List of fishes of the North Sea

List of fish of the North Sea consists of 201 species, both indigenous, and also introduced, listed in systematic index. It includes 40 species of Chondrichthyes, three species of Agnatha, the other are bony fishes.^[1]

The following tags are used to indicate the conservation status of species by IUCN's criteria:

EX	Extinct
CR	Critically endangered
EN	Endangered
VU	Vulnerable
NT	Near threatened
LC	Least concern
DD	Data deficient
NE	Not evaluated

All the listed species are classified by their origin as native, introduced, invasive, and species found accidentally (difficult to characterize as native or invasive).

List

Scientific name	Taxa authority	English name	Origin	IUCN status	Image
Ordo: Myxiniformes
Family: Myxinidae
Myxine glutinosa	Linnaeus, 1758	Atlantic hagfish	Native	Least concern
Ordo: Petromyzontiformes
Family: Petromyzontidae
Lampetra fluviatilis	(Linnaeus, 1758)	European river lamprey	Native	Least concern
Petromyzon marinus	Linnaeus, 1758	Sea lamprey	Native	Least concern
Ordo: Chimaeriformes
Family: Chimaeridae
Chimaera monstrosa	Linnaeus, 1758	Rabbit fish	Native	Near threatened
Ordo: Squaliformes
Family: Somniosidae
Centroscymnus coelolepis	(du Bocage & Capello, 1864)	Portuguese dogfish	Native	Near threatened
Centroselachus crepidater	(du Bocage & Capello, 1864)	Longnose velvet dogfish	Native	Least concern
Somniosus microcephalus	Bloch & Schneider, 1801	Greenland shark	Native	Near threatened
Family: Centrophoridae
Centrophorus squamosus	(Bonnaterre, 1788)	Leafscale gulper shark	Native	Vulnerable
Deania calcea	(Lowe, 1839)	Birdbeak dogfish	Native	Least concern
Family: Dalatiidae
Dalatias licha	(Bonnaterre, 1788)	Kitefin shark	Native	Near threatened
Family: Echinorhinidae
Echinorhinus brucus	(Bonnaterre, 1788)	Bramble shark	Native	Data deficient
Family: Etmopteridae
Etmopterus princeps	(Collett, 1904)	Great lanternshark	Native	Data deficient
Etmopterus spinax	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Velvet belly lanternshark	Native	Least concern
Family: Squalidae
Squalus acanthias	Linnaeus, 1758	Spiny dogfish	Native	Vulnerable
Ordo: Squatiniformes
Family: Squatinidae
Squatina squatina	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Angelshark	Native	Critically endangered
Ordo: Hexanchiformes
Family: Hexanchidae
Hexanchus griseus	(Bonnaterre, 1788)	Bluntnose sixgill shark	Native	Near threatened
Ordo: Lamniformes
Family: Alopiidae
Alopias vulpinus	(Bonnaterre, 1788)	Common thresher	Native	Vulnerable
Family: Cetorhinidae
Cetorhinus maximus	(Gunnerus, 1765)	Basking shark	Native	Vulnerable
Family: Lamnidae
Lamna nasus	(Bonnaterre, 1788)	Porbeagle	Native	Vulnerable
Ordo: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharhinidae
Galeorhinus galeus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	School shark	Native	Vulnerable
Prionace glauca	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Blue shark	Native	Near threatened
Family: Triakidae
Mustelus asterias	Cloquet, 1821	Starry smooth-hound	Native	Least concern
Family: Scyliorhinidae
Galeus melastomus	Rafinesque, 1810	Blackmouth catshark	Native	Least concern
Scyliorhinus canicula	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Small-spotted catshark	Native	Least concern
Scyliorhinus stellaris	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Nursehound	Native	Near threatened
Ordo: Torpediniformes
Family: Torpedinidae
Torpedo marmorata	Risso, 1810	Marbled electric ray	Native	Data deficient
Torpedo nobiliana	Bonaparte, 1835	Atlantic torpedo	Native	Data deficient
Ordo: Rajiformes
Family: Rajidae
Amblyraja radiata	(Donovan, 1808)	Thorny skate	Native	Vulnerable
Dipturus batis	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Common skate	Native	Critically endangered
Dipturus linteus	(Fries, 1838)	Sailray	Native	Least concern
Dipturus nidarosiensis	(Storm, 1881)	Norwegian skate	Native	Near threatened
Dipturus oxyrinchus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Longnosed skate	Native	Near threatened
Leucoraja circularis	(Couch, 1838)	Sandy ray	Native	Vulnerable
Leucoraja fullonica	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Shagreen ray	Native	Near threatened
Leucoraja naevus	(Müller & Henle, 1841)	Cuckoo ray	Native	Least concern
Raja brachyura	Lafont, 1871	Blonde ray	Native	Near threatened
Raja clavata	Linnaeus, 1758	Thornback ray	Native	Near threatened
Raja montagui	(Fowler, 1910)	Spotted ray	Native	Least concern
Rajella fyllae	(Lütken, 1887)	Round ray	Native	Least concern
Ordo: Myliobatiformes
Family: Dasyatidae
Dasyatis pastinaca	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Common stingray	Native	Data deficient
Pteroplatytrygon violacea	(Bonaparte, 1832)	Pelagic stingray	Native	Least concern
Myliobatis aquila	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Common eagle ray	Native	Data deficient
Ordo: Acipenseriformes
Family: Acipenseridae
Acipenser sturio	Linnaeus, 1758	European sea sturgeon	Native	Critically endangered
Ordo: Anguilliformes
Family: Anguillidae
Anguilla anguilla	(Linnaeus, 1758)	European eel	Native	Critically endangered
Conger conger	(Linnaeus, 1758)	European conger	Native	Not evaluated
Nemichthys scolopaceus	Richardson, 1848	Slender snipe eel	Native	Not evaluated
Ordo: Clupeiformes
Family: Clupeidae
Alosa alosa	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Allis shad	Native	Least concern
Alosa fallax	Lacépède, 1800	Twait shad	Native	Least concern
Clupea harengus	Linnaeus, 1758	Atlantic herring	Native	Least concern
Engraulis encrasicolus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	European anchovy	Native	Not evaluated
Sardina pilchardus	(Walbaum, 1792)	European pilchard	Native	Not evaluated
Sprattus sprattus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	European sprat	Native	Not evaluated
Ordo: Argentiniformes
Family: Argentinidae
Argentina silus	(Ascanius, 1775)	Greater argentine	Native	Not evaluated
Argentina sphyraena	Linnaeus, 1758	Argentine	Native	Not evaluated
Ordo: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Coregonus oxyrinchus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Houting	Native	Extinct
Salmo salar	Linnaeus, 1758	Atlantic salmon	Native	Least concern
Salmo trutta	Linnaeus, 1758	Brown trout	Native	Least concern
Salvelinus alpinus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Arctic char	Native	Least concern
Ordo: Osmeriformes
Family: Osmeridae
Osmerus eperlanus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	European smelt	Native	Least concern
Ordo: Ophidiiformes
Family: Carapidae
Echiodon drummondii	Thompson, 1837	Drummond's pearlfish	Native	Least concern
Ordo: Stomiiformes
Family: Sternoptychidae
Argyropelecus olfersii	(Cuvier, 1829)	Silver hatchetfish	Native	Not evaluated
Maurolicus muelleri	(Gmelin, 1789)	Mueller's pearlside	Native	Not evaluated
Ordo: Aulopiformes
Family: Paralepididae
Arctozenus risso	(Bonaparte, 1840)	Spotted barracudina	Accidental	Not evaluated
Paralepis coregonoides	Risso, 1820	Sharpchin barracudina	Native	Not evaluated
Ordo: Myctophiformes
Family: Myctophidae
Benthosema glaciale	(Reinhardt, 1837)	Glacier lantern fish	Accidental	Not evaluated
Myctophum punctatum	Rafinesque, 1810	Spotted lanternfish	Native	Not evaluated
Ordo: Gadiformes
Family: Gadidae
Gadiculus thori	Schmidt, 1913	Silvery pout	Native	Not evaluated
Gadus morhua	Linnaeus, 1758	Atlantic cod	Native	Vulnerable
Melanogrammus aeglefinus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Haddock	Native	Vulnerable
Merlangius merlangus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Whiting	Native	Not evaluated
Micromesistius poutassou	(Risso, 1827)	Blue whiting	Native	Not evaluated
Pollachius pollachius	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Pollack	Native	Not evaluated
Pollachius virens	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Coalfish	Native	Not evaluated
Raniceps raninus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Tadpole fish	Native	Not evaluated
Trisopterus esmarkii	Nilsson, 1855	Norway pout	Native	Not evaluated
Trisopterus luscus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Pouting	Native	Not evaluated
Trisopterus minutus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Poor cod	Native	Least concern
Family: Lotidae
Brosme brosme	(Ascanius, 1772)	Cusk	Native	Not evaluated
Ciliata mustela	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Fivebeard rockling	Native	Not evaluated
Ciliata septentrionalis	(Collett, 1875)	Northern rockling	Native	Not evaluated
Enchelyopus cimbrius	(Linnaeus, 1766)	Fourbeard rockling	Native	Not evaluated
Gaidropsarus mediterraneus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Shore rockling	Native	Not evaluated
Gaidropsarus vulgaris	(Cloquet, 1824)	Three-bearded rockling	Native	Not evaluated
Molva dypterygia	(Pennant, 1784)	Blue ling	Native	Not evaluated
Molva molva	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Common ling	Native	Not evaluated
Coryphaenoides rupestris	Gunnerus, 1765	Roundnose grenadier	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Merlucciidae
Merluccius merluccius	(Linnaeus, 1758)	European hake	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Phycidae
Phycis blennoides	(Brünnich, 1768)	Greater forkbeard	Native	Not evaluated
Ordo: Lampriformes
Family: Lampridae
Lampris guttatus	(Brünnich, 1788)	Opah	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Regalecidae
Regalecus glesne	Ascanius, 1772	Giant oarfish	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Trachipteridae
Trachipterus arcticus	(Brünnich, 1788)	Dealfish	Accidental	Not evaluated
Ordo: Lophiiformes
Family: Lophiidae
Lophius budegassa	Spinola, 1807	Blackbellied angler	Native	Not evaluated
Lophius piscatorius	Linnaeus, 1758	Sea-devil	Native	Not evaluated
Ordo: Atheriniformes
Family: Atherinidae
Atherina boyeri	Risso, 1810	Big-scale sand smelt	Invasive	Least concern
Atherina presbyter	Cuvier, 1829	Sand smelt	Native	Not evaluated
Ordo: Beloniformes
Family: Belonidae
Belone belone	(Linnaeus, 1761)	Garfish	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Scomberesocidae
Scomberesox saurus	(Walbaum, 1792)	Atlantic saury	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Exocoetidae
Cheilopogon heterurus	(Rafinesque, 1810)	Mediterranean flyingfish	Native	Not evaluated
Ordo: Gasterosteiformes
Family: Gasterosteidae
Gasterosteus aculeatus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Three-spined stickleback	Native	Least concern
Spinachia spinachia	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Fifteenspine stickleback	Native	Not evaluated
Ordo: Syngnathiformes
Family: Centriscidae
Macroramphosus scolopax	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Longspine snipefish	Native	Least concern
Family: Syngnathidae
Entelurus aequoreus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Snake pipefish	Native	Not evaluated
Nerophis lumbriciformis	(Jenyns, 1835)	Worm pipefish	Native	Not evaluated
Nerophis ophidion	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Straightnose pipefish	Native	Not evaluated
Syngnathus acus	Linnaeus, 1758	Greater pipefish	Native	Not evaluated
Syngnathus rostellatus	Nilsson, 1855	Lesser pipefish	Native	Not evaluated
Syngnathus typhle	Linnaeus, 1758	Broadnosed pipefish	Native	Not evaluated
Hippocampus hippocampus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Short-snouted seahorse	Native	Data deficient
Ordo: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Aspius aspius	Linnaeus, 1758	Asp	Accidental	Not evaluated
Ordo: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Agonidae
Agonus cataphractus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Armed bullhead	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Cottidae
Artediellus atlanticus	Jordan & Evermann, 1898	Atlantic hookear sculpin	Native	Least concern
Icelus bicornis	(Reinhardt, 1840)	Twohorn sculpin	Native	Not evaluated
Taurulus bubalis	(Euphrasén, 1786)	Longspined sea-scorpion	Native	Not evaluated
Micrenophrys lilljeborgii	(Collett, 1875)	Norway bullhead	Native	Not evaluated
Myoxocephalus scorpius	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Shorthorn sculpin	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Cyclopteridae
Cyclopterus lumpus	Linnaeus, 1758	Lumpsucker	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Triglidae
Aspitrigla cuculus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Red gurnard	Native	Not evaluated
Chelidonichthys lucerna	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Tub gurnard	Native	Not evaluated
Eutrigla gurnardus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Grey gurnard	Native	Not evaluated
Trigla lyra	Linnaeus, 1758	Piper gurnard	Native	Not evaluated
Trigloporus lastoviza	(Bonnaterre, 1788)	Streaked gurnard	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Liparidae
Careproctus reinhardti	(Krøyer, 1862)	Sea tadpole	Native	Not evaluated
Liparis liparis	(Linnaeus, 1766)	Common seasnail	Native	Least concern
Liparis montagui	(Donovan, 1804)	Montagu's seasnail	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Sebastidae
Helicolenus dactylopterus	Delaroche, 1809	Blackbelly rosefish	Native	Not evaluated
Sebastes mentella	Travin, 1951	Deepwater redfish	Native	Least concern
Sebastes norvegicus	(Ascanius, 1772)	Golden redfish	Native	Not evaluated
Sebastes viviparus	Krøyer, 1845	Norway redfish	Native	Not evaluated
Triglops murrayi	Günther, 1888	Moustache sculpin	Native	Not evaluated
Ordo: Perciformes
Family: Mugilidae
Chelon labrosus	(Risso, 1827)	Thicklip grey mullet	Native	Least concern
Liza aurata	(Risso, 1810)	Golden grey mullet	Native	Least concern
Liza ramada	(Risso, 1827)	Thinlip mullet	Native	Least concern
Family: Bramidae
Brama brama	(Bonnaterre, 1788)	Pomfret	Native	Not evaluated
Taractes asper	Lowe, 1843	Rough pomfret	Native	Not evaluated
Pterycombus brama	Fries, 1837	Atlantic fanfish	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Moronidae
Dicentrarchus labrax	(Linnaeus, 1758)	European seabass	Native	Least concern
Family: Mullidae
Mullus barbatus	Linnaeus, 1758	Red mullet	Native	Not evaluated
Mullus surmuletus	Linnaeus, 1758	Striped red mullet	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Sciaenidae
Argyrosomus regius	(Asso, 1801)	Meagre	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Sparidae
Boops boops	Linnaeus, 1758	Bogue	Native	Not evaluated
Dentex maroccanus	Valenciennes, 1830	Morocco dentex	Native	Not evaluated
Pagellus acarne	(Risso, 1827)	Axillary seabream	Native	Not evaluated
Pagellus bogaraveo	(Brünnich, 1768)	Blackspot seabream	Native	Not evaluated
Pagellus erythrinus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Common pandora	Native	Not evaluated
Sarpa salpa	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Salema porgy	Native	Not evaluated
Sparus aurata	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Gilt-head bream	Native	Not evaluated
Spondyliosoma cantharus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Black seabream	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Echeneidae
Remora remora	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Common remora	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Carangidae
Naucrates ductor	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Pilot fish	Native	Not evaluated
Trachinotus ovatus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Pompano	Native	Not evaluated
Trachurus trachurus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Atlantic horse mackerel	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Gobiidae
Aphia minuta	(Risso, 1810)	Transparent goby	Native	Not evaluated
Buenia jeffreysii	(Günther, 1867)	Jeffrey's goby	Native	Not evaluated
Crystallogobius linearis	(de Düben, 1845)	Crystal goby	Native	Not evaluated
Gobius niger	Linnaeus, 1758	Black goby	Native	Not evaluated
Gobiusculus flavescens	(Fabricius, 1779)	Two-spotted goby	Native	Not evaluated
Lesueurigobius friesii	(Malm, 1874)	Fries's goby	Native	Not evaluated
Neogobius melanostomus	(Pallas, 1814)	Round goby	Introduced[2]	Least concern
Pomatoschistus lozanoi	(F. de Buen, 1923)	Lozano's goby	Native	Not evaluated
Pomatoschistus microps	(Krøyer, 1838)	Common goby	Native	Least concern
Pomatoschistus minutus	(Pallas, 1770)	Sand goby	Native	Not evaluated
Pomatoschistus pictus	(Malm, 1865)	Painted goby	Native	Not evaluated
Thorogobius ephippiatus	(R. T. Lowe, 1839)	Leopard-spotted goby	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Blenniidae
Lipophrys pholis	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Shanny	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Stichaeidae
Chirolophis ascanii	(Walbaum, 1792)	Yarrell's blenny	Native	Not evaluated
Leptoclinus maculatus	(Fries, 1838)	Daubed shanny	Native	Not evaluated
Lumpenus lampretaeformis	(Walbaum, 1792)	Snakeblenny	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Pholidae
Pholis gunnellus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Rock gunnel	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Zoarcidae
Lycodes vahlii	Reinhardt, 1831	Vahl's eelpout	Accidental	Not evaluated
Zoarces viviparus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Viviparous eelpout	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Callionymidae
Callionymus lyra	Linnaeus, 1758	Common dragonet	Native	Not evaluated
Callionymus maculatus	Rafinesque, 1810	Spotted dragonet	Native	Not evaluated
Callionymus reticulatus	Valenciennes, 1837	Reticulated dragonet	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Labridae
Centrolabrus exoletus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Rock cook	Native	Least concern
Coris julis	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Mediterranean rainbow wrasse	Native	Least concern
Ctenolabrus rupestris	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Goldsinny wrasse	Native	Least concern
Labrus bergylta	Ascanius, 1767	Ballan wrasse	Native	Least concern
Labrus mixtus	Linnaeus, 1758	Cuckoo wrasse	Native	Least concern
Symphodus melops	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Corkwing wrasse	Native	Least concern
Family: Scombridae
Euthynnus alletteratus	(Rafinesque, 1810)	Little tunny	Native	Least concern
Katsuwonus pelamis	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Skipjack tuna	Native	Least concern
Orcynopsis unicolor	(Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817)	Plain bonito	Native	Least concern
Sarda sarda	(Bloch, 1793)	Atlantic bonito	Native	Least concern
Scomber scombrus	Linnaeus, 1758	Atlantic mackerel	Native	Least concern
Thunnus thynnus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Atlantic bluefin tuna	Native	Endangered
Family: Xiphiidae
Xiphias gladius	Linnaeus, 1758	Swordfish	Native	Least concern
Family: Ammodytidae
Ammodytes marinus	Raitt, 1934	Raitt's sand eel	Native	Not evaluated
Ammodytes tobianus	Linnaeus, 1758	Small sandeel	Native	Not evaluated
Gymnammodytes semisquamatus	(Jourdain, 1879)	Smooth sandeel	Native	Not evaluated
Hyperoplus immaculatus	(Corbin, 1950)	Greater sand-eel	Native	Not evaluated
Hyperoplus lanceolatus	(Le Sauvage, 1824)	Great sandeel	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Anarhichadidae
Anarhichas lupus	Linnaeus, 1758	Atlantic wolffish	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Trachinidae
Echiichthys vipera	(Cuvier, 1829)	Lesser weever	Native	Not evaluated
Trachinus draco	Linnaeus, 1758	Greater weever	Native	Not evaluated
Ordo: Pleuronectiformes
Family: Bothidae
Arnoglossus laterna	(Walbaum, 1792)	Mediterranean scaldfish	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Pleuronectidae
Glyptocephalus cynoglossus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Witch	Native	Not evaluated
Hippoglossoides platessoides	(O. Fabricius, 1780)	American plaice	Native	Not evaluated
Hippoglossus hippoglossus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Atlantic halibut	Native	Endangered
Limanda limanda	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Common dab	Native	Not evaluated
Microstomus kitt	(Walbaum, 1792)	Lemon sole	Native	Not evaluated
Platichthys flesus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	European flounder	Native	Least concern
Pleuronectes platessa	(Linnaeus, 1758)	European plaice	Native	Least concern
Family: Scophthalmidae
Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis	(Walbaum, 1792)	Megrim	Native	Not evaluated
Phrynorhombus norvegicus	(Günther, 1862)	Norwegian topknot	Native	Not evaluated
Scophthalmus maximus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Turbot	Native	Not evaluated
Scophthalmus rhombus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Brill	Native	Not evaluated
Zeugopterus punctatus	(Bloch, 1787)	Topknot	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Soleidae
Buglossidium luteum	(Risso, 1810)	Solenette	Native	Least concern
Microchirus variegatus	(Donovan, 1808)	Thickback sole	Native	Not evaluated
Solea solea	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Common sole	Native	Not evaluated
Ordo: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Molidae
Mola mola	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Ocean sunfish	Native	Not evaluated
Ranzania laevis	(Pennant, 1776)	Slender sunfish	Native	Not evaluated
Ordo: Beryciformes
Family: Berycidae
Beryx decadactylus	(Cuvier, 1829)	Alfonsino	Native	Not evaluated
Ordo: Zeiformes
Family: Caproidae
Capros aper	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Boar fish	Native	Not evaluated
Family: Zeidae
Zeus faber	(Linnaeus, 1758)	John Dory	Native	Not evaluated

See also

• List of fishes of Germany
• List of fishes of the Black Sea