Science and research
Model organisms and fish famous in science. 152 fish on EveryFish so far.
Fish are important in science. Some species are model organisms, small, fast-breeding fish that are studied in depth in laboratories to understand biology in general, from how embryos grow to how genes cause disease. Others are famous for what they reveal about evolution, such as the coelacanth, the blind cave fish and the cichlids of the African lakes. Fish also help scientists monitor the health of rivers and seas.
Zebrafish and medaka
The zebrafish, a small striped danio of South Asian streams, became a major model organism from the 1970s and 1980s. Its embryos are see-through and grow outside the mother, so scientists can watch organs and nerves form under the microscope. It is used to study development, heart and nerve disease, cancer and the effects of drugs and pollutants. The Japanese medaka is another model, and in 1994 medaka became the first vertebrates to mate and produce young in orbit, on a Space Shuttle flight.
Fish that explain evolution
The three-spined stickleback has repeatedly lost its bony armour after moving from the sea into lakes, letting scientists trace the genes involved. Sighted and blind forms of the Mexican tetra show how eyes are lost in caves. The turquoise killifish, which lives only a few months, is used to study ageing. The coelacanth and lungfish shed light on how fish first moved onto land, and the spotted gar's genome helps link fish genes to human ones.
Famous science and research fish
ZebrafishA leading model organism
Japanese rice fishThe medaka, first vertebrate to breed in orbit
Mexican tetraSighted and blind forms
Three-spined sticklebackA model of evolution in actionTurquoise killifishThe turquoise killifish, used to study ageing
GuppyStudied for evolution and behaviour
Spotted garIts genome bridges fish and human genes
West Indian Ocean coelacanthA window on the move to landFurther reading
🇺🇸 United States and 2 morePupfish
Small killifish known for surviving in extreme isolated waters.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes
🇵🇪 Peru and 1 moreTiticaca orestias
Largest killifish of Lake Titicaca, likely extinct.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes
🇲🇽 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
🇺🇸 United StatesLeast killifish
A tiny North American fish that gives birth to live young and measures just two centimetres long.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes
🇺🇸 United States and 4 moreMosquitofish
Small North American fish introduced globally for mosquito control.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes
🇧🇷 Brazil and 1 moreLargescale four-eyes
Surface-dwelling fish with split eyes for dual vision.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes · 1758
🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreSouthern platyfish
Small live-bearing freshwater fish from Central AmericaLivebearer · Rivers and lakes
🇲🇽 MexicoVariable platyfish
Small livebearing fish from Mexico popular in home aquariumsLivebearer · Rivers and lakes
🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreGreen swordtail
A hardy live-bearing fish popular in home aquariums.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes · 1848
🇹🇿 TanzaniaRedtail notho
A small annual killifish from ZanzibarLivebearer · Rivers and lakes
🇻🇪 Venezuela and 4 moreGuppy
Small tropical livebearer known for bright male colours and rapid reproduction.Livebearer · Rivers and lakes · 1859
🇺🇸 United StatesPahrump poolfish
Rare Nevada fish surviving only in transplanted populationsLivebearer · 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
- Pupfish: P.V. Loiselle, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Zebrafish: Roundish, CC0, source
- West Indian Ocean coelacanth: sybarite48, CC BY 2.0, source
- Three-spined stickleback: Gilles San Martin, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Spotted gar: Brian.gratwicke on English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, source
- Xiphophorus: Marrabbio2, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Killifish: TinoStrauss, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Least killifish: Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0, source
- Mosquitofish: NOZO, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Japanese rice fish: NOZO, CC BY 3.0, source
- Largescale four-eyes: Michael Gäbler, CC BY 3.0, source
- Southern platyfish: Photograph by Jere Kyyrö. Uploaded by Rasvis ., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Green swordtail: Bastet78, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Redtail notho: Jokuyken15, CC BY 4.0, source
- Guppy: Wibowo Djatmiko ( Wie146 ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source