Fish That Start With F [Full List]

From the flamboyant colors of the French Angelfish to the frilly frills of the Frilled Shark, these aquatic creatures never fail to surprise us with their unique characteristics and behaviors. So, let’s dive into the world of fish that start with “F” and explore their fascinating traits and features.

As we embark on this journey, we’ll encounter some of the most peculiar and awe-inspiring fish species, each with their own story to tell.

Some of these fish are found in the depths of the ocean, while others inhabit the calm waters of freshwater rivers and streams. Whether you’re a seasoned fish enthusiast or a curious beginner, you’ll surely be captivated by the wonders of the fish that start with F.

Fish That Start With F

Each of these fish species has unique characteristics that make them interesting and important members of their respective ecosystems. Their diverse behaviors, hunting strategies, and physical adaptations allow them to thrive in a variety of habitats and environments.

False Brotula

The False Brotula, also known as the Ophidion imberbe, is a deep-sea dwelling fish with an elongated body that can grow up to 60cm in length. This nocturnal predator has a unique appearance with a smooth, scale-less body and an eel-like tail. The False Brotula is a master of camouflage, blending seamlessly into its surroundings with its mottled grey-brown skin.

False Cat Shark

The False Cat Shark, or Pseudotriakis microdon, is a deep-sea shark that is also commonly referred to as the “goblin shark.” This rare and elusive shark has a long, protruding snout that it uses to detect prey in the dark depths of the ocean. With its elongated body, it can grow up to 3.8m in length. The False Cat Shark has a distinctive pinkish-grey coloration that helps it to blend into its surroundings.

Fangtooth

The Fangtooth, or Anoplogaster cornuta, is a deep-sea fish that is known for its sharp teeth and menacing appearance. With a maximum length of only 16cm, it is one of the smallest fish in the deep-sea environment. The Fangtooth has a dark, almost black, coloration that helps it blend in with the dark ocean floor. Despite its small size, this fish is a ferocious predator, feeding on other fish, squid, and crustaceans.

Fathead Sculpin

The Fathead Sculpin, or Cottus cognatus, is a freshwater fish that is commonly found in North America. This fish has a rounded body with a large, flattened head and a mottled brown coloration. The Fathead Sculpin is a bottom-dwelling fish that feeds on small invertebrates and other fish. It has been known to hide in crevices and under rocks to avoid predators.

Featherback

The Featherback, or Notopterus notopterus, is a freshwater fish that is native to Southeast Asia. It has a long, slender body with a pointed head and a forked tail. The Featherback is known for its ability to jump out of the water and glide through the air for short distances. It feeds on small fish, insects, and crustaceans.

Fierasfer

The Fierasfer, or Fierasfer acus, is a type of ribbonfish that is commonly found in the Atlantic Ocean. This fish has a long, slender body that can grow up to 1.5m in length. The Fierasfer is a predatory fish that feeds on smaller fish and squid. It is known for its sharp, pointy teeth and its ability to swim at high speeds.

Fire Goby

The Fire Goby, or Nemateleotris magnifica, is a small saltwater fish that is commonly found in the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific region. This brightly colored fish has a vibrant orange-red body with a blue-green tail. The Fire Goby is a peaceful fish that feeds on plankton and small invertebrates.

Filefish

The Filefish, or Monacanthidae, is a type of marine fish that is found in warm, shallow waters around the world. This fish has a boxy, rectangular body with a long snout and a small, rounded tail. The Filefish is known for its ability to change colors to match its surroundings, making it difficult to spot in the wild. It feeds on a variety of prey, including crustaceans, worms, and small fish.

Finback Cat Shark

The Finback Cat Shark, or Apristurus melanoasper, is a deep-sea shark that can be found in the Pacific Ocean. This small shark has a slender body with a long, pointed tail and a flattened head. It is typically dark brown or black in color, with white markings on its fins. The Finback Cat Shark feeds on a variety of small fish and invertebrates.

Fingerfish

The Fingerfish, or Leptobrammus robinsi, is a small, deep-sea fish that is found in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. This fish has a slender, cylindrical body with a long, thin tail and a pointed head. The Fingerfish is named for its small size and its thin, finger-like appearance. It feeds on small invertebrates and other fish.

Fire Bar Danio

The Fire Bar Danio, or Danio choprae, is a small freshwater fish that is native to the streams and rivers of Myanmar. This fish has a bright, iridescent blue-green body with a bold, orange stripe running down its side. The Fire Bar Danio is a peaceful fish that feeds on small invertebrates and algae.

Firefish

The Firefish, or Nemateleotris magnifica, is a small saltwater fish that is commonly found in the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific region. This fish has a vibrant red-orange body with a blue-green tail. The Firefish is a peaceful fish that feeds on plankton and small invertebrates.

Flabby Whale Fish

The Flabby Whale Fish, or Cetomimidae, is a deep-sea fish that is found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This fish has a long, eel-like body that can grow up to 2.5m in length. The Flabby Whale Fish is known for its soft, gelatinous body and its ability to distend its stomach to accommodate large meals. It feeds on small invertebrates and other fish.

Flagblenny

The Flagblenny, or Exallias brevis, is a small marine fish that is found in the waters of the Indo-Pacific region. This fish has a bright blue body with black markings and a distinctive yellow tail. The Flagblenny is known for its aggressive behavior and its ability to mimic the coloration of other fish to avoid detection. It feeds on small invertebrates and other fish.

Flagfin

The Flagfin, or Kuhlia mugil, is a type of marine fish that is found in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. This fish has a sleek, silver body with a pointed head and a deeply forked tail. The Flagfin is a strong and agile swimmer, capable of reaching speeds of up to 60km/h. It feeds on a variety of prey, including fish, crustaceans, and squid.

Flagfish

The Flagfish, or Jordanella floridae, is a freshwater fish that is native to the southeastern United States. This fish has a dark green or brown body with a bright orange-red spot on its side. The Flagfish is known for its ability to tolerate a wide range of water conditions, including high temperatures and low oxygen levels. It feeds on algae and small invertebrates.

Flagtail

The Flagtail, or Kuhlia rupestris, is a marine fish that is found in the waters of the western Pacific Ocean. This fish has a long, slender body with a pointed head and a deeply forked tail. The Flagtail is known for its silvery-blue coloration and its distinctive black stripes on its fins. It feeds on small invertebrates and other fish.

Flashlight Fish

The Flashlight Fish, or Anomalops katoptron, is a small marine fish that is found in the waters of the Indo-Pacific region. This fish has a black body with a large, reflective eye that appears to glow in the dark. The Flashlight Fish is known for its ability to communicate with other members of its species using bioluminescent flashes. It feeds on small invertebrates and plankton.

Flatfish

The Flatfish, or Pleuronectidae, is a type of marine fish that is found in oceans around the world. This fish has a flattened body with both eyes on one side of its head. The Flatfish is known for its ability to camouflage itself by changing its color to match its surroundings. It feeds on a variety of prey, including crustaceans and small fish.

Flathead

The Flathead, or Platycephalidae, is a type of marine fish that is found in the waters of the Indo-Pacific region. This fish has a broad, flat head with a large mouth and a spiny dorsal fin. The Flathead is known for its ambush hunting style, where it lies in wait for prey to swim by before striking. It feeds on a variety of prey, including fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods.

Flathead Catfish

The Flathead Catfish, or Pylodictis olivaris, is a freshwater fish that is native to the rivers and lakes of North America. This fish has a large, broad head with a wide mouth and sharp teeth. The Flathead Catfish is known for its ability to grow to enormous sizes, with some specimens reaching over 100 pounds. It feeds on a variety of prey, including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.

Flier

The Flier, or Centrarchus macropterus, is a freshwater fish that is native to the southeastern United States. This fish has a slender, elongated body with a pointed head and a small mouth. The Flier is known for its ability to leap out of the water and glide for short distances. It feeds on small fish, insects, and crustaceans.

Flounder

The Flounder, or Pleuronectidae, is a type of marine fish that is found in oceans around the world. This fish has a flattened body with both eyes on one side of its head. The Flounder is known for its ability to camouflage itself by changing its color to match its surroundings. It feeds on a variety of prey, including crustaceans and small fish.

Flying Gurnard

The Flying Gurnard, or Dactylopteridae, is a marine fish that is found in the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This fish has a broad, wing-like pectoral fins that it uses to “fly” through the water. The Flying Gurnard is known for its brightly colored body and its ability to inflate its body when threatened. It feeds on small fish, crustaceans, and other invertebrates.

Flying Fish

The Flying Fish, or Exocoetidae, is a type of marine fish that is found in oceans around the world. This fish has large, wing-like pectoral fins that it uses to “fly” through the air for distances of up to several hundred meters. The Flying Fish is known for its ability to escape from predators by leaping out of the water and gliding through the air. It feeds on plankton and small invertebrates.

Footballfish

The Footballfish, or Himantolophidae, is a deep-sea fish that is found in the waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. This fish has a large head with a protruding mouth and a long, slender body. The Footballfish is known for its bioluminescent lure, which it uses to attract prey in the dark depths of the ocean. It feeds on small fish and crustaceans.

Forehead Brooder

The Forehead Brooder, or Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus, is a freshwater fish that is native to Lake Malawi in Africa. This fish has a distinctive black and white striped pattern on its body and a large forehead. The Forehead Brooder is known for its unique breeding behavior, where the male incubates the eggs in his mouth until they hatch. It feeds on small fish and invertebrates.

Four-eyed Fish

The Four-eyed Fish, or Anableps anableps, is a freshwater fish that is native to the rivers and streams of Central and South America. This fish has a unique set of eyes that are divided in half, allowing it to see both above and below the water’s surface at the same time. The Four-eyed Fish is known for its ability to breathe air through a specialized organ called a labyrinth organ. It feeds on small invertebrates and algae.

French Angelfish

The French Angelfish, or Pomacanthus paru, is a marine fish that is found in the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean. This fish has a large, flat body with a distinctive black and yellow pattern on its scales. The French Angelfish is known for its aggressive behavior and its ability to defend its territory against other fish. It feeds on sponges, algae, and small invertebrates.

Freshwater Eel

The Freshwater Eel, or Anguilla spp., is a type of eel that is found in freshwater rivers and lakes around the world. This fish has a long, slender body with a pointed head and a small mouth. The Freshwater Eel is known for its ability to migrate long distances between freshwater and saltwater habitats. It feeds on a variety of prey, including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.

Freshwater Hatchetfish

The Freshwater Hatchetfish, or Gasteropelecidae, is a freshwater fish that is native to South America. This fish has a unique body shape, with a flattened, hatchet-shaped body and a large, upward-facing mouth. The Freshwater Hatchetfish is known for its ability to jump out of the water and glide for short distances using its pectoral fins. It feeds on insects and other small invertebrates.

Freshwater Shark

The Freshwater Shark, or Pangasius spp., is a type of catfish that is found in the rivers and lakes of Southeast Asia. This fish has a large, broad head with a wide mouth and sharp teeth. The Freshwater Shark is known for its ability to grow to enormous sizes, with some specimens reaching over 10 feet in length. It feeds on a variety of prey, including fish, crustaceans, and other invertebrates.

Frigate Mackerel

The Frigate Mackerel, or Auxis spp., is a type of fish that is found in the warm waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. This fish has a streamlined body with a metallic blue-green coloration on its back and silver coloration on its sides. The Frigate Mackerel is known for its ability to swim at high speeds, reaching up to 60 miles per hour. It feeds on small fish and crustaceans.

Frilled Shark

The Frilled Shark, or Chlamydoselachus anguineus, is a deep-sea shark that is found in the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This shark has a long, slender body with a distinctive frill of gill slits on its neck. The Frilled Shark is known for its unique hunting behavior, where it ambushes prey by lunging forward with its jaws fully extended. It feeds on fish and squid.

Frogfish

The Frogfish, or Antennariidae, is a type of marine fish that is found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. This fish has a flattened, globular body with a mottled coloration that resembles seaweed. The Frogfish is known for its unique camouflage abilities and its ability to “walk” along the ocean floor using its pectoral fins. It feeds on small fish and invertebrates.

Frogmouth Catfish

The Frogmouth Catfish, or Phractocephalus hemioliopterus, is a freshwater fish that is found in the rivers and streams of South America. This fish has a large, broad head with a wide mouth and sharp teeth. The Frogmouth Catfish is known for its unique hunting behavior, where it lies in wait for prey and then ambushes them with lightning-fast strikes. It feeds on a variety of prey, including fish and invertebrates.

Fusilier Fish

The Fusilier Fish, or Caesionidae, is a type of marine fish that is found in the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. This fish has a streamlined body with a metallic blue or silver coloration on its back and sides. The Fusilier Fish is known for its ability to swim in large schools, which offers protection from predators. It feeds on plankton and small invertebrates.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the fish that start with “F” never cease to amaze us with their extraordinary abilities and characteristics. From the elusive Frilled Shark to the flashy colors of the French Angelfish, each fish species has its own unique charm that sets it apart from the rest. These creatures inhabit some of the most diverse and fascinating aquatic environments, each with their own set of challenges and opportunities.

Whether you’re exploring the depths of the ocean or fishing in a freshwater stream, keep an eye out for these fantastic fish species. Who knows what kind of amazing creatures you’ll discover next in your underwater adventures? So, get ready to reel in some excitement and discover the incredible world of fish that start with “F”!