Lankayan
Why dive in Lankayan Island?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 9
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Frequent sightingsBlacktip Reef Shark
Carcharhinus melanopterus
A small, agile requiem shark recognized by the distinctive black tips on its dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins. Commonly found patrolling shallow coral reefs and lagoons, it is one of the most frequently encountered reef sharks in the Indo-Pacific.
Frequent sightingsGreat Barracuda
Sphyraena barracuda
The Great Barracuda is a large predatory fish known for its fearsome appearance and speed. It has an elongated body, pointed head, and large teeth, making it a proficient hunter in coastal and open waters.
Frequent sightingsGreen Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is a large marine reptile distinguished by its heart-shaped carapace and a single pair of prefrontal scales.
Frequent sightingsHawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is a medium-sized marine turtle recognizable by its distinctive hawk-like beak and overlapping scutes, which create a serrated edge on its carapace. Primarily found in tropical coral reefs, it plays a crucial role in these ecosystems by feeding mainly on sponges, which are toxic to most other animals. This species is critically endangered due to historical exploitation for its beautiful shell and ongoing threats like habitat loss and bycatch.
Frequent sightingsHumphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
The Humphead Wrasse is one of the largest reef fish, identifiable by a prominent hump on its forehead and thick fleshy lips. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals are born female and some transition to males later in life. This carnivorous species plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems by preying on hard-shelled invertebrates and toxic animals like the crown-of-thorns starfish.
Frequent sightingsOrnate Ghost Pipefish
Solenostomus paradoxus
The Ornate Ghost Pipefish is a master of camouflage, with a highly variable body coloration and intricate, leaf-like appendages that allow it to blend seamlessly with crinoids, corals, or algae in its tropical Indo-Pacific reef habitats. This ambush predator typically hovers head-down, feeding on small crustaceans like mysid shrimps and benthic shrimp, which it sucks into its elongated snout. Females are larger than males and carry eggs in a specialized brood pouch formed by their modified pelvic fins.
Frequent sightingsPainted Frogfish
Antennarius pictus
The Painted Frogfish (Antennarius pictus) is a marine ray-finned fish found in the Indo-Pacific. It possesses a globulous, extensible body with soft, warty skin, and exhibits highly variable coloration for camouflage. This ambush predator uses a modified first dorsal spine (illicium) with a lure (esca) to attract its prey, which mainly consists of small fish and crustaceans.
Frequent sightingsSpotted Seahorse
Hippocampus kuda
The Spotted Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda) is a distinctive marine fish known for its horse-like head, prehensile tail, and often mottled or spotted coloration, ranging from yellow to black. It inhabits shallow coastal waters, including seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs, across the Indo-Pacific region. Primarily diurnal, this species is a carnivorous ambush predator, feeding on small crustaceans and zooplankton, and is notable for the male carrying the eggs in a brood pouch until hatching.
Frequent sightingsWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
More marine life 57
Where is Lankayan
Sulu Sea · Malaysia