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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]

Egglestonichthys fulmen sp. nov. (Teleostei: Gobiidae) is described on the basis of a single specimen (21.7 mm in standard length) collected from 250 m depth off Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. The new species is characterized by the following combination of characters: anal-fin rays I, 9; pectoral-fin rays 17, lower rays not free from membrane; longitudinal scale series 25; transverse scales 8; pre-dorsalfin scale rows 8; cheek and opercle naked; pelvic frenum absent; caudal fin lanceolate, its length 32.2% of SL; interorbital width very narrow, 1.2% of HL (much narrower than pupil diameter); no spicules or odontoid processes on outer surface of gill arches; and body whitish, upper half with broken zigzag pattern of bright yellow patches and associated scattered black melanophores in fresh specimens (melanophores retained in preserved specimens). Several characters, including pectoral-fin ray count, interorbital width, and coloration uniquely distinguish the new species from congeners. [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]