Fish Species

Identification traits, habitats, techniques and conservation notes for common species in Taiwan.

Black seabream
Acanthopagrus schlegelii

Black Seabream

Coastal waters, harbors and estuaries; mostly bottom-dwelling.

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Largehead hairtail
Trichiurus lepturus

Largehead Hairtail

Coastal mid to bottom layers; often rises at night.

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Japanese seabass
Lateolabrax japonicus

Japanese Seabass

Estuaries, harbors and coasts; tolerant of brackish water.

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Grey mullet
Mugilidae spp.

Grey Mullet

Inside harbors, estuaries and coastal surface layers.

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Rabbitfish
Siganus fuscescens

Rabbitfish

Coastal reefs, breakwaters and algae-covered harbor walls.

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Giant trevally
Caranx ignobilis

Giant Trevally

Rocky coasts, offshore islands and clear tidal currents off breakwaters.

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Bigeye trevally
Caranx sexfasciatus

Bigeye Trevally

Harbors, reefy coasts and current lines; often patrols in schools.

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Yellowfin seabream
Acanthopagrus latus

Yellowfin Seabream

Estuaries, harbors and coastal bottoms; tolerant of brackish water.

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Spotted scat
Scatophagus argus

Spotted Scat

Estuaries, mangroves and brackish harbor waters.

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Mangrove red snapper
Lutjanus argentimaculatus

Mangrove Red Snapper

Estuaries, mangroves, harbors and reefs; loves ambush around structure.

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Japanese jack mackerel
Trachurus japonicus

Japanese Jack Mackerel

Harbors and coastal mid-upper layers; patrols in schools.

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Chub mackerel
Scomber japonicus

Chub Mackerel

Coastal mid-upper layers; migratory and forms large schools.

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Orange-spotted grouper
Epinephelus coioides

Orange-spotted Grouper

Bottom around reefs, estuaries and harbor structure.

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Bartail flathead
Platycephalus indicus

Bartail Flathead

Sandy-muddy coasts, estuaries and harbor bottoms.

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Flathead mullet
Mugil cephalus

Flathead Mullet

Estuaries, harbors and coasts; migrates south to spawn in winter.

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Barracuda
Sphyraena spp.

Barracuda

Harbors, reefy coasts and coastal mid-upper layers; ambushes baitfish schools.

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Needlefish
Hemiramphus spp.

Needlefish

Harbors and coastal surface waters; patrols in schools.

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Nile tilapia
Oreochromis niloticus

Nile Tilapia

Ditches, ponds, reservoirs and slow rivers; tolerant of poor water and wide temperatures.

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Common carp
Cyprinus carpio

Common Carp

Bottom of reservoirs, lakes, ponds and slow rivers.

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Snakehead
Channa spp.

Snakehead

Weedy ponds, ditches and slow water; can breathe air and survive briefly out of water.

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