Papua New Guinea
Checklist of Endemic Freshwater Fish Species
This list of freshwater fish species found exclusively in Papua New Guinea 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
Craterocephalus kailolae
(Atheriniformes Atherinidae) Kailola's Hardyhead
Craterocephalus lacustris
(Atheriniformes Atherinidae) Kutubu Hardyhead
Craterocephalus pimatuae
(Atheriniformes Atherinidae) Pima Hardyhead
Chilatherina axelrodi
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Axelrod's
Rainbowfish
Chilatherina bulolo
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Bulolo
Rainbowfish
Chilatherina campsi
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Highland
Rainbowfish
Chilatherina pagwiensis
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Pagwi
Rainbowfish
Glossolepis kabia
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Sepik
Rainbowfish
Glossolepis maculosa
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Spotted
Rainbowfish
Glossolepis ramuensis
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Ramu Rainbowfish
Glossolepis wanamensis
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Lake Wanam
Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia caerulea
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Blue Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia
herbertaxelrodi (Atheriniformes
Melanotaeniidae) Lake Tebera Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia iris
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Strickland
Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia lacustris
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Lake Kutubu
Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia monticola
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Mountain
Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia mubiensis
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Mubi Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia oktediensis
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Oktedi
Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia papuae
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Papuan
Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia parkinsoni
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Parkinson's Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia pimaensis
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Pima River
Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia sexlineata
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Fly River
Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia sylvatica
(Atheriniformes Melanotaeniidae) Forest
Rainbowfish
Kiunga ballochi
(Atheriniformes Pseudomugilidae) Glass Blue-eye
Kiunga bleheri
(Atheriniformes Pseudomugilidae) Bleher's
Blue-eye
Pseudomugil connieae
(Atheriniformes Pseudomugilidae) Popondetta
Blue-eye
Pseudomugil furcatus
(Atheriniformes Pseudomugilidae) Forktail
Blue-eye
Pseudomugil majusculus
(Atheriniformes Pseudomugilidae) Cape Blue-eye
Pseudomugil paskai
(Atheriniformes Pseudomugilidae) Paska's Blue-eye
Zenarchopterus robertsi
(Beloniformes Zenarchopteridae) Robert's River
Garfish
Leptachirus bensbach
(Carangiformes Soleidae) Bensbach River Sole
Leptachirus kikori
(Carangiformes Soleidae) Kikori River Sole
Leptachirus robertsi
(Carangiformes Soleidae) Robert's Sole
Amniataba affinis
(Centrarchiformes Terapontidae) Tiger Grunter
Hephaestus adamsoni
(Centrarchiformes Terapontidae) Adamson's Grunter
Hephaestus komaensis
(Centrarchiformes Terapontidae) Koma Grunter
Hephaestus raymondi
(Centrarchiformes Terapontidae) Raymond's Grunter
Hephaestus transmontanus
(Centrarchiformes Terapontidae) Sepik Grunter
Hephaestus trimaculatus
(Centrarchiformes Terapontidae) Threespot Grunter
Tetracentrum apogonoides
(Cichliformes Ambassidae) Four-spined Glass
Perchlet
Tetracentrum caudovittatus
(Cichliformes Ambassidae) Kokoda Glass Perchlet
Tetracentrum honessi
(Cichliformes Ambassidae) Honess' Glass
Perchlet
Nematalosa papuensis
(Clupeiformes Dorosomatidae) Strickland River
Gizzard Shad
Thryssa rastrosa
(Clupeiformes Engraulidae) Fly River Thryssa
Allomogurnda flavimarginata
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Yellowmargin Gudgeon
Allomogurnda hoesei
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Hoese's Gudgeon
Allomogurnda insularis
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Island Gudgeon
Allomogurnda landfordorum
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Landford's Gudgeon
Allomogurnda montana
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Mountain Gudgeon
Allomogurnda multicincta
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Malas Gudgeon
Allomogurnda papua
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Papuan Gudgeon
Eleotris aquadulcis
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Freshwater Gudgeon
Giuris caussei
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae)
Hypseleotris ebneri + (Gobiiformes Eleotridae)
Hypseleotris moncktoni + (Gobiiformes Eleotridae)
Mogurnda furva
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Black Mogurnda
Mogurnda kutubuensis
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Lake Kutubu Mogurnda
Mogurnda lineata
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Kokoda Mogurnda
Mogurnda maccuneae
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae)
Mogurnda malsmithi
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae)
Mogurnda mosa (Gobiiformes Eleotridae)
Mosa Mogurnda
Mogurnda orientalis
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Eastern Mogurnda
Mogurnda pulchra
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Moresby Mogurnda
Mogurnda spilota
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Blotched Mogurnda
Mogurnda variegata
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Variegated Mogurnda
Mogurnda vitta
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Striped Mogurnda
Oxyeleotris caeca
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Kikori Blind Gudgeon
Tateurndina ocellicauda
(Gobiiformes Eleotridae) Peacock Gudgeon
Boleophthalmus poti
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Glossogobius asaro
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Glossogobius brunnoides
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Dusky Mountain Goby
Glossogobius coatesi
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Coates' Goby
Glossogobius macrocephalus
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Bighead Goby
Glossogobius multipapillus
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Papillate Goby
Glossogobius muscorum
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Fly Goby
Glossogobius robertsi
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Glossogobius torrentis
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Whitewater Goby
Gymnoamblyopus
novaeguineae (Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Lentipes watsoni
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Watson's Goby
Mugilogobius fusculus
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Obscure Mangrove Goby
Pseudogobiopsis
rubrimaculosa (Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Schismatogobius alleni
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Schismatogobius baitabag
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Sicyopterus elomionearum
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Sicyopus beremeensis
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Stenogobius alleni
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Allen's Goby
Stenogobius watsoni
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Watson's Goby
Stiphodon larson
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Larson's Cling Goby
Rhyacichthys novaeguineae
(Gobiiformes Rhyacichthyidae)
Glossamia abo (Kurtiformes Apogonidae)
Glossamia narindica
(Kurtiformes Apogonidae) Slender Mouth
Almighty
Brustiarius nox
(Siluriformes Ariidae) Comb-gilled Catfish
Nemapteryx augusta
(Siluriformes Ariidae) Short-barbelled Catfish
Neoarius coatesi
(Siluriformes Ariidae) Coate's Catfish
Neoarius taylori
(Siluriformes Ariidae) Taylor's Catfish
Neosilurus coatesi
(Siluriformes Plotosidae)
Neosilurus gjellerupi
(Siluriformes Plotosidae) Northern Tandan
Oloplotosus luteus
(Siluriformes Plotosidae) Pale Yellow Tandan
Oloplotosus torobo
(Siluriformes Plotosidae) Kutubu Tandan
Coelonotus kaipuae
(Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae)
Microphis spinachioides
(Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae) Spinach Pipefish