Japan
Checklist of Endemic Freshwater Fish Species
This list of freshwater fish species found exclusively in Japan is based on the taxonomy used in FishBase 2004 (2004). For further details on possible inaccuracies in the list see Sources & Caveats.
FishBase 2004: a global information system on fishes. DVD. WorldFish Center - Philippine Office, Los Banos, Philippines. Published in May 2004.
The current version of this electronic database is accessible here.
OC = a FishBase occurrence record suggests a specimen from another country outside normal stated range ( these vary widely in reliability from obvious misidentifications to being almost certainly correct)
x = extinct
Acipenser multiscutatus (Acipenseridae) Japanese Sturgeon
Liobagrus reinii OC (Amblycipitidae) Reddish Bullhead
Pelteobagrus ransonnettii (Bagridae)
Pseudobagrus aurantiacus OC (Bagridae) Kyushu Bullhead
Pseudobagrus ichikawai (Bagridae) Swampy Bullhead
Pseudobagrus nudiceps (Bagridae) Gigi Catfish
Pseudobagrus tokiensis (Bagridae) Cuttailed Bullhead
Lefua echigonia (Balitoridae) Japanese Eight Barbel Loach
Lefua nikkonis (Balitoridae) Hokkaido Eight Barbel Loach
Lates japonicus OC (Centropomidae) Japanese Lates
Cobitis biwae (Cobitidae) Japanese Striped Loach
Cobitis matsubarai (Cobitidae)
Cobitis takatsuensis (Cobitidae) Secret Loach
Leptobotia curta (Cobitidae) Kissing Loach
Niwaella delicata (Cobitidae) Delicate Loach
Cottus kazika (Cottidae) Fourspine Loach
Cottus nozawae (Cottidae) Wrinklehead Sculpin
Cottus pollux (Cottidae) Japanese Fluvial Sculpin
Cottus reinii (Cottidae)
Acheilognathus cyanostigma (Cyprinidae) Striped Bitterling
Acheilognathus longipinnis (Cyprinidae) Deepbody Bitterling
Acheilognathus melanogaster (Cyprinidae) Broadstriped Bitterling
Acheilognathus tabira (Cyprinidae) Tabira Bitterlig
Acheilognathus typus (Cyprinidae) Netted Bitterling
Biwia zezera (Cyprinidae) Biwa Gudgeon
Gnathopogon caerulescens (Cyprinidae) Biwa Gudgeon
Gnathopogon elongatus OC (Cyprinidae) Field Gudgeon
Hemigrammocypris rasborella (Cyprinidae) Golden Venus Chub
Ischikauia steenackeri (Cyprinidae) Lakeweed Chub
Moroco jouyi (Cyprinidae)
Pseudorasbora pumila (Cyprinidae) Dwarf Topmouth Gudgeon
Rhodeus atremius OC (Cyprinidae) Kyushu Bitterling
Sarcocheilichthys biwaensis (Cyprinidae) Oily Gudgeon
Tanakia limbata (Cyprinidae) Oily Bitterling
Tanakia tanago (Cyprinidae) Tokyo Bitterling
Tribolodon nakamurai (Cyprinidae) Ugui Minnow
Pungitius kaibarae x (Gasterosteidae) Kyoto Ninespine Stickleback
Chaenogobius isaza (Gobiidae) Biwa Goby
Chaenogobius scrobiculatus (Gobiidae)
Lentipes armatus (Gobiidae)
Luciogobius albus (Gobiidae) Cave Goby
Luciogobius dormitoris (Gobiidae)
Luciogobius pallidus (Gobiidae) Well Goby
Rhinogobius brunneus (Gobiidae)
Rhinogobius flumineus (Gobiidae) Lizard Goby
Stiphodon imperiorientis (Gobiidae)
Tridentiger kuroiwae (Gobiidae)
Odontobutis hikimius (Odontobutidae)
Spirinchus lanceolatus OC (Osmeridae)
Neosalanx reganius (Salangidae) Regan Icefish
Salangichthys ishikawae (Salangidae)
Oncorhynchus ishikawai (Salmonidae) Satsukimasu Salmon
Oncorhynchus iwame (Salmonidae) Iwame Trout
Salvelinus japonicus (Salmonidae) Kirikuchi Char
Silurus biwaensis (Siluridae) Lake Biwa Catfish
Silurus lithophilus (Siluridae) Biwa Rock Catfish
Additional endemic freshwater fish species that were not included in FishBase 2004 are given below. This list is primarily based on information from the 13 March 2009 version of the Catalog of Fishes database (current version here) and includes species described through 2008. In addition to the 56 endemic freshwater fish species listed above, these additional 7 species total 63 species of freshwater fishes known solely from Japan.
Cobitis shikokuensis (Cobitidae) 2006
Biwia tama (Cyprinidae)
Pungtungia hilgendorfi (Cyprinidae)
Pungtungia shiraii (Cyprinidae)
Rhodeus sciosemus (Cyprinidae)
Gerres akazakii (Gerreidae) 2007
Luciogobius ryukyuensis (Gobiidae) 2008