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List of fishes of Great Britain facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This is a list of amazing fish that live in and around Great Britain. You'll find them in both fresh water like lakes and rivers, and in the salty ocean. This list includes fish that have always lived here (native species) and some that have been brought over from other countries (introduced species).

Contents

Jawless Fish (Agnatha)

These are some of the most ancient fish! Unlike most fish, they don't have jaws. They also have a skeleton made of cartilage, not bone.

Hagfish (Myxini)

Hagfish are super unique deep-sea creatures. They look a bit like eels and are known for producing a lot of slime when they feel threatened.

Hagfish Family (Myxinidae)

  • Atlantic hagfish, Myxine glutinosa
  • White-headed hagfish, Myxine ios

Lampreys (Petromyzontiformes)

Lampreys are another type of jawless fish. They have a round, sucker-like mouth filled with teeth. Some lampreys live in the sea and then swim up rivers to lay their eggs, while others live only in fresh water.

Northern Lampreys (Petromyzontidae)

Cartilaginous Fish (Chondrichthyes)

This group includes sharks, rays, and chimaeras. Their skeletons are made of cartilage, which is a flexible material, rather than hard bone.

Ratfish (Chimaeriformes)

Ratfish, also known as chimaeras, are deep-sea fish that are related to sharks. They have large eyes and a long, whip-like tail.

Short-nosed Chimaeras (Chimaeridae)

Sharks (Hexanchiformes, Squaliformes, Lamniformes, Carcharhiniformes, Squatiniformes)

Sharks are amazing predators of the ocean. They come in many shapes and sizes, from the huge basking shark to smaller dogfish.

Frilled Sharks (Chlamydoselachidae)

  • Frilled shark, Chlamydoselachus anguineus - This shark looks like a mythical sea serpent!

Cow Sharks (Hexanchidae)

True Dogfish (Squalidae)

  • Spurdog, Squalus acanthias - A common small shark often seen in British waters.

Sleeper Sharks (Somniosidae)

  • Greenland shark, Somniosus microcephalus - One of the longest-living vertebrates on Earth!

Basking Sharks (Cetorhinidae)

  • Basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus - The second-largest fish in the world, it eats tiny plankton.

Mackerel Sharks (Lamnidae)

  • Porbeagle, Lamna nasus - A fast-swimming shark found in cooler waters.
  • Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias - While rare, these powerful sharks have been spotted in British waters.

Thresher Sharks (Alopiidae)

  • Thresher shark, Alopias vulpinus - Known for its incredibly long tail, which it uses to stun prey.

Catsharks (Scyliorhinidae)

  • Lesser spotted dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula - A very common small shark found near the coast.

Requiem Sharks (Carcharhinidae)

  • Blue shark, Prionace glauca - A beautiful, sleek shark that swims in open ocean.

Hammerheads (Sphyrnidae)

  • Smooth hammerhead, Sphyrna zygaena - Recognizable by its unique hammer-shaped head.

Angel Sharks (Squatinidae)

  • Angel shark, Squatina squatina - These sharks look like rays and lie flat on the seabed.

Rays and Skates (Rajiformes, Myliobatiformes, Torpediniformes)

Rays and skates are flat-bodied cartilaginous fish. Skates have thicker tails and lay eggs in "mermaid's purses," while rays have whip-like tails and give birth to live young.

Skates (Rajidae)

  • Common skate, Dipturus batis - One of the largest skates, sadly now endangered.
  • Thornback ray, Raja clavata - A common skate with thorny spines on its back.

Whiptail Stingrays (Dasyatidae)

  • Common stingray, Dasyatis pastinaca - Has a venomous barb on its tail for defense.

Eagle Rays (Myliobatidae)

  • Devil fish, Mobula mobular - A large ray that can leap out of the water.

Torpedo Rays (Torpedinidae)

  • Atlantic torpedo, Torpedo nobiliana - Can produce an electric shock to stun prey or defend itself.

Bony Fish (Osteichthyes)

This is the largest group of fish, with skeletons made of bone. It includes most of the fish you know!

Sturgeon (Acipenseriformes)

Sturgeon are ancient fish with rows of bony plates on their bodies. They can grow very large.

Sturgeon Family (Acipenseridae)

True Eels (Anguilliformes)

Eels have long, snake-like bodies and can be found in both fresh and salt water.

Freshwater Eels (Anguillidae)

  • European eel, Anguilla anguilla - Famous for its incredible journey from the Sargasso Sea to European rivers.

Congers (Congridae)

  • Conger eel, Conger conger - A large, powerful marine eel.

Herring and Anchovies (Clupeiformes)

These fish are often found in large schools and are important food sources for many other animals.

True Herrings (Clupeidae)

Anchovies (Engraulidae)

  • European anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus - Small, oily fish known for their strong flavor.

Carp and Allies (Cypriniformes)

This group includes many popular freshwater fish found in rivers and lakes. Many have been introduced to Britain.

Carp, Minnows and Barbs (Cyprinidae)

  • Common bream, Abramis brama
  • Common carp, Cyprinus carpio (introduced) - A very popular fish for angling.
  • Roach, Rutilus rutilus - A widespread freshwater fish.
  • Tench, Tinca tinca - A hardy fish often found in still waters.

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Catfish are known for the whisker-like barbels around their mouths, which they use to find food.

Eurasian Catfish (Siluridae)

  • Wels catfish, Silurus glanis (introduced) - Can grow to be enormous!

Pike (Esociformes)

Pike are fierce freshwater predators with long, torpedo-shaped bodies.

Pike Family (Esocidae)

  • Northern pike, Esox lucius - A top predator in British freshwater systems.

Smelt (Osmeriformes)

Smelt are small, silvery fish often found in coastal waters and estuaries.

Smelt Family (Osmeridae)

  • European smelt, Osmerus eperlanus - Known for its cucumber-like smell when fresh.

Salmon and Trout (Salmoniformes)

This group includes many popular sport fish that live in both fresh and salt water during their life cycles.

Salmon and Trout Family (Salmonidae)

  • Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar - Famous for its incredible journey from rivers to the sea and back again to spawn.
  • Brown trout/sea trout, Salmo trutta - A highly adaptable fish found in many different habitats.
  • Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (introduced) - A popular fish for farming and angling.
  • Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus - A beautiful fish found in cold, clear lakes.

Cod and Allies (Gadiformes)

This is a very important group of fish for food, including cod, haddock, and whiting.

Lings (Lotidae)

  • Common ling, Molva molva - A long, slender fish found in deep waters.

Codfishes (Gadidae)

  • Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua - One of the most well-known and important food fish.
  • Haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus - Another popular food fish, related to cod.
  • Whiting, Merlangius merlangus - A smaller, silvery fish.
  • Pollock, Pollachius pollachus
  • Saithe, Pollachius virens

Hakes (Merlucciidae)

  • European hake, Merluccius merluccius - A predatory fish with large teeth.

Anglerfish (Lophiiformes)

Anglerfish are famous for their unique "fishing rod" (a modified fin ray) that they use to lure prey.

Goosefish (Lophiidae)

  • Monkfish, Lophius piscatorius - A large, flat-bodied anglerfish often found on the seabed.

Mullet (Mugiliformes)

Mullet are silvery fish often seen in coastal waters and estuaries, feeding on algae and small invertebrates.

Mullet Family (Mugilidae)

Garfish and Allies (Beloniformes)

This group includes fish that live near the surface of the water.

Garfish Family (Belonidae)

  • Garfish, Belone belone - A long, slender fish with a distinctive beak-like snout.

Flyingfish (Exocoetidae)

  • Mediterranean flyingfish, Cheilopogon heterurus - Can glide through the air using its large fins!

Dories (Zeiformes)

Dories are deep-bodied, flattened fish.

True Dories (Zeidae)

  • John Dory, Zeus faber - Known for the dark spot on its side, said to be St. Peter's thumbprint.

Sticklebacks and Seahorses (Gasterosteiformes)

This group contains some very interesting and unique fish.

Pipefish and Seahorses (Syngnathidae)

  • Long-snouted seahorse, Hippocampus guttulatus - A beautiful and delicate creature.
  • Greater pipefish, Syngathus acus - Related to seahorses, they have long, thin bodies.

Sticklebacks (Gasterosteidae)

Ocean Sunfish and Allies (Tetraodontiformes)

This group includes some of the most unusual-looking fish in the ocean.

Ocean Sunfish (Molidae)

  • Ocean sunfish, Mola mola - The heaviest bony fish in the world, it looks like half a fish!

Triggerfish (Balistidae)

  • Grey triggerfish, Balistes capriscus - Has a unique "trigger" spine that it can lock into place.

Flatfish (Pleuronectiformes)

Flatfish are amazing fish that lie flat on the seabed. As they grow, one eye moves to the other side of their head!

Turbots (Scophthalmidae)

  • European turbot, Psetta maxima - A prized food fish.
  • Brill, Scophthalmus rhombus

Flounders (Pleuronectidae)

True Soles (Soleidae)

  • Dover sole, Solea solea - A very popular and tasty flatfish.

Scorpionfish and Allies (Scorpaeniformes)

This group includes fish with spiny fins and often camouflaged bodies.

Sculpins (Cottidae)

  • Father lasher, Myoxocephalus scorpius - A common fish found in rocky coastal areas.

Lumpsuckers (Cyclopteridae)

  • Lumpsucker, Cyclopterus lumpus - Has a suction cup on its belly to cling to rocks.

Snailfish (Liparidae)

Rockfish (Sebastidae)

  • Rose fish, Sebastes marinus - A deep-water fish with a reddish colour.

Gurnards (Triglidae)

  • Red gurnard, Aspitriglia cuculus - Known for its bright red colour and "walking" fins.
  • Grey gurnard, Eutriglia gurnardus - Can make grunting sounds.

Perchlike Fishes (Perciformes)

This is a huge and diverse group, including many well-known fish.

Temperate Sea Bass (Moronidae)

  • European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax - A popular fish for fishing and eating.

True Perch (Percidae)

  • European perch, Perca fluviatilis - A common freshwater fish with distinctive stripes.
  • Zander, Stizostedion lucioperca (introduced) - A predatory fish introduced to some British waters.

Seabream (Sparidae)

  • Gilt-head bream, Sparus aurata - Named for the golden band between its eyes.

Wrasse (Labridae)

  • Ballan wrasse, Labrus bergylta - A colourful fish often found in rocky areas.
  • Cuckoo wrasse, Labrus mixtus - Males and females have very different colours.

Wolffish (Anarhichadidae)

  • Atlantic wolffish, Anarhichas lupus - Has strong teeth to crush shellfish.

Gunnels (Pholidae)

  • Rock gunnel, Pholis gunnellus - A long, slender fish often found under rocks at low tide.

Sand Eels (Ammodytidae)

  • Great sandeel, Hyperoplus lanceolatus - Important food for seabirds and other fish.

Weevers (Trachinidae)

  • Lesser weever, Echiichthys vipera - Be careful! This fish has venomous spines.

Dragonets (Callionymidae)

  • Common dragonet, Callionymus lyra - Males are very colourful during mating season.

Gobies (Gobiidae)

  • Common goby, Pomatoschistus microps - A small, common fish found in shallow waters.
  • Rock goby, Gobius paganellus - Often seen in rock pools.

Mackerel and Tuna (Scombridae)

These are fast-swimming, open-ocean fish.

Swordfish (Xiphiidae)

  • Swordfish, Xiphias gladius - Famous for its long, sword-like bill.

See also

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List of fishes of Great Britain Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.