Southward range extension of the Marukawa’s sculpin, Marukawichthys ambulator (Actinopterygii, Perciformes, Rhamphocottidae), from Taiwan

The fish family Rhamphocottidae is a small group of fishes that primarily inhabits cold temperate waters of the North Pacific Ocean. With 3 genera and 5 species recognized as valid, only one species, Ereunias grallator Jordan et Snyder, 1901, has been reported from southern Taiwan. Here, we report three specimens of Marukawichthys ambulator Sakamoto, 1931 collected off northeastern Taiwan. Detailed description of the specimens is provided and compared to other specimens collected from Japan, with variations noted. It is suggested that M. ambulator has a rather wide range of distribution in the western North Pacific.