Fish

Fish are an incredibly diverse group of animals. Read these articles to find out about all kinds of unique and different fish.

Topics to Explore

Sharks Dig Jazz? Not So Fast

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Smart Blue Fish

Barracuda Facts, Pictures, Video

Can wearing magnets really repel sharks?

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Humuhumunukunukuapua'a: A Long Name for a Little Fish

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a, the colorful little fish with the craaaaazy long name, is Hawaii's state fish, but it wasn't always.

By Jesslyn Shields May 14, 2020 Fish / Saltwater Fish

Basking Sharks Look Ferocious, But Prefer Plankton to People

The basking shark, an endangered species, may look like a fearsome predator, but is actually a filter-feeder, gathering zooplankton and other tiny animals, such as shrimp, in bulk as it roams the seas with a wide open mouth.

By Mark Mancini May 13, 2020 Fish / Sharks

Piranhas: Toothy Nippers With a Bad Reputation

Piranhas are some of the most feared fish in the world, but is their reputation for ferocity a bit overblown?

By Jesslyn Shields May 12, 2020 Fish / Freshwater Fish

Do Fish Get Thirsty?

They're swimming in water all day so how could they ever get thirsty? The answer might surprise you.

By Nathan Chandler Aug 22, 2019 Fish / Freshwater Fish

Alligator Gar: 100 Million Years Old and Still Kicking

The prehistoric looking alligator gar is sometimes referred to as a "living fossil" and, while they may look threatening, are harmless to anything larger than themselves.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Aug 13, 2019 Fish / Freshwater Fish

Koi Fish: Shining Jewels of the Water Garden

The colorful superstars of backyard water gardens are actually ornamental varietals of domesticated carp.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Jul 9, 2019 Fish / Freshwater Fish

Dive Inside the Weird World of the Ocean Sunfish

It's one of the gentle giants of the sea. It loves sunbathing, dining on crabs and taking deep dives to the ocean floor.

By Mark Mancini Jun 20, 2019 Fish / Saltwater Fish

Blobfish: World's Ugliest Animal or Someone's Grandpa?

The blobfish is actually pretty average looking in its normal habitat.

By Jesslyn Shields Apr 11, 2019 Fish / Saltwater Fish

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Smart Blue Fish

The cleaner wrasse fish passed the mirror test, which is considered the gold standard for determining self-awareness.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Feb 7, 2019 Fish / Saltwater Fish

Researchers Stunned by Gorgeous New Fish Find

Scientific divers from the California Academy of Sciences discover new species of dazzling, neon-colored fish.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Sep 27, 2018 Fish / Saltwater Fish

Cheap Magnets Could Keep Sharks Out of Fishing Nets

Commercial fisheries accidentally kill around 100 million — yes, 100 million — sharks each year. The solution to this problem might lie in magnets.

By Jesslyn Shields Aug 23, 2018 Fish / Sharks

Sharks Dig Jazz? Not So Fast

A new study seems to suggest that sharks prefer jazz to classical music but the researchers set us straight.

By Alia Hoyt May 29, 2018 Fish / Sharks

Cuttlefish, Masters of Camouflage, Have Newly Discovered Super Power

Cuttlefish can avoid detection by holding a disguise for long periods of time.

By Amanda Onion Feb 20, 2018 Fish / Saltwater Fish

Who Knew Fish Sex Could Be So Loud?

The Gulf corvina is the loudest fish on the planet, helping lead to its overfishing and endangerment.

By Jesslyn Shields Jan 11, 2018 Fish / Saltwater Fish

Scientists Discover Why Half of All Farmed Salmon Are Partially Deaf

Scientists have long known that much of the world's farmed salmon was deaf. Now they know why.

By Alia Hoyt Aug 25, 2017 Fish / Freshwater Fish

Why Goldfish Make Their Own Alcohol

Scientists have known for a long time that goldfish make their own alcohol. Now, they've just discovered how they do it.

By Alia Hoyt Aug 18, 2017 Fish / Freshwater Fish

How Could a Human Race a Shark?

Michael Phelps is racing a shark for TV glory. But does he have a fighting (or swimming) chance?

By Dave Roos Jul 21, 2017 Fish / Sharks

In the Absence of Mates, Zebra Shark Just Births Her Own Clones

Shark shocker! This 'virgin birth' is the first example of a shark switching from sexual to asexual reproduction.

By Jesslyn Shields Jan 27, 2017 Fish / Sharks

Eerie, Deep-ocean Ghost Shark Footage Surfaces for First Time

Never mind the penis on its head, this weird ghost shark was filmed live for the first time, and hanging out in the wrong hemisphere.

By Jesslyn Shields Dec 21, 2016 Fish / Sharks

Does a New Two-headed Shark Discovery Mean It's Time to Seriously Freak Out?

In the past decade, several two-headed shark fetuses have been discovered. Is there something going on in the oceans we should know about?

By Jesslyn Shields Nov 9, 2016 Fish / Sharks

Catfish Are Chowing Down on Mice and Pigeons

Scientists have discovered a few enterprising catfish that are having a fancy feast — of mice.

By Christian Sager Sep 7, 2016 Fish / Saltwater Fish

Cannibalistic Ancient Shark Ancestors Devoured Their Own Young

The eel-like Orthacanthus, a precursor to modern sharks, may have turned to cannibalizing its own babies in times of crisis.

By Christopher Hassiotis Aug 29, 2016 Fish / Sharks

We Know Far Less About Sharks Than You Might Think

Think science has sharks all figured out? Think again. We still have so many unanswered questions about the aquatic marvels.

By Jesslyn Shields Aug 24, 2016 Fish / Sharks

Could the Popularity of 'Finding Dory' Hurt the Blue Tang Fish?

Could the sequel to Disney's 'Finding Nemo' increase demand for pet s and bring the decline of the exotic fish that plays the leading role?

By Chris Opfer Jul 1, 2016 Fish / Saltwater Fish

Fish Can Recognize Individual Human Faces, Scientists Discover

Maybe the shark in 'Jaws' really did have a personal vendetta after all. Scientists have found at least one species of fish that can distinguish between human faces.

By Laurie L. Dove Jun 15, 2016 Fish / Freshwater Fish