The parascylliid genusCirrhoscyllium Smith & Radcliffe, 1913, is reviewed on the basis of 35 specimens, including type specimens. Redescriptions and additional diagnoses are given for each species, and a key to species provided. Three species are recognized as valid:C. expolitum Smith & Radcliffe, 1913,C. japonicum Kamohara, 1943, andC. formosanum Teng, 1959.C. japonicum differs from its congeners by having distinct saddle blotches on the back, a pair of horse shoe—shaped saddles between the pectoral and pelvic fins, a longer interspace between the anal fin and lower caudal lobe relative to head length and to second dorsal fin base, and a larger number of precaudal vertebrae.C. expolitum differs fromC. formosanum by having a short first dorsal fin base relative to head length, and a smaller number of precaudal and total vertebrae. Although Kamohara (1961) proposed a neotype forC. japonicum Kamohara, 1943, his designation was invalid according to Art. 75b (i) and 75d (1,2) of I. C. Z. N. (1985), and re-designation of a neotype forC. japonicum is included.