A Rare Syngnathid Fish, Microphis argulus, Recorded from a River in Amami-Oshima Island

Abstract

A specimen of a rare Syngnathid species, Microphis argulus (Peters, 1855) was collected from Katoku-gawa River in Amami-Oshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. This occurrence represents the third record in the northern hemisphere for the species, which is previously known only from two rivers in Iriomote Island, and Amami-Oshima Island is the northernmost limit of the range.

It is considered that the occurrence in Amami-Oshima Island is due to transportation of the larvae or juvenile stages by the Kuroshio Current from Iriomote Island.