Japan
Checklist of Endemic Freshwater Fish Species
This list of freshwater fish species found exclusively in Japan 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
Gerres akazakii
(Acanthuriformes Gerreidae) Japanese Tenspined
Silverbiddy
Oryzias sakaizumii
(Beloniformes Adrianichthyidae) Northern Medaka
Lates japonicus
(Carangiformes Latidae) Japanese Lates
Acheilognathus cyanostigma
(Cypriniformes Acheilognathidae) Striped
Bitterling
Acheilognathus longipinnis
(Cypriniformes Acheilognathidae) Itasenpara
Bitterling
Acheilognathus
melanogaster (Cypriniformes Acheilognathidae) Broadstriped Bitterling
Acheilognathus tabira
(Cypriniformes Acheilognathidae) Tabira
Bitterling
Acheilognathus typus
(Cypriniformes Acheilognathidae) Netted
Bitterling
Pseudorhodeus tanago
(Cypriniformes Acheilognathidae) Tokyo
Bitterling
Rhodeus atremius
(Cypriniformes Acheilognathidae) Kyushu
Bitterling
Rhodeus sciosemus
(Cypriniformes Acheilognathidae)
Rhodeus smithii
(Cypriniformes Acheilognathidae) Japanese Rosy
Bitterling
Tanakia limbata
(Cypriniformes Acheilognathidae) Oily Bitterling
Tanakia shimazui
(Cypriniformes Acheilognathidae)
Parabotia curtus
(Cypriniformes Botiidae) Kissing Loach
Cobitis biwae (Cypriniformes Cobitidae)
Japanese Striped Loach
Cobitis delicata
(Cypriniformes Cobitidae) Delicate Loach
Cobitis kaibarai
(Cypriniformes Cobitidae) Ariake Spined Loach
Cobitis magnostriata
(Cypriniformes Cobitidae) Ogata Spined Loach
Cobitis matsubarae
(Cypriniformes Cobitidae) Yamato Spined Loach
Cobitis minamorii
(Cypriniformes Cobitidae) Sanyo Small Spined
Loach
Cobitis sakahoko
(Cypriniformes Cobitidae) Oyodo Spined Loach
Cobitis shikokuensis
(Cypriniformes Cobitidae) Shikoku Spined Loach
Cobitis striata
(Cypriniformes Cobitidae) Striped Loach
Cobitis takatsuensis
(Cypriniformes Cobitidae) Secret Loach
Cobitis takenoi
(Cypriniformes Cobitidae) Tango Loach
Misgurnus amamianus
(Cypriniformes Cobitidae) Amami Weatherfish
Carassius cuvieri
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae) Japanese White
Crucian Carp
Carassius langsdorfii
(Cypriniformes Cyprinidae) Japanese Silver
Crucian Carp
Biwia tama (Cypriniformes Gobionidae)
Biwia yodoensis
(Cypriniformes Gobionidae) Yodo Gudgeon
Biwia zezera (Cypriniformes Gobionidae)
Biwa Gudgeon
Gnathopogon caerulescens
(Cypriniformes Gobionidae) Biwa Moroko Gudgeon
Gnathopogon elongatus
(Cypriniformes Gobionidae) Field Gudgeon
Pseudogobio agathonectris
(Cypriniformes Gobionidae)
Pseudogobio esocinus
(Cypriniformes Gobionidae)
Pseudogobio polystictus
(Cypriniformes Gobionidae) Pike Gudgeon
Pseudorasbora pugnax
(Cypriniformes Gobionidae) Ushimotsugo Minnow
Pseudorasbora pumila
(Cypriniformes Gobionidae) Shinai Topmouth
Gudgeon
Pungtungia hilgendorfi
(Cypriniformes Gobionidae)
Pungtungia shiraii
(Cypriniformes Gobionidae)
Sarcocheilichthys
biwaensis (Cypriniformes Gobionidae) Oily
Bitterling
Pseudaspius nakamurai
(Cypriniformes Leuciscidae) Ugui Minnow
Rhynchocypris jouyi
(Cypriniformes Leuciscidae) Upstream Fat Minnow
Barbatula oreas
(Cypriniformes Nemacheilidae)
Lefua echigonia
(Cypriniformes Nemacheilidae) Japanese
Eight-barbeled Loach
Lefua tokaiensis
(Cypriniformes Nemacheilidae) Tokai Stream
Eight-barbeled Loach
Lefua torrentis
(Cypriniformes Nemacheilidae) Western Japanese
Loach
Hemigrammocypris neglecta
(Cypriniformes Xenocyprididae) Golden Venus Chub
Ischikauia steenackeri
(Cypriniformes Xenocyprididae) Lakeweed Chub
Nipponocypris sieboldii
(Cypriniformes Xenocyprididae) Japanese Chub
Ophiocara macrostoma + (Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Darkfin Gudgeon
Gymnogobius isaza
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Isaza Goby
Luciogobius albus
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Cave Goby
Luciogobius dormitoris
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Luciogobius fluvialis
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Warashina Goby
Luciogobius fonticola
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Suruga Goby
Luciogobius ryukyuensis
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Rhinogobius aonumai
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Rhinogobius biwaensis
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Biwa Yellow-gill Goby
Rhinogobius flumineus
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Lizard Goby
Rhinogobius fluviatilis
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Rhinogobius ogasawaraensis
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Ogasawara Goby
Rhinogobius telma
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Rhinogobius tyoni
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Rhinogobius yaima
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Rhinogobius yonezawai
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Stiphodon alcedo
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Stiphodon niraikanaiensis
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Tridentiger kuroiwae
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Odontobutis hikimius
(Gobiiformes Odontobutidae)
Spirinchus lanceolatus
(Osmeriformes Osmeridae) Shishamo Smelt
Neosalangichthys ishikawae
(Osmeriformes Salangidae) Ishikawa Icefish
Neosalanx reganius
(Osmeriformes Salangidae) Regan Icefish
Cottus pollux (Perciformes Cottidae)
Japanese Fluvial Sculpin
Cottus reinii (Perciformes Cottidae)
Biwa Sculpin
Rheopresbe kazika
(Perciformes Cottidae) Fourspine Sculpin
Pungitius modestus
(Perciformes Gasterosteidae) Kakure Ninespine
Stickleback
Oncorhynchus kawamurae
(Salmoniformes Salmonidae) Kunimasu Trout
Liobagrus reinii
(Siluriformes Amblycipitidae) Reddish Bullhead
Tachysurus aurantiacus
(Siluriformes Bagridae) Kyushu Bullhead
Tachysurus ichikawai
(Siluriformes Bagridae) Stumpy Bullhead
Tachysurus nudiceps
(Siluriformes Bagridae) Forktail Bullhead
Tachysurus tokiensis
(Siluriformes Bagridae) Cuttailed Bullhead
Silurus biwaensis
(Siluriformes Siluridae) Biwa Catfish
Silurus lithophilus
(Siluriformes Siluridae) Biwa Rock Catfish
Silurus tomodai
(Siluriformes Siluridae) Tomoda's Catfish
Microphis yoshi
(Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae)
Lethenteron mitsukurii
(Petromyzontiformes Petromyzontidae) Japanese Brook Lamprey