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40 Incredible Fish Species Globally and Their Essential Facts!

Fish is a member of the paraphyletic group of organisms. This consists of gill-bearing aquatic craniate animals with limbs and digits. Most of the fishes are hagfish, cartilaginous, bony fish and lampreys. Fishes are ectothermic, which means cold-blooded. Fish are abundant in most of the bodies of water. Fishes are an important resource for humans worldwide, especially as food because they consist of a lot of minerals, vitamins, and proteins as they stay in water bodies. These are served as religious symbols.

They breathe through the gills, which serve the same function as our lungs. Bony fishes have only a single gill. Fish have a closed-loop circulatory system. They are an omnivorous group because they feed on plants and other small sea animals of water bodies. Fishes excrete nitrogenous and ammonia. Fishes reproduce highly in the open water column only. The eggs have an average diameter of one millimetre only.

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Take a look at some of the list of types of fishes that are pretty common around the world. They are all unique yet share the beauty of being one.

Table of Contents:

Types of Fishes Names Around the World:

Some of the wide varieties of fishes which are available in the world are as follows:

1. Siamese Fighting Fish:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of Siamese fighting fish is known as betta splendens.

Family and History:

This fish is classified under the classification of betta. It is an aquarium fish. It belongs to a family of the Gourami family. Other names of this fish are pla-kad and trey krem. They can mingle with other fish. The body length of the fish is seven centimetres and it appears in colours of red, green, opaque, albino, orange, yellow blue, etc.

Lifespan:

The Lifespan of this fish is about 2 years only. Water temperature must be around 23 degrees– 27 degrees.

2. Common Carp:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of the common carp is Cyprinus Carpio. This kind of fish is found in a flaming gorge reservoir, Lake Mohave, Aral Sea, and more places.

Family and History:

It is classified under Cyprinus. The body mass of this fish is about 2-14 kilograms. These are grown in freshwater lakes. Mostly found in water bodies in Asia and Europe. They can tolerate low oxygen levels.

These are omnivorous. It can lay up to 300,000 eggs in a single spawn. This fish is taken as food by humans all over the world.

Lifespan:

The lifespan of common carp is until 47 years.

3. Goldfish:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of the goldfish is Carassius auratus. It is classified under the higher classification of Carassius. It is mostly found in Utah Lake.

Family and History:

It is an aquarium fish. This fish native is in East Asia. It was domesticated in China and later breeds have developed. The size of this fish is 19 inches.

Goldfish has an ability of strong learning and social learning skills. Goldfishes are gregarious. They feed on insects and plants. Goldfish eggs hatch within 48-72 hours.

Lifespan:

The lifespan of goldfish is about 30 years. Haven’t we all seen one?

4. Oscar:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of Oscar is Astronotusoscellatus. It is classified under the higher classification of Astronotus. Other names for Oscar are tiger Oscar, marble cichlid and velvet cichlid.

Family and History:

These species are found in South America, Australia, the United States and China. It is seen as aquarium fish. The body length of Oscar is about 36cm and the mass of the body is 1.4 kg. They grow quickly and are carnivores.

Lifespan:

These have territorial behaviour. The lifespan of this fish is about 10-13 years.

5. Wels Catfish:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of the Wells catfish is Silurusglanis. It is classified under the classification of Silurus. It is also called sheatfish.

Family and History:

This fish is mostly found in Lake Constance. These are also found in the basins of the Baltic, Black and Caspian Sea. The size of this fish is about 13 ft which is 4m. Maximum weight is about 400kg. These are mostly found in freshwater places. They feed on other animals which live in water bodies.

Use:

These are taken as food by humans. It is rich in proteins and nutrients.

Lifespan:

The lifespan of this fish is about 60 years.

6. Zander:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of Zander is Sander lucioperca.

Family and History:

This fish is classified under the classification of Sander. It is mostly found in the Aral Sea and Lake Constance. It is also called a pike-perch. Species of Zander fish from freshwater and brackish habitats in western Eurasia.

Use:

It is eaten by humans and is rich in nutrients. The mass of the body is 20 kilograms. These fishes can be hybrid.

Lifespan:

The lifespan of this kind of fish is usually very short.

7. European Seabass:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of European seabass is Dicentrarchuslabrax.

Family and History:

It is classified under the higher classification of Dicentrarchus. These are primarily ocean-going fish. These are seen in brackish and fresh waters as well. It is also known as sea dance. These are marketed by loup de mer, robalo, spigola, brinzino, Mediterranean seabass and Branzino. It is regarded as table fish. It is mostly a night hunter and feeds on small fish like crustaceans, cephalopods and polychaetes.

Lifespan:

It has a lifespan of about 25 years.

8. Northern Pike:

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Scientific Name:

It is known simply as a pike in Britain, Canada, Ireland and some parts of the United States.

Family and History:

This fish is classified under the classification Esox. It is considered as a symbol of North Dakota. It is founded in Fort Peck Lake, Lake George, Lake of the Woods and many more. They feed on big prey of animals that live in water bodies.

Lifespan:

The lifespan of this fish is about seven years in the wild.

9. Sword Fish:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of swordfish is Xiphias gladius.

Family and History:

It is classified under the higher classification of Xiphias; Swordfish are well-known as broadbills in some of the countries. These migrate from one place to another and are mostly found in tropical and temperate parts of the Indian Oceans, the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. They are found under a depth of 550m. They reach a length of 9.8 ft and a mass of 650 kilo grams. It is called a swordfish because it has a sword-like spear to kill prey and make it easier to eat. These are vigorous fighters.

Use and Lifespan:

It is hunted by humans and taken as food and lives for about nine years.

10. Tench:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of Tench is Tincatinca. Tench is called Schlei in Germany. This fish is classified under a higher classification of Tinca. It is mostly found in Lake Constance and Lake Garda. It is found mainly in fresh and brackish water only.

Family and History:

It is a family member of cyprinid. Its family is mostly seen in Eurasia and Western Europe. It is even found in Lake Baikal. These are the best resources for the recopies for humans. It is used for a better economy.

Lifespan:

It lives up to 15 years and can live for 30 years in captivity.

11. Atlantic Cod:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of the Atlantic cod is Gadusmorhua. It is well known as benthopelagic. It is classified under the classification Gadus.

Family and History:

It is a family member of Gadidae. This fish is widely found in the Bay of Biscay, north of the Arctic Ocean, North Sea Baltic Sea etc. It can grow up to 2 meters in length and the mass of the body is 96 kilograms.

Use and Lifespan:

It is widely consumed by humans. Commercially it is called codling or cod. The lifespan of cod is about 25 years. It attains sexual maturity between the ages of two and four. Their colour will vary from brown to green.

12. Atlantic Mackerel:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of Atlantic mackerel is Scomberscombrus. It is classified under the classification of scomber.

Family and History:

These are found on both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean. Species of Atlantic mackerel are called as mackerel or Boston mackerel. Almost ten species of a family were caught in British waters. This fish migrates towards the coast for a feed of small fish and prawns in summer. It forms large schools near the surface of cold and temperate shelf areas. They move to shore when water temperatures range between 11-14 degrees.

Lifespan and Use:

The lifespan of mackerel is about 20 years. It will become the best food for humans.

13. Common Bream:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of the Common bream is Abramisbrama. It is widely known as carp bream, bronze bream, freshwater bream and Abramis bream.

Family and History:

This is classified under the classification of Abramis. It belongs to a family of Cyprinidae. It is found in Aral Lake and Lake Constance. The length of the bream is about 30-55cm and the mass is about 2- 4 kg. The recorded length is 0cm and the weight is 9.1 kg. It is an omnivore. It eats larvae and plankton of the sea. Generally, they spawn from April to June.

Use and Lifespan:

This kind of fish is used for both purposes of sport and commercial purposes and has lived for about 29 years.

14. Basa Fish:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of the basa fish is Pangasiusbacourti. It is classified under the classification of Pangasius.

Family and History:

This is the species of catfish. It belongs to the family of Pangasildae. The native basa is at the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins in Indonesia. These are labelled in Australia and North America as basa, panga, swai bocorti etc. The body of basa fish will be heavy and stout. The length of the body is 120 centimetres. They feed on plants. They spawn on the flood season in June which has an average of 5 cm.

Use and Lifespan:

It is used as frozen food in some countries. They are rich in proteins are a river fish and have a long lifespan, which is yet to be determined.

15. European Fish:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of European fish is Percafluviatilis. It is known as redfin perch, English perch, and perch. It is classified under the higher classification of Perch.

Family and History:

These are seen in northern Asia and Europe. The body length of the fish will be 60cm and the weight will be of 2.8 kg. Perch spawn deposits eggs at the end of April and the beginning of May on water plants. Eggs are migrated through birds to other waters as eggs stick to the bird’s legs.

Lifespan:

These are mostly aquarium fishes and live for over 22 years.

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16. Rainbow Trout:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of this type of fish is rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. It is classified under the classification of Oncorhynchus.

Family and History:

These are species of salmonid. It is represented as a symbol of Washington. It is found in Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Watauga Lake, Lake Mohave and many more. They live in oceans for two-three years and move to spawns. Spawns of these fishes are called as steel head. The maximum mass of a body is about 9 kg.

Use and Lifespan:

It is introduced as food and sport for almost 45 countries in the world. Their lifespan is usually about 11 years and is one of the healthiest foods to include in your diet.

17. Ocean Sun Fish:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of the Ocean sunfish is Mola mola. It is classified under the classification of mola.

Family and History:

It is the heaviest bony fish in the world. Sunfish diet consists of mainly Jellyfish; the reason is it is nutritionally poor. These will become food for predators like a sea lion, killer fish etc. These are native to tropic waters and temperate to every ocean in the world. They swim up to 26 km per day.

Use and Lifespan:

Yummy dishes can be made out of sunfish and they, usually live for about 10 years in captivity, while their lifespan in their natural habitat is not known.

18. Blob Fish:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of the blobfish is Psychroulutesmarcidus.

Family and History:

The fish is classified under the classification of Pdychrolutes and is a deep-sea fish. It is a family member of Psychroulutidae. It is found in the seawater of Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania. The length of blobfish is typically shorter than 30 cm. They live in depths between 600 to 1200 m. It feeds on crustaceans.

Lifespan:

Their lifespan is not determined.

19. Blue Fish:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of bluefish is Pomatomussaltatrix.

Family and History:

This fish is classified under the classification of Pomatou and belongs to a family of Pomatomidae. Illawarra Lake, Black Sea and Lake Macquarie are the places to see this fish. It is a marine pelagic fish found in temperate and subtropical waters. It is also known as a tailor in Australia. Bluefish is a moderately proportioned fish with a forked tail. The length of the body ranges from 20 -60 cm and the mass of the body will be 14 kg. They live in groups and are fast swimmers.

Lifespan:

The lifespan of this fish is about nine years.

20. Doctor Fish:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of the doctor’s fish is Garrarufa.

Family and History:

It is classified under the classification of Garra. Other names of doctor fish are bonefish, Kangal fish and nibble fish. The species are bred in Turkish river systems.

Use and Lifespan:

These are used in a spa treatment for skin patients to cure psoriasis. They occur in river basins of the Central Middle East and the Northern part of Syria, Turkey, Oman, Iran and Iraq. This kind of fish lives for about 6-7 years.

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21. Zebra Fish:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of zebrafish is Danio rerio.

Family and History:

It is classified under the classification of Danio. Zebrafish is found in tropical freshwater and belongs to the minnow family of the order Cypriniformes. Its native is from the Himalayan region. This is a popular aquarium fish. It is sold under the trade name Zebra Danio. Zebrafish is widely used as a model organism in scientific research. It is the first vertebrate to clone. It is found in regions like India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Burma and Pakistan. These are mostly seen in the Ganges regions. These are omnivorous. It means their prey includes plankton of Phyto and Zoo. These are seen in the aquarium.

Lifespan:

Their lifespan is usually 5.5 years and shows signs of ageing over time.

22. Sand Steenbras:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of sand Steenbras is Lithognathusmormyrus.

Family and History:

It is classified under the classification of Lithognathus. It is a marine fish and belongs to a family of Sparidae. Sand steenbras are found in shallow water in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean from France to South Africa. It is even observed in the Red Sea and the coast of Mozambique in the Indian Ocean. The length of the body will be about 55cm and, the weight will be around 1 kg.

Lifespan:

Their lifespan is not known yet.

23. Nile Tilapia:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of Nile tilapia is Oreochromis niloticus.

Family and History:

It is classified under the classification of Oreochromis. It is found in the Lake Victoria. Its native is from Africa and the Gambia. It is also called mango tilapia. The length of the body will be 6o cm and weighs up to 4.3 kg. It is an omnivore. It feeds both plankton and harmful gases like carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide. The red hybrid is taken as plathaptim in Thai. It means it is a pomegranate fish or ruby fish. In different types of fish in India, it will be one.

Lifespan:

Their lifespan is usually nine years.

24. Flathead Grey Mullet:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of the flathead grey mullet is Mugil Cephalusi. It comes in the list of different types of freshwater fish.

Family and History:

It is classified under the classification of Mugil. Flathead grey mullet found in the Red Sea and Lake Awoonga. It is found in coastal tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. Body length is about 30-75 centimetres. It is well known as bully mullet, grey mullet, common mullet, mullet and sea mullet. They feed on algae in the freshwater.

Use and Lifespan:

It is a special food for humans across the world. In Egypt, it is salted, dried and pickled to make feseekh. Their lifespan is about 11-16 years.

25. European Eel:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of the European eel is Anguilla Anguilla.

Family and History:

It is classified under the higher classification of Anguillidae. It is a fish like a snake and a catadromous fish. The length of the body reaches up to 1.5 m and rarely reaches 1m. The mass of the body will be of 3.6 kg.

Use and Lifespan:

It is eaten by a human as a rich source of food. Its species are being extinct and live for about 60 years.

26. Neon Tetra:

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Scientific Name:

The scientific name of Neon tetra is Paracheiodoninnesi.

Family and History:

It is classified under the classification of Paracheirodon. This is a freshwater fish which belongs to a family of characin family. Its native is in black waters. It is seen in some of the countries like Peru and Brazil etc. Tetras are omnivores. It is kept in the same tank as the shoaling effect is enjoyable when they swim around the tank.

Lifespan:

It is an aquarium fish and lives for about five years.

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#Types of Fishes To Eat:

While there are different kinds of fish in the aquatic ecosystem that you can cook, not all of them are fit for cooking. Doctors recommend eating fish thrice a week to make the best of their nutrients. Clams, oysters, lobsters, and shrimps have a high content of mercury in them and excess intake of these fishes is not considered safe. Here are the safest bets.

1. Salmon:

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Salmon fish has a high content of omega-3. Omega 3 is known to reduce blood pressure and is a good source of protein.

2. Tuna:

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Tuna is another kind of fish that is rich in omega 3. It is especially good for pregnant women and the growing foetus. It is an excellent source of animal protein. Canned tuna has lower mercury levels than tuna steaks and sushi, and two canned tuna meals a week is good for the body. Pregnant women should not eat canned white tuna and should limit canned light tuna intake. The reason why it is bad is because of the high levels of mercury in them. Intake of large amounts of mercury high fish and shellfish can result in high levels of mercury in the human body. In a foetus or young child, this can damage the brain and nervous system.

3. Sardines:

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Fish, in general, have omega 3 in them which lowers the risk of stroke, depression, and also some cancers. The DHA and fatty acid in Tilefish will nourish the brain and is a healthy option to include in your diet.

4. Cod:

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Cod is a good source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and is especially rich in lean protein and vitamin B-12. It is available throughout the year weighs anywhere from 1.5 to 100 pounds. Many cultures consider the cheeks and tongue as delicacies.

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#Types of Aquarium Fishes Species:

If the aquarium is your first time, here are some of the fishes that you can pick for it.

Caution: some of them have superpowers!

1. Gold Fish:

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Goldfish come in many varieties of sizes and colours. The preferred choice by many is the fancier variety with bubbly heads and fanned tails. They are great for beginners who have an unheated aquarium. These fish prefer temperatures between 62-74 degrees Fahrenheit. Their superpower is that they age slower and live longer when taken care of well.

2. Bloodfin Tetras:

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This type of fish has a silver body and rid fins that are striking. They live up to 10 years and are very active. It usually prefers to live in a group and is almost always peaceful. They are otherwise shy fish when kept in isolation. They usually hide and tend to stay away from school when sick. Their speciality is that they jump excessively, so remember to keep your tank closed.

3. White Cloud:

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This is yet another type of fish that is small and tolerates cold temperatures. Some people keep these in outdoor ponds over the summer. They tolerate temperatures as low as 60 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a hardy fish that tends to live in the middle and top areas of the tank. They prefer to live in a group. One speciality is that they are easy to maintain and generally display a peaceful temperament.

4. Danios:

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Danios are a kind of fish that requires a heated tank. A heated tank will enable you to keep a lot of varieties of them. This fish is hardy and do well in a variety of conditions and hence, are a perfect first choice. Danios are active and small. They prefer to be in a group near the surface of the water. The one good part about them is they are not picky eaters and do well with flake fish.

5. Black Molly:

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Black Molly is a peaceful fish. It is a good choice if you want a community tank with several types of fish. One big advantage of choosing this fish is that it can adapt to fresh, brackish and salt water. So, you can relax when having to set up a tank. These fish prefer a temperature that ranges from 70 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. Black Skirt Tetra:

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The black skirt tetra is another peaceful fish that should be kept in a pair or in a larger group. These are hardy fish and are great eaters. They will eat just any prepared food. They tend to swim in the middle of the tank and hate to be confronted. Make sure to keep plants around that will allow them to hide.

7. Kuhli Loach:

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The Kuhli Loach is an eel-like fish that is hardy fish which will be a great addition to your tank. It is a bottom-dweller that is unique in that it hides during the daytime. You might observe that it tunnels under the gravel or hides in a cave. It will, therefore, be a good idea to offer hiding places for this fish. The speciality of this fish is that they keep the tank clean by eating the food that falls from above the bottom of the tank.

8. Swordtails:

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These are hardy and long-lasting fish, which makes it perfect for beginners. With a variety of colours to choose from, you may want to add them to your tank for a variety. The speciality about them is that they add some level of brightness to your tank and thus remain attractive.

9. Betta:

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Betta(1) comes with an attractive flash and colour. This type of fish in India is pretty common in the tanks. It is recommended to have only one of a kind in the tank. Otherwise, they might end up fighting with each other. Their speciality is that they are excellent fighters.

10. Platies:

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Platies are great for beginners because there are so many varieties to choose from. They come in different colours. They are also selectively bred to make a new combination of colours. Their speciality is that they almost always have any flake or dried food. So, you don’t have to think about what to feed them.

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Overview:

An aquarium is a good addition to your house. Despite this, some fishes are excellent sources of protein and omega 3 for the body. While some of them are unfit for consumption, others are filled with the goodness of nutrients. Make sure to pick the right one to eat and the right one to include in your tank.

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