Madagascar - MHJ – 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

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