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.
Class Myxini (hagfish)
Order Myxiniformes
Infraphylum Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates)
Superorder Selachimorpha (sharks and dogfish)
Family Squatinidae (angelsharks)
Order Squaliformes (dogfishes and relatives)
Family Centrophoridae (gulper sharks)
Family Dalatiidae
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)
Family Chlamydoselachidae (frilled sharks)
Family Hexanchidae (sixgill sharks)
Family Carcharhinidae (requiem sharks)
Family Scyliorhinidae (catsharks)
Family Sphyrnidae (hammerhead sharks)
Family Triakidae (houndsharks)
Order Lamniformes (mackerel sharks)
Family Alopiidae (thresher sharks)
Family Cetorhinidae (basking sharks)
Family Lamnidae (mackerel sharks)
Superorder Batoidea (rays, skates and sawfishes)
Family Dasyatidae (whiptail stingrays)
Family Myliobatidae (eagle rays)
Family Mobulidae (devil rays)
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)
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)
Family Cyprinidae (carp and relatives)
Family Nemacheilidae (stone loaches)
Family Platytroctidae (tubeshoulders)
Family Alepocephalidae (slickheads)
Family Microstomatidae (pencil smelts)
Family Opisthoproctidae (barreleyes)
Order Salmoniformes (salmon, trout, whitefish)
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
Family Gonostomatidae (bristlemouths)
Family Sternoptychidae (hatchefishes and relatives)
Family Phosichthyidae (lightfishes)
Family Stomiidae (dragonfishes)
Order Aulopiformes (grinners, lizardfishes)
Family Notosudidae (waryfishes)
Family Paralepididae (barracudinas)
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
Family Lampridae (opahs)
Family Trachipteridae (ribbonfishes)
Order Zeiformes (dories, etc.)
Family Zeidae (dories)
Family Oreosomatidae (oreos)
Order Gadiformes (cod and relatives)
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)
Series Ophidiimorpharia
Order Ophidiiformes (cusk-eels, brotulas and relatives)
Family Aphyonidae
Family Bythitidae (viviparous brotulas)
Family Carapidae (pearlfishes)
Family Ophidiidae (cusk-eels)
Order Gobiiformes (gobies and relatives)
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 goby, Pomatoschistus minutus
- Painted goby, Pomatoschistus pictus
- Leopard-spotted goby, Thorogobius ephippiatus
Order Syngnathiformes (pipefishes, seahorses, dragonettes and relatives)
Family Callionymidae (dragonettes)
Family Mullidae (goatfishes)
Family Syngnathidae (seahorses and pipefishes)
Order Scombriformes (tuna, mackerel and relatives; sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
Family Bramidae (pomfrets)
Family Centrolophidae (medusafishes)
Family Gempylidae (snake mackerels)
Family Nomeidae (driftfishes) Family Scombridae (tuna, mackerel and bonitos)
Family Trichiuridae (cutlassfishes and scabbardfishes)
Family Xiphiidae (swordfish)
Order Carangiformes (jacks and relatives)
Family Carangidae (jacks and relatives)
Family Pleuronectidae (righteye flounders)
Family Scophthalmidae (turbots)
Family Soleidae (true soles)
Family Belonidae (needlefishes)
Family Scomberesocidae (sauries)
Family Atherinidae (silversides)
Family Mugilidae (mullets)
Family Gobiesocidae (clingfishes)
Order Blenniiformes (blennies and relatives)
Family Blenniidae (combtooth blennies)
Order Uranoscopiformes (weevers, stargazers and relatives; sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
Family Ammodytidae (sandlances)
Family Trachinidae (weeverfishes)
Family Uranoscopidae (stargazers)
Order Labriformes (wrasses sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
Family Labridae (wrasses)
Order Pempheriformes (sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
Family Epigonidae (deepwater cardinalfishes)
Family Polyprionidae (wreckfishes)
Order Perciformes (sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
Suborder Percoidei (sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
Family Percidae (perches)
Suborder Triglioidei (searobins and gurnards)
Family Triglidae (searobins and gurnards)
Suborder Scorpaenoidei (scorpionfish, rockfishes and relatives)
Family Sebastidae (rockfishes)
Suborder Cottoidei (sculpins, eelpouts, sticklebacks and relatives)
Infraorder Zoarcales (eelpouts, wolffishes and relatives)
Family Anarhichadidae (wolffishes)
Family Pholidae (gunnels)
Family Stichaeidae (pricklebacks)
Family Zoarcidae (eelpouts)
Infraorder Gasterosteales (sticklebacks, etc.)
Family Gasterosteidae (sticklebacks)
Infraorder Cottales (sculpins, snailfishes, lumpfishes and relatives)
Family Cottidae (sculpins)
Family Cyclopteridae (lumpsuckers)
Family Liparidae (snailfishes)
Family Psychrolutidae (fatheads and blobfishes)
Order Moroniformes (temperate basses sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
Family Moronidae (temperate basses)
Order Spariformes (seabreams and relatives sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
Family Sparidae (seabreams and progies)
Order Priacanthiformes (bigeyes and bandfishes sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
Family Cepolidae (bandfishes)
Order Caproiformes (boarfishes sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
Family Caproidae (boarfishes)
Suborder Lophoidei (monkfishes)
Family Lophiidae (monkfishes)
Family Oneirodidae (dreamers)
Order Tetraodontiformes (pufferfishes, triggerfishes, molas)
Family Molidae (molas)
Family Tetraodontidae (pufferfishes)
Freshwater fish
It has been argued that only nine species of freshwater fish are truly native to Ireland â five char species, pollan, eel, brown trout and Atlantic salmon â 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.
- Common bream, Abramis brama
- Allis shad, Alosa alosa
- Twaite shad, Alosa falax fallax
- European eel, Anguilla anguilla
- Irish pollan, Coregonus autumnalis
- European bullhead, Cottus gobio
- Northern pike, Esox lucius
- Three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus
- Gudgeon, Gobio gobio
- European river lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis
- European brook lamprey, Lampetra planeri
- Common dace, Leuciscus leuciscus
- Stone loach, Nemacheilus barbatulus
- European smelt, Osmerus eperlanus
- Sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus
- Common minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus
- Nine-spined stickleback, Pungitius pungitius
- Common roach, Rutilus rutilus
- Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar
- Brown trout, Salmo 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
- Common rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus
- European chub, Squalius cephalus
- Norway bullhead, Taurulus lilljeborgi
- Tench, Tinca tinca
References
- 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): 1âÂÂ303. 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