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85 species and groups

Who lives down there

The locals of Maltese reefs, wrecks and caves: what they look like, what they are called in Maltese, how to dive with them and which ones bite, sting or stab.

Fish46

Red scorpionfish

Red scorpionfish

Ċippullazza · Scorpaena scrofa

Can hurt you158 sites
Mediterranean moray

Mediterranean moray

Morina · Muraena helena

Can hurt you156 sites
Dusky grouper

Dusky grouper

Ċerna · Epinephelus marginatus

Harmless129 sites Protected
Mediterranean cardinalfish

Mediterranean cardinalfish

Sultan iċ-ċawl · Apogon imberbis

Harmless126 sites
Mediterranean damselfish

Mediterranean damselfish

Ċawl · Chromis chromis

Harmless107 sites
Two-banded seabream

Two-banded seabream

Xirgien · Diplodus vulgaris

Harmless106 sites
Greater amberjack

Greater amberjack

Aċċola · Seriola dumerili

Harmless87 sites
Mediterranean barracuda

Mediterranean barracuda

Lizz · Sphyraena viridensis

Handle with care55 sites
Conger eel

Conger eel

Gringu · Conger conger

Can hurt you50 sites
Forkbeard

Forkbeard

Lipp tal-qawwi · Phycis phycis

Harmless41 sites
Ornate wrasse

Ornate wrasse

Tirda tal-passa · Thalassoma pavo

Harmless40 sites
Mediterranean parrotfish

Mediterranean parrotfish

Marzpan · Sparisoma cretense

Harmless38 sites
Saddled seabream

Saddled seabream

Kaħlija · Oblada melanura

Harmless34 sites
Common dentex

Common dentex

Dentiċi · Dentex dentex

Harmless33 sites
Atlantic bluefin tuna

Atlantic bluefin tuna

Tonn · Thunnus thynnus

Harmless26 sites Protected
Flying gurnard

Flying gurnard

Bies · Dactylopterus volitans

Harmless23 sites
Salema

Salema

Xilpa · Sarpa salpa

Harmless21 sites
Painted comber

Painted comber

Burqax · Serranus scriba

Harmless18 sites
Swallowtail sea perch

Swallowtail sea perch

Pixxiroża · Anthias anthias

Harmless18 sites
Short-snouted seahorse

Short-snouted seahorse

Żiemel tal-baħar · Hippocampus hippocampus

Harmless17 sites Protected
Striped red mullet

Striped red mullet

Trilja · Mullus surmuletus

Harmless12 sites
Peacock wrasse

Peacock wrasse

Lappun · Symphodus tinca

Harmless10 sites
Pipefish

Pipefish

Gremxula tal-baħar · Syngnathus spp.

Harmless9 sites
Blackbelly rosefish

Blackbelly rosefish

Ċippullazza tal-għajn · Helicolenus dactylopterus

Can hurt you7 sites
Blennies

Blennies

Budakkra · Parablennius spp.

Harmless7 sites
Brown meagre

Brown meagre

Gurbell · Sciaena umbra

Harmless7 sites Protected
John Dory

John Dory

Pixxi San Pietru · Zeus faber

Harmless7 sites
Rainbow wrasse

Rainbow wrasse

Għarusa · Coris julis

Harmless6 sites
Wide-eyed flounder

Wide-eyed flounder

Barbun tal-għajn · Bothus podas

Harmless5 sites
White seabream

White seabream

Sargu · Diplodus sargus

Harmless4 sites
Atlantic lizardfish

Atlantic lizardfish

Gremxula tal-baħar · Synodus saurus

Harmless3 sites
Blackspot seabream

Blackspot seabream

Bażuga · Pagellus bogaraveo

Harmless3 sites
Gobies

Gobies

Mazzun · Gobius spp.

Harmless3 sites
Bogue

Bogue

Vopa · Boops boops

Harmless2 sites
Comber

Comber

Kanna · Serranus cabrilla

Harmless2 sites
Long-snouted seahorse

Long-snouted seahorse

Żiemel tal-baħar · Hippocampus guttulatus

Harmless2 sites Protected
Sardine

Sardine

Sardin · Sardina pilchardus

Harmless2 sites
Annular seabream

Annular seabream

Sparlu · Diplodus annularis

Harmless1 site
Atlantic bonito

Atlantic bonito

Plamtu · Sarda sarda

Harmless1 site
Common dolphinfish

Common dolphinfish

Lampuka · Coryphaena hippurus

Harmless1 site
Cuckoo wrasse

Cuckoo wrasse

Parpanjol · Labrus mixtus

Harmless1 site
Devil firefish

Devil firefish

Pterois miles

Medically serious1 site
Grey mullet

Grey mullet

Mulett · Chelon labrosus

Harmless1 site
Picarel

Picarel

Arżnell · Spicara smaris

Harmless1 site
Sand smelt

Sand smelt

Kurunella · Atherina hepsetus

Harmless1 site
Bluespotted cornetfish

Bluespotted cornetfish

Fistularia commersonii

Harmless0 sites

Sharks & rays4

Common stingray

Common stingray

Boll · Dasyatis pastinaca

Can hurt you56 sites
Common eagle ray

Common eagle ray

Ħamiema · Myliobatis aquila

Can hurt you4 sites
Small-spotted catshark

Small-spotted catshark

Gattarell · Scyliorhinus canicula

Harmless3 sites
Nursehound

Nursehound

Gattarell tar-rukkal · Scyliorhinus stellaris

Harmless1 site

Cephalopods3

Common octopus

Common octopus

Qarnit · Octopus vulgaris

Handle with care174 sites
Common cuttlefish

Common cuttlefish

Siċċ · Sepia officinalis

Handle with care61 sites
European squid

European squid

Klamar · Loligo vulgaris

Harmless2 sites

Crustaceans9

Mediterranean slipper lobster

Mediterranean slipper lobster

Ċkala · Scyllarides latus

Harmless71 sites Protected
Common spiny lobster

Common spiny lobster

Awwista · Palinurus elephas

Handle with care19 sites Protected
Monaco cleaner shrimp

Monaco cleaner shrimp

Gamblu · Lysmata seticaudata

Harmless14 sites
Deep-water rose shrimp

Deep-water rose shrimp

Gamblu abjad · Parapenaeus longirostris

Harmless9 sites
European lobster

European lobster

Ljunfant · Homarus gammarus

Handle with care8 sites Protected
Hermit crabs

Hermit crabs

Dardanus spp.

Handle with care7 sites
Marbled rock crab

Marbled rock crab

Granċ tax-xatt · Pachygrapsus marmoratus

Handle with care4 sites
European spider crab

European spider crab

Għaġuża · Maja squinado

Handle with care2 sites Protected
Cave crustaceans

Cave crustaceans

Anchialine and marine cave crustaceans

Harmless1 site Protected

Molluscs & sea slugs2

Nudibranchs

Nudibranchs

Nudibranchia spp.

Harmless91 sites
Sea hare

Sea hare

Serduq il-baħar · Aplysia spp.

Harmless1 site

Echinoderms5

Red starfish

Red starfish

Stilla tal-baħar · Echinaster sepositus

Harmless11 sites
Sea urchins

Sea urchins

Rizzi · Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula

Handle with care9 sites Protected
Brittle stars

Brittle stars

Ophiuroidea, mainly Ophioderma longicauda

Harmless7 sites
Sea cucumbers

Sea cucumbers

Bużżu tal-baħar · Holothuria spp.

Handle with care5 sites
Spiny starfish

Spiny starfish

Stilla tal-baħar · Marthasterias glacialis

Harmless4 sites

Worms2

Tube worms

Tube worms

Serpulidae and Sabellidae

Harmless57 sites
Bearded fireworm

Bearded fireworm

Busuf · Hermodice carunculata

Can hurt you47 sites

Corals & anemones9

Yellow cluster anemone

Yellow cluster anemone

Parazoanthus axinellae

Harmless18 sites
Golden cup coral

Golden cup coral

Qroll tad-dell · Astroides calycularis

Harmless17 sites Protected
Gorgonian sea fans

Gorgonian sea fans

Paramuricea clavata and Eunicella spp.

Harmless9 sites
False black coral

False black coral

Savalia savaglia

Harmless5 sites Protected
Fireworks anemone

Fireworks anemone

Cerianthus membranaceus

Handle with care5 sites
Hydroids

Hydroids

Eudendrium and Aglaophenia spp.

Handle with care5 sites
Snakelocks anemone

Snakelocks anemone

Anemonia viridis

Handle with care4 sites
Cold-water corals

Cold-water corals

Madrepora oculata and Desmophyllum pertusum

Harmless1 site Protected
Red coral

Red coral

Qroll aħmar · Corallium rubrum

Harmless1 site Protected

Sponges & bryozoans2

Encrusting sponges

Encrusting sponges

Sponża · Porifera: Crambe crambe, Ircinia spp., Petrosia ficiformis and others

Handle with care122 sites Protected
False coral

False coral

Myriapora truncata

Harmless11 sites

Jellyfish2

Mauve stinger

Mauve stinger

Brama · Pelagia noctiluca

Can hurt you3 sites
Fried egg jellyfish

Fried egg jellyfish

Brama · Cotylorhiza tuberculata

Handle with care1 site

Plants & algae1

Neptune grass

Neptune grass

Alka · Posidonia oceanica

Harmless22 sites Protected