Lake Biwa Museum Aquarium Species List

[DaLilFishie]

Lake Biwa Museum Aquarium Stocklist

Based on what I saw and what was signed on 5th April 2025. Unfortunately at this time the large display tanks for Silurus biwaensis and Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis were off display as they had burst and were awaiting repair, however these species were displayed elsewhere in the aquarium. This list includes only what was displayed in the main aquarium hall – there may have been other live displays elsewhere in the museum that I did not see. I did not note down most species displayed in the Micro Aquarium area (an exhibition for small/microscopic freshwater organisms) with the exception of Craspedacusta sowerbii and Hydra sp., so these will not be included.

Common names are provided in English where possible, but for species with no commonly-used English name, a romanized form of the Japanese name will be used. Aquarium signage in the facility often does not include a specific English name (instead using ‘a bitterling’, ‘a gudgeon’, ‘a chub’, ‘a crucian carp’ etc, or the English name used will differ to that used on this list. Please defer to the scientific name in this situation). Where the scientific name used on the signage differs from the current scientific name of a species, the name used on the signage will be included after the current name in brackets.

MAMMALIA
Baikal Seal Pusa sibirica

AVES
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis (presumably the subspecies poggei)
Eastern Spot-billed Duck Anas zonorhyncha
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

REPTILIA
Red-eared Slider Trachemys scripta elegans

AMPHIBIA
Yamato Salamander Hynobius sp. (signed as Hynobius vandenburghi, but this species has been split into 2, and I do not know which species the aquarium displays)
Japanese Stream Toad Bufo torrenticola
Japanese Giant Salamander Andrias japonicus
Hybrid Giant Salamander Andrias japonicus X davidianus
American Bullfrog Lithobates catesbianus (signed, not seen. Signed as Rana catesbiana, a synonym)

PETROMYZONTIDAE
Southern Japanese Brook Lamprey Lethenteron hattai
Northern Japanese Brook Lamprey Lethenteron mitsukurii

ACIPENSERIDAE
Russian Sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedtii
Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens
Amur Sturgeon Acipenser schrenckii
Bester Huso huso x Acipenser ruthenus (signed, not seen).
Baikal Sturgeon Acipenser baerii baicalensis (genetic studies suggest this subspecies may be invalid)

ANGUILLIDAE
Japanese Eel Anguilla japonica (signed, not seen)

CYPRINIDAE
Amur Carp Cyprinus rubrofuscus (signed as Cyprinus carpio ‘native-type’ – C. rubrofuscus was once considered conspecific with C. carpio)
Cyprinus sp. (signed as Cyprinus carpio ‘introduced-type’. I am unsure whether this refers to true west Eurasian C. carpio, or Chinese populations of C. rubrofuscus, both of which were artificially introduced to Japan)
Nigorobuna Carassius auratus grandoculis
Ginbuna Carassius (auratus) langsdorfii (signed as Carassius sp.)
Gengorou-buna Carassius cuvieri

ACHEILOGNATHIDAE
Slender Bitterling Tanakia lanceolata
Tokyo Bitterling Tanakia tanago
Kanehira Acheilognathus rhombeus (signed, not seen)
Striped Bitterling Acheilognathus cyanostigma (signed, not seen)
Shirohire-tabira Acheilognathus tabira tabira
Akahire-tabira Acheilognathus tabira erythropterus
Deepbody Bitterling Acheilognathus longipinnis
Smallscale Bitterling Acheilognathus typus
Kazoge-tanago Rhodeus smithii smithii (subspecies may not be accepted)
Continental Rosy Bitterling Rhodeus ocellatus ocellatus (subspecies may not be accepted)
Nippon-baratanago Rhodeus ocellatus kurumeus (subspecies may not be accepted)

GOBIONIDAE
Field Gudgeon Gnathopogon elongatus elongatus
Biwa Moroko Gudgeon Gnathopogon caerulescens
Deme-moroko Squalidus japonicus japonicus (signed, not seen. signed as Spualidus japonicus japonicus – typo)
Ito-moroko Squalidus gracilis gracilis
Sugo-moroko Squalidus chankaensis biwae
Stone Moroko Pseudorasbora parva (signed, not seen)
Golden Venus Chub Hemigrammocypris neglecta (signed, not seen. signed as Hemigrammocypris rasborella, a synonym)
Barbel Steed Hemibarbus labeo (signed as Hemibarbus barbus, a synonym)
Longnose Barbel Hemibarbus longirostris (signed, not seen)
Chinese False Gudgeon Abbottina rivularis
Yodo Gudgeon Biwia yodoensis
Shinai-motsugo Pseudorasbora pumila
Ushi-motsugo Pseudorasbora pugnax
Black Stripe Gudgeon Pungtungia herzi
Pike Gudgeon Pseudogobio esocinus esocinus
Nagare-kamatsuka Pseudogobio agathonectris
Biwa Oily Gudgeon Sarcocheilichthys biwaensis
Biwa-higai Sarcocheilichthys variegatus microoculus

XENOCYPRIDIDAE
Wataka Ischikauia steenackeri
Three-lips Opsariichthys uncirostris uncirostris
Pale Chub Zacco platypus (signed as Opsariichthys platypus, a synonym)
Dark Chub Nipponocypris temminckii (signed as Candidia temminckii, a synonym)
Numamutsu Nipponocypris sieboldii (signed as Candidia sieboldii, a synonym)
Hime-moroko hybrid Aphyocypris chinensis X kikuchii

LEUCISCIDAE
Japanese Dace Pseudaspius hakonensis
Freshwater Bream Abramis brama
Eurasian Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus
Upstream Fat Minnow Rhynchocypris oxycephalus jouyi
Aburahaya Rhynchocypris lagowskii steindachneri

COBITIDAE
Large-striped Spined Loach Cobitis magnostriata
Tango Stripe Spined Loach Cobitis takenoi
Oumi Spined Loach Cobitis minamorii oumiensis
Western Japanese Striped Loach Cobitis sp. BIWAE type B
Hotoke-dojou Lefua echigonia (signed, not seen)
Stream Eight-barbeled Loach Lefua torrentis
Ajime Loach Niwaella delicata
Oriental Weather Loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus

BOTIIDAE
Kissing Loach Parabotia curtus

SILURIDAE
Biwa Rock Catfish Silurus lithophilus
Stream Catfish Silurus tomodai
Amur Catfish Silurus asotus
Giant Lake Biwa Catfish Silurus biwaensis

BAGRIDAE
Neko-gigi Pseudobagrus ichikawai
Gigi Catfish Tachysurus nudiceps

AMBLYCIPITIDAE
Reddish Bullhead Liobagrus reinii

ICTALURIDAE
Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus

PLECOGLOSSIDAE
Ayu Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis (displayed is the dwarf lacustrine form called Ko-ayu, which is not considered a separate taxon from the larger form)

SALMONIDAE
Biwa Trout Oncorhynchus masou rhodurus (signed as Oncorhynchus sp.)
Red-spotted Masu Salmon Oncorhynchus masou ishikawae
Whitespotted Char Salvelinus leucomaenis
Siberian Taimen Hucho taimen

ESOCIDAE
Northern Pike Esox lucius

POECILIIDAE
Western Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis

ADRIANICHTHYIDAE
Japanese Ricefish Oryzias latipes

CICHLIDAE
Fairy Peacock Cichlid Aulonocara jacobfreibergi (signed, not seen)
Azureus Cichlid Copadichromis azureus
Electric Blue Hap Sciaenochromis fryeri (signed, not seen)
Livingston’s Cichlid Nimbochromis livingstoni
Electric Yellow Cichlid Labidochromis caeruleus
Demanson’s Cichlid Chindongo demansoni (signed, not seen. signed as Pseudotropheus demansoni, a synonym)
Kenyi Cichlid Maylandia lombardoi (signed, not seen)
Pearl of Likoma Labidochromis joanjonsonae
Checkered Julie Julidochromis marlieri
Attenuatus Cichlid Lepidiolamprologus attenuatus
Moore’s Lamprologus Varabilichromis moorii (signed as Neolamprologus moorii, a synonym)
Tanganyika Tilapia Oreochromis tanganicae
Dewindti Cichlid Aulonocranus dewindti

COTTIDAE
Stone Sculpin Paracottus knerii
Japanese Fluvial Sculpin (large egg type) Cottus pollux
Utsusemi Sculpin Cottus reinii

GASTEROSTEIDAE
Resident Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus microcephalus (signed as Gasterosteus aculeatus subsp.2, which has the same wamei (Japanese equivalent of the scientific name), ハリヨ, as microcephalus so I assume it is the same subspecies?)

LATIDAE
Nile Perch Lates niloticus

OXUDERCIDAE
Blue-belly Freshwater Goby Rhinogobius sp. BB
Kawa-yoshinobori Rhinogobius flumineus (signed, not seen)
Biwa-yoshinonori Rhinogobius biwaensis
Oumi-yoshinobori Rhinogobius sp. OM
Short-spined Japanese Trident Goby Tridentiger brevispinis
Isaza Gymnogobius isaza
Floating Goby Gymnogobius urotaenia

ODONTOBUTIDAE
Dark Sleeper Odontobutis obscurus (signed as Odontobutis obscura, a synonym)

SINIPERCIDAE
Japanese Aucha Perch Coreoperca kawamebari

CENTRARCHIDAE
Common Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus macrochirus
Largemouth Bass Micropterus sp. (signed as Micropterus salmoides, but this species has been split into two and I don’t know which the aquarium keeps)
Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu

ARTHROPODA
Japanese Freshwater Crab Geothelphusa dehaani (signed, not seen)
Red Swamp Crayfish Procambarus clarkii (signed, not seen)
Lake Prawn Palaemon paucidens
Tenaga-ebi Macrobrachium nipponense (signed, not seen)

MOLLUSCA
Men-karasugai Cristaria spatiosa (signed, not seen)
Numagai Sinanodonta lauta (signed, not seen. Signed as Anodonta lauta, a synonym)
Sasanoha-gai Lanceolaria oxyrhyncha
Biwa Seta Clam Corbicula sandai
Hime-tanishi Sinotaia quadrata histrica (signed, unsure if seen)

CNIDARIA
Freshwater Jellyfish (polyp) Craspedacusta sowerbii
Hydra Hydra sp. (I believe this was signed to species level but I do not recall which species)

 

[DaLilFishie]

Nagare-kamatsuka Pseudogobio agathonectris

(signed, not seen)

 

[DaLilFishie]

Some taxonomic notes after having read up on the matter:

Biwa Trout Oncorhynchus masou rhodurus (signed as Oncorhynchus sp.)

It seems there is growing opinion that the Biwa Trout should not be called O. masou rhodurus, as it may be a distinct species from O. masou, and the original description of rhodurus is based on a specimen not from Lake Biwa, so it is more likely a synonym of O. m. masou or O. m ishikawae. That leaves the Biwa Trout likely representing an undescribed species, so is better called Oncorhynchus sp., as Lake Biwa Museum does. I don't think any fish databases take this view, but I'd sooner trust the thoughts of Japanese ichthyologists on their own local species!

Resident Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus microcephalus (signed as Gasterosteus aculeatus subsp.2, which has the same wamei (Japanese equivalent of the scientific name), ハリヨ, as microcephalus so I assume it is the same subspecies?)

It seems the Japanese freshwater resident form (ハリヨ) has been considered G. aculeatus microcephalus, an otherwise American taxon, but the extreme geographic distance between these two populations of entirely freshwater fishes have raised doubt they are truly the same subspecies.

 

[DaLilFishie]

COBITIDAE
Hotoke-dojou Lefua echigonia (signed, not seen)
Stream Eight-barbeled Loach Lefua torrentis

These should be in Nemacheilidae, not Cobitidae

Oumi Spined Loach Cobitis minamorii oumiensis

Signed, not seen

 

[DaLilFishie]

SALMONIDAE
Biwa Trout Oncorhynchus masou rhodurus (signed as Oncorhynchus sp.)

It seems there is growing opinion that the Biwa Trout should not be called O. masou rhodurus, as it may be a distinct species from O. masou, and the original description of rhodurus is based on a specimen not from Lake Biwa, so it is more likely a synonym of O. m. masou or O. m ishikawae. That leaves the Biwa Trout likely representing an undescribed species, so is better called Oncorhynchus sp., as Lake Biwa Museum does. I don't think any fish databases take this view, but I'd sooner trust the thoughts of Japanese ichthyologists on their own local species

A recently-published paper describes the Biwa Trout and gives it a valid binomial, Onchorhynchus biwaensis.

The Biwa salmon, a new species of Oncorhynchus (Salmonidae) endemic to Lake Biwa, Japan - Ichthyological Research

 

[DaLilFishie]

Largemouth Bass Micropterus sp. (signed as Micropterus salmoides, but this species has been split into two and I don’t know which the aquarium keeps)

I've done some digging into this, and assuming these fish were locally collected in Lake Biwa, they are most likely hybrids between M. salmoides and M. nigricans. Both species have been intentionally introduced to the lake and have interbred to the point most of the current population are hybrids (with a majority M. salmoides genetics) - however, a genetic study done on the population found a few specimens that genetically match pure M. salmoides. The same paper claims that the main diagnostic character between the two pure species, the number of pored scales on the lateral line, fails to differentiate hybrids from the parent species, so it is unlikely that the Museum's fish are identifiable besides genetic testing. Best to leave it at a genus level I think.

 

[DaLilFishie]

Amur Carp Cyprinus rubrofuscus (signed as Cyprinus carpio ‘native-type’ – C. rubrofuscus was once considered conspecific with C. carpio)
Cyprinus sp. (signed as Cyprinus carpio ‘introduced-type’. I am unsure whether this refers to true west Eurasian C. carpio, or Chinese populations of C. rubrofuscus, both of which were artificially introduced to Japan)

Taxonomic note - after having done some digging, it seems the 'native-type' actually refers to the Lake Biwa population of Cyprinus carpio, an undescribed sub/species endemic to the lake, of which few pure specimens remain due to interbreeding with the 'introduced-type' - which is either pure C. rubrofuscus or a hybrid. I'm actually unsure if there are any true European C. carpio in Japan, as although there are plenty of references to it occurring in the country, it is unclear whether these refer to the true European species, the native Lake Biwa C. "carpio" or introduced C. rubrofuscus - or all of the above.

 

[DaLilFishie]

Kazoge-tanago Rhodeus smithii smithii (subspecies may not be accepted)

This species was in two tanks, one of which was the "generic" widespread R. smithii smithii, and one was the "Sanyo Population" (also called Suigenzeni-tanago), which is variously considered a taxonomically insignificant population of R. smithii smithii (although of conservation concern), or a distinct (undescribed?) subspecies.

 

[DaLilFishie]

Reddish Bullhead Liobagrus reinii

Taxonomic note - 2 clades of this species are known which potentially could be split as distinct species in future. The animals kept at Lake Biwa Museum appear to be "clade 1", distinguished by many small pale spots on the flanks ("clade 2" may also have similar spots, but they are less distinct and fewer in number).