| Remarks |
Abstract: Two new species of blennioid fish, Neoclinus monogrammus and N. nudiceps, are described on the basis of, respectively, ten specimens from the Boso Peninsula, Pacific coast of Japan, depth 28 m, and seven specimens from the Oki Islands, Sea of Japan, depth 7-9 m. The two new species are distinguished from all other congeners by the following combination of characters: lateral-line canal continuous, with single row of pores; two cirri on
orbit; no true ocellus on anterior part of dorsal fin; dorsal fin low, not elevated
anteriorly in either sex; no narrow membrane along anterior edge of 1st dorsal-fin spine. Neoclinus monogrammus and N. nudiceps differ in the following characters: pore counts and extent of lateral-line canal (9-15 pores, reaching to below 6th to 9th dorsal-fin spine in the former vs 3-5 pores, reaching to below 3rd to 4th dorsal-fin spine in the latter); counts of supraorbital cirri tips (anterior and posterior cirri with 10-28 and 3-14 tips, respectively, vs. 2-6 and 1-2 tips, respectively); male color pattern on head (scattered reddish spots vs no conspicuous spots); body depth in proportion to standard length (11.3-13.4% vs 13.0-15.4%); and head depth in proportion to head length (51.2-58.0% vs 56.6–60.6%). |