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.
EX
Extinct
No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
EW
Extinct in the wild
Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range.
CR
Critically endangered
The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild.
EN
Endangered
The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
VU
Vulnerable
The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
NT
Near threatened
The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to do so in the future.
LC
Least concern
There are no current identifiable risks to the species.
DD
Data deficient
There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.
Class
Myxini (hagfish)
Order Myxiniformes
The Atlantic hagfish
The
European river lamprey , Lampetra fluviatilis
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)
Hexanchus griseus
Order
Hexanchiformes (frilled and cow sharks)
Family
Chlamydoselachidae (frilled sharks)
Family
Hexanchidae (sixgill sharks)
Scyliorhinus canicula in the
Natural History Museum , London
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)
Comparison between a shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrhinchus ) above, and porbeagle (Lamna nasus ) below
Family
Lamnidae (mackerel sharks)
Superorder
Batoidea (rays, skates and sawfishes)
Family
Dasyatidae (whiptail stingrays)
Family
Myliobatidae (eagle rays)
Family
Mobulidae (devil rays)
Raja clavata
Family
Rajidae (skates)
Thorny skate , Amblyraja radiata NE
Blue skate , Dipturus batis CR
Norwegian skate , Dipturus nidarosiensis NT
Long-nosed skate , Dipturus oxyrinchus VU
Sandy ray , Leucoraja circularis NT
Blue ray , Neoraja caerulea NT
Blonde ray , Raja brachyura NT
Thornback ray , Raja clavata LC
Shagreen ray , Raja fullonica VU
Small-eyed ray , Raja microocellata LC
Spotted ray , Raja montagui LC
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)
European sea sturgeon
Order
Clupeiformes (herring and anchovies)
Family
Clupeidae (herring and sardines)
Family
Engraulidae (Anchovies)
Moray eel
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
Stomias and Grammatostomias species
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)
John Dory
Family
Oreosomatidae (oreos)
Order
Gadiformes (cod and relatives)
Melanogrammus aeglefinus
Family
Gadidae (cod and relatives)
Pollachius pollachius
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
Macrourus berglax
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)
Silver spinyfin, Diretmus argenteus
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)
[1]
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)
Turbot
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)
[1]
Family
Ammodytidae (sandlances)
Family
Trachinidae (weeverfishes)
Family
Uranoscopidae (stargazers)
Order
Labriformes (wrasses sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016)
[1]
Family
Labridae (wrasses)
Order
Pempheriformes (sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016
[1] )
Family
Epigonidae (deepwater cardinalfishes)
Family
Polyprionidae (wreckfishes)
Order
Perciformes (sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016
[1] )
Suborder
Percoidei (sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016
[1] )
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)
Atlantic wolf fish
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)
Lumpsucker, Cyclopterus lumpus
Family
Liparidae (snailfishes)
Family
Psychrolutidae (fatheads and blobfishes)
Order
Moroniformes (temperate basses sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016
[1] )
Family
Moronidae (temperate basses)
Order
Spariformes (seabreams and relatives sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016
[1] )
Family
Sparidae (seabreams and progies)
Order
Priacanthiformes (bigeyes and bandfishes sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016
[1] )
Family
Cepolidae (bandfishes)
Order
Caproiformes (boarfishes sensu Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2016
[1] )
Family
Caproidae (boarfishes)
Suborder
Lophoidei (monkfishes)
Family
Lophiidae (monkfishes)
Monkfish
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 — five char species,
pollan ,
eel ,
brown trout and
Atlantic salmon — 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.
[2]
European river lamprey , Lampetra fluviatilis
European brook lamprey , Lampetra planeri
Sea lamprey , Petromyzon marinus
European eel , Anguilla anguilla
Allis shad , Alosa alosa
Twaite shad , Alosa falax fallax
Common dace , Leuciscus leuciscus
Common minnow , Phoxinus phoxinus
Gudgeon , Gobio gobio
Common roach , Rutilus rutilus
Common rudd , Scardinius erythrophthalmus
European chub , Squalius cephalus
Common bream , Abramis brama
Stone loach , Nemacheilus barbatulus
Tench , Tinca tinca
Northern pike , Esox lucius
European smelt , Osmerus eperlanus
Atlantic salmon , Salmo salar
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
Brown trout , Salmo trutta
Irish pollan , Coregonus autumnalis
Three-spined stickleback , Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus
Nine-spined stickleback , Pungitius pungitius
European bullhead , Cottus gobio
Norway bullhead , Taurulus lilljeborgi
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
ISBN
0707600243
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): 1-303. 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
doi :
10.1111/j.0022-1112.2004.0prelims.x
External links
Invertebrates:
Vertebrates: