Marine Fish Species

All saltwater fish species — from shallow coral reefs to the abyssal deep sea. Explore ocean zones, depth ranges, and global distribution.

18,138

Total Species

328

Endangered (EN+CR)

2,394

Edible Species

450

Families

Filtered Endangered Edible only ✕ Clear all

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🔤 Name A–Z 🔴 Threatened First 🍽️ Edible First

49 species

Zonetail butterfly ray

Gymnura zonura

Gymnuridae Endangered Edible

At a Glance

Total species 18,138

Endangered (EN+CR) 328

Edible species 2,394

Families represented 450

Habitat type Marine

Conservation Status

🔴 Critically Endangered 114 🟠 Endangered 214 🟡 Vulnerable 399 🔵 Near Threatened 223 🟢 Least Concern 9,686 ⚪ Data Deficient 2,640 ✕ Clear filter

Edibility Filter

🍽️ Edible species only 2,394 ✕ Clear filter

Ecosystem Facts

🌊

Ocean Zones Most marine fish live in the photic zone (0–200 m) where sunlight penetrates. Below 1,000 m lies the mesopelagic and bathypelagic - home to bioluminescent species rarely seen alive.

🐠

Coral Reef Density Coral reefs cover less than 0.1% of the ocean floor yet support over 25% of all marine fish species - the highest biodiversity density of any marine ecosystem.

🦈

Open Ocean Migrants Pelagic fish like tuna and marlins travel tens of thousands of kilometres annually, tracking warm water currents and seasonal prey aggregations across entire ocean basins.

🌡️

Osmotic Challenge Marine fish lose water to the surrounding salty sea. They compensate by drinking constantly and excreting excess salt via specialised kidney cells and gill chloride cells.

Other Habitats

💧 Freshwater Fish 🌿 Brackish Fish 🔄 Diadromous Fish 🌍 All Habitats

Explore Related

🔴 Endangered Fish 🍽️ Edible Fish Guide ♻️ Sustainable Seafood 🏆 World Record Fish 🔤 All Species A–Z