Abstract:

Aims: The chondrichthyans is one of the oldest and most unique groups of vertebrates, with over 400 million years of evolutionary history. They play a vital role in maintaining the stability of marine ecosystems, and some species have significant economic and scientific value. From 2001 to 2024, the number of chondrichthyan species worldwide has increased from approximately 900 to over 1,200, with many new species and new distribution records emerging. China, as an important habitat for chondrichthyan fishes, currently lacks a comprehensive checklist of chondrichthyan species incorporating the latest information. 

Methods: This study compiled a checklist of Chinese chondrichthyan species with Latin, English, Chinese and Japanese names, based on a review of published literature, institutional collections in various marine regions of China, public databases, and nearly 20 years of field survey data from important fishing ports (up to September 30, 2025). The checklist also includes the distribution of each species in four major marine regions of China (Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan waters). The G, F, and G-F indices were used to compare the diversity of chondrichthyan fishes among these marine regions. 

Results: China harbored 259 species of chondrichthyan fishes, belonging to 114 genera, 59 families, and 14 orders, accounting for approximately one-fifth of the world’s total chondrichthyan species. Of these, 22 were newly described after 2001, and 22 were endemic to Chinese seas. A total of 141 species (55.73% of assessed species in China) were classified as “threatened” on the IUCN Red List. In Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan waters, the G-F indices were 0.4655, 0.7527, 0.7393, and 0.7580, respectively. 

Conclusion: This study updates the checklist of chondrichthyan species in China. This checklist serves as a foundational framework for subsequent research and international cooperation on these fishes, and also provides an important reference for the conservation of chondrichthyan species in China seas, fisheries resource management, and the implementation of relevant international conventions.

Key words: biodiversity, chondrichthyans, Chinese seas, species checklist, G-F index