Types of Fish: List of Fish with Interesting Facts and Pictures

Are you in need of a list of various types of fish in English? Fish constitute a diverse group of animals, displaying variations in size, shape, and color. Their behaviors and living environments differ significantly among species, as do their interactions with other animals. But what precisely characterizes fish, and what are some examples of fish and their names? This piece aims to provide a comprehensive definition of fish, alongside a list of fish types and pertinent facts about them.

What Are Fish?

Fish, a group of vertebrate animals, primarily inhabit aquatic environments. They are characterized by their bony skull structure (as craniate animals), possession of fins, reliance on gills for respiration, and lack of digits on their limbs.

Fish demonstrate adaptability to various habitats, from the depths of saltwater oceans to the meandering streams of freshwater tropical rivers. They are predominantly ectothermic creatures, with most species laying eggs, although certain species, such as sharks, give birth to live offspring. While many fish possess scales, not all species do.

Distinguishing themselves from reptiles and amphibians, fish are predominantly aquatic and equipped with fins. They differ from mammals by lacking hair and mammary glands, and they differ from other terrestrial creatures by their reliance on gills for respiration.

Types of Fish

From a scientific standpoint, fish can be categorized into three types: bony, jawless, and cartilaginous. Bony fishes, constituting approximately 95 percent of all fish species, possess a bony endoskeleton. Jawless fishes, on the other hand, lack scales and feed by scraping or sucking. Cartilaginous fish, distinguished by their jaws and cartilaginous skeletons, form another distinct group.

Informally, fish can be classified into freshwater and saltwater varieties. Additionally, there are types known as diadromous, which regularly travel between fresh and saltwater, anadromous, referring to saltwater fish that migrate to freshwater for spawning, and catadromous, indicating freshwater fish that migrate to the sea for spawning.

List of Fish

List of Fish Names

• Lampreys
• Catfish
• Tuna
• Herring
• Mudskipper
• Flying Fish
• Eels
• Sharks
• Tarpon
• Hagfish
• Rays
• Carp
• Trout
• Salmon
• Climbing perch
• Bullhead
• Marlin
• Coelacanths
• Betta
• Cobia
• Sawfish
• Plaice
• Lionfish
• Pike
• Clownfish
• Steelhead
• Piranha
• Bream
• Stingray
• Goldfish
• Snapper
• Puffer
• Bass
• Shark
• Flounder
• Perch
• Swordfish
• Kissing fish
• Bluefish
• Sturgeon
• Angler
• Mackerel
• Blue tang
• Sunfish
• Dolphin
• Butterflyfish
• Haddock
• Whale
• Cod
• Sockeye
• Barracuda
• Anchovy

Types of Fish | Facts & Pictures

Lampreys

Lampreys, classified as jawless fish, utilize a sucker-like, multi-toothed mouth to attach to other animals as parasites. The Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is indigenous to the North Atlantic, where it does not kill its host animal. In the Great Lakes, however, it is considered invasive and known to kill host animals.

Catfish

Catfish represent a diverse group of species belonging to approximately 35 different fish families. They are characterized by their barbels, which resemble whiskers and are typically positioned near the upper mandible of their mouths. Catfish inhabit both freshwater and saltwater environments.

Tuna

Tuna are large, saltwater fish species (consisting of the Katsuwonus, Auxis, and Thunnus genera, among others) that can swim up to 43 miles per hour and weigh up to 2,000 pounds. Noted as a highly popular commercial fish, the tuna can swim great distances to feed and spawn.

Herring

Herring is a saltwater fish that belong to the genus Clupeus. They are found in the colder waters of the North Atlantic and are known to be scaly fish with forked tails that swim largely in schools. Herring are a popular culinary fish that can be pickled, salted, and smoked.

Mudskipper

Mudskippers are one of the few fish species that can travel on land. Native to the swamps of Myanmar, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines, mudskippers have chambers where they can store oxygen, which are located behind closable gill flaps.

Flying Fish

Flying fish are ocean fish that have long fins that can be used to escape the water and glide short distances — in order to escape fast-moving predator fish like marlins and swordfish. Flying fish belong to the order Beloniformes, and inhabit tropical waters in the Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

Eels

Eels are species of fish that have highly elongated bodies. There are about 500 species of fish that are referred to as eels — and can live in both freshwater and saltwater environments. The American eel (Anguilla rostrata) feeds nocturnally on crustaceans and insects.

Sharks

Sharks are cartilaginous fish whose species can inhabit both saltwater and freshwater (like the Speartooth and Bull sharks) areas. Though many of the over 500 shark species are harmless, some are known to attack humans, such as the Tiger, Lemon, Blue, Great White, and Mako sharks.

Hagfish

The Hagfish belongs to the jawless category of fishes; the 76 species that are referred to as hagfish are long and eel-like in appearance. That said, they are not closely related to eels — and have loose-fitting, slimy skin, the ability to breathe through their nose and skin, and jawless mouths.

Rays

Rays are cartilaginous fish that belong to the order Batoidea. There are over 600 species of rays, and they are characterized by their flat shape, ventrally-located gills, and large pectoral fins. Some rays, such as the Manta and Spotted Eagle Ray, have a “flying” appearance underwater.

Carp

Carp are freshwater fish species that are bony fish and have skin that is large-scaled in appearance. The Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) is a species native to eastern European seas (like the Caspian and Aral) and rivers, but was introduced to the U.S. in the early 1830s and is now widespread there.

Coelacanths

Coelacanths are fish that belong to the genus Latimeria. They are bony fish that are found in the tropical waters of the western Indian Ocean and off of Celebes, Indonesia. Once thought to be long extinct, today’s Coelacanths were found to exist about 100 years after its fossils were first discovered.

Trout

The Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a trout species native to North America and is a popular angling fish. Weighing on average from 2 to 8 pounds and measuring up to 16 inches, the Rainbow Trout can be identified by its olive-brown skin, pink streak on its back, and silver-white underside.

Salmon

In the Pacific, there are seven known species of Salmon. These include the Chinook, Pink, Sockeye, Chum, Amago, Masu, and Coho. Of these, five are found off the North American coast, whereas two (the Amago and Masu) are found off the coast of Asia. Salmon can travel as much as 1000 miles to feed.