A new uranoscopid fish, Ichthyscopus pollicaris sp. nov., is described from East Asia waters around Taiwan and Japan. It can be distinguished from other congeners in having the ventral midline of the belly forming 3 prominent prolonged skin flaps, its posterior nostril oval to circular in shape, its pectoral-fin base lacking distinct blotches, and the uppermost pectoral-fin ray and adjacent interspace membrane with 1 or 2 white spots. The biogeography of I. pollicaris is discussed.
Keywords: Pisces, Perciformes, Taxonomy, Biogeography, Uranoscopidae.