List of fishes in the Red Sea
Gulf of Eilat
The Gulf of Eilat is home to 1,270 species of fish, over 3,000 species of invertebrates and corals, dozens of bird species, 4 species of sea turtles, and over 10 species of marine mammals. The Gulf of Eilat is relatively small, and its dimensions reach 1% of the total area of the Red Sea, which is also not large on a global scale. It is as deep as it is – 1,860m – and its opening to the Red Sea itself is shallow and narrow. Water temperatures are borderline: less than 20°C in winter, and the salinity is also extreme, 4.1% salts. These two severely limit the distribution of flora and fauna. Despite all this, the reefs of the Red Sea and its bays are known for their richness and biodiversity.
Deepwater species
See the List of deep water fish of the Red Sea
Demersal species
- Ambassidae
- Ambassis gymnocephalus, Bald glassy
- Ambassis urotaenia, Banded-tail glassy perchlet
- Apistidae
- Apistus carinatus, Ocellated waspfish
- Aploactinidae
- Cocotropus steinitzi
- Ptarmus gallus
- Apogonidae
- Apogon gularis
- Apogon hungi
- Apogon micromaculatus
- Apogon quadrifasciatus, Twostripe cardinal
- Apogon smithi, Smith's cardinalfish
- Apogon spongicolus
- Cheilodipterus novemstriatus, Indian Ocean twospot cardinalfish
- Cheilodipterus pygmaios
- Siphamia permutata
- Ariidae
- Arius thalassinus, Giant seacatfish
- Ariommatidae
- Ariomma dollfusi
- Balistidae
- Abalistes stellaris, Starry triggerfish
- Batrachoididae
- Thalassothia cirrhosa
- Belonidae
- Tylosurus choram (Rüppell, 1837) (Red Sea houndfish)
- Tylosurus crocodilus (Péron & Lesueur, 1821)
- T. c. crocodilus (Péron & Lesueur, 1821) (hound needlefish)
- Blenniidae
- Alloblennius jugularis, Jugular blenny
- Alloblennius pictus
- Alticus kirkii, Kirk's blenny
- Alticus saliens, Leaping blenny
- Antennablennius adenensis, Aden blenny
- Antennablennius australis, Moustached rockskipper
- Antennablennius hypenetes, Arabian blenny
- Ecsenius dentex
- Entomacrodus epalzeocheilos, Fringelip rockskipper
- Hirculops cornifer, Highbrow rockskipper
- Istiblennius flaviumbrinus
- Istiblennius pox, Scarface rockskipper
- Istiblennius unicolor, Pallid rockskipper
- Omobranchus fasciolatus, Arab blenny
- Omobranchus steinitzi
- Parablennius cyclops
- Petroscirtes ancylodon, Arabian fangblenny
- Xiphasia matsubarai, Japanese snake blenny
- Xiphasia setifer, Hairtail blenny
- Bothidae
- Bothus myriaster, Indo-Pacific oval flounder
- Bothus tricirrhitus
- Engyprosopon hureaui, Hureau's flounder
- Engyprosopon latifrons
- Engyprosopon macrolepis
- Engyprosopon maldivensis, Olive wide-eyed flounder
- Callionymidae
- Callionymus bentuviai
- Callionymus erythraeus, Smallhead dragonet
- Callionymus filamentosus, Blotchfin dragonet
- Callionymus gardineri, Longtail dragonet
- Callionymus marleyi, Sand dragonet
- Callionymus muscatensis, Muscat dragonet
- Callionymus oxycephalus
- Diplogrammus infulatus, Sawspine dragonet
- Diplogrammus randalli
- Synchiropus sechellensis
- Caproidae
- Antigonia indica
- Carcharhinidae
- Congridae
- Creediidae
- Limnichthys nitidus, Sand submarine
- Cynoglossidae
- Cynoglossus arel, Largescale tonguesole
- Cynoglossus bilineatus, Fourlined tonguesole
- Cynoglossus dollfusi
- Cynoglossus gilchristi, Ripplefin tonguesole
- Cynoglossus kopsii, Shortheaded tonguesole
- Cynoglossus lachneri, Lachner's tonguesole
- Cynoglossus lingua, Long tongue sole
- Cynoglossus pottii
- Cynoglossus sealarki
- Cyprinodontidae
- Dactylopteridae
- Dactyloptena peterseni, Starry flying gurnard
- Dasyatidae
- Gerreidae
- Gerres filamentosus, Whipfin silverbiddy
- Gobiesocidae
- Lepadichthys erythraeus
- Gobiidae
- Amblyeleotris triguttata, Triplespot shrimpgoby
- Amblygobius magnusi
- Amoya signatus, Tusk goby
- Arcygobius baliurus
- Callogobius amikami
- Callogobius dori
- Callogobius flavobrunneus, Slimy goby
- Coryogalops anomolus, Anomalous goby
- Coryphopterus humeralis
- Cryptocentroides arabicus, Arabian goby
- Favonigobius reichei, Indo-Pacific tropical sand goby
- Fusigobius maximus
- Gobius koseirensis
- Gobius leucomelas
- Hetereleotris diademata
- Hetereleotris vulgaris, Common goby
- Opua elati
- Pleurosicya prognatha
- Pomatoschistus marmoratus, Marbled goby
- Psilogobius randalli
- Silhouettea aegyptia, Red Sea goby
- Silhouettea chaimi
- Silhouettea insinuans, Phantom goby
- Trimma filamentosus
- Gymnuridae
- Haemulidae
- Plectorhinchus faetela
- Pomadasys argenteus, Silver grunt
- Pomadasys hasta
- Pomadasys multimaculatum, Cock grunter
- Pomadasys punctulatus, Lined grunt
- Hemigaleidae
- Holocentridae
- Kraemeriidae
- Kraemeria nuda
- Labridae
- Cheilinus abudjubbe
- Pteragogus pelycus, Sideburn wrasse
- Suezichthys caudavittatus, Spottail wrasse
- Suezichthys russelli, Russell's wrasse
- Xyrichtys bimaculatus, Two-spot razorfish
- Xyrichtys javanicus
- Xyrichtys niger
- Leiognathidae
- Gazza minuta, Toothpony
- Leiognathus berbis, Berber ponyfish
- Leiognathus bindus, Orangefin ponyfish
- Leiognathus elongatus, Slender ponyfish
- Leiognathus equulus, Common ponyfish
- Leiognathus fasciatus, Striped ponyfish
- Leiognathus klunzingeri
- Leiognathus leuciscus, Whipfin ponyfish
- Leiognathus lineolatus, Ornate ponyfish
- Leiognathus splendens, Splendid ponyfish
- Secutor insidiator, Pugnose ponyfish
- Secutor ruconius, Deep pugnose ponyfish
- Liparidae
- Liparis fishelsoni
- Lophiidae
- Lophiomus setigerus, Blackmouth angler
- Lutjanidae
- Pristipomoides multidens, Goldbanded jobfish
- Malacanthidae
- Branchiostegus sawakinensis, Freckled tilefish
- Hoplolatilus oreni
- Microdesmidae
- Paragunnellichthys springeri
- Brachaluteres baueri
- Paraluteres arqat
- Paramonacanthus frenatus, Wedgetail filefish
- Paramonacanthus oblongus, Hair-finned filefish
- Paramonacanthus pusillus
- Stephanolepis diaspros, Reticulated leatherjacket
- Mugilidae
- Liza macrolepis, Largescale mullet
- Liza subviridis, Greenback mullet
- Liza tade, Tade mullet
- Valamugil cunnesius, Longarm mullet
- Mullidae
- Upeneus pori, Por's goatfish
- Upeneus sulphureus, Sulphur goatfish
- Muraenesocidae
- Muraenidae
- Narcinidae
- Heteronarce bentuviai, Elat electric ray
- Nemipteridae
- Nemipterus bipunctatus, Delagoa threadfin bream
- Nemipterus japonicus, Japanese threadfin bream
- Nemipterus peronii, Notchedfin threadfin bream
- Nemipterus randalli, Randall's threadfin bream
- Nemipterus zysron, Slender threadfin bream
- Parascolopsis aspinosa, Smooth dwarf monocle bream
- Parascolopsis eriomma, Rosy dwarf monocle bream
- Parascolopsis inermis, Unarmed dwarf monocle bream
- Parascolopsis townsendi, Scaly dwarf monocle bream
- Nettastomatidae
- Ophichthidae
- Ophidiidae
- Ophidion smithi
- Sirembo jerdoni, Brown-banded cusk-eel
- Opistognathidae
- Stalix davidsheni
- Paralichthyidae
- Pseudorhombus arsius, Largetooth flounder
- Pseudorhombus elevatus, Deep flounder
- Pempheridae
- Pinguipedidae
- Parapercis robinsoni, Smallscale grubfish
- Parapercis simulata
- Parapercis somaliensis, Somali sandperch
- Platycephalidae
- Grammoplites suppositus, Spotfin flathead
- Platycephalus micracanthus
- Rogadius asper, Olive-tailed flathead
- Rogadius pristiger, Thorny flathead
- Sorsogona prionota, Blackblotch flathead
- Plesiopidae
- Plesiops mystaxus, Moustache longfin
- Polynemidae
- Polydactylus plebeius, Striped threadfin
- Polydactylus sextarius, Blackspot threadfin
- Pomacentridae
- Chromis axillaris, Grey chromis
- Neopomacentrus taeniurus, Freshwater demoiselle
- Neopomacentrus miryae
- Priacanthidae
- Priacanthus sagittarius, Arrow bulleye
- Pristidae
- Psettodidae
- Psettodes erumei, Indian spiny turbot
- Pseudochromidae
- Ptereleotridae
- Rhinobatidae
- Rhinobatos granulatus, Sharpnose guitarfish
- Rhinobatos schlegelii, Yellow guitarfish
- Scott Salmon
- Samaridae
- Samaris cristatus, Cockatoo righteye flounder
- Scorpaenidae
- Brachypterois serrulata
- Scorpaenodes steinitzi
- Serranidae
- Epinephelus epistictus, Dotted grouper
- Epinephelus latifasciatus, Striped grouper
- Epinephelus radiatus, Oblique-banded grouper
- Serranus cabrilla, Comber
- Soleidae
- Aseraggodes sinusarabici
- Aseraggodes steinitzi
- Brachirus orientalis, Oriental sole
- Solea elongata, Elongate sole
- Synaptura commersonnii, Commerson's sole
- Sparidae
- Acanthopagrus berda, Picnic seabream
- Acanthopagrus latus, Yellowfin seabream
- Argyrops megalommatus
- Argyrops spinifer, King soldierbream
- Crenidens crenidens, Karenteen seabream
- Lithognathus mormyrus, Striped seabream
- Synanceiidae
- Choridactylus multibarbus, Orangebanded stingfish
- Minous coccineus, Onestick stingfish
- Minous inermis, Alcock's scorpionfish
- Minous monodactylus, Grey stingfish
- Synanceia nana, Red Sea stonefish
- Syngnathidae
- Dunckerocampus boylei, Broad-banded Pipefish
- Hippichthys cyanospilos, Blue-spotted pipefish
- Hippichthys spicifer, Bellybarred pipefish
- Hippocampus fuscus, Sea pony
- Hippocampus jayakari, Jayakar's seahorse
- Hippocampus lichtensteinii, Lichtenstein's seahorse
- Lissocampus bannwarthi
- Siokunichthys herrei
- Syngnathus macrophthalmus
- Syngnathus safina
- Trachyrhamphus longirostris
- Synodontidae
- Terapontidae
- Tetraodontidae
- Lagocephalus lunaris, Green rough-backed puffer
- Lagocephalus spadiceus, Half-smooth golden pufferfish
- Tetrarogidae
- Vespicula bottae
- Torpedinidae
- Triakidae
- Trichonotidae
- Trichonotus nikii
- Triglidae
- Lepidotrigla bispinosa, Bullhorn gurnard
- Lepidotrigla spiloptera, Spotwing gurnard
- Tripterygiidae
- Uranoscopidae
- Uranoscopus bauchotae
- Uranoscopus dahlakensis
- Uranoscopus dollfusi, Dollfus' stargazer
- Uranoscopus fuscomaculatus
- Uranoscopus guttatus
- Uranoscopus oligolepis
Pelagic species
- Alopiidae
- Belonidae
- Platybelone argalus platura
- Tylosurus choram, Red Sea houndfish
- Bregmacerotidae
- Bregmaceros arabicus
- Bregmaceros mcclellandi, Spotted codlet
- Bregmaceros nectabanus, Smallscale codlet
- Carangidae
- Chirocentridae
- Clupeidae
- Amblygaster leiogaster, Smooth-belly sardinella
- Dussumieria acuta, Rainbow sardine
- Dussumieria elopsoides, Slender rainbow sardine
- Etrumeus teres, Round herring
- Herklotsichthys lossei, Gulf herring
- Herklotsichthys punctatus, Spotback herring
- Hilsa kelee, Kelee shad
- Sardinella longiceps, Indian oil sardine
- Spratelloides gracilis, Silver-stripe round herring
- Coryphaenidae
- Echeneidae
- Elopidae
- Engraulidae
- Engraulis encrasicolus, European anchovy
- Stolephorus indicus, Indian anchovy
- Thryssa setirostris, Longjaw thryssa
- Exocoetidae
- Cheilopogon cyanopterus, Margined flyingfish
- Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus altipennis, Smallhead flyingfish
- Cypselurus oligolepis, Largescale flyingfish
- Exocoetus volitans, Tropical two-wing flyingfish
- Hirundichthys rondeletii, Black wing flyingfish
- Hirundichthys socotranus
- Parexocoetus brachypterus, Sailfin flyingfish
- Parexocoetus mento, African sailfin flyingfish
- Hemiramphidae
- Euleptorhamphus viridis, Ribbon halfbeak
- Hemiramphus marginatus, Yellowtip halfbeak
- Hyporhamphus xanthopterus, Red-tipped halfbeak
- Istiophoridae
- Lactariidae
- Leiognathidae
- Leiognathus oblongus, Oblong ponyfish
- Malacanthidae
- Hoplolatilus geo
- Molidae
- Monodactylidae
- Mugilidae
- Liza carinata, Keeled mullet
- Myliobatidae
- Manta ehrenbergii
- Mobula thurstoni, Smoothtail mobula
- Rhincodontidae
- Scombridae
- Auxis rochei rochei, Bullet tuna
- Auxis thazard thazard, Frigate tuna
- Euthynnus affinis, Kawakawa
- Katsuwonus pelamis, Skipjack tuna
- Rastrelliger kanagurta, Indian mackerel
- Sarda orientalis, Striped bonito
- Scomber japonicus, Chub mackerel
- Scomberomorus commerson, Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel
- Thunnus albacares, Yellowfin tuna
- Thunnus tonggol, Longtail tuna
- Serranidae
- Sphyraenidae
- Sphyraena chrysotaenia, Yellowstripe barracuda
- Saurida macrolepis
- Xiphiidae
Reef-associated species
See the List of reef fish of the Red Sea