Explore 85+ Fish That Start With A (Common Names)

There are approximately 33,000 species of fish that exist in the world today. And with every passing year, more are being discovered. It is impossible to know the exact number of fish there are between these species, but it is estimated that there are over 3.5 trillion fish. 

How many of these 3.5 trillion start with the letter “A”? Common fish that start with the letter A include Arowana, Atlantic cod, Australian lungfish, Asian carp, African catfish, Antarctic icefish, American eel, Archerfish, Amazon river dolphin, Ansorge’s Neolebias, Australian Swamp Eel, and Albino Driftwood Cat.

At the end of this article, we will have a comprehensive list of all 85+ fish, starting with the letter “A,” listing their common and scientific names. 

With that said, let’s dive into 12 fish and look at their appearance, what they like to eat, and other interesting facts. 

1. Anglerfish (Lophiiformes)

The Anglerfish can easily be labeled as one of the most terrifying-looking fish. Definitely, not something you’d want to come across while diving.  This fish weighs over 100 pounds and has a glowing light on its head that lures its prey toward him. 

It will draw in fish, such as crustaceans and fish (shrimp in particular), into its trap, where it will eat them. Another term for this would be the fishing rod because these fish have no idea what is happening as they reel in. 

2. Amberjack (Seriola dumerili)

This sleek Amberjack fish can be found on ocean reefs and amongst wrecks. They feast on crabs and other small fish. They have a wide range of weights that goes anywhere from 40 – 200 pounds, and they can reach up to lengths of six feet long. 

An interesting fact about these fish is that they can both be solitary and live in schools of fish. They are a yummy seafood option and one that humans often choose to capture in order to eat. 

3. Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula)

This funny-looking fish, the Alligator Gar, has a long-shaped nose that protrudes out and is difficult to miss. 

While from looking at pictures, these fish may seem small, they actually weigh up to 350 pounds and can reach lengths of 10 feet. These large fish have sharp teeth and like to eat turtles, birds, fish, and mammals. 

They have flexible armor consisting of ganoid scales that allow them to defend themselves against predators.  Oddly enough, the number one predator for the Alligator Gar is alligators. 

4. Albacore Tuna (Thunnus alalunga)

Albacore Tuna has smooth skin and weighs 80 pounds. Despite their large size, they are 

incredibly fast swimmers that can reach up to speeds of 50 miles per hour.

They live in a school of fish and like to prey on fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and mollusks.  The animals that prey on Albacore Tuna are sharks, billfish, rays, humans, and other tuna fish. 

5. Alaskan Pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus)

The Alaskan Pollock is a small fish that lives in a school setting with other fish. It weighs approximately 1 – 3 pounds and reaches lengths of up to three inches, although a lot of Alaskan Pollock is only an inch long—these fish prey on other small fish and crustaceans. 

They also go by other names such as the following: Snow cod, Bideye cod, Copperline cod, and Lesser cod. 

6. Asian carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The Asian carp can interestingly consume up to 40% of their body weight in food in 24 hours! These fish enjoy eating worms, crustaceans, and insects. These fish grow at a fast rate and can reach up to 40 pounds. They have short fins along their body and are usually 2 – 4 feet long. 

Asian Carp is an umbrella name for a few different species, such as the following: Black carp, Bighead carp, Silver carp, and Grass carp. 

7. Archerfish (Toxotes)

The Archerfish weighs approximately 2 – 5 pounds and reaches up to 12 inches max. These small fish live only for three years.  They have a low aggression level and will not look for fights. The predators who prey on these fish are larger fish and birds. 

Archerfish enjoy eating flying insects, spiders, and crustaceans. However, their favorite food of choice is insects. They catch their fish by being able to shoot a stream of water at their prey, and then they are able to grab them. 

8. American eel (Anguilla rostrata)

The American eel has a population of about 700,000. They weigh about 17 pounds and reach up to four feet long. These fish prey on insect larvae, fish, molluscs, bivalves, crustaceans, insects, worms, frogs, and plants. 

An interesting fact about this American eel is that it has poisonous blood. And if humans were to consume it raw, it would result in death.  

9. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

The Atlantic cod is labeled as one of the most popular food fishes in the entire world! Sharks, marine mammals, and humans love dining on this delicacy. These fish are rich in nutrients and live in a school of other fish. 

These fish typically weigh under 80 pounds, although some have been found to weigh 200 pounds. The typical size for full adults is between 39 – 51 inches long. 

An interesting fact about these fish is that they can swim to depths of 1,970 feet. 

10. Asian Arowana (Scleropages formosus)

The Asian Arowana fish is a beautiful and vibrant fish. These highly territorial fish spend most of their lives hunting for food.  They enjoy eating many animals such as insects, frogs, spiders, lizards, birds, bats, and other animals.

For all that they eat, they only weigh about 15 pounds and grow up to three feet long, which seems big for a fish when you think about it. But, given their size, aggression, and ability to eat a wide range of foods allows them to live up to 60 years.

11. Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser sturio)

The Atlantic Sturgeon is a massive fish that weighs more than 300 pounds. Not only do they weigh a lot, but they can also grow up to 14 feet at times. 

These fish have low aggression and can, oddly enough, be seen jumping out of the water and can actually knock people over. Scientists aren’t sure as to why they do this, but they are sure it must be some form of communication from them. Perhaps they aren’t happy with the people near their spots!

The Largest Fish That Starts with the Letter “A”

When we think of fish, we typically think of something small and cute. However, as we’ve seen, some fish are anything but cute or small. In the case of the Arapaima fish (Arapaima gigas), they are easily labeled as the largest fish that start with the letter “A.”

The Arapaima fish can weigh anywhere from 440 – 485 pounds and have lengths of 10 – 15 feet! This monster of a fish is usually red, black, green, or light brown in color. Their lifespan typically reaches up to 20 years. 

They are solitary fish that like to eat fish, insects, and seeds. These fish are known for their bony tongues. They will crush their prey against the roofs of their mouth and then swallow them.

It is hard to believe that this large fish could have any predators. But, the greatest threat to their species is overfishing and habitat destruction. 

An interesting fact about the Arapaima fish is that you can actually eat them. Funny enough, this fish was on the cooking show Iron Chef America. 

Bonus Fact: If you want to find out about the largest fish in the entire world, you can find out by clicking here!

Complete List of 80+ Fish That Start with the Letter “A”

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