List of fish of Ireland
This page 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]
- Atlantic hagfish Myxine glutinosa
- White-headed hagfish Myxine ios
[Hyperoartia]
Order [Petromyzontiformes] (lampreys)
Family [Petromyzontidae]
- European river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis
- European brook lamprey Lampetra planeri
- Sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus
Infraphylum [Gnathostomata] (jawed vertebrates)
Class [Chondrichthyes] (cartilaginous fish)
Subclass [Elasmobranchii]
Superorder [Selachimorpha] (Sharks and dogfish)
Order [Squantiniformes] (Angelsharks)
Family Squatinidae- Angel shark Squatina squatina
Order [Squaliformes] (dogfishes and relatives)
- Leafscale gulper shark Centrophorus squamosus
- Birdbeak dogfish Deania calcea
- Kitefin shark Dalatias licha
- Black dogfish Centroscyllium fabricii
- Velvet belly lantern shark Etmopterus spinax
- Great lanternshark Etmopterus princeps
- Sailfin Roughshark Oxynotus paradoxus
- Portuguese dogfish Centroscymnus coelolepis
- Longnose velvet dogfish Centroselachus crepidater
- Smallmouth velvet dogfish Scymnodon obscurus
- Knifetooth dogfish Scymnodon ringens
- Greenland Shark Somniosus microcephalus
- Spiny dogfish
Order [Hexanchiformes] (Frilled and Cow sharks)
Family Chlamydoselachidae- Frilled Shark Chlamydoselachus anguineus
- Bluntnose sixgill shark Hexanchus griseus
Order [Carcharhiniformes] (Ground sharks)
Family Carcharhinidae- Blue Shark Prionace glauca
- Iceland Catshark Apristurus laurussonii
- Ghost Catshark Apristurus manis
- Black Roughscale Catshark Apristurus melanoasper
- Blackmouth catshark Galeus melastomus
- Lesser spotted Dogfish ''Scyliorhinus caniculaIUCN status|LCIUCN status|LCIUCN status|DDlang\|la|Galeorhinus galeusIUCN status|VUlang\|la|Mustelus asteriasIUCN status|LC
Order [Lamniformes] (Mackerel sharks)
- Common thresher Alopias vulpinus
- Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus
- Porbeagle Lamna nasus
- Shortfin Mako Shark Isurus oxyrinchus
Superorder [Batoidea] (Rays, Skates and Sawfishes)
Order [Torpediniformes] (Electric rays)
- Atlantic Torpedo Tetronarce nobiliana
- Spotted Torpedo Torpedo marmorata
Order [Myliobatiformes] (rays)
- Common stingray Dasyatis pastinaca
- Pelagic Stingray Pteroplatytrygon violacea
- Common Eagle Ray Myliobatis aquila
- Devil fish Mobula mobular
Order [Rajiformes] (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
- Painted ray Raja undulata
- Deepwater Ray Rajella bathyphila
- Bigelow's Ray Rajella bigelowi
- Round Ray Rajella fylla
- Bottlenosed Skate Rostroraja alba
Subclass [Holocephali]
Order Chimaeriformes">Chimaera">Chimaeriformes (chimaeras)
Family Rhinochimaeridae- Narrownose Chimaera Harriotta raleighana
- Broadnose chimaera Rhinochimaera atlantica
- Rabbit Fish Chimaera monstrosa
- Opal Chimaera Chimaera opalescens
- Smalleyed rabbitfish Hydrolagus affinis
- Large-eyed rabbitfish Hydrolagus mirabilis
Superclass [Osteichthyes] (boned fish) - Class [Actinopterygii] (ray-finned fish)
Subclass [Chondrostei]
Order [Acipenseriformes] (sturgeons)
Family Acipenseridae- European sea sturgeon Acipenser sturio
Subclass [Neopterygii]
Infraclass [Holostei]
Superorder [Clupeomorpha]
Order [Clupeiformes] (herring and anchovies)
Family Clupeidae- Allis shad Alosa alosa
- Twaite shad Alosa fallax
- Atlantic herring Clupea harengus
- Pilchard Sardina pilchardus
- European sprat Sprattus sprattus sprattus
- European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus
Superorder [Elopomorpha]
Order [Anguilliformes] (true eels)
Family Angulidae- European eel Anguilla anguilla
- European conger Conger conger
- Mediterranean moray Muraena helena
- Whipsnout Sorcerer Venefica proboscidea
- Deepwater Arrowtooth Eel Histiobranchus bathybius
- Ilyophis arx
- Ilyophis blachei
- Muddy Arrowtooth Eel Ilyophis brunneus
- Kaup's Arrowtooth Eel Synaphobranchus kaupii
Order [Notacanthiformes] (halosaurs, spiny eels)
- Abyssal halosaur Halosauropsis macrochir
- 'Sahara halosaur Halosaurus johnsonianus
- Shortfin Spiny Eel Notacanthus bonaparte
- Snub-nosed Spiny Eel Notacanthus chemnitzii
- Longnose Tapirfish Polyacanthonotus challengeri
- Smallmouth Spiny Eel Polyacanthonotus rissoanus
Order [Saccopharyngiformes] (gulper eels)
- Pelican eel Eurypharynx pelecanoides
- Gulper eel Saccopharynx ampullaceus
Superorder [Ostariophysi]
Order [Cypriniformes]
Family Cyprinidae- Common bream Abramis brama
- Gobio gobio
- Common Dace Leuciscus leuciscus
- Common minnow Phoxinus phoxinus
- Common Roach Rutilus rutilus
- Common rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus
- European chub Squalius cephalus
- Tench Tinca tinca
- Stone Loach Barbatula barbatula
Superorder [Protacanthopterygii]
Order [Alepocephaliformes]
Family Platytroctidae- Bighead Searsid Holtbyrnia anomala
- Maul's Searsid Maulisia mauli
- Multipore Searsid Normichthys operosus
- Schnakenbeck's Searsid Sagamichthys schnakenbecki
- Koefoed's Searsid Searsia koefoedi
- Longfin Smooth-head Conocara macropterum
- Elongate Smooth-head Conocara microlepis
- Murray's Smooth-head Conocara murrayi
- Salmon Smooth-Head Conocara salmoneum
- Agassiz' Smooth-head Leptochilichthys agassizii
- Blackhead Salmon Narcetes stomias
- Abyssal Smooth-head Rinoctes nasutus
- Softskin Smooth-head Rouleina attrita
- Bluntsnout smooth-head Xenodermichthys copei
Order [Argentiniformes]
- Slender Argentine Microstoma microstoma
- Greenland Argentine Nansenia groenlandica
- Nansenia oblita
- Barrel-eye Opisthoproctus soleatus
Order [Osmeriformes] (smelts, etc.)
- European smelt Osmerus eperlanus
Order [Salmoniformes] (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
Superorder [Stenopterygii]
Order [Stomiiformes]
Family Gonostomatidae- Longray Fangjaw Bonapartia pedaliota
- Bristlemouth Cyclothone alba
- Elongated Bristlemouth Gonostoma gonostoma
- Spark Anglemouth Sigmops bathyphilus
- Mueller's pearlside Maurolicus muelleri
- Diaphanous Hatchetfish Sternoptyx diaphana
- Constellationfish Valenciennellus tripunctulatus
- Renezvous Fish Polymetme corythaeola
- Polymetme thaeocoryla
- Large-eye Snaggletooth Borostomias antarcticus
- Grammatostomias flagellibarba
- Leptostomias gladiator
- Boa Dragonfish Stomias boa ferox
- Threelight Dragonfish Trigonolampa miriceps
Superorder [Cyclosquamata]
Order [Aulopiformes] (grinners, lizardfishes)
'Family Notosudidae- Blackfin Waryfish Scopelosaurus lepidus
- Duckbill barracudina Magnisudis atlantica
- Sharpchin Barracudina Paralepis coregonoides
- Sudis hyalina
Superorder [Scopelomorpha]
Order [Myctophiformes] (lanternfishes)
Family Myctophidae- Glacier Lanternfish Benthosema glaciale
- Spothead Lantern fish Diaphus metopoclampus
- White-spotted Lantern fish Diaphus rafinesquii
- Chubby Flashlightfish Electrona risso
- 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
[Acanthomorpha]
Order [Lampriformes]
Family Lampridae- Opah Lampris guttatus
- Deal Fish Trachipterus arcticus
Order [Zeiformes] (dories, etc.)
- John Dory Zeus faber
- False Boarfish Neocyttus helgae
Order [Gadiformes] (cod and relatives)
- Silvery cod Gadiculus argenteus argenteus
- Silvery pout Gadiculus argenteus thori
- Atlantic cod Gadus morhua
- Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus
- Whiting Marlangius merlangus
- Blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou
- Pollock Pollachius pollachus
- Saithe Pollachius virens
- Tadpole fish Raniceps raninus
- Norway pout Trisopterus esmarkii
- Pouting Trisopterus luscus
- Poor cod Trisopterus minutus
- 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
- 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
- Onion-eye grenadier Macrourus berglax
- Softhead grenadier Malacocephalus laevis
- Common Atlantic grenadier Nezumia aequalis
- Pseudonezumia flagellicauda
- Lyconus brachycolus
- European hake Merluccius merluccius
- Common mora Mora moro
- Guttigadus latifrons
- Slender codling Halargyreus johnsonii
- North Atlantic codling Lepidion eques
- Greater Forkbeard Phycis blennoides
- Roughnose grenadier Trachyrincus murrayi
- Roughsnout grenadier Trachyrincus scabrus
Superorder [Acanthopterygii]
Order [Beryciformes] (alfonsinos, bigscales, ridgeheads)
Family Berycidae- Alfonsino Beryx decadactylus
- Crested Bigscale Poromitra crassiceps
- Bean's Bigscale Scopelogadus beanii
Oder [Trachichthyiformes] (spinyfins, roughies and relatives)
- Silver spinyfin Diretmus argenteus
- Orange roughy Hoplostethus atlanticus
- Silver roughy Hoplostethus mediterraneus mediterraneus
Clade [Percomorpha]
Series Ophidiimorpharia
Order [Ophidiiformes] (cusk-eels, brotulas and relatives)
Family Aphyonidae- Sciadonus galatheae
- Cataetyx alleni'
- Cataetyx laticeps'
- Thalassobathia pelagica
- Pearlfish Echiodon drummondii
- Pudgy Cuskeel Spectrunculus grandis
Series [Gobiomorpharia]
Order [Gobiiformes] (gobies and relatives)
Family Gobiidae- 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]
Order [Syngnathiformes] (pipefishes, seahorses, dragonettes and relatives)
Family Callionymidae- Common Dragonet Callionymus lyra
- Callionymus maculatus
- Reticulated dragonet Callionymus reticulatus
- Red Mullet Mullus barbatus barbatus
- Striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus
- Snake Pipefish Entelurus aequoreus
- Long-snouted seahorse Hippocampus guttulatus
- Worm Pipefish Nerophis lumbriciformis
- Straitnose Pipefish Nerophis ophidion
- Greater pipefish Syngathus acus
- Nilsson's pipefish Syngnathus rostellatus
- Broad-nosed Pipefish Syngnathus typhle
Order [Scombriformes] (tuna, mackerel and relatives; sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016R. Betancur-Rodriguez, E. Wiley, N. Bailly, A. Acero, M. Miya, G. Lecointre, G. Ortí: https://sites.google.com/site/guilleorti/classification-v-4 ''Phylogenetic Classification of Bony Fishes - Version 4'' (2016))
- Atlantic Pomfret Brama brama
- Bigscale Pomfret Taractichthys longipinnis
- Barrelfish Hyperoglyphe perciformis
- Cornish Blackfish Schedophilus medusophagus
- Black Gemfish Nesiarchus nasutus
- Oilfish Ruvettus pretiosus
Family Scombridae
- Bullet tuna Auxis rochei rochei
- Frigate tuna Auxis thazard thazard
- Skipjack Tuna Katsuwonus pelamis
- Atlantic Bonito Sarda sarda
- Atlantic Mackerel Scomber scombrus
- Albacore Thunnus alalunga
- Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus
- Black scabbardfish Aphanopus carbo
- Silver Scabbardfish Lepidopus caudatus
- Largehead Hairtail Trichiurus lepturus
Series [Carangimorpharia]
Order [Istiophoriformes] (billfishes)
Family Xiphiidae- Swordfish Xiphias gladius
Order [Caranagiformes] (jacks and relatives)
- Vadigo Campogramma glaycos
- Derbio Trachinotus ovatus
- Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus
Order [Pleuronectiformes] (flatfishes)
- American Plaice Hippoglossoides platessoides
- Atlantic halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus
- Torbay sole Glyptocephalus cynoglossus
- Dab Limanda limanda
- Lemon Sole Microstomus kitt
- European flounder Platichthys flesus
- European plaice Pleuronectes platessa
- Greenland halibut Reinhardtius hippoglossoides
- Fourspotted Megrim Lepidorhombus boscii
- Megrim Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis
- Norwegian Topknot Phrynorhombus norvegicus
- Turbot Scophthalmus maximus
- Brill Scophthalmus rhombus
- Topknot Zeugopterus punctatus
- Eckström's topknot Zeugopterus regius
- Solenette Buglossidium luteum
- Thickback sole Microchirus variegatus
- Common Sole Solea solea
Order [Beloniformes]
- Garfish Belone belone
- Belone svetovidovi
- Atlantic saury Scomberesox saurus saurus
Order [Atheriniformes] (silversides)
- Sand smelt Atherina presbyter
Order [Mugiliformes] (mullets)
- Thicklip grey mullet Chelon labrosus
- Golden grey mullet Liza aurata
- Thin-lipped grey mullet Liza ramado
Order [Gobiesociformes] (clingfishes)
- Two-spotted clingfish Diplecogaster bimaculata
- Connemarra clingfish Lepadogaster candolii
Order [Belnniiformes] (blennies and relatives)
- Montagu's Blenny Coryphoblennius galerita
- Lipophrys pholis
- Tompot Blenny Parablennius gattorugine
Order [Uranoscopiformes] (weevers, stargazers and relatives; sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
- Raitt's sand eel Ammodytes marinus
- Lesser sand eel Ammodytes tobianus
- Smooth sandeel Gymnammodytes semisquamatus
- Great sand eel Hyperoplus immaculatus
- Great Sandeel Hyperoplus lanceolatus
- Lesser weever Echiichthys vipera
- Greater weever Trachinus draco
- Atlantic Stargazer Uranoscopus scaber
Order [Labriformes] (wrasses sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
- Rock Cook Centrolabrus exoletus
- Goldsinny Wrasse Ctenolabrus rupestris
- Ballan Wrasse Labrus bergylta
- Cuckoo Wrasse Labrus mixtus
- Baillon's Wrasse Symphodus bailloni
- Corkwing Wrasse Symphodus melops
Order [Pempheriformes] (sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
- Bulls-eye Epigonus telescopus
- Wreckfish Polyprion americanus
Order [Perciformes] (sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
Suborder [Percoidei] (sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
Family Percidae- European perch Perca fluviatilis
Suborder [Triglioidei] (searobins and gurnards)
- Tub Gurnard Chelidonichthys lucerna
- Longfin Gurnard Chelidonichthys obscurus
- Grey Gurnard Eutrigla gurnardus
Suborder [Scorpaenoidei] (scorpionfish, rockfishes and relatives)
- Blackbelly rosefish Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus
- Norway Redfish Sebastes viviparus
- Spiny Scorpionfish Trachyscorpia cristulata echinata
Suborder [Cottoidei] (sculpins, eelpouts, sticklebacks and relatives)
Infraorder [Zoarcales] (eelpouts, wolffishes and relatives)
Family Anarhichadidae- Atlantic Wolf Fish Anarhichas lupus
- Rock Gunnel Pholis gunnellus
- Yarrell's Blenny Chirolophis ascanii
- White Eelpout Lycenchelys alba
- Lycodes terraenovae
- Snubnose Eelpout Pachycara bulbiceps
- Pachycara crassiceps
- Viviparous blenny Zoarces viviparus
Infraorder [Gasterosteales] (sticklebacks, etc.)
- Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus
- Nine-spined stickleback Pungitius pungitius
- Sea Stickleback Spinachia spinachia
Infraorder [Cottales] (sculpins, snailfishes, lumpfishes and relatives)
- European Bullhead Cottus gobio
- Norway Bullhead Micrenophrys lilljeborgii
- Shorthorn Sculpin Myoxocephalus scorpius
- Longspined Sea-scorpion Taurulus bubalis
- Lumpsucker Cyclopterus lumpus
- Careproctus aciculipunctatus
- Merret's Snailfish Careproctus merretti
- Striped Seasnail Liparis liparis liparis
- Montagu's Seasnail Liparis montagui
- Paraliparis abyssorum
- Black Seasnail Paraliparis bathybius
- Paraliparis bipolaris
- Paraliparis hystrix
- Pallid Sculpin Cottunculus thomsonii
Order [Moroniformes] (temperate basses sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
- European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax
Order [Spariformes] (seabreams and relatives sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
- Bogue Boops boops
- Common Dentex Dentex dentex
- Blackspot Seabream Pagellus bogaraveo
- Common Pandora Pagellus erythrinus
- Gilthead Seabream Sparus aurata
- Black Seabream Spondyliosoma cantharus
Order [Priacanthiformes] (bigeyes and bandfishes sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
- Red Bandfish Cepola macrophthalma
Order [Caproiformes] (boarfishes sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
- Boarfish Capros oper
Order [Lophiiformes] (anglerfishes)
Suborder [Lophoidei] (monkfishes)
Family Lophiidae- Black-bellied Angler Lophius budegassa
- Monkfish Lophius piscatorius
Suborder [Lophoidei] (monkfishes)
Family Oneirodidae- Can-opener Smoothdream Chaenophryne longiceps
- Oneirodes carlsbergi
- Bulbous Dreamer Oneirodes eschrichtii
Order [Tetraodontiformes] (pufferfishes, triggerfishes, molas)
- Ocean sunfish Mola mola
- Slender sunfish Ranzania laevis
- Blunthead puffer Sphoeroides pachygaster
Freshwater fish
- 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
- 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