刚果河流域水生生物的[[物种多样性]]非常高，有已知最高密度的[[特有種]]<ref name="Smithsonian2009">{{cite web |title= Evolution in the Deepest River in the World |first=Kyle |last=Dickman |date=2009-11-03 |publisher=Smithsonian Magazine |work=Science & Nature |url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Evolution-in-the-Deepest-River-in-the-World.html}}</ref>。在剛果河已發現了將近700種魚，其中大部份都還沒有相關研究<ref name=SudanicCongoOubangi>Freshwater Ecoregions of the World (2008). ''[http://www.feow.org/ecoregion_details.php?eco=535 Sudanic Congo – Oubangi.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005204356/http://www.feow.org/ecoregion_details.php?eco=535 |date=2011-10-05 }}'' Accessed 2 May 2011.</ref>。由於此處的生物多樣性及流域中的[[生态学|生态]]差異，一般會將刚果河流域劃分為四個[[生態區]]。在這些生態區中，[[李文斯頓瀑布]]有超過五十種魚，其中有八十種是特有種<ref name=RoughWaters>{{Cite web |last=Norlander |first=Britt |date=2009-04-20 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1590/is_13_65/ai_n31583235/ |title=Rough waters: one of the world's most turbulent rivers is home to a wide array of fish species. Now, large dams are threatening their future |publisher=Science World}}</ref>。流域的西南邊（[[開賽河]]）有超過二百種魚，其中約有四分之一是特有種<ref name=Kasai>Freshwater Ecoregions of the World (2008). ''[http://www.feow.org/ecoregion_details.php?eco=546 Kasai.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005204417/http://www.feow.org/ecoregion_details.php?eco=546 |date=2011-10-05 }}'' Accessed 2 May 2011.</ref>。此區域主要的魚包括[[鲤科]]（辛普森野鯪）、[[象鼻魚科]]（象鼻魚）、[[鮭脂鯉科]]（单带矮非脂鲤）、[[倒立鯰科]]（squeaker catfishes）及[[慈鯛科]]（慈鯛）<ref name=UpperLualaba>Freshwater Ecoregions of the World (2008). ''[http://www.feow.org/ecoregion_details.php?eco=545 Upper Lualaba.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005204143/http://www.feow.org/ecoregion_details.php?eco=545 |date=2011-10-05 }}'' Accessed 2 May 2011.</ref>。其中也有巨大且肉食性的[[白金猛魚]]。其中罕見的特有種慈鯛為無[[生物色素]]及無視力的[[遺眼亮麗鯛]]，一般認為居住在160公尺深的河底<ref name=RoughWaters/>，以及和美洲和其他地區慈鯛較有關係的[[多齒異非鯽]]<ref>Kullander, S.O. (1998). ''A phylogeny and classification of the South American Cichlidae (Teleostei: Perciformes).'' pp. 461–498 in Malabarba, L., et al. (eds.), Phylogeny and Classification of Neotropical Fishes, Porto Alegre.</ref>。刚果河也有許多特有種的青蛙和蝸牛<ref name=UpperLualaba/><ref name=LowerCongoRapids>Freshwater Ecoregions of the World (2008). ''[http://www.feow.org/ecoregion_details.php?eco=549 Lower Congo Rapids.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005204434/http://www.feow.org/ecoregion_details.php?eco=549 |date=2011-10-05 }}'' Accessed 2 May 2011.</ref>。刚果河中已計劃建造數座[[水力發電]]廠，有可能帶來許多特有種生物的絕種<ref name=RoughWaters/>。

== 参考资料 ==