List of fishes of the Coral Sea


This is a list of fish recorded from the Coral Sea, bordering Australia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
This list comprises locally used common names, scientific names with author citation and recorded ranges. Ranges specified may not be the entire known range for the species, but should include the known range within the waters surrounding of the bordering land masses.
List ordering and taxonomy complies where possible with the current usage in Fishbase, and may differ from the cited source, as listed citations are primarily for range or existence of records for the region.
Sub-taxa within any given family are arranged alphabetically as a general rule.
Details of each species may be available through the relevant internal links. Synonyms may be listed where useful.

Geographical scope

The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Coral Sea as follows:

On the North. The South coast of New Guinea from the entrance to the Bensbak River to Gado-Gadoa Island near its Southeastern extreme, down this meridian to the 100 fathom line and thence along the Southern edges of Uluma Reef and those extending to the Eastward as far as the Southeast point of Lawik Reef off Tagula Island , thence a line to the Southern extreme of Rennell Island and from its Eastern point to Cape Surville, the Eastern extreme of San Cristobal Island , Solomons; thence through Nupani, the Northwestern of the Santa Cruz Islands to the Northernmost Island of the Duff or Wilson Group.
On the Northeast. From the Northernmost island of the Duff or Wilson Group through these islands to their Southeastern extreme, thence a line to Mera Lava, New Hebrides Islands and down the Eastern coasts of the islands of this Group to Aneityum Island in such a way that all the islands of these Groups, and the straits separating them, are included in the Coral Sea.
On the Southeast. A line from the Southeastern extreme of Aneityum Island to Southeast Islets off the Southeast extreme of New Caledonia, thence through the East point of Middleton Reef to the Eastern extreme of Elizabeth Reef and down this meridian to Latitude 30° South.
On the South. The parallel of 30° South to the Australian coast.
On the West. The eastern limit of the Arafura Sea and the East Coast of Australia as far south as Latitude 30° South.

Class Chondrichthyes

Order [Hexanchiformes]

Family Hexanchidae - Sixgill and sevengill sharks
Family Heterodontidae – Hornsharks, Port Jackson sharks, bullhead sharks.
Family Orectolobidae – Wobbegongs
Family Hemiscylliidae - Bamboo sharks
Family Stegostomatidae - Leopard sharks
Family Ginglymostomatidae - Nurse sharks
Family Rhincodontidae - Whale sharks
Family Odontaspididae - Sand tiger sharks
Family Alopiidae - Thresher sharks
Family Lamnidae – Makos, Mackerel sharks
Family Scyliorhinidae - Catsharks
Family Carcharhinidae – Whaler sharks, requiem sharks
Family Hemigaleidae - Weasel sharks
Family Sphyrnidae - Hammerhead sharks
Family Hypnidae – Coffin rays, electric rays
Family Rhinobatidae – Guitarfishes
Family Dasyatidae – Stingrays
Family Myliobatidae – Eagle rays
Family Mobulidae - Mantas and devil rays

Order [Albuliformes]

Family Albulidae - Bonefishes
Family Moringuidae - Worm eels
Family Chlopsidae - False morays
Family Muraenidae – Moray eels
Family Ophichthidae – Snake eels, worm eels
Family Congridae – Conger eels
Family Clupeidae – Herrings, pilchards, sardines
Family Chanidae - Milkfish
Family Plotosidae - Eeltail catfishes
Family Synodontidae – Lizardfishes
Family Ophidiidae – Cusk eels, lings, brotulas
Family Carapidae - Pearlfishes
Family Bythitidae - Cuskeels
Family Batrachoididae – Frogfishes, toadfishes
Family Antennariidae – Anglerfishes
Family Gobiesocidae – Clingfishes, shore eels
Family Exocoetidae - Flying fishes
Family Hemiramphidae - Garfishes, halfbeaks
Family Belonidae - Longtoms or needlefishes
Family Atherinidae – Hardyheads, silversides
Family Monocentridae – Pineapplefishes
Family Holocentridae - Squirrelfishes and soldierfishes
Family Aulostomidae - Trumpetfishes
Family Fistulariidae - Flutemouths
Family Centriscidae - Razorfishes and shrimpfishes
Family Solenostomidae - Ghost pipefishes
Family Syngnathidae – Pipefishes, pipehorses, seahorses, seadragons
Family Dactylopteridae - Helmet gurnards
Family Scorpaenidae – Scorpionfishes
Family Caracanthidae - Crouchers, orbicular velvetfishes
Family Aploactinidae – Velvetfishes
Family Platycephalidae – Flatheads
Family Centropomidae - Barramundi
Family Serranidae – Rockcods, seaperches, groupers
Subfamily Anthiinae - Anthias
Subfamily Epinephelinae - Rockcods
Subfamily Grammistinae
Tribe Liopropomini
Tribe Diploprioni
Tribe Grammistini
Tribe Pseudogrammini
Family Pseudochromidae – Dottybacks and eel blennies
Subfamily Congrogadinae
Subfamily Pseudochromidae
Family Plesiopidae – Prettyfins, blue devilfishes, hulafishes, longfins
Subfamily Acanthoclininae
Family Teraponidae - Grunters
Family Kuhliidae - Flagtails
Family Priacanthidae - Bigeyes
Family Apogonidae – Cardinalfishes
Family Malacanthidae - Sand tilefishes
Family Echeneidae - Remoras, suckerfish
Family Carangidae – Trevallies
Family Coryphaenidae – Dolphinfishes
Family Lutjanidae – Snappers
Family Caesionidae – Fusiliers
Family Lobotidae - Tripletails
Family Gerreidae – Silverbiddies, silverbellies
Family Haemulidae – Sweetlips, grunts, grunter breams
Family Sparidae – Breams
Family Lethrinidae – Emperors
Family Nemipteridae – Coral breams
Family Mullidae – Goatfishes, red mullet
Family Pempheridae – Bullseyes, sweepers
Family Kyphosidae – Drummers, rudderfishes
Family Ephippidae - Batfishes
Family Chaetodontidae – Butterflyfishes
Family Pomacanthidae - Angelfishes
Family Pomacentridae – Damselfishes
Family Cirrhitidae – Hawkfishes
Family Sphyraenidae – Pikes, barracudas
Family Polynemidae - Threadfins
Family Labridae - Wrasses
Family Scaridae - Parrotfishes
Family Opistognathidae - Jawfishes, smilers
Family Uranoscopidae – Stargazers
Family Trichonotidae - Sand-divers
Family Creediidae - Sand burrowers
Family Pinguipedidae – Grubfishes, weevers, sandperches
Family Tripterygiidae – Triplefins, threefins
Family Blenniidae – Blennies
Tribe Nemophini -Sabretooth blennies, fangblennies
Subfamily Blenniinae
Subfamily Salariinae
Family Callionymidae - Dragonets
Family Eleotridae - Gudgeons, sleepers
Family Xenisthmidae - Wrigglers
Family Gobiidae – Gobies
Family Microdesmidae - Wormfishes, dartfishes
Family Acanthuridae - Surgeonfishes
Subfamily Acanthurinae
Subfamily Nasinae
Entered to here
End of working area
Family Zanclidae - Moorish idol
Family Siganidae – Rabbitfishes, spinefeet
Family Istiophoridae - Billfishes
Family Scombridae – Mackerels, tunas
Family Mugilidae – Mullets
Family Bothidae - Lefteye flounders
Family Pleuronectidae – Righteye flounders

Order [Tetraodontiformes]

Family Balistidae
Family Monacanthidae – Leatherjackets, filefishes
Family Ostraciidae – Boxfishes, cowfishes, trunkfishes
Family Tetraodontidae – Toadfishes, pufferfishes
Family Diodontidae – Porcupine fishes

Unallocated species

Family Chironemidae