Five subspecies were recognized: Acheilognathus tabira erythropterus Pacific Ocean side of eastern Honshu (Miyagi, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Chiba Prefectures and Tokyo Metropolis); Acheilognathus tabira jordani in Japan Sea side of western Honshu (Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Tottori and Shimane Prefectures); Acheilognathus tabira nakamurae in Kyushu area; Acheilognathus tabira tabira in Western Honshu; and Acheilognathus tabira tohokuensis in Japan Sea side of eastern Honshu (Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima in western area and Niigata Prefectures) (Ref. 78070). Recorded from western Honshu in Aichi, Gifu, Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Okayam Prefectures (Ref. 78070); Lake Biwa, the Yodo River and the Nobi Plain (Ref. 559). Found along the shore up to 30-40 m depth in Lake Biwa and in numerous small nearby ponds continuous with the lake (Ref. 78070). Spawning season is from April to August in Futatsukawa Creek, Fukuoka Prefecture (Ref. 37350). Status of threat in the 2005 Red Data Book of Shiga Prefecture : endangered (Ref. 79825).

Status of threat: Endangered (Ref. 94887).