Korea has extraordinary biodiversity
of freshwater fishes comparing to its small national area.
About 212 freshwater fish species have been reported. Also,
exotic fishes, for instance, Israeli carp (Cyprinus
carpio ), White crucian carp (Carassius cuvieri
), Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus ), Rainbow
trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss ), Coho salmon
(Oncorhynchus kisutch ), Nile tilapia (Oreochromis
niloticus ), Large mouth bass (Micropterus
salmoides ), Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus ), Grass
carp (Ctenopharygodon idellus ), Big head carp
(Aristichthys nobilis ) and Silver carp
(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix ) are included.
The fish fauna in Korea is very similar to
that in China but proportion of endemic fish is high due to
geographical isolation. Total of 25% is endemic species (53
out of 212 species). Among that, about 60% (31 species) is
Cypridae and 20% (11 species) is Cobitinidae. Most of
indigenous fishes habitat the upper and middle stream and also
their body size is small.
Reserved and commemorative animals in wild
life are selected as a natural monument by The Act of Cultural
Assets in Korea. Of freshwater fishes, 4 species were assigned
as Natural Monument Fish. The list is as follow; Marbled eel
(Anguilla marmorata ), Spotted barbel (Hamibarbus
mylodon ), Manchurian trout (Brachymystax lenok ),
Golden mandarin fish (Siniperca scherzeri ).
Endangered fishes are also appointed by The
Law of Natural Environmental Conservation. There are 12
species are established as below; Black shinner
(Pseudopungtungia nigra ), Hinsumaja (Gobiobotia
naktongensis ), Miho spine loach (Iksookimia choii ), Korean
stumpy bullhead (Pseudobagrus brevicorpus ), Bull-head
torrent catfish (Liobagrus obesus ), Sand lamprey
(Lampetra reissneri ), Korean bittering
(Acheilognathus signifer ), Morejusa
(Microphysogobio koreensis ) Chinese ligard gudeon
(Saurogobio babryi ), Puan spine loach (Iksookimia
pumila ), Jomsusuchi (Niwaella brevifasciata ),
Aucha perch (Coreoperca kawamebari ). These assigned
species were strictly confined collecting, culturing, buying
and selling by the government laws
♦ Endangered fish
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Black shinner (Pseudopungtungia nigra)
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Miho spine loach (Iksookimia choii)
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Hinsumaja (Gobiobotia naktongensis)
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Korean stumpy bullhead (Pseudobagrus
brevicirpus)
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Bullhead torrent (Libagrus obesus)
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Sand lamprey (Lampetra reissneri)
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Korean bittering (Acheilognathus signifer)
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Morejusa (Microphysobobia koreensis)
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Chinese ligard gudeon (Saurogobio dabryi)
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Puan spine loach (Iksookimia pumila)
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Jomsusuchi (Kichulchoia brevifasciata)
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Aucha perch (Coreoperca kawamebari)
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♦ Natural Monument fish
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Marbled eel (Anguilla marmorata)
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Spotted barbel (Hamibarbus mylodon )
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Manchurian trout (Brachymystax lenok )
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Golden mandarin fish (Siniperca scherzeri)
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