About Fish Arena
Seven competitions on reviewed photographs of 5,491 fish species, freshwater and marine. Name a fish from its photograph, choose its Latin name, search for it by any of its names, pick the water where it is native, tell its family, estimate its maximum length, or match photographs to names.
Sixteen collections run from Familiar Fish and Sharks to Catfishes, Reef Fish, Pufferfish, Seahorses & Anglerfish and the Deep Sea. Play the familiar fish, one collection or a balanced mix. Families, native waters and maximum lengths come from FishBase.
How to play
- Goal
- Recognize the world’s fish from their photographs and learn their names, Latin names, native waters, families and maximum lengths.
- How it ends
- Finish ten questions or ten pairs, exhaust the sprint clock, or make one sprint mistake.
- Record
- Best score, highest Length Reserve or fastest Matching finish, with time and the player’s name.
- Recognition Sprint: choose the pictured fish from eight names, mostly related fish. You have 90 seconds and one wrong answer ends the run. Most correct answers wins; the time of the last one breaks ties.
- Latin Names: choose the scientific (Latin) name of the pictured fish from eight, mostly of related fish. Ten photographs; a wrong answer scores nothing. Most correct answers wins, then the faster total time.
- Name Search: identify ten photographs. Type part of a common or scientific name, a former name or an alias and choose the fish from the list. A lesser-known fish of the same genus also counts. Correct answers rank first, then faster time.
- Native Waters: choose the one water, among eight oceans, seas and continental fresh waters, where the named fish is native. Introduced records never count, and a fish of any sea is asked only about its seas. Complete ten questions.
- Fish Family: choose the family of the named fish from eight, each shown with two of its best-known fish. Ten questions; most correct answers wins, then time.
- Length Reserve: estimate the maximum recorded length in centimetres. You start with 1,000. A guess from four fifths to five quarters of the record costs nothing; outside that band you lose how many times too long or short it was, on a logarithmic share of the 1–2,000 cm range, at most 100 per guess. Ten estimates; highest reserve wins, then time.
- Matching: select a photograph, then its fish name, or drag one onto its partner. Match all ten pairs. Each wrong pair adds three seconds; fastest adjusted finish wins.
Controls
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| Tap / click | Choose answers, native waters, families and matching pairs |
| Drag | Drag either side of Matching onto its partner to make a pair |
| Type a fish name | Filter the Name Search list; Enter chooses a unique result |
| Length estimate · cm | Enter an estimate; a number pad supports controllers |
| Enlarge | Inspect the photograph while the clock keeps running |
| 1–8 | Choose an answer in the pick-one competitions; in Native Waters select a water, then the same number or Enter confirms |
| Standard controller | D-pad navigates controls; A selects, Y opens Rules; in the Name Search list, left and right jump between first letters |
Tips
- Look at the fins and the mouth The shape of the tail, the number of dorsal fins and where the mouth sits separate fish that share a colour.
- Read the genus Latin Names offers relatives, so the first word is often shared; the second word decides.
- Read the measure Rays are measured across the disc, many fish only to the base of the tail fin; the question names the measure.
Good to know
Every photograph retains its creator, chosen licence, original title and source links. Creator credits appear beside the photograph; Full photo credit opens the complete attribution and sources. Opening full credits during a question, leaving the tab, restoring an unfinished run or a mid-run photo-loading interruption makes that attempt practice. This is a quiz: nothing in it is advice on fishing, eating or keeping fish.
Watch how to play
Questions
Why do fewer fish appear in some competitions?
A fish joins Native Waters only when FishBase records where it is native, and Length Reserve only when it records a maximum length. Fish native to more than five waters, or named after their water, are not asked.
Where do the facts come from?
Families, native waters and maximum lengths come from FishBase (Froese & Pauly). Native waters use its native and endemic records by fishing area; introduced and doubtful records never count.
Why do a few famous fish show a landed or preserved fish?
Some famous species, such as the megamouth shark and the pelican eel, are almost never photographed alive. They show a whole fish whose identity is clear.
