Learning about various fish types can make studying English both fun and educational. Whether discussing a goldfish or a hammerhead shark, each type of fish offers useful vocabulary and interesting facts. Dive into the world of fish and boost your English vocabulary through engaging examples and descriptions.
Contents
Types of Fish in English
Fish are vertebrate animals that live in water. They typically have fins, breathe through gills, and have digit-less limbs. Most fish are cold-blooded and lay eggs, though some species (such as sharks) give birth to live young.
Fish are distinct from mammals because they lack hair and mammary glands, and unlike reptiles or amphibians, they remain fully aquatic throughout their life cycle.
Scientifically, fish are divided into three main groups:
| Vocabulary | IPA | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bony fish | /ˈboʊni fɪʃ/ | Fish with skeletons made mainly of bone. This group includes most fish species. |
| Jawless fish | /ˈdʒɔːləs fɪʃ/ | Primitive fish without jaws, such as lampreys and hagfish. |
| Cartilaginous fish | /ˌkɑːrtəˈlædʒənəs fɪʃ/ | Fish with skeletons made of cartilage, including sharks and rays. |
Common ecological groups of fish:
| Vocabulary | IPA | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Freshwater fish | /ˈfreʃˌwɔːtər fɪʃ/ | Fish that live in rivers, lakes, and streams. |
| Saltwater fish | /ˈsɔːltˌwɔːtər fɪʃ/ | Fish that live in oceans and seas. |
| Anadromous fish | /əˈnædrəməs fɪʃ/ | Fish that live in the ocean but migrate to freshwater to spawn. |
| Catadromous fish | /ˌkætəˈdrəʊməs fɪʃ/ | Fish that live in freshwater but spawn in the sea. |
💡 Grammar Tip: Fish or Fishes?
Understanding the plural form of “fish” can be tricky for English learners:
- Fish: This is the most common plural form. Use it when referring to multiple individuals of the same species.
Example: “I saw ten goldfish in the tank.”
- Fishes: This form is used primarily in scientific contexts when referring to multiple different species of fish.
Example: “The scientists are studying the various fishes of the coral reef.”
Common Fish Names with Facts & Pictures
Lamprey
Lampreys are jawless fish that use a sucker-like mouth to attach to other animals. The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is native to the North Atlantic but invasive in the Great Lakes.
Catfish
Catfish are identified by their whisker-like barbels. They live in both fresh and salt water and belong to about 35 different families.
Tuna
Tuna are fast-swimming saltwater fish capable of reaching speeds of up to 43 mph (69 km/h) and weighing up to 2,000 pounds (907 kg).
Herring
Herring belong to the genus Clupea. They form large schools and are widely used in culinary dishes, especially pickled, salted, or smoked.
Mudskipper
Mudskippers can move on land by trapping water in their gill chambers to breathe. They are commonly found in mangrove swamps and tidal flats.
Flying Fish
Flying fish glide above the water to escape predators, using their long wing-like fins to make short flights over the ocean surface.
Eel
Eels have elongated bodies and include over 500 species living in both fresh and salt water.
Shark
Sharks are cartilaginous fish found in oceans worldwide. Some species can live in freshwater, and while many are harmless, a few are known to attack humans.
Ray
Rays are flat-bodied cartilaginous fish with large pectoral fins and gills located underneath.
Carp
Carp are freshwater fish with large scales that have been introduced around the world.
Coelacanth
Once thought extinct for 66 million years, coelacanths were rediscovered in 1938. They are famous examples of living fossils.
Trout
Rainbow trout are popular sport fish known for their colorful stripe and silvery body.
Salmon
Many salmon migrate long distances—up to 1,000 miles (1,600 km)—to spawn in rivers.
List of 200+ Fish Names
Freshwater Fish
- Salmon
- Trout
- Tilapia
- Carp
- Catfish
- Bass
- Pike
- Perch
- Bluegill
- Crappie
- Walleye
- Roach
- Minnow
- Sturgeon
- Arapaima
- Bichir
- Bowfin
- Gar
- Snakehead
- Freshwater drum
- Yellow perch
- White bass
- Striped bass
- Smallmouth bass
- Largemouth bass
- Black crappie
- White crappie
- Channel catfish
- Flathead catfish
- Blue catfish
- Golden shiner
- Common dace
- Stone loach
- Weather loach
- Climbing perch
- Walking catfish
- Redhorse
- Suckerfish
- Paddlefish
- Freshwater goby
Saltwater Fish
- Tuna
- Cod
- Sardine
- Anchovy
- Mackerel
- Haddock
- Herring
- Snapper
- Grouper
- Barracuda
- Halibut
- Flounder
- Swordfish
- Marlin
- Sea Bass
- Pollock
- Sole
- Plaice
- Turbot
- Kingfish
- Bonito
- Bluefish
- Cobia
- Milkfish
- Drum fish
- Croaker
- Amberjack
- Tilefish
- Opah
- Pomfret
- John dory
- Rockfish
- Lingcod
- Atlantic salmon
- Pacific salmon
Reef Fish
- Clownfish
- Parrotfish
- Butterflyfish
- Angelfish
- Surgeonfish
- Triggerfish
- Damselfish
- Wrasse
- Goby
- Blenny
- Mudskipper
- Flying fish
- Pufferfish
- Boxfish
- Scorpionfish
- Stonefish
- Lionfish
- Toadfish
- Hawkfish
- Filefish
- Batfish
- Frogfish
- Sweetlips
- Unicornfish
- Bannerfish
- Needlefish
- Pipefish
- Seahorse
- Cleaner wrasse
- Mandarinfish
- Dragonet
- Tilefish
- Sand diver
- Spadefish
- Sergeant major fish
Deep Sea Fish
- Lanternfish
- Blobfish
- Fangtooth
- Viperfish
- Anglerfish
- Hatchetfish
- Dragonfish
- Barreleye
- Tripod fish
- Icefish
- Black swallower
- Stoplight loosejaw
- Deep-sea smelt
- Lantern shark
- Chimaera
- Ghost shark
- Ratfish
- Deep-sea lizardfish
- Deep-sea angler
- Brisingid fish
- Deep-sea gulper
- Giant oarfish
- Pacific viperfish
- Deep-sea cod
- Deep-sea skate
- Deep-sea halibut
- Deep-sea dragonfish
Sharks & Rays
- Great white shark
- Hammerhead shark
- Tiger shark
- Bull shark
- Whale shark
- Goblin shark
- Nurse shark
- Mako shark
- Blue shark
- Leopard shark
- Sand tiger shark
- Thresher shark
- Basking shark
- Angel shark
- Dogfish shark
- Blacktip shark
- Whitetip shark
- Greenland shark
- Megamouth shark
- Zebra shark
- Ray
- Manta ray
- Stingray
- Skate
- Eagle ray
- Electric ray
- Cownose ray
- Spotted eagle ray
- Devil ray
- Butterfly ray
Eel-like Fish
- Eel
- Moray eel
- Conger eel
- Electric eel
- Hagfish
- Lamprey
- Garden eel
- Snake eel
- Spaghetti eel
- Gulper eel
- Snipe eel
- Pelican eel
- Ribbon eel
- Blue ribbon eel
- Dragon moray
- Snowflake moray
- Zebra moray
- Giant moray
- Green moray
- Goldentail moray
- Chain moray
- Undulated moray
- Fire eel
- Peacock eel
- Tire track eel
- Swamp eel
- Rice paddy eel
- Asian swamp eel
- Sea lamprey
- River lamprey
Fun fact: Did you know? The electric eel is not actually a “true eel.” While it looks like one, it is more closely related to carp and catfish. Scientists group it with knife fish!
Aquarium Fish
- Guppy
- Molly
- Platy
- Betta
- Tetra
- Zebra danio
- Swordtail
- Oscar
- Discus
- Angelfish
- Corydoras
- Goldfish
- Koi
- Neon tetra
- Cardinal tetra
- Glowlight tetra
- Cherry barb
- Tiger barb
- Rainbowfish
- Dwarf gourami
- Giant gourami
- Paradise fish
- Killifish
- Glass catfish
- Bristlenose pleco
- Clown loach
- Kuhli loach
- Flowerhorn
- Electric blue ram
- Kribensis
This type of fish chart is also available as a downloadable PDF.