Fishes

Maldives is home to more than 1,500 fish species. Many of them can be seen when you are diving or snorkeling on the reefs. Their size range from a few centimeters up to 10 meters long Whale Sharks.

The science of classifying fish species (taxonomy) is complex and sometimes confusing. Thanks to new knowledge have many fish species changed their scientific names over the last years. More changes will certainly follow in the years to come.

This website is not a scientific reference, and I have deliberately omitted the scientific names of the fishes. 

Most fish species seen in Maldives are common in the Indian Ocean and some even in the Pacific. It is therefore not a surprise that their names change with location. For example is Green-face Parrotfish also called Singapore Parrotfish other places.

For reference am I mainly using Rudie Kuiter’s book “Fishes of the Maldives Indian Ocean. Now with sharks and rays by Tim Godfrey” (2014).

Some fish species are hard to identify. For example do some Parrotfishes change colors considerably with age and sex.