It is astounding how many wonders there are in the environment around us, both on land and in the water. It is staggering to realize that there are about 33,000 different species of fish in our oceans. As additional areas of our oceans are found, this figure only increases yearly.
Dive into Discovery: The Ultimate Guide to Fish That Start with ‘T’
Now, it may be simple to picture fish as the adorable little fish we saw in Nemo or The Little Mermaid. However, “fish” is classified to include ray-finned fish, sharks, coelacanths, and lampreys.
Fish can be divided into three classes, including cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes), jawless fish (Agnatha), and bony fish (Osteichthyes).
There are actually millions of names among these 3.5 trillion fish. Our journey through the alphabet has brought us to the letter “T,” and we predict you’ll be surprised by how many fish have names that begin with only this letter.
Tadpole Cod
The smaller variety of cod that is well known to most people and is prized for its sport, game, and commercial advantages is called a tadpole cod. It is one of many distinct fish that make up the cod family.
Tadpole cod, like its North Atlantic cousin the Atlantic cod, lives in extremely deep water. It is typically found off the coast of New Zealand’s oceanic islands as well as in the middle of the South Atlantic.
This fish is much smaller than many other members of the cod family, in contrast to its North Atlantic cousin, which is the reason it is known as the “tadpole” in the first place. When fully developed and matured, these fish grow to a length of roughly 7 inches.
Tarpon
Only two species make up the family of the tarpon, and the main distinction between them is where each species is found. This is to be anticipated of a fish that has existed on Earth for around 120 million years.
These fish, which can grow to some fairly astounding sizes (weighing between 60 pounds and 280 pounds and measuring between 4 feet and 8 feet long), resemble a hybrid between a dolphin and an alligator.
Tarpon are rare in that they can thrive in both salt and freshwater environments. They prefer warm, remote regions to call their own, yet these fish will go into colder water outside of the breeding season.
Temperate Bass
The term “temperate bass” refers to a group of fish that resembles the bass you may catch while fishing in your favorite lakes and ponds, although some species of this group of fish can also be found in brackish and saltwater.
Naturally, the instant a temperate bass is snagged, they are almost readily identified as being an entirely different species from their “cousins” the largemouth bass or the smallmouth bass.
With a maximum length of 39 inches, these fish are significantly longer than those freshwater counterparts. Aside from having two short spines covering their gills, temperate bass also have much larger comb scales that defend their head and torso.
These past-due share one trait with the rest of their “cousins”: a tendency toward aggression. These fish enjoy eating other (smaller) fish, including carp, threadfin shad, immature sunfish, fathead minnows, and any other little fish they can get their mouths on.
Thorny Catfish
You should travel to South America’s Amazon basin if you want the highest chance of seeing a thorny catfish in person. Although they are increasingly common in unusual and exotic aquarium shops these days, these fish are endemic to that area.
If you have filled your aquarium with good-quality (and soft) substrate that the fish can utilize to feed in, you won’t have much trouble adding a thorny catfish to it.
A moderate to fast current and sufficient water (at least 70 gallons) are also requirements for an aquarium where one of these species will be kept. Never be surprised by the lethargy that this fish usually demonstrates almost every day.
Threadfin
Worldwide, tropical and subtropical areas are home to threadfin fish, which belong to a family of fish that includes roughly 40 distinct subspecies.
Although most threadfin species are small, measuring between 4.5 and 6.5 inches or so, these fish are actually much larger than most people realize. Some species, like the forefinger threadfin and the giant African threadfin, can grow to lengths of up to 7 feet!
The threadfin is a very significant fish for commercial anglers as well as being a very popular fish among recreational fishermen and anglers.
All threadfin subspecies produce schools of fish that are so massive they almost defy belief. So, it becomes a lot more effortless to catch them in huge numbers.
Thresher Shark
Although they are huge apex predators, thresher sharks—also known as long-tailed or fox sharks—don’t exactly have a bad reputation for being violent toward people.
The thresher shark, which is now in danger of going extinct, is present in practically every temperate and tropical ocean on the earth (but in fewer and fewer numbers every year).
The Thresher Shark was added to the “Vulnerable to Extinction” list by the World Conservation Union in 2007, which prevented many governments from legally safeguarding these creatures.
That was the proper choice because, before that designation, the thresher was one of the most sought-after sport fish on the planet.
Tiger Shark
Tiger sharks, a kind of requiem shark and one of the biggest macro predators on the planet, are the last surviving individuals of their genus Galeocerdo.
These sharks, which are primarily found in tropical and temperate areas across the world (but particularly in the Central Pacific), acquire their name from the long, dark tiger stripes that run the length of their bodies.
Tiger sharks are fierce (though nocturnal) hunters, and scientists have found that they are the least choosy eaters of all the sharks in the ocean. They will devour just about anything, including smaller sharks, earning them the moniker “garbage eater” in the process.
Definitely an apex predator, the only marine species known to take down tiger sharks with real consistency.
Tilapia
More than 100 different fish species collectively go by the “household” moniker “tilapia,” and they all have a lot in common.
These fish are primarily freshwater species that prefer to reside in small streams, ponds, and rivers. They are prized for the high quality of their meat, which is demonstrated by the fact that they are currently the fourth most popular fish consumed in the US and have been for more than 20 years.
Despite the fact that there are more than 100 species with this common name, aquarium tilapia, invasive tilapia, and commercial tilapia all sort of fall into separate buckets.
Researchers and biologists frequently utilize invasive tilapia to reduce or manage the massively proliferating aquatic plant life. aquarium animals
Trout
Believe it or not, trout are related to both salmon and char, which helps to explain a lot about the way they act, how they appear, and how good their meat is.
These fish, which are technically “oily” and fatty, have been cherished as a food source for thousands of years. Not only for people, but; also for brown bears, raptors, and other creatures who enjoy a little fishing for dinner.
Anglers all around the world enjoy pursuing steelhead trout, large brown trout, rainbow trout, and even small brook trout (commonly referred to as “brookies” in rivers, streams, and cold water lakes and ponds around the world).
