We collected leiognathid fishes from the Hainan Island and Beibu Gulf between November 2007 and December 2008.Ten of these specimens were identified as Nuchequula blochii (Valenciennes 1835),which is the first record of this species in China's waters.These specimens are distinguished by the combination of these characteristics:breast fully scaled,cheek naked,anteroventral profile of the lower jaw almost straight,a conspicuous dark blotch distally on the anterior part of spinous portion of dorsal fin,a yellow blotch distally on posterior part of spinous portion of dorsal fin,and a dark blotch on nape.This paper reviews the genus Nuchequula and describes three species that occur in China's waters.
