A single postlarva (9.72 mm in standard length) specimen of Crossorhombus azureus (Alcock, 1889) belonging to the family Bothidae, was collected using a bongo net from the southern sea of Korea on December 10, 2019. This species is characterized by having spines on post basipterygial processes. It has two eyes located at the opposite side in head, which accordingly belongs to pre-metamorphosis stage. Melanophores are distributed on the dorsal and anal fin base on the right side (blind side), which is regarded as a useful identification key distinguishing C. azureus from congeneric species in their postlarval stage. A molecular analysis based on mitochondrial DNA COI sequences showed that our specimen was closely matched to adult C. azureus (K2P distance = 0.017). As there is no Korean name for the genus Crossorhombus in spite of presence of Crossorhombus kobensis and its Korean name “Go-be-dung-geul-neob-chi” in Korea, we proposed a new Korean name “Dung-geul-neob-chi-sog” for the genus Crossorhombus and “Pa-lang-dung-geul-neob-chi” for the species C. azureus.

During the ichthyoplankton survey around the Chilsan Island (previously known as the biggest spawning ground of the Sciaenidae) in the southwestern sea of Korea from April to June in 2019 using ring nets, we collected a total of 12 individuals belonging to the family Sciaenidae. Using molecular methods, we identified five sciaenid species (Collichthys lucidus, Collichthys niveatus, Johnius grypotus, Nibea albiflora, and Pennahia argentata), and described and compared them on the basis of the preflexion larval stage. C. lucidus was well distinguished by the presence of occipital crests at preflexion stage. Although there were no occipital crests, preflexion larva of C. niveatus was distinguished by the absence of melanophore except for the upper part of the abdominal cavity. J. grypotus and N. albiflora were very similar morphologically, but were distinguished by myomere height (15.22-15.53% in J. grypotus vs. 11.66-12.78% in N. albiflora) in the percentage of notochord length, and eye diameter (32.58-33.37% in J. grypotus vs. 40.32-42.53% in N. albiflora) in the percentage of head length between specimens of similar size (J. grypotus: 3.22-3.23 mm, N. albiflora: 3.04-3.13 mm). P. argentata were distinguished by distribution of ventral caudal melanophore (one row of small spot in P. argentata vs. irregular patches on the central part of caudal in J. grypotus and N. albiflora). Comparative morphological studies using more diverse species must be conducted for more comprehensive understanding of the morphogenesis of Sciaenidae.

A single juvenile malacanthid specimen (Hoplolatilus chlupatyi) was collected from the South Sea of Korea and identified by DNA barcoding. This species is readily distinguished from other malacanthid species in having well developed rostral spine and elongated spines in the posttemporal and preopercle. A molecular analysis based on mitochondrial DNA COI sequences showed that this species is matched to adult H. chlupatyi (genetic distance = 0.005). Therefore, this is the first record of H. chlupatyi in Korea. We propose new Korean names, “Mu-ji-gae-og-dom-sog” for the genus Hoplolatilus and “Mu-ji-gae-og-dom” for the species H. chlupatyi.

We found ten species of larvae belonging to the family Pleuronectidae as a result of analysis on ichthyoplankton collected monthly from the East Sea, Yellow Sea, Korea Strait and East China Sea between February 2016 and May 2018 using bongo net. The ten species of pleuronectid larvae were divided into three groups in morphology. Group A had three or four bars on the lateral side of the tail: Glyptocephalus stelleri, G. kitaharae, Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae, and Hippoglossoides dubius. Group B had a row of melanophores along the dorsal and ventral side of tail: Cleisthenes pinetorum, Eopsetta grigorjewi, Dexistes rikuzenius, and Platichthys bicoloratus. Group C had dense melanophores which are covering trunk and tail entirely except caudal peduncle: Platichthys cornutus and Platichthys japonicus. The three groups did not associate with previous molecular phylogenetic studies except for the G. stelleri and G. kitaharae of the group A.

Nysius Dallas, 1852, is one of the most common and widely distributed genera under the superfamily Lygaeoidae. Species under this genus are hard to identify due to similarity of the species and variability of the coloration. The Nysius species were collected with the help of aspirator and plastic vile in the perilla crop fields in RDA, Miryang, Korea. Korean species of the Nysius were identified, and three species including a newly reported species N. inconspicuus were recognized. Morphological and genetic characteristics of species were illustrated, and a key to species of Korean Nysius was provided. The DNA barcoding information of N. plebeius and N. inconspicuus were recorded.