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FISH CUT-OUTS { 177 images } Created 29 Jun 2013

Cut-out images of many species of freshwater and marine fish. We have done the hard work for you, these photographs being ready to for you to drop into any of your projects. Search for individual species by common or scientific name. Images up to A4 size at 300 dpi are downloadable to registered users with the necessary permissions. Many of the images are available as larger files if required. Please contact us for further information. All images and associated text are protected by copyright restrictions and should not be used or copied without the necessary permission.
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  • Lesser Sand Eel Ammodytes tobianus Length to 20cm<br />
Extremely slender fish. Swims in shoals and can burrow into sand and disappear almost instantly if alarmed. Appears silvery in water; outer of water upper half is greyish-yellow, lower half is silvery white. Dorsal fin starts above pectoral fin.
    142073.jpg
  • Greater Sand Eel Hyperoplus lanceolatus Length to 35cm Extremely slender fish. Swims in shoals and can burrow into sand and disappear almost instantly if alarmed. Appears silvery in water; outer of water upper half is greyish-yellow, lower half is silvery white. Dorsal fin starts behind pectoral fin.
    142072.jpg
  • Sprat Sprattus sprattus Length to 16cm<br />
Shoal-forming Herring relative. Found in open seas but comes inshore in summer in particular. Adult is streamlined, blue-grey above and on sides, silvery-white below. Dorsal fin lies above pelvic fins. Belly has rough, saw-scaled outline. Widespread and fairly common.
    142062.jpg
  • Worm Pipefish Nerophis lumbriciformis Length to 15cm<br />
At first glance, hard to recognise as a living creatures, let alone a fish. Found among seaweeds and under rocks at low water, but easily overlooked. Adult has very slender, stiff body with small dorsal fin; pectoral and tail fins are absent. Snout is short and upcurved creating ‘pug-nosed’ look. Usually dark yellowish-brown. Widespread and locally common in SW and W; mostly absent from E England
    142061.jpg
  • Grey Trigger-fish Ballistes capriscus Lenght to 60cm<br />
Bizarre fish with the look of a tropical species about it. Found on rocky coasts, sometimes around harbour walls. ADULT is oval in outline with relatively small eyes and mouth set far apart. Overall colour buffish brown; dorsal, anal and tail fins are marbled with blue. STATUS Locally common in S and SW; occasional elsewhere.
    142060.jpg
  • Blackspot Sea-bream Pagellus bogaraveo Length to60cm Deep-bodied fish with a blunt head. Typically reddish overall with black spot at base of pectoral fin. Occasional in S. Young venture into estuary mouths.
    142059.jpg
  • Dab Limanda limanda Length to 25cm<br />
Robust flatfish, found on sandy coasts. Adult lives with right side, and eyes (which are relatively large), facing uppermost. Lateral line on upper surface does a curving detour around above pectoral fin. Upper surface is rough and marbled orange-brown and grey. Widespread and locally common except in N and NE; declining everywhere.
    142058.jpg
  • Lemon Sole Microstomus kitt Length to 60cm<br />
Well marked flatfish, found on sand and gravel, and usually sublittoral. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is oval and head is rather small and rounded. Dorsal and anal fins almost reach tail, which is relatively long. Upper surface is marbled grey and yellowish-brown. Widespread and locally common, except in N and NE.
    142057.jpg
  • Boar Fish Capros aper Length to 25cm<br />
Bizarre and unmistakable fish. Typically lives near seabed in deep water. But occasionally occurs inshore (or beached, dead) especially in winter, possibly after surviving trawling bycatch. Adult is laterally flattend, rhomboid in side-on profile with a tall, spiny 1st dorsal fin and very large eyes. Scarce in inshore waters, SW only.
    142056.jpg
  • Whiting Merlangius merlangus Length to 70cm<br />
Streamlined pelagic fish. Young in particular often occur in shallow inshore waters. Adult is brown (can appear bluish) above, silvery below. Note dark spot at base of pectoral fin. Has 3 dorsal fins and 2 anal fins. Lower jaw is slightly shorter the upper; tiny barbel on lower jaw is sometimes present but usually absent. Widespread, commonest in S and W.
    142055.jpg
  • John Dory Zeus faber Length to 80cm<br />
Another bizarre and unmistakable fish. Regular inshore; usually in fairly deep water but sometimes near surface. Adult is incredibly laterally flattened and angular-oval in side-on profile. Dorsal fin is tall and spiny; other fins are relatively large too. Overall colour is silvery yellow with diagnostic black central spot. Widespread, mainly S and W.
    142054.jpg
  • LumpsuckerCyclopterus lumpus Length to 55cm<br />
Unmistakable fish. Usually lives offshore but males, guarding eggs, are sometimes found in rocky shallows. Young sometimes occur pools on lower shore, and among floating rafts of seaweed. Adult is the size and shape of a rugby ball. Skin is lumpy and sometimes covered in parasites. Typically bluish-black above marbled reddish below. Young are often uniformly red or yellow. Widespread but local; commonest in N.
    142048.jpg
  • Nursehound (Bull Huss) Scyliorhinus stellaris egg case Length to 9cm<br />
Long, slender capsule; has a tough skin and long curled tendrils at the corners. May get washed up in bunches.
    142026.jpg
  • Lesser Spotted Catshark (Dogfish) Scyliorhinus canicula egg case Length to 4cm<br />
Capsule small, relatively narrow and translucent; has long curling tendrils at corners, and may be found in small groups.
    142013.jpg
  • Rock Goby Gobius paganellus Length to 12cm<br />
Robust goby. Found in pools and under rocks on lower shore. Adult has relatively large head and tail. Typically body is marbled brown, buff and grey but some individuals can be very dark (especially in spring) leading to confusion with Black Goby. Pale, yellowish-orange outer margin to 1st dorsal fin is diagnostic. It also has more than 50 scales along lateral line. Locally common in S and W; scarce elsewhere.
    141890.jpg
  • Greater Weever Trachinus draco Length to 40cm<br />
Appreciably larger and more colourful than its Lesser cousin. Found on sandy substrates but usually sublittoral. Adult has elongate, laterally flattened shape with upturned mouth and eyes on top of head. Upper parts marbled with yellow, brown and blue; underparts pale. Widespread but local, mainly in S half of Britain.
    141888.jpg
  • Pilchard Sardina pilchardus Length to 25cm<br />
Shoal-forming fish. Found in open seas, often inshore in summer months. Adult is streamlined, bluish above and silvery on sides and below. Scales are relatively large. Dorsal fin starts in front of pelvic fins. Widespread but rather scarce, mainly in SW; numbers much reduced in recent years due to overfishing.
    141887.jpg
  • Cuckoo Wrasse Labrus mixtus Length to 30cm<br />
Colourful distinctive wrasse. Found on rocky coasts, venturing inshore in summer months. Adult has a rather slender body. Male is mostly blue on head, flanks and tail, and pinkish-orange elsewhere. Female is orange with black spots at base of dorsal fin. Widespread and locally common in S and W; almost absent from coast of E England.
    141885.jpg
  • Conger Eel Conger conger Length to 180cm<br />
Impressive eel. Large individuals favour wrecks and rocky crevices and are sometimes seen when snorkelling. Smaller animals are found under rocks at low water. Adult has slender body, blue-grey above, paler below. Eye is relatively large, upper jaw protrudes and dorsal fin starts just behind pectoral fins. Widespread and generally common, least so on E coasts.
    141884.jpg
  • Conger Eel Conger conger Length to 180cm<br />
Impressive eel. Large individuals favour wrecks and rocky crevices and are sometimes seen when snorkelling. Smaller animals are found under rocks at low water. Adult has slender body, blue-grey above, paler below. Eye is relatively large, upper jaw protrudes and dorsal fin starts just behind pectoral fins. Widespread and generally common, least so on E coasts.
    141881.jpg
  • Ballan Wrasse Labrus bergylta Length to 30cm<br />
Our most familiar and colourful wrasse. Found inshore on rocky coasts, sometimes in rockpools too. Adult has a thickset body and a long dorsal fin characteristic of all wrasse. The colour is variable but often marbled reddish-brown or green. Widespread and locally common except off coast of E England.
    141879.jpg
  • Ballan Wrasse Labrus bergylta Length to 30cm<br />
Our most familiar and colourful wrasse. Found inshore on rocky coasts, sometimes in rockpools too. Adult has a thickset body and a long dorsal fin characteristic of all wrasse. The colour is variable but often marbled reddish-brown or green. Widespread and locally common except off coast of E England.
    141874.jpg
  • Atlantic Cod Gadus morhua Length to 1m<br />
Distinctive fish with a proportionately large head. Young in particular venture into inshore waters, especially in winter months. Adult is brown above, slivery below, marbled with golden spots and yellowish hue on flanks. Has 3 dorsal fins and 2 anal fins. Lower jaw is shorter than upper with long barbel. Widespread and fairly common, least so where fished commercially.
    141873.jpg
  • Thick-lipped Grey Mullet Chelon labrosus Length to 60cm<br />
The commonest of our grey mullet species. Ventures into estuaries and bays in summer months. Adult is cigar-shaped overall with a thick tail stock and narrowly tapering head. At its broadest, upper lip width equals or exceeds eye diameter. Overall colour is silvery-grey, darker above than below. Widespread and locally common in S Britain; scarce or absent elsewhere.
    141816.jpg
  • Lesser Spotted Catshark Scyliorhinus canicula Length to 75cm<br />
Familiar inshore fish, better known as a Dogfish. Found in inshore waters, on mixed substrates. Adult is slender and buffish-yellow above with darker spots. Skin is rough, with a texture like sandpaper. The eye has slit-like pupil in bright light. It lays eggs, protected in a tough case, a so called ‘Mermaid’s Purse’. Widespread and locally common, except along E coast.
    141809.jpg
  • Bib Trisopterus luscus Length to 40cm<br />
Attractive, rather deep-bodied fish with relatively tall fins. Adult is golden brown above, silvery blue below. Fins are yellowish, dorsal and tail fins with dark margins. Has 3 dorsal fins and 2 anal fins. Lower jaw is slightly shorter tha upper, with long barbel. Note dark spot at base of pectoral fin. Widespread and generally common in S and W Britain; absent from much of NE.
    141808.jpg
  • Five-bearded Rockling Ciliata mustela Length to 30cm<br />
Elongate, rather cylindrical fish. Found in pools and under rocks on lower shore; adept at slithering into crevices to escape capture. Adult is overall brown above, paler below. 1st dorsal fin has long ray at front; 2nd dorsal fin contuse almost to tail. Head has 5 barbels. Widespread and fairly common, except in N.
    141778.jpg
  • Mackerel Scomber scombrus Length to 55cm<br />
Fast-swimming predatory fish. Shoals are frequent in inshore waters in summer months and popular with anglers. Adult has streamlined body, pointed head and rather small dorsal fins. Small ‘finlets’ extend along top and bottom of narrowly tapering tail stock. Body is greenish with black bands above, silver on sides and whitish below; green colour fades to blue after death. Widespread; locally and seasonally common, especially in S and W.
    141744.jpg
  • Garfish Belone belone Length to 90cm<br />
Unmistakable pelagic fish. Ventures into inshore waters in summer months, along with Mackerel. Adult has a very slender body and long pointed jaws, armed with sharp teeth. Dorsal, anal and tail fins are set far back on body. Green above, silvery on sides and white below. Locally, and seasonally, common, mainly in S and W.
    141743.jpg
  • Common EelAnguilla anguilla Length to 100cm<br />
Similar to Conger Eel but with subtle structural differences. Found in freshwater for much of life but also on rocky shores and in estuaries. Adult is yellowish for much of life, but turns silvery-blue as adult before migration. Compared to Conger note relatively smaller eye, protruding lower jaw, and dorsal fin that starts 1/3 of way down body. Widespread but rather scarce, numbers much reduced in recent years.
    141742.jpg
  • Pollack Pollachius pollachius Length to 125cm<br />
Classic fish of rocky coasts. Adult is beautifully patterned: overall, tinged golden, marbled with silvery-grey spots. Lower jaw protrudes, barbel is absent. Has 3 dorsal fins and 2 anal fins. Widespread and generally common, least so on E coasts.
    141740.jpg
  • Pollack Pollachius pollachius Length to 125cm<br />
Classic fish of rocky coasts. Adult is beautifully patterned: overall, tinged golden, marbled with silvery-grey spots. Lower jaw protrudes, barbel is absent. Has 3 dorsal fins and 2 anal fins. Widespread and generally common, least so on E coasts.
    141739.jpg
  • Common EelAnguilla anguilla Length to 100cm<br />
Similar to Conger Eel but with subtle structural differences. Found in freshwater for much of life but also on rocky shores and in estuaries. Adult is yellowish for much of life, but turns silvery-blue as adult before migration. Compared to Conger note relatively smaller eye, protruding lower jaw, and dorsal fin that starts 1/3 of way down body. Widespread but rather scarce, numbers much reduced in recent years.
    141724.jpg
  • Black Sea-bream Spondyliosoma cantharus Length to 55cm<br />
Deep-bodied fish with a steep profile to the head. Ventures into inshore waters in summer months. Adult is bluish-grey overall, darker above than below and tinged reddish on head and underparts. Dorsal fin has spiny rays; pectoral fins are relatively long. Widespread and fairly common in S and W; commonest from Dorset to Sussex.
    141711.jpg
  • Fifteen-spined Stickleback Spinachia spinachia Length to 15cm<br />
Truly marine stickleback, found in sheltered seas among seaweeds and eelgrass. Adult has a slender body, elongate tail stock and 14-16 dorsal spines. Greenish above, silvery below. Widespread and locally common except in SE.
    141667.jpg
  • Shore Rockling Gaidropsarus mediterraneus Length to 40cm<br />
Elongated, eel-like fish; head has 3 barbels. Found on lower shore, under rocks and in pools. Adult is dark brown overall, paler below than above. Head has 3 barbels. Fin arrangement is similar to that of Five-bearded. Local, SW only. NOTE Young of this species, and other rocklings, are known as ‘mackerel midges’ and are greenish above, silvery below; they are found among drifting seaweed rafts, and tangled hiding places on the seabed.
    141666.jpg
  • Corkwing Wrasse Symphodus melops Length to 15cm<br />
A colourful species of wrasse, found on rocky shores with abundant seaweeds. Adult has variable colouring but is often yellowish or reddish with blue and red banding, especially on head. The is a dark spot at base of tail which is diagnostic. Widespread and locally common in S and W.
    141652.jpg
  • Shanny Lipophrys pholis Length to 15cm<br />
The commonest blenny on British shores. Found in pools and under rocks on lower shore. Moves around in short bursts, seldom swimming far. Typically props itself up on pectoral fins. Adult is elongate, smooth and scaleless with proportionately large head. Has single, long dorsal fin with dip in middle. No tentacles on head. Usually mottled and marbled brown and buff. Widespread and locally common except in SE.
    141650.jpg
  • Shore ClingfishLepadogaster lepadogaster Length to 8cm<br />
Distinctive intertidal fish, found under rocks and in pools on lower shore. Adult is overall tadpole-shaped and broadly flattened, with a pointed snout. Colour is variable but typically yellow or orange with pattern of pale lines and dark spots, and 2 blue eyespots behind real eyes. Note also feathery tentacles in front of eyes. Pelvic fins are modified to form sucker, used for clinging to rocks. Widespread but local, commonest in SW from Dorset to N Wales.
    141613.jpg
  • Plaice Pleuronectes platessa Length to 50cm<br />
A typical flatfish. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is oval-rhomboid with a pointed head and slender tail. Marbled patterning on upper surface is a good match for sand; note the dark-centred red spots. Widespread and locally common.
    141601.jpg
  • Lesser Weever Echiichthys vipera Length to 15cm<br />
Notorious fish, capable of inflicting painful sting in a bather’s foot. Found on sandy beaches, mostly buried in substrate during daytime with just eyes visible. Adult has elongate, laterally flattened body with upturned mouth and eyes on top of head. 1st dorsal fin (with venomous spines) has black membrane; fin is raised in defence. Body is marbled reddish and yellow-grey above, paler below. Widespread and locally common, mainly in S half of Britain.
    141598.jpg
  • Flounder Platichthys flesus Length to 50cm<br />
One of our most widespread and familiar flatfish. Found on sandy substrates, and young animals often occur inshore. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is elongate-oval, and head, tail and tail stock are proportionately large. Mottled patterning resembles sand and gravel. Widespread and locally common.
    141549.jpg
  • Sole Solea solea Length to 50cm <br />
Distinctive flatfish whose outline recalls a shoe sole. Found on sandy substrates on coasts and in estuaries. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Mouth is not terminal, upper pectoral fin has a black spot and skin is rough and patterned to look like sand and gravel. Anal fin has 61-74 rays, dorsal fin 65-78 rays. Black spot on upper pectoral fin is ‘flashed’ as fin is erected in alarm. This looks strikingly similar to ‘warning’ issued by Lesser Weever whose fin spines are venomous.  Widespread and locally common in S half of Britain; scarce further north.
    141540.jpg
  • Turbot Psetta maxima Length to 70cm<br />
Massive flatfish, only juveniles of which are found inshore. Favours sandy substrates. Adult lives with left side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is rhomboid-diamond shaped with a pointed head and long tail. Upper surface is typical mottled grey with pale and black spots. Locally common in S and SW.
    141538.jpg
  • Sole Solea solea Length to 50cm <br />
Distinctive flatfish whose outline recalls a shoe sole. Found on sandy substrates on coasts and in estuaries. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Mouth is not terminal, upper pectoral fin has a black spot and skin is rough and patterned to look like sand and gravel. Anal fin has 61-74 rays, dorsal fin 65-78 rays. Black spot on upper pectoral fin is ‘flashed’ as fin is erected in alarm. This looks strikingly similar to ‘warning’ issued by Lesser Weever whose fin spines are venomous.  Widespread and locally common in S half of Britain; scarce further north.
    141528.jpg
  • Topknot Zeugopterus punctatus Length to 20cm<br />
Distinctive fish. Unusually for flatfish it favours rocky coasts and is quite happy clinging onto vertical sides of rock faces. Adult lives with left side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is round-oval with anal and dorsal fins almost meeting at head end, and continuous with tail. Upper surface is typically marbled reddish brown. Widespread and locally common, except on E coast.
    141527.jpg
  • Sea Scorpion Taurulus bubalis Length to 20cm<br />
A rockpool fish with a large, spiny head is likely to be this species. Adult has an angular, almost lizard-like head; gill covering armed with 4 spines. Lateral line is spiny. Has white barbels at corners of mouth. Colour and patterning is variable and matches background; often marbled reddish-brown, with dark banding. Widespread and locally common, least so in SE.
    141519.jpg
  • Sea Scorpion Taurulus bubalis Length to 20cm<br />
A rockpool fish with a large, spiny head is likely to be this species. Adult has an angular, almost lizard-like head; gill covering armed with 4 spines. Lateral line is spiny. Has white barbels at corners of mouth. Colour and patterning is variable and matches background; often marbled reddish-brown, with dark banding. Widespread and locally common, least so in SE.
    141518.jpg
  • Shore Rockling Gaidropsarus mediterraneus Length to 30cm<br />
Similar to Five-bearded but with 3 barbels. Found on lower shore, under rocks and in pools. Adult is dark brown overall, paler below than above. Head has 3 barbels. Fin arrangement is similar to that of Five-bearded. Local, SW only. NOTE Young of this species, and other rocklings, are known as ‘mackerel midges’ and are greenish above, silvery below; they are found among drifting seaweed rafts, and tangled hiding places on the seabed.
    141517.jpg
  • Angler Lophius piscatorius Length to 200cm<br />
Large, flattened and unmistakable fish. Favours sandy substrates; sometimes seen in shallows, but also in deeper water. Adult has a proportionately large head and tapering tail end. Lies in wait for prey, attracted by slender fishing ‘lure’; these are engulfed by huge mouth, armed with sharp teeth. Marbled brown and buff colours provide good camouflage on seabed. Widespread and fairly common only in W and SW.
    141500.jpg
  • Brill Scophthalmus rhombus Length to 55cm<br />
Beautifully patterned flatfish. Superbly camouflaged against the sandy substrates that if favours. Adult lives with left side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is broadly oval, anal and dorsal fins are broadest towards tail, and anterior rays of dorsal fin are separated into filaments. Locally common only in S and SW, north to Irish Sea.
    141498.jpg
  • Brook Lamprey Lampetra planeri (L 15cm) Elongated fish, resident in unpolluted streams and rivers. It spends most of its 3-5 year lifespan as a larva living buried in silt; here it filters organic matter. Following metamorphosis, adults are sometimes seen spawning in Apilr-May in shallow gravel beds; the sucker is used to move stones to create an egg-laying site. Adults die after spawning.
    139728.jpg
  • Plaice Pleuronectes platessa Length to 50cm<br />
A typical flatfish. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is oval-rhomboid with a pointed head and slender tail. Marbled patterning on upper surface is a good match for sand; note the dark-centred red spots. Widespread and locally common.
    139546.jpg
  • Greater Pipefish Syngnathus acus Length to 50cm<br />
Relatively large and robust by pipefish standards. Found among seaweeds and eelgrass. Adult has long slender body, with pectoral fins, and small tail and dorsal fins. Head is angular-looking with ‘hump’ behind eye; snout is long with concave profile. Typically brown above, paler below, often with dark bands down back. Widespread and locally common in S and W only.
    136771.jpg
  • Perch Perca fluviatilis Length 25-40cm <br />
This is a distinctive and well-marked predatory fish. It forms shoals when young but is usually solitary when large. Adult has a greenish body with broad, vertical dark stripes; it is well camouflaged when lurking among water plants. Note the two separate dorsal fins, the first very spiny; other fins are usually tinged red. The Perch is widespread and common in rivers and lakes in most areas except N Scotland.
    136695.jpg
  • Chub Squalius cephalus Length 30-40cm <br />
This is a streamlined fish with relatively large scales. Adult has a bronze sheen to body with some silvery scaling on the dorsal surface. The pectoral, dorsal and tail fins are dark while the pelvic and anal fins are red. The dorsal and anal fins are convex on their outer edge (they are concave in similar cyprinids). The Chub is locally common in rivers and sizeable streams in lowland England.
    136686.jpg
  • Bullhead Cottus gobio Length 8-15cm <br />
This squat fish has a proportionately large and broad head and fins with spine-tipped rays; it is well camouflaged among stone and gravel stream beds, often hiding under larger stones, and is common only in England and Wales.
    136665.jpg
  • Stone Loach Barbatula barbatula Length 5-10cm<br />
This is an elongate, slim-bodied fish with well developed barbels around the mouth; it is widespread but often overlooked in gravel-bottomed, unpolluted streams and rivers.
    136664.jpg
  • Barbel Barbus barbus Length 20-70cm<br />
A slim-bodied, streamlined and attractive fish. The mouth is sited for bottom feeding and bordered by sensory barbels. Adult has a silvery-brown body and reddish brown fins; the dorsal fin is arched with an incurved outer margin. The Barbel is locally common in moderate flows of larger rivers, mainly in central and S England.
    136663.jpg
  • Grayling Thymallus thymallus Length 30-50cm <br />
An attractive and distinctive fish found in unpolluted flowing water. Adult has a streamlined outline and silvery scales with a large and diagnostic dorsal fin; it also has a small adipose fin, a character shared by Salmon and trout. The Grayling is widespread and locally common in England and Wales (and introduced elsewhere), favouring fast-flowing streams and shallow rivers.
    136659.jpg
  • Bleak Alburnus alburnus Length 12-15cm<br />
A small, shoaling fish with a streamlined, slim body and an upward-opening mouth suited to feeding on insects at the water surface. Adult has a silvery body, darkest above and palest below. The pectoral fins are brownish but other fins are pale pinkish-green. The Bleak is locally common in lowland lakes and slow-flowing rivers.
    136652.jpg
  • Pike Esox lucius Length 30-120cm <br />
A consummate predator. It catches invertebrates when small but large Pike eat other fish and even young water birds. Adult has marbled green and brown markings that afford it good camouflage among water plants. Its streamlined shape and broad tail allow lightning attacks to be carried out, prey being engulfed in the huge mouth and retained by sharp teeth. The Pike is common in weedy lowland lakes, flooded gravel pits and rivers.
    136651.jpg
  • Mackerel Scomber scombrus Length to 55cm<br />
Fast-swimming predatory fish. Shoals are frequent in inshore waters in summer months and popular with anglers. Adult has streamlined body, pointed head and rather small dorsal fins. Small ‘finlets’ extend along top and bottom of narrowly tapering tail stock. Body is greenish with black bands above, silver on sides and whitish below; green colour fades to blue after death. Widespread; locally and seasonally common, especially in S and W.
    136627.jpg
  • European Sea Bass Dicentrarchus labrax Length to 100cm<br />
Fast-swimming, streamlined predator and a popular sport fish. Often occurs close inshore. Adult is silvery-grey overall, darkest on dorsal surface, almost white on belly. Has 2 dorsal fins; 1st is spiny. Widespread but locally common only in S Britain.
    136626.jpg
  • Mackerel Scomber scombrus Length to 55cm<br />
Fast-swimming predatory fish. Shoals are frequent in inshore waters in summer months and popular with anglers. Adult has streamlined body, pointed head and rather small dorsal fins. Small ‘finlets’ extend along top and bottom of narrowly tapering tail stock. Body is greenish with black bands above, silver on sides and whitish below; green colour fades to blue after death. Widespread; locally and seasonally common, especially in S and W.
    136625.jpg
  • Rainbow Trout Salmo gairdneri Length 30-60cm <br />
The Rainbow Trout is a North American species that is widely introduced and farmed commercially in Britain. Adult has greenish upperparts separated from bluish underparts by a pink band along the flanks; the whole body is covered in small dark spots. Despite its alien status, the Rainbow Trout is now widespread and locally common in rivers, lakes and flooded gravel pits, its spread ensured by continual introductions.
    136624.jpg
  • Brown Trout Salmo trutta Length 30-50cm <br />
This familiar sport fish is known in two forms: the Brown Trout, which spends its entire life in freshwater; and the so-called Sea Trout, which only ventures up rivers to breed. Both forms spawn in gravel beds in shallow water. An adult Brown Trout has an orange-brown body adorned with red and black spots; a Sea Trout is pale and silvery with a few dark spots. Brown Trout are widespread and often common in fast-flowing unpolluted rivers and streams. Sea Trout are scarce and declining, found mainly in the W and NW of Britain.
    136622.jpg
  • Common Bream Abramis brama Length 30-50cm <br />
This distinctive, extremely deep-bodied fish has a ‘humpback’ profile behind the head; the body is laterally compressed when viewed head-on. Adult has a golden-brown body, palest below, and dark reddish-grey fins. Bream are locally common in weedy lowland lakes and slow-flowing rivers, mainly in England. Their natural range is completely confused as a result of introductions by anglers.
    136574.jpg
  • Carp Cyprinus carpio Length 25-80cm<br />
Carp are introduced to Britain but long-established in lakes and flooded gravel pits across the region. The ancestral form has a golden-olive colour and even-sized scales; so-called Leather and Mirror Carps are variations with variable size or missing scales. All carp feed on bottom-living invertebrates and plants.
    136573.jpg
  • Rudd Scardinus erythropthalamus Length 20-35cm <br />
Superficially similar to Roach but usually deeper bodied and separable by noting the location of the fins. It is a shoal-forming. Adult has a rather silvery body but typically has a golden tinge on the flanks. The fins are all reddish and note that the dorsal fin lies behind point of origin of the pelvic fins. The Rudd is locally common in lakes and rivers in England, Wales and Ireland.
    136572.jpg
  • Tench Tinca tinca Length 20-40cm<br />
The Tench is a thick-bodied fish with a proportionately large tail and rounded fins; the body is mainly greenish but the belly is flushed red. It is a widespread native of sluggish rivers and weedy lakes.
    136571.jpg
  • Perch Perca fluviatilis Length 25-40cm <br />
This is a distinctive and well-marked predatory fish. It forms shoals when young but is usually solitary when large. Adult has a greenish body with broad, vertical dark stripes; it is well camouflaged when lurking among water plants. Note the two separate dorsal fins, the first very spiny; other fins are usually tinged red. The Perch is widespread and common in rivers and lakes in most areas except N Scotland.
    136568.jpg
  • Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus Length 4-10cm<br />
The Minnow is a small but attractively marked fish with a slim, streamlined body and rounded fins. Shoals are seen in shallows in spring but move to deeper water in winter. Adult at most times of year has a silvery body, darkest above and with dark blotches along the flanks; a breeding male has a red belly. Minnows are widespread and common in rivers and lakes.
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  • Gudgeon Gobio gobio Length 7-15cm <br />
This is a distinctive fish with an extremely slim, streamlined body and sensory barbels around the mouth that help it to detect prey in sediment and sand on the bottom; it is shoal forming during the summer months. Adult has a body that is bluish above and silvery below. The Gudgeon is locally common in streams and rivers.
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  • Dace Leuciscus leuciscus Length 15-25cm <br />
The Dace is a streamlined, shoaling fish that is superficially similar to, but smaller than, a Chub: size and body colour are useful in identification. Adult has a silvery green body, darkest above and palest below. The dorsal and tail fins are dark while other fins are red. The Dace is locally common in lowland rivers and streams.
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  • Roach Rutilus rutilus Length 10-25cm<br />
The Roach is a familiar deep-bodied fish. Adult has a mainly silvery body, that is palest below, red pelvic and anal fins, and reddish brown dorsal, pectoral and tail fins. The dorsal fin is sited above the pelvic fins (cf Rudd). The Roach is common and widespread in England but less so in Wales and Scotland; it is rare in Ireland where, confusingly, the more common Rudd is sometimes called ‘Roach’.
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  • Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus Length 4-7cm<br />
This ‘tiddler’ is a familiar resident of streams and brackish water, recognised at all times by the 3 dorsal spines; it is silvery for most of the year but, in the breeding season, the male acquires a red belly and bluish dorsal sheen.
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