A total of 17 orders, 39 families, 220 species of freshwater fish inhabit South Korea. Among them, 11 species have been designated as Endangered Wildlife Class I by the Ministry of Environment, including the Black Shiner, Korean Stumpy Bullhead, Donko, Miho Spine Loach, Nakdong Nose Loach, Microphysogobio rapidus, Acheilognathus somjinensis, Bullhead Torrent Catfish, and Gobiobotia naktongensis.

 

 16 species are designated as Class II Endangered Wildlife, including the Slender Shiner, Amur Stickleback, Japanese Aucha Perch, Gobiobotia macrocephala, Far Eastern Brook Lamprey, Gobiobotia brevibarba, Acheilognathus signifer, Culter brevicauda, Rhynchocypris semotilus, Puan Spine Loach, and Lenok.

 

 Korean endemic freshwater species have adapted to diverse habitats attributable to geological changes and geographical features of the Korean Peninsula. There are 66 freshwater fish species endemic to South Korea, accounting for 30% of the total freshwater fish species, including the Rhodeus uyekii, Acheilognathus majusculus, Sarcocheilichthys variegatus wakiyae, Spotted-barbel Gudgeon, Spotted Barbel, Zacco koreanus, Iksookimia longicorpa, Iksookimia hugowolfeldi, Iksookimia yongdokensis, Iksookimia pacifica, Black Bullhead, Slender Catfish, Pungitius kaibarae, Odontobutis platycephala, and Korean Perch.