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Opistognathus abei sp. nov. (Perciformes: Opistognathidae) is described on the basis of two specimens (28.5–30.9 mm in standard length) collected from the Oki Islands, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, at a depth of 25–26 m. The new species is characterized by the following combination of characters: posterior end of upper jaw rigid, without flexible lamina; dorsal-fin rays XI, 13; anal-fin rays II, 13; gill rakers 8 + 16 or 17 = 24 or 25; vertebrae 10 + 18 = 28; longitudinal scale rows ca. 40–43; lateral line terminating below 2nd or 3rd soft ray of dorsal fin; cephalic sensory pores comparatively poorly developed, head sparsely covered with small cephalic pores; no scales above lateral line; body scales absent anterior to vertical below 6th or 7th dorsal-fin spine base; vomerine teeth absent; 3rd infraorbital without suborbital shelf; body generally brown, except for white belly, with two longitudinal rows of 6–9 white blotches; head region without blotches, spots, or stripes; dorsal fin generally hyaline to faint brown, with a yellowish-brown stripe through distal edge of spinous part and just below middle of soft-rayed part, and an ocellus between 2nd and 7th spines; anal and caudal fins uniformly hyaline to faint brown; pectoral-fin base with large white oval blotch; pelvic fin uniformly translucent white. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed morphological investigation, including osteological anatomy based on micro-CT scans, of two poorly known monotypic genera and species of gobiesocids, Lissonanchus lusherae Smith 1966 and Briggsia hastingsi Craig and Randall 2009, revealed that no generic-level differences existed between the two species. Briggsia Craig and Randall 2009, therefore, is a junior synonym of Lissonanchus Smith 1966. Lissonanchus is rediagnosed, having the following characters: 30 or 31 vertebrae; cephalic lateral-line canal pores poorly developed, including 2 nasal, 2 lacrimal and 1 postorbital canal pores; posterodorsal portion of anguloarticular strongly expanded laterally with bifurcated process; gill membranes on each side united ventrally, attached to the isthmus; 4th gill arch without filaments; double type adhesive disc; flattened papillae on disc region A continuous across center; flattened papillae on disc region D arranged along disc edge and continuous with papillae on disc region A; center of anterior disc (= middle area between disc regions A and D) lacking papillae; small fleshy pad on lower part of pectoral-fin base; anterior part of dorsal-fin base lacking a swollen fleshy appearance; general fresh coloration, including brownish-green body, dark brown strip extending from snout tip to posteroventral part of head through eye, and whitish part on lateroventral surface of head (bordered by dark brown strip). In particular, the anguloarticular feature of Lissonanchus is likely unique within the Gobiesocidae and is regarded as a putative autapomorphy for the genus. In contrast, the two species could be distinguished from each other by species-level differences, including counts of pectoral-fin rays, number of teeth on pharyngobranchial 3, jaw lengths, and streak patterns on the body. Accordingly, Lissonanchus is now considered to include two valid species: L. lusherae (type species) and Lissonanchus hastingsi, new combination. Although Lissonanchus was previously included in the subfamily Diademichthyinae, the genus does not share any diagnostic features of that subfamily, and the subfamilial assignment of the genus remains equivocal, like other Indo-Pacific genera considered as incertae sedis within the Gobiesocidae (e.g., Aspasmogaster Waite 1907, Conidens Briggs 1955, and Creocele Briggs 1955). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obliquogobius trifasciatus sp. nov. (Teleostei: Gobiidae) is described on the basis of three specimens (29.5–30.5 mm in standard length) collected in the East China Sea, northwest of the Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan, in a depth of 115–124 m. The new species is characterized by the following combination of characters: 2nd dorsal and anal fins each with I, 9 rays; head moderate in size, its length 32.8–34.1% of standard length; lateral surface of nape scaled; postorbital pore G of cephalic sensory canal present; gill opening moderate in size, extending anteriorly to level with posterior margin of eye; pelvic fins united medially, with a well-developed connecting membrane (between innermost rays) and frenum (between spines); caudal fin dorsoventrally asymmetrical, lacking a distinct obliquely pointed tip, and with three lowermost branched rays much shorter than other branched rays; three broad black (dark brown in preserved specimens) bands, superposed by yellow chromatophores, on lateral surface of body, anteriormost band located under 1st dorsal-fin base, middle band just behind a vertical line through posterior end of 2nd dorsal-fin base, and posteriormost band on caudal-fin base; a small faint, yellow-tinged dusky blotch on center of caudal peduncle (between middle and posteriormost bands on body); a large black blotch, covering almost entirety of 1st dorsal fin; 2nd dorsal and caudal fins generally pale yellow, without a barred pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acanthoplesiops hardyi sp. nov. (Plesiopidae: Acanthoclininae) is described on the basis of a single specimen (13.7 mm in standard length) collected off the Kerama Islands, Okinawa Prefecture, southern Ryukyu Islands, Japan, from a depth of 53 m. The new species is characterized by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays XXI, 3; anal-fin rays IX, 3; pectoral-fin rays 16; dentary pores 3; 2 pterygiophores between 2nd and 3rd neural spines; pelvic fins completely separated; last dorsal- and anal-fin rays barely connected to caudal-fin base by membrane; anterior half (approx.) of abdomen naked; body scales bilobed on mid-lateral surface, elsewhere oval with a rounded posterior margin; lateral surface of head and body uniformly dark brown, without dots, stripes, or bar-like patterns; pectoral-fin base and caudal peduncle lacking white blotches and bars, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A revised diagnosis is provided for the poorly known clingfish genus Lepadicyathus Prokofiev 2005. The genus belongs to Diademichthyinae (sensu Conway et al.) and is characterized by the following combination of characters: snout moderate in length, slightly pointed in lateral view; oral cleft very small, restricted to anterior tip of snout, posterior portion of both jaws covered by thick skin; gill membrane attached to isthmus; gill opening tiny, narrow slit, dorsal-most extent level with base of 12th or 13th pectoral-fin ray in lateral view; "single" adhesive disc, its size moderate, length 16.6–20.4% SL; center of disc flat, without cavity; disc papillae flattened, similar in size across disc surface; cephalic lateral-line canals moderately developed, including 2 nasal, 2 lacrimal and 2 postorbital pores; pre-opercular and mandibular lateral-line canals absent; anus situated about midway between posterior margin of disc and anal-fin origin (disc to anus length 45.8–55.5% of disc to anal-fin origin length); dorsal, anal, and caudal fins weakly connected by membrane with distinct notch between fins; premaxillae separated anteriorly by large circular gap in dorsal view; nasal bone long, anterior tip pointed, terminating close to anteromedial tip of premaxilla in dorsal view; few lower-jaw teeth (ca. 6), restricted to anterior ca. 1/4 of dentary; basibranchial elements (including cartilages) absent; caudal skeleton with upper and lower hypural plates, separated by narrow hypural diastema. As recognized herein, Lepadicyathus is monotypic and contains only Lepadicyathus minor (Briggs 1955), new combination. The species has previously been assigned to Lepadichthys Waite 1904 and represents a senior synonym of Lepadicyathus mendeleevi Prokofiev 2005, type species of Lepadicyathus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poorly known blenny Alticus orientalis Tomiyama 1955 is considered a valid species and redescribed on the basis of 73 specimens (36 males and 37 females), 20.5–83.5 mm in standard length (SL). The species is characterized by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin spines 14 (rarely 13); pectoral-fin rays 15 (very rarely 14 or 16); pelvic-fin rays I, 4; caudal-fin rays 12 (very rarely 11); supraorbital cirrus finely branched (except in specimens < ca. 20 mm SL); canine-like teeth absent on lower jaw; 1–9 small conical teeth on vomer (rarely secondarily lost); 3 (very rarely 2) pores in mandibular series; pre-anal-fin length 37.6–43.2 (mean 40.4) % SL in males, 39.9–46.9 (43.0) % SL in females; caudal-fin length 19.0–24.2 (21.8) % SL in males, 19.7–25.2 (22.4) % SL in females; pre-anal-fin length / caudal-fin length 1.6–2.2 (1.9) in males, 1.8–2.2 (1.9) in females; cheek without black spots; and head and pectoral fin without small black dots. Although A. orientalis is most similar to Alticus montanoi (Sauvage 1880) [all Japanese specimens previously identified as Alticus saliens (Lacepède 1800) are actually this species], it can be distinguished from the latter by the presence of teeth on the vomer, a greater number of pores in the mandibular series, greater pre-anal-fin length, and slightly shorter caudal-fin length. In addition, genetic analysis supports the divergence of A. orientalis from available sequences from other species of Alticus. In Japanese waters, A. orientalis is distributed around (and probably endemic to) the Izu and Ogasawara islands, whereas A. montanoi is distributed in the Ryukyu and Daito islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lepadichthys coccinotaenia Regan 1921 (Gobiesocidae: Diademichthyinae) is redescribed on the basis of 60 specimens, including the holotype, and a new species of Lepadichthys, previously misidentified as L. coccinotaenia, described from Japan. Lepadichthys trishula sp. nov. is characterized by the following combination of characters: 10–12 (modally 11) dorsal-fin rays; 9–11 (10) anal-fin rays; 23–26 (23) pectoral-fin rays; upper end of gill membrane level with base of 8th to 10th (usually 10th) pectoral-fin ray in lateral view; 6–8 (7) gill rakers on each arch; 32 or 33 (32) vertebrae; snout somewhat short and slender, its length and depth 7.4–9.4 (mean 8.4) and 4.0–6.5 (5.1) % SL, respectively; upper jaw not sharply pointed or projected, its length 5.5–7.7 (6.5) % SL; side of lower-jaw teeth with hook-like tips; head depth 7.2–10.4 (8.5) % SL; disc size moderate, its length 14.0–18.2 (16.8) % SL; dorsal and anal fins with weak membranous connections to caudal fin; head sensory canal pores well developed, including 2 nasal, lacrimal and postorbital, and 3 preopercular pores; and three narrow white stripes from snout to vertical through posterior margin of disc, including two lateral and one on the dorsal midline. The new species is currently known only from Japan, whereas L. coccinotaenia occurs only in the southwestern Indian Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new dwarfgobies, Eviota amamiko and Eviota perspicilla, are described from southern Japan, based on 3 (Ryukyu Islands) and 22 (Satsuma Peninsula and Koshiki, Osumi, and Amami islands) specimens, respectively. Eviota amamiko, belonging to a group lacking cephalic sensory-canal pores, can be distinguished from all other members of Eviota in having the following combination of characters: dorsal/anal fin-ray formula 8/8; 14 or 15 pectoral-fin rays; 5th pelvic-fin ray absent or rudimentary; urogenital papillae of both sexes not fimbriate; five dark brown irregularly shaped (usually X- or Y-like) bars on body; two narrow diagonal red lines below eye; anal-fin base with two reddish-brown spots; no dark spots on caudal peduncle over preural centrum; and caudal-fin base without crescentic marks. Although similar to Eviota japonica Jewett and Lachner 1983, Eviota prasina (Klunzinger 1871), and Eviota queenslandica Whitley 1932, E. perspicilla is clearly distinct from all other congeners in having the following combination of characters: cephalic sensory-canal pore system pattern 2 [lacking only pore H (IT)]; dorsal/anal fin-ray formula 9/8; some pectoral-fin rays branched; dorsal-fin spine not filamentous in both sexes; pelvic fin very long, its tip usually beyond anal-fin origin when appressed [length 26.7–38.9 (mean 34.7) % of standard length]; urogenital papillae of both sexes not fimbriate; five dark postanal bars (spots in preserved specimens) and two dark postocular spots present; two dark spots on pectoral-fin base; no dark spots under pectoral-fin base; distinct dark caudal-peduncle spot over preural centrum; and spinous dorsal fin blackish overall, with two small translucent white circular spots on its base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examination of the syntypes of Lepadogaster minimus Döderlein in Steindachner and Döderlein 1887 showed that species to be identical with Kopua japonica Moore, Hutchins and Okamoto 2012, although long been regarded as a valid species of Aspasma. A lectotype is designated for L. minimus (= Kopua minima), which is regarded as a senior synonym of K. japonica. A species commonly regarded as Aspasma minima is described as the new species Aspasma ubauo sp. nov., on the basis of 58 specimens from the Japanese mainland, and characterized by the following characters: 5–7 dorsal-fin rays; 6–8 anal-fin rays; 19–22 pectoral-fin rays; 4–6 gill rakers on each arch; head small, moderately depressed (dorsal profile flattened), its length 25.2–34.4% SL; mouth terminal; snout slightly pointed in lateral view; no subopercular spines; dorsal and anal fins well separated from caudal fin; single row (except anteriorly on premaxilla) of rectangular incisors in each jaw, lacking posteriorly hooked tips; large circular gap absent between anterior parts of premaxilla in dorsal view; disc size moderate, its length 15.8–20.6% SL; disc region D and anterior central portion of disc region A without flattened papillae; head sensory canal pores well developed, including 2 nasal, lacrimal and postorbital, and 3 preopercular pores; body without elongated spots or stripes. Morphological changes with growth and sexual dimorphism of the new species are also described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propherallodus longipterus sp. nov. (Gobiesocidae: Diplocrepinae) is described on the basis of three specimens (17.0-22.8 mm in standard length: SL) from the Philippines. The new species is characterized by the following characters: 8 or 9 dorsal-fin rays; 8 anal-fin rays; 23 or 24 pectoral-fin rays; 34 vertebrae; upper end of gill membrane level with 7th or 8th pectoral-fin ray base in lateral view; posterior nostril located slightly behind anterior margin of eye; head size moderate, length 30.3-32.1% of SL; disc size moderate, length 19.4-21.5% SL; caudal-peduncle depth 8.7-9.7% SL, 1.5-1.8 in caudal-peduncle length; dorsal- and anal-fin bases long, 14.8-17.8 and 15.7-17.3% SL, respectively; pre-dorsal-fin length 66.8-69.0% SL; dorsal-caudal length 31.1-31.8% SL. Propherallodus briggsi Shiogaki and Dotsu 1983, the most similar congeneric species, is redescribed on the basis of 10 specimens, including the holotype, and morphological changes with growth considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A taxonomic review of the clingfish genus Kopua (Gobiesocidae: Trachelochisminae) in Japan recognizes three species: K. japonica Moore, Hutchins and Okamoto 2012, K. vermiculata Shinohara and Katayama 2015 and K. yoko sp. nov. Kopua japonica and K. vermiculata are redescribed with revised diagnoses on the basis of 20 specimens (10.4-30.4 mm standard length; SL) and the holotype, respectively. Kopua japonica is similar to K. vermiculata in head sensory pore characters (normally single nasal and postocular canal pores). However, the former differs distinctly from the latter as follows: 6-8 (modally 7) gill rakers (vs. 4 or 6); 31-33 (33) vertebrae (vs. 35); anus slightly closer to posterior margin of disc than to anal-fin origin (vs. much closer to posterior margin of disc); snout length 5.3-8.7 (mean 7.0) % SL (vs. 9.2 % SL); disc length 21.2-24.0 (22.8) % SL (vs. 18.8 % SL); pre-dorsal- and anal-fin lengths 72.9-78.4 (75.2) and 78.1-82.8 (80.1) % SL, respectively (vs. 67.5 and 73.6 % SL); and two stripes on cheek (vs. a triangular blotch). Kopua yoko sp. nov., based on 14 specimens (17.7-28.8 mm SL) from the Pacific coast of southern Japan, Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, is characterized by the following combination of characters: 6 or 7 (modally 6) dorsal-fin rays; 4-6 (5) anal-fin rays; 21 or 22 (21) pectoral-fin rays; 4-6 (5 or 6) gill rakers; 31-33 (31) vertebrae; a single (rarely two) nasal canal pores; two lacrimal and preopercular canal pores; snout length 6.5-7.9 (mean 7.1) % SL; gill opening depth 5.8-7.1 (6.5) % SL; least interorbital width 2.0-3.7 (2.6) % SL; disc length 20.3-25.0 (23.1) % SL, disc region D without flattened papillae; caudal-peduncle depth 8.1-10.2 (9.2) % SL; anus slightly closer to posterior margin of disc than to anal-fin origin; pre-dorsal- and anal-fin lengths 71.6-77.1 (73.9) and 77.0-83.7 (80.4) % SL, respectively; post-dorsal-caudal length 12.6-15.0 (13.8) % SL; arch-shaped blotches on lateral aspect of body; and two reddish-orange stripes on cheek. Morphological changes with growth in K. japonica and K. yoko sp. nov. are also described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]