• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2013

Seven individuals (16.1~29.1 mm in length) which were estimated with fishes of genus Abudefduf were collected in Seogwipo, Jeju Island in the summer of 2011 and 2012. Among them, five individuals (20.8~29.1 mm SL) are similar to Abudefduf notatus, based on morphological characters such as yellow transverse band on the body, one small black spot on the base of the pectoral fin, and yellow caudal fin. On the other hand, two individuals (16.1 mm, 17.0 mm SL) differ from them in several light transverse bands and transparent rays of all fins except for pelvic fin, and anterior transparent head with only one (16.1 mm). According to the results of molecular analyses of 578 base pairs of mtDNA 16S rRNA sequences, these individuals correspond to A. notatus adult, with a high bootstrap value of 95% (genetic distance, d=0.002). Therefore, this study shows that the individuals more than 20.8 mm similar to adult body color but the 16.1 mm individual differs to that of adult. We confirm that this species changes to body color during their early life stages. This result regards as a survival strategy to protect themselves against their predator during their early life stages.