Taxonomic review of the Korean lumpsucker "Do-chi" reported previously as Eumicrotremus orbis (Pisces: Cyclopteridae) based on morphological and molecular characters

The Korean lumpsucker, “Do-chi”, reported previously as Eumicrotremus orbis, was reinvestigated based on specimens collected from Korea, Japan, and the USA. Morphological and genetic analyses showed that “Do-chi” corresponds to Eumicrotremus taranetzi and clearly differs from E. orbis. Eumicrotremus taranetzi is readily distinguishable from E. orbis by its large, high spiny tubercles with weak, small or no prickles (small, low spiny tubercles with distinct prickles in E. orbis) and 3–4 pairs of spiny tubercles in the dorsal rows (five pairs in E. orbis). We compared partial sequences (466 bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genes of “Do-chi” and other Eumicrotremus species. “Do-chi” and E. taranetzi were clustered by the smallest Kimura two-parameter genetic distance (d = 0.000–0.002) and were clearly separated from E. orbis (d = 0.035–0.037). Therefore, our results suggest that the scientific name of the Korean lumpsucker, “Do-chi” should be changed to E. taranetzi.