# List of fish of the Persian Gulf

This is a list of fish recorded from the Persian Gulf, a penetration of the Indian Ocean bordering Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Trucial States, and an exclave of the sultanate of Oman. This list comprises locally used common names, scientific names and its relashionship with humans, if needed.
List ordering is phylogenetic and taxonomy complies where possible with the current usage in Fishbase, however outdated taxa as the result of splits or renames of synonymy will be updated accordingly.

## Cartilaginous fishes
### Orectolobiformes - groundsharks

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Conservation status |
| Rhincodontidae | Rhincodon typus | Whale shark | Endangered |
| Hemiscylliidae | Chiloscyllium arabicum | Arabian carpetshark | Near threatened |
| Stegostomidae | Stegostoma tigrinium | Zebra shark | Endangered |
| Ginglymostomatidae | Nebrius ferrugineus | Tawny nurse shark | Vulnerable |

### Lamniformes

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status | Image |
| Odontaspididae | Carcharias taurus | Sandtiger shark | | | Critically endangered | |

### Carcharhiniformes - Requiem sharks, hammerheads, weaselsharks, and allies

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Triakidae | Mustelus mosis | Arabian houndshark | | | Near threatened |
| Hemigaleidae | Hemipristis elongata | Snaggletooth shark | | | Endangered |
| Hemigaleidae | Paragaleus longicaudatus | Slender weaselshark | | | Near threatened |
| Carcharhinidae | Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides | Graceful shark | | | Vulnerable |
| Carcharhinidae | Carcharhinus amboinensis | Pigeyed shark | | | Vulnerable |
| Carcharhinidae | Carcharhinus dussumieri | White cheeked shark | | | Endangered |
| Carcharhinidae | Carcharhinus leucas | Bull shark | | | Vulnerable |
| Carcharhinidae | Carcharhinus limbatus | Common blacktip shark | | | Vulnerable |
| Carcharhinidae | Carcharhinus melanopterus | Black-tipped reef shark | | | Vulnerable |
| Carcharhinidae | Carcharhinus plumbeus | Sandbar shark | | | Endangered |
| Carcharhinidae | Carcharhinus sorrah | Spot-tail shark | Yaryoor | Minor fishery | Near threatened |
| Carcharhinidae | Rhizoprionodon acutus | Milk shark | Yaryoor | Moderate fishery | Vulnerable |
| Galeocerdonidae | Galeocerdo cuvier | Tiger shark | | | Near threatened |
| Sphyrnidae | Sphyrna mokarran | Great hammerhead | | | Critically endangered |
| Sphyrnidae | Sphyrna zygaena | Smooth hammerhead | | | Vulnerable |

### Torpedoniformes

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Conservation status |
| Narcinidae | Narcine timlei | Brown numbfish | Vulnerable |
| Torpedinidae | Torpedo panthera | Panther torpedo | Endangered |
| Torpedinidae | Torpedo sinuspersici | Persian gulf torpedo | Data deficient |

### Rhinopristiformes - Skates, sawfish, and guitarfish

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Rhinidae | Rhina ancylostoma | Bowmouth guitarfish | | Critically endangered |
| Rhinidae | Rhynchobatus djiddensis | Giant guitarfish | | Critically endangered |
| Rhinidae | Rhynchobatus laevis | Giant guitarfish | | Critically endangered |
| Rhinidae | Rhinobatos punctifer | Spotted guitarfish | | Near threatened |
| Glaucostegidae | Glaucostegus granulatus | Giant sharpnose guitarfish | | Critically endangered |
| Pristidae | Anoxypristis cuspidata | Knifetooth sawfish | Always rare, historically from Iran | Critically endangered |
| Pristidae | Pristis zijsron | Green sawfish | Formerly abundant in the region, now extremely rare | Critically endangered |
| Rajidae | Raja pita | Pita bread skate | Only one specimen has been documented | Data deficient |

### Myliobatiformes - Rays

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Dasyatidae | Himantura uarnak | honeycomb, or coachwhip ray | | Endangered |
| Dasyatidae | Maculabatis randalli | Arabian whipray | Endemic | Least concern |
| Dasyatidae | Pastinachus sephen | Cowtail stingray | Endemic | Near threatened |
| Dasyatidae | Taeniura lymma | Bluespotted ribbon tail ray | Aquarium | Least concern |
| Dasyatidae | Taeniurops meyeni | Round ribbon tail ray | | Vulnerable |
| Gymnuridae | Gymnura poecilura | Longtail butterfly ray | | Vulnerable |
| Myliobatidae | Aetomylaeus maculatus | Mottled eagle ray | | Endangered |
| Myliobatidae | Aetomylaeus nichofii | Banded eagle ray | | Vulnerable |
| Rhinopteridae | Rhinoptera jayakari | Oman cownose ray | | Endangered |
| Mobulidae | Mobula mobular | Giant devil ray | | Endangered |

## Rayfin fish
### Elopiformes

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status | Image |
| Tarpon | Megalops cyprinoides | Indo-Pacific tarpon | | | Data deficient | |

### Anguilliformes

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Moray | Echidna nebulosa | Snowflake moray | | Aquarium | Least concern |
| Moray | Gymnomuraena zebra | Zebra moray | | Aquarium | Least concern |
| Moray | Gymnothorax undulatus | Undulate moray | | | Least concern |
| Pike eel | Muraenesox cinereus | Daggertooth pike-conger | Anqalise Marmahie | Minor fishe | Least concern |

### Clupeiformes

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Clupeidae | Sardinella longiceps | Indian oilsardine | Moomagh | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Wolfherring | Chirocentrus dorab | Dorab | Huf | Minor fishery | Least concern |
| Wolfherring | Chirocentrus nudus | Whitefin wolfherring | | | Least concern |

### Gonorhynchiformes

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status | Image |
| Milkfish | Chanos chanos | Milkfish | | Moderate fishery | Least concern | |

### Catfish

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Plotosidae | Plotosus lineatus | Striped eelcatfish | | Least concern |
| Sea-catfish | Netuma bilineata | Brinze catfish | Minor fishing importance | Least concern |
| Sea-catfish | Netuma thalassina | Giant catfish | Moderate fishery | Least concern |

### Lizardfish

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status | image |
| Syndontidae | Saurida tumbil | Greater lizardfish | Hassoun | Moderat fishery | Least concern | |

### Mackerel

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Stromateidae | Pampus argenteus | Silver pomphret or white pomfret | Zbeidy | Widely fished, extirpated from many parts of the region | Not evaluated |
| Scombridae | Euthynnus affinis | Kawakawa | Tabban | Widely fished | Least concern |
| Scombridae | Rastrelliger kanagurta | Indian longjaw mackerel | | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Scombridae | Scomberomorus commerson | Narrowbar Spanish mackerel | Chanaad | Widely fished | Near threatened |
| Trichuridae | Trichurus lepturus | Beltfish | | Moderate fishery | Least concern |

### Goatfish

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status | Image |
| Mullidae | Upeneus oligospilus | | Sultan Ibrahim | Minor fishery, endemic | Least concern | |
| Mullidae | Parupeneus margaritatus | Goatfish | Sultan Ibrahim | Minor fishery, endemic | Least concern | |

### Miscallaneous (carangaria?) - Barracuda, threadfin, and moonfish

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Sphyrnidae | Sphyraena barracuda | The great barracuda | Jidd | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Sphyrnidae | Sphyraena flavicauda | Yellowtail barracuda | Jidd | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Sphyrnidae | Sphyraena jello | Pickhandle barracuda | Jidd | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Sphyrnidae | Sphyraena flavicauda | Yellowtail barracuda | Jidd | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Menidae | Mene maculata | Moonfish | | | Not evaluated |
| Polynemidae | Eleutheronema tetradactylum | Fourfinger threadfin | Sheim | Moderate fishery | Not evaluated |

### Flatfish

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Psettodidae | Psettodes erumei | Indian halibut | | Minor fishery | Data deficient |
| Bothidae | Bothus pantherinus | Leopard flounder | | | Least concern |
| Cynoglossidae | Cynoglossus arel | Tonguesole | Lsan | Widely fished | Least concern |

### Jacks, billfish, and allies

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Carangidae | Caranx ignobilis | Giant trevally | | Minor fishery | Least concern |
| Carangidae | Caranx sexfasciatus | Bigeye trevally | Hammam | moderately fished | Least concern |
| Carangidae | Decapterus russelli | Indian scad | | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Carangidae | Gnathanodon speciosus | Golden trevally | Widely fished | Least concern | |
| Carangidae | Megalaspis cordyla | Torpedo scad | | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Carangidae | Parastromateus niger | Black pomfret | | Minor fishery | Least concern |
| Carangidae | Scomberoides commersonianus | Giant queenfish | Dhul' | Widely fished | Least concern |
| Carangidae | Scomberoides tol | Needleskin queenfish | | Minor fishery | Least concern |
| Carangidae | Seriola dumerili | Great amberjack | | Minor fishery | Least concern |
| Carangidae | Seriola nigrofasciatus | blackband amberjack | | Minor fishery | Least concern |
| Carangidae | Trachurus indicus | Arabian scad | | | Vulnerable |
| Remoras | Echeneis naucrates | Sharksucker | | | Least concern |
| Rachycentridae | Rachycentron canadum | Cobia | Saklah Sakl | Widely fished | Least concern |
| Coryphaenidae | Coryphaena hippurus | Mahi Mahi, or common dolphin fish | Galit | Minor fishery | Least concern |
| Xiphidae | Xiphias gladius | Swordfish | | Historically recorded off Kuwait, either regionally extirpated or a vagrant | Near threatened |
| Istiophoridae | Istiompax indica | Black marlin | | | Data deficient |
| Istiophoridae | Istiophorus platypterus | The sailfish | | | Vulnerable |

### Cichlids

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status | Image |
| Cichlidae | Oreochromis aureus | Blue tilapia | | Introduced, found in wetlands and aquacultured | Least concern | |
| Cichlidae | Oreochromis niloticus | Nile tilapia | Bultie | Introduced, found in wetlands and aquacultured | Least concern | |

### Silversides

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status | Image |
| Atherinidae | Atherinomorus lacunosus | Hardyhead silverside | | Minor fishery | Least concern | |

### Pupfish

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status | Image |
| Cyprinodontidae | Aphaniops stoliczkanus | Arabian pupfish | Ifti | | Not evaluated | |

### Needlefish and flyingfish

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Belonidae | Ablennes hians | Flat needlefish | | | Least concern |
| Belonidae | Platybelone platura | Flat needlefish | | | Least concern |
| Belonidae | Strongylura leiurus | Slender longtom | | | Least concern |
| Belonidae | Strongylura strongylura | Blackspot longtom | | | Least concern |
| Belonidae | Tylosurus crocodilus | Houndfish | Haquul | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Exocoetidae | Cypselurus oligolepis | Largescale flying fish | | | Least concern |
| Exocoetidae | Paraexocoetus mento | African sailfin flying fish | | | Least concern |
| Hemirhamphidae | Rhynchorhamphus georgii | Longbilled halfbeak | | | Least concern |

### Mulletim

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Mugilidae | Ellochelon vaigiensis | Squaretail mullet | | | Least concern |
| Mugilidae | Mugil cephalus | Sea mullet | Beeyah, or Buri | Widely fished | Least concern |
| Mugilidae | Moolgarda seheli | Bluespot mullet | | | Least concern |
| Mugilidae | Osteomugil cunnesius | Longarm mullet | | | Least concern |
| Mugilidae | Planiliza abu | Abu mullet | | | Least concern |
| Mugilidae | Planiliza carinata | Keelmullet | | | Least concern |
| Mugilidae | Planiliza klunzingeri | Klunzingerian mullet | Made | Widely fished | Least concern |
| Mugilidae | Planiliza persica | Persian gulf mullet | | Endemic | Data deficient |
| Mugilidae | Planiliza planiceps | Tade grey mullet | | | Least concern |
| Mugilidae | Planiliza subvirdis | Greenback mullet | | | Least concern |

### Miscallaneus (Blenniformes?) - Damselfish

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Pomacentridae | Abudefduf vaigiensis | Sargeant major | Abu Dafdouf | Aquarium | Least concern |
| Pomacentridae | Amphiprion clarkii | Yellowtail anemonefish | | Aquarium | Least concern |
| Pomacentridae | Chromis flavaxilla | Arabian chromis | | Aquarium | Not evaluated |
| Pomacentridae | Chromis xanthopterygia | Yellowfin chromis | | | Least concern |
| Pomacentridae | Dascyllus trimaculatus | Threespot dascyllus | | | Least concern |
| Pomacentridae | Neopomacentrus cyanomos | Royal demoiselle | | | Least concern |
| Pomacentridae | Neopomacentrus sindensis | Arabian demoiselle | | | Least concern |
| Pomacentridae | Pomacentrus aquilus | Dark damselfishe | | | Least concern |
| Pomacentridae | Pristotis obtusirostris | Persian gulf damsel | | | Least concern |

### Acanthuriformes - Butterflyfish, surgeonfish, angelfish and allies

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Lobotidae | Lobotes surinamensis | Tripletail | | | Least concern |
| Pomacanthidae | Pomacanthus maculosus | Halfmoon angel | Anfouzze | Moderately fished, for both aquarium trade and as a food fish | Least concern |
| Drepaneidae | Drepane longimana | Concerine | | | Not evaluated |
| Drepaneidae | Drepane punctata | Spotted sicklefish | | | Least concern |
| Ephippidae | Ephippus orbis | Orbfish | | | Not evaluated |
| Ephippidae | Platax orbicularis | Orbicular batfish | | | Least concern |
| Ephippidae | Platax teira | Longfin batfish | Imad | Minor fishery | Least concern |
| Chaetodontidae | Chaetodon gardneri | Gardner's butterflyfish | | Aquarium | Least concern |
| Chaetodontidae | Chaetodon melapterus | Arabian butterflyfish | | Aquarium | Least concern |
| Chaetodontidae | Chaetodon nigropunctatus | Black butterflyfish | | Aquarium | Least concern |
| Chaetodontidae | Heniochus acuminatus | Longfin bannerfish | | Aquarium | Least concern |
| Leiognathidae | Karalla daura | Gold coin pony fish | | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Scatophagidae | Scatophagus argus | Spotted scat | | Aquarium | Least concern |
| Siganidae | Siganus sutor | Whitespotred rabbitfish | Safi | Widely fished | Least concern |
| Siganidae | Siganus javus | Streaked spinefoot | Sneifi | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Acanthuridae | Acanthurus sohal | Sohal | Sohal | Minor fishery, for both aquarium and food fish | Least concern |
| Acanthuridae | Zebrasoma xanthurum | Yellowtail tang | | Aquarium | Least concern |

### Tetraodontiformes - Pufferfish, filefish, sunfish and allies

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Tetraodontidae | Arothron stellatus | Stellate pufferfish | | Least concern |
| Tetraodontidae | Chelonodontops patoca | Milkspotted pufferfish | | Least concern |
| Tetraodontidae | Lagocephalus guentheri | Diamondback pufferfish | | Least concern |
| Tetraodontidae | Lagocephalus lunaris | Lunate pufferfish | | Least concern |
| Monacanthidae | Aluterus monoceros | Unicorn leatherjacket | Minor fishery | Least concern |
| Monacanthidae | Paramonacanthus arabicus | Persian gulf filefish | Endemic species | Least concern |
| Balistidae | Rhinecanthus assassi | Picasso triggerfish | | Least concern |
| Molidae | Mola mola | Ocean sunfish | | Vulnerable |
| Molidae | Ranzania laevis | Slender sunny | | Vulnerable |

### Centrarchiformes

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Terapontidae | Terapon jarbua | Crescent grunter | Dhiba | Minor fishery | Least concern |
| Terapontidae | Terapon puta | Spinycheek grunter | Zamrur | Minor fishery | Least concern |
| Kyphosidae | Kyphosus cinerascens | Blue sea chub | | | Least concern |

### Miscallaneous (Eupercaria?) - Snappers, sillagines, breams, grunts, silver buddies, and drums

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Lutjanidae | Lutjanus argentimaculatus | Mangrove red snapper | Naiser | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Lutjanidae | Lutjanus egrenbergii | Blackspot snapper | | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Lutjanidae | Lutjanus sanguineus | Humphead snapper | | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Gerreidae | Gerres oyena | Common silverbuddy | Baddeh | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Gerreidae | Pentaprion longimanus | Longfin mojarra | | | Least concern |
| Gerreidae | Pentaprion longimanus | Longfin mojarra | | | Least concern |
| Haemulidae | Plectorhinchus gaterinus | African grunt | Farsh | minor fishery | Least concern |
| Haemulidae | Plectorhinchus pictus | Trout sweetlips | Yenma | minor fishery | Least concern |
| Sparidae | Acanthopagrus arabicus | Arabian yellowfin bream | Shaam | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Sparidae | Acanthopagrus berda | Goldsilk bream | Shaam | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Sparidae | Acanthopagrus bifasciatus | Twobar bream | Faskar | Widely fished | Least concern |
| Sparidae | Acanthopagrus sheim | Spotted yellowfin bream | | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Sparidae | Argyrops spinifer | King soldierbream | Kofer | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Sparidae | Rhabdosargus sarba | Tarwhine | Jerjafan | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Sparidae | Sparidentex hasta | Sobaity | Sobaity | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Lethrinidae | Lethrinus lentjan | Pinkear emperor | | Widely fished | Least concern |
| Lethrinidae | Lethrinus microdon | Smalltooth emperor | | Widely fished | Least concern |
| Lethrinidae | Lethrinus nebulosus | Spangler emperor | Sherry | Widely fished | Least concern |
| Nemipteridae | Scolopsis ghanam | Arabian monoclebream | | Widely fished | Least concern |
| Scianeidae | Otolithes ruber | Tigertooth croaker | | | Least concern |
| Sepolidae | Acanthocepola abbreviata | Bandfish | | | Least concern |

### Wrasses

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Labridae | Cheilinus lunulatus | Broomtail wrassé | | Least concern |
| Labridae | Choerodon robustus | Robust tuskfish | Moderately fished | Least concern |
| Labridae | Labroides dimidiatus | Cleaner wrasse | Aquarium | Least concern |
| Labridae | Thalassoma lunare | Moon wrasse | Aquarium | Least concern |
| Scaridae | Chlorurus sordidus | Daisy parrotfish | | Least concern |
| Scaridae | Scarus ghobban | Bluebar parrotfish | minor fishery | Least concern |
| Scaridae | Scarus persicus | Persian gulf parrotfish | minor fishery | Least concern |

### Perchlike fish

| Family | Scientific name | English name | Local name | Regional importance | Conservation status |
| Anthiadidae | Pseudanthias townsendi | Townsendian anthias | | Aquarium | Least concern |
| Anthiadidae | Pseudanthias townsendi | Townsendian anthias | | Aquarium | Least concern |
| Epinephelidae | Aethaloperca rogaa | Redmouth grouper | | | Least concern |
| Epinephelidae | Cephalopholis hemistiktos | Yellowfin hind | Shneinwah | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Epinephelidae | Epinephelus areolatus | Areolate grouper | | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Epinephelidae | Epinephelus bleekeri | Duskytail grouper | | Moderate fishery | Data deficient |
| Epinephelidae | Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus | Whitespotted grouper | | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Epinephelidae | Epinephelus coioides | Goldspotted rockcod | Hammour | Widely fished | Least concern |
| Epinephelidae | Epinephelus latifasciatus | Dotted grouper | | Moderate fishery | Least concern |
| Epinephelidae | Epinephelus polylepis | Areolate grouper | Summan | Widely fished | Least concern |
| Scorpaenidae | Pterois miles | Military lionfish | | | Least concern |
| Scorpaenidae | Pterois russelii | Plaintail lionfish | | | Least concern |
| Scorpaenidae | Apistus carinatus | Ocellated waspfish | | | Least concern |
| Scorpaenidae | Apistus carinatus | Ocellated waspfish | | | Least concern |
| Platycephalidae | Platycephalus indicus | Bartail flathead | Wahhar | Widely fished | Least concern |