with seven transmembrane alpha-helixs, G-protein-coupled receptor and of great importance in chordate physiological function. The melanocortin receptor family has five subtypes (MC1R, MC2R, MC3R, MC4R and MC5R) in mammalian and tetrapod, with rather diverse functions. It has been confirmed that MCRs are involved in diverse number of physiological functions, including pigmentation, steroidogenesis, energy homeostasis, inflammation and sexual function. In recent years, fish MCRs have gained more and more concern of researchers. Different MCR subtypes have been cloned and analyzed in several fish species. The MCRs of fish, the earliest vertebrates in evolution, is highly conserved compared with mammalian in molecular characterization and physiology fuction. Meanwhile they have some special features of their own. Thorough research on MCRs will contribute to our understanding of vertebrate MCRs evolution and its regulation functions in fish physiology. To facilitate the study on MCRs, we provide a review about clone, molecular characterization, pharmacology and physiological function of fish melanocortin receptors and highlight progress made in these areas.