Similan Islands

Wildlife in Similan Islands

Have you been to Similan Islands and seen species not listed here? Please join our Thai Biodiversity Survey & Species ID group on Facebook and post a photo. We will gladly add it to our range maps once the ID is confirmed by an expert.

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 118 species

Non-passerines

Boobies (Family: Sulidae)

Brown booby, Sula leucogaster

Frigatebirds (Family: Fregatidae)

Lesser frigatebird, Fregata ariel

Bitterns, herons and egrets (Family: Ardeidae)

Great egret, Ardea alba
Intermediate egret, Ardea intermedia
Chinese pond heron, Ardeola bacchus
Javan pond heron, Ardeola speciosa
Eastern cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
Striated heron, Butorides striata
Black bittern, Dupetor flavicollis
Little egret, Egretta garzetta
Pacific reef heron, Egretta sacra
Cinnamon bittern, Ixobrychus cinnamomeus

Storks (Family: Ciconiidae)

Asian openbill, Anastomus oscitans

Osprey (Family: Pandionidae)

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Eagles, kites and allies (Family: Accipitridae)

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 kite, Milvus migrans
Oriental honey-buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus

Falcons (Family: Falconidae)

Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Rails, crakes, gallinules and coots (Family: Rallidae)

White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus
Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea

Pratincoles and coursers (Family: Glareolidae)

Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum

Plovers and lapwings (Family: Charadriidae)

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 (Family: Scolopacidae)

Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis
Pin-tailed snipe, Gallinago stenura
Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica
Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata
Eurasian whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
Grey-tailed tattler, Tringa brevipes
Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus

Skuas (Family: Stercorariidae)

Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus

Terns (Family: Sternidae)

Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida
White-winged 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

Pigeons and doves (Family: Columbidae)

Nicobar pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica
Common emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica
Rock dove, Columba livia
Green imperial pigeon, Ducula aenea
Pied imperial pigeon, Ducula bicolor
Spotted dove, Spilopelia chinensis
Thick-billed green pigeon, Treron curvirostra
Pink-necked green pigeon, Treron vernans

Cuckoos (Family: Cuculidae)

Banded bay cuckoo, Cacomantis sonneratii
Greater coucal, Centropus sinensis
Indian cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus
Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus
Green-billed malkoha, Phaenicophaeus tristis

Typical owls (Family: Strigidae)

Collared scops owl, Otus lettia

Swifts (Family: Apodidae)

Germain's swiftlet, Aerodramus germani
House swift, Apus nipalensis
Asian palm swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis

Kingfishers, Tree kingfishers (Family: Alcedinidae, Halcyonidae, Cerylidae)

Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
Ruddy kingfisher, Halcyon coromanda
Black-capped kingfisher, Halcyon pileata
White-throated kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis
Collared kingfisher, Todiramphus chloris

Bee-eaters (Family: Meropidae)

Chestnut-headed bee-eater, Merops leschenaulti

Typical rollers (Family: Coraciidae)

Indochinese roller, Coracias affinis
Dollarbird, Eurystomus orientalis

Barbets (Family: Megalaimidae, Ramphastidae)

Coppersmith barbet, Psilopogon haemacephalus
Lineated barbet, Psilopogon lineatus

Passerines

Pittas (Family: Pittidae)

Mangrove pitta, Pitta megarhyncha

Swallows and martins (Family: Hirundinidae)

Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
Pacific swallow, Hirundo tahitica

Wagtails and pipits (Family: Motacillidae)

Forest wagtail, Dendronanthus indicus
Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava

Bulbuls (Family: Pycnonotidae)

Red-eyed bulbul, Pycnonotus brunneus
Yellow-vented bulbul, Pycnonotus goiavier

Ioras (Family: Aegithinidae)

Common iora, Aegithina tiphia

Thrushes and allies (Family: Turdidae)

Siberian thrush, Geokichla sibirica
Eyebrowed thrush, Turdus obscurus

Cisticolas and allies (Family: Cisticolidae)

Ashy Tailorbird, Orthotomus ruficeps
Common tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius

Leaf warblers (Family: Phylloscopidae)

Arctic leaf warbler, Phylloscopus borealis
Eastern crowned warbler, Phylloscopus coronatus
Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus

Old World flycatchers (Family: Muscicapidae)

Oriental magpie-robin, Copsychus saularis
Blue-and-white flycatcher, Cyanoptila cyanomelana
Mugimaki flycatcher, Ficedula mugimaki
Yellow-rumped flycatcher, Ficedula zanthopygia
Asian brown flycatcher, Muscicapa latirostris
Blue whistling thrush, Myophonus caeruleus

Fantails (Family: Rhipiduridae)

Malaysian pied fantail, Rhipidura javanica

Sunbirds and spiderhunters (Family: Nectariniidae)

Spectacled spiderhunter, Arachnothera flavigaster
Olive-backed sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis

Flowerpeckers (Family: Dicaeidae)

Orange-bellied flowerpecker, Dicaeum trigonostigma

Drongos (Family: Dicruridae)

Crow-billed drongo, Dicrurus annectens
Black drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus
Greater racket-tailed drongo, Dicrurus paradiseus

Crows and allies (Family: Corvidae)

Large-billed crow, Corvus macrorhynchos
House crow, Corvus splendens

Starlings (Family: Sturnidae)

Great myna, Acridotheres grandis
Common myna, Acridotheres tristis
Daurian starling, Agropsar sturninus
Asian glossy starling, Aplonis panayensis
Common hill myna, Gracula religiosa