HomeFreshwater aquarium fishOther freshwater fishTadpole fish Tadpole fish (Raniceps raninus) Scientific name: Raniceps raninus Linnaeus, 1758 The Tadpole fish (Raniceps raninus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gadidae. Native range: Northeast Atlantic, Trondheim on the Norwegian coast to the Bay of Biscay; also around the British Isles. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Head depressed. First dorsal fin poorly developed, with only three short rays. Color uniformly dark brown or bluish brown; the lips and the distal areas of all fins paler except for the pectorals.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameRaniceps raninusFamilyGadidae (Cods and haddocks)OrderGadiformes (Cods)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length27.5Common length20.0Depth range0–100 m (0–328 ft)EnvironmentMarine; brackish; demersal; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 100 m, usually 10 - 20 mClimateTemperateDistributionNortheast Atlantic: Trondheim on the Norwegian coast to the Bay of Biscay; also around the British Isles.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: of no interest; aquarium: public aquariumsResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More other freshwater fishFinescale tigerfishDatnioides microlepisFreshwater garfishXenentodon cancilaShort-tailed pipefishMicrophis brachyurus brachyurusPumpkinseedLepomis gibbosusLined soleAchirus lineatusSouth American lungfishLepidosiren paradoxaSee all other freshwater fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026