The underwater world is filled with extraordinary creatures, and some of the most intriguing begin with the first letter of the alphabet: A.
From the tiny yet essential Anchovy to the dazzling Angelfish, and from the powerful Arapaima of the Amazon to the swift Atlantic Bluefin Tuna patrolling the open seas, these creatures highlight the richness and diversity of aquatic life.
Common fish in this group include Atlantic Cod, Asian Carp, Asian Sheepshead Wrasse, Atlantic Mackerel, and many more. Each species plays a vital role in its ecosystem and offers a unique glimpse into the vibrant marine and freshwater habitats. Read on to discover more about these remarkable members of the aquatic alphabet!
Common Fish Names That Start With A
This section explores fish widely recognized by their common names, which often hint at their unique abilities or appearance.
Arapaima
(Arapaima gigas)
Habitat: Amazon and Essequibo River basins in South America
Arapaima are among the world’s largest freshwater fish, known for their remarkable size and unique ability to breathe air due to a modified swim bladder.
Arowana
(Osteoglossum bicirrhosum)
Habitat: River systems in South America, especially in the Amazon
Arowanas are large and graceful fish, highly prized in the aquarium trade for their shimmering scales and dragon-like appearance.
Asian Carp
(Various species from the Cyprinidae family)
Habitat: Large rivers and lakes across Asia and North America
Asian Carp is a collective term for species like Silver, Bighead, and Grass carp. These fish are known for their rapid growth and high reproductive rate, often becoming invasive in new environments.
African Lungfish
(Protopterus aethiopicus)
Habitat: Freshwater habitats throughout Africa
African Lungfish have a unique ability to survive droughts by burrowing into mud and entering a state of suspended animation. They are notable for their lung-like breathing apparatus.
African Butterflyfish
(Pantodon buchholzi)
Habitat: West African freshwater bodies
The African Butterflyfish is a surface-dwelling species, known for its distinctive shape that resembles a butterfly’s wings. It feeds primarily on small insects and is a popular species in the aquarium trade.
African Knife Fish
(Xenomystus nigri)
Habitat: Nile, Niger, Volta, and Chad basins in Africa
This nocturnal species is characterized by its long, slender body and undulating swimming motion. African Knife Fish use weak electrical fields for navigation and communication.
Apistogramma
(Various species from the Cichlidae family)
Habitat: Diverse freshwater habitats in South America
Apistogrammas are small, colorful dwarf cichlids, known for their complex social structures and mating rituals. They exhibit a wide range of color variations and are popular among aquarium enthusiasts.
Asiatic Knifefish
(Notopterus notopterus)
Habitat: Rivers and lakes in South and Southeast Asia
Asiatic Knifefish have an elongated, blade-like body and are capable of producing weak electrical currents. These currents aid in navigation and communication in murky waters.
Saltwater Fish That Start With A
Anchovy
(Engraulis encrasicolus)
Habitat: Coastal waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
Anchovies are small, schooling fish, known for their significant role in marine food chains. They are heavily fished for human consumption and are a key species for many marine predators.
(Gadus morhua)
Habitat: North Atlantic, from the Bay of Biscay to the Arctic Ocean
The Atlantic Cod is a benthic fish famous for its historical importance in international trade. It has a distinct barbel on its chin and can change coloration based on its environment.
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
(Thunnus thynnus)
Habitat: Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea
This species is among the largest and fastest of tunas, highly valued for sushi and sashimi. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna are unique for their ability to regulate body temperature.
(Scomber scombrus)
Habitat: North Atlantic, from North Carolina to Iceland
Known for their speed and agility, Atlantic Mackerels are important both commercially and ecologically. They have iridescent blue-green backs and distinctive black bars on their upper bodies.
(Anarhichas lupus)
Habitat: North Atlantic, particularly in rocky subtidal areas
This fish is notable for its strong canine-like teeth and ability to live in frigid waters. Atlantic Wolffish play a crucial role in controlling sea urchin populations, thus aiding in kelp forest preservation.
Atlantic Menhaden
(Brevoortia tyrannus)
Habitat: Coastal areas of the western Atlantic Ocean
Menhaden are filter feeders, playing a vital role in nutrient cycling. They are commercially significant, primarily for fishmeal and oil production.
Azure Damselfish
(Chrysiptera hemicyanea)
Habitat: Indo-Pacific, including the Great Barrier Reef
These small, vibrant fish are common in coral reef ecosystems. Azure Damselfish are known for their bright blue bodies and aggressive territorial behavior.
10 Most Popular Fish Starting With A
Although we have covered some of these species already, here are the top 10 most popular fish species starting with ‘A’, selected based on them being widely recognizable due to their prevalence in different regions, popularity in the culinary world, or their presence in the aquarium trade.
- Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus)
- Arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum)
- Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)
- Albacore Tuna (Thunnus alalunga)
- Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)
- Asian Carp (Various species)
- Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)
- Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus)
- Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus)
- Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus)
The Complete List of Fish that Start with A
- Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus)
- Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)
- Arapaima (Arapaima gigas)
- Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus)
- Arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum)
- Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)
- Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus)
- Albacore Tuna (Thunnus alalunga)
- African Cichlid (Various species)
- Asiatic Glassfish (Chanda ranga)
- Australian Bass (Macquaria novemaculeata)
- Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)
- Asian Carp (Various species)
- African Lungfish (Protopterus aethiopicus)
- Archerfish (Toxotes jaculatrix)
- African Butterflyfish (Pantodon buchholzi)
- Antarctic Toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni)
- Aurora Cichlid (Amphilophus amarillo)
- Apistogramma (Various species)
- Asiatic Knifefish (Notopterus notopterus)
- Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus)
- Atlantic Mackerel (Scomber scombrus)
- African Knife Fish (Xenomystus nigri)
- Atlantic Wolffish (Anarhichas lupus)
- African Tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus)
- Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus)
- Azure Damselfish (Chrysiptera hemicyanea)
- Alaska Pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus)
- Amberjack (Seriola dumerili)
- Anostomus (Anostomus anostomus)
- African Electric Catfish (Malapterurus electricus)
- African Pike Characin (Hepsetus odoe)
- African Red-eyed Characin (Arnoldichthys spilopterus)
- Aholehole (Kuhlia sandvicensis)
- Airbreathing Catfish (Clarias batrachus)
- Akame (Oplegnathus fasciatus)
- Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula)
- Altum Angelfish (Pterophyllum altum)
- American Eel (Anguilla rostrata)
- American Sole (Achirus lineatus)
- Amur Catfish (Silurus asotus)
- Amur Pike (Esox reichertii)
- Anchoveta (Engraulis ringens)
- Andean Catfish (Astroblepus pholeter)
- Antenna Codlet (Bregmaceros atlanticus)
- Antarctic Icefish (Chaenocephalus aceratus)
- Antarctic Silverfish (Pleuragramma antarcticum)
- Arafura Filefish (Paramonacanthus japonicus)
- Argentine Croaker (Umbrina canosai)
- Argentine Hagfish (Myxine australis)
- Argentine Pearlside (Maurolicus muelleri)
- Ariidae (Arius graeffei)
- Armored Catfish (Pterygoplichthys pardalis)
- Armored Searobin (Peristedion miniatum)
- Arrowtooth Eel (Synaphobranchus kaupii)
- Arrowtooth Flounder (Atheresthes stomias)
- Aruana (Scleropages formosus)
- Asian Arowana (Scleropages formosus)
- Asian Sheepshead Wrasse (Semicossyphus reticulatus)
- Asp (Aspius aspius)
- Atka Mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius)
- Atlantic Bonito (Sarda sarda)
- Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus)
- Atlantic Cutlassfish (Trichiurus lepturus)
- Atlantic Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus)
- Atlantic Horse Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus)
- Atlantic Lizardfish (Synodus saurus)
- Atlantic Moonfish (Selene setapinnis)
- Atlantic Pomfret (Brama brama)
- Atlantic Sharpnose Shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae)
- Atlantic Spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber)
- Atlantic Trumpeter (Latris lineata)
- Atlantic Wreckfish (Polyprion americanus)
- Atule (Atule mate)
- Australian Grayling (Prototroctes maraena)
- Australian Herring (Arripis georgianus)
- Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri)
- Australian Sawtail (Prionurus microlepidotus)
- Australian Sardine (Sardinops sagax)
- Australian Smelt (Retropinna semoni)
- Australian Spotted Mackerel (Scomberomorus munroi)
- Ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis)
- Aztec Tetra (Astyanax mexicanus)
- Azurio (Bodianus rufus)
- Achar (Brycon guatemalensis)
- Atlantic Flyingfish (Cheilopogon melanurus)
- Amethyst Anthias (Pseudanthias pascalus)
- Arabian Angelfish (Pomacanthus asfur)
- Atlantic Wolffish (Anarhichas lupus)
- African Mudsucker (Labeo parvus)
- Amazon Molly (Poecilia formosa)
- African Mottled Eel (Anguilla bengalensis)
- Atlantic Sardine (Sardina pilchardus)
- Atlantic Silverside (Menidia menidia)
- Atlantic Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus)
- Atlantic Thorny Skate (Amblyraja radiata)
- African Pike (Hepsetus odoe)
- African Snakehead (Parachanna africana)
- African Sun Catfish (Horabagrus brachysoma)
- Agassiz’s Corydoras (Corydoras agassizii)
- Agassiz’s Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma agassizii)
- Ageneiosus Catfish (Ageneiosus inermis)
- Agulhas Sole (Austroglossus pectoralis)
- Ahalajebaita (Sparidentex hasta)
- Aholehole (Kuhlia sandvicensis)
- Aiglefin (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)
- Airsac Catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis)
- Akame (Oplegnathus fasciatus)
- Akko (Mugil cephalus)
- Albacore (Thunnus alalunga)
- Albert’s Lyretail (Fundulopanchax gardneri)
- Albino Corydoras (Corydoras aeneus)
FAQs
What fish starts with AB?
A fish species whose common name starts with “Ab” is the Aba Aba (Gymnarchus niloticus). The Aba Aba is a nocturnal fish found in the Nile River and other freshwater bodies in Africa. It is known for its elongated body and electric organ, used for navigation and communication.
What fish starts with AD?
A fish whose common name starts with “Ad” is the Adriatic Sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii). Native to the Adriatic Sea, this sturgeon species is known for its long snout and distinctive rows of bony plates on its back. It’s a large, bottom-dwelling fish, historically valued for its caviar and flesh.
What are the 5 types of fish?
Fish are broadly categorized into five distinct types based on their evolutionary characteristics – Jawless Fish, or Agnatha, such as lampreys and hagfish; Cartilaginous Fish, known as Chondrichthyes, include sharks, rays, and skates; the largest and most diverse group is the Bony Fish, or Osteichthyes, which have skeletons made of bone and encompass the majority of known fish species; lastly, the Lobe-Finned Fish, Sarcopterygii, are unique for their fleshy, lobed fins and are the evolutionary ancestors of terrestrial vertebrates.
What are some popular aquarium fish that start with the letter A?
Popular aquarium fish that start with the letter A include Angelfish, known for their elegant fins and vibrant colors, making them a staple in freshwater tanks. Apistogramma, small and vividly colored, are a favorite in tropical setups. African Cichlids, from the Rift Valley lakes, bring a dynamic mix of color and activity, while Aurora Cichlids offer striking beauty in Central American fish collections.
Are there any endangered fish species beginning with A?
Several fish species beginning with ‘A’ are endangered, such as the Adriatic Sturgeon, facing critical threats from overfishing and habitat loss in its native Adriatic Sea. The Arapaima, one of the largest freshwater fishes from the Amazon, is also endangered due to similar threats.
