Mexico
Checklist of Endemic Marine Fish Species
This list of marine fish species found exclusively in Mexico 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
+ = species added to the Catalog of Fishes after 9 Februrary 2023
Anisotremus
perezponcedeleoni (Acanthuriformes
Haemulidae) Clarion Grunt
Orthopristis reddingi
(Acanthuriformes Haemulidae) Bronzestriped Grunt
Holacanthus clarionensis
(Acanthuriformes Pomacanthidae) Clarion Angelfish
Bairdiella veraecrucis
(Acanthuriformes Sciaenidae)
Micropogonias ectenes
(Acanthuriformes Sciaenidae) Slender Croaker
Stellifer walkeri
(Acanthuriformes Sciaenidae) Professor Stardrum
Stellifer wintersteenorum
(Acanthuriformes Sciaenidae) Amigo Stardrum
Totoaba macdonaldi
(Acanthuriformes Sciaenidae) Totoaba
Umbrina wintersteeni
(Acanthuriformes Sciaenidae) Cortez Croaker
Heteroconger digueti
(Anguilliformes Congridae) Cortez Garden Eel
Ethadophis byrnei
(Anguilliformes Ophichthidae) Ordinary Snake Eel
Ethadophis merenda
(Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)
Leuropharus lasiops
(Anguilliformes Ophichthidae) Acned Snake Eel
Colpichthys hubbsi
(Atheriniformes Atherinopsidae) Delta Silverside
Colpichthys regis
(Atheriniformes Atherinopsidae) False Grunion
Leuresthes sardina
(Atheriniformes Atherinopsidae) Gulf Grunion
Porichthys analis
(Batrachoidiformes Batrachoididae) Darkedge Midshipman
Porichthys mimeticus
(Batrachoidiformes Batrachoididae) Mimetic Midshipman
Sanopus reticulatus
(Batrachoidiformes Batrachoididae) Reticulated Toadfish
Hypsoblennius proteus
(Blenniiformes Blenniidae) Socorro Blenny
Acanthemblemaria crockeri
(Blenniiformes Chaenopsidae) Browncheek Blenny
Acanthemblemaria hastingsi
(Blenniiformes Chaenopsidae) Cortez Barnacle
Blenny
Acanthemblemaria
macrospilus (Blenniiformes Chaenopsidae) Mexican Barnacle Blenny
Acanthemblemaria
mangognatha (Blenniiformes Chaenopsidae) Revillagigedo Barnacle Blenny
Chaenopsis coheni
(Blenniiformes Chaenopsidae) Cortez Pikeblenny
Cirriemblemaria lucasana
(Blenniiformes Chaenopsidae) Plume Tube-blenny
Coralliozetus angelicus
(Blenniiformes Chaenopsidae) Angel Tube-blenny
Coralliozetus micropes
(Blenniiformes Chaenopsidae) Scarletfin
Tube-blenny
Coralliozetus rosenblatti
(Blenniiformes Chaenopsidae) Spikefin
Tube-blenny
Emblemaria hypacanthus
(Blenniiformes Chaenopsidae) Gulf Signal Blenny
Emblemaria walkeri
(Blenniiformes Chaenopsidae) Elusive Signal
Blenny
Dactyloscopus elongatus
(Blenniiformes Dactyloscopidae) Slender
Stargazer
Dactyloscopus heraldi
(Blenniiformes Dactyloscopidae) Baja Sand
Stargazer
Dactyloscopus insulatus
(Blenniiformes Dactyloscopidae) Insular
Whitesaddle Stargazer
Dactyloscopus metoecus
(Blenniiformes Dactyloscopidae) Mexican
Stargazer
Gillellus ornatus
(Blenniiformes Dactyloscopidae) Ornate Sand
Stargazer
Brockius striatus
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Green Blenny
Cryptotrema seftoni
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Hidden Blenny
Haptoclinus apectolophus
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Uncombed Blenny
Labrisomus socorroensis
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Socorro Blenny
Labrisomus wigginsi
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Baja Blenny
Malacoctenus gigas
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Sonora Blenny
Malacoctenus hubbsi
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Redside Blenny
Malacoctenus mexicanus
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Mexican Blenny
Malacoctenus polyporosus
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Porous Blenny
Malacoctenus zacae
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Zaca Blenny
Malacoctenus zonifer
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Glossy Blenny
Paraclinus asper
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Sargassum Blenny
Paraclinus ditrichus
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Leastfoot Blenny
Paraclinus magdalenae
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Magdalena Blenny
Paraclinus sini
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Flapscale Blenny
Paraclinus stephensi
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Professor Blenny
Paraclinus tanygnathus
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Longjaw Blenny
Paraclinus walkeri
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) San Quintin Blenny
Starksia cremnobates
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Fugitive Blenny
Starksia grammilaga
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Pinstriped Blenny
Starksia guadalupae
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Guadalupe Blenny
Starksia hoesei
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Hoese's Blenny
Starksia lepidogaster
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Scalybellied Blenny
Starksia spinipenis
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Phallic Blenny
Stathmonotus lugubris
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Mexican Worm Blenny
Stathmonotus
sinuscalifornici (Blenniiformes
Labrisomidae) California Worm Blenny
Xenomedea rhodopyga
(Blenniiformes Labrisomidae) Redrump Blenny
Axoclinus multicinctus
(Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae) Multibarred
Triplefin
Axoclinus nigricaudus
(Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae) Cortez Triplefin
Axoclinus storeyae
(Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae) Carmine Triplefin
Crocodilichthys gracilis
(Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae) Lizard Triplefin
Enneanectes exsul
(Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae) Island Triplefin
Enneanectes glendae
(Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae) Slender Triplefin
Enneanectes macrops
(Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae) Mexican Triplefin
Enneanectes reticulatus
(Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae) Network Triplefin
Achirus zebrinus
(Carangiformes Achiridae) Tehuantepec Sole
Citharichthys gordae
(Carangiformes Cyclopsettidae) Mimic Sanddab
Etropus ciadi (Carangiformes Cyclopsettidae)
Cortez Flounder
Paralichthys aestuarius
(Carangiformes Paralichthyidae) Cortez Halibut
Pleuronichthys
macrocephala (Carangiformes Pleuronectidae)
Pleuronichthys ocellatus
(Carangiformes Pleuronectidae) Ocellated Turbot
Sphyraena lucasana
(Carangiformes Sphyraenidae) Lucas Barracuda
Girella simplicidens
(Centrarchiformes Girellidae) Gulf Opal Eye
Anoptoplacus pygmaeus
(Cichliformes Opistognathidae) Pygmy Jawfish
Opistognathus fossoris
(Cichliformes Opistognathidae) Barred Jawfish
Opistognathus melachasme
(Cichliformes Opistognathidae) Megamouth
Jawfish
Opistognathus rosenblatti
(Cichliformes Opistognathidae) Bluespotted
Jawfish
Opistognathus walkeri
(Cichliformes Opistognathidae) Longjaw Jawfish
Chromis limbaughi
(Cichliformes Pomacentridae) Limbaugh's
Damselfish
Stegastes leucorus
(Cichliformes Pomacentridae) Whitetail Major
Stegastes rectifraenum
(Cichliformes Pomacentridae) Cortez Damselfish
Stegastes redemptus
(Cichliformes Pomacentridae) Clarion Damselfish
Anchoa analis (Clupeiformes Engraulidae)
Longfin Pacific Anchovy
Anchoa helleri
(Clupeiformes Engraulidae) Heller's Anchovy
Anchoa mundeoloides
(Clupeiformes Engraulidae) Northern Gulf
Anchovy
Fundulus persimilis
(Cyprinodontiformes Fundulidae) Yucatan
Killifish
Arcos erythrops
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Rockwall Clingfish
Derilissus kremnobates
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Talus Clingfish
Gobiesox aethus
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Clarion Clingfish
Gobiesox canidens
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Socorro Clingfish
Gobiesox funebris
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Northern Frail-disc
Clingfish
Gobiesox lanceolatus
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Canyon Clingfish
Gobiesox marijeanae
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Lonely Clingfish
Gobiesox pinniger
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Tadpole Clingfish
Gobiesox schultzi
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Smoothlip Clingfish
Gobiesox varius
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Southern Frail-disc
Clingfish
Rimicola sila (Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae)
Guadalupe Clingfish
Tomicodon absitus
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Revillagigedos
Clingfish
Tomicodon boehlkei
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Cortez Clingfish
Tomicodon eos (Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae)
Rosy Clingfish
Tomicodon humeralis
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Sonora Clingfish
Aruma histrio (Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Slow Goby
Barbulifer mexicanus
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Saddlebanded Goby
Barbulifer pantherinus
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Panther Goby
Chriolepis minutilla
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Rubble Goby
Chriolepis semisquamata
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Secret Goby
Chriolepis zebra
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Gecko Goby
Elacatinus jarocho
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Jarocho Goby
Evermannia longipinnis
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Enigmatic Goby
Gillichthys seta
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Shortjaw Mudsucker
Gobiosoma chiquita
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Sonora Goby
Ilypnus luculentus
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Bright Goby
Lythrypnus insularis
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Distant Goby
Lythrypnus pulchellus
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Gorgeous Goby
Quietula guaymasiae
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Guaymas Goby
Robinsichthys
arrowsmithensis (Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Robin's
Goby
Tigrigobius digueti
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Banded Cleanergoby
Tigrigobius limbaughi
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Widebanded Cleanergoby
Tigrigobius redimiculus
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Cinta Goby
Varicus benthonis
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Deepwater Goby
Ogilbia davidsmithi
(Ophidiiformes Dinematichthyidae) Largepored
Brotula
Ogilbia nigromarginata
(Ophidiiformes Dinematichthyidae) Blackedged
Brotula
Ogilbia nudiceps
(Ophidiiformes Dinematichthyidae) Naked Brotula
Lepophidium stigmatistium
(Ophidiiformes Ophidiidae) Blotchfin Cusk-eel
Ophidion iris (Ophidiiformes Ophidiidae)
Rainbow Cusk-eel
Mycteroperca prionura
(Perciformes Epinephelidae) Sawtail Grouper
Mycteroperca rosacea
(Perciformes Epinephelidae) Leopard Grouper
Rypticus courtenayi
(Perciformes Grammistidae) Socorro Soapfish
Halichoeres insularis
(Perciformes Labridae) Socorro Wrasse
Halichoeres sanchezi + (Perciformes Labridae) Tailspot Wrasse
Xyrichtys mundiceps
(Perciformes Labridae) Cape Razorfish
Scorpaena sonorae
(Perciformes Scorpaenidae) Sonora Scorpionfish
Sebastes exsul
(Perciformes Scorpaenidae) Buccaneer Rockfish
Sebastes notius
(Perciformes Scorpaenidae) Guadalupe Rockfish
Sebastes spinorbis
(Perciformes Scorpaenidae) Spinyeye Rockfish
Diplectrum sciurus
(Perciformes Serranidae) Gulf Squirrelfish
Hypoplectrus atlahua
(Perciformes Serranidae) Jarocho Hamlet
Hypoplectrus
castroaguirrei (Perciformes Serranidae) Veracruz
White Hamlet
Hypoplectrus ecosur
(Perciformes Serranidae) Spotted Hamlet
Paralabrax auroguttatus
(Perciformes Serranidae) Goldspotted Sand Bass
Serranus socorroensis
(Perciformes Serranidae) Socorro Serrano
Peristedion paucibarbiger
(Perciformes Triglidae) Cortez Searobin
Peprilus ovatus
(Scombriformes Stromateidae) Cortez Butterfish
Ariopsis gilberti
(Siluriformes Ariidae) Tete Sea Catfish
Doryrhamphus paulus
(Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae)
Syngnathus carinatus
(Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae) Cortez Pipefish
Syngnathus insulae
(Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae) Guadalupe Pipefish
Syngnathus makaxi
(Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae) Yucatan Pipefish
Sphoeroides lispus
(Tetraodontiformes Tetraodontidae) Naked Puffer
Phthanophaneron harveyi
(Trachyichthyiformes Anomalopidae) Gulf Flashlightfish
Mustelus albipinnis
(Carcharhiniformes Triakidae) Whitemargin
Smoothhound
Urobatis concentricus
(Myliobatiformes Urotrygonidae) Bullseye Round
Stingray
Urobatis maculatus
(Myliobatiformes Urotrygonidae) Spotted Round
Stingray
Caliraja cortezensis
(Rajiformes Rajidae) Cortez Skate
Glaucostegus spinosus
(Rhinopristiformes Glaucostegidae) Spiny Guitarfish
Pseudobatos buthi
(Rhinopristiformes Rhinobatidae) Spadenose Guitarfish
Lestidiops bathyopteryx
(Aulopiformes Paralepididae)
Laemonema verecundum
(Gadiformes Moridae) Bighead Mora
Paraliparis mexicanus
(Perciformes Liparidae) Mexican Snailfish
Psednos anoderkes
(Perciformes Liparidae) Stargazer Snailfish
Psednos mexicanus
(Perciformes Liparidae)
Psednos pallidus
(Perciformes Liparidae) Pallid Snailfish
Sebastes cortezi
(Perciformes Scorpaenidae) Cortez Rockfish
Sebastes peduncularis
(Perciformes Scorpaenidae) Gulf Rockfish
Sebastes sinensis
(Perciformes Scorpaenidae) Blackmouth Rockfish
Sebastes varispinis
(Perciformes Scorpaenidae) Hidden Rockfish
Lycenchelys folletti
(Perciformes Zoarcidae)
Cephalurus cephalus
(Carcharhiniformes Pentanchidae) Lollipop Catshark
Galeus piperatus
(Carcharhiniformes Pentanchidae) Peppered Catshark
Parmaturus campechiensis
(Carcharhiniformes Pentanchidae) Campeche Catshark
Eptatretus fritzi
(Myxiniformes Myxinidae) Guadalupe Hagfish
Eptatretus sinus
(Myxiniformes Myxinidae) Cortez Hagfish