There are over 34,000 species of fish in the world, and about 1,200 of those species begin with the letter “C”. This article takes a closer look at some of the most interesting fishes that start with the letter “C”. The first fish on the list is the California sheephead, a fish that can change its appearance from bright red to dull brown.
The next fish is the clownfish, made famous by the movie “Finding Nemo”. The clownfish is orange with white stripes, and lives among the poisonous tentacles of the sea anemone. The final fish is the coelacanth, a fish that was thought to be extinct for over 65 million years until it was discovered alive and well in the 20th century.
Fishes That Start With The Letter C
Contents
It’s always a fun challenge to try and name as many animals as possible that start with a certain letter of the alphabet. This time, we’re going to focus on animals that start with the letter C. For this article, we’ll be focusing on fish specifically. Here are some different fish that start with the letter C.
Carp
The Carp is a freshwater fish that is native to Europe and Asia. It is a member of the Cyprinidae family, which also includes the minnows and the barbs. The Carp is a large fish, and can grow to be over four feet long and weigh over fifty pounds. The Carp is a popular game fish, and is also kept as a pet in many parts of the world.
The Carp is a omnivorous fish, and will eat just about anything. They are especially fond of aquatic plants, and will uproot whole plants in search of food. Carp are also known to eat other fish, small mammals, and even birds. Carp have a very large mouth, and are capable of swallowing prey that is much larger than their own head.

Carp are a very old species of fish, and are believed to have first evolved over sixty million years ago. Carp are found in nearly every country in the world, and are one of the most widely distributed fish species. Carp are popular as a food fish, and are raised in fish farms in many parts of the world.
The Carp is a hardy fish, and can live in a wide.
Catfish
Catfish are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble cat whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the three largest species, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia, the wels catfish of Eurasia and the piraíba of South America, to detritivores (species that eat dead material originating from higher on the food chain) and even to a tiny parasitic species commonly called the candiru, Candirú urophthalmus.
Catfish are found in freshwater environments, though some species have been adapted to live in brackish or salt water. Representatives of at least eight families are found in fresh water, with most of the diversity in Africa. Catfish are most diverse in tropical South America, Asia and Africa, with one family native to North America and one family in Europe. More than half of all catfish species live in the Americas.

Catfish have inhabited all continents at one time or another. Catfish are most diverse in tropical South America, Asia and Africa, with one family in North America (the Ictaluridae) and one family in Europe (the Siluridae).
Cod
Cod is the common name for the demersal fish genus Gadus, belonging to the family Gadidae. Cod is also used as part of the common name for a number of other fish species, and some species suggested to belong to the Gadus are instead placed in other genera.
Most cod are relatively small fish. The largest member of the Gadus genus is Gadus morhua, which reaches a length of 180 cm (6 ft) and a weight of up to 96 kg (212 lb). Cod are commercially important fish, and are highly sought-after as a food fish. They are easy to catch because of their tendency to swim in large schools near the sea floor. Their diet consists primarily of small fish, squid, and crustaceans.

Cod are an important source of food for humans. They are harvested by commercial fisheries and are also popular as a recreational fish. Cod are heavily exploited, with their populations facing significant declines.
The Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is a species of cod from the family Gadidae. It is found in the northeast Atlantic Ocean, from Iceland and Norway south to Morocco, and in the northwest Atlantic Ocean, from Newfoundland to the Gulf of Saint.
Clownfish
Clownfish or anemonefish are fishes from the subfamily Amphiprioninae in the family Pomacentridae. Thirty species are recognized: one in the genus Premnas, while the remaining are in the genus Amphiprion. In the wild, they all form symbiotic relationships with sea anemones. Depending on species, clownfish are overall yellow, orange, or a reddish or blackish color, and many show white bars or patches. The largest can reach a length of 18 centimetres (7.1 in), while the smallest barely achieve 10 centimetres (3.9 in).

Clownfish live at the bottom of the ocean in warm waters near the coral reefs. They are omnivorous, eating small crustaceans, plankton, and leftovers from the anemone’s meals. Clownfish are protandrous hermaphrodites, meaning that they are born male and change sex to female. The largest and most dominant fish in a group becomes a female. If the female dies, one of the largest and most dominant males will change sex and become a female. Clownfish are among the most popular aquarium fish.
78 Fishes Beginning With C
California flyingfish | California halibut |
Canary rockfish | Candiru |
Candlefish | Capelin |
Cardinalfish | Cardinal tetra |
Carp | Carpetshark |
Carpsucker | Catalufa |
Catfish | Catla |
Cat shark | Cavefish |
Celebes rainbowfish | Central mudminnow |
Chain pickerel | Channel bass |
Channel catfish | Char |
Cherry salmon | Chimaera |
Chinook salmon | Cherubfish |
Chub | Chubsucker |
Chum salmon | Cichlid |
Cisco | Climbing catfish |
Climbing gourami | Climbing perch |
Clingfish | Clownfish |
Clown loach | Clown triggerfish |
Cobbler | Cobia |
Cod | Codlet |
Codling | Coelacanth |
Coffinfish | Coho salmon |
Coley | Collared carpetshark |
Collared dogfish | Colorado squawfish |
Combfish | Combtail gourami |
Combtooth blenny | Common carp |
Common tunny | Conger eel |
Convict blenny | Convict cichlid |
Cookie-cutter shark | Coolie loach |
Cornetfish | Cowfish |
Cownose ray | Cow shark |
Crappie | Creek chub |
Crestfish | Crevice kelpfish |
Croaker | Crocodile icefish |
Crocodile shark | Crucian carp |
Cuckoo wrasse | Cusk |
Cusk-eel | Cutlassfish |
Cutthroat eel | Cutthroat trout |
Conclusion
There are many different types of fish that begin with the letter “C”, including the clownfish, catfish, and channel catfish. Each of these fish has unique features and behaviors that make them interesting and enjoyable to watch. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced fish keeper, adding a fish beginning with “C” to your aquarium is sure to add some excitement and variety.