A rare snailfish, Liparis bikunin, collected from Iwate, Japan

Abstract

A single mature female specimen of the rare snailfish Liparis bikunin Matsubara and Iwai, 1954 was collected from a scallop aquaculture ground in Miyako, Iwate, Japan. The specimen, representing the southernmost record and second overall of the species, is described in detail, including the proximal pectoral radials. The species has been incorrectly characterized as having the anus closer to the anal-fin origin than to the pelvic disk in previous descriptions.