Mexico Endemic Freshwater Fish Checklist

Mexico

Checklist of Endemic Freshwater Fish Species

This list of freshwater fish species found exclusively in Mexico 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 IN = introduced elsewhere

Cathorops aguadulce OC (Ariidae) Estuarine Sea Catfish

Potamarius nelsoni OC (Ariidae) Lacandon Sea Catfish

Atherinella alvarezi (Atherinopsidae) Gulf Silverside

Atherinella ammophila (Atherinopsidae) La Palma Silverside

Atherinella balsana (Atherinopsidae) Balsas Silverside

Atherinella callida (Atherinopsidae) Cunning Silverside

Atherinella crystallina (Atherinopsidae) Blackfin Silverside

Atherinella elegans (Atherinopsidae) Fuerte Silverside

Atherinella lisa (Atherinopsidae) Naked Silverside

Atherinella marvelae (Atherinopsidae) Eyipantla Silverside

Atherinella pellosemeion (Atherinopsidae) Mancuernas Silverside

Atherinella sallei (Atherinopsidae) Large-eye Silverside

Atherinella schultzi (Atherinopsidae) Chimalapa Silverside

Chirostoma aculeatum (Atherinopsidae) Scowling Silverside

Chirostoma arge (Atherinopsidae) Largetooth Silverside

Chirostoma attenuatum (Atherinopsidae) Slender Silverside

Chirostoma bartoni (Atherinopsidae) Alberca Silverside

Chirostoma chapalae (Atherinopsidae) Smallmouth Silverside

Chirostoma charari (Atherinopsidae) Least Silverside

Chirostoma compressum (Atherinopsidae)

Chirostoma consocium (Atherinopsidae) Ranch Silverside

Chirostoma copandaro (Atherinopsidae)

Chirostoma estor (Atherinopsidae) Pike Silverside

Chirostoma grandocule (Atherinopsidae) Bigeye Silverside

Chirostoma humboldtianum (Atherinopsidae) Shortfin Silverside

Chirostoma jordani OC (Atherinopsidae) Charal

Chirostoma labarcae (Atherinopsidae) Sharpnose Silverside

Chirostoma lucius (Atherinopsidae) Longjaw Silverside

Chirostoma melanoccus (Atherinopsidae) Blunthead Silverside

Chirostoma patzcuaro (Atherinopsidae) Patzcuaro Silverside

Chirostoma promelas (Atherinopsidae) Blacknose Silverside

Chirostoma reseratum (Atherinopsidae)

Chirostoma riojai (Atherinopsidae) Toluca Silverside

Chirostoma sphyraena (Atherinopsidae) Bigmouth Silverside

Chirostoma zirahuen (Atherinopsidae)

Menidia colei (Atherinopsidae) Golden Silverside

Poblana alchichica (Atherinopsidae) Alchichica Silverside

Poblana ferdebueni (Atherinopsidae) Chignahuapan Silverside

Poblana letholepis (Atherinopsidae) La Preciosa Silverside

Poblana squamata (Atherinopsidae) Quechulac Silverside

Ogilbia pearsei (Bythitidae)

Catostomus bernardini (Catostomidae) Yaqui Sucker

Catostomus cahita (Catostomidae) Cahita Sucker

Catostomus conchos (Catostomidae) Rio Conchos Sucker

Catostomus leopoldi (Catostomidae) Bavispe Sucker

Catostomus wigginsi (Catostomidae) Opata Sucker

Ictiobus labiosus (Catostomidae) Fleshylip Buffalo

Astyanax angustifrons (Characidae)

Astyanax armandoi (Characidae) Penjamo Tetra

Astyanax jordani OC (Characidae) Blind Cave Tetra

Bramocharax caballeroi (Characidae) Catemaco Characin

Cichlasoma aguadae (Cichlidae)

Cichlasoma alborum (Cichlidae)

Cichlasoma amarum (Cichlidae)

Cichlasoma beani (Cichlidae) Sinaloa Cichlid

Cichlasoma cienagae (Cichlidae)

Cichlasoma conchitae (Cichlidae)

Cichlasoma ericymba (Cichlidae)

Cichlasoma geddesi (Cichlidae)

Cichlasoma istlanum (Cichlidae) Redside Cichlid

Cichlasoma mayorum (Cichlidae)

Cichlasoma stenozonum (Cichlidae)

Cichlasoma troschelii (Cichlidae)

Cichlasoma zebra (Cichlidae)

Herichthys bartoni OC (Cichlidae) Barton's Cichlid

Herichthys carpintis (Cichlidae) Lowland Cichlid

Herichthys deppii (Cichlidae) Nautla Cichlid

Herichthys labridens (Cichlidae) Curve-bar Cichlid

Herichthys minckleyi (Cichlidae) Cuatro Ciénegas Cichlid

Herichthys pantostictus (Cichlidae) Chairel Cichlid

Herichthys steindachneri (Cichlidae) Steindachner's Cichlid

Herichthys tamasopoensis (Cichlidae) Tamasopo Cichlid

Paraneetroplus bulleri (Cichlidae) Sarabia Cichlid

Paraneetroplus gibbiceps (Cichlidae) Teapa Cichlid

Paraneetroplus nebuliferus (Cichlidae) Papaloapan Cichlid

Theraps coeruleus (Cichlidae) Blue Theraps

Thorichthys callolepis (Cichlidae) San Domingo Cichlid

Thorichthys ellioti OC (Cichlidae) Spotcheek Cichlid

Thorichthys helleri OC (Cichlidae) Yellow Cichlid

Thorichthys socolofi (Cichlidae) Chiapas Cichlid

Vieja argentea (Cichlidae) White Cichlid

Vieja breidohri (Cichlidae) Angostura Cichlid

Vieja fenestrata (Cichlidae) Window Cichlid

Vieja hartwegi (Cichlidae) Tailbar Cichlid

Vieja regani (Cichlidae) Almoloya Cichlid

Vieja zonata (Cichlidae) Oaxaca Cichlid

Dorosoma smithi OC (Clupeidae) Pacific Gizzard Shad

Algansea aphanea (Cyprinidae) Riffle Chub

Algansea barbata (Cyprinidae) Lerma Chub

Algansea lacustris (Cyprinidae) Patzcuaro Chub

Algansea monticola (Cyprinidae) Mountain Chub

Algansea popoche (Cyprinidae) Popoche Chub

Algansea tincella (Cyprinidae) Spottail chub

Cyprinella alvarezdelvillari (Cyprinidae) Tepehuan Shiner

Cyprinella bocagrande (Cyprinidae) Largemouth Shiner

Cyprinella formosa (Cyprinidae) Beautiful Shiner

Cyprinella garmani (Cyprinidae) Gibbous Shiner

Cyprinella panarcys (Cyprinidae) Conchos Shiner

Cyprinella rutila (Cyprinidae) Mexican Red Shiner

Cyprinella xanthicara (Cyprinidae) Cuatro Cienegas Shiner

Dionda catostomops (Cyprinidae) Panuco Minnow

Dionda dichroma (Cyprinidae) Bicolor Minnow

Dionda erimyzonops (Cyprinidae) Chubsucker Minnow

Dionda ipni (Cyprinidae) Lantern Minnow

Dionda mandibularis (Cyprinidae) Flatjaw Minnow

Dionda rasconis (Cyprinidae) Blackstripe Minnow

Evarra bustamantei (Cyprinidae) Mexican Dace

Evarra eigenmanni (Cyprinidae) Plateau Chub

Evarra tlahuacensis x (Cyprinidae) Endorheic Chub

Gila brevicauda (Cyprinidae) Shorttail Chub

Gila conspersa (Cyprinidae) Nazas Chub

Gila eremica (Cyprinidae) Desert Chub

Gila modesta (Cyprinidae) Salinas Chub

Gila pulchra (Cyprinidae) Conchos Chub

Notropis aguirrepequenoi (Cyprinidae) Soto la Marina Shiner

Notropis amecae x (Cyprinidae) Ameca Shiner

Notropis aulidion x (Cyprinidae) Durango Shiner

Notropis boucardi (Cyprinidae) Balsas Shiner

Notropis calientis (Cyprinidae) Yellow Shiner

Notropis imeldae (Cyprinidae)

Notropis moralesi (Cyprinidae) Papaloapan Chub

Notropis nazas (Cyprinidae) Nazas Shiner

Notropis saladonis (Cyprinidae) Salado Shiner

Notropis sallaei (Cyprinidae) Aztec Shiner

Stypodon signifer x (Cyprinidae) Stumptooth Minnow

Yuriria alta (Cyprinidae) Jalisco Chub

Cualac tessellatus (Cyprinodontidae) Checkered Pupfish

Cyprinodon albivelis (Cyprinodontidae) Whitefin Pupfish

Cyprinodon alvarezi (Cyprinodontidae) Potosi Pupfish

Cyprinodon atrorus (Cyprinodontidae) Bolson Pupfish

Cyprinodon beltrani (Cyprinodontidae) Blackfin Pupfish

Cyprinodon bifasciatus (Cyprinodontidae) Twoline Pupfish

Cyprinodon bobmilleri (Cyprinodontidae) San Ignacio Pupfish

Cyprinodon ceciliae (Cyprinodontidae) Villa Lopez Pupfish

Cyprinodon esconditus (Cyprinodontidae) Hidden Pupfish

Cyprinodon fontinalis (Cyprinodontidae) Carbonera Pupfish

Cyprinodon inmemoriam (Cyprinodontidae) Charco Azul Pupfish

Cyprinodon labiosus (Cyprinodontidae) Thicklip Pupfish

Cyprinodon latifasciatus x (Cyprinodontidae) Parras Pupfish

Cyprinodon longidorsalis (Cyprinodontidae) La Palma Pupfish

Cyprinodon macrolepis (Cyprinodontidae) Largescale Pupfish

Cyprinodon maya (Cyprinodontidae) Maya Pupfish

Cyprinodon meeki (Cyprinodontidae) Mezquital Pupfish

Cyprinodon nazas (Cyprinodontidae) Nazas Pupfish

Cyprinodon pachycephalus (Cyprinodontidae) Bighead Pupfish

Cyprinodon pisteri OC (Cyprinodontidae) Palomas Pupfish

Cyprinodon simus (Cyprinodontidae) Boxer Pupfish

Cyprinodon verecundus (Cyprinodontidae) Largefin Pupfish

Cyprinodon veronicae (Cyprinodontidae) Charco Palma Pupfish

Megupsilon aporus (Cyprinodontidae) Catarina Pupfish

Fundulus grandissimus (Fundulidae) Giant Killifish

Fundulus lima (Fundulidae) Baja Topminnow

Fundulus persimilis (Fundulidae) Yucatan Killifish

Lucania interioris (Fundulidae) Cuatro Cienegas Killifish

Gobiesox fluviatilis (Gobiesocidae) Mountain Clingfish

Gobiesox juniperoserrai (Gobiesocidae) Peninsular Clingfish

Gobiesox mexicanus (Gobiesocidae) Mexican Clingfish

Sicydium fayae (Gobiidae)

Sicydium gymnogaster (Gobiidae) Smoothbelly Goby

Allodontichthys hubbsi (Goodeidae) Whitepatched Splitfin

Allodontichthys polylepis (Goodeidae) Finescale Splitfin

Allodontichthys tamazulae (Goodeidae) Tuxpan Splitfin

Allodontichthys zonistius (Goodeidae) Bandfin Splitfin

Alloophorus robustus (Goodeidae) Bulldog Goodeid

Allotoca catarinae (Goodeidae) Catarina Allotoca

Allotoca diazi (Goodeidae) Patzcuaro Allotoca

Allotoca dugesii (Goodeidae) Opal Allotoca

Allotoca goslinei (Goodeidae) Banded Allotoca

Allotoca maculata (Goodeidae) Blackspot Allotoca

Allotoca meeki (Goodeidae) Zirahuen Allotoca

Allotoca zacapuensis (Goodeidae) Zacapu Allotoca

Ameca splendens (Goodeidae) Butterfly Splitfin

Ataeniobius toweri (Goodeidae) Bluetail Goodea

Chapalichthys encaustus (Goodeidae) Barred Splitfin

Chapalichthys pardalis (Goodeidae) Polka-dot Splitfin

Chapalichthys peraticus (Goodeidae) Alien Splitfin

Characodon audax (Goodeidae) Bold Characodon

Characodon garmani (Goodeidae) Parras Characodon

Characodon lateralis (Goodeidae) Rainbow Characodon

Girardinichthys multiradiatus (Goodeidae) Darkedged Splitfin

Girardinichthys viviparus (Goodeidae) Chapultepec Splitfin

Goodea atripinnis (Goodeidae) Blackfin Goodea

Goodea gracilis (Goodeidae) Dusky Splitfin

Goodea luitpoldii (Goodeidae) Green Goodea

Hubbsina turneri (Goodeidae) Highland Splitfin

Ilyodon cortesae (Goodeidae) Freckled Splitfin

Ilyodon furcidens (Goodeidae) Goldbreast Splitfin

Ilyodon lennoni (Goodeidae) Chacambero Splitfin

Ilyodon whitei (Goodeidae) Balsas Splitfin

Ilyodon xantusi (Goodeidae) Limones Splitfin

Neoophorus regalis (Goodeidae)

Skiffia bilineata (Goodeidae) Twoline Skiffia

Skiffia francesae (Goodeidae) Golden Skiffia

Skiffia lermae (Goodeidae) Olive Skiffia

Skiffia multipunctata (Goodeidae) Spotted Skiffia

Xenoophorus captivus (Goodeidae) Relict Splitfin

Xenotaenia resolanae (Goodeidae) Leopard Splitfin

Xenotoca eiseni (Goodeidae) Redtail Splitfin

Xenotoca melanosoma (Goodeidae) Black Splitfin

Xenotoca variata (Goodeidae) Jeweled Splitfin

Zoogoneticus quitzeoensis (Goodeidae) Picotee Goodeid

Zoogoneticus tequila (Goodeidae) Tequila Splitfin

Rhamdia macuspanensis (Heptapteridae) Olmec Blind Catfish

Rhamdia parryi OC (Heptapteridae) Tonala Catfish

Rhamdia reddelli (Heptapteridae) Blindwhiskered Catfish

Ictalurus australis (Ictaluridae) Panuco Catfish

Ictalurus balsanus (Ictaluridae) Balsas Catfish

Ictalurus dugesii OC (Ictaluridae) Lerma Catfish

Ictalurus mexicanus (Ictaluridae) Rio Verde Catfish

Ictalurus ochoterenai (Ictaluridae) Chapala Catfish

Ictalurus pricei OC (Ictaluridae) Yaqui Catfish

Prietella lundbergi (Ictaluridae) Phantom Blindcat

Prietella phreatophila (Ictaluridae) Mexican Blindcat

Etheostoma australe (Percidae) Conchos Darter

Etheostoma lugoi (Percidae) Tufa Darter

Etheostoma pottsii (Percidae) Chihuahua Darter

Etheostoma segrex (Percidae) Rio Salado Darter

Lampetra geminis (Petromyzontidae) Mexican Brook Lamprey

Lampetra spadicea (Petromyzontidae) Mexican Lamprey

Gambusia alvarezi OC (Poeciliidae) Yellowfin Gambusia

Gambusia atrora (Poeciliidae) Blackfin Gambusia

Gambusia aurata (Poeciliidae) Golden Gambusia

Gambusia echeagarayi (Poeciliidae) Maya Gambusia

Gambusia eurystoma (Poeciliidae) Widemouth Gambusia

Gambusia hurtadoi (Poeciliidae) Crescent Gambusia

Gambusia krumholzi (Poeciliidae) Spotfin Gambusia

Gambusia longispinis (Poeciliidae) Cuatro Cienegas Gambusia

Gambusia marshi (Poeciliidae) Robust Gambusia

Gambusia myersi (Poeciliidae)

Gambusia panuco (Poeciliidae) Panuco Gambusia

Gambusia rachowi (Poeciliidae)

Gambusia regani (Poeciliidae) Forlon Gambusia

Gambusia senilis (Poeciliidae) Blotched Gambusia

Gambusia vittata (Poeciliidae) Gulf Gambusia

Heterandria jonesii (Poeciliidae) Barred Killifish

Poecilia catemaconis (Poeciliidae) Catemaco Molly

Poecilia chica (Poeciliidae) Dwarf Molly

Poecilia latipunctata (Poeciliidae) Broadspotted Molly

Poecilia maylandi (Poeciliidae) Balsas Molly

Poecilia sulphuraria (Poeciliidae) Sulphur Molly

Poecilia velifera IN (Poeciliidae) Sail-fin Molly

Poeciliopsis baenschi (Poeciliidae) Golden Livebearer

Poeciliopsis balsas (Poeciliidae) Balsas Livebearer

Poeciliopsis catemaco (Poeciliidae) Catemaco Livebearer

Poeciliopsis fasciata OC (Poeciliidae) San Jeronimo Livebearer

Poeciliopsis hnilickai (Poeciliidae) Upper Grijalva Livebearer

Poeciliopsis infans (Poeciliidae) Lerma Livebearer

Poeciliopsis latidens (Poeciliidae) Lowland Livebearer

Poeciliopsis lucida (Poeciliidae) Clearfin Livebearer

Poeciliopsis lutzi (Poeciliidae) Oaxaca Livebearer

Poeciliopsis monacha (Poeciliidae) Headwater Livebearer

Poeciliopsis presidionis (Poeciliidae) Sinaloa Livebearer

Poeciliopsis prolifica (Poeciliidae) Blackstripe Livebearer

Poeciliopsis scarlli (Poeciliidae) Michoacan Livebearer

Poeciliopsis turneri (Poeciliidae) Blackspotted Livebearer

Poeciliopsis viriosa (Poeciliidae) Chubby Livebearer

Priapella bonita (Poeciliidae) Graceful Priapella

Priapella compressa (Poeciliidae) Palenque Priapella

Priapella intermedia (Poeciliidae) Isthmian Priapella

Priapella olmecae (Poeciliidae) Olmec Priapella

Xiphophorus andersi (Poeciliidae) Spiketail Platyfish

Xiphophorus birchmanni (Poeciliidae) Sheepshead Swordtail

Xiphophorus clemenciae (Poeciliidae) Yellow Swordtail

Xiphophorus continens (Poeciliidae) Short-sword Swordtail

Xiphophorus cortezi (Poeciliidae) Delicate Swordtail

Xiphophorus couchianus (Poeciliidae) Monterrey Platyfish

Xiphophorus evelynae (Poeciliidae) Puebla Platyfish

Xiphophorus gordoni (Poeciliidae) Northern Platyfish

Xiphophorus kosszanderi (Poeciliidae) Speckled Platyfish

Xiphophorus malinche (Poeciliidae) Highland Swordtail

Xiphophorus meyeri (Poeciliidae) Marbled Swordtail

Xiphophorus milleri (Poeciliidae) Catemaco Platyfish

Xiphophorus montezumae (Poeciliidae) Montezuma Swordtail

Xiphophorus multilineatus (Poeciliidae) High-backed Pygmy Swordtail

Xiphophorus nezahualcoyotl (Poeciliidae) Mountain Swordtail

Xiphophorus nigrensis (Poeciliidae) Panuco Swordtail

Xiphophorus pygmaeus (Poeciliidae) Pygmy Swordtail

Xiphophorus variatus IN (Poeciliidae) Variable Platyfish

Xiphophorus xiphidium (Poeciliidae) Swordtail Platyfish

Profundulus hildebrandi (Profundulidae) Chiapas Killifish

Millerichthys robustus (Rivulidae) Mexican Rivulus

Oncorhynchus chrysogaster (Salmonidae) Mexican Golden Trout

Ophisternon infernale (Synbranchidae) Blind Swamp Eel

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 283 endemic freshwater fish species listed above, these additional 28 species total 311 species of freshwater fishes known solely from Mexico.

Chirostoma contrerasi (Atherinopsidae) Ajijic Silverside 2002

Catostomus nebuliferus (Catostomidae) Nazas Sucker

Moxostoma albidum (Catostomidae) Longlip Jumprock

Moxostoma mascotae (Catostomidae) Mascota Jumprock

Astyanax altior (Characidae) Yucatan Tetra

Rocio gemmata (Cichlidae) 2007

Rocio ocotal (Cichlidae) 2007

Dionda melanops (Cyprinidae) Spotted Minnow

Notropis calabazas (Cyprinidae) Calabazas Shiner 2004

Notropis cumingii (Cyprinidae) Atoyac Chub

Notropis tropicus (Cyprinidae) Pygmy Shiner

Yuriria amatiana (Cyprinidae) 2007