First Records of the Pughead-pipefish Bulbonaricus davaoensis (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) from Japan

Abstract

Five specimens (41.2–47.0 mm standard length) of the Indo-Pacific species Bulbonaricus davaoensis (Herald, 1953), previously recorded from Kenya, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Fiji, were collected from Okinoerabu Island, Amami Islands, Ryukyu Islands and Chichi Island, Ogasawara Islands. The specimens represent the first Japanese and northernmost (Okinoerabu Island) records of the species. A detailed description is given for the specimens and the new standard Japanese name “Shuuyajiri-chin’yojiuo” is proposed for the species. Photographs of fresh metamorphosed adult specimens, a fresh larval specimen, and live individuals of B. davaoensis are provided.