A Check List of Florida's Freshwater Fishes, with Photos
Compiled by Gray Bass, Paul Shafland & Bob Wattendorf
NOTE: Freshwater fishes listed here have been collected during routine
sampling by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists
at sites classified as fresh water. However, some species are
traditionally classified as marine (saltwater) and seldom seen in
fresh water.
Links under the scientific name column go to photos of the fish
taken by Mr. Gray Bass or Mr. Paul Shafland, Commission Biologists. (Note: the photos of the convict and jewel cichlids, by Wiljo Jonsson, are used with permission.)
A current list of non-native fishes is
maintained by Paul Shafland and included in this list. A separate
photo gallery is also available with these images that includes some
anecdotal information about the species, it is best viewed using Microsoft
Explorer (see
fish
gallery).
LEGEND
F is for freshwater (Fa indicates they are anadromous, in
other words, they spawn in fresh water but mature in the ocean;
Fc means they are catadromous and spawn in saltwater but mature
in rivers or lakes),
M is for marine (saltwater),
B is for brackish (estuarine),
E is for endangered,
T is for threatened,
S is for special concern, and
X is for exotic (X-est means the population is established
(accidentally or purposefully) and permanent, X-pos means they
are possibly established (reproducing but unstable), X-for means
they were formerly reproducing, and X-col means they have been reported but there is
no evidence of reproduction). R is for recreationally
important, and the link goes to an illustration by Duane Raver
and more information on the species life history, tips for
catching them, regulations and "Big Catch" and state
record sizes. |
|
| Scientific name |
Common name |
Status |
| Acantharchus pomotis |
mud sunfish |
F |
| Acipenser brevirostrum |
shortnose sturgeon |
F,E |
| Acipenser oxyrinchus |
Atlantic sturgeon |
F,S |
| Adinia xenica |
diamond killifish |
F |
| Aequidens pulcher |
blue acara |
F,X-col |
| Agonostomus monticola |
mountain mullet |
M,B |
| Alosa aestivalis |
blueback herring |
Fa |
| Alosa alabamae |
Alabama shad |
Fa |
| Alosa chrysochloris |
skipjack herring |
F |
| Alosa mediocris |
hickory shad |
Fa |
| Alosa sapidissima |
American shad |
Fa,R |
| Ambloplites ariommus |
shadow bass |
F |
| Ameiurus brunneus |
snail bullhead |
F |
| Ameiurus catus |
white catfish |
F,R |
| Ameiurus natalis |
yellow bullhead |
F,R |
| Ameiurus nebulosus |
brown bullhead |
F,R |
| Ameiurus serracanthus |
spotted bullhead |
F,R |
| Amia calva |
bowfin |
F |
| Ammocrypta bifascia |
Florida sand darter |
F |
| Anabas testudineus |
climbing perch |
F,X-for |
| Ancistrus sp. |
bristlecheek catfish |
X-col |
| Anchoa mitchilli |
bay anchovy |
M,B |
| Anguilla rostrata |
American eel |
Fc |
| Aphredoderus sayanus |
pirate perch |
F |
| Archosargus probatocephalus |
sheepshead |
M,B |
| Arius felis |
hardhead catfish |
M,B |
| Astronotus ocellatus |
Oscar |
F,X-est,R |
| Atractosteus spatula |
alligator gar |
F,R |
| Awaous tajasica |
river goby |
M,B |
| Bairdiella chrysoura |
silver perch |
M,B |
| Barbodes schwanefeldi |
tinfoil barb |
X-col |
| Barbus conchonius |
rosy barb |
F,X-col |
| Barbus gelius |
golden barb |
F,X-col |
| Barbus sp. |
tinfoil barb |
F,X-col |
| Barbus tetrazona |
tiger barb |
F,X-col |
| Belonesox belizanus |
pike killifish |
F,X-est |
| Betta splendens |
Siamese fightingfish |
F,X-for |
| Callichthys callichthys |
cascarudo |
X-col |
| Campostoma oligolepis |
Largescale stoneroller |
F |
| Carassius auratus |
goldfish |
F,X-col |
| Carcharhinus leucas |
bull shark |
M,B |
| Carpiodes cyprinus |
quillback |
F |
| Carpiodes velifer |
highfin carpsucker |
F |
| Centrarchus macropterus |
flier |
F,R |
| Centropomus ensiferus |
swordspine snook |
M,B |
| Centropomus parallelus |
fat snook |
M,B |
| Centropomus pectinatus |
tarpon snook |
M,B |
| Centropomus undecimalis |
snook |
M,B,S,R |
| Chaenobryttus gulosus |
warmouth |
F,R |
| Channa marulius |
bullseye snakehead |
X-est |
| Channa argus |
northern snakehead |
X-col |
| Chitala ornata |
clown knifefish |
X-est |
| Cichla ocellaris |
butterfly peacock |
F,X-est,R |
| Cichla temensis |
speckled peacock |
F,X-col |
| Cichlasoma bimaculatum |
black acara |
F,X-est |
| Cichlasoma citrinellum |
Midas cichlid |
F,X-est |
| Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum |
Rio Grande cichlid |
F,X-est |
| Cichlasoma labiatum |
red devil |
F,X-col,R |
| Cichlasoma managuense |
jaguar guapote |
F,X-est,R |
| Cichlasoma meeki |
firemouth cichlid |
F,X-pos |
| Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum |
convict cichlid |
F,X-for |
| Cichlasoma octofasciatum |
Jack Dempsey |
F,X-pos |
| Cichlasoma salvini |
yellowbelly cichlid |
F,X-pos |
| Cichlasoma trimaculatum |
threespot cichlid |
F,X-for |
| Cichlasoma urophthalmus |
Mayan cichlid |
F,X-est |
| Citharichthys spilopterus |
bay whiff |
M,B |
| Clarias batrachus |
walking catfish |
F,X-est |
| Colisa fasciata |
banded gourami |
X-col |
| Colisa labiosa |
thicklipped gourami |
F,X-col |
| Colisa lalia |
dwarf gourami |
F,X-col |
| Colossoma bidens |
pacu |
F,X-col |
| Colossoma brachypomum |
pacu |
F,X-col |
| Colossoma macropomum |
pacu, tambaqui |
F,X-col |
| Colossoma nigripinnis |
blackfin pacu |
F,X-col |
| Corydoras sp. |
corydoras |
F,X-col |
| Crystallaria asprella |
crystal darter |
F,T |
| Ctenopharyngodon idella |
grass carp |
F,X-col |
| Ctenopoma nigropannosum |
twospot ctenopoma |
F,X-for |
| Cynoscion nebulosus |
spotted seatrout |
M,B |
| Cyprinella callitaenia |
bluestripe shiner |
F |
| Cyprinellla leedsi |
bannerfin shiner |
F |
| Cyprinella venusta |
blacktail shiner |
F |
| Cyprinodon variegatus hubbsi |
sheepshead minnow, Eustis pupfish |
F,S |
| Cyprinus carpio |
common carp |
F,X-est,R |
| Danio (Brachydanio) rerio |
zebra danio |
F,X-col |
| Danio malabaricus |
giant danio, Malabar danio |
F,X-col |
| Dasyatis sabina |
Atlantic stingray |
M,B |
| Diapterus auratus |
Irish pompano |
M,B |
| Diapterus plumieri |
striped mojarra |
M,B |
| Dormitator maculatus |
fat sleeper |
F,B |
| Dorosoma cepedianum |
gizzard shad |
F |
| Dorosoma petenense |
threadfin shad |
F |
| Elassoma evergladei |
Everglades pygmy sunfish |
F |
| Elassoma okefenokee |
Okefenokee pygmy sunfish |
F |
| Elassoma zonatum |
banded pygmy sunfish |
F |
| Eleotris picta |
spotted sleeper |
F |
| Eleotris pisonis |
spinycheek sleeper |
B |
| Elops saurus |
ladyfish |
M,B,F |
| Enneacanthus chaetodon |
blackbanded sunfish |
F |
| Enneacanthus gloriosus |
bluespotted sunfish |
F |
| Enneacanthus obesus |
banded sunfish |
F |
| Ericymba buccata |
silverjaw minnow |
F |
| Erimyzon sucetta |
lake chubsucker |
F |
| Erimyzon tenuis |
sharpfin chubsucker |
F |
| Esox americanus |
redfin pickerel |
F |
| Esox niger |
chain pickerel |
F,R |
| Etheostoma colorosum |
coastal darter |
F |
| Etheostoma davisoni |
Choctawhatchee darter |
F |
| Etheostoma edwini |
brown darter |
F |
| Etheostoma fusiforme |
swamp darter |
F |
| Etheostoma histrio |
harlequin darter |
F,S |
| Etheostoma okaloosae |
Okaloosa darter |
F,E |
| Etheostoma olmstedi |
southern tessellated darter |
F.S |
| Etheostoma parvipinne |
goldstripe darter |
F |
| Etheostoma proeliare |
cypress darter |
F |
| Etheostoma stigmaeum |
speckled darter |
F |
| Etheostoma swaini |
gulf darter |
F |
| Eucinostomus argenteus |
spotfin mojarra |
M,B |
| Eucinostomus harangulus |
tidewater mojarra |
M,B |
| Floridichthys carpio |
goldspotted killifish |
M,B |
| Fundulus chrysotus |
golden topminnow |
F |
| Fundulus cingulatus |
banded topminnow |
F |
| Fundulus confluentus |
marsh killifish |
M,F,B |
| Fundulus dispar |
southern starhead topminnow |
F |
| Fundulus escambiae |
eastern starhead minnow |
F |
| Fundulus grandis |
gulf killifish |
M,B |
| Fundulus heteroclitus |
mummichog |
M,B |
| Fundulus jenkinsi |
saltmarsh topminnow |
M,B,S |
| Fundulus lineolatus |
lined topminnow |
F |
| Fundulus majalis |
striped killifish |
M,B |
| Fundulus olivaceus |
blackspotted topminnow |
F |
| Fundulus pulvereus |
bayou killifish |
M,B |
| Fundulus rubifrons |
redface topminnow |
F |
| Fundulus seminolis |
Seminole killifish |
F |
| Fundulus similis |
longnose killifish |
M,B |
| Gambusia affinis |
western mosquitofish |
F,? |
| Gambusia holbrooki |
mosquitofish |
F |
| Geophagus brasiliensis |
pearl eartheater |
F,X-col |
| Geophagus surinamensis |
redstriped eartheater |
F,X-est |
| Gobioides broussoneti |
violet goby |
B |
| Gobiomorus dormitor |
bigmouth sleeper |
M,B |
| Gobionellus boleosoma |
darter goby |
B |
| Gobionellus gracillimus |
slim goby |
M.B |
| Gobionellus shufeldti |
freshwater goby |
F,B,M |
| Gobiosoma bosci |
naked goby |
F,B |
| Gobiosoma robustum |
code goby |
M,B |
| Gymnocorymbus ternetzi |
black tetra |
F,X-col |
| Haplochromis callipterus |
eastern happy |
F,X-pos |
| Harengula jaguana |
scaled sardine |
M,B |
| Helostoma temmincki |
kissing gourami |
F,X-col |
| Hemichromis bimaculatus |
jewelfish |
F,X-est |
| Heros severus |
banded cichlid |
F,X-col |
| Heterandria formosa |
least killifish |
F |
| Hoplias malabaricus |
trahira |
F,X-for |
| Hoplosternum littorale
|
brown hoplo |
F,X-est |
| Hybognathus hayi |
cypress minnow |
F |
| Hybopsis new species |
speckled or Florida? chub |
F |
| Hybopsis new species (2) |
clear? chub |
F |
| Hypophthalmichthys nobilis |
bighead carp |
F,X-col |
| Hypostomus sp. |
suckermouth catfish |
F,X-est |
| Ichthyomyzon gagei |
southern brook lamprey |
F |
| Ictalurus furcatus |
blue catfish |
F |
| Ictalurus punctatus |
channel catfish |
F |
| Jordanella floridae |
flagfish |
F |
| Labeo chrysophekadion |
black sharkminnow |
F,X-col |
| Labidesthes sicculus |
brook silverside |
F |
| Lagodon rhomboides |
pinfish |
M,B |
| Leiostomus xanthurus |
spot |
M,B |
| Lepisosteus oculatus |
spotted gar |
F,R |
| Lepisosteus osseus |
longnose gar |
F,R |
| Lepisosteus platyrhincus |
Florida gar |
F,R |
| Lepomis auritus |
redbreast sunfish |
F,R |
| Lepomis cyanellus |
green sunfish |
F |
| Lepomis humilis |
orangespotted sunfish |
F |
| Lepomis macrochirus |
bluegill |
F,R |
| Lepomis marginatus |
dollar sunfish |
F |
| Lepomis megalotis |
longear sunfish |
F,R |
| Lepomis microlophus |
redear sunfish |
F,R |
| Lepomis punctatus |
spotted sunfish |
F,R |
| Leporinus fasciatus |
banded leporinus |
F,X-col |
| Leptolucania ommata |
pygmy killifish |
F |
| Lucania goodei |
bluefin killifish |
F |
| Lucania parva |
rainwater killifish |
B |
| Lutjanus analis |
mutton snapper |
M,B,R |
| Lutjanus apodus |
schoolmaster |
M,B,R |
| Lutjanus griseus |
gray snapper |
M,B,R |
| Lutjanus synargis |
lane snapper |
M,B,R |
| Luxilus chrysocephalus isolepis |
striped shiner |
F |
| Luxilus zonistius |
bandfin shiner |
F |
| Lythrurus atrapiculus |
blacktip shiner |
F |
| Macrhybopsis new species |
Florida or speckled chub |
F |
| Macrognathus siamensis |
spotfin spiny eel |
F,X-pos |
| Macropodus opercularis |
paradisefish |
F,X-col |
| Megalops atlanticus |
tarpon |
M,B,R |
| Menidia beryllina |
inland silverside |
B,F |
| Menidia conchorum |
key silverside |
M,B,S |
| Menidia peninsulae |
tidewater silverside |
M,B |
| Metynnis lippincottianus |
silver dollar |
F,X-col |
| Microgobius gulosus |
clown goby |
M,B |
| Micropogonias undulatus |
Atlantic croaker |
M,B |
| Micropterus coosae |
redeye bass (possibly) |
F |
| Micropterus notius |
Suwannee bass |
F,S,R |
| Micropterus punctulatus |
spotted bass |
F,R |
| Micropterus salmoides |
largemouth bass |
F,R |
| Micropterus cataractae |
shoal bass |
F,S,R |
| Minytrema melanops |
spotted sucker |
F |
| Misgurnus anguillicaudatus |
oriental weatherfish |
F,X-pos |
| Monopterus albus (closeup) |
Asian swamp eel |
X-est |
| Morone chrysops |
white bass |
F,R |
| Morone chrysops X M. saxatilis |
sunshine bass |
F,R manmade hybrid |
| Morone saxatilis X M. chrysops |
palmetto bass |
F,R manmade hybrid |
| Morone saxatilis |
striped bass |
F,R anadromous up north |
| Moxostoma carinatum |
river redhorse |
F,R |
| Moxostoma poecilurum |
blacktail redhorse |
F,R |
| Moxostoma sp. |
greyfin redhorse |
F,R |
| Mugil cephalus |
striped mullet |
M,B,F,R |
| Mugil curema |
white mullet |
M,B,R |
| Myrophis punctatus |
speckled worm eel |
M,B,R |
| Nocomis leptocephalus |
bluehead chub |
F |
| Notemigonus crysoleucas |
golden shiner |
F |
| Notopterus chitala |
clown knifefish |
F,X-pos |
| Notropis baileyi |
rough shiner |
F |
| Notropis chalybaeus |
ironcolor shiner |
F |
| Notropis cummingsae |
dusky shiner |
F |
| Notropis emiliae |
pugnose minnow |
F |
| Notropis harperi |
redeye chub |
F |
| Notropis longirostris |
longnose shiner |
F |
| Notropis maculatus |
taillight shiner |
F |
| Notropis melanostomus |
blackmouth shiner |
F,E |
| Notropis petersoni |
coastal shiner |
F |
| Notropis texanus |
weed shiner |
F |
| Noturus funebris |
black madtom |
F |
| Noturus gyrinus |
tadpole madtom |
F |
| Noturus leptacanthus |
speckled madtom |
F |
| Opisthonema oglinum |
Atlantic thread herring |
M,B |
| Oreochromus mossambica |
tilapia mozambique |
F,X-est |
| Orthopristis chrysoptera |
pigfish |
M,B |
| Osteoglossum bicirrhosum |
arawana |
F,X-col |
| Oxydoras niger |
thorny catfish |
F,X-col |
| Pangasius sutchi |
swai |
F,X-col |
| Paralichthys lethostigma |
southern flounder |
M,B,R |
| Perca flavescens |
yellow perch |
F,R |
| Percina austroperca |
Southern logperch |
F |
| Percina nigrofasciata |
blackbanded darter |
F |
| Percina vigil |
saddleback darter |
F |
| Petromyzon marinus |
sea lamprey |
M,B |
| Phractocephalus hemioliopterus |
redtail catfish |
F,X-col |
| Piricatus brachypomus |
pirapatingia |
F,X-col |
| Platydoras costatus |
Raphael's catfish |
F,X-col |
| Poecilia hybrid |
black molly |
F,X-col |
| Poecilia latipinna |
sailfin molly |
F |
| Poecilia reticulata |
guppy |
F,X-for |
| Poecilia sphenops |
liberty molly |
F,X-col |
| Polypterus delhezi |
barred bichir |
F,X-col |
| Pomoxis annularis |
white crappie (possibly) |
F |
| Pomoxis nigromaculatus |
black crappie |
F,R |
| Pseudodoras niger |
ripsaw catfish |
F,X-col |
| Pterodoras granulosus |
granulated catfish |
F,X-col |
| Pteronotropis grandipinnis |
Apalachee shiner |
F |
| Pteronotropis hypselopterus |
sailfin shiner |
F |
| Pteronotropis signipinnis |
flagfin shiner |
F |
| Pteronotropis welaka |
bluenose shiner |
F,S |
| Pterophyllum scalare |
freshwater angel fish |
F,X-col |
| Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus |
vermiculated sailfin catfish |
F,X-est |
| Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus |
sailfin catfish |
F,X-est |
| Puntius conchonius |
rosy barb |
F,X-col |
| Puntius gelius |
dwarf barb |
F,X-col |
| Puntius tetrazona |
tiger barb |
F,X-col |
| Pygocentrus nattereri |
red piranha |
F,X-col |
| Pylodictis olivaris |
flathead catfish |
F,X-est |
| Rivulus marmoratus |
rivulus |
M,B,S |
| Sarotherodon melanotheron |
blackchin tilapia |
F,X-est |
| Sciaenops ocellatus |
red drum |
M,B,R |
| Semotilus thoreauianus |
Dixie chub |
F |
| Serrasalmus humeralis |
pirambeba |
F,X-for |
| Serrasalmus nattereri |
caribe |
F,X-col |
| Serrasalmus rhombeus |
white piranha, redeye |
F,X-col |
| Stizostedion canadense |
sauger |
F,X-col |
| Strongylura marina |
Atlantic needlefish |
M,B,F |
| Strongylura notata |
redfin needlefish |
M,B |
| Strongylura timucu |
timucu |
M,B |
| Syngnathus scovelli |
gulf pipefish |
M,B,F |
| Oreochromis (Tilapia) aurea |
blue tilapia |
F,X-est,R |
| Therapis (?) hybrid |
no common name |
F,X-pos |
| Tilapia hybrid |
red tilapia |
F,X-col |
| Tilapia mariae |
spotted tilapia |
F,X-est |
| Tilapia melanotheron |
blackchin tilapia |
F,X-est |
| Tilapia mossambica |
Mozambique tilapia |
F,X-est |
| Tilapia sparrmani |
banded tilapia |
F,X-col |
| Tilapia zilli |
redbelly tilapia |
F,X-for |
| Trichogaster leeri |
pearl gourami |
F,X-col |
| Trichogaster trichopterus |
blue gourami |
F,X-col |
| Trichopsis vittata |
croaking gourami |
F,X-pos |
| Trinectes maculatus |
hogchoker |
Fc |
| Umbra pygmaea |
eastern mudminnow |
F |
| Xiphophorus helleri |
green swordtail |
F,X-for |
| Xiphophorus maculatus |
southern platyfish |
F,X-for |
| Xiphophorus variatus |
variable platyfish |
F,X-pos |
   
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