Taxonomic revision of the Indo-Pacific leiognathid fishes

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The leiognathid fishes (Osteichthyes : Perciformes : Leiognathidae) from the Indo-Padfic were reviewed taxonomically, based on the field collections from Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, and the museum collections from all over the Indo-Pacific (from the east coast of Africa and Red Sea to Micronesia, north to central Japan, south to northern Australia) including type materials. Results obtained are summarized as follows :1.The genus Leiognathus, having been in the most taxonomical confusion thorough 20th Century, consists of 26 valid species (23 included in 5 complexes, or species groups, and 3 independent species). These valid species include 4 undescribed species. The scientific names in some species changed because their synonymies were elucidated.2.Taxonomical studies have been almost finished on Leiognathus aureus complex, L.splendens complex and L.decorus complex. Although L.fasciatus complex and L.oblongus complex were tentatively revised here, more detailed and intense investigation is still needed.3.The genera Gaza and Secutor having been recently revised taxonomically were reexamined and validated. Each genus consists of 5 valid species.4.Three genera and 36 species, therefore, constitute the family Leiognathidae. Keys to genera and species were provided, and diagnostic characters, distributional notes and synonyms were described in the report.5.The abovementioned complexes possibly become genera by the future study.6.Taxonomical studies on the marine fishes, e.g.Atherinidae and Gerreidae, were conducted accompanied with this study, and a few new species belonging to these families were described.