Fish A–Z

Fish Names A to Z

A plain, complete A–Z of fish — freshwater and marine — with a clear photo for the popular ones. Use the letter bar to jump, or search a name.

1312fish, A–Z
385with pictures
📖 12 Popular Aquarium Fish — tap through the Web Story →

Popular fish, with pictures

The most-kept and best-known fish — a real photo, and where we hold them, the tank facts that decide whether a fish suits you. The full A–Z below has the rest.

Popular freshwater fish (48)

A freshwater angelfish showing its tall, triangular finned body Angelfish Tall, triangular South American cichlid from the Amazon; peaceful but territorial when breeding. WaterFreshwater Adult sizeup to 15 cm Min tank115 L (30 gal) TemperamentSemi-aggressive Care levelIntermediate DietOmnivore Photo: Rjcastillo · CC BY 4.0
An Asian arowana with large metallic scales swimming near the surface Arowana Large predatory 'dragon fish' that swims near the surface and can leap for prey. WaterFreshwater Adult size60-90 cm Min tank950 L (250 gal) TemperamentAggressive Care levelAdvanced DietCarnivore Photo: Photo taken by Fanghong · CC BY-SA 3.0
A male betta fish with long, flowing, brightly colored fins Betta Labyrinth fish from Thailand; males flare vivid fins and must be kept alone. WaterFreshwater Adult size6-7 cm Min tank19 L (5 gal) TemperamentSemi-aggressive Care levelBeginner DietCarnivore Photo: Nippyfish · CC BY 2.0
A round, disc-shaped discus cichlid with patterned sides Discus Round, disc-shaped Amazon cichlid prized by hobbyists but sensitive to water quality. WaterFreshwater Adult size15-20 cm Min tank220 L (55 gal) TemperamentPeaceful Care levelAdvanced DietOmnivore Photo: Doronenko · CC BY 3.0
A classic orange goldfish with flowing fins Goldfish Domesticated East Asian carp kept for centuries; can outgrow small bowls considerably. WaterFreshwater Adult size15-30 cm Min tank75 L (20 gal) TemperamentPeaceful Care levelBeginner DietOmnivore Photo: James St. John · CC BY 2.0
A colorful dwarf gourami with iridescent striped flanks Gourami Labyrinth fish from South Asia that gulps air and builds floating bubble nests. Freshwater Photo: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
A male guppy displaying a colorful patterned tail Guppy Hardy livebearer; males show colorful tails and they breed readily in aquariums. WaterFreshwater Adult size3-6 cm Min tank40 L (10 gal) TemperamentCommunity Care levelBeginner DietOmnivore Photo: Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0
An ornamental koi carp swimming in a pond Koi Ornamental carp bred in Japan for pond keeping; can live for decades. WaterFreshwater Adult size60-90 cm Min tankPond, 1,000 L+ (250 gal+) TemperamentPeaceful Care levelIntermediate DietOmnivore Photo: Eistreter · CC BY-SA 3.0
A black molly livebearer swimming in an aquarium Molly Adaptable livebearer tolerating fresh and brackish water; popular black and orange varieties. WaterFreshwater Adult size6-12 cm Min tank75 L (20 gal) TemperamentCommunity Care levelBeginner DietOmnivore Photo: Hugo Torres · CC BY 2.5 es
A neon tetra with a glowing blue-and-red horizontal stripe Neon Tetra Tiny Amazon fish with a glowing blue-and-red stripe; best kept in schools. WaterFreshwater Adult size3-4 cm Min tank40 L (10 gal) TemperamentCommunity Care levelBeginner DietOmnivore Photo: Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0
An oscar cichlid with dark, marbled orange markings Oscar Large, intelligent South American cichlid that recognizes owners and needs a big tank. WaterFreshwater Adult size25-35 cm Min tank280 L (75 gal) TemperamentAggressive Care levelIntermediate DietCarnivore Photo: Jón Helgi Jónsson ( Amything ) · CC BY-SA 3.0
A small, colorful platy livebearer Platy Small, colorful Central American livebearer; peaceful, hardy, and easy for beginners. WaterFreshwater Adult size4-7 cm Min tank40 L (10 gal) TemperamentCommunity Care levelBeginner DietOmnivore Photo: Ude · CC BY-SA 3.0
A plecostomus suckermouth catfish showing its armored, spotted body Pleco Armored suckermouth catfish that grazes algae; many species grow surprisingly large. WaterFreshwater Adult sizeup to 45 cm Min tank450 L (120 gal) TemperamentSemi-aggressive Care levelIntermediate DietHerbivore Photo: Raphaël Covain, Natural History Museum of Geneva · CC BY-SA 4.0
A Boeseman's rainbowfish with a blue front and orange rear Rainbowfish Active New Guinea schooling fish whose colors intensify with age and morning light. Freshwater Photo: H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
A male swordtail with an elongated, sword-like lower tail fin Swordtail Central American livebearer; males sport an extended sword-like lower tail fin. WaterFreshwater Adult sizeup to 14 cm Min tank75 L (20 gal) TemperamentCommunity Care levelBeginner DietOmnivore Photo: Böhm · CC BY 2.5
A tiger barb with vertical black stripes on an orange body Tiger Barb Striped, energetic Asian barb best kept in groups to curb fin-nipping. WaterFreshwater Adult size5-7 cm Min tank75 L (20 gal) TemperamentSemi-aggressive Care levelBeginner DietOmnivore Photo: Ingvar-fed · CC BY-SA 3.0
A zebra danio showing its horizontal blue-and-silver stripes Zebra Danio Hardy striped minnow from South Asia; active schooler and a lab research model. WaterFreshwater Adult size4-5 cm Min tank75 L (20 gal) TemperamentCommunity Care levelBeginner DietOmnivore Photo: Marrabbio2 · Public domain
A cardinal tetra showing its blue-and-red horizontal stripes Cardinal Tetra A small South American characin with a full-length neon-blue stripe over a red belly, native to the upper Orinoco and Negro river basins. WaterFreshwater Adult size4-5 cm Min tank75 L (20 gal) TemperamentCommunity Care levelIntermediate DietOmnivore Photo: Paolo Neo · Public domain
A rummy-nose tetra with a red head and striped tail Rummy-nose Tetra A slender schooling tetra known for its bright red nose and black-and-white striped tail, from the lower Amazon. Freshwater Photo: Gavinevans · CC BY-SA 3.0
A harlequin rasbora showing the black triangular flank marking Harlequin Rasbora A copper-pink Southeast Asian cyprinid marked by a black triangular patch on the rear half of the body. WaterFreshwater Adult sizeup to 5 cm Min tank60 L (15 gal) TemperamentCommunity Care levelBeginner DietOmnivore Photo: NasserHalaweh · CC BY-SA 4.0
A striped eel-like kuhli loach in an aquarium Kuhli Loach An eel-shaped, banded bottom-dwelling loach from Southeast Asian streams that burrows in soft substrate. WaterFreshwater Adult size8-10 cm Min tank75 L (20 gal) TemperamentPeaceful Care levelBeginner DietOmnivore Photo: Iidkk · CC BY-SA 4.0
A male German blue ram dwarf cichlid German Blue Ram A small, colourful dwarf cichlid from the Orinoco basin of Venezuela and Colombia. WaterFreshwater Adult size5-7 cm Min tank75 L (20 gal) TemperamentPeaceful Care levelIntermediate DietOmnivore Photo: Sven Kullander · CC BY-SA 4.0
A convict cichlid with vertical dark barring Convict Cichlid A hardy Central American cichlid named for the dark vertical bars across its pale body. WaterFreshwater Adult sizeup to 15 cm Min tank150 L (40 gal) TemperamentAggressive Care levelBeginner DietOmnivore Photo: JSutton93 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Rosy barbs showing reddish body colour Rosy Barb A cyprinid from South Asia; breeding males take on a reddish or rosy flush. Freshwater Photo: Kkonstan · CC BY 3.0
A white cloud mountain minnow with a light lateral stripe White Cloud Mountain Minnow A small, cold-tolerant Chinese minnow with a bright lateral line and red-tipped fins. WaterFreshwater Adult size3-4 cm Min tank40 L (10 gal) TemperamentCommunity Care levelBeginner DietOmnivore Photo: Ethmostigmus · CC BY-SA 4.0
A silver bala shark with black-edged fins Bala Shark A large silver Southeast Asian cyprinid with black-edged fins; a shark only in body shape, not a true shark. WaterFreshwater Adult sizeup to 35 cm Min tank570 L (150 gal) TemperamentPeaceful Care levelIntermediate DietOmnivore Photo: H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
A round silver-dollar fish seen from the side Silver Dollar A round, silver, disc-shaped South American characin related to piranhas but largely herbivorous. WaterFreshwater Adult sizeup to 15 cm Min tank280 L (75 gal) TemperamentPeaceful Care levelIntermediate DietHerbivore Photo: Greg Hume · CC BY-SA 4.0
A rainbow shark with a dark body and red fins Rainbow Shark A dark-bodied Southeast Asian cyprinid with red or orange fins; a bottom-oriented algae grazer, not a true shark. Freshwater Photo: MerlinSenger at German Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
A male Endler's livebearer with colourful markings Endler's Livebearer A tiny, vividly patterned livebearer closely related to the guppy, from Venezuela. Freshwater Photo: drew goodman · CC BY-SA 4.0
A pearl gourami with a spotted pearly body Pearl Gourami A labyrinth fish from Southeast Asia covered in a pearly spotted pattern with a red-orange breast in breeding males. WaterFreshwater Adult sizeup to 12 cm Min tank115 L (30 gal) TemperamentPeaceful Care levelIntermediate DietOmnivore Photo: NasserHalaweh · CC BY-SA 4.0
A red-and-blue banded dwarf gourami Dwarf Gourami A small South Asian labyrinth fish; males show alternating red and blue-green bands. WaterFreshwater Adult size7-8 cm Min tank40 L (10 gal) TemperamentPeaceful Care levelBeginner DietOmnivore Photo: Kennyannydenny · CC BY-SA 3.0
A bronze corydoras catfish on the substrate Bronze Corydoras A peaceful bottom-dwelling armoured catfish from South America, widely kept in aquariums. WaterFreshwater Adult size5-7 cm Min tank75 L (20 gal) TemperamentCommunity Care levelBeginner DietOmnivore Photo: Andrew Keller · CC0
A zebra loach with dark vertical stripes Zebra Loach A striped bottom-dwelling loach from the rivers of the Western Ghats in India. Freshwater Photo: Lerdsuwa · CC BY-SA 3.0
An otocinclus catfish clinging to driftwood Otocinclus A very small South American suckermouth catfish that grazes algae from surfaces. WaterFreshwater Adult size3-5 cm Min tank75 L (20 gal) TemperamentPeaceful Care levelIntermediate DietHerbivore Photo: Evan Baldonado · CC BY 4.0
A male paradise fish with red and blue banding Paradise Fish One of the first tropical fish kept in aquariums, an East Asian labyrinth fish with red and blue barring. Freshwater Photo: Daniella Vereeken · CC BY 2.0
A firemouth cichlid showing red throat colour Firemouth Cichlid A Central American cichlid named for the red coloration on its throat and lower jaw, shown during display. Freshwater Photo: George Chernilevsky · Public domain
A Jack Dempsey cichlid with speckled body Jack Dempsey A robust Central American cichlid with iridescent blue-green speckles across a dark body. Freshwater Photo: Bernard DUPONT · CC BY-SA 2.0
A bright yellow Labidochromis cichlid Electric Yellow Cichlid A bright yellow mbuna cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Freshwater Photo: NasserHalaweh · CC BY-SA 4.0
A silver tinfoil barb with reddish fins Tinfoil Barb A large, silver, deep-bodied Southeast Asian cyprinid with red-tinged fins. Freshwater Photo: Rufus46 · CC BY-SA 3.0
A Congo tetra with iridescent body and long fins Congo Tetra An African characin with iridescent blue-orange body colour and flowing fins in mature males. Freshwater Photo: NasserHalaweh · CC BY-SA 4.0
A black skirt tetra with dark rear fins Black Skirt Tetra A South American tetra with two dark vertical bars and a dusky, skirt-like rear half. Freshwater Photo: irvin calicut · CC BY-SA 3.0
A red serpae tetra with a dark shoulder mark Serpae Tetra A reddish South American tetra with a dark shoulder spot, from the Amazon and Paraguay basins. Freshwater Photo: Francesco Loda · CC BY 3.0
A glowlight tetra with an orange horizontal line Glowlight Tetra A small South American tetra crossed by a glowing orange-red line along the body. Freshwater Photo: gonzalovalenzuela; derivative work Kyknos · CC BY 2.0
A bloodfin tetra with red-tipped fins Bloodfin Tetra A silvery South American tetra with red-tinted fins, from the Paraná basin. Freshwater Photo: VGW2006 at en.wikipedia · Public domain
A Siamese algae eater with a black side stripe Siamese Algae Eater A slender Southeast Asian cyprinid with a black lateral stripe, kept for grazing algae. Freshwater Photo: aleander2137 · CC BY-SA 4.0
A bristlenose catfish resting in an aquarium Bristlenose Pleco A small South American suckermouth catfish; mature males grow fleshy tentacles on the snout. WaterFreshwater Adult size10-15 cm Min tank115 L (30 gal) TemperamentPeaceful Care levelBeginner DietHerbivore Photo: Júlio Reis · CC BY-SA 4.0
A Denison barb with a red-and-black side stripe Denison Barb A torpedo-shaped cyprinid from the Western Ghats of India with a red-and-black lateral stripe. Freshwater Photo: H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
A weather loach with a slender body Weather Loach An elongated East Asian loach said to become active before weather changes; also called the dojo loach. Freshwater Photo: Unknown · Public domain

Popular marine fish (21)

A bright blue tang with black markings and a yellow tail Blue Tang Bright blue reef surgeonfish with a scalpel-like spine near its yellow tail. WaterMarine Adult size25-30 cm Min tank300 L (80 gal) TemperamentSemi-aggressive Care levelAdvanced DietOmnivore Photo: Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0
A group of yellow-and-white striped butterflyfish over a reef Butterflyfish Disc-shaped reef fish with bold patterns; many pairs feed on coral polyps. Marine Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0
An orange-and-white clownfish nestled among sea anemone tentacles Clownfish Orange-and-white reef fish that shelters unharmed among the stinging tentacles of sea anemones. WaterMarine Adult size8-11 cm Min tank75 L (20 gal) TemperamentSemi-aggressive Care levelBeginner DietOmnivore Photo: Nick Hobgood · CC BY-SA 3.0
A red-and-white striped lionfish with long venomous fin spines Lionfish Striped Indo-Pacific predator with venomous spines; invasive in the western Atlantic. WaterMarine Adult sizeup to 38 cm Min tank450 L (120 gal) TemperamentAggressive Care levelIntermediate DietCarnivore Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
A vividly patterned mandarinfish with green and orange swirls Mandarinfish Small, vividly patterned reef dragonet from the Pacific; famously hard to feed. WaterMarine Adult size6-8 cm Min tank115 L (30 gal), well established TemperamentPeaceful Care levelAdvanced DietCarnivore Photo: Luc Viatour · CC BY-SA 3.0
A seahorse gripping a strand of seaweed with its tail Seahorse Upright swimmer that grips seaweed with its tail; males carry the young. Marine Photo: Hans Hillewaert · CC BY-SA 4.0
A bright yellow tang surgeonfish Yellow Tang A bright yellow surgeonfish of the Pacific reefs, common in Hawaiian waters. WaterMarine Adult sizeup to 20 cm Min tank220 L (55 gal) TemperamentSemi-aggressive Care levelIntermediate DietHerbivore Photo: Luc Viatour · CC BY-SA 3.0
A royal gramma, purple in front and yellow behind Royal Gramma A small Caribbean reef fish that is purple at the front and yellow at the rear. WaterMarine Adult sizeup to 8 cm Min tank115 L (30 gal) TemperamentPeaceful Care levelBeginner DietCarnivore Photo: H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
A Banggai cardinalfish with black bars and white spots Banggai Cardinalfish A silver reef fish with bold black bars and white spots, endemic to the Banggai Islands of Indonesia. WaterMarine Adult sizeup to 8 cm Min tank115 L (30 gal) TemperamentPeaceful Care levelIntermediate DietCarnivore Photo: Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0
A firefish goby with a raised dorsal fin Firefish Goby A dartfish with a white-to-red gradient body and a tall first dorsal fin, from Indo-Pacific reefs. WaterMarine Adult sizeup to 9 cm Min tank75 L (20 gal) TemperamentPeaceful Care levelBeginner DietCarnivore Photo: Sean McGrath from Saint John, NB, Canada · CC BY 2.0
A green chromis damselfish Green Chromis A small blue-green schooling damselfish of Indo-Pacific reefs. WaterMarine Adult sizeup to 8 cm Min tank115 L (30 gal) TemperamentCommunity Care levelBeginner DietOmnivore Photo: Philippe Bourjon · CC BY-SA 4.0
A six-line wrasse with blue stripes on orange Six-line Wrasse A small reef wrasse with six horizontal blue lines on an orange body, from the Indo-Pacific. Marine Photo: Rickard Zerpe · CC BY 2.0
A regal angelfish with orange and white bands Regal Angelfish A boldly striped Indo-Pacific reef angelfish with orange, white, and blue bands. Marine Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
An adult emperor angelfish with blue-yellow stripes Emperor Angelfish A large reef angelfish; adults have horizontal blue-and-yellow stripes across the body. Marine Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
A coral beauty dwarf angelfish, blue with orange Coral Beauty A small dwarf angelfish with a deep blue body flushed with orange, from Indo-Pacific reefs. WaterMarine Adult sizeup to 10 cm Min tank260 L (70 gal) TemperamentSemi-aggressive Care levelIntermediate DietOmnivore Photo: Rickard Zerpe · CC BY 2.0
A flame angelfish, red-orange with dark bars Flame Angelfish A bright red-orange dwarf angelfish with dark vertical bars, from central Pacific reefs. WaterMarine Adult sizeup to 10 cm Min tank260 L (70 gal) TemperamentSemi-aggressive Care levelIntermediate DietOmnivore Photo: Andreas März from Darmstadt, Germany · CC BY 2.0
A copperband butterflyfish with orange vertical bands Copperband Butterflyfish A white reef butterflyfish crossed by copper-orange bands and a false eyespot near the tail. WaterMarine Adult sizeup to 20 cm Min tank285 L (75 gal) TemperamentPeaceful Care levelAdvanced DietCarnivore Photo: BS Turner Hof · Public domain
A powder blue tang with a dark face and yellow fin Powder Blue Tang An Indian Ocean surgeonfish with a pale blue body, dark face, and yellow dorsal fin. Marine Photo: H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
A foxface rabbitfish with a striped face and yellow body Foxface Rabbitfish An Indo-Pacific rabbitfish with a yellow body and a black-and-white striped face; its dorsal spines are venomous. WaterMarine Adult sizeup to 24 cm Min tank285 L (75 gal) TemperamentPeaceful Care levelIntermediate DietHerbivore Photo: Dr. Dwayne Meadows, NOAA/NMFS/OPR · Public domain
A longnose hawkfish with a crosshatched pattern Longnose Hawkfish A reef fish with a red-and-white cross-hatched pattern and an elongated snout, often perched on coral. Marine Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
A pajama cardinalfish with a dark midbody band Pajama Cardinalfish An Indo-Pacific reef fish with a yellow face, a dark midbody bar, and a spotted rear, active at dusk. Marine Photo: NasserHalaweh · CC BY-SA 4.0

A (62)

A photo of a Achilles Tang Achilles Tang Acanthurus achilles Black body with a vivid orange teardrop near the tail, from the Pacific and prone to stress.
A photo of a African Glass Catfish African Glass Catfish Pareutropius debauwi
A photo of a African Lungfish African Lungfish Protopterus
A photo of a Aholehole Aholehole Kuhlia
Aiptasia Filefish Acreichthys tosanus Small mottled green filefish kept for eating Aiptasia anemones, from the western Pacific.
Airbreathing Catfish Clariidae
A photo of a Airsac Catfish Airsac Catfish Heteropneustes
Alaska Blackfish
A photo of a Albacore Albacore Thunnus alalunga A tuna with very long pectoral fins, sold as white canned tuna.
Alewife
Alfonsino
Algae Eater
A photo of a Alligator Gar Alligator Gar Atractosteus spatula freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Alligatorfish Alligatorfish Agonidae
A photo of a Altum Angelfish Altum Angelfish Pterophyllum altum Taller, deeper-bodied wild angelfish from the Orinoco and upper Rio Negro.
A photo of a Amberjack Amberjack Seriola
American Sole Achiridae
Amur Pike
Anchovy Engraulidae
A photo of a Anemonefish Anemonefish Amphiprioninae
A freshwater angelfish showing its tall, triangular finned body Angelfish Pterophyllum scalare freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Angler Angler Lophius piscatorius
A photo of a Angler Catfish Angler Catfish Chaca
A photo of a Anglerfish Anglerfish Lophiiformes
Antarctic Cod
A photo of a Antarctic Icefish Antarctic Icefish Notothenioidei
A photo of a Antenna Codlet Antenna Codlet Bregmaceros atlanticus
A photo of a Arapaima Arapaima Arapaima One of the largest freshwater fish, an air-breathing Amazon giant exceeding two metres.
A photo of a Archerfish Archerfish Toxotes
A photo of a Arctic Char Arctic Char Salvelinus alpinus A cold-water char of far-northern lakes and seas, related to trout and salmon.
A photo of a Armored Gurnard Armored Gurnard Peristediidae
A photo of a Armored Searobin Armored Searobin Peristediidae
Armorhead Pentacerotidae
A photo of a Armorhead Catfish Armorhead Catfish Cranoglanis
Armoured Catfish
An Asian arowana with large metallic scales swimming near the surface Arowana Osteoglossidae
Arrowtooth Eel
Asian Carp
A photo of a Asiatic Glassfish Asiatic Glassfish Ambassidae
Atka Mackerel
A photo of a Atlantic Blue Marlin Atlantic Blue Marlin Makaira nigricans A huge billfish of the open Atlantic and a legendary big-game sport fish.
A photo of a Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus A giant warm-blooded ocean predator that can exceed 400 kg, prized for sushi and heavily fished.
Atlantic Bonito
A photo of a Atlantic Cod Atlantic Cod Gadus morhua A cold-water bottom fish with a chin barbel, historically one of the most important food fish.
A photo of a Atlantic Halibut Atlantic Halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus The largest flatfish, a right-eyed bottom-dweller of the cold North Atlantic.
A photo of a Atlantic Herring Atlantic Herring Clupea harengus A small oily schooling fish of the North Atlantic, eaten smoked, pickled and salted.
A photo of a Atlantic Mackerel Atlantic Mackerel Scomber scombrus A fast schooling fish with wavy dark bars on a blue-green back, common in the North Atlantic.
A photo of a Atlantic Salmon Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar A migratory fish that returns from the sea to spawn in rivers, the main farmed salmon.
Atlantic Saury
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Atlantic Silverside
A photo of a Atlantic Tarpon Atlantic Tarpon Megalops atlanticus A large silvery coastal fish that gulps air and leaps when hooked, prized by anglers.
A photo of a Auratus Cichlid Auratus Cichlid Melanochromis auratus Mbuna with strong horizontal stripes that shift colour by sex, endemic to Lake Malawi.
A photo of a Auriga Butterflyfish Auriga Butterflyfish Chaetodon auriga White-and-yellow body with diagonal lines and a dorsal filament, a widespread Indo-Pacific threadfin butterfly.
A photo of a Australasian Salmon Australasian Salmon Arripis
Australian Grayling
Australian Herring
A photo of a Australian Lungfish Australian Lungfish Neoceratodus forsteri freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Australian Prowfish Australian Prowfish Pataecidae
A photo of a Australian Rainbowfish Australian Rainbowfish Melanotaenia fluviatilis Silvery rainbowfish with reddish fins, native to the Murray-Darling system in Australia.
A photo of a Ayu Ayu Plecoglossus altivelis
A photo of a Azure Damsel Azure Damsel Chrysiptera hemicyanea Blue body with a yellow belly and tail, a small peaceful damsel from the western Pacific.

B (132)

Baikal Oilfish
A silver bala shark with black-edged fins Bala Shark Balantiocheilus melanopterus freshwater aquarium
Ballan Wrasse
Bamboo Shark
Banded Killifish
Bandfish
A Banggai cardinalfish with black bars and white spots Banggai Cardinalfish Pterapogon kauderni
Bangus
Banjo
A photo of a Banjo Catfish Banjo Catfish Bunocephalus coracoideus freshwater aquarium
Barb
Barbel
Barbel-less Catfish
Barbeled Dragonfish
Barbeled Houndshark
Barfish
Barracuda
Barracudina
A photo of a Barramundi Barramundi Lates calcarifer A large silver fish of Indo-Pacific rivers and estuaries, farmed and sought by sport anglers.
A photo of a Barred Danio Barred Danio Devario pathirana freshwater aquarium
Barreleye
Basking Shark
Bass
Basslet
A photo of a Bat Ray Bat Ray Myliobatis californica marine aquarium
Batfish
Beachsalmon
Beaked Salmon
Beaked Sandfish
Beardfish
A photo of a Beluga Sturgeon Beluga Sturgeon Huso huso A huge, long-lived sturgeon of the Caspian and Black Seas, source of beluga caviar.
Bengal Danio
A male betta fish with long, flowing, brightly colored fins Betta
Bichir
A photo of a Bicolor Angelfish Bicolor Angelfish Centropyge bicolor Front half yellow and rear half deep blue, a dwarf angelfish from the western Pacific.
A photo of a Bicolor Blenny Bicolor Blenny Ecsenius bicolor Dark front and orange rear, a small perching blenny from the Indo-Pacific.
Bicolor Goat Fish
Bigeye
Bigeye Squaretail
Bighead Carp
Bigmouth Buffalo
Bigscale
Bigscale Pomfret
Billfish
Bitterling
Black Angelfish
Black Bass
Black Dragonfish
Black Mackerel
A photo of a Black Neon Tetra Black Neon Tetra Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi freshwater aquarium
Black Scabbardfish
Black Scalyfin
Black Sea Bass
A black skirt tetra with dark rear fins Black Skirt Tetra Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Black Swallower
A photo of a Black Tetra Black Tetra Gymnocorymbus ternetzi freshwater aquarium
Black Triggerfish
A photo of a Blackcap Basslet Blackcap Basslet Gramma melacara Magenta body with a black cap over the head and back, from deeper Caribbean reefs.
Blackchin
Blackfin Tuna
Blackfish
A photo of a Blacktip Reef Shark Blacktip Reef Shark Carcharhinus melanopterus marine aquarium
Bleak
A photo of a Bleeding Heart Tetra Bleeding Heart Tetra Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma Deep-bodied pinkish tetra with a red spot on the flank, from the upper Amazon.
Blenny
Blind Goby
Blind Shark
Blobfish
A bloodfin tetra with red-tipped fins Bloodfin Tetra Aphyocharax anisitsi
Blowfish
A photo of a Blue Acara Blue Acara Andinoacara pulcher Steel-blue cichlid with metallic facial markings, from northern South America.
Blue Catfish
Blue Danio
A photo of a Blue Devil Damsel Blue Devil Damsel Chrysiptera cyanea Brilliant electric-blue damselfish, hardy but territorial, from the western Pacific.
Blue Eye Trevalla
Blue Gourami
A photo of a Blue Ring Angelfish Blue Ring Angelfish Pomacanthus annularis Brown body crossed by blue lines with a blue ring behind the gill, from the Indo-Pacific.
A photo of a Blue Shark Blue Shark Prionace glauca A slender, deep-blue oceanic shark that roams vast distances across the open sea.
A bright blue tang with black markings and a yellow tail Blue Tang Paracanthurus hepatus
Blue Triggerfish
Blue Whiting
Blue-redstripe Danio
A photo of a Bluechin Triggerfish Bluechin Triggerfish Xanthichthys auromarginatus Grey speckled body with a blue chin in males, a reef-safe plankton feeder from the Indo-Pacific.
A photo of a Blueface Angelfish Blueface Angelfish Pomacanthus xanthometopon Yellow-scaled body with a blue face and dorsal eyespot, a large angel from the Indo-Pacific.
Bluefin Tuna
Bluefish
Bluegill
Bluntnose Knifefish
Bluntnose Minnow
Boafish
Boarfish
Bobtail Snipe Eel
Bocaccio
A photo of a Boeseman's Rainbowfish Boeseman's Rainbowfish Melanotaenia boesemani Rainbowfish with a blue front and orange rear, endemic to lakes in West Papua.
Boga
A photo of a Bolivian Ram Bolivian Ram Mikrogeophagus altispinosus Hardy dwarf cichlid in earthy gold tones, from the upper Madeira basin in Bolivia.
A photo of a Bombay Duck Bombay Duck Harpadon nehereus A soft, translucent lizardfish of South Asian coasts, usually eaten dried or fried.
Bonefish
Bonito
A photo of a Bonnethead Shark Bonnethead Shark Sphyrna tiburo marine aquarium
Bonnetmouth
Bonytail
Bonytongue
A photo of a Bowfin Bowfin Amia calva freshwater aquarium
Boxfish
Bramble Shark
Bream
Brill
Bristlemouth
Bristlenose Catfish
A bristlenose catfish resting in an aquarium Bristlenose Pleco Ancistrus cirrhosus
Broadband Dogfish
A bronze corydoras catfish on the substrate Bronze Corydoras Corydoras aeneus freshwater aquarium
Brook Lamprey
A photo of a Brook Stickleback Brook Stickleback Culaea inconstans freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Brook Trout Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis A char of cool North American streams with pale worm-like markings on the back.
Brotula
A photo of a Brown Trout Brown Trout Salmo trutta A spotted trout native to Europe, now introduced to rivers worldwide.
A photo of a Buenos Aires Tetra Buenos Aires Tetra Hyphessobrycon anisitsi Hardy silvery tetra with red-tipped fins, native to southern South America.
Buffalo Fish
A photo of a Bull Shark Bull Shark Carcharhinus leucas A stocky shark that tolerates fresh water and swims far up rivers.
Bull Trout
Bullhead
Bullhead Shark
A photo of a Bumblebee Goby Bumblebee Goby Brachygobius doriae freshwater aquarium
Burbot
Buri
Burma Danio
Burrowing Goby
Butterfish
Butterfly Ray
A group of yellow-and-white striped butterflyfish over a reef Butterflyfish

C (99)

California Flyingfish
California Halibut
Canary Rockfish
Candiru
Candlefish
Capelin
A cardinal tetra showing its blue-and-red horizontal stripes Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi freshwater aquarium
Cardinalfish
Carp
Carpetshark
Carpsucker
Cat Shark
Catalufa
Catfish
A photo of a Catla Catla Catla catla A big-headed Indian carp farmed across South Asia, often raised alongside rohu and mrigal.
Cavefish
A photo of a Celebes Rainbowfish Celebes Rainbowfish Marosatherina ladigesi Translucent fish with yellow-and-black extended fins, endemic to Sulawesi.
A photo of a Celestial Pearl Danio Celestial Pearl Danio Danio margaritatus Small danio with pearl spots and red-orange fins, discovered in Myanmar in 2006.
Central Mudminnow
Chain Pickerel
A photo of a Chalk Bass Chalk Bass Serranus tortugarum Small tan bass with blue speckling, a hardy shoaling fish from the Caribbean.
Channel Bass
A photo of a Channel Catfish Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus A whiskered North American freshwater fish, widely farmed and fished for food.
Char
Checker Barb Oliotius oligolepis Small barb with a checkerboard pattern of dark-edged scales, native to Sumatra.
Cherry Salmon
A photo of a Cherub Angelfish Cherub Angelfish Centropyge argi Small deep-blue dwarf angel with a yellow-orange face, from the Caribbean and western Atlantic.
A photo of a Cherubfish Cherubfish Centropyge argi marine aquarium
A photo of a Chevron Tang Chevron Tang Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis Juveniles orange with purple chevron lines; adults darken, a bristletooth from Hawaii and the Pacific.
A photo of a Chili Rasbora Chili Rasbora Boraras brigittae Tiny red rasbora reaching about 2 cm, native to blackwater swamps in Borneo.
Chimaera
A photo of a Chinese Algae Eater Chinese Algae Eater Gyrinocheilus aymonieri Elongated sucker-mouthed cyprinid that rasps surfaces, native to Southeast Asia.
A photo of a Chinook Salmon Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha The largest Pacific salmon, also called king salmon.
A photo of a Chocolate Gourami Chocolate Gourami Sphaerichthys osphromenoides Small brown gourami with pale bands and mouthbrooding behaviour, from Southeast Asian blackwaters.
Chub
Chubsucker
Chum Salmon
Cichlid
Cisco
A photo of a Clarkii Clownfish Clarkii Clownfish Amphiprion clarkii Highly variable dark body with two white bars and yellow fins, one of the most widespread anemonefish.
A photo of a Cleaner Wrasse Cleaner Wrasse Labroides dimidiatus Blue-and-black striped wrasse that removes parasites from other fish, from Indo-Pacific reefs.
Climbing Catfish
Climbing Gourami
A photo of a Climbing Perch Climbing Perch Anabas testudineus freshwater aquarium
Clingfish
A photo of a Clown Loach Clown Loach Chromobotia macracanthus freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Clown Pleco Clown Pleco Panaqolus maccus Small wood-eating pleco with light bands, from the Orinoco basin in Venezuela.
A photo of a Clown Triggerfish Clown Triggerfish Balistoides conspicillum Black body with large white belly spots and a yellow mouth, a striking predator from the Indo-Pacific.
An orange-and-white clownfish nestled among sea anemone tentacles Clownfish
Cobbler
Cobia
A photo of a Cockatoo Cichlid Cockatoo Cichlid Apistogramma cacatuoides Dwarf cichlid, males showing raised spiky dorsal rays and colourful tails, from the Amazon.
Cod
Codlet
Codling
Coelacanth
Coffinfish
A photo of a Coho Salmon Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch A Pacific salmon, also called silver salmon, common in North American rivers.
Coley
Collared Carpetshark
Collared Dogfish
Colorado Squawfish
Combfish
Combtail Gourami
Combtooth Blenny
A photo of a Common Carp Common Carp Cyprinus carpio freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Common Molly Common Molly Poecilia sphenops Livebearer bred widely as the black molly, native to Central America.
A photo of a Common Pleco Common Pleco Hypostomus plecostomus Large armoured suckermouth catfish, widely sold small but growing over 40 cm, from South America.
A photo of a Common Snook Common Snook Centropomus undecimalis A silvery estuary predator with a black lateral line, a favourite inshore sport fish.
A photo of a Common Sole Common Sole Solea solea An oval-bodied flatfish of European coasts, valued in cooking as Dover sole.
Common Tunny
Conger Eel
A Congo tetra with iridescent body and long fins Congo Tetra Phenacogrammus interruptus
Convict Blenny
A convict cichlid with vertical dark barring Convict Cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciata freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Convict Tang Convict Tang Acanthurus triostegus Silvery-white with several dark vertical bars, a schooling Indo-Pacific surgeonfish reaching about 27 cm.
Cookiecutter Shark
A photo of a Coolie Loach Coolie Loach Pangio semicincta freshwater aquarium
A copperband butterflyfish with orange vertical bands Copperband Butterflyfish Chelmon rostratus
A coral beauty dwarf angelfish, blue with orange Coral Beauty Centropyge bispinosa
Cornetfish
A photo of a Corydoras Corydoras Corydoras
Cow Shark
Cowfish
A photo of a Cownose Ray Cownose Ray Rhinoptera bonasus marine aquarium
Crappie
Creek Chub
Crestfish
Crevice Kelpfish
Croaker
Crocodile Icefish
Crocodile Shark
Crucian Carp
Cuckoo Wrasse
Cusk
Cusk-eel
Cutlassfish
Cutthroat Eel
Cutthroat Trout

D (52)

Dab
Dace
Daggertooth Pike Conger
A photo of a Damselfish Damselfish Chromis chromis marine aquarium
Danio
Dartfish
Dealfish
Death Valley Pupfish
Deep-sea Eel
Deep-sea Smelt
Deepwater Cardinalfish
Deepwater Flathead
Deepwater Stingray
Delta Smelt
Demasoni Cichlid Chindongo demasoni Small blue-and-black barred mbuna from Lake Malawi.
Demoiselle
A Denison barb with a red-and-black side stripe Denison Barb Sahyadria denisonii
Denticle Herring
Desert Pupfish
A photo of a Desjardin's Sailfin Tang Desjardin's Sailfin Tang Zebrasoma desjardinii Red Sea and Indian Ocean sailfin with mottled bands and spotted flanks, the Indian Ocean counterpart of velifer.
Devario
Devil Ray
Dhufish
A photo of a Diamond Goby Diamond Goby Valenciennea puellaris Pale sand-sifting goby marked with orange spots and dashes, from the Indo-Pacific.
A photo of a Diamond Tetra Diamond Tetra Moenkhausia pittieri Sparkling silvery tetra with iridescent scales and long dorsal fin, from Lake Valencia in Venezuela.
A round, disc-shaped discus cichlid with patterned sides Discus
A photo of a Dogface Pufferfish Dogface Pufferfish Arothron nigropunctatus Rounded grey or yellow puffer with black spots and a dog-like face, from the Indo-Pacific.
Dogfish
Dogfish Shark
Dogteeth Tetra
A photo of a Dojo Loach Dojo Loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus Elongated cool-water loach also called weather loach, native to East Asia.
Dolly Varden Trout
Dolphin Fish
A photo of a Domino Damsel Domino Damsel Dascyllus trimaculatus Black body with three white spots when young, an Indo-Pacific damselfish that darkens with age.
Dorab Wolf-herring
Dorado
Dory
Dottyback
A photo of a Dragon Goby Dragon Goby Gobioides broussonnetii freshwater aquarium
Dragonet
Dragonfish
Driftfish
Driftwood Catfish
Drum
Duckbill
Duckbill Eel
Dusky Grouper
Dusky Shark
A photo of a Dwarf Chain Loach Dwarf Chain Loach Ambastaia sidthimunki Small loach with a chain-like pattern along the back, from the Mekong basin.
A red-and-blue banded dwarf gourami Dwarf Gourami Trichogaster lalius freshwater aquarium
Dwarf Loach
A photo of a Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish Melanotaenia praecox Small silvery-blue rainbowfish with red fins, from New Guinea.

E (41)

Eagle Ray
Earthworm Eel
Eel
Eel Cod
Eel-goby
Eelpout
Eeltail Catfish
Elasmobranch
A photo of a Electric Catfish Electric Catfish Malapterurus electricus freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Electric Eel Electric Eel Electrophorus electricus freshwater aquarium
Electric Knifefish
Electric Ray
A bright yellow Labidochromis cichlid Electric Yellow Cichlid Labidochromis caeruleus
Elephant Fish
A photo of a Elephant Nose Fish Elephant Nose Fish Gnathonemus petersii Dark African fish with a trunk-like chin extension and weak electric sense, from the Congo basin.
Elephantnose Fish
Elver
Ember Parrotfish
A photo of a Ember Tetra Ember Tetra Hyphessobrycon amandae Tiny translucent orange-red tetra reaching about 2 cm, from the Araguaia basin in Brazil.
Emerald Catfish Corydoras splendens freshwater aquarium
Emperor
An adult emperor angelfish with blue-yellow stripes Emperor Angelfish Pomacanthus imperator marine aquarium
Emperor Bream
A photo of a Emperor Tetra Emperor Tetra Nematobrycon palmeri Purplish tetra with a dark stripe and extended central tail rays, from western Colombia.
A male Endler's livebearer with colourful markings Endler's Livebearer Poecilia wingei
A photo of a Engineer Goby Engineer Goby Pholidichthys leucotaenia Eel-like fish, black with a white stripe when young, that burrows extensively, from the western Pacific.
Escolar
Eucla Cod
Eulachon
A photo of a European Anchovy European Anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus A tiny silvery schooling fish salt-cured and used across Mediterranean cooking.
European Chub
A photo of a European Conger European Conger Conger conger A large scaleless marine eel of Atlantic and Mediterranean rocky bottoms.
A photo of a European Eel European Eel Anguilla anguilla A snake-like fish that migrates thousands of kilometres to the Sargasso Sea to spawn.
European Flounder
A photo of a European Hake European Hake Merluccius merluccius A slender predatory member of the cod order, important in European fisheries.
European Minnow
A photo of a European Perch European Perch Perca fluviatilis A greenish freshwater fish with dark bars and red fins, widespread across Europe and Asia.
A photo of a European Plaice European Plaice Pleuronectes platessa A brown flatfish with orange spots, a major North Atlantic food fish.
A photo of a European Sardine European Sardine Sardina pilchardus A small oily schooling fish, canned and grilled across Europe; the adult is the pilchard.
A photo of a European Seabass European Seabass Dicentrarchus labrax A silvery coastal predator widely farmed and eaten around the Mediterranean and Atlantic.
A photo of a Exquisite Fairy Wrasse Exquisite Fairy Wrasse Cirrhilabrus exquisitus Green-and-red males with a tail eyespot, a peaceful fairy wrasse from the Indo-Pacific.

F (50)

False Brotula
False Cat Shark
False Moray
False Trevally
Fangtooth
Fathead Sculpin
Featherback
A photo of a Festivum Festivum Mesonauta festivus Cichlid with a diagonal dark stripe through the eye, from South American rivers.
Fierasfer
Filefish
Finback Cat Shark
Fingerfish
Fire Bar Danio
Fire Goby
A photo of a Firefish Firefish Nemateleotris magnifica White-to-orange dartfish with a tall first dorsal spine that darts into holes, from the Indo-Pacific.
A firefish goby with a raised dorsal fin Firefish Goby Nemateleotris magnifica
A firemouth cichlid showing red throat colour Firemouth Cichlid Thorichthys meeki
A photo of a Five-banded Barb Five-banded Barb Desmopuntius pentazona Small barb with five dark vertical bands on a coppery body, from Southeast Asia.
Flabby Whale Fish
Flagblenny
Flagfin
Flagfish
Flagtail
A flame angelfish, red-orange with dark bars Flame Angelfish Centropyge loricula
A photo of a Flame Hawkfish Flame Hawkfish Neocirrhites armatus Bright red hawkfish with a dark back stripe that perches among coral, from the Pacific.
A photo of a Flame Tetra Flame Tetra Hyphessobrycon flammeus Reddish tetra with a silvery front, endemic to coastal rivers near Rio de Janeiro.
A photo of a Flame Wrasse Flame Wrasse Cirrhilabrus jordani Males red-and-yellow striped, a fairy wrasse endemic to Hawaii and nearby islands.
Flashlight Fish
Flatfish
Flathead
Flathead Catfish
Flier
Flounder
Flying Fish
Flying Gurnard
Footballfish
Forehead Brooder
Four-eyed Fish
A foxface rabbitfish with a striped face and yellow body Foxface Rabbitfish Siganus vulpinus
A photo of a French Angelfish French Angelfish Pomacanthus paru marine aquarium
Freshwater Eel
Freshwater Hatchetfish
Freshwater Shark
Frigate Mackerel
Frilled Shark
Frogfish
Frogmouth Catfish
A photo of a Frontosa Frontosa Cyphotilapia frontosa Large blue-and-white barred cichlid with a nuchal hump, endemic to Lake Tanganyika.
Fusilier Fish
A photo of a Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish Dendrochirus brachypterus Small stocky lionfish with banded fins and venomous spines, from the Indo-Pacific.

G (70)

Galjoen Fish
Ganges Shark
Gar
Garden Eel
Garibaldi
Garpike
A male German blue ram dwarf cichlid German Blue Ram Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Ghost Fish
Ghost Flathead
Ghost Knifefish
Ghost Pipefish
Ghost Shark
Ghoul
A photo of a Giant Danio Giant Danio Devario aequipinnatus freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Giant Gourami Giant Gourami Osphronemus goramy freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Giant Moray Giant Moray Gymnothorax javanicus The largest moray eel, a reef predator of the Indo-Pacific reaching about three metres.
Giant Sea Bass
Gibberfish
Gila Trout
A photo of a Gilt-head Bream Gilt-head Bream Sparus aurata A silvery sea bream with a gold band between the eyes, widely farmed in the Mediterranean.
Gizzard Shad
A photo of a Glass Catfish Glass Catfish Kryptopterus vitreolus freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Glass Knifefish Glass Knifefish Eigenmannia virescens freshwater aquarium
Glassfish freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Glowlight Danio Glowlight Danio Danio choprae freshwater aquarium
A glowlight tetra with an orange horizontal line Glowlight Tetra Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Goatfish
Goblin Shark
Goby
Gold Barb Barbodes semifasciolatus Golden-yellow barb with faint dark bars, an aquarium form of a species from southern China.
Golden Dojo
Golden Loach
Golden Shiner
Golden Trout
Goldeye
A classic orange goldfish with flowing fins Goldfish Carassius auratus freshwater aquarium
Gombessa
Goosefish
Gopher Rockfish
A colorful dwarf gourami with iridescent striped flanks Gourami freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Grass Carp Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella A large plant-eating carp from East Asia, stocked to control aquatic weeds.
Graveldiver
Gray Mullet
Gray Reef Shark
Grayling
A photo of a Great Barracuda Great Barracuda Sphyraena barracuda A long, silvery reef predator with fang-like teeth, found in warm seas worldwide.
A photo of a Great Hammerhead Great Hammerhead Sphyrna mokarran The largest hammerhead, using its wide head to pin rays on the seabed.
A photo of a Great White Shark Great White Shark Carcharodon carcharias The largest predatory shark, a powerful hunter of seals found in cool coastal seas worldwide.
A green chromis damselfish Green Chromis Chromis viridis
A photo of a Green Neon Tetra Green Neon Tetra Paracheirodon simulans Smaller relative of the neon with a dominant blue-green stripe and reduced red, from the upper Rio Negro.
A photo of a Green Spotted Puffer Green Spotted Puffer Dichotomyctere nigroviridis freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Green Swordtail Green Swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Green Terror Green Terror Andinoacara rivulatus Iridescent green-blue cichlid, males developing a nuchal hump, from Ecuador and Peru.
Greeneye
Greenling
Grenadier
Ground Shark
Grouper
Grunion
Grunt
Grunt Sculpin
Grunter
Gudgeon
Guitarfish
Gulf Menhaden
Gulper
Gulper Eel
Gunnel
A male guppy displaying a colorful patterned tail Guppy freshwater aquarium
Gurnard

H (32)

A photo of a Haddock Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus A North Atlantic relative of cod with a dark shoulder blotch, common in fish and chips.
Hagfish
Hairtail
Hake
Halfbeak
Halfmoon
Halibut
Halosaur
Hamlet
Hammerhead Shark
Hammerjaw
Handfish
Hardhead Catfish
Harelip Sucker
A harlequin rasbora showing the black triangular flank marking Harlequin Rasbora Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Hatchetfish
Hawkfish
Herring
Herring Smelt
Hickory Shad
A photo of a Hillstream Loach Hillstream Loach Sewellia lineolata Flattened loach adapted to fast oxygen-rich streams, native to Vietnam.
A photo of a Hilsa Hilsa Tenualosa ilisha A silvery herring-like fish that runs up South Asian rivers to spawn, prized in Bengali cooking.
Hog Sucker
Hoki
A photo of a Honey Gourami Honey Gourami Trichogaster chuna Small gourami, breeding males turning honey-orange, from South Asia.
A photo of a Horn Shark Horn Shark Heterodontus francisci marine aquarium
Horsefish
Houndshark
Huchen
A photo of a Humbug Damsel Humbug Damsel Dascyllus aruanus White body with three black bars, a coral-dwelling damselfish from the Indo-Pacific.
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a
Hussar

I (10)

Icefish
Ide
Ilish (Hilsa)
Inanga
Inconnu
A photo of a Indian Glassfish Indian Glassfish Parambassis ranga Transparent-bodied fish showing its skeleton, native to South Asia.
A photo of a Indian Mackerel Indian Mackerel Rastrelliger kanagurta A small food fish of the Indo-Pacific and a staple catch across South and Southeast Asia.
A photo of a Indian Salmon Indian Salmon Eleutheronema tetradactylum A threadfin sea fish of the Indo-Pacific coast, known in India as rawas.
A photo of a Indo-Pacific Sailfish Indo-Pacific Sailfish Istiophorus platypterus A billfish with a huge sail-like dorsal fin, among the fastest fish in the sea.
A photo of a Iridescent Shark Iridescent Shark Pangasianodon hypophthalmus Large migratory catfish sold small but reaching over a metre, native to the Mekong basin.

J (12)

Jack
A Jack Dempsey cichlid with speckled body Jack Dempsey
Jackfish
Japanese Eel
Javelin
Jawfish
Jellynose Fish
Jewel Tetra
Jewelfish
Jewfish
John Dory
A photo of a Julii Cory Julii Cory Corydoras julii Cory with a fine network of dark spots and lines, from northeastern Brazil.

K (23)

Kafue Pike
Kahawai
Kaluga
Kanyu
Kelp Perch
Kelpfish
A photo of a Keyhole Cichlid Keyhole Cichlid Cleithracara maronii Peaceful tan cichlid with a keyhole-shaped side marking, from northeastern South America.
Killifish
A photo of a King Mackerel King Mackerel Scomberomorus cavalla A large fast mackerel of the western Atlantic, popular with sport anglers.
King of the Herrings
King-of-the-salmon
Kingfish
A photo of a Kissing Gourami Kissing Gourami Helostoma temminckii freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Klein's Butterflyfish Klein's Butterflyfish Chaetodon kleinii Yellow-brown body with faint bars and a dark eye band, a hardy Indo-Pacific butterflyfish.
Knifefish
Knifejaw
An ornamental koi carp swimming in a pond Koi Cyprinus carpio freshwater aquarium
Kokanee
Kokopu
A photo of a Kole Tang Kole Tang Ctenochaetus strigosus Dark brown bristletooth surgeonfish with fine yellow lines and a gold eye ring, from Hawaii.
A photo of a Koran Angelfish Koran Angelfish Pomacanthus semicirculatus Adults greenish with fine spots; juveniles blue with white semicircle bars, from the Indo-Pacific.
A photo of a Kribensis Kribensis Pelvicachromis pulcher West African dwarf cichlid, females flushing a purple-red belly when breeding.
A striped eel-like kuhli loach in an aquarium Kuhli Loach Pangio semicincta freshwater aquarium

L (63)

Labyrinth Fish
Ladyfish
Lake Chub
Lake Trout
Lake Whitefish
Lampfish
Lamprey
Lancetfish
Lanternfish
A photo of a Largemouth Bass Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides A green freshwater sunfish and North America's most popular sport fish.
A photo of a Lawnmower Blenny Lawnmower Blenny Salarias fasciatus Mottled brown algae-grazing blenny with a blunt head, from Indo-Pacific reef flats.
Leaffish
A photo of a Least Killifish Least Killifish Heterandria formosa One of the smallest fish, a livebearer under 3 cm from the southeastern United States.
Leatherjacket
Lefteye Flounder
Lemon Shark
Lemon Sole
A photo of a Lemon Tetra Lemon Tetra Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Lemonpeel Angelfish Lemonpeel Angelfish Centropyge flavissima Bright yellow dwarf angel with a blue eye ring and blue gill margin, from the Pacific.
Lenok
Leopard Danio
A photo of a Leopard Wrasse Leopard Wrasse Macropharyngodon meleagris White body densely spotted with dark-ringed orange marks, a sand-sleeping wrasse from the Pacific.
A photo of a Licorice Gourami Licorice Gourami Parosphromenus deissneri Small dark gourami with red-and-blue finnage, from blackwater habitats on Bangka Island.
Lightfish
Limia
A photo of a Lined Seahorse Lined Seahorse Hippocampus erectus Upright grasping seahorse of variable colour where males brood young, from the western Atlantic.
Lined Sole
Ling
Ling Cod
A red-and-white striped lionfish with long venomous fin spines Lionfish
Livebearer
Lizardfish
Loach
Loach Catfish Aspidoras rochai freshwater aquarium
Loach Goby
Loach Minnow
Long-finned Char
Long-finned Pike
Long-finned Sand Diver
Long-whiskered Catfish
Longfin
Longfin Dragonfish
Longfin Escolar
Longfin Smelt
Longjaw Mudsucker
Longneck Eel
A photo of a Longnose Butterflyfish Longnose Butterflyfish Forcipiger flavissimus Bright yellow with a long tubular snout and a black eye spot, from the Indo-Pacific.
Longnose Chimaera
Longnose Dace
A longnose hawkfish with a crosshatched pattern Longnose Hawkfish Oxycirrhites typus
Longnose Lancetfish
Longnose Sucker
Longnose Whiptail Catfish
Loosejaw
Lost River Sucker
Louvar
Loweye Catfish
A photo of a Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse Cirrhilabrus lubbocki Multicoloured small fairy wrasse in yellow, pink and blue tones, from the western Pacific.
Luderick
Luminous Hake
Lumpsucker
Lungfish
A photo of a Lyretail Anthias Lyretail Anthias Pseudanthias squamipinnis Orange-pink plankton-feeding schooler; males more magenta, a haremic reef fish from the Indo-Pacific.

M (65)

Mackerel
Mackerel Shark
A photo of a Madagascar Rainbowfish Madagascar Rainbowfish Bedotia geayi Slender silvery fish with red-and-black tail edges, endemic to eastern Madagascar.
Madtom
A photo of a Mahi-mahi Mahi-mahi Coryphaena hippurus A fast, colourful open-ocean fish with a blunt head, also called dorado or dolphinfish.
Mahseer
Mail-cheeked Fish
A photo of a Majestic Angelfish Majestic Angelfish Pomacanthus navarchus Blue and yellow body with a bold contrasting saddle, from the western Pacific reefs.
Mako Shark
Man-of-war Fish
A photo of a Mandarin Dragonet Mandarin Dragonet Synchiropus splendidus Ornate green body with maze-like orange and blue markings, a slow bottom-feeder from the western Pacific.
A vividly patterned mandarinfish with green and orange swirls Mandarinfish Synchiropus splendidus marine aquarium
Manefish
A photo of a Manta Ray Manta Ray Mobula birostris A giant harmless ray with wing-like fins spanning up to seven metres, a plankton filter-feeder.
A photo of a Marbled Hatchetfish Marbled Hatchetfish Carnegiella strigata Surface fish with a deep keeled belly and marbled pattern, from the Amazon basin.
Marblefish
Marine Hatchetfish
Marlin
A photo of a Maroon Clownfish Maroon Clownfish Premnas biaculeatus Largest anemonefish, deep maroon with white or gold bars and a cheek spine, from the Indo-Pacific.
Masu Salmon
McCosker's Flasher Wrasse Paracheilinus mccoskeri Orange-and-blue males that flash bright colours when displaying, a small wrasse from the Indian Ocean.
A photo of a Medaka Medaka Oryzias latipes freshwater aquarium
Medusafish
Megamouth Shark
A photo of a Mekong Giant Catfish Mekong Giant Catfish Pangasianodon gigas A critically endangered giant catfish of the Mekong reaching nearly three metres.
A photo of a Melanurus Wrasse Melanurus Wrasse Halichoeres melanurus Green body with pink-and-blue lines, a sand-diving wrasse from the western Pacific.
Menhaden
Merluccid Hake
Mexican Golden Trout
A photo of a Midas Blenny Midas Blenny Ecsenius midas Golden-yellow blenny that swims in the open mimicking anthias, from the Indian Ocean and Red Sea.
Midshipman Fish
A photo of a Milkfish Milkfish Chanos chanos A silvery Indo-Pacific fish farmed widely in Southeast Asia and the national fish of the Philippines.
Minnow
Minnow of the Deep
Modoc Sucker
Mojarra
Mola Mola
A black molly livebearer swimming in an aquarium Molly Poecilia sphenops
Monkeyface Prickleback
Monkfish
Mooneye
Moonfish
A photo of a Moonlight Gourami Moonlight Gourami Trichopodus microlepis Silvery gourami with a slightly concave forehead, native to the Mekong basin.
A photo of a Moorish Idol Moorish Idol Zanclus cornutus marine aquarium
Mora
Moray Eel
Morid Cod
Morwong
Moses Sole
Mosquitofish
Mouthbrooder
A photo of a Mozambique Tilapia Mozambique Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus A hardy cichlid farmed for food worldwide and introduced far beyond its African range.
Mrigal
A photo of a Mrigal Carp Mrigal Carp Cirrhinus mrigala An Indian river carp, one of the three major carps of South Asian pond farming.
Mud Catfish
Mud Minnow
Mudfish
Mudskipper
Mudsucker
Mullet
Mummichog
Murray Cod
Muskellunge
Mustache Triggerfish
Mustard Eel

N (28)

Naked-back Knifefish
A photo of a Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel Scomberomorus commerson A large fast mackerel of the Indo-Pacific, known in India as seer fish or surmai.
Nase
A photo of a Naso Tang Naso Tang Naso lituratus Grey body with orange lips, a yellow-edged black face and streamer tail tips, from the Pacific.
Needlefish
A photo of a Neon Goby Neon Goby Elacatinus oceanops Small black goby with electric-blue side stripes that cleans other fish, from the Caribbean.
A neon tetra with a glowing blue-and-red horizontal stripe Neon Tetra Paracheirodon innesi freshwater aquarium
New World Rivuline
New Zealand Sand Diver
New Zealand Smelt
Nibble Fish
A photo of a Niger Triggerfish Niger Triggerfish Odonus niger Blue-green body with a lyre-shaped tail and reddish teeth, a plankton-feeder from the Indo-Pacific.
A photo of a Nile Perch Nile Perch Lates niloticus A huge African freshwater predator introduced to Lake Victoria, exceeding 100 kg.
A photo of a Nile Tilapia Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus An African cichlid and one of the most widely farmed food fish on Earth.
Noodlefish
North American Darter
North American Freshwater Catfish
North Pacific Daggertooth
Northern Anchovy
Northern Clingfish
Northern Lampfish
A photo of a Northern Pike Northern Pike Esox lucius freshwater aquarium
Northern Sea Robin
Northern Squawfish
Northern Stargazer
Notothen
A photo of a Nurse Shark Nurse Shark Ginglymostoma cirratum marine aquarium
Nurseryfish

O (24)

Oarfish
Ocean Perch
A photo of a Ocean Sunfish Ocean Sunfish Mola mola A huge, flat, tailless fish and the heaviest known bony fish, drifting in open seas.
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
A photo of a Ocellaris Clownfish Ocellaris Clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris Orange with three white bars and thin black outlines, the common Indo-Pacific 'Nemo' species reaching about 8 cm.
A photo of a Odessa Barb Odessa Barb Pethia padamya Silvery barb, males showing a broad red band along the flank, from Myanmar.
Oilfish
Old World Knifefish
Oldwife
Olive Flounder
Opah
Opaleye
Orange Roughy
A photo of a Orange Spotted Filefish Orange Spotted Filefish Oxymonacanthus longirostris Blue-green body dotted with orange and a long snout, a coral-polyp feeder from the Indo-Pacific.
Orangespine Unicorn Fish
Orangestriped Triggerfish
Orbicular Batfish
Orbicular Velvetfish
Oregon Chub
Orfe
Oriental Loach
An oscar cichlid with dark, marbled orange markings Oscar Astronotus ocellatus freshwater aquarium
An otocinclus catfish clinging to driftwood Otocinclus Otocinclus
Owens Pupfish

P (98)

Pacific Albacore
Pacific Cod
Pacific Hake
Pacific Herring
Pacific Lamprey
Pacific Rudderfish
Pacific Salmon
Pacific Saury
Pacific Trout
Pacific Viperfish
Paddlefish
A pajama cardinalfish with a dark midbody band Pajama Cardinalfish Sphaeramia nematoptera
Pancake Batfish
A photo of a Panda Cory Panda Cory Corydoras panda Pale cory with black eye patches and tail markings, from the Ucayali basin in Peru.
Panga
A male paradise fish with red and blue banding Paradise Fish Macropodus opercularis freshwater aquarium
Parasitic Catfish
Parore
Parrotfish
A photo of a Pea Puffer Pea Puffer Carinotetraodon travancoricus Tiny freshwater pufferfish under 3 cm, endemic to rivers in Kerala, India.
A photo of a Peacock Bass Peacock Bass Cichla ocellaris A large striped Amazonian cichlid with a tail eyespot, a hard-fighting sport fish.
A photo of a Peacock Cichlid Peacock Cichlid Aulonocara stuartgranti Male-vivid blue-and-orange Lake Malawi cichlid that sifts sand for food.
A photo of a Peacock Flounder Peacock Flounder Bothus lunatus marine aquarium
Peamouth
A photo of a Pearl Danio Pearl Danio Danio albolineatus freshwater aquarium
A pearl gourami with a spotted pearly body Pearl Gourami Trichopodus leerii
Pearl Perch
A photo of a Pearl Spot Pearl Spot Etroplus suratensis A greenish cichlid of South Asian backwaters, called karimeen and a delicacy in Kerala.
Pearleye
Pearlfish
A photo of a Pearlscale Angelfish Pearlscale Angelfish Centropyge vroliki Pale front grading to dark rear with a scalloped edge, a dwarf angel from the western Pacific.
Pelagic Cod
Pelican Eel
Pelican Gulper
Pencil Catfish
Pencilfish
Pencilsmelt
A photo of a Penguin Tetra Penguin Tetra Thayeria boehlkei Silvery tetra with a black stripe running into the lower tail lobe, swims at a head-up angle.
A photo of a Peppered Cory Peppered Cory Corydoras paleatus Mottled grey-green cory, one of the oldest kept aquarium catfish, from southern South America.
A photo of a Peppered Corydoras Peppered Corydoras Corydoras paleatus freshwater aquarium
Perch
A photo of a Percula Clownfish Percula Clownfish Amphiprion percula Similar to ocellaris but with thicker black margins around the white bars, native to the western Pacific.
Peters' Elephantnose Fish
A photo of a Picasso Triggerfish Picasso Triggerfish Rhinecanthus aculeatus Cream body with bold angular lines and a painted face, a Hawaiian and Indo-Pacific triggerfish.
Pickerel
A photo of a Pictus Catfish Pictus Catfish Pimelodus pictus Silver catfish with black spots and long barbels, from the Amazon and Orinoco basins.
Pigfish
Pike
Pike Conger
Pike Eel
Pikeblenny
Pikeperch
Pilchard
A photo of a Pilot Fish Pilot Fish Naucrates ductor marine aquarium
Pineapplefish
Pineconefish
A photo of a Pink Salmon Pink Salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha The smallest and most abundant Pacific salmon, spawning males growing a humped back.
A photo of a Pink Skunk Clownfish Pink Skunk Clownfish Amphiprion perideraion Pale pink-orange with a thin white stripe along the back and one head bar, from the western Pacific.
Pipefish
Piranha
A photo of a Pirarucu Pirarucu Arapaima gigas freshwater aquarium
Pirate Perch
Plaice
A small, colorful platy livebearer Platy
Platyfish
A plecostomus suckermouth catfish showing its armored, spotted body Pleco
Plownose Chimaera
Poacher
A photo of a Pollock Pollock Pollachius pollachius A North Atlantic member of the cod family caught for food.
Pollyfish
Pomfret
Pompano
Pompano Dolphinfish
Ponyfish
Popeye Catalufa
Porbeagle Shark
A photo of a Porcupine Pufferfish Porcupine Pufferfish Diodon holocanthus Tan puffer covered in spines that erect when it inflates, found circumtropically.
Porcupinefish
Porgy
A photo of a Port Jackson Shark Port Jackson Shark Heterodontus portusjacksoni marine aquarium
A photo of a Potter's Angelfish Potter's Angelfish Centropyge potteri Orange body overlaid with blue vermiculations, a dwarf angelfish endemic to Hawaii.
A powder blue tang with a dark face and yellow fin Powder Blue Tang Acanthurus leucosternon
A photo of a Powder Brown Tang Powder Brown Tang Acanthurus japonicus Brown body with a white cheek mark and yellow-banded fins, native to the western Pacific.
Powen
Prickleback
Pricklefish
Prickly Shark
Prowfish
Pufferfish
Pumpkinseed
Pupfish
A photo of a Purple Firefish Purple Firefish Nemateleotris decora Pale body with purple head and fins, a hover-and-dart dartfish from the western Pacific.
A photo of a Purple Tang Purple Tang Zebrasoma xanthurum Deep purple body with a bright yellow tail, native to the Red Sea and Arabian Sea.
A photo of a Pygmy Cory Pygmy Cory Corydoras pygmaeus Tiny schooling cory about 2.5 cm with a dark lateral stripe, from the Madeira basin.
A photo of a Pygmy Rasbora Pygmy Rasbora Boraras maculatus Tiny reddish rasbora with dark blotches, from Southeast Asian blackwaters.
Pygmy Sunfish
A photo of a Pyramid Butterflyfish Pyramid Butterflyfish Hemitaurichthys polylepis White triangular flank patch on a yellow-and-brown body, a plankton-feeding schooler from the Pacific.
Píntano

Q (6)

A photo of a Queen Angelfish Queen Angelfish Holacanthus ciliaris Blue and yellow body with a ringed 'crown' spot on the forehead, from the western Atlantic.
Queen Danio
Queen Parrotfish
Queen Triggerfish
Quillback
Quillfish

R (77)

Rabbitfish
Raccoon Butterfly Fish
A photo of a Raccoon Butterflyfish Raccoon Butterflyfish Chaetodon lunula Yellow-brown body with a black eye mask edged in white, widespread across the Indo-Pacific.
Ragfish
A rainbow shark with a dark body and red fins Rainbow Shark Epalzeorhynchos frenatum
A photo of a Rainbow Trout Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss A widely farmed and stocked trout with a pink lateral band; sea-run forms are called steelhead.
A Boeseman's rainbowfish with a blue front and orange rear Rainbowfish
A photo of a Randall's Goby Randall's Goby Amblyeleotris randalli White with orange bars and a tall spotted dorsal fin, a shrimp-associated goby from the western Pacific.
Rasbora
Ratfish
Rattail
Ray
Razorback Sucker
Razorfish
A photo of a Rectangular Triggerfish Rectangular Triggerfish Rhinecanthus rectangulus Tan body with a bold dark wedge and lines, the Hawaiian humuhumu, from the Indo-Pacific.
A photo of a Red Drum Red Drum Sciaenops ocellatus A coastal fish with a tail eyespot, popular in the southern United States as redfish.
Red Grouper
A photo of a Red Rainbowfish Red Rainbowfish Glossolepis incisus Deep-bodied rainbowfish, males turning brick-red, from Lake Sentani in West Papua.
Red Salmon
A photo of a Red Snapper Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus A prized reddish reef fish of the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic.
Red Velvetfish
Red Whalefish
A photo of a Red-bellied Piranha Red-bellied Piranha Pygocentrus nattereri A sharp-toothed shoaling characin of South American rivers with a reddish belly.
A photo of a Red-tailed Black Shark Red-tailed Black Shark Epalzeorhynchos bicolor Black cyprinid with a bright red tail, endemic to Thailand and rare in the wild.
Redfin Perch
Redfish
Redhorse Sucker
Redlip Blenny
Redmouth Whalefish
A photo of a Redtail Catfish Redtail Catfish Phractocephalus hemioliopterus Large Amazonian catfish with a red tail and white belly, growing over a metre.
Redtooth Triggerfish
A photo of a Reedfish Reedfish Erpetoichthys calabaricus freshwater aquarium
Reef Triggerfish
A regal angelfish with orange and white bands Regal Angelfish Pygoplites diacanthus
Remora
Requiem Shark
Ribbon Eel
Ribbon Sawtail Fish
Ribbonfish
Rice Eel
Ricefish
Ridgehead
Riffle Dace
Righteye Flounder
Rio Grande Perch
River Loach
River Shark
River Stingray
Rivuline
Roach
Roanoke Bass
Rock Bass
A photo of a Rock Beauty Rock Beauty Holacanthus tricolor marine aquarium
Rock Cod
Rock Gunnel
Rocket Danio
Rockfish
Rockling
Rockweed Gunnel
A photo of a Rohu Rohu Labeo rohita A large silvery carp of South Asian rivers and the most important food fish in Indian aquaculture.
Ronquil
Roosterfish
A photo of a Ropefish Ropefish Erpetoichthys calabaricus Eel-like African fish with an elongated body and lung-like air breathing, from West Africa.
Rosy barbs showing reddish body colour Rosy Barb Pethia conchonius
Rough Scad
Rough Sculpin
Roughy
Round Herring
A photo of a Round Stingray Round Stingray Urobatis halleri marine aquarium
Round Whitefish
Roundhead
A royal gramma, purple in front and yellow behind Royal Gramma Gramma loreto
Rudd
Rudderfish
Ruffe
A rummy-nose tetra with a red head and striped tail Rummy-nose Tetra Hemigrammus rhodostomus
Russian Sturgeon

S (192)

Saber-toothed Blenny
Sabertooth
Sabertooth Fish
Sablefish
Sacramento Blackfish
Sacramento Splittail
A photo of a Saddleback Clownfish Saddleback Clownfish Amphiprion polymnus Dark brown with a white head bar and a saddle-shaped mid-body patch, found on Indo-Pacific soft bottoms.
A photo of a Sailfin Molly Sailfin Molly Poecilia latipinna Livebearer with a tall dorsal fin in males, from coastal southeastern United States and Mexico.
Sailfin Silverside
A photo of a Sailfin Tang Sailfin Tang Zebrasoma velifer Tall banded body with large sail-like dorsal and anal fins, a Pacific surgeonfish reaching about 40 cm.
Sailfish
Salamanderfish
Salmon
Salmon Shark
Sand Dab
Sand Diver
Sand Eel
Sand Goby
Sand Knifefish
Sand Lance
Sand Stargazer
Sand Tiger
Sand Tilefish
Sandbar Shark
Sandburrower
Sandfish
Sandperch
Sandroller
Sarcastic Fringehead
Sardine
Sargassum Fish
Sauger
Saury
Saw Shark
Sawfish
Sawtooth Eel
Scabbard Fish
Scaly Dragonfish
Scat
A photo of a Scissortail Rasbora Scissortail Rasbora Rasbora trilineata freshwater aquarium
Scooter Dragonet Synchiropus ocellatus Mottled brown dragonet that hops along the substrate hunting copepods, from the western Pacific.
A photo of a Scopas Tang Scopas Tang Zebrasoma scopas Brown two-toned body darkening toward the rear, a widespread Indo-Pacific surgeonfish reaching about 20 cm.
Scorpionfish
Sculpin
Scup
Sea Bass
Sea Bream
Sea Catfish
Sea Chub
Sea Devil
Sea Dragon
Sea Lamprey
Sea Raven
Sea Snail
Sea Toad
A seahorse gripping a strand of seaweed with its tail Seahorse
Seamoth
Searobin
A photo of a Senegal Bichir Senegal Bichir Polypterus senegalus Primitive elongated African fish with a row of dorsal finlets, able to breathe air.
Sergeant Major
A red serpae tetra with a dark shoulder mark Serpae Tetra Hyphessobrycon eques
Sevan Trout
A photo of a Severum Severum Heros efasciatus Deep-bodied cichlid, often gold or green, from the Amazon basin.
Shad
Shark
Sharksucker
Sharpnose Puffer
Sheatfish
Sheepshead
Sheepshead Minnow
Shiner
Shortnose Chimaera
Shortnose Sucker
A photo of a Shovelnose Sturgeon Shovelnose Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus freshwater aquarium
Shrimpfish
A Siamese algae eater with a black side stripe Siamese Algae Eater Crossocheilus oblongus
Siamese Fighting Fish
Sillago
Silver Carp
A round silver-dollar fish seen from the side Silver Dollar Metynnis argenteus freshwater aquarium
Silver Dory
Silver Hake
A photo of a Silver Hatchetfish Silver Hatchetfish Gasteropelecus sternicla Silvery surface-dwelling fish with a sharply keeled chest, from northern South America.
A photo of a Silver Pomfret Silver Pomfret Pampus argenteus A flat, disc-shaped silvery sea fish highly valued in Indian and East Asian kitchens.
A photo of a Silver Tip Tetra Silver Tip Tetra Hasemania nana Small coppery tetra with white-tipped fins, native to the São Francisco basin in Brazil.
Silverside
A photo of a Silvertip Tetra Silvertip Tetra Hasemania nana freshwater aquarium
Sind Danio
A six-line wrasse with blue stripes on orange Six-line Wrasse Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
Sixgill Ray
Sixgill Shark
Skate
Skilfish
A photo of a Skipjack Tuna Skipjack Tuna Katsuwonus pelamis A small striped tuna that forms huge schools and makes up most canned tuna.
A photo of a Skunk Clownfish Skunk Clownfish Amphiprion akallopisos Orange-pink with a single white dorsal stripe and no head bar, from the Indian Ocean.
Sleeper
Sleeper Shark
Slender Mola
Slender Snipe Eel
Slickhead
Slimehead
Slimy Mackerel
Slimy Sculpin
Slipmouth
Smalleye Squaretail
A photo of a Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu A bronze-toned freshwater bass of North American rivers and lakes, prized by anglers.
Smalltooth Sawfish
Smelt
Smelt-whiting
Smooth Dogfish
Snailfish
Snake Eel
Snake Mackerel
Snakehead
Snapper
Snipe Eel
Snipefish
Snook
A photo of a Snowflake Eel Snowflake Eel Echidna nebulosa White moray patterned with black-and-yellow blotches, a hardy crustacean-eater from the Indo-Pacific.
Snubnose Eel
Snubnose Parasitic Eel
A photo of a Sockeye Salmon Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka A Pacific salmon that turns bright red when spawning, valued for its deep-coloured flesh.
Soldierfish
Sole
South American Darter
A photo of a South American Lungfish South American Lungfish Lepidosiren paradoxa freshwater aquarium
Southern Dolly Varden
Southern Flounder
Southern Hake
Southern Sandfish
Southern Smelt
Spadefish
Spaghetti Eel
Spanish Mackerel
A photo of a Sparkling Gourami Sparkling Gourami Trichopsis pumila Tiny gourami with iridescent spots that can produce audible croaks, from Southeast Asia.
Spearfish
Speckled Trout
Spiderfish
Spikefish
Spinefoot
Spiny Basslet
Spiny Dogfish
Spiny Dwarf Catfish
Spiny Eel
Spinyfin
Splitfin
Spookfish
Spottail Pinfish
Spotted Climbing Perch
A photo of a Spotted Danio Spotted Danio Danio nigrofasciatus freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Spotted Eagle Ray Spotted Eagle Ray Aetobatus narinari A graceful ray with white spots on a dark back that glides over tropical reefs.
A photo of a Spotted Mandarin Spotted Mandarin Synchiropus picturatus Green body with dark blue-ringed spots, a psychedelic dragonet from the western Pacific.
Sprat
Springfish
Squarehead Catfish
Squaretail
Squawfish
Squeaker
Squirrelfish
Staghorn Sculpin
Stargazer
Starry Flounder
Steelhead
A photo of a Sterbai Cory Sterbai Cory Corydoras sterbai Dark cory patterned with white spots and orange pectoral fins, from the Guaporé basin.
Stickleback
Stingfish
A photo of a Stinging Catfish Stinging Catfish Heteropneustes fossilis An air-breathing South Asian catfish with venomous pectoral spines, known as singhi.
Stingray
Stonecat
Stonefish
Stoneroller Minnow
Stream Catfish
A photo of a Striped Bass Striped Bass Morone saxatilis A large coastal fish with dark horizontal stripes that runs up rivers to spawn.
Striped Burrfish
A photo of a Striped Snakehead Striped Snakehead Channa striata An air-breathing predatory freshwater fish of South and Southeast Asia, valued as food.
Sturgeon
Sucker
Suckermouth Armored Catfish
Summer Flounder
Sundaland Noodlefish
Sunfish
Surf Sardine
Surfperch
Surgeonfish
Swallower
Swamp-eel
Swampfish
Sweeper
A photo of a Swissguard Basslet Swissguard Basslet Liopropoma rubre Yellow body with red-brown horizontal stripes and tail spots, a secretive fish from the Caribbean.
A photo of a Swordfish Swordfish Xiphias gladius A large migratory predator with a long flat bill, found in seas around the world.
A male swordtail with an elongated, sword-like lower tail fin Swordtail
Sábalo

T (73)

Tadpole Cod
Tadpole Fish
Tailor
A photo of a Tailspot Blenny Tailspot Blenny Ecsenius stigmatura Small blenny with a dark tail-base spot and a face stripe, from the western Pacific.
Taimen
A photo of a Talbot's Damsel Talbot's Damsel Chrysiptera talboti Pale pinkish body with a yellow head and a dorsal fin spot, from the western Pacific.
Tang
Tapetail
Tarpon
Tarwhine
Telescopefish
Temperate Bass
Temperate Ocean-bass
Temperate Perch
A photo of a Tench Tench Tinca tinca freshwater aquarium
Tenpounder
Tenuis
Tetra
Thornfish
Thorny Catfish
Thread-tail
Threadfin
Threadfin Bream
A photo of a Threadfin Rainbowfish Threadfin Rainbowfish Iriatherina werneri Small fish with elongated thread-like fin rays in males, from New Guinea and northern Australia.
A photo of a Three Spot Gourami Three Spot Gourami Trichopodus trichopterus freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Three-spot Gourami Three-spot Gourami Trichopodus trichopterus Bluish gourami with two body spots plus the eye counted as a third, from Southeast Asia.
Three-toothed Puffer
Threespine Stickleback
Thresher Shark
Tidewater Goby
A tiger barb with vertical black stripes on an orange body Tiger Barb Puntigrus tetrazona freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Tiger Pufferfish Tiger Pufferfish Takifugu rubripes A pufferfish served as the delicacy fugu in Japan, whose organs are highly poisonous.
A photo of a Tiger Shark Tiger Shark Galeocerdo cuvier A large shark with dark bars on young, known for eating almost anything, in warm seas.
Tiger Shovelnose Catfish
Tigerfish
Tigerperch
Tilapia
Tilefish
A silver tinfoil barb with reddish fins Tinfoil Barb Barbonymus schwanenfeldii
Titan Triggerfish
Toadfish
A photo of a Tomato Clownfish Tomato Clownfish Amphiprion frenatus Deep red-orange body with a single white head bar; females darken and can reach around 14 cm.
Tommy Ruff
Tompot Blenny
Tonguefish
Tope
Topminnow
Torpedo
Torrent Catfish
Torrent Fish
Trahira
Treefish
Trevally
Triggerfish
Triplefin Blenny
Triplespine
Tripletail
Tripod Fish
Trout
Trout Cod
Trout-perch
Trumpeter
Trumpetfish
Trunkfish
Tube-eye
Tube-snout
Tubeblenny
Tubeshoulder
Tui Chub
Tuna
A photo of a Turbot Turbot Scophthalmus maximus A large left-eyed flatfish of European seas, prized as a table fish.
A photo of a Twin-Spot Goby Twin-Spot Goby Signigobius biocellatus Sand-sifting goby with two large dorsal eyespots, from the western Pacific.
Two Spotted Goby

U (3)

A photo of a Uaru Uaru Uaru amphiacanthoides freshwater aquarium
Unicorn Fish
A photo of a Upside-down Catfish Upside-down Catfish Synodontis nigriventris freshwater aquarium

V (12)

A photo of a Valentini Puffer Valentini Puffer Canthigaster valentini Small sharp-nosed puffer with dark saddles, from the Indo-Pacific and mimicked by a filefish.
Vanjaram
A photo of a Variatus Platy Variatus Platy Xiphophorus variatus Slightly larger, cooler-tolerant platy species from eastern Mexico.
Velvet Belly Lanternshark
Velvet Catfish
Velvetfish
Vendace
A photo of a Venustus Cichlid Venustus Cichlid Nimbochromis venustus Large predatory Malawi cichlid with a giraffe-like blotched pattern.
Vermilion Snapper
Vimba
Viperfish
A photo of a Volitans Lionfish Volitans Lionfish Pterois volitans Striped body with large fan-like pectorals and venomous dorsal spines, a predator from the Indo-Pacific.

W (36)

A photo of a Wahoo Wahoo Acanthocybium solandri A slender, extremely fast pelagic fish related to mackerel, prized by sport fishers.
A photo of a Walking Catfish Walking Catfish Clarias batrachus freshwater aquarium
Wallago
A photo of a Walleye Walleye Sander vitreus A North American freshwater predator with reflective eyes, valued as a food and sport fish.
Walleye Pollock
Walu
Warmouth
Warty Angler
Waryfish
Waspfish
Weasel Shark
A weather loach with a slender body Weather Loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
Weatherfish
Weever
Weeverfish
A photo of a Wels Catfish Wels Catfish Silurus glanis A huge European freshwater catfish that can exceed two metres.
Whale Catfish
A photo of a Whale Shark Whale Shark Rhincodon typus The largest fish alive, a spotted filter-feeder that eats plankton and reaches over 12 metres.
Whalefish
Whiff
A white cloud mountain minnow with a light lateral stripe White Cloud Mountain Minnow Tanichthys albonubes
White Croaker
White Marlin
White Shark
Whitebait
Whitefish
A photo of a Whitetip Reef Shark Whitetip Reef Shark Triaenodon obesus marine aquarium
Whiting
Wobbegong
Wolf-eel
Wolf-herring
Wolffish
Worm Eel
Wormfish
Wrasse
Wrymouth

X (1)

A photo of a X-ray Tetra X-ray Tetra Pristella maxillaris Translucent tetra with black-and-yellow dorsal and anal fin markings, from coastal South America.

Y (36)

A photo of a Yellow Assessor Yellow Assessor Assessor flavissimus Bright yellow basslet that often swims upside down under ledges, from the western Pacific.
Yellow Bass
A photo of a Yellow Boxfish Yellow Boxfish Ostracion cubicus Cube-shaped fish, bright yellow with black spots when young, from the Indo-Pacific.
A photo of a Yellow Clown Goby Yellow Clown Goby Gobiodon okinawae Tiny bright-yellow goby that perches on coral branches, from the western Pacific.
A photo of a Yellow Coris Wrasse Yellow Coris Wrasse Halichoeres chrysus Bright yellow wrasse with small dorsal eyespots that burrows in sand, from the Indo-Pacific.
Yellow Jack
Yellow Moray
Yellow Perch
A bright yellow tang surgeonfish Yellow Tang Zebrasoma flavescens marine aquarium
A photo of a Yellow Watchman Goby Yellow Watchman Goby Cryptocentrus cinctus Yellow goby with blue speckles that shares a burrow with pistol shrimp, from the western Pacific.
Yellow Weaver
Yellow-and-black Triplefin
Yellow-edged Moray
Yellow-eye Mullet
A photo of a Yellowback Fusilier Yellowback Fusilier Caesio xanthonota marine aquarium
Yellowbanded Perch
Yellowedge Grouper
Yellowfin Croaker
Yellowfin Cutthroat Trout
Yellowfin Grouper
Yellowfin Pike
Yellowfin Surgeonfish
A photo of a Yellowfin Tuna Yellowfin Tuna Thunnus albacares A fast, sleek tuna of warm seas with long yellow finlets, sold fresh as ahi.
A photo of a Yellowhead Jawfish Yellowhead Jawfish Opistognathus aurifrons marine aquarium
Yellowmargin Triggerfish
Yellowtail
Yellowtail Amberjack
Yellowtail Barracuda
Yellowtail Catfish
Yellowtail Clownfish
A photo of a Yellowtail Coris Yellowtail Coris Coris gaimard Adults blue-green with a yellow tail; juveniles orange with white saddles, from the Indo-Pacific.
A photo of a Yellowtail Damsel Yellowtail Damsel Chrysiptera parasema Deep blue body with a bright yellow tail, a small reef damsel from the western Pacific.
Yellowtail Horse Mackerel
Yellowtail Kingfish
Yellowtail Snapper
A photo of a Yoyo Loach Yoyo Loach Botia almorhae Silvery loach with a variable dark pattern resembling letters, from northern India and Nepal.

Z (15)

Zander
Zebra Bullhead Shark
A zebra danio showing its horizontal blue-and-silver stripes Zebra Danio Danio rerio freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Zebra Lionfish Zebra Lionfish Dendrochirus zebra marine aquarium
A zebra loach with dark vertical stripes Zebra Loach Botia striata freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Zebra Mbuna Zebra Mbuna Maylandia zebra Variable-coloured rock-dwelling cichlid from Lake Malawi.
A photo of a Zebra Moray Zebra Moray Gymnomuraena zebra Dark eel banded with many thin white rings, a docile shellfish-crusher from the Indo-Pacific.
A photo of a Zebra Oto Zebra Oto Otocinclus cocama freshwater aquarium
Zebra Pleco freshwater aquarium
A photo of a Zebra Shark Zebra Shark Stegostoma fasciatum marine aquarium
Zebra Tilapia
Zebra Turkeyfish
Zebrafish
Ziege
Zingel
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Fish names — common questions

Short, straight answers to what people ask about naming, keeping and telling fish apart.

How many fish are on this list?

This A–Z lists 1312 real fish by common name, grouped from A to Z, with the scientific name shown where we have it. It is a reference list of the named and commonly-kept fish, not the whole of science — more than 34,000 fish species have been described worldwide, which is more than all other backboned animals put together.

What are the best fish for beginners?

Hardy community fish are the usual first choice: guppies, platies, mollies, zebra danios, neon tetras, corydoras catfish and the betta. They forgive the small water-quality mistakes everyone makes while learning, stay a manageable size, and get along with tank-mates. The popular-fish cards above mark each one Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced so you can see at a glance what a fish will ask of you.

What is the difference between freshwater and marine fish?

Freshwater fish live in rivers, lakes and ponds; marine (saltwater) fish live in the sea and need salt mixed into their water and steadier, cleaner conditions, so a marine tank costs more and asks more of the keeper. Most people start with freshwater. Never mix the two — a marine fish cannot survive in fresh water, and a freshwater fish cannot survive in salt.

What is the most popular aquarium fish?

The betta (Siamese fighting fish) and the goldfish are among the most kept fish of all, and the guppy and neon tetra are the classic community-tank starters. Popularity comes down to colour, how hardy a fish is, and how easily it shares a tank with others.

Can all of these fish live together?

No — always match water type, temperament and adult size. A peaceful neon tetra and an aggressive Oscar do not mix, a marine clownfish cannot share a freshwater tank, and a fish that grows to 30 cm needs room a small tank cannot give. Check the water, size and temperament badges on each popular fish before you put any two together.

Are the scientific names correct?

Yes — each fish shows its binomial (genus and species) where we have it, taken from published species lists. Common names change from region to region and one fish can have several, so the scientific name is the reliable way to be certain which fish you mean.

How this list is put together

Every name here is a real fish, taken from published species lists — no invented names and no padded count. Photos are shown only where we have one under an open licence, credited to its author. We add to it in careful batches, never as a thin dump.

Fish breeds A–Z, with picturesOur big illustrated fish-breeds article — hundreds of fish, each with a photo.Animals A–Z, with picturesThe same picture-led A–Z for land animals — mammals, reptiles and more.Birds A–ZBrowse birds by name, each with a clear photo and quick facts.Pet names, by meaningChoosing a name for a pet fish, dog or cat? Browse names with real meanings.