List of fishes of Ireland explained
This article gives a list of all species of fish found in the waters of Ireland. A separate list of freshwater fish is given at the bottom.
| Extinct | No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. |
| Extinct in the wild | Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range. |
| Critically endangered | The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild. |
| Endangered | The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. |
| Vulnerable | The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. |
| Near threatened | The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to do so in the future. |
| Least concern | There are no current identifiable risks to the species. |
| Data deficient | There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species. | |
Class Myxini (hagfish)
Order Myxiniformes
Family Myxinidae
Infraphylum Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates)
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Family Squatinidae (angelsharks)
=Order Squaliformes (dogfishes and relatives)
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Family Centrophoridae (gulper sharks)
Family Dalatiidae
- Kitefin shark, Dalatias licha
Family Echinorhinidae (bramble and prickly sharks
Family Etmopteridae (lantern sharks)
Family Oxynotidae (rough sharks)
Family Somniosidae (sleeper sharks)
Family Squalidae (spiny dogfishes)
=Order Hexanchiformes (frilled and cow sharks)
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Family Chlamydoselachidae (frilled sharks)
Family Hexanchidae (sixgill sharks)
- Bluntnose sixgill shark, Hexanchus griseus
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Family Carcharhinidae (requiem sharks)
Family Scyliorhinidae (catsharks)
Family Sphyrnidae (hammerhead sharks)
Family Triakidae (houndsharks)
=Order Lamniformes (mackerel sharks)
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Family Alopiidae (thresher sharks)
Family Cetorhinidae (basking sharks)
Family Lamnidae (mackerel sharks)
- Porbeagle, Lamna nasus
- Shortfin mako shark, Isurus oxyrinchus
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=
Family Dasyatidae (whiptail stingrays)
Family Myliobatidae (eagle rays)
Family Mobulidae (devil rays)
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Family Rajidae (skates)
- Thorny skate, Amblyraja radiata
- Blue skate, Dipturus batis
- Norwegian skate, Dipturus nidarosiensis
- Long-nosed skate, Dipturus oxyrinchus
- Sandy ray, Leucoraja circularis
- Blue ray, Neoraja caerulea
- Blonde ray, Raja brachyura
- Thornback ray, Raja clavata
- Shagreen ray, Raja fullonica
- Small-eyed ray, Raja microocellata
- Spotted ray, Raja montagui
- Cuckoo ray, Raja naevus
- Undulate ray, Raja undulata
- Deepwater ray, Rajella bathyphila
- Bigelow's ray, Rajella bigelowi
- Round ray, Rajella fyllae
- Bottlenosed skate, Rostroraja alba
Family Rhinochimaeridae (longnose chimaeras)
Family Chimaeridae (shortnose chimaeras)
Superclass Osteichthyes (boned fish) - Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish)
Family Acipenseridae (sturgeons)
=Order Clupeiformes (herring and anchovies)
=
Family Clupeidae (herring and sardines)
Family Engraulidae (Anchovies)
=Family Anguillidae (freshwater eels)
Family Congridae (conger eels)
Family Muraenidae (moray eels)
Family Nettastomatidae (duckbill eels)
Family Synaphobranchidae (cutthroat eels)
=Family Halosauridae (halosaurs)
Family Notacanthidae (spiny eels)
=Family Eurypharyngidae (pelican eels)
Family Saccopharyngidae (gulper eels)
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Family Cyprinidae (carp and relatives)
Family Nemacheilidae (stone loaches)
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Family Platytroctidae (tubeshoulders)
Family Alepocephalidae (slickheads)
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Family Microstomatidae (pencil smelts)
Family Opisthoproctidae (barreleyes)
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=Order Salmoniformes (salmon, trout, whitefish)
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Family Salmonidae (salmon, trout, whitefish)
- Irish pollan, Coregonus autumnalis
- Common whitefish, Coregonus lavaretus
- Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar
- Brown trout, Salmo trutta
- Sea trout, Salmo trutta trutta
- Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus alpinus
- Cole's char, Salvelinus colii
- Coomsaharn char, Salvelinus fimbriatus
- Gray's char, Salvelinus grayi
- Blunt-snouted Irish char, Salvelinus obtusus
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Family Gonostomatidae (bristlemouths)
Family Sternoptychidae (hatchefishes and relatives)
Family Phosichthyidae (lightfishes)
Family Stomiidae (dragonfishes)
=Order Aulopiformes (grinners, lizardfishes)
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Family Notosudidae (waryfishes)
Family Paralepididae (barracudinas)
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Family Myctophidae (lanternfishes)
- Glacier lanternfish, Benthosema glaciale
- Spothead lantern fish, Diaphus metopoclampus
- White-spotted lantern fish, Diaphus rafinesquii
- Chubby flashlightfish, Electrona risso
- Spotted lanternfish, Myctophum punctatum
- Topside lampfish, Notolychnus valdiviae
- Diamondcheek lanternfish, Lampanyctus intricarius
- Rakery beaconlamp, Lampanyctus macdonaldi
- Cocco's lantern fish, Lobianchia gemellarii
- Arctic telescope, Protomyctophum arcticum
- Large scale lantern fish, Symbolophorus veranyi
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Family Lampridae (opahs)
Family Trachipteridae (ribbonfishes)
=Order Zeiformes (dories, etc.)
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Family Zeidae (dories)
Family Oreosomatidae (oreos)
=Order Gadiformes (cod and relatives)
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Family Gadidae (cod and relatives)
Family Lotidae (lings)
- Cusk, Brosme brosme
- Fivebeard rockling, Ciliata mustela
- Northern rockling, Ciliata septentrionalis
- Fourbeard rockling, Enchelyopus cimbrius
- Arctic rockling, Gaidropsarus argentatus
- Bigeye rockling, Gaidropsarus macrophthalmus
- Shore rockling, Gaidropsarus mediterraneus
- Three-bearded rockling, Gaidropsarus vulgaris
- Burbot, Lota lota
- Blue ling, Molva dypterygia
- Spanish ling, Molva macrophthalma
- Common ling, Molva molva
Family Macrouridae (grenadiers or rattails)
- Hollowsnout grenadier, Coelorinchus caelorhincus
- Spearsnouted grenadier, Coelorinchus labiatus
- Abyssal grenadier, Coryphaenoides armatus
- Coryphaenoides brevibarbis
- Carapine grenadier, Coryphaenoides carapinus
- Günther's grenadier, Coryphaenoides guentheri
- Ghostly grenadier, Coryphaenoides leptolepis
- Mediterranean grenadier, Coryphaenoides mediterraneus
- Deepwater grenadier, Coryphaenoides profundicolus
- Roundnose grenadier, Coryphaenoides rupestris
- Glasshead grenadier, Hymenocephalus italicus
Family Merlucciidae (hakes)
Family Moridae (codlings)
Family Phycidae (forkbeard hakes)
Family Trachyrincidae
=Order Beryciformes (alfonsinos, bigscales, ridgeheads)
=Family Berycidae (alfonsinos)
Family Melamphaidae (bigscales)
=Oder Trachichthyiformes (spinyfins, roughies and relatives)
=Family Diretmidae (spinyfins)
Family Trachichthyidae (roughies and slimeheads)
- Orange roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus
- Silver roughy, Hoplostethus mediterraneus mediterraneus
=Series Ophidiimorpharia
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=Order Ophidiiformes (cusk-eels, brotulas and relatives)
=Family Aphyonidae
Family Bythitidae (viviparous brotulas)
Family Carapidae (pearlfishes)
Family Ophidiidae (cusk-eels)
=Series Gobiomorpharia
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=Order Gobiiformes (gobies and relatives)
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Family Gobiidae (gobies)
- Transparent goby, Aphia minuta
- Jeffrey's goby, Buenia jeffreysii
- Crystal goby, Crystallogobius linearis
- Couch's goby, Gobius couchi
- Red-mouthed goby, Gobius cruentatus
- Black goby, Gobius niger
- Rock goby, Gobius paganellus
- Two-spotted goby, Gobiusculus flavescens
- Lesueurigobius friesii
- Lozano's goby, Pomatoschistus lozanoi
- Common goby, Pomatoschistus microps
- Sand gobyPomatoschistus minutus
- Painted goby, Pomatoschistus pictus
- Leopard-spotted goby, Thorogobius ephippiatus
=Series Scombrimorpharia
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=Order Syngnathiformes (pipefishes, seahorses, dragonettes and relatives)
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Family Callionymidae (dragonettes)
Family Mullidae (goatfishes)
Family Syngnathidae (seahorses and pipefishes)
=Order Scombriformes (tuna, mackerel and relatives; sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)[1]
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Family Bramidae (pomfrets)
Family Centrolophidae (medusafishes)
Family Gempylidae (snake mackerels)
Family Nomeidae (driftfishes)Family Scombridae (tuna, mackerel and bonitos)
Family Trichiuridae (cutlassfishes and scabbardfishes)
=Series Carangimorpharia
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Family Xiphiidae (swordfish)
=Order Carangiformes (jacks and relatives)
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Family Carangidae (jacks and relatives)
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Family Pleuronectidae (righteye flounders)
Family Scophthalmidae (turbots)
Family Soleidae (true soles)
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Family Belonidae (needlefishes)
Family Scomberesocidae (sauries)
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Family Atherinidae (silversides)
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Family Mugilidae (mullets)
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Family Gobiesocidae (clingfishes)
=Order Blenniiformes (blennies and relatives)
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Family Blenniidae (combtooth blennies)
=Order Uranoscopiformes (weevers, stargazers and relatives; sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)[1]
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Family Ammodytidae (sandlances)
Family Trachinidae (weeverfishes)
Family Uranoscopidae (stargazers)
=Order Labriformes (wrasses sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)[1]
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Family Labridae (wrasses)
=Order Pempheriformes (sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016[1])
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Family Epigonidae (deepwater cardinalfishes)
Family Polyprionidae (wreckfishes)
=Order Perciformes (sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016[1])
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=Suborder Percoidei (sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016[1])
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Family Percidae (perches)
=Suborder Triglioidei (searobins and gurnards)
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Family Triglidae (searobins and gurnards)
=Suborder Scorpaenoidei (scorpionfish, rockfishes and relatives)
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Family Sebastidae (rockfishes)
=Suborder Cottoidei (sculpins, eelpouts, sticklebacks and relatives)
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=Infraorder Zoarcales (eelpouts, wolffishes and relatives)
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Family Anarhichadidae (wolffishes)
Family Pholidae (gunnels)
Family Stichaeidae (pricklebacks)
Family Zoarcidae (eelpouts)
=Infraorder Gasterosteales (sticklebacks, etc.)
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Family Gasterosteidae (sticklebacks)
=Infraorder Cottales (sculpins, snailfishes, lumpfishes and relatives)
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Family Cottidae (sculpins)
Family Cyclopteridae (lumpsuckers)
Family Liparidae (snailfishes)
Family Psychrolutidae (fatheads and blobfishes)
=Order Moroniformes (temperate basses sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016[1])
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Family Moronidae (temperate basses)
=Order Spariformes (seabreams and relatives sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016[1])
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Family Sparidae (seabreams and progies)
=Order Priacanthiformes (bigeyes and bandfishes sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016[1])
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Family Cepolidae (bandfishes)
=Order Caproiformes (boarfishes sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016[1])
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Family Caproidae (boarfishes)
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=Suborder Lophoidei (monkfishes)
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Family Lophiidae (monkfishes)
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Family Oneirodidae (dreamers)
=Order Tetraodontiformes (pufferfishes, triggerfishes, molas)
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Family Molidae (molas)
Family Tetraodontidae (pufferfishes)
Freshwater fish
It has been argued that only nine species of freshwater fish are truly native to Ireland — five char species, pollan, eel, brown trout and Atlantic salmon — as Ireland's fresh water was entirely frozen during the last glacial period, only diadromous fish could repopulate Irish waters after the Ice Age. All other freshwater species were introduced, mostly from the Middle Ages onwards.[2]
- European river lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis
- European brook lamprey, Lampetra planeri
- Sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus
- European eel, Anguilla anguilla
- Allis shad, Alosa alosa
- Twaite shad, Alosa falax fallax
- Common dace, Leuciscus leuciscus
- Common minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus
- Gudgeon, Gobio gobio
- Common roach, Rutilus rutilus
- Common rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus
- European chub, Squalius cephalus
- Common bream, Abramis brama
- Stone loach, Nemacheilus barbatulus
- Tench, Tinca tinca
- Northern pike, Esox lucius
- European smelt, Osmerus eperlanus
- Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar
- Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus alpinus
- Cole's char, Salvelinus colii
- Coomsaharn char, Salvelinus fimbriatus
- Gray's char, Salvelinus grayi
- Blunt-snouted Irish char, Salvelinus obtusus
- Brown trout, Salmo trutta
- Irish pollan, Coregonus autumnalis
- Three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus
- Nine-spined stickleback, Pungitius pungitius
- European bullhead, Cottus gobio
- Norway bullhead, Taurulus lilljeborgi
References
- Betancur-Rodriguez, R.; Wiley, E.; Bailly, N.; Acero, A.; Miya, M.; Lecointre, G. & Ortí, G. (2016). Phylogenetic Classification of Bony Fishes - Version 4
- https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/Angling-Information/freshwater-fish-records.html "Freshwater Fish Species"
- FishBase Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, (June 2018)
- Irish Natural History Literature Online
- Went, A. E. J. (1957). List of Irish Fishes. Department of Lands, Fisheries Division, Dublin. 31 p.
- Went, A. E. J. (1973). Supplement to List of Irish Fishes, Irish Fisheries Leaflet, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Fisheries Division)
- Went, A. E. J. & Kennedy, M. (1976). List of Irish Fishes Stationery Office, Dublin
- Whitehead, P. J. P.; Bauchot, M.-L.; Hureau, J.-C.; Nielsen, J. & Tortonese, E. (eds.) (1986). Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. UNESCO, Paris. Vols. I-III:1473 p.
- Whitehead, P. J. P. (1985). FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 7. Clupeoid fishes of the world (suborder Clupeoidei). An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of the Herrings, Sardines, Pilchards, Sprats, Shads, Anchovies and Wolf-Herrings. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(7/1): 1–303. Rome: FAO.
- Quigley, D. T. G. series of papers in Irish Naturalists' Journal and records of rare marine fish species taken in Irish waters by fishing vessels and sea anglers from 1786 to 2008. National Biodiversity Data Centre data set online
- Wheeler, A. (1992). A list of the common and scientific names of fishes of the British Isles. Journal of Fish Biology. 41 (Suppl. A).
- Wheeler, A. C.; Merrett, N. R. & Quigley, T. G. (2004). Additional records and notes for Wheeler's (1992) List of the Common and Scientific Names of Fishes of the British Isles Journal of Fish Biology. December 2004
External links
