New record of nomeus gronovii (Pisces: Nomeidae) from Korea

Abstract

A new record of Nomeus gronovii is described here based on a single specimen collected off the Jeju Island, Korea. The species has a blotched and spotted pattern on the body, 41 vertebrae, and a large pectoral fin with a white lower part. A molecular analysis of the partial (500 bp) cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene showed that this specimen is closely related to specimens of N. gronovii collected in South Africa (Kimura- two-parameter distance = 0.006-0.012). A new Korean name, “Ga-neun-dong-gang-yeon-chi”, is proposed for this species.