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Occasional examinations of some marine fishes in Japan revealed, in addition to other parasites, the following eight species of philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) (all females only): Philometra kidakoi sp. n. from the ovary of Gymnothorax kidako (Temminck et Schlegel) (Muraenidae); Philometra pinnicola (Yamaguti, 1935) from the operculum of Epinephelus akaara (Temminck et Schlegel) (Serranidae); Philometra sebastisci Yamaguti, 1941 from the ovary of Sebastes cheni Barsukov (Scorpaenidae) (new host); Philometra madai Quiazon, Yoshinaga et Ogawa, 2008 from the ovary of Acanthopagrus schlegelii (Bleeker) (Sparidae) (new host); Philometra isaki Quiazon, Yoshinaga et Ogawa, 2008 from the ovary of Parapristipoma trilineatum (Thunberg) (Haemulidae); Philometra sp. from the ovary of Synanceia verrucosa Bloch et Schneider (Synanceiidae); Congerinema japonicum gen. et sp. n. from the subcutaneous tissue of Conger myriaster (Brevoort) (Congridae); and Clavinema mariae (Layman, 1930) from the operculum of Acentrogobius pflaumii (Bleeker) (Gobiidae). Specimens of all species are described based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations. Philometra kidakoi sp. n. is the first gonad-infecting philometrid from the Muraenidae. The new monotypic genus Congerinema gen. n. is characterised by the unique net-like cuticular ornamentation on the female body. Clavinema mariae is considered to be a complex of several cryptic species and a need of the discovery of conspecific males is stressed (this also concerns other philometrid species with unknown males). At present, the fauna of philometrid nematodes parasitising marine fishes in Japanese waters is represented by 22 nominal species belonging to four genera.

We analyzed the levels of total mercury (T-Hg), methylmercury (M-Hg) and Cd in the muscle and liver of kidako moray eels (Gymnothorax kidako) of different body lengths caught off Kochi Prefecture in southern Japan. Furthermore, we analyzed the levels of organohalogen compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), p,p'-1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p'-DDE), trans-nonachlor and 2,3,3',4,4',5,5'-heptachloro-1'-methyl-1-2'-bipyrrole (Q1) and stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ(13)C) and nitrogen (δ(15)N) in the muscle of eels. The concentrations of T-Hg and M-Hg in the muscle (edible part) were 0.31±0.08 µg/wet g and 0.25±0.06 µg/wet g (n=26), respectively, and those in large eels exceeded the Japanese legislated levels of T-Hg (0.4 µg/wet g) and M-Hg (0.3 µg/wet g) in fish and shellfish, respectively. The T-Hg and M-Hg concentrations in the liver were markedly higher than those in the muscle, respectively. The ratios of M-Hg to T-Hg in the muscle and liver were about 80 and 60%, respectively, and those ratios tended to decrease with increased body length. The Cd concentrations in the liver tended to increase proportionally with body length, while that in the muscle was trace (around or below 0.03 µg/wet g). The concentrations of PCBs, p,p'-DDE, trans-nonachlor in the muscle tended to increase proportionally with body length, while that of Q1 did not. The δ(13)C and δ(15)N values in the kidako moray eel were markedly higher than those in offshore habit predators reported elsewhere, which may reflect the inshore habitat of this eels.

Gymnothorax kidako (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) OkAΟR Muraena kidako Temminck & Schlegel, 1846: 266, pl. 117 (type locality: Nagasaki, Japan). Gymnothorax kidako (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846): Chen, 1956: 80; Chen & Weng, 1967: 25; Chen, 1969: 128; Shen 1984 a: 108; Chen & Yu, 1986: 248; Shen et al., 1993: 104; Chen et al., 1994: 51; Chen, 2004: 28; Shao et al., 2008: 238; Loh et al., in press:table 1. Remarks. A common species collected by hook and line at shallow waters around Taiwan.

Gymnothorax kidako (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) OkA��R Muraena kidako Temminck & Schlegel, 1846: 266, pl. 117 (type locality: Nagasaki, Japan). Gymnothorax kidako (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846): Chen, 1956: 80; Chen & Weng, 1967: 25; Chen, 1969: 128; Shen 1984 a: 108; Chen & Yu, 1986: 248; Shen et al., 1993: 104; Chen et al., 1994: 51; Chen, 2004: 28; Shao et al., 2008: 238; Loh et al., in press:table 1. Remarks. A common species collected by hook and line at shallow waters around Taiwan., Published as part of Ho, Hsuan-Ching, Smith, David G., Mccosker, John E., Hibino, Yusuke, Loh, Kar-Hoe, Tighe, Kenneth A. & Shao, Kwang-Tsao, 2015, Annotated checklist of eels (orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes) from Taiwan, pp. 140-189 in Zootaxa 4060 (1) on page 157, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4060.1.16, http://zenodo.org/record/243651

In this study, the complete mitogenome sequence of the longfang moray, Enchelynassa canina (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) has been sequenced by the next-generation sequencing method. The length of the assembled mitogenome is 16,592 bp, which includes 13 protein coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, and 2 ribosomal RNAs genes. The overall base composition of longfang moray is 28.4% for A, 28.0% for C, 18.4% for G, 25.1% for T, and show 82% identities to Kidako moray, Gymnothorax kidako. The complete mitogenome of the longfang moray provides an essential and important DNA molecular data for further phylogeography and evolutionary analysis for moray eel phylogeny.

In this study, the complete mitogenome sequence of the Zebra moray, Gymnomuraena zebra (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) has been sequenced by the next-generation sequencing method. The assembled mitogenome consisting of 16,576 bp includes 13 protein coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, and two ribosomal RNAs genes. The overall base composition of Zebra moray is 30.2% for A, 26.8% for C, 17.2% for G, and 25.8% for T and show 80% identities to Kidako moray, Gymnothorax kidako. The complete mitogenome of the Zebra moray provides an essential and important DNA molecular data for further phylogeography and evolutionary analysis for moray eel phylogeny.

The anatomy of the monogenean Enoplocotyle kidakoi sp. nov., a skin parasite of the moray eel, Gymnothorax kidako, in Japan, is described. E. kidakoi is readily distinguishable from the other two members of the genus, namely E. minima and E. hawaiiensis, by the structure of the copulatory apparatus, which is supported by two independent tubular sclerites. The oncomiracidium of E. kidakoi is unciliated and has no trace of hamuli or a pseudohaptor. The relationship between Enoplocotyle spp. and other monogeneans is discussed and previous suggestions that Enoplocotyle and the acanthocotylids share a common ancestry are supported. This affinity is recognized by the inclusion of the Enoplocotylidae with the Acanthocotylidae in a newly-defined superfamily, the Acanthocotyloidea. Eggs of E. kidakoi require to make contact with host skin before hatching takes place.

The commercially dressed skins of fish and marine mammals, viz, Carcharinus japonicsu (T & S.), Trionace glauca (L.) Scoliodon walbeehmi (BLEEKER), Gymnothorax kidako (T. & S.). Zalophus lobatus (GRAY), Delphinus delphis L., Physeter catodon L., and Balaenoptera musculus L. were examined under the microscope with Suzuki's universal microscopical printing method, which consists of getting impression of the surface of the material on thin transparent sheet of celluloid. The fibrous matter of the leather was found mostly running obliquely longitudi-nally and united with transversely directed one so that it forms an irregularly shaped rhombic network. The general feature of the net-work is evident in the configuration of the upper-surface which is so characteristic to each species as to aid its identification. (Fig. 1). The findings stand in harmony with the fact that the leathers of aquatic animals are liable to be torn transversaly when used as boots, bags, etc.