Wildlife in Similan Islands
The list of species below are collected from various sources and publications, it is not necessarily complete nor accurate. Some species may have been extirpated from the park, may be historic data of rare migrant species or simply misidentified. We do our best to verify each record with the experts, particularly the rare species.
Marine species
Total 57 species
Galean sharks
Carpet sharks (Order: Orectolobiformes)
- Rhincodon typus, Whale shark
- Stegostoma fasciatum, Zebra shark
Ground sharks (Order: Carcharhiniformes)
- Carcharhinus melanopterus, Blacktip reef shark
- Triaenodon obesus, Whitetip reef shark
- Triakis semifasciata, Leopard shark
Rays
Stingrays and relatives (Order: Myliobatiformes)
- Aetobatus narinari, Spotted eagle ray
- Manta birostris, Manta ray
- Neotrygon kuhlii, Kuhl's maskray
- Taeniura lymma, Bluespotted ribbontail ray
Skates and guitarfishes (Order: Rajiformes)
- Rhina ancylostoma, Bowmouth guitarfish
- Rhinobatos productus, Shovelnose guitarfish
Ray-finned fishes
Eels
- Gymnothorax fimbriatus, Fimbriated moray
- Gymnothorax javanicus, Giant moray
- Gymnothorax thyrsoideus, Greyface moray eel
- Heteroconger hassi, Spotted garden eel
- Rhinomuraena quaesita, Ribbon eel
Filefishes and pufferfish
- Balistapus undulatus, Orange-lined triggerfish
- Balistoides conspicillum, Clown triggerfish
- Balistoides viridescens, Titan triggerfish
- Odonus niger, Redtoothed triggerfish
- Ostracion cubicus, Yellow boxfish
- Ostracion meleagris, White-spotted boxfish
- Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus, Yellowmargin triggerfish
- Pseudobalistes fuscus, Blue triggerfish
- Sufflamen chrysopterum, Halfmoon triggerfish
Mail-cheeked fishes
- Pterois radiata, Clearfin lionfish
- Scorpaenopsis oxycephala, Tassled scorpionfish
Perch-like fishes
- Acanthurus leucosternon, Powderblue surgeonfish
- Bolbometopon muricatum, Green humphead parrotfish
- Caesio xanthonota, Yellowback fusilier
- Caranx ignobilis, Giant trevally
- Caranx melampygus, Bluefin trevally
- Cephalopholis miniata, Coral hind
- Chaetodon collare, Redtail butterflyfish
- Chaetodon decussatus, Indian vagabond butterflyfish
- Chaetodon meyeri, Scrawled butterflyfish
- Chaetodon rafflesii, Latticed butterflyfish
- Cheilinus undulatus, Humphead wrasse
- Epinephelus tukula, Potato cod
- Forcipiger flavissimus, Yellow longnose butterflyfish
- Gymnosarda unicolor, Dogtooth tuna
- Heniochus acuminatus, Pennant coralfish
- Heniochus diphreutes, Schooling bannerfish
- Naso tonganus, Humpnose unicorn
- Nemateleotris magnifica, Red fire goby
- Paracanthurus hepatus, Palette surgeonfish
- Paracirrhites forsteri, Black-sided hawkfish
- Plectorhinchus vittatus, Indian Ocean oriental sweetlips
- Pomacanthus annularis, Blue ring angelfish
- Pomacanthus xanthometopon, Blueface angelfish
- Pygoplites diacanthus, Royal angelfish
- Siganus javus, Streaked spinefoot
- Sphyraena barracuda, Great barracuda
- Sphyraena flavicauda, Yellowtail barracuda
- Sphyraena jello, Pickhandle barracuda
Tunas and relatives
- Rastrelliger kanagurta, Indian mackerel
Seahorses, Pipefishes and relatives
- Solenostomus paradoxus, Ornate ghost pipefish
Birds (Class: Aves)
Total 116 species
Pigeons and doves
- Nicobar pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica
- Common emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica
- Rock pigeon, Columba livia
- Green imperial pigeon, Ducula aenea
- Pied imperial pigeon, Ducula bicolor
- Eastern spotted dove, Spilopelia chinensis
- Thick-billed green pigeon, Treron curvirostra
- Pink-necked green pigeon, Treron vernans
Cuckoos
- Banded bay cuckoo, Cacomantis sonneratii
- Greater coucal, Centropus sinensis
- Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus
- Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus
- Green-billed malkoha, Phaenicophaeus tristis
Swifts
- Pale-rumped swiftlet, Aerodramus germani
- House swift, Apus nipalensis
- Asian palm swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis
Rails, gallinules, and coots
- White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus
- Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea
Plovers and lapwings
- Greater sand plover, Charadrius leschenaultii
- Lesser sand plover, Charadrius mongolus
- Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva
- Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola
- Red-wattled lapwing, Vanellus indicus
Sandpipers and allies
- Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
- Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
- Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis
- Pintail snipe, Gallinago stenura
- Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica
- Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata
- Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
- Grey-tailed tattler, Tringa brevipes
- Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
- Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus
Pratincoles and coursers
- Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum
Skuas and jaegers
- Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
Gulls, terns, and skimmers
- Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida
- White-winged black tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
- Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus
- Roseate tern, Sterna dougallii
- Common tern, Sterna hirundo
- Black-naped tern, Sterna sumatrana
- Little tern, Sternula albifrons
- Lesser crested tern, Thalasseus bengalensis
- Great crested tern, Thalasseus bergii
Storks
- Asian openbill, Anastomus oscitans
Boobies and gannets
- Brown booby, Sula leucogaster
Herons, egrets, and bitterns
- Great egret, Ardea alba
- Intermediate egret, Ardea intermedia
- Great-billed heron, Ardea sumatrana
- Chinese pond heron, Ardeola bacchus
- Javan pond heron, Ardeola speciosa
- Eastern cattle egret, Bubulcus coromandus
- Striated heron, Butorides striata
- Little egret, Egretta garzetta
- Pacific reef egret, Egretta sacra
- Cinnamon bittern, Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
- Black bittern, Ixobrychus flavicollis
Ospreys
- Western osprey, Pandion haliaetus
Hawks, eagles, and kites
- Shikra, Accipiter badius
- Japanese sparrowhawk, Accipiter gularis
- Chinese sparrowhawk, Accipiter soloensis
- Black baza, Aviceda leuphotes
- Grey-faced buzzard, Butastur indicus
- White-bellied sea eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster
- Brahminy kite, Haliastur indus
- Black-eared kite, Milvus lineatus
- Oriental honey-buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus
Owls
- Collared scops owl, Otus lettia
Kingfishers, Tree kingfishers
- Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
- Ruddy kingfisher, Halcyon coromanda
- Black-capped kingfisher, Halcyon pileata
- White-throated kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis
- Collared kingfisher, Todiramphus chloris
Bee-eaters
- Chestnut-headed bee-eater, Merops leschenaulti
Rollers
- Indochinese roller, Coracias affinis
- Oriental dollarbird, Eurystomus orientalis
Barbets
- Coppersmith barbet, Psilopogon haemacephalus
- Lineated barbet, Psilopogon lineatus
Falcons and caracaras
- Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
Pittas
- Mangrove pitta, Pitta megarhyncha
Ioras
- Common iora, Aegithina tiphia
Fantails
- Malaysian pied fantail, Rhipidura javanica
Drongos
- Crow-billed drongo, Dicrurus annectens
- Black drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus
- Greater racquet-tailed drongo, Dicrurus paradiseus
Crows, jays and magpies
- Large-billed crow, Corvus macrorhynchos
- House crow, Corvus splendens
Cisticolas and allies
- Ashy Tailorbird, Orthotomus ruficeps
- Common tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius
Swallows and martins
- Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
- Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
- Pacific swallow, Hirundo tahitica
Bulbuls
- Red-eyed bulbul, Pycnonotus brunneus
- Yellow-vented bulbul, Pycnonotus goiavier
Leaf warblers
- Arctic leaf warbler, Phylloscopus borealis
- Eastern crowned leaf warbler, Phylloscopus coronatus
- Yellow-browed leaf warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus
Starlings
- White-vented myna, Acridotheres grandis
- Common myna, Acridotheres tristis
- Purple-backed starling, Agropsar sturninus
- Asian glossy starling, Aplonis panayensis
- Common hill myna, Gracula religiosa
Thrushes and allies
- Eyebrowed thrush, Turdus obscurus
Old World flycatchers
- Oriental magpie-robin, Copsychus saularis
- Blue-and-white flycatcher, Cyanoptila cyanomelana
- Mugimaki flycatcher, Ficedula mugimaki
- Yellow-rumped flycatcher, Ficedula zanthopygia
- Asian brown flycatcher, Muscicapa dauurica
- Blue whistlingthrush, Myophonus caeruleus
Flowerpeckers
- Orange-bellied flowerpecker, Dicaeum trigonostigma
Sunbirds and spiderhunters
- Spectacled spiderhunter, Arachnothera flavigaster
- Olive-backed sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis
Old World sparrows
- Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus
Wagtails and pipits
- Forest wagtail, Dendronanthus indicus
- White wagtail, Motacilla alba
- Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
Mammals (Class: Mammalia)
Primates (Order: Primate)
Macaques
- Macaca fascicularis, Crab-eating macaque
Lutungs
- Trachypithecus obscurus, Dusky leaf monkey
Dolphins
- Pseudorca crassidens, False killer whale
Bats
Megabats
- Pteropus hypomelanus, Small flying fox
Turtles (Order: Testudines)
Sea and leatherback turtles
- Chelonia mydas, Green sea turtle
- Dermochelys coriacea, Leatherback sea turtle
- Eretmochelys imbricata, Hawksbill sea turtle
- Lepidochelys olivacea, Olive ridley sea turtle
Lizards (Suborder: Saurina)
Geckos
Rock geckos genus (Genus: Cnemaspis)
- Cnemaspis similan, Similan rock gecko
Agamid lizards
Butterfly lizards (Genus: Leiolepis)
- Leiolepis belliana, Common butterfly lizard
Monitors
- Varanus salvator, Water monitor
Snakes (Suborder: Serpentes)
Blind snakes
Blind snakes (Genus: Argyrophis, Gerrhopilus, Indotyphlops, Ramphotyphlops)
- Indotyphlops albiceps, White-headed blind snake
Elapid sea snakes
Sea kraits
- Laticauda colubrina, Colubrine sea krait
Amphibians (Order: Anura)
Narrow-mouthed frogs
Bullfrogs (Genus: Kaloula)
- Kaloula pulchra, Banded bullfrog