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AENG 50A- Principles of Fishery

Science

COMMON NAMES OF FISH IN THE PHILLIPPINES

In the Philippines fish are called “isda”. There are many varieties of fish. The country's tropical
climate and coral reefs make its waters located near the center of the Coral Triangle among the richest
in marine life anywhere providing a bounty of fresh Philippine seafood and an assortment of tropical
fish. According to some estimates 5% of the world's reef area is in Philippine waters and the marine fish
in the area represent 20% of the total marine fish in the world.

NAMING OF PHILIPPINE FISH

Filipino fish names can get confusing very quickly. Different names can be given to the same fish
and a name can be applied to multiple fish—and that's just in the same dialect and region. Given the
various Philippine languages and the disparate islands comprising the archipelago, custom and usage
varies and contradictions frequently crop up. In Metro Manila, Tagalog is the dominant language but
because of the influx of people from the provinces, local names and regional names from other parts of
the country like the Visayas or Ilocos or even other Tagalog provinces with their own name variants are
sometimes used in Manila wet markets.

A list of Philippine fish names in English and its Filipino Common Names, with some scientific
names and fish pictures to help identify particular Filipino fish species found in local fish markets:

Scientific Names English Names Common Names


Pomadasys hasta. Spotted Silver Grunt Agoot
(Bikolano, Cebuano,
Waray)

Pseudosciaena anea. Plain Croaker Alakaak


Drums (Tagalog, Bikol)
Hardheads Abo
Tuel
Balat
Dulama

Rastrelliger kanagurta. Mackerel Alumahan(Tagalog,


Stripped Mackerel Bisaya)
Long-jawed Mackerel Tuna
Tanigi
Indian Mackerel Tanigigi
Lumahan
Japayuki
AENG 50A- Principles of Fishery
Science

Scomber japonicus. Chub mackerel Alumahang Bato


Pacific mackerel
Pacific chub mackerel

Lates calcarifer. Barramundi Apahap(Tagalog,


Seaperch Bisaya, Waray)
Silver sea bass Bulgan (Negros)
Mangangat
Matang-pusa
Katuyot

Sillago sp. Sillago Asohos (Tagalog)


Sand Borer Asuhos
Whiting
Leiopotherapon plumbeus. Silver perch Ayungin(Pangasinan)
Silver theraponid

Therapon jarbua. Terapon Bagaong(Tagalog,


Convex-lined grunt Ilokano, Bikolano,
Cross-barred grunt Bisaya, Waray)
Babansi
Malipili
Pomadasys argenteus. Sea bream Bakoko(Tagalog,
Sweet lips Kapampangan,
Pomadasid Bisaya)
Porgy

Liza sp. Mullet Banak (Tagalog,


Mugil sp. Snouted Mullet Bikolano, Bisaya)
Mugil ceramensis.
Agwas, Balanak,
Aligasin ,Asubi,
Balungain, Bilugan,
Gagapang, Tandipil,
Sumalapau, Lumitog,
Kapak, Talilong
Chanos chanos. Milk Fish Bangus(Tagalog,
Bikolano)
Banglis
Banglot
Bangrus
Bangellus
AENG 50A- Principles of Fishery
Science

Elops hawaiiensis. Ten Pounder Bidbid( Tagalog,


Hawaiian ladyfish Kapampangan)
Bidbir

Scolopsis taeniopterus. Lattice monocle Biloan(Tagalog)


bream

Nemipterus japonicas. T hreadfin bream Bisugo(Tagalog,


Jobfish Cebuano, Bisaya)
Goatfish

Lethrinus lentjan. Drum Bitilya(Tagalog)


White snapper Betilya

Family Gobiidae Goby Biya

Megalops cyprinoides. Indo-Pacific tarpon Buan-buan

Lutjanus lutjanus Big eye snapper Burara


Dilat

Mene maculata. Moonfish Chabita(Tagalog)


Hiwas
Sapatero
Isabita
Bilong-bilong
Tahas
AENG 50A- Principles of Fishery
Science

Channa striata. Mudfish Dalag(Tagalog)


Striped snakehead Haruan
Murrel Talusog
Dalag Terebog
Torabo
Utan
Aluan
Rachycentron canadum Cobia Dalag-dagat

Caesio sp. Yellow tail fusilier Dalagang


Caesio Bukid(Tagalog)
Lapas
Molong
Sulid
Siganus vulpinus. Rabbitfish Danggit(Tagalog,
Bisaya, Cebuano)

Scophthalmus rhombus Flounder Dapa(Tagalog,


Sole Bikolano)
Flatfish Darapang Bilog
Brill
Indian halibut
Tongue sole
Stolephorus commersonnii. Anchovy Dilis (Tagalog,
Long-jawed Anchovy Bikolano, Bisaya)
Bulinau
Silag
Bombra
Sibuyan
Scomberoides lysan. Dolphinfish Dorado(Tagalog,
Mahi-mahi Bisaya)
Queenfish Dularo
Leather jacket Talang-talang
Talupak
Kassisung
Lapis
Pipikau
AENG 50A- Principles of Fishery
Science

Mirogobius stellatus. Starry goby Dulong(Tagalog,


Laguna de Bay goby Bikolano)

Trichiurus lepturus. Beltfish Espada (Tagalog)


Largehead hairtail Ispada

Decapterus sp. Mackerel Scad Galunggong(Tagalog)


Decapterus macarellus. Hard-tail mackerel Gigi
Female (Female)
Decapterus russelli. Male
Round scad (Male)
Muro-aji

Katsuwonus pelamis. Skipjack Tuna Gulyasan(Tagalog)


Stripped Tuna

Rastrelliger brachysoma. Short Mackerel Kabayas(Tagalog)


Hasa-hasa
Kabalyas

Clarias batrachus. Black Catfish Hito(Tagalog,


Arius manillensis. Silver Salmon Fish Bikolano)
Ito
Pantat

Anguilla mauritiana. Eel Igat(Tagalog,


Swamp Eel Kapampangan,
Fresh water Eel Ilokano, Bikolano)
Palos

Anodontostoma chacunda. Gizzard shad Kabasi(Tagalog,


Bikolano, Pangasinan,
Kapampangan,
Ilokano)
Suwagan
AENG 50A- Principles of Fishery
Science

Scatophagus argus. Spotted Scat Kitang(Tagalog,


Spadefish Bisaya, Bikolano)
Butterfish Malaga

Family Acanthuridae Surgeonfish Labahita


Unicornfish Indangan
Mangadlit
Yapot

Epinephelus sp. Grouper Lapu-Lapu(Tagalog,


Ilokano, Bisaya)
Garopa
Kaltang
Kigting
Kulapo
Lubo
Sigapo
Lutjanus erythropterus. Crimson snapper Lohoran

Family Scaridae Parrotfish Loro


Luro
Lutiin
Mulmol

Mugil seheli. Lobed river mullet Ludong(Ilokano)


Lapes
Lumitog

Siganus vermiculatus. Siganid Malaga(Ilokano)


Vermiculated
spinefoot

Gerres sp. Mojarra Malakapas(Tagalog,


Bisaya
Batuhanan
Latab
Sumulok
Tabiros
AENG 50A- Principles of Fishery
Science

Lamas
Bangangan
Manubon

Istiophorus orientalis. Swordfish Malasugi(Tagalog,


Tetrapturus mitsukuri. Sailfish Bisaya, Bikolano)
Xiphias gladius.
Makaira mitsukurii.
Spearfish Dugso
Blue marlin Liplipan

Eleutheronema Fourfinger threadfin Mamali(Tagalog,


tetradactylum. Ilokano)
Bikaw

Anabas testudineus. Climbing perch Martiniko(Tagalog)


Liwalo

Selar crumenophthalmus. Big-eyed scad Matangbaka(Tagalog,


Oxeye scad Bikolano, Bisaya,
Kapampangan)
Bunutan
Mapuao
Mapuaw
Tingin
Lutianus sp. Snapper Maya maya(Tagalog,
Red Snapper Bikolano)
Bagangan
Dapak
Langit
Managat
Pulahan
Talutoon
Apolectus niger. Black pomfret Pampano
Duhay
Maliputo
AENG 50A- Principles of Fishery
Science

Pandaka pygmaea. Dwarf pygmy goby Tobias


Bia

Etelis carbunculus. Deepwater red Sagisi


Etelis coruscans. snapper Tikwi
Deepwater longtail
red snapper

Selaroides leptolepis Yellowstripe scad Salay-salay(Tagalog,


Bikolano, Bisaya)

Leiognathus sp. Pony fish Sapsap(Tagalog,


Slip mouth Bisaya, Ilokano,
Pangasinan, Bikolano)
Barurog
Dalupani
Tambung
Lawayakan
Tariptip
Talibukno
Usub
Mistichthys luzonensis Buhi dwarf goby Sinarapan(Bikolano)

Caranx sp. Trevally Taalakitok(Tagalog,


Jack Bikolano,
Cavalla Kapampangan,
Toothless cavalla Bisaya, Ilokano)
Maliputo
Tarokotokan
AENG 50A- Principles of Fishery
Science

http://www.stuartxchange.com/FishNames.html

http://philfoodie.blogspot.com/2011/05/philippine-fish.html

http://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/Circulars/CIRC14.pdf

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