Abstract
Specimens of syngnathid fish Hippocampus kuda were collected from Kamino-kae Fishing Port in Nakatosa Town and Shimizu Port in Tosa-shimizu City, both on the western coast of Kochi Prefecture. Prior to the present study, the occurence of this fish in KOchi Prefecture had been recorded only from Urado Estuary on the central coast of this district. This study reconfirmed the occurence of this fish in Urado Estuary. Various-sized specimens in the present study strongly suggested that spawing and nurturing of this species widely occurred on the central to western coasts of Kochi Prefecture. Fourteen dorsal and three anal fin rays, and 12 trunk rings found in a single specimen were recognized as new intraspecific variation of this species.
