Southern Europe’s coasts support a wide mix of marine life, from shallow seagrass beds to deeper offshore waters, shaped by both Mediterranean and Atlantic influences. Local fisheries, dive spots and tidepools all showcase different species and seasonal movements.
There are 50 Fish of Southern Europe, ranging from Albacore to Zebra seabream. For each species you’ll find below Scientific name,Max length (cm),Primary range — a compact way to compare identity, size and where each fish is most commonly found, listed below.
How can I quickly identify common Southern European species while fishing or diving?
Start with overall shape and size, then note fin placement, tail type and key markings; compare those traits to the Scientific name and Max length (cm) entries in the list. Use photos from regional field guides or apps to match Primary range and coloration, and remember juveniles often look different from adults.
Which habitats in Southern Europe host the most fish diversity?
Focus on a mix of habitats: rocky reefs and seagrass meadows nearshore support many resident species, estuaries attract juveniles, and offshore pelagic zones host migratory tunas like albacore; checking the Primary range column helps target where each species is most likely to appear.
Fish of Southern Europe
| Name | Scientific name | Max length (cm) | Primary range |
|---|---|---|---|
| European seabass | Dicentrarchus labrax | 100 | Mediterranean, NE Atlantic Iberian coast, Adriatic, Tyrrhenian |
| Gilthead seabream | Sparus aurata | 70 | Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean, Tyrrhenian |
| Common dentex | Dentex dentex | 120 | Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean, Ionian |
| Red mullet | Mullus barbatus | 30 | Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean, Ionian |
| Striped red mullet | Mullus surmuletus | 40 | Mediterranean, NE Atlantic Iberian coast, Adriatic |
| Atlantic bluefin tuna | Thunnus thynnus | 450 | Mediterranean, Atlantic entrance, Balearic |
| Albacore | Thunnus alalunga | 140 | Mediterranean, NE Atlantic Iberian coast |
| Atlantic bonito | Sarda sarda | 100 | Mediterranean, NE Atlantic Iberian coast, Balearic |
| European anchovy | Engraulis encrasicolus | 20 | Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean, Black Sea |
| European sardine | Sardina pilchardus | 25 | Mediterranean, Adriatic, Balearic, Gulf of Lion |
| Common hake | Merluccius merluccius | 140 | Mediterranean, NE Atlantic Iberian coast, Adriatic |
| Atlantic mackerel | Scomber scombrus | 47 | NE Atlantic Iberian coast, Balearic seasonally |
| Bluefish | Pomatomus saltatrix | 120 | Mediterranean, NE Atlantic Iberian coast |
| John Dory | Zeus faber | 65 | Mediterranean, Adriatic, Tyrrhenian |
| European pollack | Pollachius pollachius | 130 | NE Atlantic Iberian coast, Cantabrian to Gibraltar |
| Common sole | Solea solea | 70 | Mediterranean, NE Atlantic Iberian coast, Adriatic |
| Common carp | Cyprinus carpio | 120 | Iberian rivers, Po basin, Mediterranean freshwater basins |
| European eel | Anguilla anguilla | 150 | Rivers and coasts across Southern Europe, Mediterranean |
| Wels catfish | Silurus glanis | 500 | Danube, Ebro, other Southern European rivers and reservoirs |
| Dusky grouper | Epinephelus marginatus | 150 | Mediterranean rocky reefs, Adriatic, Aegean, Balearic |
| Meagre | Argyrosomus regius | 200 | Mediterranean, NE Atlantic Iberian coast, Balearic |
| Mediterranean moray | Muraena helena | 150 | Mediterranean rocky reefs, Adriatic, Aegean |
| Common stingray | Dasyatis pastinaca | 150 | Mediterranean, Adriatic, Black Sea coastal waters |
| Small-spotted catshark | Scyliorhinus canicula | 65 | Mediterranean, NE Atlantic, Adriatic, Aegean |
| Smooth-hound | Mustelus mustelus | 150 | Mediterranean, NE Atlantic Iberian coast, Adriatic |
| Thornback ray | Raja clavata | 120 | NE Atlantic Iberian coast, Mediterranean shelf, Adriatic |
| Anglerfish | Lophius piscatorius | 130 | NE Atlantic Iberian coast, deeper Mediterranean |
| Black scorpionfish | Scorpaena porcus | 40 | Mediterranean rocky bottoms, Adriatic, Aegean |
| Red scorpionfish | Scorpaena scrofa | 60 | Mediterranean, Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, Aegean |
| Mediterranean horse mackerel | Trachurus mediterraneus | 50 | Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean, Tyrrhenian |
| Atlantic horse mackerel | Trachurus trachurus | 65 | NE Atlantic Iberian coast, Balearic waters |
| White seabream | Diplodus sargus | 45 | Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean, Atlantic Iberian coast |
| Two-banded seabream | Diplodus vulgaris | 35 | Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean, Balearic |
| Red porgy | Pagrus pagrus | 100 | Mediterranean, NE Atlantic Iberian coast, Adriatic |
| Brown trout | Salmo trutta | 100 | Rivers and upland basins across Southern Europe, some coastal rivers |
| Blue shark | Prionace glauca | 380 | Mediterranean pelagic waters, NE Atlantic off Iberia |
| Shortfin mako | Isurus oxyrinchus | 400 | Mediterranean pelagic waters, NE Atlantic |
| Flathead mullet | Mugil cephalus | 100 | Coastal lagoons, estuaries, Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts |
| Black goby | Gobius niger | 20 | Shallow coastal waters, bays and estuaries throughout Mediterranean |
| Ornate wrasse | Coris julis | 25 | Rocky shallows, seagrass beds across Mediterranean and Adriatic |
| Mediterranean parrotfish | Sparisoma cretense | 40 | Eastern and central Mediterranean rocky reefs and seagrass |
| Bogue | Boops boops | 60 | Mediterranean, NE Atlantic Iberian coast, Adriatic |
| Painted comber | Serranus scriba | 22 | Rocky reefs and seagrass beds across Mediterranean coasts |
| Turbot | Scophthalmus maximus | 100 | NE Atlantic Iberian coast, western Mediterranean shelf |
| European conger | Conger conger | 300 | Mediterranean rocky bottoms, wrecks, deeper coastal waters |
| Striped seabream | Lithognathus mormyrus | 40 | Sandy bottoms, Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean |
| Common dragonet | Callionymus lyra | 30 | Sandy bottoms, continental shelf of Mediterranean and NE Atlantic |
| Sand smelt | Atherina boyeri | 20 | Coastal lagoons, estuaries, sheltered bays across Mediterranean |
| Garfish | Belone belone | 95 | Coastal Mediterranean and NE Atlantic, surface pelagic |
| Zebra seabream | Diplodus cervinus | 70 | Rocky reefs and seagrass in Mediterranean, Aegean, Balearic |
Images and Descriptions
European seabass
Popular sport and market fish found in shallow bays and estuaries; silver, streamlined, and opportunistic. Grows to about 1 m and is prized by anglers and chefs, frequenting sandy bottoms, seagrass and rocky shores across Southern Europe.
Gilthead seabream
A common coastal bream with a distinctive golden “tooth” on the forehead. Reaches around 70 cm, inhabits seagrass, sandy and rocky areas. Heavily fished and farmed, important for fisheries and Mediterranean cuisine.
Common dentex
A powerful predatory seabream with a strong jaw and silver-pink body. Grows to over a metre, prefers rocky reefs and drop-offs. Valued by anglers and commercial fisheries; conspicuous and sought after in Southern European waters.
Red mullet
Small, reddish bottom-feeder with barbels used to probe sand for invertebrates. Reaches about 30 cm, common on muddy and sandy bottoms. Highly prized in Mediterranean cooking and frequently caught by trawlers and small boats.
Striped red mullet
Very similar to red mullet but with stripes and slightly larger size. Up to 40 cm, found on sandy and rocky bottoms. Important commercially and popular at local markets and restaurants.
Atlantic bluefin tuna
Iconic, large migratory tuna that breeds in the Mediterranean. Can reach several metres and weigh hundreds of kilos. Fast, powerful, and economically critical — targeted by major fisheries and aquaculture operations.
Albacore
Sleek, long-finned tuna often caught offshore and in pelagic fisheries. Reaches around 1.4 m, prized for quality flesh and cans. Found year-round in Southern European waters during migrations and feeding seasons.
Atlantic bonito
A fast pelagic predator with striped flanks; reaches about 1 m. Common in coastal and offshore waters, popular with anglers and small commercial fisheries. Frequently seen in shoals near surface waters.
European anchovy
Small schooling forage fish, reaching about 20 cm, foundational to regional food webs. Abundant in coastal waters and estuaries and crucial for fisheries, canning industries and as bait for larger species.
European sardine
Small, silvery schooling fish common in coastal waters and shelf seas. Reaches up to 25 cm and supports important regional fisheries and traditional canning industries across Southern Europe.
Common hake
A long-bodied demersal predator living on continental shelves and slopes. Grows to about 1.4 m and is a major commercial species for trawl and longline fisheries in Southern European waters.
Atlantic mackerel
A fast, schooling pelagic fish with iridescent stripes, usually under 50 cm. Found seasonally off Iberian coasts and around the Balearics. Important for commercial fisheries and as prey for larger predators.
Bluefish
Aggressive pelagic predator noted for fighting ability; reaches about 1.2 m. Moves in coastal shoals chasing baitfish, popular with sport anglers and present regularly in Southern European waters.
John Dory
Unmistakable flat, disk-shaped fish with a dark spot; grows to around 65 cm. Found over sandy and muddy bottoms near reefs. Prized for firm flesh and common in local markets.
European pollack
Large coastal cod-like fish reaching about 1.3 m. Found on rocky bottoms and wrecks along the Atlantic Iberian coast, popular with anglers and sometimes caught commercially.
Common sole
Flatfish with a pale underside and mottled top, reaching c.70 cm. Lives on sandy and muddy bottoms where it ambushes prey; highly valued in cuisine and targeted by trawlers.
Common carp
Large freshwater species widely established in Southern Europe lakes and rivers. Grows to about 1.2 m, tolerant of varied conditions and important for angling and aquaculture despite being non-native in parts.
European eel
Long, migratory eel that spawns in the Sargasso Sea and lives in European rivers and coasts. Reaches about 1.5 m, culturally and economically important but severely declined in recent decades.
Wels catfish
Massive freshwater predator that can exceed several metres. Established in many Southern European rivers and reservoirs; an apex freshwater fish prized (and sometimes controversial) with anglers.
Dusky grouper
Large, locally resident reef grouper that shelters in caves and rocky ledges. Reaches around 1.5 m, slow-growing and vulnerable to overfishing; an ecologically important species on Mediterranean reefs.
Meagre
Large croaker-like fish with loud drumming calls, reaching around 2 m. Found along coasts and estuaries, important commercially and recreationally and often caught on reefs and sandy grounds.
Mediterranean moray
Stout, eel-like predator commonly hiding in rocky crevices and wrecks. Can reach about 1.5 m; notable for sharp teeth and nocturnal hunting habits, familiar to divers in Southern Europe.
Common stingray
Flat-bodied stingray inhabiting shallow sandy and muddy bottoms, reaching sizeable disc widths. Often encountered in coastal waters; important ecologically, can inflict painful stings if stepped on.
Small-spotted catshark
A small, patterned shark common on continental shelves, reaching about 65 cm. Harmless to humans, often seen by divers and recovered by trawls; important prey for larger predators.
Smooth-hound
Medium-sized houndshark that feeds on crustaceans and molluscs. Reaches about 1.5 m and frequents coastal waters and sandy bottoms; caught by commercial and artisanal fisheries.
Thornback ray
Flattened ray with thorny back, common on sandy and gravelly bottoms. Grows to around 1.2 m across and is regularly taken by trawlers and inshore fisheries across Southern Europe.
Anglerfish
Also called monkfish, a bizarre ambush predator with a large head and lure. Reaches about 1.3 m, inhabits muddy or sandy seabeds, and is highly valued for its meat.
Black scorpionfish
A stocky, camouflaged predator with venomous spines. Reaches about 40 cm and lurks among rocks and seagrass. Noted by divers and fishermen; delivers painful stings if handled carelessly.
Red scorpionfish
Large, colorful scorpionfish with heavy spines and ambush habits. Up to 60 cm, common around rocky reefs and wrecks, and valued (with caution) in regional cuisine.
Mediterranean horse mackerel
A schooling pelagic fish common in Mediterranean shelf waters. Reaches around 50 cm, often caught in purse seines and valued by fisheries and as bait for larger predators.
Atlantic horse mackerel
Closely related pelagic species found off Iberia and around the Balearics. Grows to around 65 cm, forms large shoals and is important for commercial trawl and purse-seine fisheries.
White seabream
A common rocky-shore bream with dark bands and a stout body. Reaches about 45 cm, forages on invertebrates and algae, and is frequently caught by shore anglers and small boats.
Two-banded seabream
Smaller seabream with two dark flank bands and a friendly presence on rocky reefs and seagrass. Reaches c.35 cm, common for divers and recreational fishers across the Mediterranean.
Red porgy
A deep-bodied porgy often found around reefs and wrecks. Grows to around 1 m, important commercially and tasty on the table; susceptible to overfishing in local areas.
Brown trout
Iconic freshwater salmonid in Southern European rivers and streams. Reaches about 1 m in larger rivers and supports angling traditions; shows sea-run and resident forms.
Blue shark
Slender, migratory shark common in offshore waters of the Mediterranean. Can reach several metres; typically encountered by pelagic anglers and longline fisheries, and plays a role in open-ocean ecosystems.
Shortfin mako
A fast, powerful pelagic shark found seasonally in Southern European waters. Reaches multiple metres, prized by sport fishers but vulnerable to overfishing in some areas.
Flathead mullet
A robust coastal fish commonly seen in estuaries and lagoons. Grows to about 1 m, detritus- and algae-feeding, and important for small-scale fisheries and local consumption.
Black goby
Small, dark goby living among seagrass and rocky crevices. Reaches around 20 cm, often overlooked by casual observers but abundant and ecologically significant in shallow habitats.
Ornate wrasse
Colorful, active wrasse common on shallow reefs and meadows. Reaches about 25 cm, known for sex-change behavior and popularity among snorkelers and divers observing reef life.
Mediterranean parrotfish
Herbivorous/omnivorous parrotfish with powerful teeth used to graze algae on rocks. Reaches c.40 cm, helps shape reef communities and is a familiar sight to divers.
Bogue
Silver, round-bodied fish often seen in coastal shoals. Reaches roughly 60 cm, feeds on plankton and small invertebrates, and is common in local fisheries and markets.
Painted comber
Colorful small serranid with mottled pattern, reaching around 22 cm. Frequently seen by divers on rocky bottoms, preying on small crustaceans and fish.
Turbot
Flat, prized flatfish with excellent white flesh, living on sandy and muddy bottoms. Reaches about 1 m and supports valuable commercial fisheries along southern European coasts.
European conger
Large eel-like predator that hides in crevices and wrecks; can reach around 3 m. Known to divers and fishermen and important in demersal ecosystems.
Striped seabream
Distinctive slender seabream with vertical stripes, found over sandy and muddy bottoms. Reaches about 40 cm and is often taken by recreational anglers and small commercial boats.
Common dragonet
Small, ornate bottom fish living on sandy bottoms and often caught as bycatch. Reaches roughly 30 cm and is noted for its colorful males and unusual habits.
Sand smelt
Tiny, silvery fish that thrives in brackish lagoons and estuaries. Grows to about 20 cm and is a key prey species for birds and larger fish in sheltered coastal habitats.
Garfish
Long, needle-like surface fish reaching close to 1 m. Often seen near the surface chasing small schooling fish, popular with light tackle anglers and noticeable for its elongated jaws.
Zebra seabream
Stout seabream with bold vertical bands and a strong jaw, reaching about 70 cm. Found on reefs where it feeds on invertebrates and contributes to reef dynamics.
