A Guide to Different Types of Fish

Fish are aquatic animals that lack limbs and breathe through gills. They can be found on every continent in the world. Many of them have unique characteristics, such as vibrant colors, big teeth, and good hunting skills.

There are over 34,000 species of fish, so 5-Minute Crafts has prepared a guide to help you identify some of them.

1. Asia

• Dragonfish are native to Southeast Asia. They’re typically found in slow-moving rivers, lakes, and swamps. The max growth for this fish is around 35 inches. They have a long body covered in large scales and 2 barbels on their lower prominent jaw that are used for finding prey.
• The redtail butterflyfish is a reef-dwelling species that feeds on coral polyps. It can be found in the Persian Gulf, Maldives, Japan, Philippines, and Indonesia at depths of 9-50 feet. Commonly growing to over 7 inches, they have brown or black backs with light-colored scales and a white stripe behind their eyes.

2. Europe

• The European perch is a freshwater predatory species that feed on fish and invertebrates. This animal is found in slow-moving rivers, ponds, and lakes. Also, it inhabits the brackish water of the Baltic Sea. Their max length is about 24 inches, and it has an olive-green body with black stripes.
• The European sea bass is a saltwater predator and skilled hunter. Their main diet consists of shrimp and mollusks. The max size that this fish can reach is 3 feet. They have silver or bluish backs with a white belly and are commonly found in shallow water all over Europe.

3. Africa

• The goliath tigerfish is a large predatory species native to Africa. This animal is a fierce hunter equipped with big powerful teeth used to catch prey. They will eat anything that is smaller than they are. The average length for this fish is 4.9 feet. It has white, yellow, brown, and gray scales with a golden flush around the head.
• The cape needlefish is a saltwater species native to the coast of Africa. It has a long silver and bluish body and grows to be about 14 inches. They feed on small fish and shrimp.

4. North America

• The largemouth Bass is a freshwater fish native to North America, but it can be seen all over the world. Typically found in warm shallow lakes and ponds near vegetation, such as water lilies, pondweed, and cattail, they have an olive-green body with black marks. This species reaches a max size of 29.5 inches and feeds with everything that can fit in their large mouths, like other fish, insects, and frogs.
• The striped bass is a saltwater and freshwater species found in most rivers and the coast of North America. They have a strong body with horizontal stripes and are olive-green, steel blue, black, or brown on top, with a white or silver iridescent belly. This animal can grow up to 5 feet. They commonly feed on fish as well as lobsters, crabs, soft clams, squid, small mussels, and sea worms.

5. South America

• Despite what many people believe, red-bellied piranhas aren’t ferocious carnivores. They are scavengers and foragers. They commonly feed on insects, fish, crustaceans, and plants. They have red bellies when they are mature, and the juveniles are silver with dark spots. This species can reach a max size of 15 inches.
• The doctor fish is a marine species found in the coral reef in Brazil. It reaches a max size of 15 inches. Their main diet consists of algae and organic detritus. This animal has a razor-like structure on its back fin that is used for fighting.

6. Australia

• The Australian grayling is a freshwater species native to the south-eastern part of the continent. During the day, they can be found in the fast-moving waters. These fish grow up to 12 inches and are silver with an olive-gray back.
• The Australian clownfish is a small animal that usually has black or dark brown sides with a red snout, breast, and belly. They have a symbiotic relationship with anemones and are most commonly found living among them. This species in nature typically feeds on zooplankton.

7. Antarctica

• The mackerel icefish is a white blood species that can be found at depths of 98-820 feet. It grows to be about 25 inches. It has a long body with a large head and an elongated snout. This fish feeds on shrimp-like crustaceans, such as krill and mysids.
• The Antarctic toothfish have antifreeze proteins that allow them to live in freezing temperatures. They feed on small fish and squid, crabs, and prawns. Max size that this fish can reach is 6.5 feet.