Leptoscolopsis nagasakiensis Tanaka, 1915 Pentapodus nagasakiensis, the Japanese whiptail or Japanese butterfish, is a species of marine fish in the coral bream family (Nemipteridae) of order Perciformes.

[3] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the genus Pentapodus within the family Nemipteridae which it places in the order Spariformes.

[4] Pentapodus nagasakiensis has a specific name which reflects its type locality, the fish market in Nagasaki.

The scales on the head extend forward to a level with the front edge of the eyes and the rear nostrils.

[6] Itis found at depths between 20 and 100 m (66 and 328 ft) in deeper offshore waters but it will swim into shallower estuaries and harbours.