An Anguillid Leptocephalus Anguilla japonica from the Waters South of Miyako Island, Okinawa, Japan

Abstract

A leptocephalus larva (58mm SL) of Anguilla japonica Temminek et Schlegel was collected with IKMT of 6 feet type having 3mm mesh size in a depth of less than 200m over a bottom depth of about 1, 000m at 24°06.2'N, 125°46.8'E, about 40 miles south of Miyako Island, Okinawa, on December 4, 1978, 19:55-20:05 hours. Identification was confirmed from the following char-acters: total myomere 117, predorsal 66, preanal 75, ano-dorsal 8, first vertical blood vessei at 15th myomere and last vertical blood vessel at 44th myomere. The present larva was the 57th specimen of A. japonica, and the shallowest and the northernmost recorded. The body length, and season, time of day, water layer and water temperature of occurrence of the present larva were similar to those of larvae collected previously. The main habitat of the Japanese eel larvae seems to be located in more southern waters than the present surveyed area.