New Zealand
Checklist of Endemic Freshwater Fish Species
This list of freshwater fish species found exclusively in New Zealand 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.
x = extinct
Anguilla dieffenbachii (Anguillidae) Longfin Eel
Cheimarrichthys fosteri (Cheimarrichthyidae) Torrentfish
Gobiomorphus basalis (Eleotridae) Crans Bully
Gobiomorphus breviceps (Eleotridae) Upland Bully
Gobiomorphus cotidianus (Eleotridae) Common Bully
Gobiomorphus gobioides (Eleotridae) Giant Bully
Gobiomorphus hubbsi (Eleotridae) Bluegill Bully
Gobiomorphus huttoni (Eleotridae) Redfin Bully
Galaxias anomalus (Galaxiidae) Roundhead Galaxias
Galaxias argenteus (Galaxiidae) Giant Kokopu
Galaxias cobitinis (Galaxiidae) Lowland Longjaw Galaxias
Galaxias depressiceps (Galaxiidae) Flathead Galaxias
Galaxias divergens (Galaxiidae) Dwarf Galaxias
Galaxias eldoni (Galaxiidae) Eldon's Galaxias
Galaxias fasciatus (Galaxiidae) Banded Kokopu
Galaxias gollumoides (Galaxiidae) Gollum Galaxias
Galaxias gracilis (Galaxiidae) Dwarf Inanga
Galaxias paucispondylus (Galaxiidae) Alpine Galaxias
Galaxias postvectis (Galaxiidae) Shortjaw Kokopu
Galaxias prognathus (Galaxiidae) Upland Longjaw Galaxias
Galaxias pullus (Galaxiidae) Dusky Galaxias
Galaxias rekohua (Galaxiidae) Chathams Galaxias
Galaxias vulgaris (Galaxiidae) Canterbury Galaxias
Neochanna apoda (Galaxiidae) Brown Mudfish
Neochanna burrowsius (Galaxiidae) Canterbury Mudfish
Neochanna diversus (Galaxiidae) Black Mudfish
Neochanna heleios (Galaxiidae) Northland Mudfish
Rhombosolea retiaria (Pleuronectidae) Black Flounder
Prototroctes oxyrhynchus x (Retropinnidae) New Zealand Grayling
Retropinna retropinna (Retropinnidae) New Zealand Smelt
Stokellia anisodon (Retropinnidae) Stokell's Smelt
An additional endemic freshwater fish species described too recently to be included in FishBase 2004 is 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 31 endemic freshwater fish species listed above, the additional species listed below gives a total of 32 species of freshwater fishes known solely from New Zealand.
Galaxias macronasus (Galaxiidae) Bignose Galaxias 2003