Sunday 19 May
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 51 - 81 of 81 [ previous ]Sort all by common name | Sort all by scientific name
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Ribbontailed stingray (Taeniura lymma)
The colourful ribbontailed stingray (Taeniura lymma) is immediately recognisable by the large, bright, iridescent blue spots that adorn its…
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Round ribbontail ray (Taeniurops meyeni)
As with most rays, the body of this large stingray is flattened and disc-shaped, with the pectoral fins broadly expanded and joined to the…
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Rusty parrotfish (Scarus ferrugineus)
Information on the rusty parrotfish (Scarus ferrugineus) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Rusty parrotfish »
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Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)
The most distinctive feature of this stocky, grey shark is its huge dorsal fin, which increases its stability as it cruises the sea bottom…
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Six-blotch hind (Cephalopholis sexmaculata)
Information on the six-blotch hind (Cephalopholis sexmaculata) is currently being researched and written and will appear here…
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Slender grouper (Anyperodon leucogrammicus)
Information on the slender grouper (Anyperodon leucogrammicus) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Slender grouper »
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Smallscaled grouper (Epinephelus polylepis)
Having been repeatedly misidentified as Epinephelus chlorostigma for almost a century, the smallscaled grouper was first described to…
More about the Smallscaled grouper »
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Sohal surgeonfish (Acanthurus sohal)
A beautiful fish of tropical reefs in the Indian Ocean, the sohal surgeonfish (Acanthurus sohal) is vividly coloured with striking blue and…
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Spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus)
Information on the spangled emperor is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Spangled emperor »
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Spinycheek grouper (Epinephelus diacanthus)
As its name suggests, the spinycheek grouper has one to five, prominent spines on its cheek, in front of the gills. Like other groupers, it…
More about the Spinycheek grouper »
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Splendid rainbow wrasse (Halichoeres marginatus)
Information on the splendid rainbow wrasse (Halichoeres marginatus) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari)
The spotted eagle ray is very distinctive with a flattened body and triangular corners to the wing-like pectoral fins. The snout is rounded…
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Striped grouper (Epinephelus latifasciatus)
This robust marine fish owes its name predominately to the distinctive colouration of the juveniles rather than the adults. Juvenile striped…
More about the Striped grouper »
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Sunfish (Mola mola)
Not only is the sunfish (Mola mola) the world’s heaviest bony fish, with some individuals weighing in at a staggering 2.3 tonnes, but…
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Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)
A fast-swimming predator, the swordfish (Xiphias gladius) gets its name from its extremely long, flat, sword-like bill, which is…
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Talang queenfish (Scomberoides commersonnianus)
An elongated, streamlined, predatory fish of the Indian and west Pacific Oceans, the Talang queenfish (Scomberoides commersonnianus) may be…
More about the Talang queenfish »
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Tawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus)
The most remarkable feature of the tawny nurse shark is probably its curious ability to change colour between grey and sandy brown depending…
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Threadfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga)
Information on the threadfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga) is being researched and wriiten and will appear here shortly…
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Twospot maori wrasse (Oxycheilinus bimaculatus)
Information on the twospot maori wrasse (Oxycheilinus bimaculatus) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Twospot maori wrasse »
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Undulated moray (Gymnothorax undulatus)
The undulated moray (Gymnothorax undulatus) is a distinctive moray eel, taking its name from the pattern of light undulating lines that form…
More about the Undulated moray »
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Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish in the world; with its vast size it resembles the whales from which its common name is…
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White-blotched grouper (Epinephelus multinotatus)
Information on the white-blotched grouper (Epinephelus multinotatus) is being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the White-blotched grouper »
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White-button wrasse (Halichoeres nigrescens)
Information on the white-button wrasse (Halichoeres nigrescens) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the White-button wrasse »
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Whitecheek shark (Carcharhinus dussumieri)
A widespread species, the whitecheek shark is the most common shark in the Arabian Gulf. Possessing the typical shark form, the whitecheek…
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Whitespotted grouper (Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus)
Information on the whitespotted grouper is being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Whitespotted grouper »
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Yellow-ear angelfish (Apolemichthys xanthotis)
Information on the yellow-ear angelfish (Apolemichthys xanthotis) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Yellow-ear angelfish »
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Yellowbar angelfish (Pomacanthus maculosus)
Information on the yellowbar angelfish is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Yellowbar angelfish »
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Yellowfin hind (Cephalopholis hemistiktos)
One of the most abundant Cephalopholis species in parts of its range, the yellowfin hind is a moderately sized, relatively robust reef fish…
More about the Yellowfin hind »
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Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)
The yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) is a fish built for speed and endurance. Its streamlined body is metallic dark blue on the back…
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Yellowspotted trevally (Carangoides fulvoguttatus)
Information on the yellowspotted trevally (Carangoides fulvoguttatus) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
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Yellowstripe scad (Selaroides leptolepis)
Information on the yellowstripe scad is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly…
More about the Yellowstripe scad »
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