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Freshwater Fish Species

All freshwater fish species found in rivers, lakes, streams, and ponds worldwide. From tiny tetras to the giant arapaima — covering every continent.

18,067

Total Species

1,926

Endangered (EN+CR)

1,910

Edible Species

204

Families

Filtered Endangered ✕ Clear all

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🔤 Name A–Z 🔴 Threatened First 🍽️ Edible First

1,211 species

Yunnanilus Bailianensis

Yunnanilus bailianensis

Nemacheilidae Endangered

Yunnanilus Chui

Yunnanilus chui

Nemacheilidae Endangered

Yunnanilus Niger

Yunnanilus niger

Nemacheilidae Endangered

Yunnanilus Paludosus

Yunnanilus paludosus

Nemacheilidae Endangered

Yunnanilus Spanisbripes

Yunnanilus spanisbripes

Nemacheilidae Endangered

Aztecula grandis

Botiidae Endangered Edible

Naziritor zhobensis

Acheilognathus microphysa

Cyprinidae Endangered

红鳍方口鲃

Cosmochilus cardinalis

Cyprinidae Endangered

黑斑云南鳅

Yunnanilus nigromaculatus

Nemacheilidae Endangered

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At a Glance

Total species 18,067

Endangered (EN+CR) 1,926

Edible species 1,910

Families represented 204

Habitat type Freshwater

Conservation Status

🔴 Critically Endangered 715 🟠 Endangered 1,211 🟡 Vulnerable 1,230 🔵 Near Threatened 772 🟢 Least Concern 8,150 ⚪ Data Deficient 2,482 ✕ Clear filter

Edibility Filter

🍽️ Edible species only 1,910

Ecosystem Facts

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Biodiversity Hotspot Freshwater covers less than 1% of Earth's surface yet supports roughly 40% of all fish species - the highest concentration of aquatic biodiversity anywhere on the planet.

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River vs Lake River fish are streamlined to cope with flowing water and oxygen-rich environments. Lake fish often exploit deep stratified habitats and develop specialised feeding niches.

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Cichlid Radiation Africa's Great Lakes contain over 1,000 cichlid species evolved from a common ancestor in just 15,000 years - the fastest known adaptive radiation in vertebrate evolution.

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Amazon Basin The Amazon River system contains over 3,000 described freshwater fish species - more than any other river on Earth - with new species still being described annually.

Other Habitats

🌊 Marine Fish 🌿 Brackish Fish 🔄 Diadromous Fish 🌍 All Habitats

Explore Related

🔴 Endangered Fish 🍽️ Edible Fish Guide ♻️ Sustainable Seafood 🏆 World Record Fish 🔤 All Species A–Z