Africa · Fish by region
Fish of West Africa
The Upper- and Lower-Guinea coasts and the western Sudanian savanna — from Senegal to Cameroon.
588 species across 12 families
The FEOW 'Western Africa' bioregion: the Upper Guinea and Lower Guinea coastal forests plus the western Nilo-Sudanian rivers (Senegal, Niger, Volta), running from Mauritania and Senegal east to Nigeria and Cameroon. Cameroon is placed here as the anchor of the Lower Guinea province — home to Pelvicachromis, many Fundulopanchax and Aphyosemion killies and the Niger-Delta fauna; Gabon and the Congos fall under Central Africa.
588 of 588 species
Cichlids · 103
- Anomalochromis thomasi · African butterfly cichlid
- Benitochromis batesii
- Benitochromis conjunctus
- Benitochromis finleyi · Finley's cichlid
- Benitochromis nigrodorsalis
- Benitochromis riomuniensis
- Benitochromis ufermanni
- Chromidotilapia guntheri · Günther's mouthbrooder
- Chromidotilapia linkei
- Coelotilapia joka · Joka cichlid
- Coptodon bakossiorum
- Coptodon bemini
- Coptodon bythobates
- Coptodon cameronensis
- Coptodon camerunensis
- Coptodon coffea
- Coptodon congica
- Coptodon dageti
- Coptodon deckerti
- Coptodon discolor
- Coptodon ejagham
- Coptodon flava
- Coptodon flavus
- Coptodon fusiforme
- Coptodon guineensis · Guinean tilapia
- Coptodon gutturosa
- Coptodon gutturosus
- Coptodon imbriferna
- Coptodon imbrifernus
- Coptodon konkourensis
- Coptodon kottae
- Coptodon louka
- Coptodon margaritacea
- Coptodon nigrans
- Coptodon nyongana
- Coptodon rheophilus · Rheophilic tilapia
- Coptodon snyderae
- Coptodon sp. "Mamfé" · Mamfé tilapia
- Coptodon spongotroktis
- Coptodon thysi
- Coptodon walteri
- Coptodon zillii · Banded tilapia
- Enigmatochromis lucanusi
- Etia nguti
- Gobiocichla ethelwynnae
- Gobiocichla wonderi
- Hemichromis camerounensis
- Hemichromis elongatus
- Hemichromis fasciatus
- Hemichromis frempongi
- Heterochromis multidens
- Heterotilapia buettikoferi · Zebra tilapia
- Konia dikume · Dikume
- Konia eisentrauti
- Limbochromis robertsi
- Myaka myaka · Myaka
- Oreochromis aureus
- Oreochromis niloticus · Nile mouthbreeder
- Oreochromis schwebischi
- Paragobiocichla irvinei
- Parananochromis brevirostris
- Parananochromis caudifasciatus
- Parananochromis elobatus
- Parananochromis longirostris
- Pelmatolapia cabrae
- Pelmatolapia mariae · Spotted tilapia
- Pelvicachromis drachenfelsi
- Pelvicachromis kribensis
- Pelvicachromis pulcher · Kribensis
- Pelvicachromis roloffi · Roloff's krib
- Pelvicachromis sacrimontis · Giant krib
- Pelvicachromis silviae
- Pelvicachromis taeniatus
- Pungu maclareni · Pungu
- Rubricatochromis bimaculatus
- Rubricatochromis guttatus · Jewel cichlid
- Rubricatochromis letourneuxi
- Rubricatochromis paynei · Payne's jewel cichlid
- Sarotherodon caroli
- Sarotherodon galilaeus
- Sarotherodon knauerae
- Sarotherodon lamprechti
- Sarotherodon linnellii
- Sarotherodon lohbergeri
- Sarotherodon melanotheron · Blackchin tilapia
- Sarotherodon mvogoi
- Sarotherodon steinbachi
- Stomatepia mariae
- Stomatepia mongo · Mongo
- Stomatepia pindu · Pindu
- Thysochromis ansorgii
- Tilapia busumana
- Tilapia multifasciata
- Tilapia pra
- Tylochromis intermedius
- Tylochromis jentinki
- Tylochromis labrodon
- Tylochromis leonensis
- Tylochromis sudanensis
- Tylochromis variabilis
- Wallaceochromis humilis
- Wallaceochromis rubrolabiatus · Red-lipped cichlid
- Wallaceochromis signatus · Bandi cichlid
Arowanas & Oddballs · 78
- Boulengeromyrus knoepffleri
- Brevimyrus niger · Baby whale
- Brienomyrus brachyistius · Baby whale fish
- Brienomyrus longianalis
- Campylomormyrus curvirostris · Matadi elephantfish
- Campylomormyrus phantasticus
- Campylomormyrus rhynchophorus · Double-trunk elephant nose
- Campylomormyrus tamandua · Worm-jawed mormyrid
- Cyphomyrus macrops
- Cyphomyrus psittacus
- Genyomyrus donnyi
- Gnathonemus petersii · Peter's elephantnose
- Gymnarchus niloticus · Aba
- Heterotis niloticus · African arowana
- Hippopotamyrus castor
- Hippopotamyrus paugyi · Kolente stonebasher
- Hippopotamyrus pictus · Marcusen's mormyrid
- Hyperopisus bebe · Bebe mormyrid
- Isichthys henryi
- Marcusenius abadii · Djebba mormyrid
- Marcusenius cyprinoides · Thicklipped trunkfish
- Marcusenius deboensis
- Marcusenius furcidens
- Marcusenius gracilis
- Marcusenius kainjii
- Marcusenius mento
- Marcusenius meronai
- Marcusenius monteiri
- Marcusenius moorii · Elephantnose
- Marcusenius ntemensis
- Marcusenius sanagaensis
- Marcusenius senegalensis
- Marcusenius thomasi
- Marcusenius ussheri
- Mormyrops anguilloides · Cornish jack
- Mormyrops attenuatus
- Mormyrops batesianus · Bumba mormyrid
- Mormyrops breviceps · Liberian elephantfish
- Mormyrops caballus
- Mormyrops curviceps · Elephantnose
- Mormyrops nigricans
- Mormyrops oudoti
- Mormyrus felixi · Elephant-snout fish
- Mormyrus goheeni · Elephant-snout fish
- Mormyrus hasselquist · Elephant-snout fish
- Mormyrus hasselquistii · Elephant-snout fish
- Mormyrus macrophthalmus
- Mormyrus rume · Elephant-snout fish
- Mormyrus subundulatus
- Mormyrus tapirus · Trunkfish
- Mormyrus thomasi
- Myomyrus macrops
- Pantodon buchholzi · African butterflyfish
- Papyrocranus afer · Reticulated knifefish
- Paramormyrops batesii
- Paramormyrops curvifrons · Ivindo mormyrid
- Paramormyrops hopkinsi · Ivindo electric fish
- Petrocephalus ansorgii · Agberi mormyrid
- Petrocephalus balayi
- Petrocephalus ballayi · Elephantfish
- Petrocephalus bane
- Petrocephalus bovei · Baby whale
- Petrocephalus levequei
- Petrocephalus pallidomaculatus
- Petrocephalus pellegrini
- Petrocephalus pulsivertens
- Petrocephalus sauvagii
- Petrocephalus schoutedeni
- Petrocephalus similis
- Petrocephalus simus
- Petrocephalus soudanensis
- Petrocephalus tenuicauda
- Pollimyrus guttatus · Cameroon mormyrid
- Pollimyrus isidori · speckled stonebasher
- Pollimyrus nigripinnis
- Pollimyrus petricolus
- Xenomystus lucani · African knifefish
- Xenomystus nigri · African knifefish
Barbs · 96
- Barboides britzi
- Barboides gracilis
- Clypeobarbus hypsolepis
- Clypeobarbus pleuropholis
- Enteromius ablabes · Spottail barb
- Enteromius afrovernayi
- Enteromius aliciae
- Enteromius arambourgi
- Enteromius argenteus · Silver barb
- Enteromius aspilus · Blackback barb
- Enteromius atakorensis
- Enteromius atkinsoni
- Enteromius atromaculatus
- Enteromius bagbwensis
- Enteromius bawkuensis
- Enteromius bigornei
- Enteromius boboi
- Enteromius bourdariei
- Enteromius brazzai
- Enteromius cadenati
- Enteromius callipterus · Goldeneye barb
- Enteromius camptacanthus · African redfinned barb
- Enteromius carcharhinoides
- Enteromius chlorotaenia
- Enteromius clauseni
- Enteromius condei
- Enteromius deserti
- Enteromius dialonensis
- Enteromius ditinensis
- Enteromius eburneensis · Orangefin barb
- Enteromius foutensis
- Enteromius guildi
- Enteromius guineensis
- Enteromius guirali
- Enteromius holotaenia · Spotscale barb
- Enteromius huguenyi
- Enteromius inaequalis
- Enteromius jae · Jae barb
- Enteromius kissiensis
- Enteromius lauzannei
- Enteromius leonensis
- Enteromius liberiensis
- Enteromius macinensis
- Enteromius macrops
- Enteromius martorelli
- Enteromius melanotaenia
- Enteromius nigeriensis · Nigerian barb
- Enteromius nigroluteus
- Enteromius niokoloensis
- Enteromius nounensis
- Enteromius okae
- Enteromius parablabes
- Enteromius parajae
- Enteromius perince
- Enteromius pobeguini
- Enteromius poechii
- Enteromius punctitaeniatus
- Enteromius raimbaulti
- Enteromius rubrostigma
- Enteromius sensitivus
- Enteromius sexradiatus
- Enteromius stigmatopygus · Midspot barb
- Enteromius subinensis
- Enteromius sublineatus · Morse barb
- Enteromius sylvaticus
- Enteromius taeniurus
- Enteromius tegulifer
- Enteromius teugelsi
- Enteromius thysi
- Enteromius tiekoroi
- Enteromius traorei
- Enteromius trispilomimus
- Enteromius trispilos
- Enteromius vandewallei
- Enteromius walkeri · Walker's barb
- Enteromius yeiensis
- Enteromius zalbiensis
- Labeobarbus batesii
- Labeobarbus brevispinis
- Labeobarbus bynni · Nile barb
- Labeobarbus cardozoi
- Labeobarbus fimbriatus
- Labeobarbus gruveli
- Labeobarbus habereri
- Labeobarbus lagensis
- Labeobarbus mariae
- Labeobarbus mawambiensis
- Labeobarbus mungoensis
- Labeobarbus parawaldroni
- Labeobarbus petitjeani
- Labeobarbus progenys
- Labeobarbus sacratus
- Labeobarbus sandersi
- Labeobarbus steindachneri
- Labeobarbus versluysii
- Labeobarbus wurtzi
Bichirs & Ropefish · 9
- Erpetoichthys calabaricus · Reedfish
- Polypterus ansorgii · Guinean bichir
- Polypterus bichir · Nile bichir
- Polypterus endlicherii · Saddled bichir
- Polypterus ornatipinnis · Ornate bichir
- Polypterus palmas · Marbled bichir
- Polypterus retropinnis · West African bichir
- Polypterus senegalus · Senegal bichir
- Polypterus teugelsi · Cross River bichir
Catfish · 41
- Amphilius atesuensis
- Amphilius kakrimensis
- Auchenoglanis biscutatus · Yellow giraffe catfish
- Auchenoglanis occidentalis · Giraffe Catfish
- Bagrus bajad · Bajad catfish
- Bagrus docmak · Semutundu
- Bagrus filamentosus
- Channallabes sanghaensis
- Chiloglanis batesii
- Chiloglanis benuensis · Benue suckermouth catfish
- Chiloglanis camarabounyi
- Chiloglanis cameronensis
- Chiloglanis dialloi
- Chiloglanis disneyi
- Chiloglanis harbinger
- Chiloglanis kabaensis · Kaba suckermouth catfish
- Chiloglanis kolente
- Chiloglanis lamottei
- Chiloglanis loffabrevum
- Chiloglanis longibarbis
- Chiloglanis micropogon
- Chiloglanis niger
- Chiloglanis niloticus
- Clarias agboyiensis
- Clarias albopunctatus
- Clarias anguillaris · Mudfish
- Clarias buettikoferi · Buettikofer's walking catfish
- Clarias buthupogon
- Clarias camerunensis
- Clarias ebriensis
- Clarias gariepinus · African sharptooth catfish
- Clarias jaensis
- Clarias laeviceps
- Clarias lamottei
- Malapterurus electricus · Electric catfish
- Synodontis alberti · Albert's squeaker
- Synodontis budgetti · Budgett's synodontis
- Synodontis decorus · Clown catfish
- Synodontis eupterus · Featherfin squeaker
- Synodontis ocellifer · Ocellated squeaker
- Synodontis robbianus · Dwarf squeaker catfish
Eels · 21
- Mastacembelus batesii
- Mastacembelus congicus · Congo spiny eel
- Mastacembelus cryptacanthus · West African spiny eel
- Mastacembelus decorsei
- Mastacembelus flavidus
- Mastacembelus flavomarginatus
- Mastacembelus frenatus · Longtail spiny eel
- Mastacembelus goro
- Mastacembelus kakrimensis
- Mastacembelus liberiensis · Orange Spot Eel
- Mastacembelus loennbergii
- Mastacembelus marchei
- Mastacembelus niger · Mukongo
- Mastacembelus nigromarginatus
- Mastacembelus oatesii
- Mastacembelus praensis
- Mastacembelus sanagali
- Mastacembelus seiteri
- Mastacembelus taiaensis
- Ophisternon afrum · Guinea swamp eel
- Typhlosynbranchus boueti · Liberian swamp eel
Gobies & Gudgeons · 3
- Dormitator lebretonis · African fat sleeper
- Guavina guavina · Guavina
- Periophthalmus barbarus · Atlantic mudskipper
Gouramis · 10
- Ctenopoma garuanum
- Ctenopoma kingsleyae · Tailspot ctenopoma
- Ctenopoma maculatum
- Ctenopoma muriei · Ocellated labyrinth fish
- Ctenopoma nebulosum
- Ctenopoma ocellatum · Eyespot ctenopoma
- Ctenopoma petherici · Petheric's Ctenopoma
- Microctenopoma ansorgii · Ornate ctenopoma
- Microctenopoma fasciolatum · Banded ctenopoma
- Microctenopoma nanum · Dwarf ctenopoma
Killifish · 130
- Aphyosemion ahli · Ahl's lyretail
- Aphyosemion amoenum · Red-finned killi
- Aphyosemion australe · Cape Lopez lyretail
- Aphyosemion bamilekorum
- Aphyosemion bitaeniatum · Two-striped killifish
- Aphyosemion bivittatum · Two-banded lyretail
- Aphyosemion boehmi
- Aphyosemion bualanum · Bouala Lyretail
- Aphyosemion cameronense · Cameroon aphyosemion
- Aphyosemion campomaanense
- Aphyosemion celiae · Celia's Lyretail
- Aphyosemion cinnamomeum · Cinnamon killifish
- Aphyosemion dargei
- Aphyosemion edeanum
- Aphyosemion elberti · Red-Barred Lyretail
- Aphyosemion exiguum · Jewel killi
- Aphyosemion franzwerneri
- Aphyosemion halleri
- Aphyosemion herzogi · Herzog's killi
- Aphyosemion lividum
- Aphyosemion loennbergii · Lönnberg's Lyretail
- Aphyosemion lugens
- Aphyosemion melanogaster
- Aphyosemion omega
- Aphyosemion pascheni · Gray beauty killifish
- Aphyosemion poliaki · Poliak's killifish
- Aphyosemion punctatum
- Aphyosemion raddai
- Aphyosemion riggenbachi · Riggenbach's aphyosemion
- Aphyosemion splendopleure · Splendor-fin aphyosemion
- Aphyosemion volcanum
- Aphyosemion wildekampi
- Aplocheilichthys spilauchen · Banded lampeye
- Archiaphyosemion guineense
- Callopanchax monroviae · Monrovia killifish
- Callopanchax occidentalis · West African killifish
- Callopanchax sidibei
- Callopanchax toddi · Todd's killifish
- Epiplatys annulatus · Clown killifish
- Epiplatys barmoiensis
- Epiplatys biafranus
- Epiplatys bifasciatus · Two-striped panchax
- Epiplatys boulengeri · Boulenger's panchax
- Epiplatys chaperi · Chaper's panchax
- Epiplatys dageti · Firemouth panchax
- Epiplatys esekanus
- Epiplatys fasciolatus · Banded panchax
- Epiplatys grahami · Graham's panchax
- Epiplatys guineensis
- Epiplatys infrafasciatus · Six-banded panchax
- Epiplatys josianae
- Epiplatys kassiapleuensis
- Epiplatys lamottei · Red-spotted Panchax
- Epiplatys longiventralis
- Epiplatys monroviae · Red-chinned Panchax
- Epiplatys multifasciatus
- Epiplatys neumanni
- Epiplatys njalaensis
- Epiplatys olbrechtsi · Olbrecht's panchax
- Epiplatys ruhkopfi
- Epiplatys sangmelinensis
- Epiplatys sexfasciatus · Six-banded panchax
- Epiplatys spilargyreius
- Epiplatys togolensis
- Epiplatys zenkeri
- Fundulopanchax amieti · Amiet's killifish
- Fundulopanchax cinnamomeus · Cinnamon killifish
- Fundulopanchax deltaensis · Delta killi
- Fundulopanchax fallax · Kribi killi
- Fundulopanchax filamentosus · Plumed lyretail
- Fundulopanchax gardneri · Blue lyretail
- Fundulopanchax gresensi
- Fundulopanchax gularis · Blue gularis
- Fundulopanchax kamdemi
- Fundulopanchax marmoratus · Marbled Lyretail
- Fundulopanchax mirabilis · Miraculous killifish
- Fundulopanchax moensis
- Fundulopanchax ndianus
- Fundulopanchax puerzli
- Fundulopanchax robertsoni · Robertson's killifish
- Fundulopanchax rubrolabialis
- Fundulopanchax scheeli · Scheel's killifish
- Fundulopanchax sjostedti · Blue gularis
- Fundulopanchax spoorenbergi
- Fundulopanchax walkeri · Walker's killifish
- Fundulosoma thierryi · Togo killifish
- Lacustricola hutereaui
- Lacustricola pumilus
- Micropanchax bracheti · Brachet's lampeye
- Micropanchax camerunensis · Cameroon lampeye
- Micropanchax ehrichi
- Micropanchax keilhacki
- Micropanchax kingii · King's lampeye
- Micropanchax mediolateralis
- Micropanchax pfaffi
- Nimbapanchax jeanpoli · Jeanpol's killi
- Nimbapanchax leucopterygius
- Nimbapanchax maeseni
- Nimbapanchax melanopterygius
- Nimbapanchax petersi · Peters' killifish
- Nimbapanchax viridis
- Nothobranchius rubroreticulatus
- Poropanchax normani · Norman's lampeye
- Poropanchax rancureli
- Poropanchax scheeli
- Poropanchax stigmatopygus · Anus Spot Lampeye Killifish
- Procatopus aberrans · Blue-green Lampeye
- Procatopus nototaenia · Large finned lampeye
- Procatopus similis
- Pronothobranchius chirioi
- Pronothobranchius gambiensis
- Pronothobranchius kiyawensis
- Raddaella batesii
- Rhexipanchax kabae
- Rhexipanchax lamberti · Lambert's lampeye
- Rhexipanchax nimbaensis · Mt. Nimba lampeye
- Rhexipanchax schiotzi
- Scriptaphyosemion banforense
- Scriptaphyosemion bertholdi
- Scriptaphyosemion brueningi
- Scriptaphyosemion cauveti · Cauvet's killifish
- Scriptaphyosemion chaytori
- Scriptaphyosemion etzeli
- Scriptaphyosemion fredrodi
- Scriptaphyosemion geryi
- Scriptaphyosemion guignardi · Guignard's killifish
- Scriptaphyosemion liberiense · Liberian killifish
- Scriptaphyosemion nigrifluvi
- Scriptaphyosemion roloffi · Roloff's killifish
- Scriptaphyosemion schmitti
Piranhas & Pacus · 47
- Citharidium ansorgii
- Citharinops distichodoides
- Citharinus citharus · Moon fish
- Citharinus eburneensis
- Citharinus latus · African moon fish
- Distichodus affinis · Silver distichodus
- Distichodus brevipinnis · Short-finned distichodus
- Distichodus engycephalus · Grass-eater
- Distichodus hypostomatus
- Distichodus kolleri
- Distichodus lusosso · Longsnout distichodus
- Distichodus nefasch · Nefasch distichodus
- Distichodus notospilus · Longsnout distichodus
- Distichodus rostratus · Grass-eater
- Distichodus sexfasciatus · Six-banded distichodus
- Eugnathichthys eetveldii
- Hepsetus lineatus · African pike characin
- Hepsetus occidentalis · African pike characin
- Hepsetus odoe · African pike characin
- Ichthyborus besse
- Ichthyborus monodi
- Ichthyborus quadrilineatus · Four-lined ichthyborus
- Mesoborus crocodilus · Crocodile tetra
- Nannaethiops unitaeniatus · One-striped African characin
- Nannocharax ansorgii
- Nannocharax elongatus
- Nannocharax fasciatus · Barred nannocharax
- Nannocharax intermedius
- Nannocharax latifasciatus
- Nannocharax occidentalis
- Nannocharax ocellicauda
- Nannocharax procatopus
- Nannocharax reidi
- Nannocharax rubrolabiatus
- Nannocharax signifer
- Nannocharax usongo
- Nannocharax zebra
- Neolebias ansorgii · Ansorge's neolebias
- Neolebias axelrodi
- Neolebias powelli · Domino tetra
- Neolebias trewavasae · African emperor tetra
- Neolebias unifasciatus · One-banded Neolebias
- Paradistichodus dimidiatus
- Phago boulengeri · Spotted phago
- Phago loricatus · Fin-eater
- Xenocharax crassus
- Xenocharax spilurus
Pufferfish · 2
- Tetraodon lineatus · Fahaka puffer
- Tetraodon pustulatus · Cross River puffer
Tetras · 48
- Alestes baremoze · Silversides
- Alestes dentex · Sickle-fin Alestes
- Alestes liebrechtsii
- Alestes macrophthalmus · Bigeye tetra
- Alestopetersius smykalai · Blue Diamond Tetra
- Alestopetersius taeniatus · Banded African Tetra
- Arnoldichthys spilopterus · African red-eyed tetra
- Bathyaethiops baka · Baka Tetra
- Bathyaethiops caudomaculatus · African Moon Tetra
- Brachyalestes bimaculatus · Two-spot Alestes
- Brachyalestes carolinae
- Brachyalestes imberi · Spot-tail
- Brachyalestes kingsleyae · Kingsley's Tetra
- Brachyalestes nurse · Nurse Tetra
- Brachyalestes opisthotaenia
- Brachyalestes taeniurus · Striped Alestes
- Brachypetersius altus · African Spottail Tetra
- Brycinus batesii
- Brycinus brevis
- Brycinus leuciscus · Yellow-fin Tetra
- Brycinus luteus
- Brycinus macrolepidotus · True big-scale tetra
- Brycinus poptae · Blue Spot African Tetra
- Brycinus schoutedeni · Schouteden's African Tetra
- Bryconaethiops macrops
- Bryconaethiops microstoma
- Bryconaethiops quinquesquamae
- Bryconalestes derhami
- Bryconalestes intermedius
- Bryconalestes longipinnis · Long-finned tetra
- Bryconalestes tessmanni
- Hemigrammopetersius major
- Hemigrammopetersius pulcher · Copper Tetra
- Hemigrammopetersius urotaenia · Limeback Tetra
- Hydrocynus brevis · Blunt-toothed African Tiger Fish
- Hydrocynus forskahlii · Elongate Tigerfish
- Hydrocynus vittatus · Tigerfish
- Ladigesia roloffi · Jelly bean tetra
- Micralestes acutidens · Sharptooth Tetra
- Micralestes argyrotaenia · Silver Tetra
- Micralestes comoensis
- Micralestes eburneensis
- Micralestes humilis
- Micralestes occidentalis · Western Characin
- Micralestes pabrensis
- Nannopetersius lamberti
- Rhabdalestes brevidorsalis
- Rhabdalestes septentrionalis · Northern Longfin Tetra
A fish appears here when its recorded range includes West Africa; wide-ranging species also appear under other regions. Prefer to browse by the water itself? Explore the waters →
← All regions