (Halichoeres hortulanus)rare

Halichoeres hortulanus

Checkerboard Wrasse

Fish
Lollyfish (Holothuria atra)rare

Holothuria atra

Lollyfish

Invertebrates
Blackmouth Sea Cucumber (Pearsonothuria graeffei)rare

Pearsonothuria graeffei

Blackmouth Sea Cucumber

Invertebrates
Beaded Starfish (Pentaceraster mammillatus)rare

Pentaceraster mammillatus

Beaded Starfish

Invertebrates
Magnificent Giant Anemone (Radianthus magnifica)rare

Radianthus magnifica

Magnificent Giant Anemone

Invertebrates
Crown Squirrelfish (Sargocentron diadema)rare

Sargocentron diadema

Crown Squirrelfish

Fish
Snake Sea Cucumber (Synapta maculata)rare

Synapta maculata

Snake Sea Cucumber

Invertebrates