First Records of Uropterygius oligospondylus (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) from Minami-iwo-to Island, Southern Japan

Abstract

Four specimens from Minami-iwo-to island of Volcano Islands were identified as Uropterygius oligospondylus Chen, Randall, and Loh in Loh et al., 2008. It is the first identified record from Japan and the northernmost record of the species. Uropterygius oligospondylus can be characterized by the following characters: total vertebrae 100–103; body gray with blackish reticular pattern; jaws teeth in two or three rows; anus close to mid-body; head 13.7–16.7% TL; trunk 32.8–36.6% TL; body depth at gill opening 5.8–8.3% TL; eye diameter 3.9–5.3% of head length; snout 16.2–20.3% of head length; and presence of a distinct notch above mid-eye. A new Japanese standard name “Kobu-kikai-utsubo” is proposed for the species. The position of the fourth infraorbital pores from original description should be revised as “far behind posterior end of eye”.