Categories
Last update: November 14, 2022

75+ Popular Fish That Start With S

Did you know that there are over 30,000 distinct species of tropical fish? As additional species are identified, this number will likely continue to increase.

In this piece, we will provide you with a list of our seven favorite tropical fish whose names begin with the letter S. As well as 75+ Popular fish that start with s that might be a fitting match for your aquarium.

Some of them you might be familiar with, while others are so out of the ordinary that I highly doubt you’ve even heard of them. We will refer to them by their common names since, let’s face it, who actually uses the scientific names of animals when they go to the local pet store?

However, for those of you who are more interested in scientific names, I have provided those as well.

Here is a list 7 Popular Fish That Start With S

Other similar posts:

1. Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens)

Popular Fish That Start With S

Betta fish, commonly known as Siamese fighting fish, are widely regarded as one of the most popular fish breeds. Betta fish are an excellent addition to the aquarium of any fish enthusiast. They have brilliant colors and fins that flow.

Only the male betta fish compete with one another. It is feasible to maintain a large number of female bettas together.

Bettas should not be kept in fish bowls, despite the fact that they are usually offered in this manner. Bettas thrive in water that is not too hard, not too warm, and has a pH that ranges from neutral to slightly acidic.

2. Shovelnose Catfish (Sorubim lima)

shutterstock 427731307

Any member of the order Siluriformes can be referred to as a catfish. It is possible to classify catfishes in the same superorder as characins, carp, and minnows (order Cypriniformes), as they are related to these species and belong to the same family.

However, there are some authorities that consider these groups to be suborders rather than a single order.

These authorities have classified these groups as the suborders Siluroidea (which includes catfishes) and Cyprinidae (which includes characins, carp, and minnows) of the order Cypriniformes or Ostariophysi.

The term “catfish” derives from the long barbels, also known as feelers, that surround the fish’s mouth. These feelers resemble cat whiskers in appearance.

Every species of catfish has at least one pair of barbels positioned on the upper jaw; some also have a pair located on the snout, while others have extra pairs located on the chin.

A great number of species of catfish have spines located in front of their dorsal and pectoral fins. Unwary victims who come into contact with these spines may end up suffering excruciating injuries since they are connected to venom glands.

There is not a single species of catfish that possesses scales; all of them are either scaleless or covered in bone plates.

3. Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa)

shutterstock 505588120

Stonefish, also known as Synanceia, are any of many species of poisonous marine fish that belong to the genus Synanceia and the family Synanceiidae.

These fish are often found in the shallow waters of the tropical Indo-Pacific. Stonefish are slow fish that reside on the ocean floor and may be found living amid rocks or coral, as well as on mudflats and estuaries.

They are thick-bodied fish with enormous heads and mouths, small eyes, and rough skins covered with wart like bumps and, at times, fleshy flaps; they lie on the bottom, do not move, and blend in nearly precisely with their environment in both form and color. They are fish that should be avoided.

They are difficult to spot, but when trodden on, they are able to inject large quantities of venom through grooves in the spines of their dorsal fins.

Wounds produced by these fish are intensely painful and sometimes fatal. S. verrucosa, which may reach a length of around 33 centimeters (13 inches), is a species that is commonly seen.

There are a few further species of hardy warty fish that belong to the family Synanceiidae. In the same vein as the stonefish, they are poisonous, but not to the same extent.

In addition to the names rockfish and stonefish, members of the family Scorpaenidae of the order Scorpaeniformes are often referred to as scorpionfish.

4. Sea Catfish (Bagre marinus)

shutterstock 1210592221 1

There are seahorses in the coastal waters of the world that range from tropical to temperate, and they swim erect amid seaweed and other types of vegetation.

Seahorses move forward with the help of their dorsal fins, often known as their back fins. Seahorses are able to control their vertical movement by modifying the amount of air contained in their swim bladders, which is an internal air pocket in their body.

Seahorses are covered from their curled, flexible heads all the way down to their coiled tails in minute, spiky plates. When seahorses wish to secure themselves to plants, they can use their tail’s ability to grab items to their advantage.

5. Salmon (Salmo salar)

fish 2201050 640

Originally, the term “salmon” referred to the huge fish known as the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

However, the name “salmon” has recently been used to refer to other species in the same family (Salmonidae), most notably the Pacific salmon, which belongs to the genus Oncorhynchus.

6. Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)

shutterstock 2211283981

Swordfish, also known as Xiphias gladius, is a popular food and game fish. It is believed to be the only member of the family Xiphiidae, which is part of the order Perciformes.

Swordfish may be found in warm and temperate waters all around the world. The swordfish is a scaleless fish that is elongated and has a towering dorsal fin.

It also possesses a long sword that emerges from its head, which it uses to slash at other fish that it intends to eat. The fact that the sword is flat, as opposed to being rounded like it is in marlins and other spear-nosed fishes, is what led to the term broadbill being given to this species.

The swordfish is easily identifiable due to the absence of pelvic fins as well as teeth on its body. It may grow to a maximum length of around 4.6 meters (15 feet) and a maximum weight of approximately 450 kilograms.

It can seem purple or blue on the top, and silvery on the bottom (1,000 pounds).

7. Snapper (Lutjanus sp.)

fish 5177679 640

One of around 105 species of fish belonging to the family Lutjanidae is referred to as a snapper (order Perciformes). The tropics are home to a wide variety of snappers, many of which inhabit abundant populations.

Snappers are typically quite large fishes, with many reaching a length of 60–90 centimeters. They are schooling fishes that have elongated bodies, huge jaws, strong canine teeth, and blunt or forked tails.

Snappers are active (2–3 feet). They are predators and hunt other fish as well as crabs for their food.

The yellowtail snapper, scientifically known as Ocyurus chrysurus, lives on the Belize Barrier Reef.

Snappers are highly valued food fish owing to their great quality and worth. Ciguatera is a type of poisoning induced by eating some types of fish, such as the Atlantic dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu), which may carry a toxic toxin.

The emperor snapper (Lutjanus sebae), a red and white fish native to the Indo-Pacific; the gray, or mangrove, snapper (Lutjanus griseus), a gray, reddish, or greenish Atlantic fish; and the yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus), a swift-moving Atlantic species with a broad, yellow stripe from the nose to the wholly yellow tail are among the more well-known

The bluefish, a member of the Pomatomidae family, is also known as snapper on occasion.

Freshwater Fish

shutterstock 574943155

1. SAE (Crossocheilus siamensis)

2. Silver ; Red Barb (Hampala macrolepidota)

3. Slender Mbuna (Pseudotropheus elongatus)

4. Southern Soft-Spined Rainbowfish (Rhadinocentrus ornatus)

5. Sajica Cichlid (Cichlasoma sajica)

6. Sailfin Characin (Crenuchus spilurus)

7. Sailfin Pleco (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps)

8. Shad (Alosa fallax)

9. Spiny Eel (Macrognathus aculeatus)

10. Silver Shark (Balantiocheilus melanopterus)

11. Siamese Flying Fox (Crossocheilus siamensis)

12. Silverside (Melanotaenia boesemani)

13. Sculpin (Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus)

14. Spiny Dwarf Catfish (Scoloplax dicra)

15. Sailfin Silverside (Marosatherina ladigesi)

16. Six Barred Epiplatys (Epiplatys sexfaciatus)

17. Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

18. Shortnose Gar (Lepisosteus platostomus)

19. Short-Finned Congo Tetra (Hemigrammopetersius intermedius)

20. Short-Lined Pyrrhulina (Pyrrhulina brevis brevis)

21. Saddled Hillstream Loach (Homaloptera orthogoniata)

22. Sparkling Earth Eater (Satanoperca acuticeps)

23. Shortnose Sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris)

24. Silvertip Tetra (Hasemania nana)

25. Silver Distichodus (Distichodus affinis)

26. Speciosus Cichlid (Lamprologus speciosus)

27. Socolof’s Mbuna (Pseudotropheus socolofi)

28. Slender-Tail Hap (Buccochromis lepturus)

29. Silver Pacu (Colossoma brachypomum)

30. Sind Danio (Devario devario)

Saltwater Fish

shutterstock 427731307

1. Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens)

2. Salmon (Salmo salar)

3. Sailfish (Istiophorus albicans)

4. Sand Diver (Trichonotus filamentosus)

5. Sand Goby (Pomatoschistus minutus)

6. Sabertooth (Coccorella atrata)

7. Sand Dab (Citharichthys sordidus)

8. Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria)

9. Spilotum (Cichlasoma nicaraguense)

10. Saddleback Hill-Stream Loach (Gastromyzon punctulatus)

11. Sajica Cichlid (Cichlasoma sajica)

12. Spiny Fin (Diretmus argenteus)

13. Sparkling Panchax (Aplocheilus lineatus)

14. Seven Spotted Archerfish (Toxotes chatareus)

15. Silver Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus sternicla)

16. South American Darter (Characidium fasciatum)

17. Serrated Piranha (Serrasalmus serrulatus)

18. Sailfin Pleco (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps)

19. Shark (cl. Chondrichthyes)

20. Sandbar Shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)

21. Sacramento Splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus)

22. Socolof’s Tetra (Gymnocorymbus socolofi)

23. Saddle Cichlid (Aequidens tetramerus)

24. Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

25. Sculpin (Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus)

26. Southern Smelt (Retropinna retropinna)

27. Sacramento Blackfish (Orthodon microlepidotus)

28. Snakeskin Gourami (Trichogaster pectoralis)

29. Shovelnose Catfish (Sorubim lima)

30. Southern Soft-Spined Rainbowfish (Rhadinocentrus ornatus)

31. Spot-Line Peacock Cichlid (Cichla temensis)

Tropical Fish

seahorse 1538013 640

1. Spadefish (Platax teira)

2. Snapper (Lutjanus sp.)

3. Squaretail (Tetragonurus cuvieri)

4. Stingray (Myliobatiformes order.)

5. Smooth Dogfish (Mustelus canis)

6. Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)

7. Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa)

8. Seahorse (Hippocampus sp.)

9. Snipefish (Macroramphosus gracilis)

10. Snake Eel (Myrichthys ocellatus)

11. Soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus)

12. Snake Mackerel (Gempylus serpens)

13. Snook (Centropomus undecimalis)

14. Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)

15. Spikefish (Parahollardia lineata)

16. Sawfish (Pristis pristis)

17. Sea Bream (Diplodus vulgaris)

18. Sea Catfish (Bagre marinus)

19. Sea Chub (Girella fimbriata)

20. Sea Devil (Ceratias holboelli)

21. Sea Dragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus)

22. Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)

23. Sea Toad (Chaunacops cf. melanostomu

Conclusion

Finding the names of fish that begin with the letter S might not be a difficult chore, but compiling all of those names into a list was certainly a challenging endeavor.

There are a seemingly endless number of fishes whose names begin with the letter S. We hope that you found this article about 75+ Popular fish that start with s useful in your search for the name of the fish you were interested in. 

This list of fish whose names start with S is by no means complete; there are many more. As they continue to research the natural world, scientists are finding new kinds of fish.

However, thanks to the classification system, it is now much simpler to recognize them and place them in the right category.

Therefore, any new species that are discovered within the family of these mentioned fish, as well as any new orders or classes, will be categorized appropriately. However, the list of species provided is an excellent place to begin.

Ian Sterling

Ian Sterling, founder of Fishlab.com, began his aquarium journey over 30 years ago, driven by a deep fascination for fish and their diverse personalities. His website, Fishlab.com, is dedicated to making fishkeeping accessible and enjoyable, offering beginner-friendly guidance, expert insights, and a community for aquarists to connect and share experiences.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *