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This is larva of Zanclus cornutus (Linnaeus, 1758). Total length about 50mm. I still have never encountered any more small size. They usually appear near the surface of water. The body is semi-transparent, it has appeared faintly black pattern. 3rd spine of dorsal fin is extended. Perceptible bumps of located above adult eye does not exist. Larva of Zanclus cornutus (Linnaeus, 1758) TL:50mm Larva of Zanclus cornutus (Linnaeus, 1758) TL:50mm REFERENCES: Nakabo, T. (ed.), 2013.  Fishes of Japan with pictorial keys to the species, third edition. Tokai University Press, Kanagawa, Pp, 2428. (3-Volume Set)  (in Japanese). Okiyama M. (ed), 2014.  An Atlas of Early Stage Fishes in Japan Second Edition Tokai University Press, Japan. :Pp,1912. (in Japanese).

Somehow, larva of the Pseudochromidae has been no report so far at Japan. Pseudochromidae has been missing also at * Okiyama, 2014. This photo was shooting at Iriomote Island of Okinawa to early June 2016. TL; about 25mm. Depth about 3m. Meristic Characters  - D Ⅲ, 22; A Ⅲ 13; P 1 17(this photo) Pigment  - This larva has orange pigment, it's dispersed throughout over the head and each scale, base of dorsal and anus fin, caudal fin base. Study - Maybe, I'm thinking either species of Genus Pseudochromis from the Meristic character. Genus Pseudochromis are known six species of the following in sea of Japan. Above all, it seems to be one of the following two. Pseudochromis tapeinosoma Bleeker, 1853 - (Japanese name : Katsuiro-nise suzume) D Ⅲ, 21-23; A Ⅲ 12-14; P 1  17-19; LLp 20-27+4-11; Pred.S 10-15.  Pseudochromis cyanotaenia Bleeker, 1857 - (Japanese name : Ryukyu-nise suzume) D Ⅲ, 21-23; A Ⅲ 12-14; P 1  16-20; LLp 23-31+6-11; Pre...

This is a Juvenile of  Polydactylus sp.  It's a fish of Family  Polynemidae . Polynemidae species is rare fish at Scuba Diving.  It inhabits the sandy bottom, sand, mud bottom of the bay. Sometimes entering the brackish water. and It's often observed around the beach. But, probably, they are doing "abortive migration" at Japanese sea. Because, Adult is not a lot in Japan. Juvenile of Polydactylus   TL:50mm Juvenile of  Polydactylus   TL:50mm Meristic Characters - D Ⅷ-Ⅰ,13; A Ⅲ, 12; P 1 13 +6; P 2  Ⅰ, 5; (This picture) I could not getting the specimen of this species. In Japan so far, Polynemidae is known only 4 species from 2 genera of Eleutheronema and Polydactylus . I did think that it's Polydactylus sexfilis of these four from”Meristic Characters”, but there was a difference in the number of pectoral fine . Since the measurement of the pectoral fin is such from the image, it might not be accu...

Taken at Kume-island Black Water Dive ®  on from 28 to 31th july 2016. The larvae had many appeared at that week, but next week was very less. Depth of appearance of larvae was mainly from 8m to until surface. Identification of Larvae of Pomacanthidae is very difficult because many species of the Meristic Characters are overlapping. Color of larvae are very similar both across species and genera. Of this time Identification was base on the color of advanced larvae. Apolemichthys trimaculatus (Cuvier, 1831) Larval stage, TL: about20mm Most of the body is silver, dorsal is reddish brown. Nape is slightly blacken. Color of caudal peduncle is orange Advanced larva advanced larva, TL: about 22mm Body yellowish, from nape to eye has dark pigment line and white framed eyespot on dorsal fin. click to enlarge

Taken at Kume-island Black Water Dive ®  on 29th july 2016. This larva is not few. If anything, it appears many on the surface thure the year. Japanese common name; Hoshi-Daruma Garei English name;  Oval Flounder Scientific name; Bothus myriaster Temminck & Schlegel,1846 Meristic Characters  - D 87; A 67; P 1  9; V 38; (This picture) B. myriaster - D 85-97; A 61-73; P 1  8-10(Eye side); V 37-39. Larva of  Bothus myriaster  Temminck & Schlegel 1846　TL:about 50mm P 1 9 (Eye side) Related species; (in Japan) Bothus mancus (Broussonet, 1782) - D 96-102; A 74-81; P 1  11-13(Eye side); V 39-40. Bothus pantherinus (Rüppell, 1831) - D 88-100; A 64-72; P 1 10-11(Eye side); V 37-38. REFERENCES: Nakabo, T. (ed.), 2013. Fishes of Japan with pictorial keys to the species, third edition. Tokai University Press, Kanagawa, Pp, 2428. (in Japanese). Okiyama M. (ed), 2014 An Atlas of Early St...