The nemipterid fish Nemipterus furcosus (Valenciennes) has been misidentified by most recent authors as N. peronii (Valenciennes). N. furcosus is here recognised as a valid species, and is rediscribed. N. peronii is recognised as a senior synonym of N. tolu (Valenciennes). Synonyms of N. furcosus include Dentex upeneoides Bleeker, D. hypselognathus Bleeker, D. sundanensis Bleeker, Nemipterus worcesteri Evermann & Seale, N. robustus Ogilby and N. guntheri Ogilby. N. furcosus is widely distributed throughout the tropical West Pacific from southern Japan to north eastern Australia, and in the eastern Indian Ocean including the Gulf of Mannar, Sri Lanka, the Andaman Sea, Strait of Malacca and north western Australia.