Records of Sargocentron rubrum (Holocentriformes; Holocentridae) and Scarus ovifrons(Labriformes; Scaridae) from Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

Abstract

A specimen of Sargocentron rubrum (Forsskål, 1775) and two specimens of Scarus ovifrons Temminck and Schlegel, 1846, caught by local fishermen off the coast of Kyoto Prefecture, Japan in December 2021, represent the first and northernmost records in the Sea of Japan, respectively. Both species are likely to have been transported northwards by the Tsushima Warm Current. Because the two specimens of S. ovifrons were collected at almost the same time in adjacent areas, it is possible that they had been part of an aggregation of individuals. Because S. ovifrons contains a palytoxin-like toxin, great care should be taken to avoid its accidental sale at fish markets.