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This fish is often notoriously ill-tempered in aquariums. Can you identify it?

The Sea - Fish

Sea fish come in every shape, from flatfish on the seabed to fast hunters in open water. Explore how they breathe, feed, and survive, then take the quiz.

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Fascinating Fact

Salmon are famous for migrating between the sea and rivers, feeding at sea before returning to freshwater to spawn.

Sea fish live in habitats ranging from shallow rock pools to deep, dark waters. Different species have evolved body shapes, colours, and behaviours that suit where they feed and hide, whether that is in open water, among reefs, or on the seabed. Learning a few key features, like mouth position, fin shape, and body patterning, can make identification much easier.

Key Terms

Pelagic: Living in the open sea, away from the shore and the seabed.
Demersal: Living on or near the seabed, often feeding along the bottom.
Gills: Breathing organs that take oxygen from water as it flows over them.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is the difference between pelagic and demersal fish?

Pelagic fish live and feed in open water, while demersal fish stay on or near the seabed. Their body shapes often match their habitat, with many demersal fish adapted for bottom-living.

How do sea fish breathe underwater?

Sea fish breathe using gills. Water passes over the gill surfaces, and oxygen moves into the blood while carbon dioxide moves out, so the fish can breathe without coming to the surface.

Why do some fish swim in shoals?

Shoaling can reduce the risk of predators by making it harder to target one fish. It can also help fish find food and stay together while travelling through the sea.

Try These Related Quizzes

To see a larger image, click on the picture.

1 .

An old British name for the common stingray is what?

Photograph courtesy of Florin DUMITRESCU

Sea-scorpion

Frying-pan

Whip-skate

Fire-flare

Order: Myliobatiformes
Family: Dasyatidae
Genus: Dasyatis
Species: D. pastinaca
Prefers sandy or muddy habitats and will bury itself in sediment.
Its tail is slender and whip-like, around half as long as the disc.
The pectoral fins or 'wings' are sold smoked or dried and salted.

It is thought to refer to the reddish colour of its meat

2 .

What is the name of this fish?

Photograph courtesy of Thomas Ernst

Porbeagle

Lesser spotted dogfish

Tope

Spiny dogfish

Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Scyliorhinidae
Genus: Scyliorhinus
Species: S. canicula
An abundant and widespread species.
The texture of their skin is rough, similar to the coarseness of sandpaper.
An opportunistic species which preys on a wide range of food.
It is regularly used by near-shore fisheries for human consumption.

3 .

What is the name of this fish?

Photograph courtesy of Linda Snook

Ratfish

Sea lamprey

Atlantic torpedo

Garfish

Their closest living relatives are sharks.
Generally confined to deep water - 2,600 metres (8,500 ft).
Have a venomous spine located in front of the dorsal fin for defence.
Differ from sharks in that their upper jaws are fused with their skulls.
They also lack sharks' many sharp and replaceable teeth, having instead just three pairs of large permanent grinding tooth plates.

4 .

What is the name of this fish?

Photograph courtesy of Mark Conlin

Bramble shark

Blue shark

Bull shark

Tiger shark

Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharhinidae
Genus: Prionace
Species: P. glauca
Although generally lethargic, they can move very quickly.
They produce large litters of between 25-100 pups.
Their nickname is 'wolves of the sea'.
It is the most widely distributed animal in the world.

5 .

What is the name of this fish?

Photograph courtesy of Mila Zinkova

Porcupinefish

Ocean Sunfish

Greater pipefish

Pufferfish

Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Tetraodontidae
Believed to be the second–most poisonous vertebrate in the world, after the Golden Poison Frog.
However, the meat of some species is considered a delicacy in Asia.
Are able to move their eyes independently, just like the chameleon.

Pufferfish are similar to porcupinefish, in fact they are closely related

6 .

Seahorses are monogamous - what does this mean?

Photograph courtesy of Drew R. Smith

They only eat one type of food

They only mate once

They only have one mate

They only have one eye

Order: Syngnathiformes
Family: Syngnathidae
Genus: Hippocampus
Species: H. kuda
The female deposits eggs into the male’s small pouch, and then leaves.
Out of the entire animal kingdom, these are the only animals in which the male has babies.

This is very rare in the fish world

7 .

What is the name of this fish?

Photograph courtesy of Jonmp

Monkfish

Pouting

Ballan wrasse

Burbot

Order: Perciformes
Family: Labridae
Genus: Labrus
Species: L. bergylta
All are female for their first eight years then some change into males!
It is popular as a food fish in the Orkney Islands and in Galway.
In recent years it has become a popular catch and release target for sport fishermen.

8 .

What is the name of this fish?

Photograph courtesy of Greg Skomal

Thresher shark

Bramble shark

Basking shark

Frilled shark

Order: Lamniformes
Family: Cetorhinidae
Genus: Cetorhinus
Species: C. maximus
Can be found in all the world's temperate oceans.
Slow moving and in the main harmless.
Has very small teeth, but lots of them!
A vulnerable species due to over-exploitation.
Tolerant of boats and divers approaching it and may even circle divers.

9 .

What is the name of this fish?

Photograph courtesy of Arpingstone.

Striped mullet

Triggerfish

Zander

Butterfish

Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Balistidae
Often marked by lines and spots.
A number of species are popular in the marine aquarium trade, however they are often notoriously ill-tempered!
Are known to exhibit a level of intelligence that is unusual among fish, and have the ability to learn from previous experiences.

10 .

What is the name of this fish?

Photograph courtesy of West Brom 4ever

Conger eel

European eel

Greater sand eel

Mediterranean moray

Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Congridae
Genus: Conger
Species: C. conger
Found all around the British Isles.
Prefers rough ground, preferably a reef or a wreck.
Their average length is 3 m, making them the largest eels in the world.
One particular species if an important food fish in East Asia, mainly served on sushi.

Author: Sarah Garratty

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