Marine life guide
Meet the animals you'll find underwater
From pygmy seahorses to whale sharks — learn how they live, what makes them special, and the dive sites where divers spot them.
Featured profiles
Abalone
Abalone (mass noun; or ; via Spanish abulón, from Rumsen aulón) are sea snails in the genus Haliotis, the only genus in the family Haliotidae. Abalone shells are distinctive for their flattened, ear-like shape,…
Abalone
Haliotis iris
Haliotis iris, common name, blackfoot pāua, tuke o rangi, rainbow abalone or simply pāua is a species of edible marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalone.It is endemic to shallow waters on the…
Acadian Hermit Crab
Pagurus acadianus
Pagurus acadianus, the Acadian hermit crab, is a species of hermit crab in the family Paguridae. It is found in Western Atlantic Ocean.
Acapulco Major
Stegastes acapulcoensis
Stegastes acapulcoensis, commonly called the Acapulco major, the Acapulco damselfish, or the Acapulco gregory, is a species of damselfish of the family Pomacentridae. It is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Acropora Florida
Acropora florida
The branch coral (Acropora florida) is a species of acroporid coral found in the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan and the East China Sea, Cook Islands and…
Acropora Gemmifera
Acropora gemmifera
Acropora gemmifera is a species of acroporid coral found in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the central Indo-Pacific, the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, southeastern Asia, Australia, the East China Sea, Japan, the…
Acropora Tenuis
Acropora tenuis
Acropora tenuis is a species of acroporid coral found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the southwest, northwest and northern Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan,…
Actinia Striata
Actinia striata
Actinia striata is a species of sea anemone endemic to the Mediterranean Sea.
Adhesive Anemone
Cryptodendrum adhaesivum
Cryptodendrum is a genus of sea anemones in the family Thalassianthidae. It is monotypic with a single species, Cryptodendrum adhaesivum, also commonly known as the adhesive anemone, pizza anemone, and nap-edged…
African Penguin
Spheniscus demersus
The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as the Cape penguin or the South African penguin, is a species of penguin confined to southern African waters. It is the only penguin found in the Old World. Like…
African Rainbow Crab
Cardisoma armatum
Cardisoma armatum is a species of terrestrial crab.
Agassizia Scrobiculata
Agassizia scrobiculata
Agassizia scrobiculata is a species of sea urchin of the family Prenasteridae.
Aggregating Anemone
Anthopleura elegantissima
The aggregating anemone (Anthopleura elegantissima), or clonal anemone, is the most abundant species of sea anemone found on rocky, tide swept shores along the Pacific coast of North America. This cnidarian hosts…
Aggregating Cup Coral
Astrangia haimei
Astrangia haimei, commonly known as the aggregating cup coral or Haime's cup coral, is a species of stony coral in the family Rhizangiidae.
Aglantha Digitale
Aglantha digitale
Aglantha digitale is a species of hydrozoan in the family Rhopalonematidae. It is found in the Arctic and sub-Arctic where it is one of the most common jellyfish. It is unusual in having both a slow swimming action,…
Alewife
Alosa pseudoharengus
The alewife or river herring (Alosa pseudoharengus; pl.: alewives) is a species of herring found in North America. It is commonly anadromous but there are also significant landlocked populations. It is one of the…
Alexander'S Spiny Brittle Star
Ophiocomella alexandri
Ophiocomella alexandri, known as Alexander's spiny brittle star or banded brittle star, is a species of marine brittle star. It was first described to science by Theodore Lyman in 1860. Lyman states in his description…
Algae
Algae ( AL-jee, UK also AL-ghee; sing.: alga ) are any of a large and diverse group of photosynthetic organisms. It excludes the land plants (embryophytes). Such organisms range from microscopic unicellular…
Alligator
An alligator, or colloquially gator, is a large reptile in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae in the order Crocodilia. The two extant species are the American alligator (A. mississippiensis) and the…
Almaco Jack
Seriola rivoliana
The longfin yellowtail (Seriola rivoliana), also known as the almaco or silvercoat jack, deep-water, falcate, European or highfin amberjack, rock salmon, longfin or yellow kingfish, is a game fish of the family…
Amberfish Sea Cucumber
Thelenota anax
Thelenota anax is a species of sea cucumber mostly found in the tropical, South Pacific Ocean. It is also commonly known as the amber fish. Some other names for T. anax are black teatfish, blackfish, brownfish, chief…
Amberjack
The greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili), also known as the allied kingfish, great amberfish, greater yellowtail, jenny lind, sea donkey, purplish amberjack, reef donkey, rock salmon, sailors choice, yellowtail, and…
Ambon Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Lysmata amboinensis is an omnivorous shrimp species known by several common names including the Pacific cleaner shrimp. It is considered a cleaner shrimp as eating parasites and dead tissue from fish makes up a large…
Ambon Damsel
Pomacentrus amboinensis
Pomacentrus amboinensis is a damselfish from the Western Pacific Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 9 cm in length. They live in small groups of one mature male that…