Abstract: Based on the fish surveys using various sample nets in the Yangtze River Estuary, combined with previous studies, the fish master list in this area was updated and its hierarchical diversity was analyzed. The results show that there are 305 species of fishes, belong to 2 classes, 28 orders, 101 families and 215 genera, recorded in the Yangtze River Estuary. The cartilaginous fishes are composed of 5 orders, 12 families, 14 genera and 22 species, while bony fishes composed of 23 orders, 89 families, 201 genera and 283 species. The funnel plots with 95% confidence limits for both average taxonomic distinctness (Δ⁺) and variation in taxonomic distinctness (Λ⁺) of the Yangtze River Estuary fish master list were established. The value of Δ⁺ is 79.9, a little higher than those in Yellow Sea, Bohai Sea and East China Sea.

Key words: taxonomic diversity, fish master list, the Yangtze River Estuary, taxonomic diversity, fish master list