Iksookimia choii
       (8 cm)
       * Endangered Species & Natural Monument

Habitat : In the Korean Peninsula, Iksookimia choii is found only in middle Keum River's tributaries(in Chungcheongnam-do and Chungcheongbuk-do) which usually flow along with sand riffles that consist of fine sand, ranging 15 to 60 m wide and less than 1m deep.

Range:  The Keum River drainage (known habitats are restricted to three tributaries) in South Korea. Also occurs in the Amur (Heilong) River drainage in Russian Far East. 

Threats : Water pollution and polluted sediment appear to be main threats to this species. Also, the habitat with the highest population density, Baekgok River, and Chopyeong River where the stocking programs are recently being worked on,  have been seriously damaged by dredging and revetment constructions on April, 2007 and on January, 2009, respectively.

Conservation action : Iksookimia choii, a most severely endangered fish species in South Korea,  was designated as an Natural Monument No. 454 of South Korea. National Fisheries Research and Development Institute and Dr. Bang, In-cheol(방인철) group of the Soonchunhyang University at Asan succeeded in breeding and raising this species. They are currently planing stocking projects to this species' historical habitats such as Gapcheon River in Daejeon and Miho River in Cheongwon County.
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Red dots : Where this species is living nowadays.
Blue dots : Where this species have been disappeared.

* Habitat of Iksookimia choii (Miho River : Jincheon county, Chungcheongbuk Province)