The Gambia – 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: Acanthuridae

Doctour gauge

Scientific Name: Acanthurus monroviae

English Common Name: Monrovia doctorfish

Family: Carangidae

Yawal

Scientific Name: Scyris alexandrina

English Common Name: Alexandria pompano

Saka

Scientific Name: Caranx hippos

English Common Name: Crevalle jack

Jai

Scientific Name: Caranx rhonchus

English Common Name: False scad

Lanya lanya

Scientific Name: Chloroscombrus chrysurus

English Common Name: Atlantic bumper

Family: Carcharhinidae

Gainde guage

Scientific Name: Rhizoprionodon acutus

English Common Name: Milk shark

Family: Cynoglossidae

Solo

Scientific Name: Cynoglossus senegalensis

English Common Name: Senegalese tonguesole

Family: Dorosomatidae

Bonga/kobo/chalow

Scientific Name: Ethmalosa fimbriata

English Common Name: Bonga shad

Yaboye moroc

Scientific Name: Sardinella aurita

English Common Name: Round sardinella

Yaboye Tass

Scientific Name: Sardinella maderensis

English Common Name: Madeiran sardinella

Family: Drepaneidae

Tapandarr

Scientific Name: Drepane africana

English Common Name: African sicklefish

Family: Epinephelidae

Choff

Scientific Name: Epinephelus aeneus

English Common Name: White grouper

Doye

Scientific Name: Epinephelus goreensis

English Common Name: Dungat grouper

Coacher

Scientific Name: Epinephelus marginatus

English Common Name: Dusky grouper

Family: Haemulidae

Hurr hurr

Scientific Name: Brachydeuterus auritus

English Common Name: Bigeye grunt

Banda / Baba Furu

Scientific Name: Plectorhinchus mediterraneus

English Common Name: Rubberlip grunt

Daha

Scientific Name: Pomadasys incisus

English Common Name: Bastard grunt

Sompat

Scientific Name: Pomadasys jubelini

English Common Name: Sompat grunt

Family: Lutjanidae

Yahk

Scientific Name: Lutjanus agennes

English Common Name: African red snapper

Family: Mullidae

Rousser

Scientific Name: Pseudupeneus prayensis

English Common Name: West African goatfish

Family: Polynemidae

Kujali

Scientific Name: Polydactylus quadrifilis

English Common Name: Giant African threadfin

Family: Rhinopteridae

Souki

Scientific Name: Rhinoptera marginata

English Common Name: Lusitanian cownose ray

Family: Sciaenidae

Jotor

Scientific Name: Pseudotolithus elongatus

English Common Name: Bobo croaker

Fotta

Scientific Name: Pseudotolithus senegalensis

English Common Name: Cassava croaker

Nguka

Scientific Name: Pseudotolithus senegallus

English Common Name: Law croaker

Tonone

Scientific Name: Pseudotolithus typus

English Common Name: Longneck croaker

Family: Scombridae

Kiri kiri

Scientific Name: Auxis thazard

English Common Name: Frigate tuna

Woyain/walass

Scientific Name: Sarda sarda

English Common Name: Atlantic bonito

Njuna

Scientific Name: Scomberomorus tritor

English Common Name: West African Spanish mackerel

Family: Sparidae

Camara camara/butterfish

Scientific Name: Dentex angolensis

English Common Name: Angolan dentex

Tiki

Scientific Name: Pagellus bellottii

English Common Name: Red pandora

Kibaro

Scientific Name: Pagrus caeruleostictus

English Common Name: Bluespotted seabream

Warange

Scientific Name: Sparus aurata

English Common Name: Gilthead seabream

Family: Sphyraenidae

Seeda

Scientific Name: Sphyraena barracuda

English Common Name: Great barracuda

Family: Stromateidae

Hassaw

Scientific Name: Stromateus fiatola

English Common Name: Blue butterfish

Family: Tetraodontidae

Konkareh

Scientific Name: Ephippion guttifer

English Common Name: Prickly puffer