Abstract
Three species are recognized within the fish previously described as Neoclinus bryope (Jordan et Snyder) from Shirahama, Japan. These three species are separable primarily by the combination of two meristic characters, the number of vertebrae and the total number of cephalic sensory pores. The true N. bryope has 47 to 49 vertebrae and 49 to 57 cephalic sensory pores. One new species, N. okazakii has 45 to 47 vertebrae and 58 to 78 pores. Another new species, N. chihiroe has 44 to 46 vertebrae and 49 to 55 pores. The true N. bryope is redescribed and the two new species are described on the basis of the specimens from Shirahama.
