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A Check List of Florida's Freshwater Fishes, with Photos

Compiled by Gray Bass, Paul Shafland & Bob Wattendorf

NOTE: Freshwater fishes listed here have been collected during routine sampling by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists at sites classified as fresh water. However, some species are traditionally classified as marine (saltwater) and seldom seen in fresh water.

Links under the scientific name column go to photos of the fish taken by Mr. Gray Bass or Mr. Paul Shafland, Commission Biologists. (Note: the photos of the convict and jewel cichlids, by Wiljo Jonsson, are used with permission.)   A current list of nonnative fishes is maintained by Paul Shafland and included in this list. 

Legend

  • F is for freshwater
    • Fa indicates they are anadromous, in other words, they spawn in fresh water but mature in the ocean
    • Fc means they are catadromous and spawn in saltwater but mature in rivers or lakes
  • M is for marine (saltwater)
  • B is for brackish (estuarine)
  • E is for endangered
  • T is for threatened
  • S is for special concern
  • X is for exotic
    • X-est means the population is established (accidentally or purposefully) and permanent
    • X-pos means they are possibly established (reproducing but unstable)
    • X-for means they were formerly reproducing
    • X-col means they have been reported but there is no evidence of reproduction)
  • R is for recreationally important, and the link goes to an illustration by Duane Raver and more information on the species life history, tips for catching them, regulations and "Big Catch" and state record sizes.
Scientific nameCommon nameStatus
Acantharchus pomotismud sunfishF
Acipenser brevirostrumshortnose sturgeonF,E
Acipenser oxyrinchusAtlantic sturgeonF,S
Adinia xenicadiamond killifishF
Aequidens pulcherblue acaraF,X-col
Agonostomus monticolamountain mulletM,B
Alosa aestivalisblueback herringFa
Alosa alabamaeAlabama shadFa
Alosa chrysochlorisskipjack herringF
Alosa mediocrishickory shadFa
Alosa sapidissimaAmerican shadFa,R
Ambloplites ariommusshadow bassF
Ameiurus brunneussnail bullheadF
Ameiurus catuswhite catfishF,R
Ameiurus natalisyellow bullheadF,R
Ameiurus nebulosusbrown bullheadF,R
Ameiurus serracanthusspotted bullheadF,R
Amia calvabowfinF
Ammocrypta bifasciaFlorida sand darterF
Anabas testudineusclimbing perchF,X-for
Ancistrus sp.bristlecheek catfishX-col
Anchoa mitchillibay anchovyM,B
Anguilla rostrataAmerican eelFc
Aphredoderus sayanuspirate perchF
Archosargus probatocephalussheepsheadM,B
Arius felishardhead catfishM,B
Astronotus ocellatusOscarF,X-est,R
Atractosteus spatulaalligator garF,R
Awaous tajasicariver gobyM,B
Bairdiella chrysourasilver perchM,B
Barbodes schwanefelditinfoil barbX-col
Barbus conchoniusrosy barbF,X-col
Barbus geliusgolden barbF,X-col
Barbus sp.tinfoil barbF,X-col
Barbus tetrazonatiger barbF,X-col
Belonesox belizanuspike killifishF,X-est
Betta splendensSiamese fightingfishF,X-for
Callichthys callichthyscascarudoX-col
Campostoma oligolepisLargescale stonerollerF
Carassius auratusgoldfishF,X-col
Carcharhinus leucasbull sharkM,B
Carpiodes cyprinusquillbackF
Carpiodes veliferhighfin carpsuckerF
Centrarchus macropterusflierF,R
Centropomus ensiferusswordspine snookM,B
Centropomus parallelusfat snookM,B
Centropomus pectinatustarpon snookM,B
Centropomus undecimalissnookM,B,S,R
Chaenobryttus gulosuswarmouthF,R
Channa maruliusbullseye snakeheadX-est
Channa argusnorthern snakeheadX-col
Chitala ornataclown knifefishX-est
Cichla ocellarisbutterfly peacockF,X-est,R
Cichla temensisspeckled peacockF,X-col
Cichlasoma bimaculatumblack acaraF,X-est
Cichlasoma citrinellumMidas cichlidF,X-est
Cichlasoma cyanoguttatumRio Grande cichlidF,X-est
Cichlasoma labiatumred devilF,X-col,R
Cichlasoma managuensejaguar guapoteF,X-est,R
Cichlasoma meekifiremouth cichlidF,X-pos
Cichlasoma nigrofasciatumconvict cichlidF,X-for
Cichlasoma octofasciatumJack DempseyF,X-pos
Cichlasoma salviniyellowbelly cichlidF,X-pos
Cichlasoma trimaculatumthreespot cichlidF,X-for
Cichlasoma urophthalmusMayan cichlidF,X-est
Citharichthys spilopterusbay whiffM,B
Clarias batrachuswalking catfishF,X-est
Colisa fasciatabanded gouramiX-col
Colisa labiosathicklipped gouramiF,X-col
Colisa laliadwarf gouramiF,X-col
Colossoma bidenspacuF,X-col
Colossoma brachypomumpacuF,X-col
Colossoma macropomumpacu, tambaquiF,X-col
Colossoma nigripinnisblackfin pacuF,X-col
Corydoras sp.corydorasF,X-col
Crystallaria asprellacrystal darterF,T
Ctenopharyngodon idellagrass carpF,X-col
Ctenopoma nigropannosumtwospot ctenopomaF,X-for
Cynoscion nebulosusspotted seatroutM,B
Cyprinella callitaeniabluestripe shinerF
Cyprinellla leedsibannerfin shinerF
Cyprinella venustablacktail shinerF
Cyprinodon variegatus hubbsisheepshead minnow, Eustis pupfishF,S
Cyprinus carpiocommon carpF,X-est,R
Danio (Brachydanio) reriozebra danioF,X-col
Danio malabaricusgiant danio, Malabar danioF,X-col
Dasyatis sabinaAtlantic stingrayM,B
Diapterus auratusIrish pompanoM,B
Diapterus plumieristriped mojarraM,B
Dormitator maculatusfat sleeperF,B
Dorosoma cepedianumgizzard shadF
Dorosoma petenensethreadfin shadF
Elassoma evergladeiEverglades pygmy sunfishF
Elassoma okefenokeeOkefenokee pygmy sunfishF
Elassoma zonatumbanded pygmy sunfishF
Eleotris pictaspotted sleeperF
Eleotris pisonisspinycheek sleeperB
Elops saurusladyfishM,B,F
Enneacanthus chaetodonblackbanded sunfishF
Enneacanthus gloriosusbluespotted sunfishF
Enneacanthus obesusbanded sunfishF
Ericymba buccatasilverjaw minnowF
Erimyzon sucettalake chubsuckerF
Erimyzon tenuissharpfin chubsuckerF
Esox americanusredfin pickerelF
Esox nigerchain pickerelF,R
Etheostoma colorosumcoastal darterF
Etheostoma davisoniChoctawhatchee darterF
Etheostoma edwinibrown darterF
Etheostoma fusiformeswamp darterF
Etheostoma histrioharlequin darterF,S
Etheostoma okaloosaeOkaloosa darterF,E
Etheostoma olmstedisouthern tessellated darterF.S
Etheostoma parvipinnegoldstripe darterF
Etheostoma proeliarecypress darterF
Etheostoma stigmaeumspeckled darterF
Etheostoma swainigulf darterF
Eucinostomus argenteusspotfin mojarraM,B
Eucinostomus harangulustidewater mojarraM,B
Floridichthys carpiogoldspotted killifishM,B
Fundulus chrysotusgolden topminnowF
Fundulus cingulatusbanded topminnowF
Fundulus confluentusmarsh killifishM,F,B
Fundulus disparsouthern starhead topminnowF
Fundulus escambiaeeastern starhead minnowF
Fundulus grandisgulf killifishM,B
Fundulus heteroclitusmummichogM,B
Fundulus jenkinsisaltmarsh topminnowM,B,S
Fundulus lineolatuslined topminnowF
Fundulus majalisstriped killifishM,B
Fundulus olivaceusblackspotted topminnowF
Fundulus pulvereusbayou killifishM,B
Fundulus rubifronsredface topminnowF
Fundulus seminolisSeminole killifishF
Fundulus similislongnose killifishM,B
Gambusia affiniswestern mosquitofishF,?
Gambusia holbrookimosquitofishF
Geophagus brasiliensispearl eartheaterF,X-col
Geophagus surinamensisredstriped eartheaterF,X-est
Gobioides broussonetiviolet gobyB
Gobiomorus dormitorbigmouth sleeperM,B
Gobionellus boleosomadarter gobyB
Gobionellus gracillimusslim gobyM.B
Gobionellus shufeldtifreshwater gobyF,B,M
Gobiosoma boscinaked gobyF,B
Gobiosoma robustumcode gobyM,B
Gymnocorymbus ternetziblack tetraF,X-col
Haplochromis callipteruseastern happyF,X-pos
Harengula jaguanascaled sardineM,B
Helostoma temminckikissing gouramiF,X-col
Hemichromis bimaculatusjewelfishF,X-est
Heros severusbanded cichlidF,X-col
Heterandria formosaleast killifishF
Hoplias malabaricustrahiraF,X-for
Hoplosternum littoralebrown hoploF,X-est
Hybognathus hayicypress minnowF
Hybopsis new speciesspeckled or Florida? chubF
Hybopsis new species (2)clear? chubF
Hypophthalmichthys nobilisbighead carpF,X-col
Hypostomus sp.suckermouth catfishF,X-est
Ichthyomyzon gageisouthern brook lampreyF
Ictalurus furcatusblue catfishF
Ictalurus punctatuschannel catfishF
Jordanella floridaeflagfishF
Labeo chrysophekadionblack sharkminnowF,X-col
Labidesthes sicculusbrook silversideF
Lagodon rhomboidespinfishM,B
Leiostomus xanthurusspotM,B
Lepisosteus oculatusspotted garF,R
Lepisosteus osseuslongnose garF,R
Lepisosteus platyrhincusFlorida garF,R
Lepomis auritusredbreast sunfishF,R
Lepomis cyanellusgreen sunfishF
Lepomis humilisorangespotted sunfishF
Lepomis macrochirusbluegillF,R
Lepomis marginatusdollar sunfishF
Lepomis megalotislongear sunfishF,R
Lepomis microlophusredear sunfishF,R
Lepomis punctatusspotted sunfishF,R
Leporinus fasciatusbanded leporinusF,X-col
Leptolucania ommatapygmy killifishF
Lucania goodeibluefin killifishF
Lucania parvarainwater killifishB
Lutjanus analismutton snapperM,B,R
Lutjanus apodusschoolmasterM,B,R
Lutjanus griseusgray snapperM,B,R
Lutjanus synargislane snapperM,B,R
Luxilus chrysocephalus isolepisstriped shinerF
Luxilus zonistiusbandfin shinerF
Lythrurus atrapiculusblacktip shinerF
Macrhybopsis new speciesFlorida or speckled chubF
Macrognathus siamensisspotfin spiny eelF,X-pos
Macropodus opercularisparadisefishF,X-col
Megalops atlanticustarponM,B,R
Menidia beryllinainland silversideB,F
Menidia conchorumkey silversideM,B,S
Menidia peninsulaetidewater silversideM,B
Metynnis lippincottianussilver dollarF,X-col
Microgobius gulosusclown gobyM,B
Micropogonias undulatusAtlantic croakerM,B
Micropterus coosaeredeye bass (possibly)F
Micropterus notiusSuwannee bassF,S,R
Micropterus punctulatusspotted bassF,R
Micropterus salmoideslargemouth bassF,R
Micropterus cataractaeshoal bassF,S,R
Minytrema melanopsspotted suckerF
Misgurnus anguillicaudatusoriental weatherfishF,X-pos
Monopterus albus (closeup)Asian swamp eelX-est
Morone chrysopswhite bassF,R
Morone chrysops X M. saxatilissunshine bassF,R manmade hybrid
Morone saxatilis X M. chrysopspalmetto bassF,R  manmade hybrid
Morone saxatilisstriped bassF,R anadromous up north
Moxostoma carinatumriver redhorseF,R
Moxostoma poecilurumblacktail redhorseF,R
Moxostoma sp.greyfin redhorseF,R
Mugil cephalusstriped mulletM,B,F,R
Mugil curemawhite mulletM,B,R
Myrophis punctatusspeckled worm eelM,B,R
Nocomis leptocephalusbluehead chubF
Notemigonus crysoleucasgolden shinerF
Notopterus chitalaclown knifefishF,X-pos
Notropis baileyirough shinerF
Notropis chalybaeusironcolor shinerF
Notropis cummingsaedusky shinerF
Notropis emiliaepugnose minnowF
Notropis harperiredeye chubF
Notropis longirostrislongnose shinerF
Notropis maculatustaillight shinerF
Notropis melanostomusblackmouth shinerF,E
Notropis petersonicoastal shinerF
Notropis texanusweed shinerF
Noturus funebrisblack madtomF
Noturus gyrinustadpole madtomF
Noturus leptacanthusspeckled madtomF
Opisthonema oglinumAtlantic thread herringM,B
Oreochromus mossambicatilapia mozambiqueF,X-est
Orthopristis chrysopterapigfishM,B
Osteoglossum bicirrhosumarawanaF,X-col
Oxydoras nigerthorny catfishF,X-col
Pangasius sutchiswaiF,X-col
Paralichthys lethostigmasouthern flounderM,B,R
Perca flavescensyellow perchF,R
Percina austropercaSouthern logperchF
Percina nigrofasciatablackbanded darterF
Percina vigilsaddleback darterF
Petromyzon marinussea lampreyM,B
Phractocephalus hemioliopterusredtail catfishF,X-col
Piricatus brachypomuspirapatingiaF,X-col
Platydoras costatusRaphael's catfishF,X-col
Poecilia hybridblack mollyF,X-col
Poecilia latipinnasailfin mollyF
Poecilia reticulataguppyF,X-for
Poecilia sphenopsliberty mollyF,X-col
Polypterus delhezibarred bichirF,X-col
Pomoxis annulariswhite crappie (possibly)F
Pomoxis nigromaculatusblack crappieF,R
Pseudodoras nigerripsaw catfishF,X-col
Pterodoras granulosusgranulated catfishF,X-col
Pteronotropis grandipinnisApalachee shinerF
Pteronotropis hypselopterussailfin shinerF
Pteronotropis signipinnisflagfin shinerF
Pteronotropis welakabluenose shinerF,S
Pterophyllum scalarefreshwater angel fishF,X-col
Pterygoplichthys disjunctivusvermiculated sailfin catfishF,X-est
Pterygoplichthys multiradiatussailfin catfishF,X-est
Puntius conchoniusrosy barbF,X-col
Puntius geliusdwarf barbF,X-col
Puntius tetrazonatiger barbF,X-col
Pygocentrus nattererired piranhaF,X-col
Pylodictis olivarisflathead catfishF,X-est
Rivulus marmoratusrivulusM,B,S
Sarotherodon melanotheronblackchin tilapiaF,X-est
Sciaenops ocellatusred drumM,B,R
Semotilus thoreauianusDixie chubF
Serrasalmus humeralispirambebaF,X-for
Serrasalmus natterericaribeF,X-col
Serrasalmus rhombeuswhite piranha, redeyeF,X-col
Stizostedion canadensesaugerF,X-col
Strongylura marinaAtlantic needlefishM,B,F
Strongylura notataredfin needlefishM,B
Strongylura timucutimucuM,B
Syngnathus scovelligulf pipefishM,B,F
Oreochromis (Tilapia) aureablue tilapiaF,X-est,R
Therapis (?) hybridno common nameF,X-pos
Tilapia hybridred tilapiaF,X-col
Tilapia mariaespotted tilapiaF,X-est
Tilapia melanotheronblackchin tilapiaF,X-est
Tilapia mossambicaMozambique tilapiaF,X-est
Tilapia sparrmanibanded tilapiaF,X-col
Tilapia zilliredbelly tilapiaF,X-for
Trichogaster leeripearl gouramiF,X-col
Trichogaster trichopterusblue gouramiF,X-col
Trichopsis vittatacroaking gouramiF,X-pos
Trinectes maculatushogchokerFc
Umbra pygmaeaeastern mudminnowF
Xiphophorus hellerigreen swordtailF,X-for
Xiphophorus maculatussouthern platyfishF,X-for
Xiphophorus variatusvariable platyfishF,X-pos

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Index By Common Name

Airbreathing catfish
Air-sac catfish
Alligator gar
American eel
American shad
Atlantic sturgeon
Bighead carp
Black acara--N
Black bass
Black crappie
Blacktail redhorse
Blue catfish
Blue tilapia--N/R
Bluegill
Bowfin
Brown bullhead
Bullseye snakehead--N/P
Butterfly Peacock -- N
Chain pickerel
Channel catfish
Clown knifefish--N
Common carp--N
Dorados--R
Electric catfish--P
Electric eel--P
Flathead catfish
Flier
Florida bass
Florida gar
Freshwater Stingray--N
Golden shiner
Grass carp--N/R
Grayfin redhorse
Green sunfish--P
Highfin Carpsucker
Jaguar guapote--N
Lake Chubsucker
Lamprey--P
Largemouth bass
Longnose gar
Mayan cichlid--N
Midas cichlid--N
Mosquitofish
Nile Perch--R
Oscar--N
Piranha--P
Quillback
Redbreast sunfish
Redear sunfish
Redeye bass
Redfin pickerel
River Redhorse
Sharpfin Chubsucker
Shoal bass
Shortnose sturgeon
Silver Carp--R
Skipjack herring
Snail carp--R
Snakehead--P
Spotted bass
Spotted gar
Spotted sucker
Spotted sunfish
Spotted tilapia--N/P
Striped bass
Suckermouth catfish--N/P
Sunshine bass
Suwannee bass
Swamp eel--N
Trahira--P
Walking catfish--N/R
Warmouth
White bass
White catfish
Yellow bullhead
 

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