Common Fish Names Beginning With P
1. Pike
One fish that starts with the letter “P” is the Pike. This freshwater fish is known for its elongated body and sharp teeth. Pikes are ambush predators, lying in wait for their prey before quickly striking and consuming them whole. They are often found in Northern Hemisphere waters and are popular game fish. Interestingly, pikes are known for their ability to regenerate damaged tissue, including their spinal cords, which makes them a subject of research in the field of regenerative medicine. Additionally, in some cultures, the pike is considered a delicacy and is often served as a meal on special occasions.
2. Pangasius
One fish that starts with “P” is the Pangasius fish, also known as the “Iridescent shark”. Despite its name, it is not actually a shark, but a type of freshwater catfish found in Southeast Asia. These fish are known for their unique, sleek appearance with a silver body that shimmers with iridescent hues of blue and purple. They can grow quite large, up to 4 feet long, and are popular in the aquarium trade.
3. Parrotfish
Another fish that starts with “P” is the Parrotfish. These brightly colored fish are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world and are named for their beak-like teeth that resemble a parrot’s beak. They play an important role in coral reef ecosystems, as they eat algae that can smother coral, and their excrement helps to form sand on the beach. What’s unique about parrotfish is that they can change their color and shape as they mature. Juvenile parrotfish are often brightly colored, while adult parrotfish can have more muted colors and a larger, more robust body shape.
4. Pacific Salmon
Finally, there is the Pacific salmon, which is actually a group of several species of fish that are native to the Pacific Ocean and its tributaries. These fish are famous for their incredible journey from the ocean to their freshwater spawning grounds, where they lay their eggs and then die. What’s unique about Pacific salmon is that they have a keen sense of smell that allows them to navigate back to the exact stream or river where they were born, even after years of living in the ocean. They also play a crucial role in the ecosystem by providing food for a variety of animals, including bears, eagles, and humans.
Freshwater fish that starts with P
- Pacu
- Painted tetra
- Panchax
- Paradise fish
- Peacock bass
- Pearl danio
- Pearl gourami
- Pencilfish
- Peppered corydoras
- Perch
- Pike
- Pike cichlid
- Pike livebearer
- Pikehead
- Pineapple swordtail
- Pink tail chalceus
- Platy
- Pleco
- Porthole catfish
- Pufferfish
Tropical fish that starts with P
- Pacu
- Painted tetra
- Pajama cardinalfish
- Panchax
- Paradise fish
- Parrotfish
- Peacock bass
- Pearl danio
- Pearl gourami
- Pencilfish
- Peppered corydoras
- Peppermint angelfish
- Perch
- Phantom tetra
- Pike cichlid
- Pineapple swordtail
- Pink tail chalceus
- Platies
- Pleco
- Porthole catfish
- Pufferfish
- Purple firefish
- Pygmy corydoras
- Pygmy gourami
Saltwater fish that starts with P
- Pacific cod
- Pacific halibut
- Pacific saury
- Painted comber
- Panama graysby
- Papuan trevally
- Parrotfish
- Patagonian toothfish
- Peacock flounder
- Peacock grouper
- Pearl perch
- Pearly razorfish
- Pelagic cod
- Pennant coralfish
- Pennantfish
- Perch
- Pickerel
- Pigfish
- Pike blenny
- Pilotfish
- Pinjalo snapper
- Pink maomao
- Pink salmon
- Pintail wrasse
- Pirate perch
- Plaice
- Pomfret
- Pompano
- Porcupinefish
- Porkfish
- Princess parrotfish
- Pseudochromis
- Pufferfish
- Pugnose pipefish
