China

Checklist of Endemic Marine Fish Species

This list of marine fish species found exclusively in China is based on the taxonomy used in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes (2023). For further details on possible inaccuracies in the list see Sources & Caveats.

Fricke, R., Eschmeyer, W. N. & Van der Laan, R. (eds) 2023 Catalog of Fishes: Genera, Species, References. Version downloaded 9 February 2023 https://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp

The current version can be accessed here

Marine fishes known only from the deep-sea (below 200 m) are listed at the bottom of the page and are not included in species totals

* = Mainland plus Taiwan ** = Taiwan only
+ = species added to the Catalog of Fishes after 9 Februrary 2023

Gerres septemfasciatus (Acanthuriformes Gerreidae) Sevenbanded Silver Biddy

Bahaba taipingensis (Acanthuriformes Sciaenidae) Chinese Bahaba

Johnius taiwanensis * (Acanthuriformes Sciaenidae)

Nibea acuta (Acanthuriformes Sciaenidae)

Sillago megacephalus (Acanthuriformes Sillaginidae) Largeheaded Sillago

Sillago microps ** (Acanthuriformes Sillaginidae) Smalleyed Sillago

Sillago nigrofasciata * (Acanthuriformes Sillaginidae) Blackbanded Sillago

Sillago parasihama * (Acanthuriformes Sillaginidae)

Sillago shaoi * (Acanthuriformes Sillaginidae) Shao's Sillago

Evynnis mononematos * (Acanthuriformes Sparidae)

Chlopsis nanhaiensis ** (Anguilliformes Chlopsidae) South China False Moray

Ariosoma emmae ** (Anguilliformes Congridae) Emma's Shorttailed Conger

Macrocephenchelys nigriventris ** (Anguilliformes Congridae)

Gymnothorax melanosomatus ** (Anguilliformes Muraenidae) Blackbody Moray

Gymnothorax poikilospilus ** (Anguilliformes Muraenidae) Variegated Moray

Gymnothorax prolatus ** (Anguilliformes Muraenidae)

Gymnothorax pseudomelanosomatus ** (Anguilliformes Muraenidae) False Blackbody Moray

Gymnothorax taiwanensis ** (Anguilliformes Muraenidae) Taiwanese Moray

Bascanichthys kabeyawan ** (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae) Kabeyawan Sand Eel

Brachysomophis longipinnis ** (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)

Callechelys maculatus (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)

Cirrhimuraena paucidens (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)

Cirrhimuraena yuanding * (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)

Cirricaecula macdowelli ** (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)

Muraenichthys longirostris ** (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae) Slendersnout Worm Eel

Neenchelys diaphora ** (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae) Longfin Work Eel

Neenchelys pelagica ** (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae) Pelagic Work Eel

Ophichthus bicolor ** (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae) Bicolored Snake Eel

Ophichthus brevicaudatus * (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)

Ophichthus limkouensis (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)

Ophichthus retrodorsalis * (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)

Ophichthus tchangi (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)

Ophichthus woosuitingi (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)

Sympenchelys taiwanensis ** (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae) Taiwanese Worm Eel

Xyrias chioui ** (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)

Dysomma brachygnathos ** (Anguilliformes Synaphobranchidae) Shortjaw Cutthroat Eel

Dysomma formosa ** (Anguilliformes Synaphobranchidae) White Cutthroat Eel

Dysomma melanurum ** (Anguilliformes Synaphobranchidae)

Dysomma opisthoproctus ** (Anguilliformes Synaphobranchidae)

Dysomma robinsorum ** (Anguilliformes Synaphobranchidae)

Dysomma taiwanense ** (Anguilliformes Synaphobranchidae) Taiwanese Arrowtooth Eel

Lestidium orientale ** (Aulopiformes Paralepididae)Oriental Barracudina

Synodus taiwanensis ** (Aulopiformes Synodontidae) Taiwan Lizardfish

Hyporhamphus paucirastris (Beloniformes Hemiramphidae)

Omobranchus aurosplendidus (Blenniiformes Blenniidae) Deep Bay Combtooth Blenny

Enneapterygius hsiojenae ** (Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae)

Enneapterygius shaoi ** (Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae)

Enneapterygius sheni ** (Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae)

Helcogramma williamsi ** (Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae)

Bothus assimilis ** (Carangiformes Bothidae)

Engyprosopon brevifrontale ** (Carangiformes Bothidae) Bigeyed Flounder

Engyprosopon filipennis (Carangiformes Bothidae)

Engyprosopon keliaoense ** (Carangiformes Bothidae) Keliao Lefteye Flounder

Engyprosopon parvipectorale ** (Carangiformes Bothidae)

Psettina filimana (Carangiformes Bothidae)

Psettina hainanensis (Carangiformes Bothidae)

Cynoglossus lineolatus (Carangiformes Cynoglossidae)

Cynoglossus yokomaru (Carangiformes Cynoglossidae) Highforehead Genko Sole

Symphurus hongae ** (Carangiformes Cynoglossidae) Hong's Tonguefish

Symphurus megasomus ** (Carangiformes Cynoglossidae) Giant Tonguefish

Pseudorhombus ctenosquamis ** (Carangiformes Paralichthyidae) Largetooth Flounder

Samariscus asanoi ** (Carangiformes Samaridae) Asano's Righteye Flounder

Opistognathus microspilus ** + (Cichliformes Opistognathidae)

Stalix sheni ** (Cichliformes Opistognathidae) Shen's Jawfish

Sardinella richardsoni (Clupeiformes Dorosomatidae) Richardson's Sardinella

Stolephorus chinensis (Clupeiformes Engraulidae) China Anchovy

Thryssa adelae * (Clupeiformes Engraulidae) Swatow Thryssa

Ciliata tchangi (Gadiformes Gaidropsaridae)

Coelorinchus leptorhinus ** (Gadiformes Macrouridae)

Pterophycis spatium ** (Gadiformes Moridae) Bigfin Mora

Acanthogobius donghaiensis (Gobiiformes Gobiidae)

Amblyeleotris bleekeri ** (Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Bleeker's Shrimpgoby

Amblyeleotris cephalotaenia (Gobiiformes Gobiidae)

Callogobius nigromarginatus ** (Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Blackmargined Flapheaded Goby

Callogobius sheni (Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Shen's Flapheaded Goby

Clariger taiwanensis ** (Gobiiformes Gobiidae)

Cristatogobius albius * (Gobiiformes Gobiidae)

Cryptocentrus yatsui * (Gobiiformes Gobiidae)

Ctenogobiops formosa ** (Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Formosan Shrimpgoby

Egglestonichthys patriciae ** (Gobiiformes Gobiidae)

Eviota aquila ** (Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Dark Dwarfgoby

Luciogobius brevipterus (Gobiiformes Gobiidae)

Oxyurichthys chinensis (Gobiiformes Gobiidae)

Polyspondylogobius sinensis (Gobiiformes Gobiidae)

Parioglossus sinensis (Gobiiformes Microdesmidae)

Xenisthmus nigrolateralis ** (Gobiiformes Xenisthmidae)

Jaydia tchefouensis (Kurtiformes Apogonidae)

Radiicephalus kessinger ** (Lampriformes Radiicephalidae) Scarecrow Tapertail

Malthopsis formosa ** (Lophiiformes Ogcocephalidae) Taiwanese Triangular Batfish

Onuxodon albometeori ** (Ophidiiformes Carapidae) White Pearlfish

Plectranthias purpuralepis ** (Perciformes Anthiadidae) Purplescaled Perchlet

Halichoeres tenuispinis * (Perciformes Labridae) Thinspine Wrasse

Scarus chinensis (Perciformes Labridae) Chinese Parrotfish

Scarus gracilis (Perciformes Labridae)

Liparis petschiliensis (Perciformes Liparidae)

Liparis zonatus (Perciformes Liparidae)

Zoarchias microstomus (Perciformes Neozoarcidae)

Parapercis dongshaensis ** (Perciformes Pinguipedidae)

Parapercis moki ** (Perciformes Pinguipedidae) Mok's Sandperch

Myoxocephalus sinensis (Perciformes Psychrolutidae)

Parascorpaena poseidon ** (Perciformes Scorpaenidae) Poseidon's Scorpionfish

Chelidoperca formosa ** (Perciformes Serranidae)

Lepidotrigla lepidojugulata * (Perciformes Triglidae)

Trichiurus brevis (Scombriformes Trichiuridae) Chinese Shortailed Hairtail

Trichiurus margarites (Scombriformes Trichiuridae)

Callionymus martinae ** (Syngnathiformes Callionymidae) Martina's Dragonet

Pegasus sinensis (Syngnathiformes Pegasidae) Chinese Seamoth

Festucalex armillatus (Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae) Collared Pipefish

Hippocampus casscsio (Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae) Beibu Bay Seahorse

Takifugu guttulatus + (Tetraodontiformes Tetraodontidae)

Takifugu plagiocellatus (Tetraodontiformes Tetraodontidae) Hainan Puffer

Takifugu variomaculatus (Tetraodontiformes Tetraodontidae)

Aulotrachichthys nyx ** + (Trachyichthyiformes Trachichthyidae) Darknight Luminous Roughy

Cirrhoscyllium formosanum ** (Orectolobiformes Parascylliidae) Taiwan Saddled Carpetshark

Rhynchobatus immaculatus ** (Rhinopristiformes Rhinidae) Taiwanese Wedgefish

Etmopterus burgessi ** (Squaliformes Etmopteridae) Broadnose Lanternshark

Dipturus wuhanlingi * (Rajiformes Rajidae) China Skate

Okamejei mengae (Rajiformes Rajidae) Meng's Skate

Somniosus cheni ** (Squaliformes Somniosidae) Taiwan Sleeper Shark

Eptatretus cheni ** (Myxiniformes Myxinidae) Chen's Hagfish

Eptatretus nelsoni ** (Myxiniformes Myxinidae) Nelson's Hagfish

Eptatretus taiwanae ** (Myxiniformes Myxinidae) Taiwan Hagfish

Eptatretus wisneri ** (Myxiniformes Myxinidae) Wisner's Hagfish

Eptatretus yangi ** (Myxiniformes Myxinidae) Yang's Hagfish

Additional deep-sea species (below 200 m) recorded only from China:

Malakichthys formosus ** + (Acropomatiformes Malakichthyidae)

Coloconger maculatus ** (Anguilliformes Colocongridae)

Bathycongrus albimarginatus ** (Anguilliformes Congridae) Whitemargin Deepsea Conger

Bathycongrus bimaculatus ** (Anguilliformes Congridae) Twospot Shorttail Conger

Bathycongrus brunneus ** (Anguilliformes Congridae) Brown Deepsea Conger

Bathycongrus castlei ** (Anguilliformes Congridae) Castle's Slender Conger

Bathycongrus graciliceps ** (Anguilliformes Congridae) Slenderhead Conger

Bathycongrus melanostomus ** (Anguilliformes Congridae) Black Mouth Conger

Bathyuroconger albus ** (Anguilliformes Congridae) White Largetoothed Conger

Bathyuroconger dolichosomus ** (Anguilliformes Congridae) Longbody Largetoothed Conger

Neenchelys gracilis ** (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)

Ophichthus pratasensis ** (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)

Ophichthus semilunatus ** (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae) Halfmoon Blotch Snake Eel

Pylorobranchus hoi ** (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)

Meadia roseni ** (Anguilliformes Synaphobranchidae)

Synaphobranchus oligolepis ** (Anguilliformes Synaphobranchidae) Nakedbelly Cutthroat Eel

Physiculus megastomus ** (Gadiformes Moridae)

Chaunax erythraeus ** (Lophiiformes Chaunacidae) Red Eyebrow Frogmouth

Chaunax obscurus ** (Lophiiformes Chaunacidae) Blackmouth Frogmouth

Chaunax viridiretis ** (Lophiiformes Chaunacidae) Greennet Frogmouth

Gigantactis cheni ** (Lophiiformes Gigantactinidae) Hairy Whipnose

Halieutopsis taiwanea ** (Lophiiformes Ogcocephalidae) Taiwan Deepsea Batfish

Oneirodes formosanus ** (Lophiiformes Oneirodidae) Formosa Dreamer

Halosaurus sinensis (Notacanthiformes Halosauridae)

Eustomias dendrobium ** (Stomiiformes Stomiidae)

Eustomias stamen ** (Stomiiformes Stomiidae)

Eustomias tritentaculatus ** (Stomiiformes Stomiidae)

Photonectes banshee ** (Stomiiformes Stomiidae)

Protoblepharon mccoskeri ** (Trachyichthyiformes Anomalopidae) Taiwanese Flashlightfish

Apristurus gibbosus * (Carcharhiniformes Pentanchidae) Humpback Catshark

Apristurus micropterygeus (Carcharhiniformes Pentanchidae) Smalldorsal Catshark

Bythaelurus immaculatus (Carcharhiniformes Pentanchidae) Spotless Catshark

Cephaloscyllium formosanum ** (Carcharhiniformes Scyliorhinidae) Formosa Swellshark

Sinobatis stenosoma (Rajiformes Anacanthobatidae) Narrow Legskate

Okamejei picta + (Rajiformes Rajidae) Finespotted Skate

Etmopterus decacuspidatus (Squaliformes Etmopteridae) Combtooth Lanternshark

Etmopterus joungi ** (Squaliformes Etmopteridae) Shortfin Smooth Lanternshark

Etmopterus lii + (Squaliformes Etmopteridae) Li's Lanternshark

Benthobatis yangi ** (Torpediniformes Narcinidae) Taiwanese Blind Electric Ray

Hydrolagus tsengi (Chimaeriformes Chimaeridae)

Eptatretus chinensis ** (Myxiniformes Myxinidae)

Eptatretus fernholmi ** (Myxiniformes Myxinidae)

Eptatretus sheni ** (Myxiniformes Myxinidae) Shen's Hagfish

Myxine kuoi ** (Myxiniformes Myxinidae) Kuo's Hagfish

Rubicundus rubicundus ** (Myxiniformes Myxinidae)