Costa Rica
Checklist of Endemic Marine Fish Species
This list of marine fish species found exclusively in Costa Rica 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
Acanthemblemaria atrata
(Blenniiformes Chaenopsidae) Cocos Barnacle
Blenny
Coralliozetus clausus
(Blenniiformes Chaenopsidae) Pandemic Blenny
Gillellus chathamensis
(Blenniiformes Dactyloscopidae) Cocos Stargazer
Axoclinus cocoensis
(Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae) Cocos Triplefin
Gobiesox crassicorpus
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Thick Clingfish
Gobiesox milleri
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Miller's Clingfish
Gobiesox stenocephalus
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Narrowheaded
Clingfish
Gobiesox woodsi
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Woods' Clingfish
Tomicodon vermiculatus
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Vermiculate
Clingfish
Chriolepis atrimelum
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Blackcheek Goby
Chriolepis dialepta
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Whitestarred Goby
Evermannia erici
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Eric's Goby
Lythrypnus alphigena
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Cheekspotted Goby
Lythrypnus cobalus
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Knave Goby
Lythrypnus lavenbergi
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Lavenberg's Goby
Ogcocephalus porrectus
(Lophiiformes Ogcocephalidae) Cocos Batfish
Gunterichthys bussingi
(Ophidiiformes Dinematichthyidae) Bussing's
Brotula
Ogilbia cocoensis
(Ophidiiformes Dinematichthyidae) Cocos Brotula
Halichoeres salmofasciatus
(Perciformes Labridae) Redstriped Wrasse
Peristedion nesium
(Perciformes Triglidae) Insular Armored
Searobin
Additional deep-sea species (below 200 m) recorded only from Costa Rica:
Paraconger ophichthys (Anguilliformes Congridae)
Dicrolene gregoryi
(Ophidiiformes Ophidiidae)
Paraliparis attenuatus
(Perciformes Liparidae)
Pyrolycus jaco
(Perciformes Zoarcidae)
Bathysolea lactea
(Carangiformes Soleidae)
Bassozetus oncerocephalus
(Ophidiiformes Ophidiidae)
Porogadus subarmatus
(Ophidiiformes Ophidiidae)
Porogadus turgidus
(Ophidiiformes Ophidiidae)
Astronesthes karsteni
(Stomiiformes Stomiidae)
Eustomias insularum
(Stomiiformes Stomiidae)