Abstract

A single specimen (13.7 mm in standard length) belonging to the family Pegasidae was collected using an ichthyoplankton net from the surface layer of Ulsan (35°21ʹ23.6ʺN, 129°27ʹ51.5ʺE), Korea on 24 May 2024. The specimen was identified based on the mitochondrial COI sequences (654 bp) and was determined to be Eurypegasus draconis (Linnaeus, 1766), which is the first record in Korea. E. draconis is identified by having 3 pairs of dorsolateral body plates, 4 pairs of ventrolateral body plates, a pair of deep pits on dorsal surface of head posterior to orbits, eyes visible in ventral view, 8 tail rings, and ventral ridges of rostrum more expanded than dorsal ridges. We suggest the new Korean names ‘Na-bang-jul-go-gi-gwa’ and ‘Jjalb-eun-na-bang-jul-go-gi’ for the family Peasidae and E. draconis, respectively.