The twenty six specimens of leptocephali (15.8–32.6 mm TL) of the family Congridae, collected from southeastern waters offshore of Jeju Island during August 2014, and were identified by means of morphology and genetics. Those specimens were identified as belonging to the family Congridae based on various combinations of morphological characters. An analysis of the partial 12S rRNA sequences (886 base pairs) of mitochondrial DNA showed that our specimens must be Gnathophis nystromi, because their sequences were concordant with those of G. nystromi adult (genetic distance= 0.001), furthermore their total myomeres being consistent with those of G. nystromi adult. Catch rates of G. nystromi leptocephali were higher in the offshore regions than coastal regions of Jeju Island. The smallest leptocephali (< 20 mm TL) were collected offshore from Jeju Island. We hypothesize that one of the spawning grounds of G. nystromi is located offshore in the Jeju Island. In conclusion, the hatched preleptocephali of G. nystromi might have been transported from offshore near Jeju Island to the Korea Strait by the Kuroshio Current and Tsushima Warm Current.

• 지환성 | Hwan–Sung JI
• 최정화(국립수산과학원 자원관리과) | Jung Hwa CHOI (Fisheries Resources Management Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Busan 619–705, Korea) Corresponding author
• 윤상철(국립수산과학원 자원관리과) | Sang Chul YOON (Fisheries Resources Management Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Busan 619–705, Korea)
• 주형운 | Hyeong Woon JOO