Kenya’s lakes, rivers and coastline host a wide range of fish species, from freshwater endemics to ocean-going predators. Coastal reefs, estuaries and inland basins each support different communities, so spotting a variety depends on whether you’re snorkeling, fishing offshore, or exploring river mouths.
There are 32 Fish of Kenya, ranging from African lungfish to Yellowfin tuna. For each species you’ll find below the columns Scientific name, Max size (cm), Notes to show identification details, typical habitat and notable traits — you’ll find below.
Where in Kenya should I go to see the most diverse fish life?
For freshwater diversity try Lake Victoria, Lake Turkana and the Tana River system; for coastal and reef species head to the Mombasa-Kisite stretch and Malindi Marine Park; for pelagic species like tuna look to offshore waters. Each habitat offers different viewing methods (shore, boat, snorkel) and seasons can affect what you’ll see.
How do the columns Scientific name, Max size (cm), Notes help me use the list?
Use the Scientific name for precise identification, Max size (cm) to set expectations for how large a species can get, and Notes for habitat, distinguishing marks or behavior—together they make the list practical for identification, trip planning, or basic research.
Fish of Kenya
| Name | Scientific name | Max size (cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nile perch | Lates niloticus | 200 | Major Lake Victoria fishery; introduced; IUCN Least Concern; Lake Victoria |
| Nile tilapia | Oreochromis niloticus | 60 | Top aquaculture species; widespread in lakes, rivers; IUCN Least Concern; eaten widely |
| Blue-spotted tilapia | Oreochromis leucostictus | 30 | Common in lakes and rivers; local fishery species; Lake Victoria, Rift Valley |
| Singida tilapia | Oreochromis esculentus | 40 | Native Lake Victoria species; declined since Nile perch; IUCN Endangered; Lake Victoria |
| Mozambique tilapia | Oreochromis mossambicus | 35 | Coastal rivers and estuaries; important local foodfish; some invasive records in Kenya |
| Redbreast tilapia | Coptodon rendalli | 35 | Widespread freshwater foodfish; rivers, lakes; stable fisheries in Kenya |
| Redbelly tilapia | Tilapia zillii | 35 | Small, common in streams and ponds; eaten locally; stable |
| African sharptooth catfish | Clarias gariepinus | 150 | Important foodfish; hardy in rivers, lakes, estuaries; aquaculture species |
| Squeaker catfish | Synodontis victoriae | 30 | Lake Victoria endemic-type; small fisheries and bycatch; rocky shores |
| Victoria labeo | Labeo victorianus | 60 | Lake Victoria endemic; threatened; IUCN Endangered; nearshore rocky areas |
| Common barb | Enteromius paludinosus | 10 | Small, common freshwater baitfish; streams, ponds; eaten dried locally |
| African lungfish | Protopterus aethiopicus | 150 | Present in Turkana and some rivers; unusual air-breathing species; subsistence value |
| African tigerfish | Hydrocynus vittatus | 100 | Gamefish in rivers and lakes; aggressive predator; sport and subsistence |
| Silver cyprinid (Dagaa) | Rastrineobola argentea | 9 | Key small fishery in Lake Victoria; critical food source; pelagic schools |
| Yellowfin tuna | Thunnus albacares | 239 | Major offshore commercial fishery; Kenya EEZ tuna grounds; highly valued |
| Skipjack tuna | Katsuwonus pelamis | 100 | Common offshore tuna; canneries use product; coastal and offshore waters |
| Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel | Scomberomorus commerson | 200 | Popular sport and commercial species; coastal, reefs and pelagic; prized meat |
| Giant trevally | Caranx ignobilis | 170 | Top reef predator; prized by anglers; coastal reefs and bays |
| Bluefin trevally | Caranx melampygus | 110 | Common reef gamefish; coastal reefs; valued by local and sport fishers |
| Great barracuda | Sphyraena barracuda | 200 | Common coastal predator; sport and subsistence catch; reefs, seagrass |
| Flathead grey mullet | Mugil cephalus | 100 | Estuary and coastal fisheries; smoked or dried locally; widespread |
| Rabbitfish (steephead) | Siganus sutor | 45 | Common on Kenyan reefs and seagrass; eaten locally; herbivorous grazer |
| Brown surgeonfish | Acanthurus nigrofuscus | 30 | Common reef herbivore; often seen in schools on fringing reefs |
| Parrotfish | Scarus ghobban | 50 | Coral reef grazer; aids reef health; eaten in some areas |
| Humpback grouper | Epinephelus malabaricus | 120 | Reef and rocky areas; targeted by fishers; medium-large grouper |
| Greasy grouper | Epinephelus tauvina | 120 | Important reef fishery species; reefs and drop-offs; good table fish |
| Blackspot snapper | Lutjanus fulviflamma | 35 | Small reef snapper; reef flats and lagoons; caught for local markets |
| Humpback snapper | Lutjanus gibbus | 60 | Widespread reef species; eaten locally; reefs and drop-offs |
| Fourfinger threadfin | Eleutheronema tetradactylum | 200 | Coastal and estuarine fishery species; valued meat; sandy bottoms |
| Clark’s anemonefish | Amphiprion clarkii | 17 | Common inshore reef species; snorkeler favorite; symbiotic with anemones |
| Sergeant major | Abudefduf vaigiensis | 18 | Common reef and lagoon fish; visible in shallow water; smallish |
| Sky emperor | Lethrinus mahsena | 70 | Important shallow reef fishery; table fish; reefs and seagrass edges |
Images and Descriptions
Nile perch
A huge predatory perch famously introduced to Lake Victoria. Can reach two metres, found in deep open water and offshore habitats, responsible for major ecological change and prized by commercial fishers for its meat.
Nile tilapia
A chunky, gray-green cichlid common across Kenyan waters. Reaches about 60 cm, lives in lakes, reservoirs and rivers, easy to spot by its laterally compressed body and social schools; central to local diets and fish farming.
Blue-spotted tilapia
A small to medium tilapia with bluish spotting along flanks. Reaches ~30 cm, prefers shallow vegetated shorelines and river mouths, often confused with Nile tilapia but slimmer with distinctive blue dots.
Singida tilapia
A once-common Lake Victoria cichlid, now reduced by Nile perch. Grows to ~40 cm, slender with vertical bars; found in rocky and vegetated shallows — prized historically for taste and cultural value.
Mozambique tilapia
A tough, adaptable tilapia found in coastal rivers and estuaries. Up to ~35 cm, tolerant of brackish water; identifiable by laterally compressed body and breeding coloration in males.
Redbreast tilapia
A reddish-chested tilapia common in slow-flowing rivers and lakes. About 35 cm maximum, recognized by a rounded head and red or orange breast in breeding males, popular with small-scale fishers.
Redbelly tilapia
A compact tilapia with a reddish belly when breeding. Reaches ~35 cm, preferring shallow, vegetated waters and slow rivers; often seen in schools and easy to catch with nets.
African sharptooth catfish
A large, anguilliform catfish with long barbels and scaleless skin. Can exceed a metre; occupies rivers, lakes and low-salinity estuaries, tolerating poor oxygen — valued for meat and aquaculture.
Squeaker catfish
A small upside-down/squeaker catfish with spines and mottled pattern. Around 30 cm, dwells near rocks and shallow shores in Lake Victoria; known for audible squeaks and nocturnal activity.
Victoria labeo
A large bottom-feeding cyprinid once common in Lake Victoria. Up to ~60 cm, with a rounded snout for grazing algae and detritus; now reduced and a conservation concern.
Common barb
A small schooling cyprinid (dagaa/bait size) reaching around 10 cm. Found in streams, ponds and lake edges; silvery-bodied and often used as bait or dried for local consumption.
African lungfish
A long, eel-like lungfish that breathes air and aestivates in mud. Can exceed a metre, inhabits marshes and shallow lakes like Turkana; notable for its ancient appearance and survival strategies.
African tigerfish
A fierce, silver predatory fish with large teeth, reaching around 100 cm. Found in fast rivers and some lakes; prized by sport fishers for explosive strikes and leaping runs.
Silver cyprinid (Dagaa)
A tiny, silvery schooling fish (dagaa) that forms massive shoals in Lake Victoria. Around 9 cm, targeted by small-scale fisheries and essential to local diets and economies.
Yellowfin tuna
A powerful pelagic tuna targeted by industrial and artisanal fleets off Kenya. Can reach ~239 cm, fast-swimming and streamlined, important to export fisheries and sport fishing tournaments.
Skipjack tuna
A medium-sized, schooling tuna reaching around 100 cm. Found in surface tropical waters off Kenya, characterized by dark oblique stripes on the belly and rapid schooling behavior.
Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel
A slender, fast mackerel reaching up to ~200 cm. Found along Kenya’s coast near reefs and inshore waters; distinctive lateral bars and a popular target for anglers and markets.
Giant trevally
A heavy, powerful jacked fish reaching around 170 cm. Hunts near reefs and drop-offs, silvery with blunt head; a major sportfish for Kenyan game fishing charters.
Bluefin trevally
A striking trevally with blue/black fins and strong body, up to ~110 cm. Found on reefs and lagoons, quick and aggressive — often targeted by anglers and spear fishers.
Great barracuda
A long, torpedo-shaped predator with large jaws and fang-like teeth. Can approach 200 cm, roams coastal reefs and seagrass beds, known for sudden strikes at baitfish.
Flathead grey mullet
A sturdy, schooling mullet up to around 100 cm. Common in estuaries, lagoons and coastal waters; silvery body and flattened head, important for local fisheries and processing.
Rabbitfish (steephead)
A laterally compressed reef fish reaching ~45 cm, with venomous spines and herbivorous diet. Found on algae-rich reefs and seagrass, important for reef grazing and local markets.
Brown surgeonfish
A small surgeonfish ~30 cm with dark brown body and sharp tail spine. Found grazing algae on reefs and rocky shores, readily visible to snorkelers and divers.
Parrotfish
A colorful parrotfish up to ~50 cm that scrapes algae and coral. Found on fringing reefs, identifiable by fused beak-like teeth and frequent color changes between juvenile and adult stages.
Humpback grouper
A robust grouper to about 120 cm, mottled brown and pale, inhabiting reef slopes and rocky bottoms. Slow-growing and prized for eating, often caught by artisanal fishers.
Greasy grouper
A common Indo-Pacific grouper reaching around 120 cm. Brownish with subtle spots, lives near reef ledges and seaward slopes; sought after in local markets.
Blackspot snapper
A medium-small snapper with a black spot on the dorsal area, about 35 cm maximum. Found on shallow reefs and lagoons, schooling and important to local fishers.
Humpback snapper
A stout red snapper reaching ~60 cm. Prefers outer reef slopes and drop-offs, identified by a compressed body and forked tail; common in markets.
Fourfinger threadfin
A large threadfin up to ~200 cm with distinctive filaments on the pectoral fin. Occurs in estuaries and sandy coastal waters, prized for eating and caught by nets.
Clark’s anemonefish
A small, colorful anemonefish up to ~17 cm that lives among host anemones on reefs. Bold coloration and territorial behavior make it easy to spot while snorkeling Kenyan reefs.
Sergeant major
A conspicuous schooling damselfish up to ~18 cm with vertical stripes. Found in shallow reef flats and lagoons, bold around divers and often guarding small territories.
Sky emperor
A mid-sized emperor fish around 70 cm with a blunt head and pale body. Feeds on invertebrates on reef flats and seagrass edges, common in artisanal catches.
