California has an exceptional diversity of marine and freshwater fish found in its waters. the following is a list of species, both native and introduced.
Native Species Class Myxini (Hagfishes) Family Myxinidae (Hagfishes) Genus Eptatretus Eptatretus stoutii (Pacific Hagfish)
Class Petromyzonti (Lampreys) Family Petromyzontidae (Northern Lampreys) Genus Entosphenus Entosphenus tridentatus (Pacific Lamprey) Entosphenus folletti (Northern California Lamprey) Entosphenus similis (Klamath Lamprey) Entosphenus minimus (Pit-Klamath Brook Lamprey) Genus Lampetra Lampetra ayresii (Western River Lamprey) Lampetra hubbsi (Kern Brook Lamprey) Lampetra pacifica (Coastal Brook Lamprey) Lampetra richardsoni (Western Brook Lamprey)
Class Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fishes) Family Heterodontidae (Bullhead Sharks) Genus Heterodontus Heterodontus francisci (Horn Shark)
Family Orectolobidae (Carpet Sharks) Genus Ginglymostoma Ginglymostoma cirratum (Nurse Shark) Rare vagrant
Family Rhincodontidae (Whale Sharks) Genus Rhincodon Rhincodon typus (Whale Shark) Rare seasonal visitor
Family Alopiidae (Thresher Sharks) Genus Alopias Alopias pelagicus (Pelagic Thresher) Alopias superciliosus (Bigeye Thresher) Alopias vulpinus (Common Thresher)
Family Cetorhinidae (Basking Sharks) Genus Cetorhinus Cetorhinus maximus (Basking Shark) Seasonal visitor
Family Lamnidae (Mackerel Sharks) Genus Carcharodon Carcharodon carcharias (Great White Shark) Genus Isurus Isurus oxyrinchus (Shortfin Mako) Isurus paucus (Longfin Mako) Rare Genus Lamna Lamna ditropis (Salmon Shark)
Family Hexanchidae (Cow Sharks) Genus Hexanchus Hexanchus griseus (Bluntnose Sixgill Shark) Genus Notorynchus Notorynchus cepedianus (Broadnose Sevengill Shark)
Family Echinorhinidae (Bramble Sharks) Genus Echinorhinus Echinorhinus cookei (Prickly Shark)
Family Squalidae (Dogfish Sharks) Genus Squalus Squalus suckleyi (Pacific Spiny Dogfish)
Family Somniosidae (Sleeper Sharks) Genus Somniosus Somniosus pacificus (Pacific Sleeper Shark) Deep water
Family Dalatiidae (Kitefin Sharks) Genus Isistius Isistius brasiliensis (Cookiecutter Shark) Rare offshore
Family Carcharhinidae (Requiem Sharks) Genus Carcharhinus Carcharhinus brachyurus (Copper Shark) Carcharhinus obscurus (Dusky Shark) Carcharhinus plumbeus (Sandbar Shark) Carcharhinus falciformis (Silky Shark) Carcharhinus limbatus (Blacktip Shark) Rare vagrant Carcharhinus longimanus (Oceanic Whitetip Shark) Rare offshore Genus Galeocerdo Galeocerdo cuvier (Tiger Shark) Rare vagrant Genus Negaprion Negaprion brevirostris (Lemon Shark) Rare vagrant Genus Prionace Prionace glauca (Blue Shark) Genus Rhizoprionodon Rhizoprionodon longurio (Pacific Sharpnose Shark) Genus Triaenodon Triaenodon obesus (Whitetip Reef Shark) Rare vagrant
Family Sphyrnidae (Hammerhead Sharks) Genus Sphyrna Sphyrna corona (Scalloped Bonnethead) Sphyrna lewini (Scalloped Hammerhead) Sphyrna media (Scoophead) Sphyrna mokarran (Great Hammerhead) Rare vagrant Sphyrna tiburo (Bonnethead) Rare vagrant Sphyrna zygaena (Smooth Hammerhead)
Family Triakidae (Houndsharks) Genus Galeorhinus Galeorhinus galeus (Soupfin Shark) Genus Mustelus Mustelus californicus (Grey Smoothhound) Mustelus henlei (Brown Smoothhound) Mustelus lunulatus (Sicklefin Smoothhound) Genus Triakis Triakis semifasciata (Leopard Shark)
Family Torpedinidae (Electric Rays) Genus Tetronarce Tetronarce californica (Pacific Electric Ray)
Family Rajidae (Skates) Genus Beringraja Beringraja binoculata (Big Skate) Genus Raja Raja inornata (California Skate) Raja stellulata (Starry Skate) Genus Bathyraja Bathyraja kincaidii (Sandpaper Skate) Bathyraja trachura (Roughtail Skate) Genus Amblyraja Amblyraja badia (Broad Skate) Deep water
Family Arhynchobatidae (Softnose Skates) Genus Bathyraja Bathyraja abyssicola (Deepsea Skate) Deep water Genus Notoraja Notoraja hesperindica (Western Indian Skate) Deep water
Family Dasyatidae (Whiptail Stingrays) Genus Hypanus Hypanus dipterurus (Diamond Stingray) Genus Pteroplatytrygon Pteroplatytrygon violacea (Pelagic Stingray) Genus Urobatis Urobatis halleri (Round Stingray)
Family Gymnuridae (Butterfly Rays) Genus Gymnura Gymnura marmorata (California Butterfly Ray)
Family Myliobatidae (Eagle Rays) Genus Aetobatus Aetobatus laticeps (Pacific White-Spotted Eagle Ray) Genus Myliobatis Myliobatis californica (Bat Ray) Genus Rhinoptera Rhinoptera steindachneri (Pacific Cownose Ray) Rare vagrant
Family Mobulidae (Devilrays) Genus Mobula Mobula birostris (Giant Manta Ray) Mobula munkiana (Munk's Devil Ray) Mobula thurstoni (Bentfin Devil Ray)
Family Chimaeridae (Shortnose Chimaeras) Genus Hydrolagus Hydrolagus colliei (Spotted Ratfish) Hydrolagus trolli (Pointy-nosed Blue Chimaera) Deep water
Class Actinopterygii (Ray-Finned Fishes) Family Acipenseridae (Sturgeons) Genus Acipenser Acipenser medirostris (Green Sturgeon) Acipenser transmontanus (White Sturgeon)
Family Polyodontidae (Paddlefishes) Genus Polyodon Polyodon spathula (Paddlefish) Extirpated
Family Clupeidae (Herrings, Shads, and Sardines) Genus Alosa Alosa sapidissima (American Shad) Anadromous; introduced from East Coast Genus Clupea Clupea pallasii (Pacific Herring) Genus Dorosoma Dorosoma petenense (Threadfin Shad) Introduced Genus Sardinops Sardinops sagax (Pacific Sardine) Genus Etrumeus Etrumeus acuminatus (Pacific Round Herring)
Family Engraulidae (Anchovies) Genus Anchoa Anchoa compressa (Deepbody Anchovy) Anchoa delicatissima (Slough Anchovy) Anchoa nasus (Longnose Anchovy) Genus Cetengraulis Cetengraulis mysticetus (Pacific Anchoveta) Genus Engraulis Engraulis mordax (Northern Anchovy)
Family Salmonidae (Salmon, Trout, Chars, and Whitefish) Genus Oncorhynchus Oncorhynchus clarkii (Cutthroat Trout) O. c. clarkii (Coastal Cutthroat Trout) O. c. humboldtensis (Lahontan Cutthroat Trout) Threatened O. c. seleniris (Paiute Cutthroat Trout) Threatened Oncorhynchus gilae (Gila Trout) Endangered; introduced to CA Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Pink Salmon) Rare south of SF Oncorhynchus keta (Chum Salmon) Rare Oncorhynchus kisutch (Coho Salmon) Endangered (Central CA ESU) Oncorhynchus mykiss (Rainbow Trout / Steelhead) Anadromous: Steelhead (Multiple threatened/endangered ESUs) Freshwater: Rainbow Trout (Includes many endemic forms) Oncorhynchus nerka (Sockeye Salmon / Kokanee) Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Chinook Salmon) (Multiple threatened/endangered ESUs) Genus Salvelinus Salvelinus confluentus (Bull Trout) Extirpated? Salvelinus fontinalis (Brook Trout) Introduced Salvelinus malma (Dolly Varden) Rare in far north Genus Prosopium Prosopium abyssicola (Bear Lake Whitefish) Extirpated? Prosopium gemmiferum (Bonneville Cisco) Extirpated? Prosopium spilonotus (Bonneville Whitefish) Extirpated? Prosopium williamsoni (Mountain Whitefish) Genus Coregonus Coregonus clupeaformis (Lake Whitefish) Extirpated?
Family Osmeridae (Smelts) Genus Hypomesus Hypomesus nipponensis (Wakasagi) Introduced Hypomesus pretiosus (Surf Smelt) Hypomesus transpacificus (Delta Smelt) Endangered Genus Spirinchus Spirinchus starksi (Night Smelt) Spirinchus thaleichthys (Longfin Smelt) Threatened Genus Thaleichthys Thaleichthys pacificus (Eulachon) Threatened
Family Galaxiidae (Galaxiids) Genus Galaxias Galaxias maculatus (Inanga) Introduced
Family Argentinidae (Argentines) Genus Argentina Argentina sialis (Pacific Argentine)
Family Bathylagidae (Deep-sea Smelts) Genus Bathylagus Bathylagus pacificus (Pacific Blacksmelt) Bathylagus wesethi (Snubnose Blacksmelt)
Family Opisthoproctidae (Barreleyes) Genus Opisthoproctus Opisthoproctus soleatus (Barreleye) Deep water
Family Umbridae (Mudminnows) Genus Novumbra Novumbra hubbsi (Olympic Mudminnow) Extirpated? Questionable historical presence.
Family Esocidae (Pikes) Genus Esox Esox lucius (Northern Pike) Illegally introduced, eradicated from some waters
Family Cyprinidae (Carp) Genus Cyprinus Cyprinus carpio (Common Carp) Introduced
Family Leuciscidae (Shiners, Daces and Minnows) Genus Acrocheilus Acrocheilus alutaceus (Chiselmouth) Rare in CA Genus Clinostomus Clinostomus funduloides (Rosyside Dace) Extirpated? Genus Couesius Couesius plumbeus (Lake Chub) Extirpated? Genus Cyprinella Cyprinella lutrensis (Red Shiner) Introduced Genus Gila Gila bicolor (Tui Chub) G. b. bicolor (Tui Chub) G. b. obesa (Owens Tui Chub) Endangered G. b. thalassinus (Goose Lake Tui Chub) Gila coerulea (Blue Chub) Gila crassicauda (Thicktail Chub) Extinct Gila elegans (Bonytail Chub) Endangered; reintroduced Gila orcuttii (Arroyo Chub) Gila pandora (Rio Grande Chub) Introduced? Gila purpurea (Yaqui Chub) Extirpated? Gila robusta (Roundtail Chub) Genus Hesperoleucus Hesperoleucus symmetricus (California Roach) Genus Lavinia Lavinia exilicauda (Hitch) Genus Luxilus Luxilus cornutus (Common Shiner) Introduced Genus Mylopharodon Mylopharodon conocephalus (Hardhead) Genus Nocomis Nocomis biguttatus (Hornyhead Chub) Introduced Genus Notemigonus Notemigonus crysoleucas (Golden Shiner) Introduced Genus Notropis Notropis atherinoides (Emerald Shiner) Introduced Notropis stramineus (Sand Shiner) Introduced Genus Oregonichthys Oregonichthys crameri (Oregon Chub) Extirpated? Genus Pimephales Pimephales notatus (Bluntnose Minnow) Introduced Pimephales promelas (Fathead Minnow) Introduced Genus Pogonichthys Pogonichthys ciscoides (Clear Lake Splittail) Extinct Pogonichthys macrolepidotus (Sacramento Splittail) Threatened Genus Ptychocheilus Ptychocheilus grandis (Sacramento Pikeminnow) Ptychocheilus lucius (Colorado Pikeminnow) Extirpated? Endangered Genus Rhinichthys Rhinichthys cataractae (Longnose Dace) Rhinichthys deaconi (Las Vegas Dace) Extinct Rhinichthys evermanni (Umpqua Dace) Rare in CA Rhinichthys falcatus (Leopard Dace) Rare in CA Rhinichthys osculus (Speckled Dace) R. o. kisutch (Smith River Speckled Dace) R. o. nevadensis (Amargosa Speckled Dace) R. o. oligoporus (Clover Valley Speckled Dace) R. o. ssp. (Santa Ana Speckled Dace) Endangered R. o. ssp. (Owens Speckled Dace) R. o. ssp. (Long Valley Speckled Dace) Extinct? Genus Richardsonius Richardsonius balteatus (Redside Shiner) Richardsonius egregius (Lahontan Redside) Genus Siphateles Siphateles bicolor (Tui Chub) (Often included in Gila) Siphateles mohavensis (Mohave Tui Chub) Endangered Genus Tiaroga Tiaroga cobitis (Loach Minnow) Extirpated? Endangered
Family Catostomidae (Suckers) Genus Catostomus Catostomus ardens (Utah Sucker) Catostomus bernardini (Yaqui Sucker) Extirpated? Catostomus catostomus (Longnose Sucker) Rare in CA Catostomus discobolus (Bluehead Sucker) Rare in CA Catostomus fumeiventris (Owens Sucker) Catostomus insignis (Sonora Sucker) Catostomus latipinnis (Flannelmouth Sucker) Catostomus microps (Modoc Sucker) Threatened Catostomus occidentalis (Sacramento Sucker) Catostomus platyrhynchus (Mountain Sucker) Catostomus rimiculus (Klamath Smallscale Sucker) Catostomus santaanae (Santa Ana Sucker) Threatened Catostomus snyderi (Klamath Largescale Sucker) Catostomus tahoensis (Tahoe Sucker) Catostomus warnerensis (Warner Sucker) Threatened Genus Chasmistes Chasmistes brevirostris (Shortnose Sucker) Endangered Chasmistes cujus (Cui-ui) Endangered; in Tahoe basin? Genus Deltistes Deltistes luxatus (Lost River Sucker) Endangered Genus Xyrauchen Xyrauchen texanus (Razorback Sucker) Endangered; reintroduced
Family Ictaluridae (North American Catfishes) Genus Ameiurus Ameiurus melas (Black Bullhead) Introduced Ameiurus natalis (Yellow Bullhead) Introduced Ameiurus nebulosus (Brown Bullhead) Native?/Introduced Genus Ictalurus Ictalurus furcatus (Blue Catfish) Introduced Ictalurus pricei (Yaqui Catfish) Extirpated? Endangered Ictalurus punctatus (Channel Catfish) Introduced Genus Noturus