Species database

Marine species in United Arab Emirates

39 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

16

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

Indo-Pacific Sergeant (Abudefduf vaigiensis)common

Abudefduf vaigiensis

Indo-Pacific Sergeant

Fish
Crown-of-Thorns (Acanthaster planci)common

Acanthaster planci

Crown-of-Thorns

Invertebrates
Acanthopleura vaillantiicommon

Acanthopleura vaillantii

Invertebrates
Yellowtail Clownfish (Amphiprion clarkii)common

Amphiprion clarkii

Yellowtail Clownfish

Fish
Blacktip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)common

Carcharhinus melanopterus

Blacktip Reef Shark

Fish
Halfspotted Grouper (Cephalopholis hemistiktos)common

Cephalopholis hemistiktos

Halfspotted Grouper

Fish
Broomtail Wrasse (Cheilinus lunulatus)common

Cheilinus lunulatus

Broomtail Wrasse

Fish
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)common

Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

Reptiles
Black Longspine Urchin (Diadema setosum)common

Diadema setosum

Black Longspine Urchin

Invertebrates
Rock-Boring Urchin (Echinometra mathaei)common

Echinometra mathaei

Rock-Boring Urchin

Invertebrates
Sand Grouper (Epinephelus stoliczkae)common

Epinephelus stoliczkae

Sand Grouper

Fish
Undulated Moray (Gymnothorax undulatus)common

Gymnothorax undulatus

Undulated Moray

Fish
Red-Toothed Triggerfish (Odonus niger)common

Odonus niger

Red-Toothed Triggerfish

Fish
Yellowbar Angelfish (Pomacanthus maculosus)common

Pomacanthus maculosus

Yellowbar Angelfish

Fish
Gulf Parrotfish (Scarus persicus)common

Scarus persicus

Gulf Parrotfish

Fish
Arabian Monocle Bream (Scolopsis ghanam)common

Scolopsis ghanam

Arabian Monocle Bream

Fish

Occasionally seen

12

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Red Sea Surgeonfish (Acanthurus sohal)occasional

Acanthurus sohal

Red Sea Surgeonfish

Fish
Blackspotted Puffer (Arothron stellatus)occasional

Arothron stellatus

Blackspotted Puffer

Fish
Sunrise Tentacle Aeolid (Caloria indica)occasional

Caloria indica

Sunrise Tentacle Aeolid

Invertebrates
Arabian Butterflyfish (Chaetodon melapterus)occasional

Chaetodon melapterus

Arabian Butterflyfish

Fish
Black-Spotted Butterflyfish (Chaetodon nigropunctatus)occasional

Chaetodon nigropunctatus

Black-Spotted Butterflyfish

Fish
Domino (Dascyllus trimaculatus)occasional

Dascyllus trimaculatus

Domino

Fish
Porcupinefish (Diodon hystrix)occasional

Diodon hystrix

Porcupinefish

Fish
Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)occasional

Eretmochelys imbricata

Sea Turtle

Reptiles
Orange-Spotted Trevally (Flavocaranx bajad)occasional

Flavocaranx bajad

Orange-Spotted Trevally

Fish
Blackspot Snapper (Lutjanus ehrenbergii)occasional

Lutjanus ehrenbergii

Blackspot Snapper

Fish
Devil Firefish (Pterois miles)occasional

Pterois miles

Devil Firefish

Fish
Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)occasional

Sphyraena barracuda

Great Barracuda

Fish

Rare finds

11

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Military Tentacle Aeolid (Caloria militaris)rare

Caloria militaris

Military Tentacle Aeolid

Invertebrates
Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)rare

Caretta caretta

Loggerhead

Reptiles
Spiny Hands (Charybdis (Charybdis) hellerii)rare

Charybdis (Charybdis) hellerii

Spiny Hands

Invertebrates
Bubble Tip Sea Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor)rare

Entacmaea quadricolor

Bubble Tip Sea Anemone

Invertebrates
Olive Ridely (Lepidochelys olivacea)rare

Lepidochelys olivacea

Olive Ridely

Reptiles
Limenandra fusiformisrare

Limenandra fusiformis

Invertebrates
Lagoon Brittle Star (Ophiocoma scolopendrina)rare

Ophiocoma scolopendrina

Lagoon Brittle Star

Invertebrates
Marine Crayfish (Panulirus versicolor)rare

Panulirus versicolor

Marine Crayfish

Invertebrates
Nodose Rubble Crab (Paractaea rufopunctata)rare

Paractaea rufopunctata

Nodose Rubble Crab

Invertebrates
Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)rare

Rhincodon typus

Whale Shark

Fish
Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus)rare

Stenopus hispidus

Banded Coral Shrimp

Invertebrates