Fish of Crete
Crete is located in the middle of the South East Mediterranean sea and abounds in fish species.
Here we present a list of the most commonly met fish of Crete. This can be a valuable guide for snorkellers, so as to recognize the fish they see while snorkeling.
We strongly recommend to have a look at the Snorkeler's Guide for Mediterranean Fish here.
| Icon | English/ Greek name | Scientific name | Information | Photos |
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Two-spotted clingfish Κολητσίδα |
Diplecogaster bimaculata |
*L:2-4cm Safe |
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Cardinal fish Καρδινάλιος |
Apogon imberbis |
L:10cm Safe |
|
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Big-scale sand smelt Αθερίνα |
Atherina boyeri |
L:10cm Safe |
|
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Picarel Μαρίδα |
Spicara smaris |
L:8-12cm Safe |
|
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Garpike Ζαργάνα |
Belone belone |
L:30-60cm Safe |
|
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Tentacled bienny Σαλιάρα |
Parablennius tentacularis |
L:15cm Safe |
|
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Lizardfish Σκαρμός |
Synodus saurus |
L:15-30cm Safe |
|
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Wide-eyed flounder Γλώσσα |
Bothus podas |
L:10-20cm Safe |
|
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Dragonet Καλλιώνυμος |
Callionymus lyra |
L:10-15cm Safe |
|
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African sailfin flyingfish Χελιδονόψαρο |
Parexocoetus mento |
L:6-10cm Safe |
|
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Streaked gurnard Καπόνι |
Trigloporus lastoviza |
L:10-20cm Safe |
|
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Black goby Μαυρογωβιός, κοκκωβιός |
Gobius niger |
L:8-15cm Safe |
|
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Omate wrasse Γαϊτανούρι |
Thalassoma pavo |
L:10-20cm Safe |
|
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Rainbow wrasse Γύλος |
Coris julis |
L:10-20cm Safe |
|
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Axilliary wrasse Κοκκινολαπίνα |
Symphodus mediterraneus |
L:6-12cm Safe |
|
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Gray wrasse Φαγανέλι |
Symphodus cinereus |
L:7-10cm Safe |
|
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Peacock wrasse Ταωλαπίνα |
Symphodus tinca |
L:10-25cm Safe |
|
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Brown wrasse Χειλού |
Labrus merula |
L:15-30cm Safe |
|
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Pearly razorfish Κτένι, λειρί, Κατσούλα |
Xyrichthys novacula |
L:10-20cm Safe |
|
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European seabass Λαυράκι |
Dicentrarchus labrax |
L:25-60cm Safe |
|
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Flathead mullet Κέφαλος |
Mugil cephalus |
L:30-50cm Safe |
|
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Mediterranean moray Σμέρνα |
Muraena helena |
L:60-100cm Hazardous |
|
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Conger Μουγγρί |
Conger conger |
L:100-150cm Hazardous |
|
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Striped red mullet Μπαρμπούνι |
Mullus surmuletus |
L:15-25cm Safe |
|
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Red mullet Κουτσομούρα |
Mullus barbatus |
L:10-25cm Safe |
|
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Damselfish Καλογριά |
Chromis chromis |
L:6-12cm Safe |
|
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Thornback ray Σαλάχι, ράγια |
Raja clavata |
L:80-100cm Hazardous |
|
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Electric ray Μουδιάστρα |
Torpedo nobiliana |
L:100-150cm Electric shock |
|
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Giant Devilray Διαβολόψαρο |
Mobula mobular |
L:300-650cm Hazardous |
|
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Triggerfish Γουρουνόψαρο |
Balistes carolinensis |
L:25-45cm Safe |
|
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Parrotfish Σκάρος |
Sparisoma cretense |
L:15-30cm Safe |
|
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Red scorpionfish Κόκκινη σκορπίνα |
Scorpaena scrofa |
L:20-30cm Hazardous |
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Black scorpionfish Μαυροσκορπιός |
Scorpaena porcus |
L:10-20cm Hazardous |
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Brown comber Περκάκι, καψομούλα |
Serranus hepatus |
L:8-12cm Safe |
|
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Comber Χάνος |
Serranus cabrilla |
L:15-25cm Safe |
|
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Painted comber Πέρκα |
Serranus scriba |
L:10-25cm Safe |
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Dusky grouper Ροφός |
Epinephelus marginatus |
L:20-80cm Safe |
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White grouper Σφυρίδα |
Epinephelus aeneus |
L:20-80cm Safe |
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Golden grouper Στείρα |
Epinephelus alexandrinus |
L:30-80cm Safe |
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Wreckfish Βλάχος |
Polyprion americanus |
L:70-150cm Safe |
|
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Dusky spinefoot Γερμανός |
Siganus luridus |
L:10-20cm Spines |
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Axilliary seabream Μουσμούλι |
Pagellus acarne |
L:10-25cm Safe |
|
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Common Pandora Λυθρίνι |
Pagellus erythrinus |
L:10-25cm Safe |
|
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Saddled seabream Μελανούρι |
Oblada melanura |
L:30-50cm Safe |
|
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Salema Σάλπα |
Sarpa salpa |
L:10-30cm Safe |
|
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White trevally Κοκάλι |
Pseudocaranx dentex |
L:25-40cm Safe |
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Leerfish Λίτσα |
Lichia amia |
L:80-160cm Safe |
|
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Bluefish Γοφάρι |
Pomatomus saltatrix |
L:50-100cm Safe |
|
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Greater amberjack Μαγιάτικο |
Seriola dumerili |
L:30-90cm Safe |
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Dorado Κυνηγός, Λαμπούκα |
Coryphaena hippurus |
L:40-100cm Safe |
|
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Swordfish Ξιφίας |
Xiphias gladius |
L:150-400cm Dangerous |
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Tuna Τόνος |
Thunnus thynnus |
L:150-350cm Safe |
|
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Atlantic bonito Παλαμίδα |
Sarda sarda |
L:20-60cm Safe |
|
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European hake Μπακαλιάρος |
Merluccius merluccius |
L:30-80cm Safe |
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Gilthead seabream Τσιπούρα |
Sparus aurata |
L:20-50cm Safe |
|
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Red porgy Φαγκρί |
Pagrus pagrus |
L:20-50cm Safe |
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Large Eyed Dentex Μπαλάς |
Dentex macrophthalmus |
L:20-65cm Safe |
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Dentex Συναγρίδα |
Dentex dentex |
L:40-90cm Safe |
|
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Sharpsnout seabream Μυτάκι |
Diplodus puntazzo |
L:10-25cm Safe |
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Annular seabream Σπάρος |
Diplodus annularis |
L:10-20cm Safe |
|
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Common two-banded seabream Κακαρέλος |
Diplodus vulgaris |
L:15-25cm Safe |
|
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White seabream Σαργός |
Diplodus sargus |
L:15-30cm Safe |
|
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Black seabream Σκαθάρι |
Spondyliosoma cantharus |
L:15-30cm Safe |
|
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Striped seabream Μουρμούρα |
Lithognathus mormyrus |
L:10-20cm Safe |
|
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Bogue Γόπα |
Boops boops |
L:10-25cm Safe |
|
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Pilchard Σαρδέλα |
Sardina pilchardus |
L:10-20cm Safe |
|
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Chub mackerel Κολιός |
Scomber japonicus |
L:20-30cm Safe |
|
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European barracuda Λούτσος |
Sphyraena sphyraena |
L:20-50cm Hazardous |
|
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Smooth hound Γαλέος |
Mustelus mustelus |
L:60-140cm Safe |
|
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Porbeagle Λάμια |
Lamna nasus |
L:180-250cm Avoid contact |
|
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Basking shark Σαπουνάς |
Cetorhinus maximus |
L:3-10m Generally Harmless |
|
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Greater weever Δράκαινα |
Trachinus draco |
L:10-20cm Hazardous |
|
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Oceanic puffer Λαγοκέφαλος |
Lagocephalus lagocephalus |
L:20-50cm Hazardous, toxic |
|
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John Dory, St Pierre Χριστόψαρο |
Zeus faber |
L:20-45cm Safe |
|
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Ocean sunfish Φεγγαρόψαρο |
Mola mola |
L:2-3m Safe |
|
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Long-snouted seahorse Ιππόκαμπος |
Hippocampus guttulatus |
L:5-10cm Safe |
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- L= Length
- D=Depth Range
