taxonID	type	description	language	source
03DE5C3A0C3ACC6071D8D73A7A7B13A2.taxon	description	The non-predatory eastern European Eudontomyzon were reclasified following molecular analyses (Li 2014; Levin et al. 2016; Pereira et al. 2021); while no Romanian samples were actually analyzed, the distribution of the described populations is such as to make likeliest that most (extra-Carpathian, Olt) Romanian “ E. mariae ” belong to typical E. vladykovi. The Romanian Banat E. vladykovi shows greater morphological similarity to E. danfordi than to Romanian “ E. mariae ” (Bănărescu 1969, figs. 19 vs. 17 and 22, derived from original Romanian material), which (if this would reflect their genetic closeness) would suggest the molecular-defined danfordi - like Drava “ E. vladykovi ” population (Pereira et al. 2021). Other authors make a case for lumping most or all East European non-predatory Eudontomyzon into a single species, of which E. danfordi is the parasitic “ pair species ” / form; however, reproductive (in) compatibility was not tested in this case (Popov & Makhrov 2015, Li 2014); at least the Drava “ E. vladykovi ”, given its extreme closeness to E. danfordi (Levin et al. 2016; Bartels et al. 2017; Pereira et al. 2021), may likely prove to be a non-predatory form of E. danfordi. CHONDRICHTHYES ORD. CARCHARHINIFORMES Fam. Scyliorhinidae Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus, 1758) A marine species, native to the Black Sea, but only rarely found in Romanian waters, south of the Danube Delta (Oțel 2007; Radu et al. 2008). Fam. Sphyrnidae Sphyrna zygaena (Linnaeus, 1758) A vagrant marine species recorded once in the Romanian Black Sea (Bănărescu 1969, ap. Antipa, 1940, probably unpubl.) was subsequently accepted by most authors (Vasil’eva 2007; Oțel 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Parin et al. 2014; Yankova et al. 2014; Aleksandrov et al. 2017). ORD. SQUALIFORMES Fam. Squalidae Squalus acanthias Linnaeus, 1758 A native marine species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1969; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Yankova et al. 2014; Țoțoiu et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Maximov et al. 2019; Niță et al. 2022). ORD. RAJIFORMES Fam. Rajidae Raja clavata Linnaeus, 1758 A native marine species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1969; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Maximov & Zaharia 2010; Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022). It has undergone decline / range restriction (Oțel 2007). ORD. MYLIOBATIFORMES Fam. Dasyatidae Dasyatis pastinaca (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1969; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Maximov & Zaharia 2010; Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022). Has undergone decline / range restriction (Oțel 2007). OSTEICHTHYES ORD. ACIPENSERIFORMES Fam. Acipenseridae Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Brandt & Ratzeburg, 1833 A native anadromous species, ascending the Danube (Bănărescu 1964; Radu et al. 2008); much afflicted by the construction of the Iron Gates dams and by overfishing / poaching, this species is at the brink of extinction in Romanian waters, natural reproduction being all but absent; the population is maintained by supportive stocking (Oțel 2007; Maximov et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Holostenco et al. 2019; Iani et al. 2019; Dobrev Mihov et al. 2022; Strat & Gheorghe 2023).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C38CC6271D8D71E7D4F15BA.taxon	description	ORD. ANGUILLIFORMES Fam. Anguillidae Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758) A native (Apostolou et al. 2013) catadromous species; always rare in Romania, historically found in the Danube, MureŞ, Olt, SomeȘ / Bistrița Ardeleană, Cerna, Bega, CriŞul Negru, and Buzău, and brackish / marine waters (Black Sea, Razim lagoon system, littoral lakes); females tend to occur deeper inland (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Radu et al. 2008). A drastic all-range decline has occured in this species (Dekker & Beaulaton 2016). In Romania, still found in the Razim lagoon system, the Danube and its delta, including deltaic marine waters; stocked in Babadag lake (part of the Razim system) (Oțel 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Apostolou et al. 2013; Urdes et al. 2015; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Năstase et al. 2022; Năstase & Năvodaru 2023). Mentioned by Yankova et al. 2014, but not by Țoțoiu et al. 2018, or Niță et al. 2022, which would indicate absence of recent records in the Romanian Black Sea. Fam. Congridae Conger conger (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, occasionally found in Romanian Black Sea waters, south of the Danube Delta (Bauchot & Saldanha 1986; Vasil’eva 2007; Oțel 2007). ORD. CLUPEIFORMES Fam. Engraulidae Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters; formerly also in the Sinoe lagoon (Bănărescu 1969; Oțel 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Yankova et al. 2014; Țoțoiu et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Maximov et al. 2019; Niță et al. 2022). Fam. Clupeidae Sprattus sprattus (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1969; Oțel 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Yankova et al. 2014; Țoțoiu et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Maximov et al. 2019; Niță et al. 2022). Fam. Ehiravidae Clupeonella cultriventris (Nordmann, 1840) A native anadromous / euryhaline species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters and ascending the lower Danube; also found in littoral lakes / lagoons (Bănărescu 1969; Oțel 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Yankova et al. 2014; Țoțoiu et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022). Fam. Alosidae Alosa fallax (Lacepède, 1803) A native anadromous species, rare / sporadical in Romanian waters (Kottelat & Freyhof 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Yankova et al. 2014). It is rare in Romanian (Radu et al. 2008), Bulgarian (Dobrovolov et al. 2012), Russian and adjacent (Dyldin et al. 2022) waters. It appears to be conspecific with Alosa agone (Scopoli 1786), which would then have nomenclatural priority (see Dyldin et al. 2022 and references quoted therein).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C39CC6271D8D1FA7C4E10DE.taxon	description	Fam. Dorosomatidae Sardinella aurita Valenciennes 1847 A vagrant marine species occasionally found in Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1969; Vasil’eva 2007; Oțel 2007; Yankova et al. 2014). ORD. CYPRINIFORMES Fam. Cobitidae Cobitis elongata Heckel et Kner, 1858 A native freshwater species, living in the Nera, MiniȘ and CaraȘ rivers; a population in the Jiu is apparently extirpated (Bănărescu 1964; Bănărescu 2005; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Nagy et al. 2023).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C36CC6D71D8D5EA7BB61336.taxon	description	Bohlen & Ráb (2001) and most subsequent workers considered C. megaspila to be a synonym of C. elongatoides, and the second C. taenia - group Romanian species to be C. tanaitica. Volkov et al. 2023 suggest that a) the Danube Delta C. „ tanaitica ” populations are a distinct species from the north-Pontic C. tanaitica (upon grounds of microsatellite DNA-informed analyses; however, the two clustering versions are not fully congruent, which may furnish a caveat for the validity of this split) and b) C. megaspila Nalbant, 1993 is available for this species as its type material most likely included pure specimens thereof (however, as long as the type material of C. megaspila has not been re-assessed with the same molecular tools as used by Volkov et al. 2023, a caveat still remains as for the availability of C. megaspila). Gynogenetic diploid or triploid hybrids between C. elongatoides and C. megaspila are common across the range of both parental species (Bohlen & Ráb 2001; Janko et al. 2007; Choleva et al. 2008; Choleva et al. 2014; Vasil’ev & Vasil’eva 2022; Volkov et al. 2023). Mezhzherin & Pavlenko 2007 claimed even more diversity for the “ lower Danube ” Cobitis, including tetraploid hybrids and hybrids having chromosome sets from two alleged undescribed / unidentified species (besides C. elongatoides and C. megaspila [as C. tanaitica]), but this was not confirmed by subsequent research (see references quoted above).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C37CC6F71D8D34A7A9616E6.taxon	description	The koi, an ornamental breed selected in Japan, is worth mentioning as it is thought to originate from the Asian species Cyprinus rubrofuscus Lacépède, 1803 (Kottelat & Freyhof 2007). There are no precise data upon the introduction time, origin and distribution of koi in Romania; it is found in ornamental urban waterbodies (e. g. in Bucharest — A. Iftime obs.) as well as in some fishponds. While C. rubrofuscus is widely accepted as distinct from C. carpio (Kottelat & Freyhof 2007; Fricke et al. 2025; Froese & Pauly 2025), it seems to be very close to C. carpio; various aspects, including the overall genetic structure of C. carpio s. l.; (Xu et al. 2014; Tsipas et al. 2017; Xu et al. 2019; Zhu et al. 2023, Nielsen et al. 2010; Kuts et al. 2021) and the mix-up of domesticated koi, at least some strains thereof being admixed with European carps (de Kock & Gomelsky 2015), suggest its status as a valid species should be revised (as suggested by Zhu et al. 2023).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C37CC6C71D8D63E79771166.taxon	description	Fam. Nemacheilidae Barbatula barbatula (Linnaeus, 1758) A native, widespread freshwater species, found in rivers in the montane and hill areas, in both intra- and extra-Carpathian drainages (Bănărescu 1964; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Nagy et al. 2023); isolated populations in the Romanian Plain (Nalbant 1976; Bănărescu & Nalbant 1980). Fam. Cyprinidae Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758) A widespread species, found in Romania under two forms, often described as (putative) species: Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1783), a native (at least for the Danube and its large tributaries; see discussion by Oțel 2019; Iftime & Iftime 2021, and literature quoted therein), partly gynogenetic, fresh- and brackish-water form, living in slow-flowing or stagnant waters, now widespread in lowland and hill areas, partly as a result of stocking (Bănărescu 1964; Manea 1985; Oțel 2007; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Oțe, 2019; Iftime & Iftime 2021; Nagy et al. 2023; Drăgan et al. 2024), and the Asian Carassius auratus, which is non-native, found in ornamental and other fishponds, and occasionally as an escape (Oțel 2019; Iftime & Iftime 2021). The two putative Carassius species above might be regarded as forms of the same species: C. auratus, as they overlap morphologically (Oțel 2019; Comia & Morris 2024), they are not distinct in some phyletic analyses, and C. gibelio is not exclusively gynogenetic, but alternatively, reversibly gynogenetic and sexual, with evidence of gene flow between it (as the sexual form) and C. auratus (Gu et al. 2022; Jacques et al. 2024, and literature quoted therein) in a context of recurrently variable intraspecific ploidy (Qin et al. 2013; Luo et al. 2014; Liu et al. 2017; Li et al. 2018).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C34CC6F71D8D0FE7961104E.taxon	description	See Iftime 2004 for evidence for reproductive incompatibility for at least B. balcanicus and B. petenyi. The exact limit between the range of B. petenyi (known to occur in the Ialomița — Kotlík et al. 2002) and B. carpathicus (known to occur in the upper Siret and Prut drainages in Ukraine — Roman 2013; Roman 2015 — and doubtlessly occurring in the Romanian drainage of those rivers as well) is unknown; while B. carpathicus most likely ranges throughout the Siret and Prut drainages, it is not impossible that B. petenyi be found in the lower Siret tributaries (such as the Buzău or Putna). Fam. Xenocyprididae Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Cuvier et Valenciennes, 1844) A non-native species, found in aquaculture (with occasional escapes) and frequently stocked for commercial fishing; unassisted reproduction was documented in the Danube and its Delta at least in some favourable years, but stocking and escape from farms also occur (StaraȘ & Oțel 1999; Iftime & Iftime 2021; Jawdhari et al 2022; Năstase et al. 2022; Năstase & Năvodaru 2023; see also Drăgan et al. 2024, who, however, miss the Danube Delta in the given distribution).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C35CC6E71D8D4EE7C2E113E.taxon	description	Fam. Tincidae Tinca tinca (Linnaeus, 1758) A native, widespread freshwater species, living in stagnant or slow-flowing water, in plain or hill areas, in both intra- and extra-Carpathian drainages, in and along the Danube and its major tributaries, the Danube Delta and littoral lakes / lagoons (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Năstase et al. 2022; Nagy et al. 2023; Năstase & Năvodaru 2023). Has undergone a considerable decline, but has recovered to some extent (Oțel 2007). Fam. Acheilognathidae Rhodeus amarus (Bloch, 1782) A native, widespread freshwater species, living in stagnant or slow-flowing water, in plain or hill areas, in both intra- and extra-Carpathian drainages, in and along the Danube and its major tributaries, the Danube Delta and some littoral lakes / lagoons (Bănărescu 1964 [as a subspecies of R. sericeus (Pallas, 1776)]; Oțel 2007; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Năstase et al. 2022; Nagy et al. 2023; Năstase & Năvodaru 2023). Bartáková et al. (2019) notice several distinct, mtDNA-defined lineages, of which two (not described, however, as distinct species and apparently intergrading as shown by nuclear DNA data) occur in Romania. Fam. Gobionidae Gobio gobio (Linnaeus, 1758) (s. l.?) A native, widespread freshwater species, found in rivers and sometimes in adjacent stagnant waterbodies, from the plain to the low montane level, in intra- and extra-Carpathian waters (Bănărescu 1964 [as G. gobio obtusirostris]; Bănărescu 1999 a [as G. gobio gobio]; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Nagy et al. 2023). Gobio gobio sensu Bănărescu 1999 a was split into several (putative) species (see Kottelat & Freyhof 2007 for their distribution). Of these, the following live in Romania: G. gobio s. str., probably widespread in the extra-Carpathian area, though limited molecular sampling was available (Bulat 2017; Tákacs et al. 2021); a widespread intra-Carpathian form (“ Gobio sp. 1 ” in Tákacs et al. 2021; “ Gobio gobio sensu lato ” in Nagy et al. 2023) which is distinct in a mtDNA-informed molecular analysis and may pertain to G. gobio s. str. or be a distinct putative species (for which muresius Jászfalusi, 1951 may be available) (Tákacs et al. 2021); G. carpathicus Vladykov, 1925, formerly considered to be more widespread in the Carpathian catchment area but limited in Romania (if present at all) to the the Tisza drainage in the MaramureȘ area (Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Tákacs et al. 2021; Polyák et al. 2022; Nagy et al. 2023 [giving the Tisza / MaramureȘ records under “ Gobio gobio sensu lato ”]); and G. obtusirostris Valenciennes, 1842, from (at least) the CaraȘ, Nera and Cerna drainages in the Banat area (Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Tákacs et al. 2021; Nagy et al. 2023). However, further investigation has shown that the above-mentioned putative Gobio species do hybridize in extensive areas (Zangl et al. 2020). Treating them (or part of them) together as a “ continuum ”, “ Gobio gobio sensu lato ” (cf. Tákacs et al. 2018; Nagy et al. 2023), likely corresponding to a single biological species, is probably justified as their genetic distance is small, their diagnosis difficult (Tákacs et al. 2022), their mitochondrial and nuclear lineages are quite discrepant (Zangl et al. 2020) and their reproductive isolation is not explored.	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C32CC6971D8D08A7A0E111A.taxon	description	Fam. Leuciscidae Abramis brama (Linnaeus, 1758) A native, widespread fresh- and brackish-water species, living in slow-flowing or stagnant water (including the Razim lagoon), in both intra- and extra-Carpathian drainages (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Năstase et al. 2022; Nagy et al. 2023).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C32CC6971D8D63E7CDB1416.taxon	description	A caveat for hybridization / intergradation, as in the case of Gobio forms, should apply for all these R. kesslerii - split taxa / forms above (see Bogutskaya et al., 2019 for their extreme morphological closeness; Polyák et al. 2022; Nagy et al. 2023 for the treatment together of at least R. carpathorossicus and R. kesslerii).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C33CC6B71D8D57A7C9B162E.taxon	description	The shemayas (Alburnus species, formerly treated as Chalcalburnus) are morphologically very similar; however, Freyhof & Kottelat 2007 recognize two distinct lower Danube species (A. danubicus, considered extinct, and A. sarmaticus, still present and with a wider Pontic distribution). Alburnus mento - group shemayas are largely overlapping in diagnostic features (Parin et al. 2014; Halasi‐Kovács 2017), hence the call for treating all those in the Pontic drainage as a single taxon (Parin et al. 2014) despite the possible validity of some Pontic species (Parin et al., 2014). Later, Halasi‐Kovács (2017) argues for the synonymy of A. sarmaticus and A. danubicus, including a neotype designation for the latter, while in parallel Bogutskaya et al. (2017) not only maintain these two species, but describe A. sava as distinct from both; however, Harka & Halasi-Kovács (2024) solve the conundrum by treating the Danubian group as represented by two species (A. danubicus, which includes A. sarmaticus, and the distinct A. sava) which we follow here, under the caveat of a fluid taxonomy, as molecular and morphological studies show that the diversity of the shemayas might be overestimated (Bektas et al. 2020, Bayçelebi et al. 2021).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C2FCC7471D8D5867A9C1246.taxon	description	Fam. Siluridae Silurus glanis Linnaeus, 1758 A native, widespread freshwater species, living in stagnant or slow-flowing water, in plain or hill areas, in both intra- and extra-Carpathian drainages, in and along the Danube and its major tributaries, the Danube Delta and some littoral lakes / lagoons (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Năstase et al. 2022; Nagy et al. 2023). Fam. Ictaluridae Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque, 1820) A non-native freshwater species, spreading from introductions beyond the country, with freely reproducing, self-sustaining and expanding populations, and found in several catchments, both intra- and extra-Carpathian (Iftime & Iftime 2021; Nagy et al. 2023; Drăgan et al. 2024).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C2FCC7771D8D1427B7D1472.taxon	description	ORD. SALMONIFORMES Fam. Esocidae Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758 A native, widespread fresh- and brackish-water species living in stagnant or slow-flowing water, in plain or hill areas, in both intra- and extra-Carpathian drainages, in and along the Danube and its major tributaries, the Danube Delta and some littoral lakes / lagoons (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Năstase et al. 2022; Nagy et al. 2023; Năstase & Năvodaru 2023). Fam. Umbridae Umbra krameri Walbaum, 1792 A native, localized freshwater species, living in stagnant or slow-flowing water, in plain or low hill areas, it was found in both intra- and extra-Carpathian areas: various areas of the Danube Delta and the Razim lagoon system (Tulcea county), the Eced marshes (now extinct here), ponds at Urziceni (old records) and the Homorodu Vechi river (Satu- Mare county), Ier River and its backwaters at Săcuieni, Cherechiu, Cadea, Ciocaia, Simian and Resighea, Ieru Morii and Rât creeks, creeks at CurtuiȘeni and ScăriȘoara Nouă (Bihor county — with severe range reduction in the area), TimiȘul Mort at Obad (TimiȘ county), ponds at Izvoarele, Plosca and Cătane (Mehedinți county — old records), the Jieț River and its canals / backwaters at CăciulăteȘti, Sadova, Ostroveni, RojiȘte / TâmbureȘti (Dolj county), ȚigăneȘti and Cerveni (Teleorman county — old records), ponds at Crânguri (old records), Comana pond and Gurbanu creek (Giurgiu county), Tânganu creek, Colentina river and its ponds / lakes near Bucharest (Ilfov county — old records), ponds at Vasilați, GălbinaȘi and Frăsinet (CălăraȘi county — old records), CristeȘti pond near IaȘi (now extirpated) and possibly near PaȘcani (uncertain data) and in the Teiva pond, where reintroduced from the Republic of Moldova where it still occurs in backwaters of the Prut (IaȘi county) (Bănărescu 1964; Bănărescu et al. 1995; Wilhelm 1998; Wilhelm et al. 2002; Bănărescu 2005; Oțel 2007; Davideanu 2008; Telcean et al. 2014; Covaciu-Marcov et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Năstase et al. 2022; Lațiu et al. 2023; Nagy et al. 2023; Năstase & Năvodaru 2023). An environmental DNA study claimed detection of this species’ presence in the lower Danube and the lower ArgeȘ in Romania (Pont et al. 2021). Fam. Coregonidae Coregonus ladogae Pravdin, Golubev et Belyaeva, 1938 A non-native freshwater species, deliberately introduced and grown in aquaculture, also introduced in a few montane lakes and reservoirs (Lake RoȘu, the Bicaz reservoir and a dam lake in Harghita county, Eastern Carpathians; Vidraru and Vidra reservoirs, Southern Carpathians; Făerag Lake, Western Carpathians); it is unclear whether it survives to this day (Iftime & Iftime 2021, and sources quoted therein).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C2CCC7771D8D71E7B9B113E.taxon	description	An undetermined Coregonus species, most likely one of the two above, still occurs in the Tarnița reservoir area (Nagy et al. 2023). The long-time persistence of such populations (Vidraru, Tarnița) likely implies reproduction. Fam. Thymallidae Thymallus thymallus (Linnaeus, 1758) A native freshwater species, found in large mountain rivers, formerly across much of the Romanian Carpathian range; nowadays the range has contracted, but reintroduction has also taken place (Bănărescu 1964; Bănărescu 2005; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Polyák et al. 2022; Nagy et al. 2023). Fam. Salmonidae Hucho hucho (Linnaeus, 1758) A native freshwater species, found in large mountain rivers, formerly across much of the Romanian Carpathian range, including the Danube in the Iron Gates area; nowadays very much reduced, native populations still persist in the MaramureȘ area (Tisza, ViȘeu, Vaser, Ruscova and FrumuȘeaua rivers); many attempts at reintroduction have been made, but apparently with success only in the upper MureȘ area (Bănărescu 1964; Bănărescu 2005; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Curtean-Bănăduc et al. 2019; Nagy et al. 2023). Not found by Polyák et al. 2022 in their sampling of the Tisza catchment, which included all MaramureȘ rivers listed above.	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C2DCC7671D8D4EE7CA51472.taxon	description	Various relocations of native stocks and introduction of S. trutta stocks from Central / Western Europe have occurred (Decei 1981; Popa et al. 2009 — documenting the presence of Atlantic-lineage S. trutta; Škraba Jurlina et al, 2020 and quoted literature — documenting the same in the Iron Gates dam lake, opposite the Romanian shore). Kottelat & Freyhof 2007 admit both S. trutta and S. labrax for Romania. The two lineages hybridise both naturally and as a result of translocation (see, e. g., the discussions in Škraba Jurlina et al. 2020; Hashemzadeh Segherloo et al. 2021; Guinand et al. 2021; Lerceteau-Köhler et al. 2013; Englmaier et al. 2024 on this conundrum) leading to genetic homogenization / co-occurence. This, together with genetic structure (at least in some analyses, anadromous S. labrax appears closer to anadromous S. trutta than to montane freshwater S. trutta — Dudu et al. 2011, on Romanian samples; in other analyses it is vice versa — e. g. Kalayci et al. 2018), therefore, pending additional data, we group them as S. trutta (cf., e. g., Vasil’eva 2007; Parin et al. 2014; Kalayci et al. 2018; Nagy et al. 2023).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C2DCC7171D8D71E7A6B14CA.taxon	description	ORD. ZEIFORMES Fam. Zeidae Zeus faber Linnaeus, 1758 A marine species, native to the Black Sea, but only rarely found in Romanian waters (CărăuȘu 1952; Bănărescu 1964 [as both Z. faber and its synonym Z. pungio Cuvier, 1829 — see Fricke et al. 2025]; Vasil’eva 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Cocan & MireȘan 2018). ORD. GADIFORMES Fam. Gaidropsaridae Gaidropsarus mediterraneus (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, found in the whole of the Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1964; Abaza et al. 2005; Oțel 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Maximov & Zaharia 2010; Țoțoiu et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022). Fam. Lotidae Lota lota (Linnaeus, 1758) A native, widespread freshwater species living in large, cold rivers (and rarely associated lakes), from the mouths of the Danube to the montane areas. Nowadays much restricted in range, it is still to be found in the Danube (and Delta), the upper MureȘ and upper Olt, the Tisza and Tur, the TimiȘ, and possibly the Putna and Bega (Bănărescu 1964; Bănărescu 2005; Oțel 2007; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Polyák et al. 2022; Nagy et al. 2023; Năstase & Năvodaru 2023); reintroduced to CriȘul Repede (Togor et al. 2022). Fam. Gadidae Merlangius merlangus (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Maximov & Zaharia 2010; Yankova et al. 2014; Țoțoiu et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Maximov et al. 2019; Niță et al. 2022). ORD. OPHIDIIFORMES Fam. Ophidiidae Ophidion rochei Muller, 1845 A native marine species, formerly found along all Romanian Black Sea waters but nowadays restricted to the southern areas; quite rare (Bănărescu 1964; Abaza et al. 2005; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Maximov & Zaharia 2010; Yankova et al. 2014; Țoțoiu et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022). ORD. GOBIIFORMES Fam. Odontobutidae Perccottus glenii Dybowsky, 1877 A non-native freshwater species (which can, however, occasionally adapt to brackish water), spread into Romania from introductions beyond the country, now freely reproducing and abundant in numerous drainages all over the country, including the Danube and Delta (Iftime & Iftime 2021; Drăgan et al. 2024). Fam. Oxudercidae Knipowitschia caucasica (Berg, 1916) A native euryhaline species, found in the Danube Delta, including the Razim lagoon complex, sporadically in Romanian Black Sea waters (Danube Delta area, near Tăbăcărie-Constanța), the littoral lake TaȘaul, as well as along the Danube at Jijila lake and at Dervent (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Năstase et al. 2022; Năstase & Năvodaru 2023). Knipowitschia cameliae Nalbant et Oțel, 1995 is a synonym (Iftime & Oțel 2021).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C2ACC7171D8D1267D551062.taxon	description	Fam. Gobiidae Aphia minuta (Risso, 1810) A native marine species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1964; Abaza et al. 2005; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C24CC7F71D8D0827C3C108A.taxon	description	The mtDNA-informed split between the mainly marine P. marmoratus and the fresh- and brackish-water P. semilunaris (Stepien & Tumeo 2006; Kottelat & Freyhof 2007; Sorokin et al. 2011; Slynko et al. 2013) allows purely marine Romanian populations to be attributed to P. marmoratus, while fresh- and brackish-water ones to P. semilunaris (Kottelat & Freyhof 2007; Manilo 2020), though actual genetic sampling of Romanian populations was minimal. ORD. SYNGNATHIFORMES Fam. Mullidae Mullus barbatus Linnaeus, 1758 A native marine species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1964); recently apparently not found in the Danube mouths area (Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Maximov & Zaharia 2010; Yankova et al. 2014; Țoțoiu et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Maximov et al. 2019; Niță et al. 2022). The Pontic population is sometimes treated as a full species, Mullus ponticus Essipov, 1927 (Echreshavi et al. 2022) or as Mullus barbatus, with ponticus as a subspecies thereof (Uiblein et al. 2024).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C25CC7E71D8D6CA79D5135A.taxon	description	Fam. Syngnathidae Nerophis ophidion (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, formerly found along all Romanian Black Sea waters (nowadays only along the southern waters) (Bănărescu 1964; Abaza et al. 2005; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C25CC7E71D8D4EE78A8169A.taxon	description	Fam. Callionymidae Callionymus lyra Linnaeus, 1758 A native marine species, found (probably sporadically) in the Romanian Black Sea waters (Fricke, 1986); it is recorded from the 2 Mai-Vama Veche Marine Reserve (Maximov & Zaharia 2010; Niță et al. 2012; Niță et al. 2022).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C22CC7971D8D5A27CB01336.taxon	description	ORD. SCOMBRIFORMES Fam. Pomatomidae Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, found along most of the Romanian Black Sea waters, except for the Danube mouths area (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Maximov et al., 2019; Niță et al. 2022). Fam. Scombridae Sarda sarda (Bloch, 1793) A native, marine species, formerly found along all Romanian coast (Bănărescu 1964), but the migrating stock has limited itself to southern (Turkish and Bulgarian) Black Sea waters since the 1970 s; gradually, after 2000, the species has reappared in Romanian waters (Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Yankova et al. 2014; Yankova, 2015; Țoțoiu et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022), but after a partial recovery is now again on the decrease because of pollution in the NW Black Sea, dense shipping traffic and overfishing (Rădulescu 2023).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C22CC7871D8D26A7DDD152A.taxon	description	ORD. ANABANTIFORMES Fam. Osphronemidae Subfam. Macropodusinae Macropodus opercularis (Linnaeus, 1758) A non-native freshwater species, released into thermal waters (Băile Felix and Pețea, Bihor county) from aquaria; there are indications of reproduction and multi-year persistence in Băile Felix (Iftime & Iftime 2021, and literature quoted therein). Subfam. Trichogastrinae Trichopodus trichopterus (Pallas, 1770) A non-native freshwater species, released into thermal waters (Băile Felix and Pețea, Bihor county) from aquaria; there are indications of reproduction and multi-year persistence in Băile Felix (Iftime & Iftime 2021, and literature quoted therein). ORD. CARANGIFORMES Fam. Scophthalmidae Scophthalmus maeoticus (Pallas, 1814) A native marine species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007 [as Psetta maeotica]; Vasil’eva 2007; Radu et al. 2008 [as Psetta maxima maeotica]; Maximov & Zaharia 2010 [as Psetta maxima maeotica]; Yankova et al. 2014 [as both Psetta maxima and Scophthalmus maeoticus]; Țoțoiu et al. 2018 [as Psetta maxima]; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Maximov et al. 2019 [as Psetta maxima maeotica]; Niță et al. 2022).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C23CC7871D8D6F678A0121E.taxon	description	Fam. Pleuronectidae Subfam. Pleuronectinae Platichthys flesus (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine / euryhaline species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters; formerly also in all Razim lagoon complex and in the Siutghiol littoral lake (Bănărescu 1964 [as Pleuronectes flesus]); nowadays only in the Sinoe lagoon; also found (till today) in the RoȘuleț freshwater lake in the Danube Delta (Oțel 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Maximov & Zaharia 2010; Yankova et al. 2014; Țoțoiu et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022). Fam. Soleidae Pegusa nasuta (Pallas, 1811) A native marine species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1964 [as Solea lascaris]; Oțel 2007 [as Pegusa lascaris]; Vasil’eva 2007; Maximov & Zaharia 2010 [as Solea nasuta]; Cocan & MireȘan 2018 [as both Pegusa lascaris and P. nasuta]; Niță et al. 2022 [as Pegusa lascaris]). Morphometric data given by CărăuȘu (1952), Bănărescu (1964) and Oțel (2007) from Romanian material allow identification of Romanian Pegusa as P. nasuta (as opposed to P. lascaris) following the criteria of Chanet et al. (2011).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C23CC7B71D8D1FA7D66152A.taxon	description	Fam. Sphyraenidae Sphyraena sphyraena (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, very rarely found in the Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1964; Vasil’eva 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Yankova et al. 2014). Fam. Xiphiidae Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758 A native marine species, formerly found sporadically in Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018), but the population that used to migrate into the Black Sea collapsed in the 1970 s. There are no recent records in Romania but the species has been recently recorded from Türkiye (Di Natale 2021). Fam. Carangidae Subfam. Caranginae Trachurus mediterraneus (Steindachner, 1868) A native, marine species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1964); but the stock has declined severely since the 1990 s (Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Yankova et al. 2014; Țoțoiu et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022). The Pontic population, most often treated as a subspecies, is sometimes split as T. ponticus Aleev, 1956 (Fricke et al. 2025). Typical Mediterranean and Black Sea stocks apparently interbreed in the Marmara Sea area (Dobrovolov 2000; Turan 2004), and a “ giant ”, nowadays absent Black Sea form may have been such a hybrid (Dobrovolov 2000; Zuyev & Skuratovskaya, 2024). It is difficult, given the current data, to ascertain whether this hybridization is introgressive with some selection against the hybrids (as vaguely suggested by the extinction of the “ giant ” putative hybrids), and therefore the stocks may be distinct species, or intraspecific, with “ giant ” morphology determined by transient variations in food availability, as argued by Slynko et al. 2018; we follow the latter perspective.	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C20CC7A71D8D6F67D7B16C2.taxon	description	Subfam. Trachinotinae Trachinotus ovatus (Linnaeus, 1758) A vagrant marine species occasionally found in Romanian Black Sea waters (Marcoci, V., 2023 via Ichthyology of Romania Facebook group; Iftime & Oțel id.; Fig. 8). This species was previously recorded in the Bosporus close to the Black Sea, its northward expansion being then considered possible (Bilecenoğlu & Öztürk 2019), and then it was found in the Black Sea off Türkiye (Uzer et al. 2024) and Bulgaria (Stefanov 2024). ORD. ATHERINIFORMES Fam. Atherinidae Subfam. Atherininae Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 A native marine / euryhaline species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters, in the Razim lagoon complex and in some littoral lakes (Bănărescu 1964 [as Atherina mochon pontica]; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Yankova et al. 2014 [as Atherina pontica]; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Năstase et al. 2022; Niță et al. 2022).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C21CC7A71D8D5CE7A23128A.taxon	description	ORD. BELONIFORMES Fam. Belonidae Belone belone (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, formerly found along all Romanian Black Sea waters and in the Sinoe lagoon; nowadays only in the sea, particularly in the southern and central sectors (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Yankova et al. 2014; Țoțoiu et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018 [as Belone euxini Günther 1866]; Niță et al. 2022). The Pontic population is sometimes treated as a full species, Belone euxini Günther, 1866 (Froese & Pauly 2025, and references quoted therein) or as part of Belone belone (Fricke et al. 2025, and literature quoted therein; Yankova et al. 2023). ORD. CYPRINODONTIFORMES Fam. Poecilidae Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859 A non-native species, introduced widely in littoral lakes and around urban centers; established in littoral lakes, transiently successful in other places but also extinct in some introduction spots (Iftime & Iftime 2021; Iftime & Iftime 2022). ORD. MUGILIFORMES Fam. Mugilidae Chelon auratus (Risso, 1810) A native marine / euryhaline species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters, and sporadically in the Razim-Sinoe lagoon system and in some littoral lakes (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C1ECC4571D8D0FE7C9B104E.taxon	description	Fam. Tripterygiidae Tripterigyon tripteronotus (Risso, 1810) A native marine species, specimens of which were found along in Romanian Black Sea waters at Agigea (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Yankova et al. 2014). Also claimed to have been recorded sometimes between 1952 - 1998 in the 2 Mai-Vama Veche Marine Reserve area (or the southern Romanian Black Sea waters) (Nicolaev et al. 2004). Fam. Blenniidae Blennius ocellaris Linnaeus, 1759 A native marine species, sporadically found in the Romanian Black Sea waters (Abaza et al. 2005; Oțel 2007; Radu et al. 2008). Apparently, fry and larvae were not found at the Romanian coast (Radu et al. 2008).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C1ECC4571D8D4EE7B3D14CA.taxon	description	ORD. BLENNIIFORMES Fam. Pomacentridae Chromis chromis (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, found sporadically in the southern / rocky areas of the Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1964; Vasil’eva 2007; Oțel 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Marcoci 2023 - 2024). Micu & Todorova 2007 found it in dives in an area including both Bulgarian and Romanian waters, but do not precisely mention where. Fam. Gobiesocidae Diplecogaster euxinica Murgoci, 1964 A native marine species, found near Sulina in 1948 (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; [both as D. bimaculata euxinica]; Vasil’eva 2007 [as D. bimaculata (Bonnaterre, 1788)]; Yankova et al. 2014 [as D. bimaculata bimaculata (Bonnaterre, 1788)]; Cocan & MireȘan 2018). Also claimed to have been recorded sometimes between 1952 - 1998 in the 2 Mai-Vama Veche Marine Reserve area (or the southern Romanian Black Sea waters) but to have probably gone extinct by 2001 - 2003 (Nicolaev et al. 2004 [as D. bimaculata euxinica]).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C1FCC4471D8D2037C5D1092.taxon	description	ORD. PERCIFORMES Fam. Serranidae Serranus scriba (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, sporadically found in Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1964; Vasil’eva 2007; Oțel 2007; Maximov & Zaharia 2010; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Marcoci 2023 - 2024).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C1CCC4771D8D4EE7C60169A.taxon	description	Fam. Percidae Gymnocephalus baloni Holcik et Hensel, 1974 A native, widespread rheophilic freshwater species, found in both intra- and extra-Carpathian drainages, in and along the Danube (including the Delta) and some of its major tributaries (Bănărescu 1994; Oțel 1999; Bănărescu 2005; Oțel 2007; Bulat et al. 2013; Nagy et al. 2023; Năstase & Năvodaru 2023).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C1DCC4671D8D7D67D1D138E.taxon	description	Fam. Scorpaenidae Scorpaena porcus Linnaeus, 1758 A native marine species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Maximov & Zaharia 2010; Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C1DCC4671D8D5327A5514CA.taxon	description	Fam. Trachinidae Trachinus draco Linnaeus, 1758 A native marine species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters, especially the southern ones (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Maximov & Zaharia 2010; Yankova et al. 2014; Țoțoiu et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022). Fam. Triglidae Chelidonichthys lucerna (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1964), nowadays much reduced in frequency (Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Maximov & Zaharia 2010; Yankova et al. 2014; Țoțoiu et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C1DCC4071D8D1FA7D6A145E.taxon	description	1 See, e. g., Krapal et al. 2019 for the introduction of Magallana gigas in the Black Sea. 2 Our first identification of this was as Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton, 1822), but enhanced images and better available comparative images of juvenile S. schlegelii made us change our mind. See also Karpova et al. 2019 for a similar mistake (where S. schlegelii was taken for Epinephelus caninus). Fam. Gasterosteidae Gasterosteus aculeatus Linnaeus, 1758 A native euryhaline species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters, as well as in the Danube Delta, Razim lagoon complex, some littoral lakes and some inner waters (the Danube ca. 100 km upstream; the Siret up to Piscu, Galați county; the Prut). It migrates from the sea to coastal lakes, lagoons, Danube mouths etc., but also includes sedentary lacustrine populations (Băcescu & Mayer 1956; Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Yankova et al. 2014; Țoțoiu et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022). Nowadays rare in the sea (Oțel 2007 gives it as absent, but see Țoțoiu et al. 2018, and Niță et al. 2022, who still give it as present in the recent years), and recently not found in the Razim complex (Năstase et al. 2022). There are differences in morphology between the marine populations and some of the lacustrine ones (Băcescu & Mayer 1956; Bănărescu 1964; Denys et al. 2015) — such is the case of Gasterosteus crenobiontus Băcescu et Mayer, 1956, an endemic putative species, previously found in and area of freshwater springs at the inland end of lake Tekirghiol, isolated from the sea (and from marine G. aculeatus) by the hypersaline waters of the lake. Described as a form of G. aculeatus (Băcescu & Mayer 1956), then treated as a subspecies (Bănărescu 1964; Bănărescu 1994) then as a full species (Kottelat 1997; Nalbant 2003; Kottelat & Freyhof 2007; Cocan & MireȘan 2018). However, this population was put in contact with the marine G. aculeatus when the Tekirghiol was freshened by irrigation outflows (presumably, in the 1970 s- 1980 s), and it was merged into the marine-origin, typical-form G. aculeatus by massive crossing, showing biological conspecificity and erasing distinctness (Bănărescu 1994; Bănărescu 2007 [does not mention crenobiontus, but only G. aculeatus]).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C1BCC4071D8D1967D23103A.taxon	description	ORD. CENTRARCHIFORMES Fam. Centrarchidae Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus, 1758) A non-native freshwater species, spread into Romania from introductions beyond the country, now freely reproducing and abundant all over the country, including the Danube and Delta (Iftime & Iftime 2021; Drăgan et al. 2024).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C1BCC4071D8D73A7BD113A2.taxon	description	Fam. Cottidae Cottus gobio Linnaeus, 1758 A native, freshwater, mainly rheophilic species found in both intra- and extra-Carpathian drainages, in montane waters along (almost) all the Romanian Carpathian range (Bănărescu 1964; Freyhof et al. 2005; Kottelat & Freyhof 2007; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Polyák et al. 2022; Nagy et al. 2023).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C18CC4371D8D1597CDD1136.taxon	description	ORD. LABRIFORMES Fam. Labridae Coris julis (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, occasionally found along southern Romanian Black Sea waters (Bănărescu 1964; Vasil’eva 2007; Oțel 2007; Maximov & Zaharia 2010; Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C16CC4D71D8D4EE79D51336.taxon	description	Fam. Ammodytidae Gymnammodytes cicerellus (Rafinesque, 1810) A native marine species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters, especially the southern ones (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Vasil’eva 2007; Yankova et al. 2014; Niță et al. 2022). Fam. Uranoscopidae Uranoscopus scaber Linnaeus, 1758 A native marine species, found along all Romanian Black Sea waters, especially the southern ones (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Maximov & Zaharia 2010; Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022). ORD. ACANTHURIFORMES Fam. Moronidae Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, rarely found along all Romanian Black Sea waters, especially around Portița (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Yankova et al. 2014; Niță et al. 2022). It also enters freshwater: recently found on the Danube arm of Sfântu Gheorghe, 2 kms. above mouth (Ionescu, T., unpublished 2021 record via Ichthyology of Romania Facebook group, Ionescu & Oțel id.). Fam. Sciaenidae Sciaena umbra Linnaeus, 1758 A native marine species, rarely found along all Romanian Black Sea waters, especially the central and southern sectors (Bănărescu 1964; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Yankova et al. 2014; Țoțoiu et al. 2018; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C16CC4D71D8D0D27B7712AE.taxon	description	Fam. Sparidae Boops boops (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, rarely found along all Romanian Black Sea waters; absent or very rare in later (post- 1990) years (Bănărescu 1964; Tortonese & CautiȘ, 1967; Oțel 2007; Vasil’eva 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Maximov & Zaharia 2010; Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C17CC4C71D8D4EE7B4A162E.taxon	description	Diplodus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, rarely / sporadically found in Romanian Black Sea waters (Tortonese & CautiȘ 1967; Oțel 2007; Maximov & Zaharia 2010; Yankova et al. 2014).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C17CC4F71D8D2067A2E14EE.taxon	description	ORD. LOPHIIFORMES Fam. Lophiidae Lophius piscatorius Linnaeus, 1758 A native marine species, found very rarely in Romanian Black Sea waters (Radu et al. 2008; Yankova et al. 2014). 3 This source does not identify the species, but the images are good enough to determine that this is S. maena following the criteria of Șalcioğlu et al. 2021. B) Non-native species without evidence for independent reproduction (including those kept / stocked in open-water aquaculture, i. e. fishponds and lake stocking) and / or persistence OSTEICHTHYES ORD. ACIPENSERIFORMES Fam. Acipenseridae Acipenser baeri Brandt, 1869 Occasionally escaped from aquaculture — in Prut, from Ukraine (Iftime & Iftime 2021, and literature quoted therein).; also frequently stocked in various lakes throughout the country (see, e. g., Balta Corata 1 2022, Cabane Harghita 2025, Vladimirescu 2013). Fam. Polyodontidae Polyodon spathula (Walbaum, 1792) Occasionally escaped from aquaculture, e. g. in ArgeȘ, the Danube (Iftime & Iftime 2021). ORD. CYPRINIFORMES Fam. Catostomidae Subfam. Ictiobinae Ictiobus bubalus (Rafinesque, 1818) A non-native species, previously maintained in aquaculture (Nucet, Dâmbovița county; Danube Delta) but apparently no longer present (Iftime & Iftime 2021).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C14CC4F71D8D01A7D60121E.taxon	description	Fam. Cyprinidae Pethia conchonius (Hamilton, 1822) A non-native species, found in aquaria and occasionally as a release (Bucharest — Iftime & Iftime 2021).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C14CC4F71D8D1FA7BF111D2.taxon	description	Fam. Xenocyprididae Ochetobius elongatus (Kner, 1867) A non-native species, accidentally introduced in aquaculture alongside economically valuable species (likely in ponds at Nucet, where most experimental aquaculture occurred; this is valable for all adventive, not established Asian fishes); nowadays doubtlessly eliminated (Iftime & Iftime 2021).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C15CC4E71D8D57A7AE01552.taxon	description	Subfam. Cultrinae Hemiculter bleekeri Warpachowsky, 1887 A non-native species, accidentally introduced in aquaculture alongside economically valuable species; nowadays doubtlessly eliminated (Iftime & Iftime, 2022).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C15CC4E71D8D0FE7B3C1006.taxon	description	ORD. CHARACIFORMES Fam. Serrasalmidae Subfam. Colossomatinae Piaractus brachypomus (Cuvier, 1818) A non-native species, found in aquaria and occasionally as a release (Danube, SomeȘ, Firiza — see Iftime & Iftime 2021, and literature quoted therein). Subfam. Serrasalminae Pygocentrus nattereri Kner, 1858 A non-native species, found in aquaria and occasionally as a release, e. g. in CriȘul Repede (Nagy et al. 2023). ORD. SILURIFORMES Fam. Clariidae Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) A non-native freshwater species, introduced deliberately in aquaculture and as gamefish (Iftime & Iftime 2021), as summer-only stocking in lakes (see, e. g., Cabane Harghita 2025).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C15CC4971D8D30279D51336.taxon	description	Fam. Ictaluridae Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque, 1814) A non-native freshwater species, introduced deliberately in aquaculture and spreading from introductions beyond the country, found in some fishponds and in the Prut river (Iftime & Iftime 2021). Also recorded in recent years in the Danube arms in the Delta (Bălan, M., Sevastian, A., Togor, A., unpublished records via Ichthyology of Romania Facebook group, with our [V. Oțel] contribution to identification). ORD. SALMONIFORMES Fam. Coregonidae Coregonus peled (Gmelin, 1789) A non-native freshwater species, deliberately introduced and grown in aquaculture, also introduced in a few alpine lakes (Retezat) and reservoirs; its present-day survival is unclear, but highly unlikely (Iftime & Iftime 2021). Fam. Salmonidae Salvelinus umbla (Linnaeus, 1758) A non-native freshwater species, deliberately introduced (from Austria — Togor, A. pers. comm.) and grown in aquaculture (Iftime & Iftime 2021 [as S. alpinus (Linnaeus, 1758 — but see discussion in Kottelat 1997; Kottelat & Freyhof 2007]); also found in free waters, namely in the BeliȘ-Fântânele reservoir on the SomeȘul Cald river, where it was, presumably, illegally introduced (Nagy et al. 2023 [as S. alpinus (Linnaeus, 1758]); there are more undocumented introductions — Togor, A. pers. comm. ORD. CYPRINODONTIFORMES Fam. Poecilidae Subfam. Poeciliinae Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1860 A non-native species, transiently found in thermal water (Băile Felix, 1 Mai), event reproducing for some time, e. g. in 1991 (Freyhof, J., pers. comm.) and other urban ponds (Bucharest) as an aquarium release, but not established (Iftime & Iftime 2021).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C12CC4971D8D1B27A331062.taxon	description	ORD. CICHLIFORMES Fam. Cichlidae Subfam. Pseudocrenilabrinae Chindongo demasoni (Konings, 1994) A non-native species, transiently found in urban ponds as an aquarium release, but not surviving the end of the warm season (Bucharest — Iftime & Iftime 2021).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C12CC4B71D8D32E793E1416.taxon	description	ORD. ACANTHURIFORMES Fam. Moronidae Morone saxatilis (Walbaum, 1792) X Morone chrysops (Rafinesque, 1820) A non-native freshwater hybrid, stocked deliberately in some lakes, near Bucharest (Iftime & Iftime 2021). C) doubtful records, probable / possible occurrences CYCLOSTOMI ORD. PETROMYZONIFORMES Fam. Petromyzonidae Lampetra sp. Two specimens from the Toplița rivulet, a tributary of the Moldova river in the Siret drainage, were attributed to Lampetra planeri (Bloch, 1784) (Bănărescu 1969 and literature quoted therein; Cocan & MireȘan 2018); they were described as “ rather Lampetra planeri than Eudontomyzon mariae ” (Apetroaie 1975) or referred to aberrant “ E. mariae ” (Bănărescu 2004), i. e. E. vladykovi (see above). Anadromous Lampetra are known from the Black Sea (Kottelat & Freyhof 2007; Naseka & Diripasko, 2008; Li 2014), and, as Lampetra fluviatilis (Linnaeus, 1758) is very similar to, and apparently conspecific with (and senior synonym of), L. planeri (Popov & Makhrov, 2015; see also supporting results in Rüber et al. 2023, though without concluding thus) and Lampetra - Eudontomyzon hybrids are known (Levin et al. 2016), sporadic anadromous L. fluviatilis may hypothetically have generated L. planeri - like hybrids as mentioned above. CHONDRICHTHYES ORD. CARCHARHINIFORMES Fam. Carcharhinidae Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758) A vagrant marine species allegedly found in Romanian Black Sea waters (CărăuȘu 1952; Aleksandrov et al. 2017). CărăuȘu only mentioned the species for the Black Sea, but given that no other Pontic riverine country claims this record, and the information has emerged that it (probably?) pertains to the Danube Delta area (Aleksandrov et al. 2017) then it must by necessity belong to Romania; still, we cannot consider it otherwise than doubtful. ORD. SQUALIFORMES Fam. Squalidae Squalus blainville (Risso, 1827) A marine species, native to the Black Sea, mentioned for the 2 Mai-Vama Veche Marine Reserve and / or the southern Romanian marine waters (Zaharia et al. 2002); however, later works on the same protected area give the species as „ extinct ” here (Nicolaev et al., 2004) or do not mention it (Niță et al. 2012); it is not given for Romania by any other authors (Bănărescu 1969; Oțel 2007; Radu et al. 2008; Yankova et al. 2014; Niță et al. 2022). OSTEICHTHYES ORD. CLUPEIFORMES Fam. Alosidae Alosa maeotica (Grimm, 1901) A native marine species, found (sporadically) along all Romanian Black Sea waters and entering the Razim lagoon system and the Danube mouths (Bănărescu 1969; Radu et al. 2008; Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Niță et al. 2022). Oțel (2007) considers its presence doubtful in Romanian waters (as not a single individual could be confirmed). It has disappeared (or at least became extremely rare) in the north-western Black Sea (Mezhzherin & Vernygora, 2013) and was not found even in the Azov Sea, in a recent sample (Vernygora et al., 2018). ORD. CYPRINIFORMES Fam. Cobitidae Cobitis strumicae Karaman, 1955 A freshwater species, it is mentioned (as Cobitis peschevi Sivkov et Dobrovolov, 1984) as present in Romania (Nalbant, 2003), without any reference to specimens, location or literature record (s). Its presence is doubtful since no definite records are known for C. strumicae, a Bulgarian endemic, for the Danube river (which is shared with Romania): Stefanov (2007) considers its presence in the Danube and lower course of Danubian tributaries questionable, and other resources give the range of C. strumicae as not touching the Danube (Vassilev & Pehlivanov, 2005; Choleva et al. 2008; Stefanov 2019). Fam. Leuciscidae	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C10CC4B71D8D7F27C0B10DE.taxon	description	ORD. CHARACIFORMES Fam. Serrasalmidae Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887) A non-native species, found as a release from aquaria / aquaculture (Drăgan et al. 2024) — unfortunately, no image, which would have cleared possible confusion with P. brachypomus, accompanies this first record for Romania. ORD. SYNGNATHIFORMES Fam. Syngnathidae Syngnathus acus Linnaeus, 1758 A native marine species, mentioned for Romania (Dawson 1986; Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018) and more specifically for Constanța and CostineȘti (Nenciu et al. 2016). However, the former studies do not give specific references for Romania, and Nenciu et al. 2016 do not show photos of this species or discuss its identification, therefore, as there are no other records for Romania, the risk of a confusion (e. g. with S. tenuirostris — see Vasil’eva 2007) cannot be fully cleared. ORD. GOBIIFORMES Fam. Gobiidae Gobius bucchichi Steindachner, 1870 A native marine species, rarely or sporadically found in Romanian Black Sea waters, especially in the southern areas (Miller 1986; Nicolaev et al. 2004; Yankova et al. 2014). Micu & Todorova 2007 found it in dives in an area including both Bulgarian and Romanian waters, but do not precisely mention where; Vasilev et al. 2012 record it quite away from the Romanian waters. Gobius bucchichi alone occurs in the Black Sea; the recently described, similar and often confused G. incognitus Kovačić et Šanda 2016 does not (Kovačić et al. 2023); nevertheless, the Romanian presence of G. bucchichi needs confirmation (M. Kovačić, pers. comm.).	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C11CC5571D8D4EE7C3315BA.taxon	description	ORD. CICHLIFORMES Fam. Cichlidae Subfam. Pseudocrenilabrinae Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) A non-native species, found in aquaculture; presence / survival in free waters is doubtful (Iftime & Iftime 2021). ORD. ANABANTIFORMES Fam. Osphronemidae Subfam. Macropodusinae Betta splendens Regan, 1810 A non-native freshwater species, quoted as having (probably) been released into thermal waters from aquaria; most likely not persisting (Iftime & Iftime 2021). ORD. CARANGIFORMES Fam. Bothidae Arnoglossus kessleri Schmidt, 1915 A native marine species, found (probably sporadically at best) in Romanian Black Sea waters (Nielsen 1986; Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018); an uncertain presence according to Maximov & Zaharia (2010). Micu & Todorova, 2007 found it in dives in an area including both Bulgarian and Romanian waters, but do not precisely mention where. Fam. Soleidae Buglossidium luteum (Risso, 1810) A marine species, native to the Black Sea, quoted for the Romanian Black Sea waters as an uncertain presence (Maximov & Zaharia 2010). ORD. BLENIIFORMES Fam. Gobiesocidae Apletodon dentatus (Facciola, 1887) Claimed to have been recorded sometimes between 1952 - 1998 in the 2 Mai-Vama Veche Marine Reserve area (or the southern Romanian Black Sea waters) but to have probably extirpated by 2001 - 2003 (Nicolaev et al., 2004 [as A. microcephalus bacescui]). Mentioned by Briggs, 1986, Vasil’eva 2007, Oțel 2007, Yankova et al. 2014 and Cocan & MireȘan 2018 [as A. bacescui] as present in Romanian waters. Bănărescu (1964) [as A. microcephalus bacescui (Antoniu-Murgoci, 1940)] expressly states that it was not found in Romanian waters. Substantiated Black Sea records pertain to Cape Kaliakra and the Burgas gulf area (Antoniu-Murgoci 1940, ap. Bănărescu 1964), the central Turkish Black Sea coast near Sinop (Bat et al. 2006) and the Crimea (Karpova et al. 2017; Shaganov & Koulish 2018), none of which currently belongs to Romania (however, Cape Kaliakra did in 1940, when A. m. bacescui was described by Antoniu-Murgoci, hence probably part of the confusion). The 1952 - 1998 records of Nicolaev et al. 2004 are not substantiated with specimens or images (or references thereof) and therefore difficult to either accept or refute — as in the case of other gobiesocids.	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C11CC5571D8D4EE7C3315BA.taxon	description	ORD. PERCIFORMES Fam. Serranidae Serranus hepatus (Linnaeus, 1758) A native marine species, sporadically (or potentially) found in Romanian Black Sea waters (Yankova et al. 2014; Cocan & MireȘan 2018). The presence is questionable since the actual record (s) referred to by the first quoted source do not pertain to Romania, and the second does not give any record or reference for the species’ Romanian occurrence. Fam. Percidae Gymnocephalus acerina (Guldenstaedt, 1774) A native, widespread rheophilic freshwater species, allegedly recorded in the Prut river (Moshu et al. 2006). The authors do not provide an image or mention depositing a specimen. There is no other record for this species for the Prut (Usatâi 2004; Davideanu, 2008; Ion et al. 2009; Bulat et al. 2013; Bulat et al. 2016; Bulat 2017) or for Romania; it does not occur westwards of the Dniester drainage (Kottelat & Freyhof 2007; Bulat 2017). However, an artificial translocation of this species into the Prut drainage, when stocking other fishes from the Dniester catchment in Moldova, cannot be entirely ruled out; whether it witnessed such an accidental translocation (not resulting in establishment), or is simply a mistake, the record of Moshu et al. 2006 remains doubtful.	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
03DE5C3A0C0ECC5471D8D7667C5914EE.taxon	description	ORD. CENTRARCHIFORMES Fam. Centrarchidae Micropterus dolomieu (Lacepede, 1802) A non-native freshwater species, a record of which (from Covasna county) needs to be confirmed (Iftime & Iftime 2021). D) unwarranted / erroneous records / citations Several more species are included in general distribution maps / species lists for the Romanian Black Sea shore: Chondrichthyes: Ord. Squatiniformes, Fam. Squatinidae: Squatina squatina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Roux 1986); Ord. Myliobatiformes, Fam. Gymnuridae: Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus, 1758) (McEachran & Capapé 1986); Osteichthyes: Ord. Scombriformes, Fam. Scombridae: Auxis rochei (Risso, 1810) (Froese & Pauly 2025), Euthynnus alletteratus (Rafinesque, 1810) (Froese & Pauly 2025); Ord. Perciformes, Fam. Triglidae: Eutrigla gurnardus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hureau 1986; Cocan & MireȘan 2018); Ord. Acanthuriformes, Fam. Sciaenidae: Argyrosomus regius (Asso y del Rio, 1801) (Chao 1986; Cocan & MireȘan 2018); Ord. Lophiiformes, Fam. Lophiidae: Lophius budegassa Spinola, 1807 (Caruso 1986); Ord. Tetraodontiformes, Fam. Balistidae: Balistes capriscus Gmelin, 1789 [as B. carolinensis] (Tortonese 1986). None of these is mentioned by any Romanian author (other than Cocan & MireȘan 2018) and all are explicitely stated by Vasil’eva 2007 and Yankova et al. 2014 not to occur in Romanian waters; these are most likely unwarranted extrapolations for presence on the Romanian shore from the fact of known occurrence in the Black Sea. The same is valid for Epinephelus caninus (Valenciennes, 1843) and E. costae (Steindachner, 1878), quoted by Froese & Pauly (2025) as present in Romania, but they are absent from even the Black Sea (Karpova et al. 2019; Karakulak et al. 2025). At present, they cannot be included in the Romanian checklist, though their future record in Romanian waters is by no way impossible. Other erroneous records: Ord. Salmoniformes, Fam. Salmonidae: Salvelinus namaycush (Walbaum, 1792) — included by Cocan & MireȘan 2018 on the list of Romanian fishes, quoting Bănărescu 1964, Decei 1981, Manea 1985 and Nalbant 2003, none of which mention this species as being ever introduced to Romania; Cocan & MireȘan 2018 possibly mistake mentions of lake trouts, i. e. the lake morph of Salmo trutta, for Salvelinus namaycush which is also called “ lake trout ” in North America; Ord. Cypriniformes, Fam. Cobitidae: Sabanejewia aurata (De Filippi, 1863) (Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Froese & Pauly 2025); Fam. Cyprinidae: Barbus cyclolepis Heckel, 1837 (Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Froese & Pauly 2025); Barbus borysthenicus Dybowski, 1862, (Moshu et al. 2006 — as “ Barbus barbus (L., 1758) / Barbus barbus borysthenicus Dybowski, 1862 ”; Bulat et al. 2013); Fam. Leuciscidae: Alburnus chalcoides (Güldenstädt, 1772) (Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Froese & Pauly 2024), at least in some cases, most probably, as a technical artifact or misunderstanding of the taxonomical splitting process (see Kottelat & Freyhof 2007; Movchan 2009; Roman 2015 for these species and their true range); Ord. Carangiformes, Fam. Soleidae: Pegusa lascaris (Risso, 1810) (Cocan & MireȘan 2018; Froese & Pauly 2025) — probably also as an artifact of taxonomical splitting, whereas P. nasuta applies to Pontic populations previously included in P. lascaris (Vasil’eva 2007), though Froese & Pauly (2025) give both species as ranging into the Black Sea; nevertheless, as discussed above, morphological data available for Romanian specimens allow them to be attributed, so far, to P. nasuta alone. The total tally of species mentioned for Romania is of 220 species currently or lately having Romanian (reproductive) populations or at least circumstantial indications thereof, or sporadic / expanding into Romanian waters (including four species most probably now extirpated from Romania: Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser sturio, Thunnus thynnus; other listed species have not been recorded in Romania for a quite long time and may be likewise be extirpated, or merely undetected — see comments above); 32 non-native species which do (did) not independently reproduce / persist, including 2 stocked alien hybrids 5; 20 potentially occurring or doubtfully recorded species; and 16 unwarantedly / erroneously claimed species.	en	Iftime, Alexandru, Oţel, Vasile (2025): An annotated systematical checklist of the Romanian ichthyofauna. Zootaxa 5654 (1): 1-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5654.1.1
