North & Central America · Fish by region

Fish of Central America & the Caribbean

From southern Mexico through the isthmus to Panama, plus the Greater Antilles.

587 species across 12 families

Mesoamerica from southern Mexico through Guatemala, Belize and the isthmian republics to Panama, together with the Caribbean islands (the Greater Antilles — Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico — and the Lesser Antilles). The homeland of the Central-American cichlids (Herichthys, Vieja, Thorichthys, Amphilophus) and many livebearers.

587 of 587 species

Cichlids · 125

Catfish · 20

Corydoras · 1

Eels · 4

Gobies & Gudgeons · 7

Killifish · 68

Knifefishes · 10

Livebearers · 246

Pufferfish · 1

Tetras · 73

A fish appears here when its recorded range includes Central America & the Caribbean; wide-ranging species also appear under other regions. Prefer to browse by the water itself? Explore the waters →

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