Small: 5 to 20 cm
Sardines, anchovies, most aquarium fish and many reef fish. 24 fish.
GroupSharkRayCarpCatfishSalmonidHerringCodTunaPerch-likeCichlidReef fishEelFlatfishLivebearerAncientOther
WaterRivers and lakesEstuaries and mangrovesCoasts and shelvesCoral reefsOpen oceanDeep seaPolar and cold seasCaves and springsBetween sea and river
🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreMexican tetra
A freshwater characin with surface and blind cave forms, studied for evolutionary biology.Other · Rivers and lakes
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreZebrafish
Small striped fish from South Asia kept in aquariums and labsCarp · Rivers and lakes
WorldRasbora
A diverse genus of small freshwater fish native to South and Southeast Asia.Carp · Rivers and lakes · 1822
🇲🇽 Mexico and 3 moreXiphophorus
A genus of small livebearing fish native to Mexico and Central America, known for aquarium use and genetic research.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes
WorldKillifish
Small egg-laying fish known for hardiness and short lifespansLivebearer · Rivers and lakes
🇲🇽 MexicoButterfly splitfin
A critically endangered livebearing fish from Mexico.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes · 1971
WorldHeadstander
South American freshwater fish known for swimming with their heads pointed downwards.Other · Rivers and lakes
🇨🇳 ChinaButterfly loach
A small, flat freshwater loach from fast Chinese streams.Other · Rivers and lakes
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Mexican tetra: User:Haplochromis, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Zebrafish: Roundish, CC0, source
- Rasbora: Captain R C Beavan, Public domain, source
- Xiphophorus: Marrabbio2, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Killifish: TinoStrauss, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Butterfly splitfin: Przemysław Malkowski, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Headstander: Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0, source
- Butterfly loach: Lerdsuwa, CC BY-SA 3.0, source