An updated ichthyofaunal checklist for the Nigerian Lagos Lagoon with notes on nomenclatural changes and the conservation status of species

An updated checklist of fishes occurring in the Nigerian Lagos Lagoon (NLL) is presented, with notes on species’ additions, nomenclatural revisions, and conservation status. Information was compiled from various sources, including published primary literature and field surveys. Our study takes a cautious approach by omitting previous inventory records without clear species-level identification and records outside the species’ true geographic range.

Of the species previously reported in primary literature, seventeen were geographically misattributed while 11 underwent recent taxonomic revisions. Our field surveys included 39 species, out of which 15 that had not yet been previously reported from NLL which represent new species additions to the inventory. Following the removal of erroneous species records, our study indicated a total of 113 species from 85 genera, 52 families, and 20 orders from NLL.

Conservation assessment based on the IUCN Red List indicates that 11 species are assessed as “Data Deficient”, 91 as “Least Concern”, five as “Near Threatened”, five as “Vulnerable”, and one as “Endangered”. Our study highlights the rich ichthyofaunal diversity of NLL and underscores the importance of accurate species identification and distribution data for conservation planning. Furthermore, we recommend further studies on various aspects of the fish biology and threats to advance scientific research and develop conservation plans for the fish species of NLL.