japonicus, Muraenichthys Machida [Y.] & Ohta [S.] 1993:323, Figs. 2-5 [Japanese Journal of Ichthyology v. 40 (no. 3); ref. 21006] Sea of Japan, off Mishima, Yamaguchi Prefecture, southwestern Japan, 34°58.08'-34°58.11'N, 131°04.87'-131°05.06'E, depth 74-78 meters. Holotype (unique): BSKU 81581. •Valid as Muraenichthys japonicus Machida & Ohta 1993 -- (Machida & Ohta 1996:79 [ref. 22154], Nakabo 2000:215 [ref. 25086], Nakabo 2002:215 [ref. 26001]). •Valid as Scolecenchelys japonica (Machida & Ohta 1993) -- (Castle & McCosker 1999:121 [ref. 24075], Hibino et al. 2012:182 [ref. 32443], Hibino et al. 2013:45 [ref. 32418]). •Synonym of Scolecenchelys aoki (Jordan & Snyder 1901) -- (Hibino & Kimura 2015:5 [ref. 33951]). Current status: Synonym of Scolecenchelys aoki (Jordan & Snyder 1901). Ophichthidae: Myrophinae. Distribution: Western North Pacific: Japan (if valid). Habitat: marine.