What Marine Life Can You See in Kenya?

Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)

Green turtles take their name from the colour of the fat found in a layer between their inner organs and shell. Feeding mostly on sea grass, they have been known to reach weights of up to 300kg, whilst the average weight of adult turtles is 110-190kg. They are found in the Shallow lagoons and mangrove creeks. The gender of sea turtles is dependent on the temperature of the eggs during incubation

Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

An animal famed for its acrobatic displays, often breaching and slapping the water. It is distinctive in shape, with long pectoral fins and a ridged head. Incredibly humpback whales can reach lengths of up to 16m long. They are found in waters and surrounding the Watamu Marine National Park. Each humpback whale tail is unique and individual to the mammal.

Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Living in sociable pods of up to a hundred, these intelligent creatures are masters of mimicry and self-recognition, using artificial language to communicate. Bottlenose Dolphins are grey in colour and vary in size from 2 - 4m. They are found in Watamu Marine National Reserve waters. They always search for prey primarily using echolocation.

Parrotfish (Scaridae)

There are about 80 species of parrotfish ranging in size from less than 1 to 4 feet in length. Parrotfish are abundant in and around the tropical reefs of the world’s oceans and are particularly recognizable by their brightly coloured scales. They are found in Watamu Marine National Reserve waters. Certain species of parrotfish cocoon themselves in a transparent mucous at night, just like pyjamas!

Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)

Populating tropical seas, the whale shark is a filter feeder passively consuming plankton and small fish in its path close to the water’s surface. Recently there has been a significant increase of whale sharks in Kenyan waters as a result of the El Nino Mantis Shrimp invasion. They are found in the southern Kenya coast. Whale Sharks are the largest fish in the ocean, reaching lengths of 40 feet or more.