Belize – Community Fisheries Data System Manual

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.

Anatomy & Markings

Species List

Family: Ariidae

Gafftopsail Catfish

Scientific Name: Bagre marinus

English Common Name: Gafftopsail sea catfish

Family: Carangidae

Yellow Jack

Scientific Name: Caranx bartholomaei

English Common Name: Yellow jack

Crevalle Jack

Scientific Name: Caranx hippos

English Common Name: Crevalle jack

Great Amberjack

Scientific Name: Seriola dumerili

English Common Name: Greater amberjack

Family: Carcharhinidae

Shark

Scientific Name: Carcharhinidae

English Common Name: Requiem sharks

Family: Centropomidae

Common Snook

Scientific Name: Centropomus undecimalis

English Common Name: Common snook

Family: Cichlidae

Crana / Mayan Cichlid

Scientific Name: Mayaheros urophthalmus

English Common Name: Mexican mojarra

Bay snook

Scientific Name: Petenia splendida

English Common Name: Bay snook

Tuba

Scientific Name: Vieja melanurus

English Common Name: Pastel cichlid

Family: Clupeidae

Sprat

Scientific Name: Sprattus sp

English Common Name: Sprat

Family: Coryphaenidae

Mahi mahi

Scientific Name: Coryphaena hippurus

English Common Name: Common dolphinfish

Family: Dorosomatidae

Sardine

Scientific Name: Sardinella sp

English Common Name: Sardinella

Family: Ephippidae

Atlantic Spadefish

Scientific Name: Chaetodipterus faber

English Common Name: Atlantic spadefish

Family: Epinephelidae

Red hind

Scientific Name: Epinephelus guttatus

English Common Name: Red hind

Goliath grouper

Scientific Name: Epinephelus itajara

English Common Name: Jewfish

Nassau Grouper

Scientific Name: Epinephelus striatus

English Common Name: Nassau grouper

Misty grouper

Scientific Name: Hyporthodus mystacinus

English Common Name: Misty grouper

Black Grouper

Scientific Name: Mycteroperca bonaci

English Common Name: Black grouper

Tiger grouper

Scientific Name: Mycteroperca tigris

English Common Name: Tiger grouper

Yellowfin grouper

Scientific Name: Mycteroperca venenosa

English Common Name: Yellowfin grouper

Family: Gerreidae

Mojarra (Pompano)

Scientific Name: Diapterus auratus

English Common Name: Irish mojarra

Striped Mojarra

Scientific Name: Eugerres plumieri

English Common Name: Mojarra

Mojarra (Yellowfin)

Scientific Name: Gerres cinereus

English Common Name: Yellow fin mojarra

Family: Haemulidae

Margate

Scientific Name: Haemulon album

English Common Name: White margate

Sailor’s choice

Scientific Name: Haemulon parra

English Common Name: Sailor’s grunt

White Grunt

Scientific Name: Haemulon plumierii

English Common Name: White grunt

Bluestriped grunt / Sailors Choice

Scientific Name: Haemulon sciurus

English Common Name: Bluestriped grunt

Family: Holothuriidae

Sea Cucumber

Scientific Name: Holothuriidae

English Common Name: Sea cucumbers

Family: Ictaluridae

Blue-eye catfish (Baca)

Scientific Name: Ictalurus furcatus

English Common Name: Blue catfish

Family: Istiophoridae

White Marlin

Scientific Name: Kajikia albida

English Common Name: Atlantic white marlin

Striped Marlin

Scientific Name: Kajikia audax

English Common Name: Striped marlin

Family: Labridae

Hogfish

Scientific Name: Lachnolaimus maximus

English Common Name: Hogfish

Family: Lobotidae

Atlantic Tripletail

Scientific Name: Lobotes surinamensis

English Common Name: Tripletail

Family: Lutjanidae

Snappers

Scientific Name: Lutjanidae

English Common Name: Snappers

Queen snapper

Scientific Name: Etelis oculatus

English Common Name: Queen snapper

Mutton Snapper

Scientific Name: Lutjanus analis

English Common Name: Mutton snapper

Schoolmaster

Scientific Name: Lutjanus apodus

English Common Name: Schoolmaster snapper

Deepwater blackfin snapper

Scientific Name: Lutjanus buccanella

English Common Name: Blackfin snapper

Northern red snapper

Scientific Name: Lutjanus campechanus

English Common Name: Northern red snapper

Cubera Snapper

Scientific Name: Lutjanus cyanopterus

English Common Name: Cubera snapper

Grey Snapper

Scientific Name: Lutjanus griseus

English Common Name: Grey snapper

Dog Snapper

Scientific Name: Lutjanus jocu

English Common Name: Dog snapper

Mahogany snapper

Scientific Name: Lutjanus mahogoni

English Common Name: Mahogany snapper

Southern red snapper

Scientific Name: Lutjanus purpureus

English Common Name: Southern red snapper

Lane Snapper

Scientific Name: Lutjanus synagris

English Common Name: Lane snapper

Yellow-eye snapper

Scientific Name: Lutjanus vivanus

English Common Name: Silk snapper

Yellowtail Snapper

Scientific Name: Ocyurus chrysurus

English Common Name: Yellowtail snapper

Vermillion snapper

Scientific Name: Rhomboplites aurorubens

English Common Name: Vermilion snapper

Family: Menippidae

Stone Crab

Scientific Name: Menippe mercenaria

English Common Name: Black stone crab

Family: Mugilidae

Mullet

Scientific Name: Mugil sp

English Common Name: Mullet

Striped Mullet

Scientific Name: Mugil cephalus

English Common Name: Flathead grey mullet

White Mullet

Scientific Name: Mugil curema

English Common Name: White mullet

Family: Octopodidae

Common Octopus

Scientific Name: Octopus vulgaris

English Common Name: Common atlantic octopus

Family: Palinuridae

Caribbean Spiny Lobster

Scientific Name: Panulirus argus

English Common Name: Bermuda spiny lobster

Family: Penaeidae

Giant Tiger Prawn

Scientific Name: Penaeus monodon

English Common Name: Asian tiger shrimp

Family: Portunidae

Common Blue Crab

Scientific Name: Callinectes sapidus

English Common Name: Blue crab

Family: Rachycentridae

Cobia

Scientific Name: Rachycentron canadum

English Common Name: Cobia

Family: Scombridae

Wahoo

Scientific Name: Acanthocybium solandri

English Common Name: Wahoo

King Mackerel

Scientific Name: Scomberomorus cavalla

English Common Name: King mackerel

Spanish Mackerel

Scientific Name: Scomberomorus maculatus

English Common Name: Atlantic spanish mackerel

Cero Mackerel

Scientific Name: Scomberomorus regalis

English Common Name: Cero

Yellowfin tuna

Scientific Name: Thunnus albacares

English Common Name: Yellowfin tuna

Family: Scorpaenidae

Lion Fish

Scientific Name: Pterois volitans

English Common Name: Red lionfish

Family: Serranidae

Groupers

Scientific Name: Serranidae

English Common Name: Sea basses

Family: Sparidae

Western Atlantic Seabream

Scientific Name: Archosargus rhomboidalis

English Common Name: Western Atlantic seabream

Saucereye Porgy

Scientific Name: Calamus calamus

English Common Name: Saucereye porgy

Family: Sphyraenidae

Great Barracuda

Scientific Name: Sphyraena barracuda

English Common Name: Great barracuda

Family: Strombidae

Queen Conch

Scientific Name: Aliger gigas

English Common Name: Pink conch

Family: Xiphiidae

Swordfish

Scientific Name: Xiphias gladius

English Common Name: Swordfish