Species database

Marine species in United States (California)

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.

Commonly seen

18

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

Wolf-Eel (Anarrhichthys ocellatus)common

Anarrhichthys ocellatus

Wolf-Eel

Fish
Finescale Triggerfish (Balistes polylepis)common

Balistes polylepis

Finescale Triggerfish

Fish
common

Beringraja binoculata

Big Skate

Fish
Sweet William (Galeorhinus galeus)common

Galeorhinus galeus

Sweet William

Fish
Opaleye (Girella nigricans)common

Girella nigricans

Opaleye

Fish
Bluntnose Sixgill Shark (Hexanchus griseus)common

Hexanchus griseus

Bluntnose Sixgill Shark

Fish
Zebraperch (Kyphosus azureus)common

Kyphosus azureus

Zebraperch

Fish
Common Sunfish (Mola mola)common

Mola mola

Common Sunfish

Fish
Flathead Grey Mullet (Mugil cephalus)common

Mugil cephalus

Flathead Grey Mullet

Fish
Bat Ray (Myliobatis californica)common

Myliobatis californica

Bat Ray

Fish
Kelp Bass (Paralabrax clathratus)common

Paralabrax clathratus

Kelp Bass

Fish
Spotted Sand Bass (Paralabrax maculatofasciatus)common

Paralabrax maculatofasciatus

Spotted Sand Bass

Fish
Barred Sand Bass (Paralabrax nebulifer)common

Paralabrax nebulifer

Barred Sand Bass

Fish
Blue Shark (Prionace glauca)common

Prionace glauca

Blue Shark

Fish
Northern Guitarfish (Pseudobatos productus)common

Pseudobatos productus

Northern Guitarfish

Fish
Pacific Barracuda (Sphyraena argentea)common

Sphyraena argentea

Pacific Barracuda

Fish
Picked Dogfish (Squalus acanthias)common

Squalus acanthias

Picked Dogfish

Fish
Pacific Torpedo (Tetronarce californica)common

Tetronarce californica

Pacific Torpedo

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Warty Shag-Rug Nudibranch (Aeolidia loui)occasional

Aeolidia loui

Warty Shag-Rug Nudibranch

Invertebrates
Olive's Aeolid (Anteaeolidiella oliviae)occasional

Anteaeolidiella oliviae

Olive's Aeolid

Invertebrates
Common Paper Nautilus (Argonauta argo)occasional

Argonauta argo

Common Paper Nautilus

Invertebrates
Blue Rorqual (Balaenoptera musculus)occasional

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue Rorqual

Mammals
Dusky Shark (Carcharhinus obscurus)occasional

Carcharhinus obscurus

Dusky Shark

Fish
Cockscomb Cup Coral (Desmophyllum dianthus)occasional

Desmophyllum dianthus

Cockscomb Cup Coral

Corals
Deepwater Coral (Desmophyllum pertusum)occasional

Desmophyllum pertusum

Deepwater Coral

Corals
occasional

Enhydra lutris

Sea Otter

Mammals
California Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus)occasional

Eschrichtius robustus

California Gray Whale

Mammals
Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)occasional

Gadus morhua

Atlantic Cod

Fish
Hump (Megaptera novaeangliae)occasional

Megaptera novaeangliae

Hump

Mammals
Common Seal (Phoca vitulina)occasional

Phoca vitulina

Common Seal

Mammals
By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella)occasional

Velella velella

By-the-Wind Sailor

Invertebrates
California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)occasional

Zalophus californianus

California Sea Lion

Mammals

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Common Grey Sea Slug (Aeolidia papillosa)rare

Aeolidia papillosa

Common Grey Sea Slug

Invertebrates
Brooding Snake Star (Amphipholis squamata)rare

Amphipholis squamata

Brooding Snake Star

Invertebrates
Colorful Aeolid (Anteaeolidiella chromosoma)rare

Anteaeolidiella chromosoma

Colorful Aeolid

Invertebrates
Stearns' Aeolid (Austraeolis stearnsi)rare

Austraeolis stearnsi

Stearns' Aeolid

Invertebrates
Big Finner (Balaenoptera physalus)rare

Balaenoptera physalus

Big Finner

Mammals
Chain Tunicate (Botrylloides violaceus)rare

Botrylloides violaceus

Chain Tunicate

Invertebrates
Golden Star Tunicate (Botryllus schlosseri)rare

Botryllus schlosseri

Golden Star Tunicate

Invertebrates
Common Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas)rare

Carcinus maenas

Common Shore Crab

Invertebrates
Green-Striped Anemone (Diadumene lineata)rare

Diadumene lineata

Green-Striped Anemone

Invertebrates
Gray Grampus (Grampus griseus)rare

Grampus griseus

Gray Grampus

Mammals
Breadcrumb Horny Sponge (Halichondria (Halichondria) panicea)rare

Halichondria (Halichondria) panicea

Breadcrumb Horny Sponge

Invertebrates
Pacific Oyster (Magallana gigas)rare

Magallana gigas

Pacific Oyster

Invertebrates
Asian Tunicate (Styela clava)rare

Styela clava

Asian Tunicate

Invertebrates