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The Sulu-Sulawesi Seas contain one of the most diverse marine communities on Earth, with large numbers of fish and coral species. Abundant coral reefs, mangroves, and sea grass beds of the Lesser Sundas support one of the richest arrays of coral reef animals and plants in the world. The coral ecosystems in the Sulu-Sulawesi Seas are some of the most diverse on Earth, with more than 450 species of scleractinian, or stony, corals -- compared to 50 in the Caribbean and approximately 200 in the western Indian Ocean. Fish diversity reaches its highest level worldwide in this region.
The Sulu Sea’s Tubbataha Reef, with corals covering more than 81,000 acres (32,400 hectares), is the heart of coral diversity for the region. These seas support one of the world’s most diverse concentrations of reef fish, reef corals, and other invertebrates. A rainbow of colorful fish swim about, including giant bumphead parrotfish, Napoleon wrasses, jacks, and needlefish. Endemic fish here include Thielle’s anemonefish, Lubbock’s wrasse, and pink flasher. They have to keep an eye out for barracudas and sharks. Six of the word’s eight species of sea turtles can be found here--the leatherback, green, olive ridley, hawksbill, loggerhead, and flatback. Manta rays cruise the ocean bottom or occasionally leap from the surface. Water monitors and saltwater crocodiles also visit the marine habitats. Eight cetaceans are from these two seas: the spinner, spotted, bottlenose, Risso’s, and Fraser’s dolphins, as well as the short-finned pilot whale, dwarf sperm whale, and Curvier’s beaked whale. The endangered dugong, a cousin to the manatee, is known to feed in the area.
Coastal erosion, sedimentation, and nutrient runoff from land degrade the ecoregion. Other serious threats are the mining of coral for the ornamental coral trade, exploitation of sea turtles, and collection of fish for the aquarium trade. Fishing with dynamite and cyanide are particularly destructive to this region.
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