@article{oai:kochi.repo.nii.ac.jp:00002045, author = {角田, 慎一郎 and 町田, 吉彦}, journal = {Bulletin of marine sciences and fisheries, Kochi University}, month = {Mar}, note = {application/pdf, Two species of the snake-eel genus Ophichthus were studied based on 89 O. urolophus and 13 O. asakusae specimens from Tosa Bay, and the holotype of O. roseus from Tokyo Bay, now referred to as O. asakusae. The two species are not distinguishable from each other by the origin of the dorsal fin in relation to the tip of pectoral fin and the depth of tail, which have been thought to be important characteristics for each species. However, O. urolophus differs from O. asakusae by having a snout with a narrow, short and shallow hollow on its dorsal surface (wide, long and deep hollow in the latter), cheek with a shallow groove or smooth (with a deep groove), skin near the tip of tail smooth with many short bristles (wrinkled with many pits),14-19 predorsal vertebrae (11-12) and 134-139 total vertebrae (126-132), clearly indicating that O. roseus is a junior synonym of O. asakusae. In addition, the two species differ in osteological features of the maxillary, angular and hypulas, and the arrangement of the coracoid and scapula. The relationship between O. urolophus and O. tsuchidae is briefly discussed.}, pages = {51--69}, title = {土佐湾ウミヘビ科ウミヘビ属魚類2種の再検討とニシキウミヘビについて}, volume = {20}, year = {2001} }