• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 2010

A taxonomic review of the family Sillaginidae was carried out based on two species (Sillago japonica and S. parvisquamis) collected in the coastal waters of Korea from 2008 to 2009 and three species (S. parvisquamis, S. aeolus and S. sihama) kept in the museum. Sillago japonica was easily distinguished from S. parvisquamis and S. sihama by lateral line scales (70~73 in S. japonica vs. 77~81 in S. parvisquamis vs. 67~70 in S. sihama) and scales above lateral line (3~4 vs. 7 vs. 5~6, respectively). Sillago aeolus differed from the other three species in having dark brown blotches on the side of body. We newly found morphological differences in some measurements (snout length, pectoral fin length and $2^{nd}$ anal spine length) and the number of vertebrae between Korean and Japanese S. parvisquamis, suggesting the two may be different populations. Although four sillaginid species are known from Korea, only two species (S. japonica and S. parvisquamis) were found in this study; accordingly, the distribution of the remaining two species (S. sihama and S. aeolus) may be restricted to subtropical waters.