Tuesday 18 June
Fish
The seas around the United Arab Emirates are home to a rich diversity of marine fish, with over 500 species recorded, ranging from large sharks to tiny seahorses, and from oceanic tuna to a host of reef-dwelling species. Although freshwater bodies are scarce in the UAE, three native and two introduced freshwater species also occur, mainly in wadis in the Hajar Mountains.
Learn about UAE habitats & speciesFish found in the UAE
Species 1 - 50 of 82 [ next ]Sort all by common name | Sort all by scientific name
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Arabian carpetshark (Chiloscyllium arabicum)
Like other bottom-dwelling shark species, the Arabian carpetshark (Chiloscyllium arabicum) does not require a streamlined body for rapid…
More about the Arabian carpetshark »
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Arabian killifish (Aphanius dispar)
One of only three native fish species found in freshwater in the United Arab Emirates, the Arabian killifish (Aphanius dispar) is a small…
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Areloate grouper (Epinephelus areolatus)
Information on the areloate grouper is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Black-finned melon butterflyfish (Chaetodon melapterus)
Information on the black-finned melon butterflyfish (Chaetodon melapterus) is being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
The blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) is the most commonly encountered species of shark in tropical Indo-Pacific reefs…
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Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus)
The blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) is a large, stout shark, with a long, pointed snout and small eyes. Its torpedo-shaped body, grey…
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Blacktip topeshark (Hypogaleus hyugaensis)
The blacktip topeshark (Hypogaleus hyugaensis) is a small, slender hound shark (a shark of the family Triakidae) with a greyish-bronze body…
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Blue-streak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus)
Information on the blue-streak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) is being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Bowmouth guitarfish (Rhina ancylostoma)
Named for its distinctive mouth which undulates like a longbow, this deep-bodied guitarfish is unmistakable. The species has a broad…
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Broomtail wrasse (Cheilinus lunulatus)
Information on the broomtail wrasse (Cheilinus lunulatus) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Clark's anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii)
Information on Clark's anemonefish is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Clubnose guitarfish (Glaucostegus thouin)
The characteristic heart-shaped silhouette of the clubnose guitarfish (Glaucostegus thouin) is the result of a somewhat bizarre feature of…
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Cobia (Rachycentron canadum)
With a broad, depressed head, elongated body, and powerful tail fin, the cobia (Rachycentron canadum) is often mistaken for a shark, but it…
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Cocktail wrasse (Pteragogus flagellifer)
Information on the cocktail wrasse (Pteragogus flagellifer) is being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Common parrotfish (Scarus psittacus)
Information on the common parrotfish (Scarus psittacus) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Crescent-tail wrasse (Thalassoma lunare)
Information on the crescent-tail wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Daisy parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus)
Information on the daisy parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Dotted grouper (Epinephelus epistictus)
Like other groupers, the dotted grouper has a robust body with a spiny dorsal fin and a rounded caudal fin. As its name suggests, small dark…
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Duskytail grouper (Epinephelus bleekeri)
The robust, elongate body of the duskytail grouper is brownish to purplish-grey in colour and covered with numerous small, yellow, orange or…
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Ehrenberg's snapper (Lutjanus ehrenbergii)
Information on Ehrenberg's snapper is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Eightbar grouper (Epinephelus octofasciatus)
The eightbar grouper (Epinephelus octofasciatus) owes its name quite simply to the presence of eight, broad, dark-brown bars that cross its…
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Ember parrotfish (Scarus rubroviolaceus)
Information on the ember parrotfish (Scarus rubroviolaceus) is being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
Information on the emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) is being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Epaulet grouper (Epinephelus stoliczkae)
An intricate pattern of spots, blotches and bars decorates the robust body of the epaulet grouper. With the exception of the underside, the…
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Five-lined snapper (Lutjanus quinquelineatus)
A beautiful bright yellow fish of reefs in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans, the five-lined snapper (Lutjanus quinquelineatus) is so…
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Gardiner's butterflyfish (Chaetodon gardineri)
Information on Gardiner's butterflyfish is being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis)
Information on the giant trevally is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus)
Distinguished from other trevally species by its striking colouration, the golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus) is beautiful bright…
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Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran)
The massive and well-known great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) has the most distinctive hammer of its genus. It is particularly wide and…
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Gulf torpedo (Torpedo sinuspersici)
The Gulf torpedo is an electric ray with a flattened disc-shaped body well suited to its ocean bottom habitat. It is beautifully decorated…
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Herringbone butterflyfish (Chaetodon triangulum)
Information on the herringbone butterflyfish is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Horseshoe butterflyfish (Chaetodon pictus)
Information on the horseshoe butterflyfish is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Indo-Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus)
With its huge, sail-like dorsal fin, long, pointed bill, and graceful, elongated body, the Indo-Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) …
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Indo-Pacific sergeant (Abudefduf vaigiensis)
Information on the Indo-Pacific sergeant (Abudefduf vaigiensis) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Iniistius (Iniistius bimaculatus)
Information on Iniistius bimaculatus is being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Jarbua terapon (Terapon jarbua)
A boldly patterned, small fish, the jarbua terapon (Terapon jarbua) is characterised by the curved, dark brown bands that run along the…
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Jayakar’s seahorse (Hippocampus jayakari)
With their horse-like head, upright posture, locomotive dorsal fin, and prehensile tail, the seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) are some of the…
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Leopard shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)
The leopard shark is an immediately recognisable, stunningly attractive species, which derives its common name from its distinctive markings…
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Long-rayed silver biddy (Gerres filamentosus)
Information on the long-rayed silver biddy is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Longfin bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus)
Information on the longfin bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus) is being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol)
The second smallest of all tunas (Thunnus spp.), the longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol) is unique among the ‘true’ tunas, being the only…
More about the Longtail tuna »
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Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson)
Information on the narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) is currently being researched and written and will appear…
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One-line rainbowfish (Stethojulis interrupta)
Information on the one-line rainbowfish is being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the One-line rainbowfish »
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Orange spotted trevally (Carangoides bajad)
With a deep, flattened, streamlined body, the orange spotted trevally (Carangoides bajad) is a powerful, fast-swimming predatory fish of the…
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Orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides)
A rather large, robust marine fish, the orange-spotted grouper has an elongated body which is tan above, shading to whitish below. The head…
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Orbicular batfish (Platax orbicularis)
Information on the orbicular batfish is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Orbicular batfish »
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Picasso triggerfish (Rhinecanthus assasi)
Named after the inspirational cubist painter, Pablo Picasso, the Picasso triggerfish (Rhinecanthus assasi) has a beautiful, colourful…
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Pickhandle barracuda (Sphyraena jello)
A large, streamlined predatory fish with a fierce appearance, the pickhandle barracuda (Sphyraena jello) is capable of quickly pursuing its…
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Purple-brown parrotfish (Scarus fuscopurpureus)
Information on the purple-brown parrotfish (Scarus fuscopurpureus) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Purple-brown parrotfish »
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Pygmy devilray (Mobula eregoodootenkee)
In many ways, the pygmy devilray resembles its larger and more iconic relative, the manta ray. Large pectoral fins, fused to the sides of…
More about the Pygmy devilray »
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