Blue Ventures Species Identification
How to Use this Guide
This resource is designed for quick and accurate identification of local marine life. The guide is based on a country’s species reference file and organized by scientific family. Each entry features four key elements:
Local Name(s): Common regional names for the species.
Scientific Name: The precise Latin binomial (Genus species). If the species is unknown, the genus or family can also be entered. If only the genus is known, type the name of the genus followed by “sp” (as opposed to “spp” or sp.”). If only the family is known, type the name of the family (i.e. Lutjanidae).
English Common Name: The widely recognized English name for the species.
Photo: A visual aid for positive identification.
Taxonomic classification organizes marine life into a nested hierarchy from broadest to most specific. Both fishes and invertebrates belong to the Domain Eukaryota and Kingdom Animalia. Fishes are primarily classified under the Phylum Chordata because they possess a backbone (as vertebrates), with most species belonging to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) or Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes). In contrast, marine invertebrates, which lack a backbone, are distributed across numerous phyla, including Mollusca (e.g., clams, squid), Arthropoda (e.g., crabs, shrimp), and Cnidaria (e.g., jellyfish, corals). This system proceeds through Order, Family (Lutjanidae), Genus (Lutjanus sp), and Species, providing a universal, standardized name for every organism, such as the Red Snapper, Lutjanus campechanus.
Species List
Family: Ariidae 
Gogo
Scientific Name: Arius madagascariensis
English Common Name: Madagascar sea catfish
Family: Carangidae 
Kikao
Scientific Name: Caranx sp
English Common Name: Trevally
Manarabotry
Scientific Name: Trachinotus blochii
English Common Name: Snubnose pompano
Family: Carcharhinidae 
Akio
Scientific Name: Carcharhinidae
English Common Name: Requiem sharks
Family: Chirocentridae 
Vatritra
Scientific Name: Chirocentrus dorab
English Common Name: Dorab wolf-herring
Family: Clupeidae 
Ambahamba
Scientific Name: Clupeidae
English Common Name: Herrings (Sardines)
Family: Dasyatidae 
Makoba
Scientific Name: Dasyatidae
English Common Name: Stingrays
Family: Dorosomatidae 
Karapapaka
Scientific Name: Hilsa kelee
English Common Name: Kelee shad
Family: Drepaneidae 
Takoropa
Scientific Name: Drepane longimana
English Common Name: Concertina fish
Family: Gerreidae 
Ambariaka
Scientific Name: Gerreidae
English Common Name: Mojarras
Ambareka
Scientific Name: Gerres filamentosus
English Common Name: Whipfin silver-biddy
Family: Haemulidae 
Besogny
Scientific Name: Plectorhinchus gibbosus
English Common Name: Harry hotlips
Maheriloha
Scientific Name: Pomadasys kaakan
English Common Name: Javelin grunter
Drodro
Scientific Name: Pomadasys maculatus
English Common Name: Saddle grunt
Family: Hemiramphidae 
Tseraka
Scientific Name: Hemiramphus far
English Common Name: Black-barred halfbeak
Family: Leiognathidae 
Salelo
Scientific Name: Leiognathidae
English Common Name: Ponyfishes
Family: Lethrinidae 
Menahelika
Scientific Name: Lethrinus sp
English Common Name: Emperor
Family: Mugilidae 
Bika
Scientific Name: Mugil cephalus
English Common Name: Flathead grey mullet
Family: Penaeidae 
Makamba fotsy / Akambajia
Scientific Name: Penaeus indicus
English Common Name: Banana prawn
Tigre joby
Scientific Name: Penaeus monodon
English Common Name: Asian tiger shrimp
Tigre mena
Scientific Name: Penaeus semisulcatus
English Common Name: Bamboo node prawn
Family: Portunidae 
Drakaka
Scientific Name: Scylla serrata
English Common Name: Giant green crab
Family: Sciaenidae 
Bobokoro
Scientific Name: Otolithes ruber
English Common Name: Tigertooth croaker
Family: Sillaginidae 
Ambotso
Scientific Name: Sillago sihama
English Common Name: Silver sillago
Family: Sparidae 
Sampia
Scientific Name: Acanthopagrus berda
English Common Name: Goldsilk seabream
Family: Sphyraenidae 
Jano
Scientific Name: Sphyraena barracuda
English Common Name: Great barracuda
Family: Terapontidae 
Drui
Scientific Name: Terapon jarbua
English Common Name: Jarbua terapon
