Democratic Republic of the Congo
Checklist of Endemic Freshwater Fish Species
This list of freshwater fish species found exclusively in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 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
+ = species added to the Catalog of Fishes after 9 Februrary 2023
Ctenopoma ashbysmithi
(Anabantiformes Anabantidae)
Microctenopoma milleri
(Anabantiformes Anabantidae)
Alestes inferus
(Characiformes Alestidae)
Alestion rapax
(Characiformes Alestidae)
Alestopetersius compressus
(Characiformes Alestidae)
Alestopetersius conspectus
(Characiformes Alestidae)
Alestopetersius
leopoldianus (Characiformes Alestidae)
Bathyaethiops breuseghemi
(Characiformes Alestidae) Rectangle Spot Moon
Tetra
Bathyaethiops flammeus
(Characiformes Alestidae) Red-back Moon Tetra
Brachyalestes jackiae + (Characiformes Alestidae)
Brachypetersius
cadwaladeri (Characiformes Alestidae)
Brachypetersius
pseudonummifer (Characiformes Alestidae)
Brycinus epuluensis
(Characiformes Alestidae)
Brycinus fwaensis
(Characiformes Alestidae)
Clupeocharax schoutedeni
(Characiformes Alestidae)
Micralestes ambiguus
(Characiformes Alestidae) Ambiguous Tetra
Micralestes fodori
(Characiformes Alestidae)
Micralestes schelly
(Characiformes Alestidae)
Phenacogrammus bleheri
(Characiformes Alestidae) Bleher's Tetra
Phenacogrammus concolor
(Characiformes Alestidae)
Phenacogrammus flexus
(Characiformes Alestidae)
Phenacogrammus polli
(Characiformes Alestidae)
Rhabdalestes aeratis
(Characiformes Alestidae)
Tricuspidalestes caeruleus
(Characiformes Alestidae)
Congocharax olbrechtsi
(Characiformes Distichodontidae)
Distichodus ingae
(Characiformes Distichodontidae)
Distichodus langi
(Characiformes Distichodontidae)
Distichodus polli
(Characiformes Distichodontidae)
Microstomatichthyoborus
katangae (Characiformes Distichodontidae)
Nannaethiops gracilis
(Characiformes Distichodontidae)
Nannocharax chochamandai +
(Characiformes Distichodontidae)
Nannocharax hadros (Characiformes Distichodontidae)
Neolebias philippei
(Characiformes Distichodontidae)
Paraphago rostratus
(Characiformes Distichodontidae) Striped
Fin-eater
Chromidotilapia
schoutedeni (Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Congochromis pugnatus
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Congochromis robustus
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Congochromis rotundiceps
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Cyclopharynx fwae
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Cyclopharynx schwetzi
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Haplochromis bakongo
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Haplochromis brauschi
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Haplochromis callichromus
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Haplochromis luluae
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Haplochromis malacophagus
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Haplochromis placodus
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Haplochromis snoeksi
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Haplochromis stigmatogenys
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Haplochromis toddi
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Lamprologus finalimus
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Lamprologus lethops
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Lamprologus speciosus
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Lamprologus stappersi
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Lamprologus symoensi
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Lamprologus tumbanus
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Nanochromis consortus
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Nanochromis splendens
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Nanochromis transvestitus
(Cichliformes Cichlidae) Mai-Ndombe Dwarf
Cichlid
Nanochromis wickleri
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Neolamprologus gracilis
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Neolamprologus
nigriventris (Cichliformes Cichlidae) Black-belly
Lamprologus
Neolamprologus pectoralis
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Neolamprologus splendens
(Cichliformes Cichlidae) Kiku Firetips
Neolamprologus variostigma
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Neolamprologus wauthioni
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Oreochromis salinicola
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Oreochromis upembae
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Orthochromis gecki
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Orthochromis kimpala
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Orthochromis torrenticola
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Pseudocrenilabrus nicholsi
(Cichliformes Cichlidae) Nichol's Dwarf
Mouthbrooder
Rubricatochromis
cerasogaster (Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Schwetzochromis neodon
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Steatocranus bleheri
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Steatocranus glaber
(Cichliformes Cichlidae) Checkerboard Humphead
Steatocranus mpozoensis
(Cichliformes Cichlidae) Mpozo Lionhead Cichlid
Steatocranus rouxi
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Teleogramma monogramma
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Tylochromis aristoma
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Tylochromis elongatus
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Tylochromis microdon
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Tylochromis praecox
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Tylochromis pulcher
(Cichliformes Cichlidae)
Microthrissa centralis
(Clupeiformes Dorosomatidae)
Nannothrissa stewarti
(Clupeiformes Dorosomatidae) Mai-ndombe Dwarf
Sprat
Potamothrissa whiteheadi
(Clupeiformes Dorosomatidae) Whitehead's
Sawtooth Pellonuline
Caecobarbus geertsii
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae) Congo Blind Barb
Clypeobarbus breviclipeus
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Clypeobarbus schoutedeni
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae) Schouteden's Barb
Enteromius amanpoae
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius brachygramma
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae) Line-spotted Ufipa
Barb
Enteromius citrinus
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae) Lemon Barb
Enteromius deguidei
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius janssensi
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius kamolondoensis
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius lamani
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius lukindae
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius lukusiensis
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius luluae
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius marmoratus
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae) Marbled Barb
Enteromius matthesi
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius nigrifilis
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius okae
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius papilio
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius pygmaeus
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius radari
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius stanleyi
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius tetrastigma
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius trinotatus
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius tshopoensis
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius validus
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Enteromius vanderysti
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeo alticentralis
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeo kibimbi (Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeo lividus (Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeo lualabaensis
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeo luluae (Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeo manasseeae + (Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeo mbimbii + (Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeo mokotoensis
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeo polli (Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeo quadribarbis
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeo reidi (Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus altipinnis
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus brauni
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus dartevellei
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus gestetneri
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus huloti
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus humphri
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus iphthimostoma
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus iturii
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus lobogenysoides
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus longidorsalis
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus longifilis
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus lufupensis
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus macroceps
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus mawambiensis
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus mirabilis
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus nzadimalawu
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus nzadinkisi
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus pellegrini
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus pojeri
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus robertsi
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus upembensis
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Labeobarbus urotaenia
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae) Dungu Yellowfish
Labeobarbus wittei
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae)
Opsaridium boweni
(Cypriniformes Danionidae)
Opsaridium leleupi
(Cypriniformes Danionidae)
Opsaridium maculicauda
(Cypriniformes Danionidae)
Raiamas brachyrhabdotos
(Cypriniformes Danionidae)
Raiamas salmolucius
(Cypriniformes Danionidae)
Aphyosemion christyi
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae) Christy's Lyretail
Aphyosemion congicum
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae) Congo Killi
Aphyosemion ferranti
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae) Kasai Killi
Aphyosemion labarrei
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae) Red-streaked Killi
Aphyosemion lujae
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae) Spot-line Killi
Aphyosemion musafirii
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae)
Aphyosemion pseudoelegans
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae)
Aphyosemion schoutedeni
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae)
Aphyosemion teugelsi
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae)
Epiplatys atratus
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae)
Epiplatys boulengeri
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae)
Fenerbahce devosi
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae)
Nothobranchius brieni
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae) Shaba Nothobranch
Nothobranchius
chochamandai (Cyprinodontiformes
Nothobranchiidae)
Nothobranchius ditte
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae)
Nothobranchius flagrans
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae)
Nothobranchius hassoni
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae)
Nothobranchius malaissei
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae) Luanza Nothobranch
Nothobranchius polli
(Cyprinodontiformes Nothobranchiidae)
Congopanchax brichardi
(Cyprinodontiformes Procatopodidae) Brichard's Lampeye
Hylopanchax leki
(Cyprinodontiformes Procatopodidae)
Hylopanchax moke
(Cyprinodontiformes Procatopodidae)
Hylopanchax ndeko
(Cyprinodontiformes Procatopodidae)
Hylopanchax silvestris
(Cyprinodontiformes Procatopodidae)
Hypsopanchax jobaerti
(Cyprinodontiformes Procatopodidae)
Hypsopanchax platysternus
(Cyprinodontiformes Procatopodidae) Zaire Lampeye
Hypsopanchax stiassnyae
(Cyprinodontiformes Procatopodidae)
Lacustricola lualabaensis
(Cyprinodontiformes Procatopodidae) Lualaba Lampeye
Lacustricola nitidus
(Cyprinodontiformes Procatopodidae)
Lacustricola petnehazyi
(Cyprinodontiformes Procatopodidae)
Poropanchax pepo
(Cyprinodontiformes Procatopodidae)
Kribia uellensis
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae)
Kneria katangae
(Gonorynchiformes Kneriidae)
Kneria luansaensis + (Gonorynchiformes Kneriidae)
Kneria maxi + (Gonorynchiformes Kneriidae)
Kneria stappersii
(Gonorynchiformes Kneriidae)
Kneria wittei (Gonorynchiformes Kneriidae)
Parakneria alytogramma
(Gonorynchiformes Kneriidae)
Parakneria damasi
(Gonorynchiformes Kneriidae)
Parakneria kissi
(Gonorynchiformes Kneriidae)
Parakneria lufirae
(Gonorynchiformes Kneriidae)
Parakneria malaissei
(Gonorynchiformes Kneriidae)
Parakneria thysi
(Gonorynchiformes Kneriidae)
Campylomormyrus
orycteropus (Osteoglossiformes
Mormyridae)
Cyphomyrus aelsbroecki
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Cyphomyrus lufirae
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Heteromormyrus tavernei
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Marcusenius bentleyi
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Marcusenius ghesquierei
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Marcusenius intermedius
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Marcusenius kaninginii
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Marcusenius macrophthalmus
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Marcusenius verheyenorum
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Marcusenius wamuinii
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Mormyrops intermedius
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Mormyrops microstoma
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Paramormyrops
retrodorsalis (Osteoglossiformes
Mormyridae)
Petrocephalus boboto
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Petrocephalus congicus
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Petrocephalus hutereaui
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Pollimyrus macroterops
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Pollimyrus osborni
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Stomatorhinus polli
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Stomatorhinus schoutedeni
(Osteoglossiformes Mormyridae)
Amphilius opisthophthalmus
(Siluriformes Amphiliidae)
Congoglanis inga
(Siluriformes Amphiliidae)
Dolichamphilius brieni
(Siluriformes Amphiliidae)
Dolichamphilius longiceps
(Siluriformes Amphiliidae)
Phractura fasciata
(Siluriformes Amphiliidae)
Psammphiletria delicata
(Siluriformes Amphiliidae)
Trachyglanis ineac
(Siluriformes Amphiliidae)
Trachyglanis intermedius
(Siluriformes Amphiliidae) Lulua Loach Catfish
Zaireichthys heterurus
(Siluriformes Amphiliidae)
Zaireichthys zonatus
(Siluriformes Amphiliidae)
Notoglanidium pallidum
(Siluriformes Auchenoglanididae)
Parauchenoglanis zebratus + (Siluriformes Auchenoglanididae)
Bagrus lubosicus
(Siluriformes Bagridae)
Clariallabes laticeps
(Siluriformes Clariidae)
Clariallabes manyangae
(Siluriformes Clariidae)
Clariallabes simeonsi
(Siluriformes Clariidae)
Clarias monsembulai
(Siluriformes Clariidae) Monsembula Catfish
Amarginops platus
(Siluriformes Claroteidae)
Chrysichthys helicophagus
(Siluriformes Claroteidae)
Chrysichthys macropterus
(Siluriformes Claroteidae)
Chrysichthys okae
(Siluriformes Claroteidae)
Chrysichthys praecox
(Siluriformes Claroteidae)
Chrysichthys uniformis
(Siluriformes Claroteidae)
Gephyroglanis
gymnorhynchus (Siluriformes Claroteidae)
Gnathobagrus depressus
(Siluriformes Claroteidae)
Paradoxoglanis
caudivittatus (Siluriformes Malapteruridae)
Paradoxoglanis cryptus
(Siluriformes Malapteruridae)
Atopochilus pachychilus
(Siluriformes Mochokidae)
Chiloglanis lufirae
(Siluriformes Mochokidae)
Chiloglanis marlieri
(Siluriformes Mochokidae)
Chiloglanis microps
(Siluriformes Mochokidae)
Chiloglanis msirii
(Siluriformes Mochokidae)
Chiloglanis pojeri
(Siluriformes Mochokidae)
Euchilichthys boulengeri
(Siluriformes Mochokidae)
Microsynodontis lamberti
(Siluriformes Mochokidae)
Synodontis camelopardalis
(Siluriformes Mochokidae) Giraffe Synodontis
Synodontis denticulatus
(Siluriformes Mochokidae)
Synodontis depauwi
(Siluriformes Mochokidae)
Synodontis dorsomaculatus
(Siluriformes Mochokidae)
Synodontis iturii
(Siluriformes Mochokidae)
Synodontis lufirae
(Siluriformes Mochokidae)
Synodontis pulcher
(Siluriformes Mochokidae)
Synodontis robertsi
(Siluriformes Mochokidae) Large Blotched
Synodontis
Schilbe zairensis
(Siluriformes Schilbeidae)
Mastacembelus catchpolei
(Synbranchiformes Mastacembelidae)
Mastacembelus latens
(Synbranchiformes Mastacembelidae)
Mastacembelus trispinosus
(Synbranchiformes Mastacembelidae)