Kopua japonica Moore, Hutchins & Okamoto, 2012
Japanese deepwater clingfish
photo by Okamoto, M.

Family:  Gobiesocidae (Clingfishes and singleslits), subfamily: Protogobiesocinae
Max. size:  2.96 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 225 - 228 m
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: East China Sea, Japan.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-6; Anal soft rays: 5-5. This species is has large eyes, separated by a very narrow interorbital, and has the distinctive fringed posterior ventral sucking disc. It is distinguished from Kopua nuimata and Kopua kuiteri by having 5 anal fin rays (vs. 8 or 9 and 7 in the latter species, respectively) and 3 sensory head pores (vs. 7 and 2 in the latter species, respectively). It is further distinct from K. nuimata by a lower dorsal fin ray count (6 vs. 10 or 11). Color when fresh (based on photo of freshly collected holotype): base colour pale cream-white, with numerous bright reddish orange bars on sides of body that merge dorsally to form distinctive arches; dorsum with numerous yellowish bands on pink-orange background; head and operculum orange; eye gold, tending blackish dorsally, with pale ring around a black pupil; all fins are translucent orange, except pelvic fins, which are hyaline white (Ref. 90872).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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