New Caledonia
Checklist of Endemic Marine Fish Species
This list of marine fish species found exclusively in New Caledonia 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
A 2007 listing of 107 endemic New Caledonian fishes (indicated by an asterisk) can be found at (ResearchGate)
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
Erythrocles taeniatus
(Acanthuriformes Emmelichthyidae)
Gymnocranius oblongus
(Acanthuriformes Lethrinidae)
Scolopsis lacrima
(Acanthuriformes Nemipteridae) Teary Monocle Bream
Acanthopagrus akazakii
(Acanthuriformes Sparidae) New Caledonian Seabream
Dentex fourmanoiri
(Acanthuriformes Sparidae) Fourmanoir's Seabream
Bathycongrus trilineatus
(Anguilliformes Congridae)
Yirrkala insolitus
(Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)
Enneapterygius
paucifasciatus (Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae) New Caledonian Striped Triplefin
Enneapterygius trisignatus
(Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae) New Caledonian
Flagtail Triplefin
Engyprosopon bellonaense
(Carangiformes Bothidae) Bellona Flounder
Engyprosopon rostratum
(Carangiformes Bothidae) Long Snout Flounder
Engyprosopon septempes
(Carangiformes Bothidae) Seven Pelvic Ray
Flounder
Tosarhombus neocaledonicus
(Carangiformes Bothidae)
Samaris chesterfieldensis
(Carangiformes Samaridae) Chesterfield Righteye
Flounder
Aseraggodes magnoculus
(Carangiformes Soleidae)
Opistognathus aurolineatus + (Cichliformes Opistognathidae) Threestripe Jawfish
Opistognathus bathyphilus + (Cichliformes Opistognathidae) Lansdowne Jawfish
Opistognathus biporus + (Cichliformes Opistognathidae) Bipored Jawfish
Opistognathus helvolus + (Cichliformes Opistognathidae)
Opistognathus pholeter + (Cichliformes Opistognathidae)
Ogilbyina salvati
(Cichliformes Pseudochromidae) Freckled
Dottyback
Pseudochromis kolythrus
(Cichliformes Pseudochromidae) Fig Dottyback
Amblyeleotris bellicauda
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Eviota bacata + (Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Pearl Dwarfgoby
Eviota lateritea
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Laterite Dwarfgoby
Obliquogobius bathyalis
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) New Caledonian
Deepwater Goby
Apogonichthyoides
euspilotus (Kurtiformes Apogonidae)
Jaydia catalai
(Kurtiformes Apogonidae)
Microbrotula hamata
(Ophidiiformes Bythitidae)
Didymothallus pruvosti
(Ophidiiformes Dinematichthyidae)
Lapitaichthys frickei
(Ophidiiformes Dinematichthyidae)
Luzonichthys williamsi
(Perciformes Anthiadidae)
Pyronotanthias timanoa
(Perciformes Anthiadidae) Sunrise Anthias
Parapercis albipinna
(Perciformes Pinguipedidae)
Cocotropus richeri
(Perciformes Synanceiidae)
Inimicus gruzovi
(Perciformes Synanceiidae)
Callionymus rivatoni
(Syngnathiformes Callionymidae) New Caledonian
Longtail Dragonet
Callionymus tethys
(Syngnathiformes Callionymidae) Tethys Dragonet
Protogrammus antipodus
(Syngnathiformes Callionymidae)
Dunckerocampus chapmani
(Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae) Glowtail Pipefish
Hippocampus curvicuspis
(Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae) New Caledonian
Thorny Seahorse
Hippocampus pusillus
(Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae) Pygmy Thorny
Seahorse
Micrognathus brevicorpus
(Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae) Shortbodied
Pipefish
Siokunichthys striatus
(Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae) New Caledonian
Softcoral Pipefish
Aulohalaelurus kanakorum
(Carcharhiniformes Atelomycteridae) New Caledonia Catshark
Pteropsaron neocaledonicus
(Acropomatiformes Hemerocoetidae) New Caledonian
Duckbill
Verilus starnesi
(Acropomatiformes Malakichthyidae)
Coloconger saldanhai
(Anguilliformes Colocongridae)
Bathycongrus unimaculatus
(Anguilliformes Congridae)
Ophichthus brevidorsalis
(Anguilliformes Ophichthidae) Short Dorsalfin
Snake Eel
Rhinophichthus
penicillatus (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)
Serrivomer
neocaledoniensis (Anguilliformes
Serrivomeridae)
Atractodenchelys
robinsorum (Anguilliformes Synaphobranchidae)
Dolichopteryx nigripes
(Argentiniformes Opisthoproctidae)
Arnoglossus
septemventralis (Carangiformes
Bothidae)
Parabothus filipes
(Carangiformes Bothidae) Coral Sea Flounder
Tosarhombus brevis
(Carangiformes Bothidae)
Poecilopsetta pectoralis
(Carangiformes Poecilopsettidae) Longfin
Righteye Flounder
Plagiopsetta gracilis
(Carangiformes Samaridae) Slender Righteye
Flounder
Plagiopsetta stigmosa
(Carangiformes Samaridae) Marked Righteye
Flounder
Samariscus multiradiatus
(Carangiformes Samaridae) Multirayed Righteye
Flounder
Samariscus neocaledonia
(Carangiformes Samaridae) New Caledonian
Righteye Flounder
Coelorinchus
melanobranchus (Gadiformes Macrouridae)
Kumba musorstom
(Gadiformes Macrouridae)
Nezumia cliveri
(Gadiformes Macrouridae)
Spicomacrurus mccoskeri
(Gadiformes Macrouridae) McCosker's Grenadier
Ventrifossa vinolenta
(Gadiformes Macrouridae)
Gadella brocca
(Gadiformes Moridae)
Meteoria pauciradiatus
(Ophidiiformes Bythitidae)
Bassozetus werneri
(Ophidiiformes Ophidiidae)
Parapercis flavescens
(Perciformes Pinguipedidae)
Bembradium furici
(Perciformes Plectrogeniidae)
Plectrogenium capricornis
(Perciformes Plectrogeniidae)
Chelidoperca lecromi
(Perciformes Serranidae) Coral Sea Perchlet
Chelidoperca microdon
(Perciformes Serranidae) Smalltoothed Perchlet
Lepidotrigla annamarae
(Perciformes Triglidae)
Lepidotrigla musorstom
(Perciformes Triglidae)
Lepidotrigla nana
(Perciformes Triglidae)
Lepidotrigla sereti
(Perciformes Triglidae)
Lepidotrigla vaubani
(Perciformes Triglidae)
Paraheminodus
longirostralis (Perciformes Triglidae)
Rexea alisae (Scombriformes Gempylidae)
Polyipnus laruei
(Stomiiformes Sternoptychidae) Bigeye
Hatchetfish
Eustomias natalisa
(Stomiiformes Stomiidae)
Synchiropus
novaecaledoniae (Syngnathiformes
Callionymidae) West Jumeau Bigeye Dragonet
Synchiropus richeri
(Syngnathiformes Callionymidae) Richer's Dragonet
Synchiropus signipinnis
(Syngnathiformes Callionymidae) Chesterfield
Bigeye Dragonet
Centrodraco fidelis
(Syngnathiformes Draconettidae)
Triacanthodes intermedius
(Tetraodontiformes Triacanthodidae)
Asymbolus galacticus
(Carcharhiniformes Pentanchidae) Starry Catshark
Parmaturus albimarginatus
(Carcharhiniformes Pentanchidae) Whitetip Catshark
Parmaturus albipenis
(Carcharhiniformes Pentanchidae) Whiteclasper Catshark
Urolophus deforgesi
(Myliobatiformes Urolophidae) Chesterfield
Stingaree
Urolophus neocaledoniensis
(Myliobatiformes Urolophidae) New Caledonian
Stingaree
Urolophus papilio
(Myliobatiformes Urolophidae) Butterfly Stingaree
Bathyraja leucomelanos
(Rajiformes Arhynchobatidae) Domino Skate
Etmopterus caudistigmus
(Squaliformes Etmopteridae) Tailspot
Lanternshark
Etmopterus pseudosqualiolus
(Squaliformes Etmopteridae) False Pygmy Shark
Squalus bucephalus
(Squaliformes Squalidae) Bighead Spurdog