Species database

Marine species in Vanuatu

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.

Indo-Pacific Sergeant (Abudefduf vaigiensis)common

Abudefduf vaigiensis

Indo-Pacific Sergeant

Fish
Crown-of-Thorns (Acanthaster planci)common

Acanthaster planci

Crown-of-Thorns

Invertebrates
Whitebelly Damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster)common

Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster

Whitebelly Damselfish

Fish
Yellowtail Clownfish (Amphiprion clarkii)common

Amphiprion clarkii

Yellowtail Clownfish

Fish
Clownfish (Amphiprion melanopus)common

Amphiprion melanopus

Clownfish

Fish
Dwarf Sea Hare (Aplysia parvula)common

Aplysia parvula

Dwarf Sea Hare

Invertebrates
Orange-Lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus)common

Balistapus undulatus

Orange-Lined Triggerfish

Fish
Valentinni's Sharpnose Puffer (Canthigaster valentini)common

Canthigaster valentini

Valentinni's Sharpnose Puffer

Fish
Bicolor Angelfish (Centropyge bicolor)common

Centropyge bicolor

Bicolor Angelfish

Fish
Fivelined Cardinalfish (Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus)common

Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus

Fivelined Cardinalfish

Fish
common

Chromis earina

Spring Chromis

Fish
Spotted Hermit Crab (Dardanus megistos)common

Dardanus megistos

Spotted Hermit Crab

Invertebrates
Dugong (Dugong dugon)common

Dugong dugon

Dugong

Mammals
Bleeker's Grouper (Epinephelus bleekeri)common

Epinephelus bleekeri

Bleeker's Grouper

Fish
Azure Sea Star (Linckia laevigata)common

Linckia laevigata

Azure Sea Star

Invertebrates
Blotcheye Soldierfish (Myripristis murdjan)common

Myripristis murdjan

Blotcheye Soldierfish

Fish
Sammara Squirrelfish (Neoniphon sammara)common

Neoniphon sammara

Sammara Squirrelfish

Fish
Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans)common

Pterois volitans

Red Lionfish

Fish

Occasionally seen

14

Regular residents, but not on every dive.

Clownfish (Amphiprion perideraion)occasional

Amphiprion perideraion

Clownfish

Fish
Blackspotted Puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus)occasional

Arothron nigropunctatus

Blackspotted Puffer

Fish
Bennett's Sharpnose Puffer (Canthigaster bennetti)occasional

Canthigaster bennetti

Bennett's Sharpnose Puffer

Fish
Toby (Canthigaster compressa)occasional

Canthigaster compressa

Toby

Fish
Sunburst Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii)occasional

Chaetodon kleinii

Sunburst Butterflyfish

Fish
Grainy Cushion Star (Choriaster granulatus)occasional

Choriaster granulatus

Grainy Cushion Star

Invertebrates
Domino (Dascyllus trimaculatus)occasional

Dascyllus trimaculatus

Domino

Fish
Blue Sea Chub (Kyphosus cinerascens)occasional

Kyphosus cinerascens

Blue Sea Chub

Fish
Multipore Sea Star (Linckia multifora)occasional

Linckia multifora

Multipore Sea Star

Invertebrates
Blacktail Snapper (Lutjanus fulvus)occasional

Lutjanus fulvus

Blacktail Snapper

Fish
Cheek-Lined Maori Wrasse (Oxycheilinus digramma)occasional

Oxycheilinus digramma

Cheek-Lined Maori Wrasse

Fish
Lemon Damsel (Pomacentrus moluccensis)occasional

Pomacentrus moluccensis

Lemon Damsel

Fish
Iridescent Cardinalfish (Pristiapogon kallopterus)occasional

Pristiapogon kallopterus

Iridescent Cardinalfish

Fish
Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus)occasional

Pygoplites diacanthus

Regal Angelfish

Fish

Rare finds

13

Lucky encounters worth logging.

Banded Sergeant (Abudefduf septemfasciatus)rare

Abudefduf septemfasciatus

Banded Sergeant

Fish
Spiny Chromis (Acanthochromis polyacanthus)rare

Acanthochromis polyacanthus

Spiny Chromis

Fish
Dwarf Angelfish (Centropyge loriculus)rare

Centropyge loriculus

Dwarf Angelfish

Fish
Citron Butterfly (Chaetodon citrinellus)rare

Chaetodon citrinellus

Citron Butterfly

Fish
Vagabond Butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus)rare

Chaetodon vagabundus

Vagabond Butterflyfish

Fish
Twospot Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus binotatus)rare

Ctenochaetus binotatus

Twospot Surgeonfish

Fish
Balloonfish (Diodon holocanthus)rare

Diodon holocanthus

Balloonfish

Fish
Black-Spot Angelfish (Genicanthus melanospilos)rare

Genicanthus melanospilos

Black-Spot Angelfish

Fish
Horned Bannerfish (Heniochus varius)rare

Heniochus varius

Horned Bannerfish

Fish
Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus)rare

Labroides dimidiatus

Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse

Fish
Boomerang Triggerfish (Sufflamen bursa)rare

Sufflamen bursa

Boomerang Triggerfish

Fish
Six-Banded Wrasse (Thalassoma hardwicke)rare

Thalassoma hardwicke

Six-Banded Wrasse

Fish
Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)rare

Zanclus cornutus

Moorish Idol

Fish