Two Large Postlarvae of Ateleopus japonicus (Osteichthyes : Ateleopodiformes : Ateleopodidae) Collected from Senzaki Bay and Hagi Bay, Yamaguchi, Japan

Two large fish postlarvae, caught by dip net at the sea surface in Senzaki Bay, Nagato, and by mid-water trawl in Hagi Bay, Hagi, both in Yamaguchi Prefecture, were identified as Ateleopus japonicus Bleeker, 1854 (Family Ateleopodidae), on the basis of meristic and tooth characters. The postlarvae were characterized by elongated dorsal- and pelvic-fin rays, and had 22 orange bands and many yellowish lines on the translucent body and anal fin, respectively. This is the first description of postlarvae of Ateleopus japonicus. Color photographs are included. The likelihood of two transport routes, from the southwestern Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, are discussed.