Key to species of Larimichthys

1a Scales all cycloid; 2nd anal spine longer than eye diameter; gas bladder appendage with dorsal and ventral limbs, rather short without long branches; anal fin soft rays 7; vertebrae 25................................................................................................ Larimichthys pamoides (northwestern Australia and southern New Guinea)

1b Scales mostly ctenoid on body, cycloid below pectoral fin and on head........................................... 2

2a Snout length greater than eye diameter; gill raker at the angle of first gill arch shorter than gill filament; 2nd anal spine equal or slightly shorter than eye diameter; gas bladder appendage with two equally short limbs without elongated branches; dorsal fin soft rays 29-32; outer gill rakers of first arch 22–25; vertebrae 24.............................................................................................. Larimichthys terengganui sp. nov. (east coast of Peninsular Malaysia)

2b Snout length less than eye diameter; gill raker at the angle of first gill arch longer than gill filament, gas bladder appendage with elongated branches on ventral limb.................................................................... 3

3a Caudal peduncle length 3 times or more of its depth; 2nd anal spine equal or slightly longer than eye diameter; scales small 8– 10 transverse rows between dorsal origin and lateral line; ventral limb of gas bladder appendage with two equally elongated branches; vertebrae 25.................................... Larimichthys crocea (Fig. 5) (Yellow and East China Seas)

3b Caudal peduncle length less than 2.5 times of its depth; 2nd anal spine shorter than eye diameter; scales moderately large 5–8 transverse rows between dorsal origin and lateral line; ventral limb of gas bladder appendage with elongated anterior branch and a short posterior branch; vertebrae 28.................. Larimichthys polyactis (Fig. 6) (Yellow and East China Seas)