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Fish

Fish were the earliest vertebrates to appear on Earth, having evolved more than 500 million years ago. Fish typically have fins and are covered in scales, are cold-blooded and breathe using gills. Over-fishing, pollution, climate change, habitat destruction and invasive species present the greatest threats to the world’s dwindling fish stocks.

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Popular fish View all fish »

  • Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)

    Carcharodon carcharias (Great white shark)

    The mighty great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is often mistakenly thought of as the most voracious predator of the seas…

    More about the great white shark »

    30 photos

    12 videos

  • Coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae)

    Latimeria chalumnae (Coelacanth)

    The coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) is a ‘living fossil’ previously believed to have gone extinct at the time of the dinosaurs until…

    More about the coelacanth »

    8 photos

    2 videos

  • Leafy seadragon (Phycodurus eques)

    Phycodurus eques (Leafy seadragon)

    Leafy seadragons (Phycodurus eques) are exquisitely camouflaged fish. Belonging to the same family as seahorses and pipefish (Syngnathidae)…

    More about the leafy seadragon »

    20 photos

    6 videos

  • Queen triggerfish (Balistes vetula)

    Balistes vetula (Queen triggerfish)

    The deep-bodied queen triggerfish has suitably regal colouring; it is a flamboyant, and variable, mixture of blue, green and yellow, which…

    More about the queen triggerfish »

    6 photos

    0 videos

  • Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii)

    Thunnus maccoyii (Southern bluefin tuna)

    The southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) is one of the largest bony fish in the world. The incredibly streamlined and powerful body is…

    More about the southern bluefin tuna »

    13 photo

    1 video

  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)

    Rhincodon typus (Whale shark)

    The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish in the world; with its vast size it resembles the whales from which its common name is…

    More about the whale shark »

    30 photos

    13 videos

  • Spotted handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus)

    Brachionichthys hirsutus (Spotted handfish)

    The spotted handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus) is one of the world's most endangered marine fish. This extremely distinctive fish is…

    More about the spotted handfish »

    7 photos

    5 videos

  • Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti)

    Hippocampus bargibanti (Pygmy seahorse)

    The pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) is undoubtedly one of the most well camouflaged species in the oceans, being extremely…

    More about the pygmy seahorse »

    15 photos

    2 videos

  • Frilled shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus)

    Chlamydoselachus anguineus (Frilled shark)

    The little-known, deepwater-dwelling frilled shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus) is one of the most primitive species of living shark…

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    3 photos

    0 videos

  • Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus)

    Cetorhinus maximus (Basking shark)

    The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the second largest fish in the seas, after the whale shark (Rhincodon typus); its maximum…

    More about the basking shark »

    24 photos

    5 videos

  • European eel (Anguilla anguilla)

    Anguilla anguilla (European eel)

    The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has a very unusual and fascinating life cycle. Adults have long, narrow bodies, with a continuous…

    More about the european eel »

    28 photos

    4 videos

  • Humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum)

    Bolbometopon muricatum (Humphead parrotfish)

    The largest of all parrotfish, the humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) is an olive or blue-green to slate-grey fish, with a…

    More about the humphead parrotfish »

    9 photos

    4 videos

  • Giant manta ray (Manta birostris)

    Manta birostris (Giant manta ray)

    The largest living ray and one of the largest of all elasmobranchs, the giant manta ray (Manta birostris) is a stunning and graceful member…

    More about the giant manta ray »

    19 photos

    3 videos

  • Pike (Esox lucius)

    Esox lucius (Pike)

    The pike (Esox lucius) is probably the coarse anglers’ most sought-after fish. It is predatory both in nature and appearance. The fish has a…

    More about the pike »

    27 photos

    4 videos

  • Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran)

    Sphyrna mokarran (Great hammerhead)

    The massive and well-known great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) has the most distinctive hammer of its genus. It is particularly wide and…

    More about the great hammerhead »

    17 photo

    1 video

  • Sunfish (Mola mola)

    Mola mola (Sunfish)

    Not only is the sunfish (Mola mola) the world’s heaviest bony fish, with some individuals weighing in at a staggering 2.3 tonnes, but…

    More about the sunfish »

    15 photos

    2 videos

  • Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

    Salmo salar (Atlantic salmon)

    The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), 'the leaper', has been called the king of fish, due primarily to its spectacular ability to clear…

    More about the atlantic salmon »

    9 photos

    4 videos

  • Bowmouth guitarfish (Rhina ancylostoma)

    Rhina ancylostoma (Bowmouth guitarfish)

    Named for its distinctive mouth which undulates like a longbow, this deep-bodied guitarfish is unmistakable. The species has a broad…

    More about the bowmouth guitarfish »

    10 photo

    1 video

  • Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)

    Carcharhinus longimanus (Oceanic whitetip shark)

    The oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) has a stocky build, a short, bluntly-rounded snout, and incredibly powerful jaws. This…

    More about the oceanic whitetip shark »

    18 photo

    1 video

  • Smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata)

    Pristis pectinata (Smalltooth sawfish)

    The smalltooth sawfish gets its name from the Greek word ‘pristis’, meaning saw and the small teeth that line the edges of its saw, which…

    More about the smalltooth sawfish »

    1 photos

    2 videos

  • Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)

    Thunnus albacares (Yellowfin tuna)

    The yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) is a fish built for speed and endurance. Its streamlined body is metallic dark blue on the back…

    More about the yellowfin tuna »

    16 photos

    3 videos

  • Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)

    Galeocerdo cuvier (Tiger shark)

    One of the largest sharks in the world, the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is named for the characteristic, vertical striped markings that…

    More about the tiger shark »

    38 photos

    4 videos

  • Yangtze sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus)

    Acipenser dabryanus (Yangtze sturgeon)

    A prehistoric-looking fish, the Yangtze sturgeon has a long and slender body covered with rough skin and bony plates. A pointed snout…

    More about the yangtze sturgeon »

    1 photo

    1 video

  • Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)

    Cheilinus undulatus (Humphead wrasse)

    The humphead or Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) is one of the largest reef fishes in the world and is the largest member of the wrasse…

    More about the humphead wrasse »

    21 photos

    8 videos

  • Common seahorse (Hippocampus kuda)

    Hippocampus kuda (Common seahorse)

    A relatively large species, the common seahorse (Hippocampus kuda) is unfortunately not as common as its name suggests, and is considered…

    More about the common seahorse »

    19 photos

    0 videos

  • Leopard shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)

    Stegostoma fasciatum (Leopard shark)

    The leopard shark is an immediately recognisable, stunningly attractive species, which derives its common name from its distinctive markings…

    More about the leopard shark »

    25 photos

    3 videos

  • River lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis)

    Lampetra fluviatilis (River lamprey)

    Lampreys are some of the most primitive vertebrates alive today. They are known as cyclostomes, which means 'round mouths' and refers to the…

    More about the river lamprey »

    14 photos

    4 videos

  • Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)

    Xiphias gladius (Swordfish)

    A fast-swimming predator, the swordfish (Xiphias gladius) gets its name from its extremely long, flat, sword-like bill, which is…

    More about the swordfish »

    6 photos

    0 videos

  • Arapaima (Arapaima gigas)

    Arapaima gigas (Arapaima)

    The arapaima (Arapaima gigas), or pirarucu as it is known in Brazil, is one of the largest freshwater fishes in the world. Its local name…

    More about the arapaima »

    6 photos

    3 videos

  • Ribbontailed stingray (Taeniura lymma)

    Taeniura lymma (Ribbontailed stingray)

    The colourful ribbontailed stingray (Taeniura lymma) is immediately recognisable by the large, bright, iridescent blue spots that adorn its…

    More about the ribbontailed stingray »

    28 photo

    1 video

  • Red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri)

    Pygocentrus nattereri (Red-bellied piranha)

    Often feared because of its seemingly aggressive and frenzied attacks, the red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri) has a reputation…

    More about the red-bellied piranha »

    14 photos

    4 videos

  • Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)

    Isurus oxyrinchus (Shortfin mako)

    The shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) is believed to be the fastest-swimming of all sharks, thought to be capable of attaining bursts of…

    More about the shortfin mako »

    15 photos

    4 videos

  • Beluga (Huso huso)

    Huso huso (Beluga)

    The beluga (Huso huso) is the largest sturgeon in the world and the largest European freshwater fish; it can reach up to five metres in…

    More about the beluga »

    14 photo

    1 video

  • Anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius)

    Lophius piscatorius (Anglerfish)

    The various names for this fish - anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius), monkfish, goosefish - point to the fact that it has a very…

    More about the anglerfish »

    11 photos

    2 videos

  • Megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios)

    Megachasma pelagios (Megamouth shark)

    The megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) is one of the most mysterious and least understood of all the sharks. It was first recorded…

    More about the megamouth shark »

    5 photo

    1 video

  • Three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus)

    Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus (Three-spined stickleback)

    The stickleback is a well-known fish, and is the archetypal 'tiddler', the first small fish caught by many school children. It is a small…

    More about the three-spined stickleback »

    26 photos

    5 videos

  • Spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari)

    Aetobatus narinari (Spotted eagle ray)

    The spotted eagle ray is very distinctive with a flattened body and triangular corners to the wing-like pectoral fins. The snout is rounded…

    More about the spotted eagle ray »

    29 photos

    9 videos

  • Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)

    Carcharhinus melanopterus (Blacktip reef shark)

    The blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) is the most commonly encountered species of shark in tropical Indo-Pacific reefs…

    More about the blacktip reef shark »

    19 photo

    1 video

  • Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga)

    Thunnus alalunga (Albacore tuna)

    The large, oceanic albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) is built for speed, with a torpedo-shaped body, smooth skin and streamlined fins…

    More about the albacore tuna »

    1 photos

    0 videos

  • Porbeagle (Lamna nasus)

    Lamna nasus (Porbeagle)

    The porbeagle is a stout, heavy shark with a pointed, conical snout and a crescent-shaped caudal, or tail, fin. Its name is thought to…

    More about the porbeagle »

    10 photo

    1 video

  • Sharptooth lemon shark (Negaprion acutidens)

    Negaprion acutidens (Sharptooth lemon shark)

    The big, stocky sharptooth lemon shark (Negaprion acutidens) looks almost identical to the lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris), but…

    More about the sharptooth lemon shark »

    5 photos

    0 videos

  • Rainbow parrotfish (Scarus guacamaia)

    Scarus guacamaia (Rainbow parrotfish)

    The rainbow parrotfish (Scarus guacamaia) is the largest herbivorous fish in the Atlantic, with males growing to lengths of 1.2 metres…

    More about the rainbow parrotfish »

    21 photos

    0 videos

  • Green sawfish (Pristis zijsron)

    Pristis zijsron (Green sawfish)

    The green sawfish is a ray, with a shark-like body and a striking elongated snout, known as a saw. This saw bears 23-37 pairs of teeth and…

    More about the green sawfish »

    7 photos

    0 videos

  • Pacific angel shark (Squatina californica)

    Squatina californica (Pacific angel shark)

    Superficially, the Pacific angel shark resembles a large ray more than a shark, due to its remarkably flat body and huge, wing-like pectoral…

    More about the pacific angel shark »

    11 photos

    2 videos

  • Big-belly seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis)

    Hippocampus abdominalis (Big-belly seahorse)

    The big-belly seahorse is one of the largest of all seahorses, growing up to 35 cm in length. Like other seahorses, the head is held at…

    More about the big-belly seahorse »

    18 photo

    1 video

  • Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara)

    Epinephelus itajara (Atlantic goliath grouper)

    The Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is one of the largest members of the sea bass family. Its body is large and stocky…

    More about the atlantic goliath grouper »

    18 photo

    1 video

  • Salmon shark (Lamna ditropis)

    Lamna ditropis (Salmon shark)

    A formidable hunter, the salmon shark (Lamna ditropis) is sometimes mistaken for the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), but can…

    More about the salmon shark »

    1 photos

    2 videos

  • Common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

    Cyprinus carpio (Common carp)

    The carp that occurs in Britain today is the most commercially important freshwater fish kept in ponds, and has been selectively bred for…

    More about the common carp »

    18 photos

    4 videos

  • Thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus)

    Alopias vulpinus (Thresher shark)

    With their enormous, curving upper lobe of the tail fin, which can be as long as the body, thresher sharks (Alopias vulpinus) are one of the…

    More about the thresher shark »

    3 photo

    1 video

  • Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas)

    Carcharhinus leucas (Bull shark)

    The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas), named for its stocky body and ferocious reputation, is most famous for its remarkable ability to…

    More about the bull shark »

    13 photos

    4 videos

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