Abstract
The genus Chirolophis is characterized by two or three pairs of supraorbital tentacles; teeth on jaws forming two alternating rows, incisiform in most species;no teeth on vomer and palatines;pelvic fin with three or four rays; the presence of siphon of gill covering and postcleithrum composed of one or two elements (Makushok, 1958;Shiogaki, 1981). Along the northern coast of Japan, this genus is repreented by three species, C.japonicus, C.otohime and C.saitone (Ichthyological Society of Japan, 1981). C.saitone is separable from its congeners by its pointed teeth, mossy head and fewer number of dorsal and anal rays. C.japonicus is mainly distinguished from C.otohime by scaled cheeks.
Although the squamation on cheek among the northern blennies has been believed a specific or even generic character in previous articles (e.g., Jordan and Snyder, 1902), my observations showed that the scales on the cheek of C.otohime developed with the growth of fish.In other words, it is doubtful to separate C.japonicus from C.otohime by this character. The purpose of the present paper is to show that C.otohime is a junior synonym of C.japonicus.
