Saturday 15 June
Coral reefs
The shallow, calcium carbonate-rich waters of the southern Arabian Gulf are ideal for reef-building corals, and substantial reefs have formed along the coast of the United Arab Emirates, particularly along the Abu Dhabi Emirate.
The coral reefs of UAE waters are home to a vast array of marine species.
Learn about UAE habitats & speciesSpecies found in coral reefs
Species 1 - 50 of 130 [ next ]Sort all by common name | Sort all by latin name
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Abudefduf vaigiensis (Indo-Pacific sergeant)
Information on the Indo-Pacific sergeant (Abudefduf vaigiensis) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Acanthastrea echinata (Starry cup coral)
The most common species of Acanthastrea, this coral forms large encrusting colonies over the surface of rocks, or takes the form of a…
More about the Starry cup coral »
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Acanthastrea hillae (Starry cup coral)
Usually forming colonies that are relatively small, but which can sometimes grow to over 1.5 metres across, Acanthastrea hillae is quite a…
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Acanthastrea maxima (Fleshy artichoke coral)
The fleshy artichoke coral is a little-known, rare coral described as recently as 1998. The most distinguishing features of this species are…
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Acropora arabensis (Acropora)
Information on Acropora arabensis is being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Acropora clathrata (Table coral)
Information on Acropora clathrata is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Acropora yongei (Staghorn coral)
Information on Acropora yongei is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Aethaloperca rogaa (Redmouth grouper)
The redmouth grouper is a robust, reef fish with a deep, compressed body. It is generally dark brown to black in colour, occasionally with…
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Aetobatus narinari (Spotted eagle ray)
The spotted eagle ray is very distinctive with a flattened body and triangular corners to the wing-like pectoral fins. The snout is rounded…
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Alveopora tizardi (Alveopora coral)
Information on Alveopora tizardi is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Alveopora coral »
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Amphiprion clarkii (Clark's anemonefish)
Information on Clark's anemonefish is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Anomastraea irregularis (Crisp pillow coral)
The only species in its genus, Anomastraea irregularis forms small, low, mound-like colonies that grow up to about 20 cm in height. In…
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Anyperodon leucogrammicus (Slender grouper)
Information on the slender grouper (Anyperodon leucogrammicus) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Apolemichthys xanthotis (Yellow-ear angelfish)
Information on the yellow-ear angelfish (Apolemichthys xanthotis) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Astreopora expansa (Staghorn coral)
One of the most distinctive species in its genus, the variably brown, pink or dark green colonies of Astreopora expansa take the form of…
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Barabattoia amicorum (Stony coral)
One of only two coral species belonging to the Barabattoia genus, Barabattoia amicorum is an uncommon component of coral reefs, which forms…
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Blastomussa merleti (Pineapple coral)
Information on Blastomussa merleti is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Carangoides bajad (Orange spotted trevally)
With a deep, flattened, streamlined body, the orange spotted trevally (Carangoides bajad) is a powerful, fast-swimming predatory fish of the…
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Carangoides fulvoguttatus (Yellowspotted trevally)
Information on the yellowspotted trevally (Carangoides fulvoguttatus) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Carcharhinus limbatus (Blacktip shark)
The blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) is a large, stout shark, with a long, pointed snout and small eyes. Its torpedo-shaped body, grey…
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Carcharhinus melanopterus (Blacktip reef shark)
The blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) is the most commonly encountered species of shark in tropical Indo-Pacific reefs…
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Cephalopholis hemistiktos (Yellowfin hind)
One of the most abundant Cephalopholis species in parts of its range, the yellowfin hind is a moderately sized, relatively robust reef fish…
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Cephalopholis sexmaculata (Six-blotch hind)
Information on the six-blotch hind (Cephalopholis sexmaculata) is currently being researched and written and will appear here…
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Chaetodon auriga (Threadfin butterflyfish)
Information on the threadfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga) is being researched and wriiten and will appear here shortly…
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Chaetodon gardineri (Gardiner's butterflyfish)
Information on Gardiner's butterflyfish is being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Gardiner's butterflyfish »
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Chaetodon melapterus (Black-finned melon butterflyfish)
Information on the black-finned melon butterflyfish (Chaetodon melapterus) is being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Chaetodon pictus (Horseshoe butterflyfish)
Information on the horseshoe butterflyfish is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Chaetodon triangulum (Herringbone butterflyfish)
Information on the herringbone butterflyfish is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Cheilinus lunulatus (Broomtail wrasse)
Information on the broomtail wrasse (Cheilinus lunulatus) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Chiloscyllium arabicum (Arabian carpetshark)
Like other bottom-dwelling shark species, the Arabian carpetshark (Chiloscyllium arabicum) does not require a streamlined body for rapid…
More about the Arabian carpetshark »
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Chlorurus sordidus (Daisy parrotfish)
Information on the daisy parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Coscinaraea columna (Wrinkle coral)
Information on Coscinaraea columna is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Wrinkle coral »
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Coscinaraea monile (Wrinkle coral)
Coscinaraea monile is a common species of wrinkle coral that usually forms encrusting or dome-shaped colonies. These are often uniformly…
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Cyphastrea microphthalma (Lesser star coral)
Information on the lesser star coral is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Lesser star coral »
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Diadema setosum (Long-spined sea urchin)
Information on the long-spined sea urchin is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Long-spined sea urchin »
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Echinopora gemmacea (Echinopora)
Information on Echinopora gemmacea is being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Epinephelus areolatus (Areloate grouper)
Information on the areloate grouper is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Areloate grouper »
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Epinephelus bleekeri (Duskytail grouper)
The robust, elongate body of the duskytail grouper is brownish to purplish-grey in colour and covered with numerous small, yellow, orange or…
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Epinephelus coioides (Orange-spotted grouper)
A rather large, robust marine fish, the orange-spotted grouper has an elongated body which is tan above, shading to whitish below. The head…
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Epinephelus diacanthus (Spinycheek grouper)
As its name suggests, the spinycheek grouper has one to five, prominent spines on its cheek, in front of the gills. Like other groupers, it…
More about the Spinycheek grouper »
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Epinephelus multinotatus (White-blotched grouper)
Information on the white-blotched grouper (Epinephelus multinotatus) is being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the White-blotched grouper »
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Epinephelus octofasciatus (Eightbar grouper)
The eightbar grouper (Epinephelus octofasciatus) owes its name quite simply to the presence of eight, broad, dark-brown bars that cross its…
More about the Eightbar grouper »
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Epinephelus stoliczkae (Epaulet grouper)
An intricate pattern of spots, blotches and bars decorates the robust body of the epaulet grouper. With the exception of the underside, the…
More about the Epaulet grouper »
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Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill turtle)
The Critically Endangered hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) has been exploited for thousands of years as the sole source of…
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Favia favus (Head coral)
Information on Favia favus is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Favia pallida (Favia coral)
Information on Favia pallida is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Favia rotumana (Favia coral)
Information on Favia rotumana is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Favia speciosa (Elliptical star coral)
One of the most common species in the Faviidae family, particularly at high latitudes, Favia speciosa typically forms domed colonies that…
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Favites abdita (Honeycomb coral)
Favites abdita is part of the Faviidae family, a common group of reef-building, ‘stony’ corals, characterised by a hard, calcareous skeleton…
More about the Honeycomb coral »
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Favites chinensis (Larger star coral)
Growing in characteristically shaped mounds or domes, Favites chinensis forms massive, rounded colonies composed of numerous individual…
More about the Larger star coral »
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