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Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), xx, p. 66 sqq. Key Hi B: July 1927. a ae a es ae ee . —e A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 419 These remarkable fishes are marine and carnivorous. They possess considerable powers of swimming, but usually attach themselves to sharks and other fishes, whales, turtles or boats, and are thus carried about. They do no harm to the animal to which they attach them- selves... The Remora was known to the ancients and was by many thought While this part was passing through the press, the diagnoses of the new genera and species described herein on pages 431, 437, 448, 456, 525, 811, 815, 821, 823, 824, 834, 864, 873, 879, 919, 923, 925, 927, 934, 958, 994, 995 appeared in the Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), xx, p. 66 sqq. Ke BSB. July 1927. Gen. PHTHEIRICHTHYS Gill. 1862. Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., p. 239. Body slender and elongate. Sucking-disc with 10 laminae. Pec- toral pointed. Caudal fin convex. Phthewrichthys lineatus (Menz.). Striped Sucker-fish. 1791. Menzies, Tr. Linn. Soc. Lond., vol. i, p. 187, pl. xvii, fig. 1. 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. ii, p. 382. 1898. Jordan and Evermann, Fish. N. Mid. Amer., vol. iii, p. 2268. Disc twice as long as wide, about equal to length of head and 64 in length of body. D X (=laminae on disc)+33. A 33. Maxilla reaching to or slightly beyond level of nostrils. Length.—Up to 700 mm. Colour.—Dark above, lighter below, sides with one or two whitish bands ; fins, especially the caudal, with light margins. Locality.—Table Bay. Distribution.—Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. VOL. XXI, PART 2. 28 A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 419 These remarkable fishes are marine and carnivorous. They possess considerable powers of swimming, but usually attach themselves tc sharks and other fishes, whales, turtles or boats, and are thus carried about. They do no harm to the animal to which they attach them- selves.. The Remora was known to the ancients and was by many thought to be the cause of the sudden retardation of ships and boats, whence its Greek name of “ ship-holder ” (see Gudger, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), wok nm, 191S8; p. 271). Fam. ECHENEIDAE. With the characters given above. The family is widely distributed in all tropical and warm seas. Key to the South African genera. lL. Pectoral acute. a. Laminae on disc 10 . ; e : ; : . Phthetirichthys. b. Laminae 20-28 . : ‘ : : : é ‘ Leptechenets. 2. Pectoral rounded : 5 ; , ; : : : . Echenets. Gen. PHTHEIRICHTHYS Guill. 1862. Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., p. 239. Body slender and elongate. Sucking-disc with 10 laminae. Pec- toral pointed. Caudal fin convex. Phtheirichthys lineatus (Menz.). Striped Sucker-fish. 1791. Menzies, Tr. Linn. Soc. Lond., vol. i, p. 187, pl. xvii, fig. 1. 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. ii, p. 382. 1898. Jordan and Evermann, Fish. N. Mid. Amer., vol. iii, p. 2268. Disc twice as long as wide, about equal to length of head and 64 in length of body. D X (=laminae on disc)+33. A 33. Maxilla reaching to or slightly beyond level of nostrils. Length.—Up to 700 mm. Colour.—Dark above, lighter below, sides with one or two whitish bands ; fins, especially the caudal, with light margins. Locality.—Table Bay. Distribution.—Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. VOL xxl PART 2. 28 420 Annals of the South African Museum. A somewhat rare species which has been recorded as taken on barracudas (Sphyraena). There are only two specimens in the South African Museum. Gen. LEPTECHENEIS Gill. 1864. Guill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad., p. 60. Body slender and elongate. Sucking-disc with 22-28 laminae (sometimes only 21). Pectoral pointed, caudal fin more or less convex in young, crescentic in adult. Leptecheneis naucrates (Linn.). Sucker-fish. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 261. 1914. Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. 11, p. 107 (habits) (Echeneis remora non Linn.). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 405 (references and synonymy). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 181 (references and synonymy). Disc 24 times as long as broad, 4—44 in length of body. Length of head 5-54 in length of body. D XXII-XXVIII+4+ 32-41. A 32-38. Lower jaw very prominent. Maxilla reaching to level of nostrils. Length.—Up to 800 mm. Colour.—Brownish both above Ee below, a blackish band edged with white from snout through eye and along sides to tail; pectorals and ventrals blackish ; dorsal, anal, and caudal with light margins. Locality. False Bay ? East London to Natal. Distribution.—Warm seas. Common on sharks and other large fishes. Gen. EcHeNEIS (Artedi) Linn. 1738. Artedi, Gen. Pisc., p. 14. 1862. Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad., p. 239 (Remora). 1896. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., 1895, p. 490 (Remorina). Body shorter and more robust than in the preceding genera. Sucking-dise with 13-18 laminae. Pectoral rounded, the rays soft and flexible. Caudal fin sub- truncate. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 421 Key to the South African species. 1. D XII—-XIIJI+17-22 (Remorina) . : ; ; : : . albescens., 2. D XV-XVI-+29-32 . , ; , : : brachyptera. 3. D XVII-XVIII-+- 22-24 remora. Echeneis albescens Temm. and Schl. Grey Sucker-fish. 1850. Temminck and Schlegel, Fauna Jap. Poiss., p. 272, pl. cxx, fig. 3. 1860. Giinther, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., p. 401 (clypeata). 1860. Id., Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. u, pp. 376, 377 (clypeata and albescens). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 258., pl. Ivui, fig. 2. 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii (1903), p. 494. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 404 (clypeata). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 131 (clypeata). 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 322. 1925. Jordan and Hubbs, Mem. Carn. Mus., vol. x, p. 294 (Re- mMorina a.). Disc 14 times as long as broad, 2#-3 in length of body. Length of head 4 in length of body. D XII-XIIJI+17-22. A 20-22. Length of ventral equal to or less than postorbital part of head. Angle of mouth below or slightly behind nostrils. Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Uniform grey-brown. Locality.— East London and Natal coast. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific to Gulf of California. One of the specimens was found attached to a Devil-fish (Manta) caught at Hast London. Echeneis brachyptera Lowe. 1839. Lowe, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 89. 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. ui, p. 378. 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. de l’Afr. Austr., p. 73 (laevis). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 258, pl. lv, fig. 3. Dise not quite twice as long as broad, about 31 in length of body. Length of head about 41 in length of body. D XV-XVI+29-32. 422 Annals of the South African Museum. A 25-27. Length of ventral rather more than postorbital length of head. Angle of mouth reaching almost to level of anterior margin of eye. Lower jaw more or less angular. Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Uniform grey-brown. Locality.—Table Bay. Distribution.—Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans. Echeneis remora Linn. Remora ; Sucker-fish ; Lootsman. 1758. Linne, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 260. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 406 (references). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 133 (references and synonymy). Disc twice as long as broad, 24-3 in length of body. Length of head about 33 in length of body. D XVII-XVIII+22-24. A 25. Length of ventral greater than postorbital length of head. Angle of mouth reaching almost to level of anterior margin of eye. Lower jaw rounded. (Plate XVIII, fig. 1.) Length.—Up to 375 mm. Colour.—Uniform brown or blackish. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.— Warm seas. Division 18. XENOPTERI. Sucker fishes ; Cling-fishes. Air-bladder absent. No mesocoracoid. Head and anterior part of body broad and depressed, hind part of body compressed. Skin naked. Operculum reduced to a spine-like projection. Gill-arches reduced. Allfins without spines. Dorsalandanalfarback. Pectoral large. Ventrals jugular, of 4-5 rays, forming the sides of a large ventral adhesive disc which may be single or divided into two portions. Gill-openings narrow. Branchiostegal rays 5-6. Gills 3 or 3}. Pseudobranchiae well developed. Teeth incisiform or villiform in both jaws, none on vomers or palatine. Marine, carnivorous fishes of small size living between tide-marks or in shallow water in tropical and temperate regions. They cling A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 423 to rocks by means of the ventral sucking-disc and considerable force is usually required to dislodge them ; the best way to capture them is to slide them suddenly sideways, at the same time pulling them away from the rock. If they are in a rock-bound pool the water may be poisoned. They live a long time out of water. A single family. Fam. GOBIESOCIDAE. With the characters given above. In those species whose breeding habits are known the eggs are attached in some sheltered position such as a crevice in the rocks or the inside of an empty mussel-shell. The young are at first pelagic and only come inshore when the ventral sucker begins to develop. The male has a conical papilla behind the vent which serves as an intromittent organ as in the Blennies. Key to the South African genera. 1. Head very broad. A short caudal peduncle : - . Chorisochismus. 2. Head not very broad. Dorsal and anal fins confluent with the caudal Lepadichthys. Gen. CHORISOCHISMUS Barnev. 1846. De Barneville, Rev. Zool., p. 409. . 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. de l’Afr. Austr., p. 72 (Athaena). Ventral disc single, 7.e. the posterior half has no free anterior margin. Head very broad and depressed. A short caudal peduncle. Oper- culum with a blunt spine. Gills 34. Gill-membranes united to the isthmus. Jaws with a single series of large conical or incisiform teeth in front, with a band of smaller granular teeth behind them. A South African genus with one species. Chorisochismus dentex (Pall.). Sucker-fish ; Klip-zuiger. 1779. Pallas, Spicil. Zool., vol. vii, p. 6, pl. 1. 1861. Castelnau, loc. cit., p. 72 (dentex and fimbriatus, and Athaena fascvata). 1903. Gilchrist, Mar. Invest. S. Afr., vol. ii, p. 193, pl. u1, figs. 17-20 (egg and larva). 424 Annals of the South African Museum. 1914. Id., Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. 1, p. 106 (habits). 1916. Id., ebid., vol. 11, p. 13, fig. 10 (egg and larva). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 143 (references). Greatest breadth of head about equal to its length, and 24-24 in length of body. Hye 14-1? in snout, 43-5 in length of head. Mazxilla reaching to below anterior margin or anterior third of eye. Anterior nostril with a short fringed tentacle. Lips papillose within. D 8-10. A 7. Dorsal arising in advance of anal. (Plate XVIII, fig. 3.) Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Uniform or variously mottled, rsually more or less reddish, but to a great extent harmonising with the rocks and weeds among which it lives. Locality.— Table Bay, False Bay, Mossel Bay, Knysna. The eggs are attached to stones and shells. Gen. LEPADICHTHYS Waite. 1904. Waite, Rec. Austr. Mus., vol. v, No. 3, p. 180. Ventral disc single. Head not very broad. Dorsal and anal fins confluent with the caudal fin.. Operculum without apparent spine. Gills 3. Gill-membranes united to isthmus. Jaws with a single series of incisor teeth. This genus is found in Australia and South Africa. Lepadichthys coccinotaena Regan. Natal Sucker-fish. 1921. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 1, p. 2. Greatest breadth of head 54, length of head 34, in length of body. Eye 2 in snout, 53 in length of head. Maxilla reaching to midway between tip of snout and eye. D 12-13. A 10-11. Dorsal arising a short way in advance of anal. Length.—Up to 40 mm. Colour.—Yellowish, a scarlet stripe from upper lip through eye to operculum. Locality.— Natal coast. Type in British Museum. In colour this species appears to resemble exactly the Australian L. frenatus, but differs in having fewer rays in the dorsal and anal fins. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 425 Division 19. PERCOMORPHI. Air-bladder without an open duct (physoclystic). No mesocoracoid. Ventral fins of a spine and 5 rays, or variously reduced ; thoracic, subthoracic, or jugular in position. Dorsal and anal fins normally with spines. Operculum well developed, and gill-openings usually large. This division is by far the largest and it is difficult to construct a comprehensive definition for the whole division. It is difficult even to form definitions for the component groups and the following key contains scarcely any characters which are exclusively confined to any one group. A little study, however, will soon enable the student to place a par- ticular fish in its correct group by the general “ facies.”” The Silver- fish and Rock-cod, the Jacopever and Gurnard, the Klip-fish, the Dikkop, the Snoek and Mackerel, are easily recognisable and will serve as the typical members of their respective groups, and with which the student will soon learn to associate the other members. Synopsis of the growps. I. No suborbital stay or process extending from below eye towards preopercle. A. Ventrals thoracic, subthoracic, or jugular. Scales usually ctenoid Percoidez. p- 426. B. Ventrals thoracic. Body compressed. Scales minute. Anal spines 2-3. Mouth small, not protractile : : : : Teuthidoidei. p. 776. C. Ventrals thoracic. Body compressed. Scales minute. Anal spines 7. Ventrals with 2 spines and 3 intervening rays : Siganorder. p. 784. D. Ventrals thoracic or subthoracic. Dorsal and anal fins often with de- tached finlets posteriorly. Strong swimmers, living in the open ocean , : : : : ; : : Scombroidei. p. 786. E. Ventrals thoracic or subjugular, often united to form an adhesive disc. Usually small fishes with cylindrical bodies and large heads, often depressed. Shallow, coastal waters, sometimes in estuaries and rivers ; p : ; 2 ; : P . Gobioider. p- 808. F. Ventrals jugular or mental, often reduced or absent. Coastal and deep- ~ water fishes : : : , ‘ ‘ : Blennioidei. p. 831 426 Annals of the South African Museum. G. Ventrals abdominal or subthoracic, often reduced or absent in adult. Scales small, cycloid, often deciduous, or absent. Teeth in the gullet behind pharynx. Pelagic or deepsea . ° . Stromateoidet. p- 889. II. A bony stay extending from below eye to preopercle. Head usually with bony knobs or prominences, often heavily armoured : Scleroparei. p- 899. Group PERCOIDEI. 1913. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (8), vol. xii, p. 111 (classi- fication). Body usually oblong, with scales which are typically ctenoid. Lateral line present. Head usually laterally compressed, cheeks and opercles scaly. Dorsal fin various, but always with some spines in front which are typically stiff and pungent. Anal usually short, with spines in front, rarely without spines. Ventrals thoracic, subthoracic, or jugular. No bony stay for preopercle. Air-bladder usually present. Pseudobranchiae as a rule present. It should be understood that the above is a very general definition and many of the characters may be modified in the various families. The arrangement of the families, especially the families of the Perciformes, is purely for the sake of convenience, though Regan’s order has been adhered to as far as possible. Key to the South African families. I, Gills 4, a slit behind 4th, or if only 34 (Uranoscopidae) then head depressed, armoured, with vertical mouth. A. Ventrals absent (in 8. African species) (Ammodytiformes) Ammodytidae. B. Ventrals present, with 4—5 soft rays. 1. Anal with only 1-2 feeble spines. a. Pectoral narrow, with oblique base. Angle of preopercle with asingle spine. Two separate dorsals (Champsodontiformes). i. With scales ; 4 j ; Champsodontidae. ii. Without scales . : ‘ ; Chiasmodontidae. b. These characters not combined. Base of pectoral vertical. i. Ventral fins close together (Z'rachiniformes). a. Mouth vertical or very oblique. * Head armoured, gills 34 . Uranoscopidae. ** Head not armoured, gills 4 . Trachinidae. 6. Mouth horizontal or nearly so. * Spinous dorsal very short . Pinguipedidae. ** Spinous dorsal equal to soft dorsal Opisthognathidae. ii, Ventral fins widely separated. Head and body depressed (Callionymiformes) : ; . Callionymidae. PLATE XVIII. FIG. TEXT-PAGE 1. Echeneis remora Linn. (original) . : ; : . 422 2. Champsodon capensis Regan (original) . : ; . 432 3. Chorisochismus dentex (Pall.) (original) ; : ; : . 423 4. Ammodytes capensis n. sp. (original) . : ; ; : : . 431 5. Chiasmodon niger Johns. (after Alcock) ; ; : ; . 434 6. Pleuroscopus pseudodorsalis n.g. et sp. (original) . ; ; . 437 Ann. S. Afr. Mus., Vol. X XI. Plate XVIII. sixty Oger error = i ‘ 5 Re “ : - 2 R . ier Fam. 9. CIRRHITIDAE. 1911. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (8), vol. vii, p. 260 (definition). Body compressed, oblong, with moderate-sized cycloid or ctenoid scales. Eyes lateral, moderate. Mouth small, terminal, protractile. Maxilla narrow, not concealed, without supramaxilla. Teeth conical or villiform, on jaws and on vomer, sometimes present on palatines. Preopercle entire or serrate. Gill-membranes united, free from isth- mus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. One dorsal fin, spinous portion well developed, with 10 spines and 11-14 rays. Three anal spines. Caudal free, rounded or subtruncate. 450 Annals of the South African Museum, Pectorals with the lower 5-8 rays simple. Ventrals well behind base of pectoral, of a spine and 5rays. Air-bladder large and complicated. Pyloric caeca few. Lateral line complete and continuous. Carnivorous fishes from the coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific region. Key to the South African genera. 1. No teeth on palatine . ; ; 2 Paracirrhites, 2. Teeth on palatine. a. Profile of head convex : : : ; . Cirrhitus. b. Profile of head incurved at nape . : : A . Cuirrhitichthys. Gen. PARACIRRHITES Blkr. 1875. Bleeker, Verh. k. Ak. Wet., vol. xv, p. 5. Snout not produced. Profile of head convex. Some of the teeth on jaws canine-like ; no teeth on palatines. Scales on body and head rather large, cycloid. Pectoral fins not extending back as far as ventrals. If P. cinctus Guthr. (=fasciatus Benn.) should prove to belong properly to this genus, the name will have to be changed to the earlier Amblycirrhitus Gill 1862. Key to the South African species. 1. Head spotted ; a broad black stripe on posterior half of body . forsters. 2. Head not spotted, but with a large ocellus enclosing the eye . : arcatus. *Paracirrhites forstert (Bl. Schn.). 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 191. 1874. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, p. 69, pl. xlix, fig. A. 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. viii, p. 148, pl. ccexlix, fig. 5. 1878-88. Day, Fish. Ind., p. 144, pl. xxxv, fig. 4. 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii, p. 450, pl. Ixvu. 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. 1, p. 133 (references). Depth 22, length of head 3, in length of body. Eye twice in snout, 6 in length of head. Anterior nostril with a large fringed flap. D X11. 5-6 104183 A III 6. Simple pectoral rays 7. Scales: 1.1. 48-50; ltr Five series on cheek. Length.—Up to 450 mm. PLATE XIX. FIG. TEXT-PAGE 1. Parapercis hexophthalma (C. and V.) (after Day) . : : : . 442 2. Opisthognathus muscatensis Blgr. (after Boulenger) . : : . 443 3. Paracallionymus costatus (Blgr.) 3, with portion of lateral line enlarged (original) . : ; : : : : : 5 ; . 448 4, Cirrhitus marmoratus (Lac.) (after Bleeker) . ‘ : . ; . 452 Ama 7S, Afr Mus., Vol. X XI. Plate XIX. Neill & Co., Lid. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 451 Colour.—Reddish or olivaceous, a broad black stripe along posterior half of body, a whitish or yellowish band from base of pectoral to caudal, with several alternate yellowish and bluish stripes below ; head, throat, chest, and base of pectoral with red and black spots ; outer margin of spinous dorsal dusky, membrane of soft dorsal and anal dusky. . Locality.—Cape seas. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas, East Indies, Pacific Ocean. The only record of this species in South African waters is a stuffed specimen in the British Museum presented by Sir Andrew Smith, though there is every probability of its being found within our area. *Paracirrhites arcatus (C. and V.). 1829. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 11, p. 74. 1848. Richardson, Voy. Samarang. Fish., p. 26, pl. v, figs. 3-5. 1874. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, p. 70, pl. xlix, figs. B, C. 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vii, p. 144, pl. ccci, fig. 3. 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxii, p. 450, pl. lxix. 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iii, p. 133 (references). Depth 24-23, length of head 3, in length of body. Hye 14 in snout, 5$ in length of head. Anterior nostril with fringed flap. D X 11. A III 6. Simple pectoral rays 7. Scales: 11. 50; 1.tr. = 6-7 series on cheek. Length.—Up to 140 mm. Colour.—Olivaceous or brownish, with longitudinal reddish or brownish lines, a broad white or pinkish stripe on posterior half of body; an oval orange or scarlet ocellus enclosing and extending behind eye, sometimes bluish or greenish within; 3 orange bars with bluish intervening spaces across lower angle of opercle. Locality.—Cape of Good Hope. Distribution.—Mauritius, East Indies, Pacific Ocean. The inclusion of this species in the fauna-list rests on Richardson’s statement. There is, however, considerable doubt whether the locality given by Richardson is correct, as it is known that Captain Belcher, the commander of H.M.S. Samarang, relied to a large extent on his memory instead of labelling his specimens (see Tomlin, Ann. me. Air. Mus:, vol. xx, pt. 4, p. 310, 1925). VOL: XX, PART 2. 30 452 Annals of the South African Museum. Gen. Crrruitus Lac. 1803. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss, vol. v, p. 3. (This name was altered to Cirrhites by Cuvier and Valenciennes, and accepted by most later writers.) Snout not produced. Profile of head convex. Some of the teeth on jaws canine-like; teeth present on palatines. Scales cycloid, those on body rather large, those on head small. Pectoral fins not extending back as far as ventrals. Cirrhitus marmoratus (Lac.). 1801. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iti, p. 492, pl. v, fig. 3. 1803. Id., ibid., vol. v, p. 3 (maculatus). 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vin, p. 142, pl. ccexliv, fig. 5. 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxii, p. 452, pl. Ixx. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 347 (references). 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 321 (maculatus). Depth 23-3, length of head 3, in length of body. Hye twice in snout, 54-5? in length of head, equal to interorbital width. Anterior nostril with fringed flap. Hind margin of preopercle finely denti- culate. D X 11. A ITI 6. Simple pectoral rays 7. Scales: LL (Plate XIX, fig. 4.) 4-5 AO tre 9-11 Length.—Up to 250 mm. Colour.—Body blotched and marbled with bluish, white, olivaceous, and brownish, the white often forming 5 irregular cross-bars; head either yellowish with dark irregular bands, or bluish with yellowish- brown irregular bands; spinous dorsal, base of soft dorsal, anal, and caudal with reddish or brownish spots. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas, East Indies, Pacific Ocean. This species is common among coral reefs and along rocky coasts, and is a good food-fish. Gen. CIRRHITICHTHYS Blkr. 1856. Bleeker, Natur. Tydsskr. Ned. Ind., vol. x, p. 474. Snout somewhat pointed, but not strongly produced. Profile of head more or less strongly incurved on nape. Canine teeth few or A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 453 none; teeth on palatines. Scales cycloid (or feebly ctenoid), rather large on body and head. Pectoral fins extending back beyond ventrals. First dorsal soft ray often elongated. Key to the South African species. 1. Depth 23 in length of body ; : : : ‘ : . aprinus. 2. Depth 34 in length of body : , : oxycephalus. Cirrhitichthys aprinus (C. and V.). 1829. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. i, p. 76. 1853. Bleeker, Natur. Tydsskr. Ned. Ind., vol. iv, p. 106 (graphido- pterus). 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. u, pp. 73, 74. 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. viii, p. 146, pl. ceciii, fig. 1. 1917. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 5, p. 459. Depth 24-22, length of head 3, in length of body. Eye 14 in snout, 4-41 in length of head, slightly greater than interorbital width. Anterior nostril with fringed flap. Hind margin of preopercle strongly denticulate. Preorbital denticulate posteriorly (but frequently entire in South African specimens). D X 12, Ist soft ray elongated (in adult). A III 6. Simple pectoral rays 6. Scales: Ll. 38-42; - eG ps Length—Up to 90 mm. Colour.—Rose or reddish, with 5-6 irregular dark brown or blackish cross-bars, which are frequently broken up into series of round or irregularly shaped spots; head and dorsal and caudal fins also spotted. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—East Indies. L.tr Four series on cheek. *Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus Blkr. 1856. Bleeker, Natur. Tydsskr. Ned. Ind., vol. x, p. 474. 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. u, p. 75. 1874. Id., Fische d. Siidsee, p. 71. 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vii, p. 147, pl. cccliui, fig. 1. Depth 34, length of head 34, in length of body. Eye slightly greater than snout, 34 in length of head. Anterior nostril with fringed flap. Hind margin of preopercle strongly denticulate. Preorbital not 454 Annals of the South African Museum. denticulate. D X 12, Ist soft ray (in adult) elongated. A III 6. Simple pectoral rays 6. Scales: 1.1. 40; Ltr. 10-11 Length.—Up to 90 mm. Colour.—Rosy, with 5 irregular dusky and interrupted cross-bands, extending on to base of dorsal fin. Locality.— Durban (= Port Natal, Giinther). Distribution.—East Indies, Marshall Islands. Fam. 10. CHILODACTYLIDAE. 1911. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (8), vol. vii, p. 261 (definition). Body compressed, oblong, with moderate-sized cycloid scales. Eyes lateral. Mouth small, terminal, protractile. Lips thick and fleshy. Maxilla not concealed, without supramaxilla. Teeth villiform on jaws, none on vomer or palatine. Preopercle entire. Guill-membranes united, free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudo- branchiae present. One dorsal fin, spinous portion well developed, with 16-19 spines and 23-33 rays. Three anal spines. Caudal free, forked. Pectorals with the lower 5-7 rays simple. Ventrals well behind base of pectoral. Air-bladder large, with many lobes. Pyloric caeca few. Lateral line complete and continuous. Carnivorous fishes inhabiting South Africa, Tristan d’Acunha, South America, St. Paul Island, and the tropical parts of the Pacific, extending to Japan, China, and Australasia. The eggs and spawning habits are unknown. As regards the young stages, the discovery of a very interesting young specimen has enabled me to assign to their true systematic position certain small fishes which Giinther believed were the young of Evistius hutton (Platy- stethus huttond Gnthr., 1889, Challeng. Rep., vol. xxxi, p. 13, pl. u, fig. 4). Giinther had three specimens, one from Australian seas, one from the southern Indian Ocean between Australia and the Cape, and one from 34° 8. 12° E., which he thought might well be the young of three distinct species. In this he was probably right, but they are certainly not species of “ Platystethus.” Giinther would have recognised this himself if his specimens had not apparently had all the scales rubbed off, as Hvistius huttoni has 90 scales in the lateral line. The proof that these small fishes are the young of Chilodactylids is afforded by a specimen 58 mm. long of P. grandis, which combines the characters of the very young with those of the adult (wde wnfra). A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 455 Another interesting specimen is a young C. fasciatus, 50 mm. long (vide infra), and thus smaller than the specimen of P. grandis, but in a more advanced stage. CQ. Fic. 19.—a, lateral line scale, and 6, ordinary scale of young Palunolepis brachy- dactylus; c, scale of young Chilodactylus fasciatus. In all the figures the posterior margin is to the right. Key to the South African genera. 1. Scales small; 6 series in sheath along base of dorsal fin . Chilodactylus. 2. Scales moderate ; 1-2 series in sheath . : : : : Palunolepis. Gen. CHILODACTYLUS Lac. 1803. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss, vol. v, p. 5. Anterior profile not steeply inclined. Head scaly, without tubercles. Breast and belly rounded in adult. Scales rather small, concentrically striate ; those on cheeks, opercles, and breast considerably smaller, feebly developed, more or less papilliform. Six rows of small scales forming the sheath along base of dorsal fin; 3-4 rows forming sheath along anal. No naked groove between sheath and body scales. Dorsal spines evenly graduated. Anal short, spines not very strong, anterior rays considerably longer than the posterior ones. The type species of this genus is C. fasciatus. The genus is thus peculiar to South Africa, the other species being assigned to allied genera. Chilodactylus fasciatus Lac. Banded Steenklip-vis or Steenvis. 1801. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. v, p. 6, pl. i. 1862. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. d’Afr. Austr., p. 12 (multiradiatus). 456 Annals of the South African Museum. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 79 (references). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p. 249. Depth about equal to length of head, 3-34 in length of body. Eye equal to or less than interorbital width, 1? in snout, 42-5 in length of head. Anterior nostril with 2 fringed flaps. Maxilla extending to below posterior nostril. D XVIIJ-XIX 23-24, spines graduated up to about 10th, which is 34 in length of head. A III 9. Simple pectoral rays 5, the 2nd longest, reaching nearly or quite to vent. Gill-rakers 13 on lower part of anterior arch. Scales: 1.1. (75)80-85. Length.—Up to 350 mm. Colour.—Brownish or rusty, irregularly marbled with darker, the marbling usually forming 4-5 cross-bands extending on to base of dorsal, the portions above the lateral line more or less alternating with the portions below; soft dorsal with a few spots, caudal with several oblique cross-bars, lips and the simple pectoral rays pinkish or orange. Locality.— Table Bay, False Bay to Algoa Bay and East London, down to 40 fathoms. This fish is not uncommon near rocky ground, and is a good food- fish. C. multiradvatus Cast. is merely a colour variation. A young specimen 50 mm. long shows all the characters of the adult, but is more compressed in the thoracic and abdominal regions and has a sharp ridge along the chest and belly ; and the scales are verti- cally striate with jagged free margin (text-fig. 19¢). It was caught off Great Fish Point (near Port Alfred) in 30 fathoms on 30th August. PALUNOLEPIS n. g. Anterior profile not steeply inclined. Head scaly, without tubercles. Breast and belly rounded in adult. Scales moderately large, rough and granulose in centre with a smooth margin; those on cheeks, opercles, and middle line of breast smaller, well developed, not papilli- form. Sheath along base of dorsal fin composed anteriorly of 1 row, posteriorly of 2 rows, of scales; sheath along anal of l row. A naked groove between the sheath and the body scales. Dorsal spines evenly graduated. Anal short, spines not very strong, anterior rays considerably longer than the posterior ones. The fretted appearance (as if sand-blasted) of the scales and the naked groove below the dorsal sheath are very distinctive features which appear to be absent in all the other genera of this family. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 457 Key to the South African species. 1. Soft dorsal rays 22-23 : : : : : . grandis. 2. Soft dorsal rays 29-31 ; : : : : ‘ . brachydactylus. Palunolepis grandis (Guthr.). Greater Steenklip-vis. 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 11, p. 79. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 80. Depth about equal to length of head, 2£-34 in length of body. Eye equal to-(juv.) or less than interorbital width, twice or a little less (juv.) in snout, 4 (juv.)-5 in length of head. Anterior nostril with 2 fringed flaps. Maxilla extending to below nostrils. D XVII- XVIII 22-23, spines graduated to 5th spine, which is 4 length of head. A III 9. Simple pectoral rays 6, 2nd longest, reaching to or beyond vent. Gill-rakers 12-13 on lower part of anterior arch. Scales: 1.1. 50-53. (Plate XX, fig. 1.) Length.— Up to 950 mm. Colour.—Uniform grey or brown, the naked groove below dorsal sheath darker. Locality — False Bay and Agulhas Bank, down to 40 fathoms. Type in British Museum. This fish is but rarely caught by the trawlers as its habitat is near rocky ground. Nor isit often caught by rod and line. It is excellent eating. A young specimen, 58 mm. long, resembles in shape Giinther’s figure (see under brachydactylus); the body is compressed and the prominent breast and belly are cultrate. Dorsal and anal fin sheaths and the naked dorsal groove distinct. The scales still show the vertical striation, but some show traces of the characteristic surface sculpturing ; the anterior margin is becoming lobulate, the posterior free margin entire, not serrate as in C. fasciatus (supra). The colour appears to have been silvery, dark brown on back, with 3 dark patches on the spinous dorsal, similar to the smaller specimens assigned to brachydactylus (infra). D XVII 22. A III 9. Lower pectoral rays just becoming thickened and prolonged. This specimen was caught in a rock-pool at Kalk Bay (False Bay) on 26th June. 458 Annals of the South African Museum. Palunolepis brachydactylus (C. & V.). Lesser Steenklip-vis. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. v, p. 361. 1889. Giinther, Challenger Rep., vol. xxxi, p. 14, pl. 1, fig. I (young ; Platystethus huttoni part). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 79 (references). 1921. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. vii, p. 416 (Chilodactylus brevispinis). 1922) Norman, 7b0d.,. (9), vol. 1x, ps o2i: Differs from grandis only in having 29-31 soft dorsal rays, and the longest pectoral ray never reaching beyond the vent. Length.—Up to 370 mm. Colour.—Greyish or brownish, with 6-7 whitish spots along the sides, which disappear rapidly when preserved ; lips and lower pectoral rays pinkish. Locality.— Table Bay, False Bay and Agulhas Bank to East London and Natal. Type of brevispinis in British Museum. I have examined a series of all ages from 90 mm. upwards of both grandis and brachydactylus and find no other differences than those given above. The latter species does not grow to such a large size as grandis. Chilodactylus brevispinis does not appear to differ in any way from brachydactylus. A number of young specimens, 15-35 mm. in length, were caught in surface tow-nettings off Cape Point (HE. by N. 45 miles) on 19th August, together with Myctophum coccoi. They agree exactly with Giinther’s figure. D XVIII 27-30. A III 9-10. Scales with closely set vertical striae, anterior margin straight, lateral line tubes straight, wide, simple (text-fig. 19 a, b). A brown stripe along upper part of back and head, rest of head and body silvery, 3 black patches on spinous dorsal. Fam. 11. SERRANIDAE. Sea Bass ; Rock-cod. Body oblong, with moderate or small scales, usually ctenoid. Mouth moderate or large, not very oblique, protractile. Maxilla usually not entirely concealed, with or without a supplemental bone (supramaxilla). Second suborbital with an internal lamina or shelf supporting the eye. Teeth villiform or cardiform in jaws and usually | A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 459 on palate. Nostrils paired. Gnill-membranes free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. A _ single dorsal fin, often deeply notched, the spinous portion usually well developed. Anal spines either 3, or wanting altogether (1 weak spine in Owstoma). Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, without axillary process. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca numerous or few (absent in Pseudochromis). Lateral line single or double. One of the largest families of fishes. Carnivorous, mostly marine, and nearly cosmopolitan. Very few species descend to great depths. Some of the Rock-cods grow to a very large size, some species of Epinephelus reaching a length of 10 or 12 feet. Key to the South African genera. I. Lateral line single. A. Anal with 3 well-developed spines. 1. Without supplementary bone on maxilla. a. Dorsal fin not notched. i. Lateral line not close to base of dorsal fin. a. Gill-rakers short, far apart . : . NSerranus. 6. Gill-rakers long, close set. : . Anthias. ii, Lateral line along base of dorsal fin. Callanthias. b. Dorsal fin notched. ; 5 , ‘ . Therapon. 2. With supplementary bone on maxilla. a. Inner teeth depressible. i. Dorsal spines 6-8. Anal spines feeble . Plectropoma. ii. Dorsal spines 9-11. Anal spines strong Epinephelus, 6. Inner teeth not depressible. i. Strongly compressed. Head naked and rugose above Aulacocephalus. ii. Not strongly compressed. a. Opercle with strong horizontal ridge . Polyprion. 6. Opercle without ridge. * Anterior nostrils fringed . Acanthistius. ** Nostrils not fringed . : . Dinoperca. B. Anal without spines. 1. D II-IV 23-25 : , : : : . Rhypticus. 2. D VI-VII 13-15 : : : ; : Grammistes. C. Anal with 1, dorsal with 3 feeble spines : : : . Owstonia. II. Lateral line double (interrupted) : : ; : . Pseudochromis. Gen. SERRANUS Cuv. 1817. Cuvier, Régne Anim., vol. ii, p. 276. 1895. Boulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 274. 1918. Fage, Dan. Ocean. Exp., vol. ii, A 3, p. 26 (post-larval stages). 460 Annals of the South African Museum. 1926. Opinion 93, Intern. Comm. Nomencl., Smiths. Misc. Coll., vol ixamn, p79, Scales ctenoid. Maxilla exposed, without supplemental bone. Teeth villiform in jaws, usually with more or less enlarged canines ; teeth on vomer and palatines, none on tongue. Preopercle serrated. Gill-rakers not very elongate, usually slender and far apart. Spinous and soft portions of dorsal subequal, not divided by a notch. Anal with 3 spines. Caudal truncate or emarginate. Lateral line single, not close to dorsal profile. Coasts of Europe, Africa, America; islands of St. Helena and St. Paul. Some of the species are normally hermaphrodite (e.g. cabrilla and hepatus), whereas others are unisexual (e.g. novemcinctus). In the Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, 1859, Giinther gives Cape of Good Hope as a locality for S. hepatus, but in the 2nd ed., 1895, Boulenger does not admit this. Nor does Boulenger record S. cabrilla from South Africa. These two species are therefore not admitted here to the South African fauna-list. Key to the South African species. 1. Gill-rakers 21-22 ‘ : ; ‘ : ; : . novemcinetus. 2. Gill-rakers 11 . ; : : ‘ . ; : : knysnaensis. *Serranus novemcinctus (Kner). : 1865. Kner, “ Novara ”’ Fische, p. 17, pl. 11, fig. 1. 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. ii, p. 124 (references). ( Depth 3-33, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Eye 4-53, ; interorbital width 5%, in length of head. Lower jaw projecting, with strong canine teeth. Maxilla reaching to below centre or posterior third of eye. Preopercle with serrations obsolete on lower margin. Middle opercular spine largest. Gull-rakers long, 21-22 on lower part of anterior arch. D X 14, lst and 2nd dorsal spines shortest, the others not very unequal. A III 7, lst and 2nd anal spines equal. Caudal feebly emarginate. Scales 85-90; lateral line 65-77 ; 6-7 uf 22-25 Length.—Up to 170 mm. Colour.—Brown, with 9-10 darker cross-bands. Locality.—Cape Town. Distribution.—St. Paul Island, Indian Ocean. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 461] Some of the localities in the account of the fishes of the “‘ Novara ”’ appear to be somewhat doubtful, and it may be that this species has been erroneously included in the South African fauna-list. Serranus knysnaensis Gilch. 1904. Gilchrist, Mar. Invest. 8. Afr., vol. 1, p. 2, pl. xix. 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep, vol. in, p. 124. Depth 34, length of head 3, in length of body. Hye very slightly greater than interorbital width, 44 in length of head. Lower jaw projecting, with strong canine teeth. Maxilla reaching to below centre of eye. Preopercle with moderate serrations on lower margin. Middle opercular spine largest. Giull-rakers long, 11 on lower part of anterior arch. D X 13, 1st and 2nd dorsal spines shortest, the others not very unequal. A III 7, lst anal spine shortest. Scales 83, those on opercle smaller than those on body; lateral line 72; 8 tr 28 Length.—175 mm. Colour.—Dark brown, apparently uniform. Locality.— Knysna. Type in South African Museum. This seems to be arare fish, as no further records have been published, and the type still remains unique in the Museum collections. Gen. AntTHIAS Bl. 1792. Bloch, Ausl. Fische, vol. vi, p. 97. 1895. Boulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, ed. 2, p. 320. 1910. Jordan and Richardson, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxxvii, p. 469 (Sacura subgenus). 1911. McCulloch, Sci. Res. “ Endeavour,” vol. i, p. 50. 1918. Fage, Dan. Ocean. Exp., vol. ii, A 3, p. 31 (post-larval stages). Scales ctenoid. Maxilla exposed, without supplemental bone. Teeth villiform in jaws, with canines; teeth on vomer, palatines, and sometimes on tongue. Preopercle serrated. Gill-rakers long, slender, and close together. Spinous and soft portions of dorsal subequal, not divided by a notch. Anal with 3 spines. Dorsal and anal more or less scaly. Caudal emarginate. Lateral line single, rather high, but not close to base of dorsal fin, curved or forming an angle below hinder dorsal rays. 462 Annals of the South African Museum. Jordan and Thompson (1914, Mem. Carn. Mus., vol. vi, pt. 4, p. 251) have instituted the genus Franzia for Anthias nobilis and other species in which the spinous as well as the soft portion of the dorsal fin is scaly. If this genus is accepted, Anthias squamipinnis should be transferred to it. Small brightly coloured fishes from tropical and subtropical seas. Key to the South African species. 1. Third dorsal ray not produced. a. Lateral line 40-44. i. Without longitudinal stripes : ; : . sguamipinnis. ii. With longitudinal stripes. : : : ; manadensis. b. Lateral line 37 . P : : : : 5 F ; huchtii. 2. Third dorsal ray produced as a filament (Sacura) . : i . natalensis. Anthias squamipinnis (Peters). 1855. Peters, M. B. Ak. Wiss. Berlin, p. 429. 1873-76. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vii, pp. 18, 19, pl. eclxxxvin, figs. 1, 4 (chirospilus and lepidolepis). 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 133, pl. xvu, fig. 1. 1895. Boulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 329 (references). 1917. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 5, p. 458. Depth 23-3, length of head 33, in length of body. Eye slightly greater than snout, 3-33 in length of head. Serrae of preopercle slightly enlarged at angle, which is rounded. Tongue smooth. D X 17-18, 1st and 2nd spines shortest, 3rd longest and sometimes produced in a long filament. A III 7-8, lst shortest, 2nd about as long as but stronger than 3rd. Soft dorsal and anal pointed behind. Caudal emarginate, outer rays more or less filamentous. Scales present on snout, interorbital and maxilla, spinous and soft dorsal ‘ 2-3 and anal; 1.1. 40-44; Ltr. 15- Gill-rakers 26, on lower part of anterior arch. Length.—Up to 100 mm. Colour.—Red or rosy, a broad bluish or violet stripe from eye to base of pectoral; spinous dorsal, caudal, and outer half of ventral rosy ; inner half of ventral violet, pectoral with red blotches, soft dorsal and anal violet, with rosy spots, upper part of iris violet. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 463 Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, East Indies. The elongation of the 3rd dorsal spine may possibly be a character- istic of adult males; Sauvage (loc. cit. p. 134) considers that it is not a specific character. Anthias manadensis Blkr. 1856. Bleeker, Act. Soc. Sc. Ind. Neerl., vol. i, No. 6, p. 39. 1873-76. Id., Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vii, p. 19, pl. cclxxxviii, fig. 5. 1895. Boulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 329. 1917. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 5, p. 458. Similar to squamipinnis, but 3rd dorsal spine not longer than 4th, soft dorsal and anal rounded behind. Colour.—Red or rosy above, golden on sides, with rose-coloured longitudinal stripes, fins yellow or orange with white (or blue) edge, soft dorsal dotted with yellow. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—East Indies. It seems not unlikely that this form may prove to be the female of squamipinmes. There is a specimen from Natal in the South African Museum which is indistinguishable from squamepinms morphologically, but which differs slightly in coloration. It is orange, without stripes, with a narrow violet streak from eye to base of pectoral, fins pale yellowish, soft dorsal dotted with orange. *Anthias huchtit Blkr. 1857. Bleeker, Act. Soc. Sc. Ind. Neerl., vol. ii, p. 38. 1873-76. Id., Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vu, p. 17, pl. cexe, fig. 1. 1895. Boulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 329. 1917. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 5, p. 458. Depth 24, length of head 34-34, in length. Eye 3-3 in length of head. Serrae of preopercle slightly enlarged at angle, which is rounded. D X 17, lst and 2nd spines shortest, 3rd slightly longer than 4th. A III 7. Caudal emarginate, outer rays more or less produced. Scales on soft dorsal and anal, snout, interorbital, and 3 maxilla; 1.1.37; Ltr. a Gill-rakers 25 on lower part of anterior arch. Length.—Up to 90 mm. 464 Annals of the South African Museum. Colour.—Rosy, more or less brownish on back, with or without ill-defined cross-bands, a broad pale streak from eye to base of pectoral. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—East Indies. *Anthias (Sacura) natalensis Fowl. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 226, text-fig. 2. Depth 2, length of head nearly 3, in length of body. Eye 44 in length of head, about equal to snout. Maxilla reaching to below centre of eye. Serrae of preopercle minute. Tongue (?) smooth. D X 18, Ist and 2nd spines shortest, 4th and 5th longest, 3rd ray produced in a filament which reaches base of caudal. A III 8, spines short, 3rd 34 in length of head. Ventral rays not produced. Caudal 9 lunate, lobes filamentous. Scales: 1.1. 42; ltr ae Gill-rakers 24 on lower part of anterior arch. Length.—438 mm. | Colour.—Uniform pale brown, probably rosy in life. Locality.— Natal coast, 25 fathoms. Type in Philadelphia Academy of Sciences. Allied to the Japanese margaritaceus Hilg. Gen. CALLANTHIAS Lowe. 1839. Lowe, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 76. 1895. Boulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 333. 1899. Ogilby,. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., vol. xv," p. 175 (Ane. gramma). 1919. Fage, Dan. Ocean. Exp., vol. ii, A 3, p. 33 (post-larval stages). Scales ctenoid. Maxilla exposed, without supplemental bone. Teeth villiform in jaws, with canines; a few teeth on vomer and palatines, none on tongue. Preopercle not serrated. Gill-rakers very long and slender. Spinous portion of dorsal longer than soft portion, not divided by a notch. Anal with 3 spines. Dorsal and anal not scaly. Caudal emarginate. Lateral line single, running close to base of dorsal fin and lost on upper surface of caudal peduncle or under last dorsal rays. Mediterranean and neighbouring parts of Atlantic, Australasia, west coast of S. America. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 465 *Callanthias allporti Guthr. 1876. Giinther, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (4), vol. xvi, p. 390. 1895. Boulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 335, pl. xv. 1899. Id., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (7), vol. i, p. 346 (plate: nec Steindachner). 1911. McCulloch, Sci. Res. “‘ Endeavour,” vol. i, p. 51. 1921. Waite, Rec. S. Austr. Mus., vol. u, pt. 1, p. 91, fig. 137. 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 13. Depth 22 (adult)-3y5 (young), length of head 33-42 (adult), in length of body. Hye 23-34 in length of head, greater than snout. Lower jaw not projecting. Canines strong. Vomerine teeth often small or absent. Maxilla reaching to below centre of eye. Gill- rakers 26 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 10-11, spines graduated. A III 10. Height of vertical fins varying with age (McCulloch). Caudal slightly emarginate. Scales: 1.1. 42-43, ending il P8220) Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Uniform red, vertical fins with violet margins. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—S. and 8.EH. Australia, Tasmania. on caudal peduncle ; |.tr Gen. THERAPON Cuv. 1817. Cuvier, Regne Anim., vol. 11, p. 295. 1829. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iii, p. 138 (Datnia) and p. 145 (Pelates). 1876. Bleeker, Arch. Neerl. Sci. Nat., vol. xi, p. 267 (Mesopristes). 1915. Boulenger, Freshw. Fish. Afr., vol. i, p. 113. 1916. Ogilby and McCulloch, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. v, p. 99. Scales ctenoid. Maxilla exposed, without supplemental bone. Teeth villiform in jaws, with an outer series of canines; small teeth on vomer and palatines. Preorbital usually serrated. Preopercle serrated. Opercle with the lower spine usually strong. Supra- scapula as well as the coracoid usually exposed and denticulate. Gill-rakers short, stout. Spinous and soft dorsal divided by a notch. Anal with 3 spines. Dorsal and anal with a scaly sheath at base. Caudal rounded, truncate, or emarginate. Lateral line single, not close to dorsal profile. Moderate-sized fishes from the Indian and Pacific Oceans, sometimes 466 Annals of the South African Museum. entering rivers. The species are somewhat dissimilar in external appearance, and several genera have been proposed. Key to the South African species. 1. Body ovate. a. Lower opercular spine very strong (Therapon). i. 7-8 scales between lateral line and spinous dorsal . . theraps. ii. 14-15 scales between lateral line and spinous dorsal - jarbua. b. Opercular spines feeble (Pelates) . : : : . quadrilineatus. 2. Body elevated. Lower opercular spine not strong and prominent (Mesopristes, syn. Datnia) : . : : : A : : . argenteus. *Therapon theraps C. and V. 1829. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ii, p. 129, pl. li. 1913. Weber, “ Siboga ” Exped. Monogr., 57, p. 255, fig. 64 (colour variations of young). 1916. Ogilby and McCulloch, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. v, p. 102. 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. 11, p. 131 (references). Body ovate. Depth 34, length of head 34-4, in length of body. Eye equal to snout, 34 in length of head, a little greater than interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to below anterior margin of eye. Pre- orbital serrated. Lower opercular spine very strong. Suprascapular and coracoid strongly denticulate. D XII 10, 3rd—5th spines longest. A III 8-9. Caudal forked. Scales: 1.1. 50-55, 7-8 between lateral line and dorsal ; 5-6 series on cheek. Nostrils close together. Length.—Up to 170 mm. Colour.—In adult, silvery with 3 (sometimes 4) black longitudinal stripes (usually straight), a large black blotch between 3rd and 7th dorsal spines, soft dorsal with dark margin, anal with a dark band, caudal with 2 oblique dark bands on each lobe; in the young reddish- brown with 5 vertical silvery cross-bands; these silver cross-bands gradually break up into spots and then become longitudinally elon- gated, spreading over the whole side and restricting the dark colour to the 3 stripes found in the adult. Locality.— False Bay. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas, China, Australia, and Western Pacific. Giinther’s record of a specimen from False Bay seems to be the only record of this species in South African waters. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 467 *Therapon quadrilineatus (B1.). 1797. Bloch, Ausland. Fische, vol. iv, p. 63, pl. coxxxviil, fig. 2. 1878-88. Day, Fish. Ind., p. 70, pl. xviu, fig. 5. 1916. Ogilby and McCulloch, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. v, p. 125. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. xxvii, p. 233. Body ovate. Depth 22-34, length of head 34-3}, in length of body. Kye 3-34 in length of head, 1-14 in snout. Maxilla reaching to below anterior margin of eye. Preorbital slightly serrated. Opercular spines feeble. Suprascapular not denticulate. D XI-XII 10, 5th spine longest. AJIT 10. Caudal forked. Scales: 1.1. 65-70; 11-15 between lateral line and spinous dorsal; 4—5 rows on cheek. Length.—Up to 150 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, with 5 olive-brown or blackish longitudinal straight stripes, a blackish spot on shoulder, a black blotch between 3rd—7th dorsal spines ; soft dorsal with a black band along middle ; pectorals, ventrals, and anal yellow; caudal yellowish with dark edge or darker rays, but no bands. Locality.—Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies to China and N. Australia. Therapon jarbua (Forsk.). Sea Tiger-fish. 1775. Forskal, Descr. Anim., p. 50. 1790. Bloch, Ausl. Fische, vol. iv, p. 80, pl. ccxxxviii, fig. 1 (servus). 1915. Boulenger, Freshw. Fish. Afr., vol. i, p. 113, fig. 86. 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. i, p. 130 (references). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 346 (references). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 232. Body ovate. Depth 23-33, length of head 3-3, in length of body. Eye 3 (young)—3? in length of head, subequal to snout in adult, and to interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to below anterior third or centre of eye. Preorbital serrated, serrae obsolete in large indi- viduals. Lower opercular spine very strong. Suprascapula and cora- coid strongly denticulate. D XI-XII 10-11, 3rd—5th spines longest. A III 7-9. Caudal forked. Scales: 1.1. 80-90, 13-15 between lateral line and dorsal; 8-10 series on cheek. Nostrils close together. Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, with 3 longitudinal (usually curved) VOL. XXI, PART 2. 31 468 Annals of the South African Museum. dark or black stripes, a black blotch between 3rd—7th dorsal spines ; soft dorsal with dark margin; caudal with a central horizontal dark stripe and 2 oblique bars on each lobe. The young do not differ from the adults in coloration. Locality.— Natal coast, Portuguese East Africa. Distribution.—Indian seas, China, Australia, Western Pacific. *Therapon argenteus (C. and V.). 1829. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 11, p. 139, pl. liv (Datnia argentea). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 71, pl. xvi, fig. 7 (Datnia argentea). 1916. Ogilby and McCulloch, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. v, p. 115 (synonymy). 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. 11, p. 132 (references). Body elevated, profile from lst dorsal spine to the sharply pointed snout almost straight. Depth 23-22, length of head 23-3. Eye shorter than snout, 34—44 in length of head, greater than interorbital width. Maxilla not reaching to below anterior margin of eye. Pre- orbital serrated. Lower opercular spine not very strong, not produced beyond edge of opercular flap. Suprascapula and coracoid denticu- late. D XII 10, spines strong, 4th and 5th longest. A III 8-9, 2nd spine strong and long. Caudal forked. Scales: 11. 55-56; 7-8 between lateral line and spinous dorsal ; 8-9 series on cheek. Nostrils moderately close together. Length.—Up to 270 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker on back, a narrow black edge to the spinous dorsal; soft dorsal and anal dusky. In the young 3 narrow longitudinal dark stripes on the sides. Locality.— Cape seas. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies, Australia. Giinther’s record of a specimen in the British Museum appears to be the only record of this species in South African waters, and it seems doubtful! if the species should really be admitted to the fauna-list. Gen. PLECTROPOMA Cuv. 1817. Cuvier, Régne Anim., vol. 1, p. 277. 1895. Boulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 159. Scales very small, more or less ctenoid. Mouth large. Maxilla exposed, with supplemental bone. Teeth in jaws in several series, A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 469 the inner ones depressible ; canines strong; teeth on vomer and pala- tines, none on tongue. Preopercle entire or finely serrate, lower margin with antrorse spines. Opercle with 3 spines. Gill-rakers moderate. Dorsal with 6-8 spines, spinous portion nearly as long as soft, not divided by a notch. Anal with 3 very feeble, flexible spines. Caudal truncate or emarginate. Lateral line single, the tubes straight, very short. A small genus of Indo-Pacific fishes distinguished from the following genus, Epinephelus, by the antrorse spines on the preopercle and the feeble anal spines. *Plectropoma maculatum (Bl.). 1790. Bloch, Ausl. Fische, vol. iv, p. 48, pl. ccxxvii. 1873. Giinther, Fische d. Stidsee, p. 10, pl. x. 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vii, pp. 25, 26, pl. cexci, fig. 3; pl. cexevi, fig. 3 (Paracanthistius leopardinus and maculatus). 1895. Boulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 160 (synonymy). Depth about equal to length of head, 34-4 in length of body. Hye 5-74 in length of head, 14 (young)—3 in snout, slightly less than interorbital width. Preopercle with 3-4 antrorse spines. Gill- rakers 9-10 plus rudiments on lower part of anterior arch. D VII- VIII 11-12, 3rd or 4th spines longest, nearly 4 length of head, margin of soft dorsal not concave. A III 8,-1st spine rudimentary, 3rd longest, margin not concave. Caudal truncate or feebly emarginate. Seales: |r. 120-145: elie aiata ; LI. 80-106. 60-80 Length.—Up to 1060 mm. Colour.—Yellow, brownish, or reddish, with or without dark cross- bands, numerous black-edged blue spots which may be smaller or larger, or elongated streak-like; pectoral and ventrals sometimes with a black blotch at base. Locality.—Mozambique coast. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific Ocean. Gen. EPINEPHELUS BI. Rock-cods. 1793. Bloch, Ausl. Fische, vol. vii, jee lille 1895. Boulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 162. 470 Annals of the South African Museum. 1926. Opinion 93, Intern. Comm. Nomencl., Smiths. Misc. Coll., vqollel be-all ep ares Scales small, cycloid or ctenoid. Mouth large. Maxilla exposed, with supplemental bone. Teeth in jaws in 2 or more series, the inner ones depressible ; canines more or less developed ; teeth on vomer and palatines, but none on tongue. Preopercle serrated. Opercle with 1, 2, or 3 spines. Gill-rakers varying in length. Dorsal with 9-11 (or 12) spines, spinous and soft portions of dorsal subequal, or the former longer, not divided by a notch. Anal with 3 strong spines. Caudal emarginate, truncate, or rounded. Lateral line single, the tube with ascending tubule, rarely branched. A very large genus of moderate- or large-sized fishes from temperate and tropical seas. They are all valuable food-fishes. In South Africa the genus is well represented on the Natal coast ; at the Cape only one species occurs as an occasional visitor. Regan (1917, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 5, p. 458) has recorded E. australis Blgr. from Natal, and adds in a footnote, “ Perhaps identical with H. melas Peters.” #. australis is an Australian species, and melas, regarded by Boulenger as an insufficiently diagnosed species, has not yet been recorded from South African waters. Gil- christ and Thompson’s specimen of melas is really minmiatus (q.v.). I therefore omit both australis and melas from the fauna-list. Key to the South African species. I. Dorsal spines 1X. A. Scales above lateral line 10-15. 1. Lateral line 75-82. Brown . : : : . taentops. 2. Lateral line 65-75. Red . 4 ‘ ; : . sonneratt. 3. Lateral line 50-55. Brown ‘ : : : : argus. B. Scales above lateral line 7-10. 1. Pectoral dark, with yellow edge . ‘ 5 . hemistictus. 2. Pectoral light . ’ 4 : : : ; - morniatus. II. Dorsal spines XI. A. Teeth in 2 series on side of mandible. 1. Anal rays 8. a. Caudal truncate or emarginate. i. Scales above lateral line 20-25. Pectoral yellow flavocaeruleus. ii. Scales above lateral line 11-16. a. Dorsal rays 14-15. 1.1. 60-72. * Longest dorsal spine } head. t+ Scales above 1.1. 13-16 praeopercularis. tT Seales above 1.1. 18-20 albomarginatus. ** Longest dorsal spine 3-3 head . morrhua. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 471 B. Dorsal rays 16-17. L.1. 52-60. * Two strong spines on angle of preopercle diacanthus. ** Serrae merely enlarged on angle of preopercle maculatus. 6. Caudal rounded. i. Scales above 1.1. mostly cycloid. a. Ll. 55-60 . ‘ ; : ; é gilbert. B. L.1. 78-82 . ; : : andersont. ii. Scales above 1.1. mostly aieHoid : grammatophorus. 2. Analrays9. Dorsalrays14 . : : - . modestus. B. Teeth in 3 or more series on side of mandible. 1. Lower opercular spine further back than upper. a. 3rd—5th dorsal spines much longer than last. i. Scales 85-110, ae. 1.]. 55-60. : ASCENSIONIS. 35-43 12-17 2 ii. Scales 100-120, , l.1. 60-80 . F : gigas. 42-55 6. Dorsal spines subequal from 3rd or 4th. i. Eye 4-53 in head. a. Red, spinous dorsal black-tipped . . fasciatus. 6. Brown, reticulated . ; : merra. ii. Eye 5-8 in head. Brown, Saathed : . taurvina. 2. Lower opercular spine not further back than upper. a. Dorsal rays 15-16. Interorbital width 7-8 in head caeruleopunctatus. b. Dorsal rays 13-15. Interorbital width 4-7 in head. i. L.]. tubes not branched . : . fuscoguttatus. ii. L.J. tubes branched . : : : lanceolatus. As the species of this genus are often difficult to identify, the follow- ing colour synopsis may be found useful. It is only applicable to fresh adult specimens; young individuals in many cases differ considerably from the adults, being lighter in colour and more dis- tinctly spotted or marked, whereas the adults tend to grow darker and more uniform in coloration. Preserved specimens lose their colour and markings to a large extent, especially the red, orange, and blue colours. 1. Ground colour red. Blue spots (dark spots if preserved) . : : . miniatus. D IX. ; Blue network on head. 3 ; : . sonneratt. D XI. _ Spinous dorsal tipped with blaok ‘ s 5 . fasciatus. 2. Head red, body brownish ; head with blue spots and lines _. grammatophorus. 3. Ground colour brown. With pale (bluish or whitish) spots or blotches. LX. : : : : ; . taeniops, argus, hemistictus. 105-4 ne : : ; ‘ : ascensionis, caeruleopunctatus. With dark spots . . praeopercularis, morrhua, diacanthus, maculatus, andersoni, tauvina, fuscoguttatus. 472 Annals of the South African Museum. 4, Brown, with light honeycomb or polygonal network. Scales cycloid . : A ; : : : gilbertt. Scales ctenoid . ; : ‘ , : : ; : merra. 5. Uniform brown : : ; ; ' . modestus, gigas, lanceolatus. 6. Pectoral fin yellow. DIX. Edge only of pectoral yellow. ; : P hemistictus. D XI. Pectoral wholly yellow . : flavocaeruleus, albomarginatus. * B pinephelus taeniops (C. and V.). 1828. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss, vol. 11, p. 370. 1881. Steindachner, Denkschr. Ak. Wiss. Wien, vol. xliv, p. 20, ple es, 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. 11, p. 120 (references). Depth 3-31, length of head 24-3, in length of body. Eye 5-6 in length of head, less than snout, but greater than interorbital width. Teeth in 3-4 series on sides of mandible ; canines strong. Preopercle very finely serrated, serrae scarcely enlarged at angle. Gill-rakers 10-11 plus 6-8 rudiments on lower part of anterior arch, longest longer than gill-fringes. D IX 15, 3rd longest, 4 length of head. A III 9 (rarely 10), 2nd and 8rd spines equal. Caudal rounded. 10-12 Scales ctenoid, except on head: Lr. 125-130; Ltr. rare ; Ll. 75-82. Length.—Up to 320 mm. Colour.—Dark brown, with small blue, black-edged spots, a blue horizontal streak below eye ; soft dorsal, anal, and caudal edged with blue. . Locality.—South African seas. Distribution.—West coast of tropical Africa. Said to stray to the Bahamas and Florida coast, but not reckoned in the American fauna. Its occurrence in South African waters is also doubtful, but it may possibly be found off the coast of Angola and may occasionally come still further south. Epinephelus sonnerati (C. and V.). Sonnerat’s or Scarlet Rock-cod. 1828. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 11, p. 299. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 25, pl. vu, fig. 1. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 333 (references and synonymy). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 228. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 473 Depth 22-3, length of head 22-33, in length of body. Eye 5-7 in length of head, 2 in snout, about equal to interorbital width. Teeth in 3-5 series on sides of mandible; canines moderate. Preopercle feebly serrated. Gill-rakers 9-12 plus 5-6 rudiments on lower part of anterior arch, longest about equal to gill-fringes. D IX 15, 3rd spine longest, about +-4 in length of head. A III 9, 2nd and 3rd spines equal. Caudal rounded. Scales ctenoid, except on head : 11-14 ; Ll. 65-75. 43-52 Length.—Up to 540 mm. Colour.—Red, with a more or less distinct bluish network on head, body and fins with or without small bluish or whitish spots, all the fins edged with black. | Locality.—Natal coast, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. Fowler (1925, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 220) records a specimen from Delagoa Bay under the name awrantius C. and V. His description differs from that of Boulenger (1895, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 193), mainly in the scale-counts, though it should be noted that Fowler’s scale-counts, especially that of the scales in a transverse direction, are often considerably greater than those of Boulenger and other authors. Boulenger, from an examina- tion of the type of awrantius, gives the scales as: lr. 90-105; ir. £10—140 ; I.tr. *Epinephelus argus (Bl. Schn.). 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 311. 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vii, p. 43, pl. eccxlu, fig. 3. 1895. Boulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 189 (synonymy). . Depth 22-3, length of head 23-34, in length of body. Eye 5-6 in length of head, 14-2 in snout, greater than interorbital width. Teeth in 4-5 series on sides of mandible ; canines rather strong. Preopercle finely serrated. Gill-rakers 8-9 plus rudiments on lower part of anterior arch, longest nearly as long as gill-fringes. D IX 15-16, ard or 4th spine longest, nearly 4 length of head. A III 9, 2nd and ord spines equal. Caudal rounded. Scales ctenoid: lr. 95-110; 474 Annals of the South African Museum. Length.—Up to 430 mm. Colour.—Dark reddish-brown or blackish, with more or less distinct vertical cross-bars; head, body, and fins with small, round, black- edged blue spots; dorsal, anal, and caudal with yellowish margins. Locality.— Mozambique coast. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific Ocean. *Hpinephelus hemistictus (Riipp.). 1828. Riippell, Atl. Fische Roth. Meer., p. 109, pl. xxvii, fig. 3. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 329 (references). Depth equal to length of head, 23-3 in length of body. Eye 5-54 in length of head, less than snout, greater than interorbital width. Teeth in 2-3 series on side of mandible ; canines moderate or strong. Preopercle very finely serrated, serrae scarcely enlarged at angle. Gill-rakers 9-10 plus rudiments on lower part of anterior arch, longest nearly as long as gill-fringes. D IX 14, 3rd or 4th spine longest, nearly 4 length of head. A III 9, 2nd and 3rd spines equal. Ventrals reaching vent. Caudal rounded. Scales ctenoid, except on head : -39 Length.—Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Dark brown, head and lower half of body with blue, black-edged dots; soft dorsal, anal, and caudal blackish, dotted with blue, with narrow white edge; pectoral blackish, broadly edged with yellow. Locality.—Zululand coast. Distribution.—East coast of Africa. Jr. 95-110; L.tr. 5 bi50=55: 35 Epinephelus mimatus (Forsk.). Red-spotted Rock-cod. 1775. Forskal, Desc. Anim., p. 41. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 24, pl. vi, fig. 2. 1909. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, pt. 3, p. 220 (melas non Peters). 1917. Zd., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 331 (references and synonymy). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 221 (Cephalopholis m.). ian, PLATE XX. FIG. 1. Palunolepis grandis (Gnthr.) (original photo) SOR ON iy. 0h 3 2. Epinephelus albomarginatus Blgr. (after Boulenger) : a ae _ ——-33.. Acanthistius sebastoides (Cast.) (original photo) . eae . 4. Plesiops nigricans (Riipp.) (after Day) . Sue se Ae? eee ’ ag " J ie an i f , ok Wu a i iP ¥ ‘ Plate XX. pam. Air, Mus, Vol. X XI. Neill & Co., Lid. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 475 Depth 23-3, length of head 22-34, in length of body. Eye 5-6 in length of head, about equal to interorbital width and less than snout. Teeth in 2-3 series on side of mandible; canines moderate. Pre- opercle finely serrated, serrae scarcely enlarged at angle. Gill-rakers 9-10 plus several rudiments on lower part of anterior arch. D IX 15-16, 3rd spine longest, 4 length of head. A III 9, 2nd and 3rd spines equal. Ventrals not reaching vent. Caudal rounded. Scales 8-10 40-45 ctenoid, except on head: I|.r. 105-115; |.tr. ; Ll. 50-60. Length.—Up to 410 mm. Colour.—Orange or red, with blue, black-edged spots ; unpaired fins spotted ; pectoral orange at base, shading off into golden; ventrals crimson, with upper edge blue. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. The specimen, doubtfully identified by Gilchrist and Thompson as melas Peters, proves to belong to this species. The description is erroneous in several points, though there is no doubt that the specimen I have examined is the identical one described by these authors. Epinephelus flavocaeruleus (Lacep.). Yellow and Blue Rock-cod. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, p. 367. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 15, pln fies Te 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 327 (references and synonymy). Depth 22-24, length of head 23-3, in length of body. Eye 4-6 in length of head, 14-13 in snout, 14-13 in interorbital width. Teeth in 2 series on side of mandible; canines small. Preopercle finely serrated, serrae slightly enlarged on angle which is rounded and shghtly produced. Gill-rakers 16-18 on lower part of anterior arch, nearly as long as gill-frmges. D XI 15-17, 3rd or 4th spine longest, 2-4 length of head. A III 8, 2nd spine a little shorter than 3rd. Caudal emarginate. Scales ctenoid, except on head: Lr. 130-150; ee tr. eo 65-75. Length.—Up to 460 mm. Colour.—Pale lilac to dark purplish-blue, with or without dark dots on body and fins; fins wholly or partially yellow, pectorals uniform yellow. 476 Annals of the South African Museum. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. The ground colour and the extent of the aoe colour on the unpaired fins varies bonsideual Ds E'pinephelus praeopercularis Blegr. 1887. Boulenger, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 654. 1895. Id., Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 207, pl. v. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 333. Depth 3-34, length of head 23-3, in length of body. Hye about equal to interorbital width, 44-54 in length of head, less than snout. Teeth in 2 series on side of mandible; canines strong. . Preopercle finely serrated, concave above the produced angle which bears several strong spines. Gill-rakers 15-16 (11 plus rudiments) on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 14-15, 3rd spine longest, 4 length of head. A III 8, 2nd and 3rd spines about equal. Caudal truncate in adult, 13-16 rounded in young. Scales mostly ctenoid: lr. 120-125; Ltr. 15 BR Ll. 65-72. Length.—Up to 800 mm. Colour.—Brown, sides spotted or dotted with black, one or two dark streaks from eye across opercle, unpaired fins blackish with narrow white border. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Persian Gulf. This species seems doubtfully distinct from morrhua. Boulenger separates the two forms on the relative lengths of the longest spine, morrhua having a longer spine than praeopercularis. Gilchrist and Thompson, however, describe two specimens of morrhua (1909, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, pt. 3, p. 217) with a relatively short spine, and one specimen of praeopercularis (1914, ibid., vol. xiii, pt. 3, p. 66) with a relatively long spine. From personal inspection I can confirm this. The main difference between the specimens is the smaller size of the scales in the specimen identified as praeopercularis, a difference which is clear at the first glance. Epinephelus morrhua (C. and V.). 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ix, p. 434. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India., p. 21, pl. v, fig. 1. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 477 1910. Jordan and Richardson, Proc. U.S: Nat. Mus., vol. xxxvii, p. 454, fig. 11. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 332 (references and synonymy). Depth 3-34, length of head 24-23, in length of body. Eye less than interorbital width and than snout, 5-54 in length of head. Teeth in 2 series on side of mandible; canines strong. Preopercle finely serrated, concave about angle which is produced and bears several strong spines. Gill-rakers 15-16 on lower part of anterior arch, as long as gill-fringes. D XI 14-15, 3rd or 3rd and 4th spines longest, 2-2 length of head. A III 8, 2nd and 3rd spines equal. Caudal truncate in adult, rounded in young. Scales mostly ctenoid: 12-15 45-55 Length.—Up to 540 mm. Colour.—Brown, with undulating oblique stripes or series of dots, being the remnants of well-marked stripes in young; 3-4 oblique streaks on head ; soft dorsal and caudal usually spotted. Locality — Natal and Zululand coast. Distribution.—Indian and Western Pacific Oceans to Japan. Pee iOa—115; ltr. ; 1.1. 60-65. Epinephelus albomarginatus Blegr. White-margined Rock-cod. 1903. Boulenger, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. in, pt. 3, p. 65, pl. iv. 1909. Gilchrist and Thompson, zbid., vol. vi, pt. 3, p. 216. 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 325. Depth about equal to length of head, 3 in length of body. Eye equal to snout, 4 in length of head, slightly greater than interorbital width. Teeth in 2 series on side of mandible ; canines strong. Pre- opercle finely serrated, slightly concave above angle which bears 3-5 strong spines. Gill-rakers 13-15 on lower part of anterior arch, as long as gill-fringes. D XI 14, 3rd—5th spines longest. A III 8, 3rd spine longest. Caudal subtruncate. Scales ctenoid, snout scaly, 18-20 maxilla naked: I.r. 110-120; Lr. ; 1.1. 63-65. (Plate XX, fig. 2.) Length.— Up to 320 mm. Colour.—Reddish-brown, with numerous small round spots, belly unspotted ; pectoral yellow, other fins dark, edged with white; soft dorsal and caudal more or less distinctly spotted. 478 Annals of the South African Museum. Locality. East London, Natal, and Zululand coast. Type in British Museum. *Epinephelus diacanthus (C. and V.). Two-spined Rock-cod. 1828. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ii, p. 319. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 209, pl. i, fig. 4. 1895. Boulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 209 (synonymy). 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 321. 1925. Fowler, Proc: Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p. 222. Depth 3-34, length of head 24-3, in length of body. Eye greater than interorbital width, 44-54 in length of head, slightly less than snout. Teeth in 2 series on side of mandible; canines moderate. Preopercle finely serrated, angle often produced, armed with 2-5, usually 2, very strong spines. Giull-rakers 15-16 on lower part of anterior arch, not longer than gill-fringes. D XI 16-17, 3rd or 3rd and 4th spines longest. A III 8, 2nd and 3rd spines about equal. Caudal subtruncate in adult, rounded in young. Scales mostly 5 ctenoid : l.r. 105-120; I.tr. ——; 1]. 52-60. 40-46 Length.— Up to 520 mm. Colour.—Brown, with or without dark spots, with 5-6 dark vertical cross-bands, fins unspotted, dark at ends, often a dark streak across cheek. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas, China, Japan. Epinephelus maculatus (Bl.). Spotted Rock-cod. 1790. Bloch, Ausl. Fische, vol. iv, p. 96, pl. cexlii, fig. 3. 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vu, p. 50, pls. cclxxxv, fig. 1; eclxxxvi, fig. 3; cclxxxix, fig. 2; ccciv, fig. 2. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 14, pl. u, fig. 4. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 330 (references and synonymy). Depth 34, length of head 3, in length of body. Eye 5-6 in length of head, greater than interorbital width, less than snout. Teeth in 2 : . A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 479 series on side of mandible ; canines strong. Preopercle finely serrated, serrae enlarged on slightly produced angle. Gill-rakers 10-12 plus 4-6 rudiments on lower pait of anterior arch; long, slender, longer than gill-fringes. D XI 16-17, 3rd or 4th spine longest. A III 8, 3rd spine longest. Caudal subtruncate in adult, rounded in young. 12-15 ——; |]. 53-56. 40-45 Scales mostly ctenoid: Lr. 105-110; L.-tr. Length.—Up to 400 mm. Colour.—Brown, with round’ dark spots, pectoral and often also the other fins spotted; young with black spots and large bluish-white blotches, the largest being a cross-bar in front of dorsal and a vertical bar on hind half of spinous dorsal descending to lateral line. Locality.—Natal and Zululand coast. Distribution.—Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. *Hpinephelus gilberti (Rich.). Gilbert's Rock-cod. 1842. Richardson, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. ix, p. 19. 1091; Sauvage, Hist. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 75, pl. wim, fig. 1 (cylindricus). 1895. Boulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 220 (references and synonymy). 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 321. Depth 33-33, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Hye equal to snout, 5 in length of head, greater than interorbital width. Teeth in 2 series on side of mandible; canines moderate. Preopercle serrated, angle slightly produced, with enlarged serrae. Gill-rakers 15-17 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 16-17, 3rd or 4th spine longest. A III 8, 2nd and 3rd spines subequal. Caudal rounded. 10-12 : ek oo—O0: 38-40 Scales mostly cycloid: lI.r. 95-110; l.tr Length.— Up to 400 mm. Colour.—Brown or blackish, with a pale polygonal network on head and body, unpaired fins with large dark spots, pectoral dark with narrow white edge, caudal also with narrow white edge. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian Ocean, East Indies, North Australia. 480 Annals of the South African Museum. Epinephelus andersoni Blgr. Anderson’s Rock-cod. 1903. Boulenger, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. iii, pt. 3, p. 66, pl. v. 1909. Gilchrist and Thompson, zbzd., vol. vi, pt. 3, p. 218. 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 325. Depth 34-44, length of head 3, in length of body. Eye equal to interorbital width, 6 in length of head, less than snout. Teeth in 2 series on side of mandible; canines small. Preopercle serrated, serrae coarser at angle. Gull-rakers 16 on lower part of anterior arch, shorter than (most of them much shorter than) gill-fringes. D XI 15, 3rd and 4th spines longest. A III 8, 2nd and 3rd spines equal. 14-17 Caudal rounded. Scales mostly cycloid: |r. 105-110; l-tr. aeiee 1.1. 78-82. Length.—Up to 395 mm. Colour.—Pale purplish brown, with dark spots forming 5-7 longi- tudinal series, usually 2 oblique dark stripes from eye across opercle, dorsal and caudal spotted. Locality.— East London, Natal, and Zululand coast. Type in British Museum. Epinephelus grammatophorus Bler. Streaked Rock-cod. 1903. Boulenger, Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus., vol. ii, pt. 3, p. 64, pl. i. 1909. Gilchrist and Thompson, zbid., vol. vi, pt. 3, p. 222. 1917. Zd., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 329. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 224 (rivu- latus non C. and V.). Depth 3-32, length of head 23-23, in length of body. Eye 4-43 in length of head, less than snout, greater than interorbital width. Teeth in 2 series on side of mandible; canines strong. Preopercle serrated, serrae at angle enlarged. Gill-rakers 15 on lower part of anterior arch, nearly as long as gill-fringes. D XI 16-17, 3rd and 4th spines longest. A III 8, 2nd and 3rd spines equal. Caudal 10 rounded. Scales ctenoid: lr. 85-95; |.tr. if ; Ll. 65-70. Length.—Up to 330 mm. Colour.—Red on head and front part of body, becoming brown A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 48] posteriorly, 3 broad irregular vertical bands, a red oval patch at base of pectoral, thin irregular blue (dark brown in preserved specimens) lines radiating from eye over snout, cheek, and opercle; fins dark reddish brown. Locality.—Natal coast. Type in British Museum. Epinephelus modestus G. and T. 1909. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, pt. 3, p. 218. 1917. Jd., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 332. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p. 224. Depth 24-3, length of head 23-22, in length of body. Eye equal to interorbital width, 5-6 in length of head, less than snout. Teeth in 2 series on side of mandible ; canines small. Preopercle serrated, serrae at angle enlarged. Gill-rakers 17 on lower part of anterior arch (Fowler). D XI 14-16, 3rd spine longest. A III 9, 3rd spine longest. Caudaltruncate. Scales ctenoid: Lr. 102-118; Ltr. a Ll. 68-74. Length—Up to 407 mm. (type, 281 mm.). Colour.—Uniform brown, darker above, anal with broad whitish margin. Locality Pondoland and Natal coast. Type in South African Museum. I have seen only the type specimen ; it might well be considered as an example of praeopercularis with an extra analray. The preopercle, however, is scarcely concave above the angle. Epinephelus ascensionis (Osb.). Ascension Island Rock-cod. 1771. Osbeck, Voy. China, vol. u1, p. 96. 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iii, p. 116 (references and synonymy). Depth 3-34, length of head 23-3, in length of body. Eye less than snout and than interorbital, 43-6 in length of head. Teeth in 3 series on side of mandible ; canines moderate. Preopercle finely serrated, serrae at angle slightly enlarged. Gill-rakers 15-18 on lower part of anterior arch, slightly shorter than gill-fringes. D XI 16-17, 4th or 482 Annals of the South African Museum. 5th or 3rd—5th spines longest, 4-2 length of head. A III 8, 2nd and 3rd spines subequal. Caudal subtruncate in adult. Scales mostly 9-13 "35-42 Length.—Up to 400 mm. Colour.—Brown or olivaceous, with more or less distinct orange spots, whitish irregular blotches on sides, head, and fins ; fins more or less distinctly spotted like the body, with fine whitish edges. Locality.—Table Bay and False Bay. Distribution.—Tropical Atlantic. This species seems to be only an occasional visitor to these coasts. A few specimens have been taken alive and placed in the Aquarium at St. James (False Bay), where they have lived for considerable periods. ctenoid : Lr. 90-110; Ltr ; Ll. 55-60. Epinephelus gigas (Briin.). ? 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 285 (Labrus guaza). 1768. Briinnich, Ichth. Massil., p. 65, No. 81. 1828. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ii, p. 270, jl -o-e-abie 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. ii, p. 118 (gwaza) (references and synonymy). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 327 (guaza) (references and synonymy). 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 321. Depth nearly equal to length of head, 25-3, in length of body. Kye less than snout, 5(young)-8 in length of head, interorbital width 44 (adult)—6 (young). Teeth in rather narrow bands in young, broader in adult; canines small (or obsolete in old specimens). Preopercle serrated, serrae enlarged at angle. Gill-rakers moderately elongate, 15-16 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 14-16, 4th or 5th spine longest, 3-4 length of head. A III 8, 2nd and 3rd spines equal. Caudal rounded or subtruncate. Scales mostly cycloid above lateral line, in old specimens nearly all cycloid: Lr. 100-120; 12-17 5 ; 1.1. 60-80. 22-55 Length.—Up to 900 mm. Colour.—Adult, uniform dark brown; young often with grey, yellow, or red irregular marbling, fins edged with white. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean, Angola. eur A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 483 In Rep. Natal Fisheries for 1919 (1920, p. 45) Robinson states that the record catch in Natal for Rock-cod is a specimen weighing 415 lb., which he identifies as this species. Since, however, gigas does not reach so large a size, the identification is probably erroneous; it is more likely that the specimen should have been identified as lanceo- latus (vide infra). Epinephelus fasciatus (Forsk.). Red or Banded Rock-cod. 1775. Forskal, Desc. Anim., p. 40. 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vil, p. 66, pl. ccexxvi, fig. 3. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Maus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p- 326. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 223. Depth 3-34, length of head 22-3, in length of body. Lye greater than interorbital width, 4-5 in length of head, about equal to snout. Teeth in 3 series on side of mandible; canines small. Preopercle serrated, serrae at angle enlarged. Gill-rakers moderate, 15-16 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 16, 3rd and 4th spines longest. A III 8, 2nd and 3rd spines subequal. Caudal subtruncate in adult. Scales ctenoid: lr. 100-120; Ltr. eam 1.1. 50-62. 36-42 Length.— Up to 330 mm. Colour.—Bright red, with or without more or less distinct dark vertical cross-bands, with or without bluish-white spots, membrane between dorsal spines broadly tipped with black. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian and Western Pacific Oceans to Japan and Australia. Epinephelus merra (B1.). Honeycomb Rock-cod. 1793. Bloch, Ausl. Fische, vol. vii, p. 17, pl. cccxxix. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 14, pl. ui, fig. 3. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 330 (references and synonymy). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 222. Depth 3-3, length of head 23-3, in length of body. Eye greater than interorbital width, 4-54 in length of head, equal to or less than snout. Teeth in 3-4 series on side of mandible; canines small or VOL. XXI, PART 2. 32 —< —— 9» en 484 Annals of the South African Museum. moderate. Preopercle serrated, serrae enlarged at angle. Gill- rakers moderate, 15-17 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 15-17, 4th or 5th spine longest. A III 8, 2nd and 3rd spines subequal. Caudal rounded, subtruncate. Scales mostly ctenoid: l.r. 95-120; yaya Use a eae 39_44 5 sede 55-70. Length.—Up to 400 mm. Colour.—Brown, with a honeycomb network of fine pale lines ; white spots may be present in addition, the pectoral may be dark spotted or unspotted. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian and Western Pacific Oceans to Australia. Epinephelus tauvina (Forsk.). Variegated Rock-cod. 1775. Forskal, Desc. Anim., p. 39. ? 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 3 (Serranus chabaudt). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, pp. 19, 20, pl. iv, figs. 2, 3 (malabaricus and salmoides). 1907. Stead, Add. Fish-fauna N.S.W., No. 1, p. 8, pl. i. 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. 11, p. 120 (references and synonymy). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 333 (references and synonymy). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 225. Depth 3-33, length of head 25-3, in length of body. Eye less than snout, greater than interorbital width, 5 (young)-8 on length of head. Teeth in 3 series on side of mandible; canines small. Preopercle serrated, serrae enlarged on slightly produced angle. Gill-rakers moderate, 9-11 plus 5-8 rudiments on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 15, 3rd or 4th spine longest. A III 8, 2nd and 3rd spines subequal. Caudal rounded. Scales mostly ctenoid: lr. 100-120; 12-15 ltr. —— ; lL. 60-70. 34-45 Length.—Up to 1270 mm. Colour.—Brown, with darker spots or markings, or 5-6 more or less regular cross-bands frequently with black and white dots in addition, fins spotted ; old specimens nearly uniform. Locality.— Natal coast. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 485 Distribution.—Indian and Western Pacific Oceans to Australia. Castelnau’s Serranus chabaudi, which Boulenger doubtfully identifies with this species, came from Algoa Bay ; the description is inadequate for certain determination. Epinephelus caeruleopunctatus (Bl.). Blue-spotted Rock-cod. 1790. Bloch, Ausl. Fische, vol. iv, p. 94, pl. cexlii, fig. 2. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 16, pl. ii, fig. 3 (tumilabris non C. and V.). 1895. Boulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 246 (references and synonymy). 1919. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. u, pt. 4, p. 197. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvui, p. 224. Depth 3-34, length of head 23-3, in length of body. Hye 43-54 in length of head, greater than interorbital width, which is 7-8 in head, about equal to snout. Teeth in 3-4 series on side of mandible ; canines small. Preopercle finely serrated, serrae slightly enlarged at angle. Guill-rakers short, 15-18 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 15-16, 3rd or 4th spine longest. A III 8, 2nd and 3rd spines equal. Caudal rounded. Scales mostly ctenoid: l.r. 105-110; Ltr. ae Ll. 55-65. Length. Up to 560 mm. Colour.—Dark purplish-brown, with more or less distinct whitish or bluish spots; maxillary groove edged with black. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian and Western Pacific seas. Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Forsk.). Marbled Rock-cod. 1775. Forskal, Desc. Anim., p. 42 (summana var. fuscoguttata). 1828. Riippell, Atl. Fische R. Meer., p. 108, pl. xxvii, fig. 2. 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vil, p. 57, pl. cceevii, fig. 3. 1895. Boulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 249 (references and synonymy). 1919. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. ii, pt. 4, p. 197. Depth nearly equal to length of head, 24-34 in length of body. Hye 486 Annals of the South African Museum. 5 (young)-7 in length of head, interorbital width 4-7. Teeth in broad bands in adult; canines small. Preopercle finely serrated, serrae slightly enlarged at angle. Gill-rakers short, 16-18 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 13-15, 3rd or 4th spine longest. A III 8, 2nd spine about as long as 3rd. Caudal rounded. Scales mostly ctenoid 15-20 in young, cycloid in adult: lr. 110-145; Ltr. amy 1.1. 55-70. Length.— Up to 900 mm. Colour.—Brown with dark spots, irregular marblings, with or with- out numerous small black dots, 4-5 large dark blotches along base of dorsal, and one on dorsal surface of caudal peduncle ; markings very indistinct in adult, often almost uniform. Locality.—Natal coast, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. Epinephelus lanceolatus (B1.). 1790. Bloch, Ausl. Fische; voli iv, p: 92, pl celsar, foe 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, pp. 18, 101, pl. iv, fig. 1. 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. ii, p. 119 (references and synonymy). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 329 (references and synonymy). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. xxvii, p. 223. Depth equal to length of head, 23-31 in length of body. Eye 5 (young)—12 in length of head, interorbital width 4-54, in length of head, snout very short. Teeth in broad bands in adult; canines small. Preopercle finely serrated, serrae somewhat enlarged at angle. Gill-rakers moderate, 14 on lower part of anterior arch, D XI 14-15, last spine longest. A III 8, 2nd and 3rd spines subequal. Caudal rounded. Scales cycloid or feebly ctenoid, tubes of the lateral line mostly with several diverging tubules: Lr. 100-110; |.tr. a ].]. 58-67. Length.—Up to 3600 mm. (12 ft.). Colour.—Young, yellowish with 4 dark cross-bands, fins spotted with blackish-brown ; half-grown with indistinct cross-bands, head and body with fine reticulation, spots on fins more numerous; old specimens uniform brown or blackish. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian Ocean. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 487 Gen. AULACOCEPHALUS T. and S.. 1844. Temminck and Schlegel, Faun. Jap. Poiss., p. 15. Body strongly compressed. Head naked and rugose above. Scales very small, strongly ctenoid, separated from each other by naked skin. Mouth large. Maxilla exposed, with supplemental bone. Teeth villiform, in bands in jaws and on vomer and palatines, but none on tongue. Preopercle serrated. Opercle with 3 strong spines. Gill-rakerslong. Spinous dorsal longer than soft, latter much higher than last spines. Anal with 3 spines. Caudal truncate. Lateral line single, tubes long and straight, on the naked skin and terminating on the scales. A single widely distributed species. Aulacocephalus temmincki Blkr. Yellow-stripe Rock-cod. 1844. Temminck and Schlegel, loc. cit., p. 15, pl. v, fig. 2. 1857. Bleeker, Verh. Batav. Gen., vol. xxvi, p. 12. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 325 (references). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 225. Depth 3, length of head 24-23, in length of body. LHye less than snout, 5-7 in length of head, about equal to interorbital width. Gill- takers 17-18 on lower part of anterior arch. DIX 12. A III 9. Scales: 1.1. 73-75. Lateral line strongly curved. Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Dark purplish-brown; a yellow, black-edged stripe run- ning along base of dorsal fin and extending through eye on to snout. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Japan, Siam, Mauritius. Gen. PoLyPrRIon Cuv. 1817. Cuvier, Régne Anim., vol. i, p. 282. Scales small, rough, ctenoid. Mouth large. Maxilla exposed, with supplemental bone. Teeth villiform, in broad bands in jaws, on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Preopercle serrated. Opercle with a strong spine and a strong horizontal ridge. Gill-rakers long. Spinous portion of dorsal much longer than the soft, rays higher than last spines. Anal with 3 spines. Soft dorsal and anal scaly at base. eae , 488 Annals of the South African Museum. Caudal rounded or truncate. Lateral line single, tubes straight and occupying whole length of scale. Large fishes living in rather deep water, though often ascending towards the surface. They are fond of associating in the neighbour- hood of wrecks and floating timber. In the Mediterranean they are highly esteemed as food-fishes. The only other species, P. prognathus, is found in the Southern Pacific Ocean, and is distinguished by a more elongate body. Though included in previous lists of South African fishes, owing apparently to a misplaced reference, there is no record of its occurrence in these waters. The specimens I have examined are all referable to the Atlantic form. Polyprion americanus (Bl. Schn.). Bafaro ; Stone-bass ; Wreck-fish. 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 205. 1892. Smitt, Skandin. Fish., vol. 1, p. 47, fig. 12. 1913. Waite, Tr) N.Z. Inst7) volxly; ps 215, pls, va 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. i, p. 114 (references and synonymy). Depth 23-34, head about the same, in length of body. Eye 44-54 in length of head, 14-14 in snout and in interorbital width, the latter 3-34 in length of head. Head flat above, with serrated ridges in young, which gradually become obsolete in adult ; a strong median longitudinal bony ridge on the occiput. Gill-rakers 7-8 plus rudi- ments on lower part of anterior arch. D XI—XII 11-12, 3rd (or 4th) to 6th (or 7th) spines longest, 24-32 in length of head, shorter than longest soft rays. A III 9-10, 3rd spine longest. Dorsal and anal spines striated, and in the young also serrated. Pectoral about half length of head. Caudal rounded in young, truncate in adult. Scales : 1) ee 2S 1 7820 liz, 105-135 + Ltr. ose Length.—Up to 2100 mm. (7 ft.). Colour.—Bluish-grey above, lighter on sides with a silvery sheen, belly white, fins blackish. Locality. Off Table Bay, Agulhas Bank, 30-150 fathoms. Distribution.—North and Middle Atlantic, Mediterranean, New Zealand. Local fishermen often distinguish a smaller “‘ Yellow’ Bafaro and a larger “‘ Black”? Bafaro. It seems improbable that there are two A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 489 species here, especially as the ordinary (“ Black ’’) Bafaro is known to be much lighter in colour or blotchy in the young state. Gen. ACANTHISTIUS Guill. 1862. Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., p. 236. Scales small, cycloid or ctenoid. Mouth large. Maxilla exposed, with supplemental bone. Teeth in broad villiform bands in jaws, with an outer series of enlarged canines ; teeth on vomer and palatine, none on tongue. Preopercle serrated, with strong antrorse spines on lower border. Opercle with 3 strong spines. Gill-rakers long. Spinous portion of dorsal longer than soft, the latter higher than last spines. Anal with 3 spines. Caudal rounded or truncate. Lateral line single, the tubes bi- or tri-furcate. A genus confined to the Southern Hemisphere. Acanthistius sebastoides (Cast.). Orange-spotted Rock-cod. 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 3. 1881. Steindachner, 8. B. Ak. Wiss. Wien, vol. lxxxii, p. 201, pl. 1. 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iii, p. 114 (references). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p. 221. Depth 24-3, length of head 24-3, in length of body. Hye equal to snout, 44-5 in length of head, a little greater than interorbital width. Lower jaw not projecting. A fringed flap on anterior nostril. Pre- opercle with 3 antrorse spines on lower margin. Gill-rakers 7-8 plus rudiments on lower part of anterior arch. D XII 15-16, 3rd or 4th spine longest. A III 7-8, 2nd and 3rd spines equal. Pectoral very broad, symmetrical, thick and fleshy, especially the lower rays. 17-18 ; LJ. 55-60. 45-50 Caudal truncate. Scales ctenoid: |.r. 90-105; I.tr. (Plate XX, fig. 3.) Length—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Brownish or reddish with darker marbling, numerous close-set small round orange dots on head and body. Locality.— Table Bay, False Bay to East London, and Natal. Gen. Dinoperca Blgr. 1895. Boulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 153. Scales small, ctenoid. Mouth rather large. Maxilla exposed, with 490 Annals of the South African Museum. supplementary bone. Teeth in villiform bands in jaws, with an outer enlarged row; teeth on vomer and palatine, none on tongue. Pre- opercle serrated. Opercle without conspicuous spines. Gill-rakers long. Spinous and soft portions of dorsal about equal. Anal with 3 spines. Caudal truncate or slightly emarginate. Lateral line single, tubes straight. Indian seas and Natal. Dinoperca queketti Bler. Blackfish. 1903. Boulenger, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. iii, p. 63, pl. i. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 325. Depth 24-24, length of head 3, in length of body. Hye equal to or slightly greater than snout, 3 (young)—4 in length of head, inter- orbital width #-4 diameter of eye. Serrations on preopercle coarser at angle. No fringed flap on nostrils. Gill-rakers as long as gill- fringes, 27-28 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 17-18, 3rd—5th spines longest, 11th longer than preceding ones. A III 11-13, spines feeble, 3rd longest. Soft dorsal and anal densely scaly, high anteriorly, the posterior margins being vertical. Caudal slightly emarginate. isi noi 30K Length.—Up to 410 mm. Colour.—Dark brown or blackish, with irregular lines of small silvery white spots; young specimens lighter, with 4 indistinct dark oblique cross-bands. Locality.—Natal coast. Type in British Museum. Scales: Lr. 80-85; l.tr ].1. 55-58. Gen. Ruypticus Cuv. 1829. Cuvier, Régne Anim., ed. 2, vol. ii, p. 144. Body elongate, strongly compressed. Scales very small, cycloid, embedded in the skin. Mouth large. Maxilla exposed, with sup- plemental bone. Teeth in villiform bands in jaws, and on vomer and palatine; none ontongue. Preopercle and opercle each with 2-3 strong spines. Gill-rakers short. Dorsal long, the few spines short but strong. Anal without spines. Ventralssmall. Pectoral rounded ‘ A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 491 Caudal rounded. All the fins thickly covered with minute scales. Lateral line single, tubes straight. Tropical and subtropical seas. *Rhypticus saponaceus (Bl. Schn.). Soap-fish. 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 310. 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. ii, p. 126 (references). 1925. Meek and Hildebrand, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., zool. ser., vol. xv, pt. 2, p. 480, pl. xlvii. Depth 23-3 (32 in young), length of head 3-34, in length of body. Hye equal to (young) or less than (adult) snout, 44 (young)—6 in length of head ; interorbital width 4-2 diameter of eye. Lower jaw strongly projecting. Preopercle with 2-3, opercle with 3, spines. Gill-rakers 7-8 plus rudiments on lower part of anterior arch. D III 23-25, soft portion elevated and rounded behind. A 16-17. Scales: 1.1. 85-90. Length.—Up to 270 mm. Colour.—Dark brown or purplish, with or without more or less distinct lighter spots or mottlings, fins dark. Locality.—Cape seas. Distribution.—Tropical and subtropical Atlantic. A specimen in the British Museum presented by Sir A. Smith seems to be the sole record of the Soap-fish in South African seas. In the South African Museum copy of Boulenger’s “‘ Catalogue of Fishes in British Museum” there is a mark against this species (p. 348) made by Mr. P. L. Sclater when he was Director, and signifying that there was then a specimen in the Museum. This specimen, if correctly identified, has disappeared. Gen. GRAMMISTES Art. 1758. Artedi in Seba. Thes., vol. ui, p. 75. Scales very small, cycloid, obtusely keeled, enveloped in the slimy coating of the epidermis. Mouth large. Maxilla exposed, with supplemental bone. Teeth in villiform bands in jaws, and on vomer and palatine; none on tongue. Preopercle with 2-3, opercle with 3, spines. Arudimentary dermal appendage on chin. Gill-rakers short. Spinous dorsal as long, or nearly so, as soft dorsal, a deep notch between the two portions. Anal without distinct spines. Caudal rounded. Lateral line single, tubes straight. A single Indo-Pacific species. Og 492 Annals of the South African Museum. Grammistes sexlineatus (Thunb.). White-lined Rock-cod. 1792. Thunberg, Vet. Ak. Handl., vol. xiii, p. 142, pl. v. 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vii, p. 70, pl. cecxxxvii, fig. 5 (orventalis). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 28, pl. 1x, fig. 1 (orientalis). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 336 (references). : Depth 24-22, length of head 23-3, in length of body. Eye about equal to snout and to interorbital width, 43-5 in length of head. Gill-rakers 7-8 plus rudiments on lower part of anterior arch. D VI-VII 13-15. A 9-11. Scales: 1.1. 63-70. Length.—Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Dark brown or blackish, with 3-9 white or yellowish longitudinal streaks. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific Ocean. The coloration, keeled scales, and slimy covering render this fish easily recognisable. Gen. OwstoniA Tanaka. 1908. Tanaka, J. Coll. Sci. Tokyo, vol. xxiii, p. 47. 1922. Gilchrist, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., in, p. 69 (Para- sphenanthias). 1924. Id., abed., vii, p. 24 (Owstomia err. typ.). Scales cycloid. Mouth very oblique. Maxilla exposed, without supplemental bone. Jaws with a single row of canine teeth, with 2 rows at symphysis of lower jaw fitting into a depression in upper. No teeth on vomer or palatines. Angle and lower margin of pre- opercle serrated. Spinous portion of dorsal consisting of 3 weak spines, soft portion long. Anal with 1 weak spine. Caudal elongate, lanceolate. Lateral line running along base of dorsal fin, uniting with its fellow in front of dorsal, and ending below last dorsal ray. This genus was placed in the Opisthognathidae by Tanaka, in a separate family near the Opisthognathidae by Jordan. As Gilchrist points out, it is very closely allied to Sphenanthias Weber 1913, which is regarded by its author as a Serranid. Sphenanthias differs in having 9 dorsal spines, ctenoid scales, and the lateral lines of the two sides not confluent in front of the dorsal. South Africa and Japan. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 493 *Owstoma weberi (Gilch.). 1922. Gilchrist, loc. cit., p. 69, pl. x, fig. 2. Depth 3, length of head 34, in length of body. Eye 24 in length of head. Lower margin of preopercle with strong antrorse spines concealed beneath the skin. DIII 20. AI15. Scales (according to the figure): l.ser. about 38; 1|.tr. about 17. Length.—Not stated. Colour.— Uniform brilliant crimson. — Locality — Natal coast, 180-190 fathoms. Type in coll. Govt. Mar. Survey. This species has a larger eye and apparently fewer scales than the Japanese species totomiensis, but the description is too brief for a detailed comparison. Gen. PsEUDOCHROMIS Riipp. 1835. Riippell, Neue Wirb. Fische, p. 8. 1915. McCulloch, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. in, p. 47. Scales moderate, ctenoid. Mouth moderate. Maxilla exposed. Teeth in a single row laterally, an outer enlarged row anteriorly in jaws; teeth on vomer and palatine. Preopercle entire. A single dorsal with a few spines. Anal with 3 spines. Caudal rounded or truncate. Lateral line double, 7.e. interrupted, the anterior portion running high up near the dorsal fin. Small fishes from Indian and East Indian seas. Together with a few other genera, this genus is often included in a separate family, the Pseudochromidae, but in Regan’s (1913) opinion there is no real justification for separating them from the Serranidae. *Pseudochromis natalensis Regan. 1916. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus,., vol. 1, pt. 3, p. 167. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, ibid., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 347. Depth of body equal to length of head, 32 in length of body. Hye equal to snout, 4 in length of head ; interorbital width 6 in length of head. Maxilla nearly reaching to below centre of eye. Gill-rakers 10 on lower part of anterior arch. D III 26, 3rd spine longest. A III 17, 2nd spine stronger than but about equal in length to 3rd. 1 Caudal rounded. Scales: Lr. 48; Ltr ; 4-5 series on cheek. 494 Annals of the South African Museum. Length.—90 mm. Colour.—Olivaceous, back darker, snout and vertical fins blackish. Locality.—Natal coast. Type in British Museum. Fam. 12. PLESIOPIDAR. In general similar to the Serranidae, but with only 2-4 rays in the ventral fin, the Ist being simply bifid and often thickened and pro- duced. Supramaxilla present. One to four lateral lines. A small family of Indo-Pacific-Australasian fishes. Gen. PLEstops Cuv. 1817. Cuvier, Régne Anim., vol. ii, p. 266. Body compressed. Scales large, ctenoid. Mouth moderate. Maxilla exposed. Teeth villiform in jaws, with slightly enlarged canines ; teeth on vomer and palatines, none on tongue. Preopercle and opercle entire, without spines. Gill-rakers short. A single dorsal, membrane deeply notched between the spines, spinous portion much longer than soft. Anal short, with 3 spines. Ventral with 4 rays, Ist thickened and produced, 3rd and 4th small and slender. Caudal rounded. Two lateral lines. Plesiops mgricans (Riipp). Long-fin. 1828. Ruppell, Atl. Fische Roth. Meer., p. 15, pl. iv, fig. 2. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 128, pl. xxxi, fig. 5. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 335 (references and synonymy). Depth of body about equal to length of head, 3-3} in length of body. Eye 34-44 in length of head, snout about equal to interorbital width. Snout convex, obtuse, jaws equal. D XI-XII 6-7, spines increasing in length to last, which is nearly } length of head, and $ longest soft ray. A III 6-8. Ventral with Ist ray prolonged, reaching 2 10 origin of anal. Scales: upper 1.1. 28-30; lower 1.1. 14-16; Ltr. (Plate XX, fig. 4.) Length.—Up to 190 mm. Colour.—Dark brown or blackish, uniform or each scale with a A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 495 bluish spot, a more or less distinct blue or black, light-edged ocellus on opercle and base of pectoral, fins dark. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific Ocean. Fam. 13. KUHLITDAE. Body oblong, compressed, with large ctenoid scales. Mouth large, protractile. Maxilla exposed, without supplemental bone. No sub- ocular shelf. Teeth villiform in jaws and on palate. Nostrils paired. Gill-membranes free fromisthmus. Gills 4,aslit behind 4th. Pseudo- branchiae well developed. A single dorsal, notched between spinous and soft portions, the former well developed. Anal spines 3. Dorsal and anal fins in a well-developed sheath. Ventrals thoracic, with a spine and 5 rays, without axillary process. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca moderately numerous. Lateral line single. Gen. KuuHiia Gill. fsoh. Gill, Proc. Ac: Sci. Philad., p. 48. 1906. Fowler, zbid., vol. lvii, p. 512 (Boulengerina non Dollo). 1912. Jordan, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xlu, p. 655 (Safole). 1913. Regan, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., vol. 1, p. 374 (revision). 1915. Boulenger, Cat. F.W. Fish. Afr., vol. 11, p. 92. With the characters of the family. An Indo-Pacific genus of small or moderate-sized fishes, some of which are frequently found entering rivers. The limits of some of the species are difficult to define, and Boulenger and Regan are not in agreement on this matter. Key to the South African species. 1. Scales: 1.1. 40-45. Gill-rakers 16-19. Caudal with 2 dark spots (young) or a dark margin (adult) . : : : : . rupestris. 2. Scales: 1.1. 50-56. Gill-rakers 23-28. a. Caudal with 5 longitudinal dark bands , : 5 . taentura. 6. Caudal with dark posterior margin ; : : ; : malo. Kuhlia rupestris (Lacép.). 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, pp. 252, 273. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 67, ‘pl XVill, fig. 1 1 (Dules marginatus). a el — 496 Annals of the South African Museum. 1915. Boulenger, Cat. F.W. Fish. Afr., vol. iii, p. 93, femae (references and synonymy). 1917. Gilchrist and Thomson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 321 (references and synonymy). Depth 24-38, length of head 22-34, in length of body. Snout 2-14 diameter of eye, which is 34-54 in length of head ; interorbital width 3-33 in length of head. Maxilla extending to below middle of eye (young) or beyond. Gill-rakers 16-19 on lower part of anterior arch. D X 11, 4th or 5th spine longest, 4-2 length of head, last spine much longer than penultimate. A III 10, base longer than its distance from caudal. Caudal emarginate. Scales: 11. 40-45; Ltr. z (Plate XO hie. L) Length.—Up to 400 mm. Colour.—Bluish or olive above, silvery below, some or all of the scales with a dark spot, soft dorsal and anal usually with one or more series of spots; soft dorsal and each lobe of caudal in young with a dark spot, spreading to form broad marginal bands in adult, with narrow white edging. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. Kuhla taenura (C. & V.). Stripe-tail. 1829. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iti, p. 114. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 67, pl. xvi, fig. 2 (Dules argenteus). 1915. Boulenger, Cat. F.W. Fish. Afr., vol. 11, p. 95, fig. 77 (refer- ences and synonymy). 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. ii, p. 112 (references). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol i, pt. 4, p. 322 (references). Depth 23-3, length of head 34-33, in length of body. Snout 3 diameter of eye, which is 23-3} in length of head, and equals inter- orbital width. Maxilla extending to below anterior margin or third of eye. Gill-rakers 23-26 on lower part of anterior arch. D X 9-11, 4th or 5th spines longest, 3-} length of head, last spine as long as or longer than penultimate. A III 10-11, base as long as, or slightly longer than, its distance from caudal. Caudal deeply forked. Scales: ~ 1. 50-55; Ltr, ——. 1.1. 50-55 etd A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 497 Length Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker on back; tip of soft dorsal black; caudal with 5 black bands, one along middle rays, and 2 pairs converging posteriorly. Locality.—East London and Natal coast. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. *Kuhlia malo (C. & V.) 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vu, p. 479. iva peoumenser, Cat. E.W. Wish. Air., vol. im, .p. 96, fig. 78 (references and synonymy). 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. in, p. 111 (references and synonymy). Depth 24-34, length of head 3-32, in length of body. Snout 4-2 diameter of eye, which is 24-3 in length of head ; interorbital width 3 in length of head. Maxilla extending to below anterior margin or fourth of eye. Giull-rakers 25-28 on lower part of anterior arch. D X 11, 4th or 5th spines longest, $—3 length of head, last spine longer than penultimate. A III 11-12, base much longer than its distance 4—7 from caudal. Caudal deeply forked. Scales: 1.1. 50-56; Ltr. os Length.—Up to 235 mm. . 3 Colour.—Silvery, back darker, caudal with dark posterior edge. Locality.—South African seas. Mstribution.—Indo-Pacific to Queensland. A specimen in the British Museum apparently constitutes the only record for these waters. Regan identifies this specimen with his splendens, from the fresh waters of Rodriquez and Mauritius. Boulenger regards splendens as a synonym of malo. Fam. 14. PRIACANTHIDAE. Big-eyes. Body oblong-ovate, compressed, with small rough ctenoid scales, which have the posterior border more or less thickened to form a hard plate. Mouth large, very oblique or almost vertical. Lower jaw prominent. Maxilla exposed, without supplemental bone. No subocular shelf. Teeth villiform in jaws and on palate ; none on tongue. Nostrils paired. Gill-membranes free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit 498 Annals of the South African Museum. behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae very large. A single dorsal fin, not notched, spinous portion rather longer than soft. Anal spines 3. Ventrals thoracic, with a spine and 5 rays, without axillary process, inner ray joined to abdomen by membrane. Air- bladder large. Pyloric caeca few. Lateral line single. A small family of carnivorous fishes from tropical and subtropical seas, chiefly from deep water. Its external distin- guishing features are the peculiar scales (text-fig. 20) and the large pseudo- branchiae. Osteologically it is charac- terised by the abbreviation of the posterior part of the skull and a reduction in the number of vertebrae. Fic. 20.—Scale of Priacan- thus arenatus. Gen. PRIACANTHUS Cuv. 1817. Cuvier, Régne Anim., vol. 1, p. 281. Scales very small, 70-120 in longitudinal rows. Dorsal spines in- creasing in length posteriorly. None of the spines in the fins very strong, often spinulose and roughened or feebly striate. Preopercle with a more or less developed spine, without a submarginal row of denticles. Key to the South African species. 1. Tenth dorsal spine not more than twice as long as 2nd. a. Dorsal soft rays 12-13, anal 13-14 ‘ . é : . cruentatus. b. Dorsal and anal rays 14-15 . : : ; u 5 . hamrur. 2. Tenth dorsal spine more than twice as long as 2nd ‘ : é boops. Priacanthus cruentatus (Lacép.). Big-eye. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ii, p. 522, pl. u1, fig. 3. 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vu, p. 13, pl. eccli, fig. 5 (carolinus). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 48, pl. viii, fig. 2 (blochzt). 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii, p. 229, fig. 94. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 337 (references and synonymy). : PLATE XXI. FIG. TEXT-PAGE 1. Kuhlia rupestris (Lac.) (after Day) : . . : : ; . 495 2. Priacanthus cruentatus (Lac.) (after Day) : : a : . 498 3. Branchiostegus doliatus (C. and V.) (after Day) . . : ' . 502 4. Acanthocepola abbreviata (C. and V.) (after Day) . t : : . 503 Plate: 3 XT eRe TT, Vol OF) Ann. S. Afr. Mus : so OME, . SX Hidiaw mee == 4 Neill & Co., Lid. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 499 1925. Meek and Hildebrand, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., zool. ser., vol. xv, p. 488, pl. lil. Depth 24-23, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Snout 4-3 diameter of eye, which is 23-2 in length of head. Preopercular spine rather strong, serrated. Gull-rakers 16-18 on lower part of anterior arch. D X 12-13, last spine 12-2 times as long as second and 2-4 length of head. A III 14. Spines rather strongly spinulose. Caudal eee (Pe OT A 2) truncate. Scales: 1.1. 62-76; L.tr. 48-56 Length.—Up to 260 mm. Colour.—Red, silvery below, soft dorsal and anal and caudal with more or less distinct red or grey spots, back often with indistinct dark cross-bars or blotches. Locality.— Algoa Bay, Natal coast. Distribution.—Circumtropical. Priacanthus hamrur (Forsk.). 1775. Forskal, Desc. Anim., p. 45. 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichth., vol. vu, p. 13, pl. cecliu, fig. 3. edo. Goulenger, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ed. 2, vol. i, p. 355 (references and synonymy). 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson,’ Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, pt. 2, p. 148 (arenatus non. C. and V.). 1917. Ld., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 337 (arenatus non C7and V.): 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., 1, p. 12 (alalaua non Jord. and Everm.). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. xxvii, p. 227. Depth 24-34, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Snout 4-2 diameter of eye, which is 24-24 in length of head. Preopercular spine strong in young, indistinct in old specimens. Gill-rakers 18-23 on lower part of anterior arch. D X 14-15, last spine 14-13 times as long as 2nd and 3-2 in length of head. A III 14-15. Spines feebly spinulose or merely striate. Caudal truncate in young, crescentic in adult, the lobes more or less produced. Scales: 1.1. 75-85 ; ltr. —— Length.— Up to 360 mm. Colour.—Red, silvery below; soft dorsal, anal, and caudal usually (especially in young) blackish towards margins; ventrals with black membrane, white rays. VOL. XXI, PART 2. 33 500 Annals of the South African Museum. Locality.—EKast London, Natal and Zululand coast, Delagoa Bay, Mozambique. Distribution.—Indian seas to China and Japan. *Priacanthus boops (Forst.). 1801. Forster in Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 308. 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Madagasc. Poiss., pp. 119, 127, pl. xiv, fig. 1; pl. xvi, fig. 3 (macropus and alticlarens). 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. 11, p. 127 (references). Depth 23-28, length of head 22-3, in length of body. Snout 3-3 diameter of eye, which is 24-23 in length of head. Preopercular spine relatively smaller in adult than young. Gill-rakers 18 on lower part of anterior arch. D X 12-13, last spine 23-3 times as long as 2nd and 2-3 length of head. A III 12-13. Caudal truncate. Scales: 10-12 45-53, Length.—Up to 480 mm. Colour.—Red, silvery below, fins with narrow blackish edge, ventrals black between the rays. Locality.—Cape of Good Hope. Distribution. — South Atlantic, Indian, and Western Pacific Oceans. Sir Andrew Smith’s specimen in the British Museum appears to be the only record of this species from South Africa. 1.1. 50-66; Ltr. Fam. 15. BRANCHIOSTEGIDAE. Body more or less elongate, with small ctenoid scales. Mouth terminal, protractile. Maxilla exposed, without supplemental bone. Subocular shelf present. Teeth villiform in jaws, a blunt canine often present on hind end of premaxilla ; palate toothless. Nostrils paired. Gill-membranes united but free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. A sifigle dorsal fin, spinous portion less developed than soft. Anal long, with 1 or 2 spines. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, without axillary process. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca few or none. Lateral line single, continuous. Moderate or large fishes from temperate and tropical seas. To this family belongs the Tile Fish (Lopholatilus) of the North American coast, which was destroyed, presumably by a sudden change in temperature of the water, in vast quantities in 1882. It was believed A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 501 to have become extinct, as it was not rediscovered in its old haunts until a decade later. Gen. BRANCHIOSTEGUS Raf. 1815. Rafinesque, Anal. Nat. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. v, p. 368 (Latilus). 1925. Jordan and Hubbs, Mem. Carn. Mus., vol. x, p. 248. Body rather elongate. Soft dorsal and anal rays in moderate number. Pectoral with middle ray longest, those below it abruptly shorter. Preopercle denticulate. No fleshy appendages on nape or lips. Pyloric caeca few. Key to the South African species. 1. No cross-bars. Base of dorsal black. Lateral line 60-65 . japonicus. 2. Numerous cross-bars. Lateral line 100-115 : . doliatus. Branchiostegus japonicus (Hout.). 1782. Houttyn, Holl. Maats. Weet. Haarlem, vol. xx, p. 311. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. v, p. 369 (argentatus). 1902. Jordan and Snyder, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxiv, p. 489 (references). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 348 (argentatus). 1924. Gilchrist and von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., vii, p. 15. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvii, p. 249 (argentatus). Depth of body about equal to length of head, 34-4 in length of body. Eye 14 in snout, 4 in length of head, equal to or slightly less than interorbital width. A few canines at symphysis of jaws, at hind end of lower jaw, and one at hind end of upper jaw. Gill-rakers 11-12 on lower part of anterior arch. DVII14. AII11-12. Caudal subtruncate. Scales: 1.1. 60-65. Length.—Up to 600 mm. Colour.—Crimson or rose-coloured, a black medio-longitudinal streak from -interorbital to dorsal fin, membrane of dorsal black at base. 502 Annals of the South African Museum. Locality.— Natal and Zululand coast, 20-60 fathoms. Distribution.—Seas of China and Japan. This is a common food-fish in Japan. Fowler’s description varies a little from the above, especially as regards the coloration. Branchiostegus doliatus (C. and V.). 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. v, p. 371, plexes. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 348. . 1924. Gilchrist and von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., vu, p. 15. Depth 33-33, length of head 33—-3$, in length of body. Hye 24-3 in length of head, greater than snout, which equals interorbital width. Canine teeth at symphysis of jaw, on hind end of lower jaw, and one at hind end of upper jaw. Gill-rakers 10-11 on lower part of anterior arch. DVI15-16. AII12. Caudal truncate or slightly emarginate. (Plate XXT, fig: 3.) _ Length.—Up to 350 mm. Colour.—Rose-coloured, silvery, with numerous dark vertical cross- bars on upper part of body, a dark opercular spot. Locality.—Natal coast, 50-183 fathoms. Distribution.—lle de France, Indian Ocean. Fam. 16. CEPOLIDAE. Band-fishes. Body very elongate, strongly compressed, with small cycloid scales. Mouth oblique, protractile. Maxilla exposed, without supplemental bone. Subocular shelf absent, or very narrow. Teeth villiform in ‘jaws; none on palate. Nostrils paired. Gull-membranes separate, free from isthmus. Gills 4. Pseudobranchiae present. Dorsal and anal very long, without spines, confluent with the reduced caudal. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, without axillary process. Air-bladder large. Pyloric caeca few. Lateral line very obscure or absent. The Band-fishes are aberrant Serranids (Regan, 1913), perhaps most nearly related to the Branchiostegidae (Jordan and Fowler, 1903). They inhabit the tropical and subtropical shores of Europe and Asia, and are all of a bright red colour. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 503 Gen. ACANTHOCEPOLA Blkr. 1874. Bleeker, Teach Ak. Amsterd., vol. viii, p. 369. Preopercle armed with 4-8 blunt spines. Dorsal rays simple, indistinctly articulate. * Acanthocepola limbata (C. and V.). Black-spotted Band-fish. 1835. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. x, p. 402 (limbata and marginata). 1854. Bleeker, Verh. Bat. Gen., vol. xxvi, p. 109 (mesoprion). 1888. Day, Fish. India Suppl., p. 796 (¢ndica). 1889. Zd., Fauna Ind. Fishes, vol. i, p. 329 (andica). 1902. Jordan and Evermann, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxv, p. 363, fig. 26 (mesoprion). 1903. Jordan and Fowler, zbid., vol. xxvi, p. 792, fig. Depth of body about equal to length of head, 9-12 in length of body. Hye twice snout, 14 times interorbital width, 22-3} in length of head. Preopercle with 6-8 spines. D and A very long, more than 90 rays (ca. 105). Scales very small (over 300); no lateral line. Length.—Up to 325 mm. Colour.—Red, uniform, an oval black spot on dorsal fin between 8th and 11th rays, anal (and sometimes also dorsal) with a narrow dark margin. Locality.—Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Japan, Formosa, India. This species is introduced into the fauna-list with some doubt. The late A. W. Baily, a well-known resident of Delagoa Bay and a keen fisherman, showed me in 1912 a specimen which had been dried as a curio. Mr. Baily assured me it had been caught in Delagoa Bay; he was unwilling to part with the specimen, and at the time I only took rough notes. On Mr. Baily’s death, a few years later, inquiries failed to elicit any information as to the whereabouts of the specimen. The presence of the preopercular spines and the black spot on the dorsal lead me to identify it with the Japanese species. The figure on Plate XXI is that of an allied species, A. abbreviata C. and V., without a black spot on the dorsal fin. 504 Annals of the South African Museum. Fam. 17. HoPLEGNATHIDAE. Body oblong, moderately compressed, with very small ctenoid scales. Mouth not protractile. Maxilla not concealed. Subocular shelf present. Teeth in jaws united into a sharp trenchant edge (like the beak in the Scaridae), the internal flat basal portion in upper jaw with a few tubercles or granules ; none on vomer or palatines. Nostrils paired. Guill-membranes broadly united but free from isthmus. Gills 4, a shit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. A single dorsal fin. Anal spines 3. Soft dorsal and anal scaly at their bases. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, without axillary process. Caudal trun- cate or emarginate, scaly. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca few. Lateral line single. This family contains a single genus with a few species from South Africa, Japan, Australia, and the Peruvian coast. The relationships of this family are not very clear, though evidently there is no connection with the Scaridae, the peculiar parrot-like jaws being a perfectly independent development. Contrary to Regan’s statement (Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (8), vol. xu, p. 130, 1913) there is no free scaly process in the axil of the ventral fin; consequently, for the sake of convenience, this family is grouped with the other families without axillary processes, but without any suggestion as to possible relationships to them. Gen. HoPLEGNATHUS Rich. 1840. Richardson, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 27 (Oplegnathus). 1842. Id., Trans. Zool. Soc., vol. i, p. 144 (corrected spelling). 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 35 (Ichthyorhamphos). 1900. Waite, Rec. Austr. Mus., vol. iii, p. 212. 1902. Jordan and Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxv, p. 76. 1916. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 3, p. 168. With the characters of the family. The genus is divided into two: Hoplegnathus proper, with the spinous dorsal nearly or quite twice as long as the 11—14-rayed soft portion, and interorbital space naked : conway? and woodwardi, South Africa and Australia. Scarostoma Kner, with the spinous dorsal slightly less than or not more than 12 as long as the 15—21-rayed soft portion, and interorbital space scaly : fasciatus, punctatus, insignis, robinsoni, Japan, Peru, and Natal. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 505 It should be noted that the number of soft dorsal rays in the various species forms a continuous series from 11-21, and that the character of the opercular spine, mentioned by Regan, is unreliable. Key to the South African species. 1. Interorbital space scaleless ‘ : : ; : : . conway. 2. Interorbital space scaly : : ; , . robinsont. Hoplegnathus conwayi Rich. Parrot-fish ; Pappegaai-vis ; Bastard Galjoen. 1840. Richardson, loc. cit., p. 27. 1842. Id., loc. cit., vol. 11, p. 144, pl. vu, fig. 1. 1861. Castelnau, loc. cit., p. 35 (Ichthyorhamphos papper), and (?) note on p. 7 (Scarus sp.). 1916. Gilchrist and Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. im, p. 56, fig. (algoensis) (young). 1918. Thompson, zbid., vol. iv, p. 75 (papper) (references). Depth 2 (juv.)—22 (adult), length of head 22 (juv.)—3} (adult), in length of body. Hye 24 (juv.)—54 (adult) in length of head, in adult slightly less than snout, and 2 in interorbital width. Preopercular margin serrulate in young. Opercular spine pointed in young, pointed or more or less rounded in adult, sometimes the edge is irregularly worn, appearing to be serrate. Gill-rakers 15-17 on lower part of anterior arch. D XII 11—-13(14), spinous portion nearly or quite twice as long as soft portion, middle spines longest, 3 length of longest rays in young, but not more than half in adult, margin of soft fin straight or somewhat concave in adult. A III 11(-12), 3rd spine longest, nearly twice shortest (last) ray in young, but scarcely longer than it in adult, soft fin similar to soft dorsal, longest ray about equal to longest dorsal ray. Ventrals reaching to vent in young, only half- way between their bases and vent in adult. Caudal slightly emar- ginate. Scales: 1.1. 70-77; ca. 25-27 between 1.1. and origin of dorsal. Interorbital space scaleless. Pyloric caeca 5. (Plate XXII, fig. 2.) Length.—Up to 550 mm. Colour.—Head and back very dark brown or bluish blackish, cheeks, breast and belly silvery, fins dark; soft dorsal, anal, and ventrals blackish. Young (up to 150 mm.) yellow, with a dark vertical band through eye, and a broader one connecting the soft dorsal and anal ; axil of pectoral dark ; fins light, except the ventrals, the greater part of the anal, and a part of the soft dorsal, which are dark. 506 Annals of the South African Museum. Locality False Bay, Agulhas Bank, Algoa Bay to Natal. The type of conway originally in the Haslar collection does not appear to be in the British Museum, that of pappez is probably lost, and that of algoensis appears likewise to be lost. That the habitat of the original specimen of conwayi was unknown, though considered by Richardson to be Australia, is no reason for not adopting that specific name. The South African fish agrees exactly with Richardson’s description, and conwayi has never been found in Australia. Its place there is taken by the striped species woodwardt. The food of the Parrot-fish consists of Echinoderms, Crustacea, and Gorgonia corals. Allied species in Japan are valued as food-fishes, but in South African waters the fish is too uncommon to have any importance. It was probably a head of this species that Castelnau saw in the South African Museum and referred to the genus Scarus (Castelnau, loc. cit., p. 7. Note at end of systematic index). *Hoplegnathus robinsoni Regan. 1916. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 3, p. 168. 1916. Gilchrist and Thompson, ibid., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 348. Depth 1?, length of head 3, in length of body. Hye 4 in length of head, less than snout and than interorbital width. Preopercular margin serrate. Opercular spine pointed. D XI 21, spinous portion much less than twice as long as soft portion, middle spines longest, nearly 4 length of head, anterior soft rays much the longest, a little longer than head. A III 15, 3rd spine longest, anterior rays the longest, similar to soft dorsal. Caudal emarginate. Scales: 110 ima longitudinal series. Interorbital space scaly. Length.—150 mm. Colour.—Silvery, with 5 black subvertical cross-bands, the first through eye, the last at base of caudal fin, which has a black edge. Locality. —Natal coast. Type in British Museum. This species, which is known only from the type, is very similar in colour-markings to the Australian woodwardi, and, to a lesser extent, to the Japanese fasciatus. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 507 Fam. 18. SILLAGINIDAE. Smelts. Body elongate, with moderate-sized ctenoid scales. Mouth small, terminal, little protractile. Maxilla concealed beneath the enlarged preorbital. Subocular shelf present. Teeth in villiform bands in jaws and on vomer. Nostrils paired. Gill-membranes united, but free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. Two dorsal fins, lst short, 2nd long. Anal similar to 2nd dorsal, with two small spines. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, without axillary process. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca few. Lateral line single. A small family of Indo-Pacific coastal fishes, which in Australia and Japan are of commercial value. They frequently ascend tidal rivers. Neither the Natal name of Smelt nor the Australian name of Whiting has any reference to the European fishes of the same names. Gen. S1LnLaGo Cuv. 1817. Cuvier, Régne Anim., ed. 1, vol. 11, p. 258. 1902. Jordan and Snyder, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxiv, p. 486. With the characters of the family. Four other genera have been instituted, which seem, however, scarcely worthy of full generic rank. Key to the South African species. 1. Ventral fin with slender spine. a. Uniform . : : : : q E : : ’ sthama. b. With blackish lateral blotches : : : ; f . maculata. 2. Ventral fin with thickened, curved spine : : ; : chondropus. Sillago sihama (Forsk.). Smelt. 1775. Forskal, Desc. Anim., p. 70. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 265, pl. lvii, fig. 3. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 348 (references and synonymy). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 248. 508 Annals of the South African Museum. Depth 53-64, length of head 34-4, in length of body. Eye 14 in interorbital width, 2 in snout, 5 in length of head. Gill-rakers 7-9 plus 2-3 rudiments on lower part of anterior arch. D XI-+I 20-21, 2nd spine not very elongate, about 3 length of head. A II 23-24. Spine of the ventral fin normal, slender. Caudal emarginate. Scales : L.1. 69-70 ; 1.tr. —5 ae Cheek scales cycloid. (Plate XXII, fig. 1.) Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Olivaceous above, lighter below, with a silvery sheen. Locality.— Durban Bay, Delagoa Bay, Chinde. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas to Japan. Frequents sandy bays. *Sillago maculata Q. and G. 1824. Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. Uranie Zool., p. 261, pl. lin, fig. 2. 1877. Bleeker, Atl. Ichth., vol. ix, pl. ccclxxxix, fig. 5. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 265, pl. Iviui, fig. 4. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 248. Depth 52-53, length of head 34-34, in length of body. Hye 2? (Day), 32-4 (Fowler) in length of head, 14-1? in snout. Gill-rakers 10 on lower part of anterior arch. D X—XI-+I 19-21, 2nd spine rather less than 4 length of head, 3rd—5th subequal to one another. 6 A IT 20-23. Caudal emarginate. Scales: 1.1. 70-72; Ltr. RET Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Greyish above, white below, with a silvery lateral band and irregular dark blotches along side; upper half of Ist dorsal blackish, 2nd dorsal and anal greyish along margins. Locality.—Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies, to 8.E. Australia. Frequents sandy bays and estuaries. S. aeolus J. and E. 1902 from Formosa appears to be closely allied. Sillago chondropus Blkr. 1849. Bleeker, Verh. Bat. Gen., vol. xxu, p. 61. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 348 (references). Depth 53-64, length of head 4~44, in length of body. Eye 14 in interorbital width, 24 in snout, 64—7 in length of head. Gill-rakers 7 A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 509 plus 2-3 rudiments on lower part of anterior arch. D XI-+I 20-21, 2nd spine not very elongate, about } length of head. A IJ 22-23. Spine of the ventral fin shortened and much thickened, curved. Caudal emarginate. Scales: 1.1. 70; L-tr. Cheek scales ctenoid. es Length.—Up to 350 mm. Colour.—Uniform light greenish-brown above, lighter below, with a silvery sheen. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—East Indian Archipelago. Fam. 19. PoMATOMIDAE. Body oblong, compressed, with moderate-sized cycloid scales. Mouth large, oblique. Maxilla exposed, with supplemental bone. A subocular shelf. Preopercle with a membranous flap produced over the subopercle. A single series of strong canine teeth in each jaw ; an inner series of small depressed teeth in upper jaw ; villiform teeth on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Nostrils paired. Gull-membranes separate, free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudo- branchiae present. Two dorsal fins, the lst of about 8 weak, low spines, depressible in a groove; 2nd dorsal similar to anal, elongate, both scaly. Anal spines 1-2, very small and often hidden in skin. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, without axillary process. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca very numerous. A single species found in nearly all warm seas and known by various names: Bluefish, Skipjack, etc. Gen. Pomatomus (Lacép). 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, p. 436. With the characters given above. Preopercle slightly notched above angle, lower margin finely serrated. Pomatomus saltator (Linn.). Elft (Cape) ; Shad (Natal). 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, vol. i, p. 293. 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ix, p. 225, pl. celx. 510 Annals of the South African Museum. 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 41 (Lemnodon conidens). 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. ii, pp. 128, 129 (references and synonymy). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 338 (references and synonymy). 1919. Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 56, p. 291. 1921. Waite, Rec. 8. Austr. Mus., vol. ii, p. 103, fig. 159. 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 25 (references and synonymy). Depth 34-4, length of head 34-34, in length of body. Eye equal to snout and to interorbital in young, twice in these distances in adult, 4(young)—7 in length of head. Maxilla reaching to below posterior third of eye in young, beyond hind margin of eye in adult. Gill-rakers 10 on lower part of anterior arch. D VII-VIII+I1 24-26. A II 26-28, lst spine very small, often concealed. Scales : Il. 90-100 ; Ltr. z (Plate XXII, fig. 3.) 19-20 Length.—Up to 1000 mm. Colour.—Silvery, bluish or greenish above, a blackish blotch at base of pectoral. Locality.—Port Nolloth and Table Bay (occasional), False Bay to Natal coast, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Nearly all temperate and tropical seas. The habits of the Elft are not too well known. The eggs are pelagic and it seems probable that the spawning grounds lie in the deeper off- shore waters. The young migrate inshore and appear in immense shoals. On the East coast of America they appear in early summer and follow the shoals of menhaden (one of the Clupeidae) northwards. At the Cape they appear at the same season (September—November) in the shoal waters of False Bay. Later in the season (December— March) the adults appear, and at the same time the younger fish seem to disappear. At Delagoa Bay I have seen large Elit caught in October. The Elft caught in Table Bay have probably been over-carried round the Cape Point in pursuit of their prey. Those appearing at Port Nolloth, however, are more likely stragglers from Atlantic shoals further to the north. I have no records of its occurrence from Wal- fish Bay or other localities on the coast of South West Africa, though Pellegrin (1914, Ann. Inst. Oc., vol. vi, pt. 4, p. 68) records it from Praya Amélia in Angola. Its food appears to be chiefly mackerel, maasbankers, sardines, —-— ————EEEOe ee ee A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 511 harders; and at certain seasons young pelagic cuttle-fish (Loligo). The Port Nolloth captures are recorded as feeding chiefly on Pipe-fish. An interesting account of the Elft, from the angling point of view, was published by Mr. C. L. Biden, in “ Sporting World and Outdoor Life,” vol i, No. 2, pp. 16, 17; No. 3, p. 43; No. 4, pp. 34, 35, Cape Town, 1922, from which several of the facts given above are taken. Fam. 20. RHACHICENTRIDAE. 1909, Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (8), vol. ii, p. 68. Body elongate, subcylindrical, with very small smooth scales. Head broad, depressed. Mouth large, slightly protractile. Maxilla ex- panded posteriorly. No suborbital shelf. Teeth villiform, in bands in jaws and on vomer, palatine, and tongue. Nostrils paired. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. Spinous dorsal of 8 low, equal, separate and depressible spines. Soft dorsal and anal rather long. Anal spines 2, weak. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, without axillary process. Air-bladder absent. Pyloric caeca branched. Lateral line single. A single genus and species. Gen. RHACHYCENTRUM Kaup. 1826. Kaup, Isis, vol. xix, p. 89 (Rachycentron). 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. viii, p. 328 (Elacate). 1896. Jordan and Evermann, Fish. Mid. and N. Amer., vol. i, p- 948 (Rachycentron). With the above characters. *Rhachycentrum canadus (Linn.). 1766. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, p. 491. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 256, pl. lv, fig. 2 (Elacate nigra). 1896. Jordan and Evermann, Fish. Mid. and N. Amer., vol. 1, p. 948 (references). 1920. Robinson, Rep. Nat. Fish., 1919, p. 48 (Hlacate migra: Pro- digal Son). Depth about 7, length of head about 33-4, in length of body. Eye about 9 in length of head. Maxilla extending to below anterior margin of eye. Lower jaw projecting. D VIII+I 26-35. A II 25-29. 512 Annals of the South African Museum. Pectoral somewhat falcate. Caudal rounded in young, then obliquely truncate and in adult emarginate. (Plate X XVII, fig. 4.) Length.—Up to 1500 mm. (5 ft.). Colour.—Brownish, silvery below, a dark longitudinal stripe along base of dorsal and another along side ; fins dark, with blackish edges ; edges of caudal lobes whitish. Distribution.—Tropical parts of Atlantic, Indian seas to Japan. This species is included here solely for the sake of compdrfison. Mr. R. Robinson’s identification is probably erroneous, as there is another fish, Elagatis bipinnulatus (p. 562), which bears the same colloquial name “ Prodigal Son,”’ and the generic name (Hlacate) might easily be confounded with Hlagatis. Fam. 21. APOGONIDAE. Cardinal Fishes. Body oblong or elongate, with rather large cycloid or ctenoid scales. Mouth large, oblique, protractile. Maxilla exposed. Subocular shelf present or absent. Teeth villiform in jaws, and on vomer and palatines; canines sometimes present in jaws. Nostrils paired. Guill-membranes free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. Two dorsal fins (sometimes almost contiguous at base), spinous dorsal with 5-9 spines. Anal fin short, with 2 or 3-4 spines. Ventral fins thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, without axillary process. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca few or moderately numerous. Lateral line single. Small or moderate-sized fishes, chiefly from the Indo-Pacific region ; some are found in fresh waters and others are deep-water forms. As there is considerable divergence of opinion as to the systematic position of Scombrops, Acropoma, and allied forms, I have included them in the present family, following Jordan and Snyder (1901). Regan (1913) places Acropoma in the Serranidae, Scombrops in the Pomatomidae. Jordan (1923) makes separate families of the Scom- bropidae and Acropomatidae. The value of the anterior position of the vent as a character in Acropoma is lessened by Radcliffe’s (1912) discovery of certain species of Chilodipterus (Paramia) showing inter- cradations between the two extremes. The name of the family should be as above, because Apogon has page precedence over Chilodipterus. Oral gestation occurs in several species of Apogon and Chilodipterus (vide infra). A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 513 Key to the South African genera. I. Vent normal in position (not far in front of origin of anal fin). A. Anal spines 2. Soft dorsal and anal short (Chilodipterinae). 1. No canines in jaws. a. Palatines with teeth. Preopercle with a double ridge Apogon. b. Palatines toothless. Preopercle without a double ridge Epigonus. c. All teeth absent : : 5 : . Parahynnodus. 2. Canines in jaws. a. First dorsal with 6 spines . ; ; . Chilodipterus. b. First dorsal with 9 spines . ‘ . Synagrops. B. Anal spines 3-4. Soft dorsal and anal athe indie (Scombropinae). 1. Canines in upper jaw. Vertical fins scaly . : Scombrops. 2. Only a pair of canines at symphysis. Vertical fins scaleless Neoscombrops. IJ. Vent far in front of anal fin, between the ventrals (Acropomatinae) Acropoma. Gen. ApoGon Lacép. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. in, p. 411. 1901. Jordan and Snyder, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxii, p. 894. 1918. Fage, Dan. Ocean. Exp., vol. 11, A 3, p. 37 (post-larval stages). Body oblong, with large ctenoid scales. Villiform teeth on jaws, vomer, and palatines; no canines. Preopercle with a double ridge, z.e. a submarginal ridge as well as the margin, the latter sometimes serrate in the young. Soft dorsal and anal short. Anal with 2 spines. Vent close in front of anal. Numerous species in warm seas, mostly brightly coloured, the colour and markings often being a valuable aid to identification. In several species the male has been observed to carry the eggs in the mouth until they hatch. Key to the South African species. I. First dorsal with 6 spines. A. Anal with less than 10 soft rays. 1. Depth of body not more than twice in length . nigripes. 2. Depth more than twice in length. a. Dark band from eye to pectoral . : . warrent. 6. Dark band from eye to upper margin of erele: above pectoral sangiensis. B Anal with more than 10 rays. 1. Without cross-bars . ; 2 ‘ ‘ macropterus. 2. With cross-bars ; : . : : lineolatus. 514 Annals of the South African Museum. II. First dorsal with 7 spines (lst often very small). A. Caudal rounded ; : : : : ; : - queketti. B. Caudal emarginate. 1. Without longitudinal or transverse markings ; monochrous. 2. With longitudinal stripes. a. Lateral line 23-28. i. One stripe on each side. a. Shallower. Second dorsal with a dark bar frenatus. fb. Deeper. Second dorsal with rows of spots kallopterus. ii. Two stripes on each side. : . quadrifasciatus. iii. Five to six stripes on each side . . melanotaenia. b. Lateral line 36-39. Seventeen stripes . ; . natalensis. 3. With transverse bands. a. One band on caudal peduncle. 5 : : aureus. b. One band from each dorsal fin. : : . bifasciatus. c. Three bands and ocellus above pectoral fin . : duops. A. fasciatus (White) has been recorded from Mozambique (Peters, Wieg. Arch., 1855, p. 234), but as several forms have been included under this name and as the synonymy of these longitudinally banded forms is in a state of considerable confusion, it seems best not to in- clude it in the actual fauna-list. The true fasciatus (White) is a New South Wales fish. A. roseus Fischer (1885, Jahrb. Hamb. Wiss. Aust., vol. ii, p. 66) from Mozambique is not an Apogon but an Ambassis (see p. 644). Apogon nigripes Playf. Black-fin Cardinal-fish. 1866. Playfair and Giinther, Fish. Zanz., p. 19, pl. v, fig. 1. Depth at least $ length of body, length of head 2} in length of body. Hye 24-22 in length of head. Lower jaw projecting. Preopercle finely serrated on margin and submarginal ridge. Suprascapula serrated. D VI-+1 8, 1st spine short, 2nd strong, equal to length of head with- out snout. A II 8. Ventrals with the first 2 or 3 rays elongate, reaching to middle of anal. Caudal emarginate. Scales: 1.1]. 22-23. Length.—Up to 115 mm. Colour.—Yellowish, with silvery cross-bands, 1st dorsal, anterior part of 2nd dorsal and anal, and upper and lower lobes of caudal dusky, ventrals blackish. Locality.—Mozambique. Distribution.—Zanzibar. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 515 I found this species fairly common at Mozambique. It is easily distinguished from all other South African species by its deep body and the long dark ventral fins. *Apogon warren Regan. Warren's Cardinal-fish. 1908. Regan, Ann. Nat. Mus., vol. i, pt. 3, p. 251, pl. xii. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 341. Depth of body equal to length of head, 2$ in length of body. Hye 34 in length of head. Lower jaw shorter than upper. Preopercle ? D VI-+I1 9, 1st spine short, 2nd much stronger and a little longer than 3rd. AII 8. Caudal emarginate. Scales: 1.1. 25. Length.—50 mm. Colour.—A dark band from eye to base of pectoral and an elongate dark spot on caudal peduncle. Locality.—Kosi Bay, Zululand. Type in British Museum. Very closely allied to the following species, sangiensis, but differing in the position of the dark band on the head. *Apogon sangiensis Blkr. 1856. Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind., vol. xii, p. 375. 1876. Id., Atlas Ichthyol., vol. vii, p. 95, pl. cecxix, fig. 4. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 64, pl. xvu, fig. 3. 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 229. 1919. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 5, p. 458. Depth of body equal to length of head, 22 in length of body. Eye 3 in length of head. Jaws equal. Outer edge of preopercle very finely serrated. D VI-+1 9, lst spine short, 2nd stronger but a little shorter than 3rd. A II 8-9. Caudal emarginate. Scales: 1.1. 24-25. Length—Up to 85 mm. Colour.—Golden, a dark band from snout through eye to upper edge of opercle (above base of pectoral), a dark spot on base of caudal fin, upper margin of Ist dorsal black, anal more or less spotted with blue. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies. VOL. XXI, PART 2. 34 516 Annals of the South African Museum. Apogon macropterus C. and V. Orange-spotted Cardinal-fish. 1828. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. u, p. 160. 1852. Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind., vol. in, p. 724 (macropterovdes). 1859. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 1, p. 245 (bleeker7). 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vii, p. 103, pl. ccexlvi, fig. 2 (synonymy). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 64, pl. xvii, fig. 4 (synonymy). 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagas. Poiss., p. 141. 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 321. Depth of body equal to length of head, 22-23 in length of body. Hye 22-3 in length of head. Lower jaw slightly projecting. Angle of preopercle serrate, inner ridge rectangular, with a small projecting point. D VI+I 9, 2nd and 3rd spines about equal, 2nd not very stout. A II 14-17. Caudal emarginate. Scales: 1.1. 23-25. Length—Up to 100 mm. Colour.—Silvery white, with a pinkish tinge, with or without a series of orange spots along side; fins pinkish, usually a black spot at base of caudal fin. Locality.— Natal coast, Mozambique. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies. Specimens from Natal have the Ist dorsal spine scarcely less than the 2nd in length, whereas those from Mozambique agree more with Bleeker’s figure in having the lst spine only 4-4 as long as the 2nd. The Mozambique specimens were coloured like Playfair and Giinther’s var. b. (Fish. Zanzibar, p. 21). One of the Mozambique specimens, 75 mm. in length, has the mouth full of eggs. * A pogon lineolatus C. and V. Barred Cardinal-fish. 1828. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 1, p. 160. 1828. Riippell, Atl. Fische, p. 47, pl. xu, fig. 1. 1859. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 244. 1870. Klunzinger, Verh. k.k. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. xx, p. 710. 1921. Brit. Mus. Rep., p. 118 (Delagoa Bay). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 219. Depth 3, length of head 34, in length of body. Eye 24 in length of head. Lower jaw slightly projecting. Outer margin of preopercle A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 517 serrate, inner ridge subquadrate. D VI+I 9, 2nd spine twice Ist, not longer than 3rd. AII 14. Caudal emarginate. Scales: 26. Length—Up to 75 mm. Colour.—Yellowish or reddish silvery, 12-13 darker narrow cross- bars, a black spot at base of caudal fin; fins pinkish, 2 blue horizontal stripes through eye. Locality.—Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Red Sea. Apogon queketti Gulch. Quekett’s Cardinal-fish. 1903. Gilchrist, Mar. Invest. 8. Afr., vol. 1, p. 206, pl. xiv. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 340. 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 13. Depth 22-3, length of head 24-22, in length of body. Hye 32-4 in length of head. Jaws about equal, or lower slightly projecting. Pre- opercle with both margins entire in young and adult, but in latter outer margin has 4 more or less distinct crenulations on the rounded angle. D VII-+I1 8, spines graduated to 4th, which is longest. A II 8. Caudal rounded. Scales: 1.1. 25-26. (Plate XXIV, fig. 5.) Length.—Up to 100 mm. Colour.—About 7 longitudinal lines of dark spots, 3 dark cross- bands, most marked in young, across the caudal peduncle, a dark vertical band from lower margin of eye, a black patch on Ist dorsal between 4th and 6th spines; 2nd dorsal, anal, and caudal with dark margins. A young specimen is brown, without any trace of dark spots or bands, but with the black spot on Ist dorsal, and the pectoral speckled. Locality.— Natal and Zululand coast, down to 42 fathoms. Type in South African Museum. This is the only species of Apogon in these waters which has a rounded caudal fin. This feature and the spot on the lst dorsal renders it easily identified. Apogon monochrous Blkr. Plain Cardinal-fish. 1856. Bleeker, Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Neerl., vol. i, p. 34. 1859. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 236: 518 Annals of the South African Museum. 1916. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 3, p. 168. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, ibid., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 340. Depth 23, length of head 23, in length of body. Eye 3 in length of head. Jaws about equal. Outer edge of preopercle and suprascapula serrated: D VII-+I 9-10, lst spine very short, 2nd half 3rd, which is longest and strongest. A II 8-9. Caudal emarginate. Scales: Ileal Length.—Up to 115 mm. Colour.—Golden, minutely dotted with brown, fins darker. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Hast Indies, Fiji Islands. Giinther (Fische d. Siidsee, vol. 1, p. 22) considers that this species is synonymous with the earlier fuscus of Quoy and Gaimard (Voy. Freyc. Zool., p. 345). Apogon frenatus Val. One-stripe Cardinal-fish. 1832. Valenciennes, Nouv. Arch. Mus., p. 57, pl. iv, fig. 4. 1833. Bennett, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 32 (vittiger). 1873. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, vol. 1, p. 19, pl. xix, fig. A. 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vii, p. 89, pl. ccexli, fig. 2. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 58, pl. xvi, fig. 4. 1908. Regan, Tr. Linn. Soc. Lond., 2nd ser. Zool., vol. xu, pt. 3, p. 225 (vetteger). 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 227. Depth 3-34, length of head 23-22, in length of body. Eye 3 in length of head. Jaws equal. Outer edge and inner ridge of preopercle, suborbital, and suprascapula serrate. D VII-+I 9-10, lst spine very short, 2nd half length of 3rd, which is longest, and about half length of head. A II 8. Caudal emarginate. Scales: 1.1. 25 (Giinther gives 27-28). Length.— Up to 100 mm. Colour.—Yellowish or reddish, a dark longitudinal band from snout to caudal peduncle, ending in a dark spot at base of caudal fin, mar- gined above and sometimes also below by a more or less distinct pale band, Ist dorsal blackish in front, a dark band along base of 2nd dorsal and of anal, and along upper and lower margins of caudal. Locality.—Natal coast, Mozambique. Distribution.—Mauritius, Indian seas, East Indies, New Guinea. _———— A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 519 *Apogon kallopterus Blkr. 1856. Bleeker, Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Neerl., vol. 1, p. 33. 1876. Id., Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vii, p. 89, pl. ccexxxvil, fig. 2. 1916. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 3, p. 168. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, zbid., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 340. Very similar to the preceding species but: depth 2? in length of body, 2nd dorsal not higher than Ist, lst dorsal with dark vertical bars, 2nd dorsal with several rows of dark spots. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—East Indies. It seems very doubtful whether this form is specifically distinct from frenatus. *Apogon quadrifasciatus C. and V. Two-stripe Cardinal-fish. 1828. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. u, p. 153. 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vii, p. 88, pl. cecxxxv, fig. 1. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 59. 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 226. (Non Jordan and Snyder, 1900, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxi, p- 353). Depth of body about equal to length of head, 22 in length of body. Kye 22-34 in length of head. Lower jaw slightly projecting. Pre- opercular margin serrate, inner ridge entire. Suprascapula serrate. D VII-+I 9, Ist spine very short, 2nd about 4 length of 3rd, which about equals 4th. AII 8. Caudal emarginate. Scales: |. 25-26. Length—Up to 105 mm. Colour.—Yellowish, with 2 dark longitudinal bands, the lower from snout through eye to caudal fin, the upper from eye to upper part of caudal peduncle, no median band from interorbital to origin of dorsal, a faint dark band along base of 2nd dorsal and anal fins. Locality.—Mozambique. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies. Apogon melanotaenia Regan. Five-stripe Cardinal-fish. 1905. Regan, J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. xvi, p. 320, pl. C, fig. 4. 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 5, p. 458. 520 Annals of the South African Museum. 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 13. Depth 22-3, length of head 23, in length of body. Eye 23-3 in length of head. Lower jaw shorter than upper. Suprascapula and outer edge of preopercle serrate. D VII-+I 9, 1st spine very short, 2nd half length of 3rd, which is longest. A II 8. Caudal emargin- ate. Scales: 1.1. 23-25. Length. Up to 80 mm. Colour.—Yellowish, with 5-6 black longitudinal stripes; 1st begins as a median stripe on interorbital, divides and runs along base of dorsal fins, uniting again on caudal peduncle ; 2nd from above eye to upper part of base of caudal; 5rd from eye to middle of base of caudal, where it ends in a spot; 4th from snout through pectoral to lower part of base of caudal; 5th (often very faint) from lower jaw to anal; some- times a faint additional stripe between the 2nd and 3rd extending to below 2nd dorsal; a dark band on base of 2nd dorsal and anal. Locality.— Natal coast, 0-33 fathoms. Distribution.—Zanzibar, Nicobars, Mekran, and Kurrachee. Apogon natalensis G. and T. Natal Cardinal-fish. 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. §. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, pt. 2, p. 49: 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 340. 1919. Regan, ibid., vol. 11, pt. 4, p. 197, fig. 1 (polylepis). Depth 22-22, length of head 22-3, in length of body. Eye equal to snout, 33-4 in length of head. Jaws equal. Preopercular edge very finely serrate, the ridge entire or (smaller specimen) very finely serrate. Suprascapula very finely serrate. D VII-VIII+I1 9-10, lst spine very short, 2nd about half length of 3rd, which is subequal to 4th. A II 8-9. Caudal emarginate. Scales: 1.1. 36-39; Ltr. = Length.— Up to 190 mm. Colour.—Brownish, with about 17 longitudinal dark stripes, Ist dorsal black, a black spot at base of pectoral, margins of 2nd dorsal and anal more or less dusky. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.— Kurrachee. Type in South African Museum ; of polylepis in British Museum. A. polylepis is clearly a synonym. The type has 5 scales between A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 521 spinous dorsal and lateral line, not 4 as in the original description. The species is closely allied to noordzieki and multitaencatus. Apogon aureus (Lacép.). Annulate Cardinal-fish. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss, vol. iv, pp. 253, 273. 1828. Riippell, Atl. Fische Roth. Meer., p. 48 (annularvs). 1829. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 1, p. 490; 1830, vol. vi, p. 553 (rosevpinnis). 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vu, p. 92, pl. cccxxxvii, fig. 1. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 61, pl. xvi, fig. 8. 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 142. 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 228. 1916. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 3, p. 168 (annularis). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, zbid., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 340 (annularis). Depth of body about equal to length of head, 24 in length of body. Hye 23-3 in length of head. Lower jaw very slightly projecting. Outer edge of preopercle serrate. D VII+I 9, Ist spine very short, 2nd about half length of 3rd, which is about equal to 4th. A II 8. Caudal emarginate. Scales: 1.]. 25-27. Length.—Up to 150 mm. Colour.—Rosy or golden, a broad dark band round the caudal peduncle at base of caudal fin, sometimes a blue stripe through eye across opercle, Ist dorsal tipped with blackish, 2nd dorsal and anal with narrow dark margins, in var. rosevpinnis C. and V. a violet band along base of anal. Locality — Natal coast, Mozambique. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies. Easily distinguished from all other South African species by the annular band on the tail. A. menesema Jenkins appears to be closely allied (see Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii, p. 215, pl. xii, and fig. 86, 1905). Ostorhinchus fleurieu Lacép. and Dipterodon hexacanthus Lacép. cannot be included in the synonymy of this species, as the descriptions of the dentition are not those of an Apogon at all. *Apogon bifasciatus Riipp. Two-banded Cardinal-fish. 1835. Riippell, Neue Wirbelt. Fische, p. 86, pl. xxii, fig. 2. 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vii, p. 81. 522 Annals of the South African Museum. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 62, pl. xvi, fig. 9. 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 143. 1919. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. ui, p. 197. Depth 24-23, length of head 23, in length of body. Eye 3 in length of head. Lower jaw slightly projecting. Outer edge and inner ridge of preopercle finely serrate. D VII+I 9, lst spine very short, 2nd x length of 3rd, whichis longest. AII8. Caudal emarginate. Scales: LJ. 25 (27-28). Length—Up to 165 mm. Colour.—Silvery or bronzy, a dark vertical cross-bar from Ist dorsal to middle of side, a similar one from 2nd dorsal, a black spot at base of caudal fin, 1st dorsal and anal blackish, a dark bar along base of 2nd dorsal. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian seas to China. *A pogon duops nom. nov. Ocellate Cardinal-fish. 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 14, pl. 1, fig. 2 (Amia ocellata nom. preocc., Weber, 1913). Depth of body about equal to length of head, 24 in length of body. Hye 3 in length of head according to figure (text says 7, which is clearly an error). Jaws about equal. Outer border of preopercle serrate. D VII-+I 9, Ist spine short, 2nd $ length of 3rd, which is longest. A Il 8. Caudal emarginate. Scales: 1.1. 24. Length.—80 mm. Colour.—Yellowish, 3 black vertical cross-bands ; Ist and 2nd from the two dorsals respectively, the 3rd on middle of caudal peduncle ; a purple, white-edged ocellus in Ist band between lateral line and axil of pectoral ; dorsals, anal, and ventrals blackish ; pectorals and caudal yellowish. Locality.—Natal coast, 27 fathoms. Type in coll. Govt. Marine Survey. Very close to, if not merely a variety of, wninotata S. and R. (1912, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xl, p. 436, pl. xxxiv, fig. 3) from the Philip- pines. The preopercular margin is stated to be entire in uninotata, but that seems to be the only structural difference. The presence or absence of dark bands can well be merely a varietal character. The new specific name is in allusion to the two “ eyes,” one on each side. PLATE XXII. FIG. TEXT-PAGE 1. Sillago sihama (Forsk.) (after Day) ; : : ‘ : : = soe 2. Hoplegnathus conwayi Rich. (original photo) : : : : . 505 3. Pomatomus saltator (Linn.) (after C. and V.) , : ‘ ; . 509 4, Parahynnodus robustus n.g. et sp. (original) . . - : ; . §25 Ann. S. Afr. Mus., Vol. X XI. Plate XXII. r Neill & Co., Lid. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 523 Gen. Ericonus Raf. 1810. Rafinesque, Appendice, p. 64. 1895. Goode and Bean, Ocean. Ichth., p. 232. Body rather elongate, with moderate-sized, deciduous, cycloid scales. Villiform teeth on jaws, present or absent on vomer, palatines, and tongue, but typically present on vomer and palatine in adult. Preopercle without submarginal ridge, angle broadly rounded. Opercle with usually 2 feeble spines. Soft dorsal and anal short, the latter with 2 spines. Vent close in front of anal. A genus of Atlantic deep-sea fishes. Key to the South African species. 1. Depth 43 in length . : : ; i : ; ‘ . macrops. 2. Depth 32in length . : ; : : : : ‘ . telescopus. *Enigonus macrops G. and v. B. 1924. Gilchrist and von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., vii, p. 14, pl. 1, fig. 3. Depth 44, length of head about 3, in length of body. Hye 24 in length of head, not quite twice length of snout. Maxilla extending to below anterior third of eye. No teeth on vomer or palatines. Opercle with 1 spine. Preopercle rounded but not produced backwards. D VII-+1 9, 1st spine short, 2nd about 2 length of 3rd, 4th longest ; spine of 2nd dorsal about equal to eye. A II 9.° Caudal emarginate. 4 Scales: 11.50; Ltr. —. 10 Length.—Up to 198 mm. Colour.—Not stated. Localhity.—Off west coast (30° 12’ 8., 14° 25’ E., and 31° 58’ S., 16° E.), 510-670 fathoms. Type in coll. Govt. Marine Survey. This species is very probably the immature form of telescopus. Epigonus telescopus (Risso). 1810. Risso, Ichth., p. 301, pl. ix, fig.-31, and ed. 2, p. 387. 1828. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ii, p. 171, pl. xxiv, and 1830, zbid., vol. vi, p. 495. 524 Annals of the South African Museum. 1856-44. Valenciennes in Webb and Berthelot, Ichth. Iles Canar., Deo. Olea: 1881. Moreau, Hist. Nat. Poiss. France, vol. ii, p. 387. 1895. Goode and Bean, Ocean. Ichth., p. 232. Depth 33, length of head 22, in length of body. Eye equal to inter- orbital width, 3 in length of head, 14 times the snout. Maxilla ex- tending to below anterior third of eye. Teeth in narrow bands on jaws, becoming a single series posteriorly ; those on palatines in bands in several serles, twice as wide as bands on jaws; a circular patch on vomer; none on tongue. Lower jaw not projecting. Both nostrils ovate, without raised rims. Whole head, including snout, scaly. Gill-rakers 15 on lower part of anterior arch, long and stout. Angle of preopercle rounded and produced backwards, with some very minute and feeble serrations. D VII-+I 10, lst spine not quite 4 length of 2nd, 4th longest, equal to eye. A II 9. Caudal forked. Soft dorsal and anal scaly. Scales: 1.1. 55 (the last 4 or 5 on tail) ; ee 11 Length.—Up to 560 mm. Colour.— Uniform blackish, including mouth and branchial chamber and peritoneum. : Locality.—Off Saldanha Bay, 500 fathoms. Distribution.—Mediterranean, Canaries, Madeira. According to Valenciennes (1836-44, loc. cit.) occurs also at St. Helena. The above description is taken from a very fine specimen, 500 mm. in length, brought in by a trawler from approximately the same locality as the preceding species, which it much resembles superficially. It is, however, distinguished by its robust build, deeper body, and dentition. It is possible that macrops is the immature form of telescopus. The character of the dentition seems to be variable, as I am informed by Mr. J. R. Norman, of the British Museum, who has examined several specimens. Dr. Pellegrin, to whom I owe the reference to Moreau, has examined three adults in the Paris Museum, all of which possess the palatine teeth. The absence of palatine teeth has been regarded as diagnostic of the genus in spite of the descriptions given by Cuvier and Valenciennes (loc. cit., vi), and Moreau. In the former description the number of pyloric caeca is given as 22. The present specimen, though otherwise in excellent condition, has the internal organs in too poor a condition to determine the number of pyloric caeca. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 525 PARAHYNNODUS nN. g. Body rather elongate, with moderate-sized ctenoid scales. Head scaleless. Eyeverylarge. No teeth in the jaws, or on palate or tongue. Preopercle with submarginal ridge; outer margin thin, quadrate, en- tire. Opercle with a low horizontal ridge ending in a spine. Maxilla narrow, concealed beneath the narrow preorbital, except the posterior end. First dorsal with 7 spines; 2nd dorsal with 8rays. Anal with 2 spines and 8 rays. Anal arising below posterior third of base of 2nd dorsal. Caudal (?) emarginate. Vent close in front of anal. Lateral line pores simple. Close to Hynnodus Gilb. (1905, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxin, pt. 2, p. 617), and especially to Scepterias Jord. and Jord. (1922, Mem. Carn. Mus., vol. x, p. 44), but differing in the complete absence of teeth, fewer soft dorsal and anal rays, and slightly larger scales. Gil- bert’s description of the lateral line scales in Hynnodus does not apply to those of the Cape species. Parahynnodus robustus n. sp. Depth 42, length of head 3, in length of body. Eye 24, snout 44, interorbital width 4, in length of head. Maxilla extending to below anterior third of eye. Lower jaw projecting, ending in 2 small points ; 2 pores below. Gill-rakers 22 on lower part of anterior arch; long, strong, and closely set. D VII-+I 8, 1st spine very short, 3rd longest, : 3 slightly longer than eye. A II 8. Scales: 1.1. 48; Ltr. i Pyloric caeca 5. (Plate XXII, fig. 4.) Length —170 mm. Colour (preserved).—Pale, mouth and branchial chamber also pale, peritoneum brown. Locality. Off Cape Point, 460 fathoms. Type in South African Museum. The single specimen is well preserved, though the tail is broken, and most of the scales except those along the lateral line are lost. Gen. CHILODIPTERUS Lacép. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iii, p. 539 (Chezlodipterus). 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 144 (Paramia). 1912. Radcliffe, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xli, p. 441. 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 239. 526 Annals of the South African Museum. Body oblong, with large, deciduous, ctenoid scales. Villiform teeth in jaws, and on vomer and palatines ; canine teeth also in jaws. Pre- opercle with a submarginal ridge, outer edge serrate. Opercle without spine. Soft dorsal and anal short. Anal with 2 spines. Caudal emar- ginate. Vent about midway between anal and ventrals. Tropical and subtropical small fishes from the shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific region, distinguished from Apogon by the canines in the jaws and the usually shallower body. As in Apogon, oral gestation of the eggs by the male occurs in some species of this genus. Chilodipterus quinquelineata C. and V. 1828. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 11, p. 167. 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vu, p. 105, pl. eecxxvi, fig. 2. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 66. 1901. Jordan and Snyder, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxi, p. 907. Depth 34-34, length of head 23-22, in length of body. Eye longer than snout, 3 in length of head. Maxilla extending to below posterior third of eye. D VI+I19. A II 8-9. Vent distant from anal 4 dis- tance between anal and bases of ventrals. Scales: 1.1. 25. Length.—Up to 130 mm. Colour.—Silvery, 5 black longitudinal stripes on each side, the middle 3 starting on the head, the uppermost on each side unites before and behind the dorsal fins to form a median stripe, base of caudal yellowish, tip of 1st dorsal blackish. Locality.—Mozambique. Distribution.—Red Sea, Indian seas, East Indies, Western Pacific. Gen. SYNAGROPS Gnuthr. 1883. Doderlein, Denkschr. Ak. Wiss. Wien, vol. xlvii, p. 5 (Melanostoma nom. preocc.). 1887. Giinther, Challeng. Rep., vol. xxu, p. 162. 1889. Alcock, J. As. Soc. Beng., vol. lviii, p. 296 (Parascombrops). 1895. Goode and Bean, Ocean. Ichth., p. 236 (Hypoclydonia) and p. 922. 1899. Alcock, Cat. Deep-sea Fish. Ind. Mus., p. 24. 1912. Radcliffe, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xl, p. 444. 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 195. Body rather elongate, with rather large, deciduous, cycloid scales. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 527 Villiform teeth in jaws, on vomer and palatines; strong canines in jaws. Preopercle without submarginal ridge, its angle produced, with fine serrations. Opercle with 2 spines. Soft dorsal and anal short. Anal with 2 spines. Dorsal, anal, and ventral spines often serrate.* Vent close in front of anal. A deep-sea genus from the Indo-Pacific Ocean. *Synagrops natalensis Gilch. 1922. Gilchrist, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., 111, p. 69. Depth 4, length of head 3, in total length. Eye 33, snout 43, in length of head. Lower jaw with 5 canines at side, 3 smaller ones in front, and 1 at symphysis. DIX+I110. A II 8. Outer edge of spine of ventral fin not serrate. Scales: 1.1. ca. 33. Length.—Not stated. Colour.—Not stated. Locality.— Natal coast, 233 fathoms. Type in coll. Govt. Marine Survey. Gen. ScomBrops T. and S. 1846. Temminck and Schlegel, Fauna Jap. Poiss., p. 118. 1895. Goode and Bean, Ocean. Ichth., p. 235. HO Jordan and Snyder, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxi, p. 910. Body elongate, with small, thin, cycloid scales. Strong canines in jaws; a patch on vomer, and 2-3 series of sharp teeth on palatines. Preopercle without submarginal ridge, its edge not serrate. Opercle with 2 feeble spines. First dorsal with 8 feeble spines ; 2nd dorsal and anal rather long. Anal with 3 spines. Vertical fins scaly. Vent not far in front of anal fin. A deep-sea genus from Japan and the West Indies. Scombrops dubius Gilchr. 1922. Gilchrist, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., ui, p. 66, pl. x1, fig, I’. Depth 33-4, length of head 23-3, in length of body. Eye 3-3§, interorbital width 44-42, snout 4 in length of head. Lower jaw slightly * Jordan (1922, Mem. Carn. Mus., vol. x, p. 44, footnote) places S. serratospinosa Smth. and Rad. with serrated dorsal spines in a separate genus, Maccullochina. 528 Annals of the South African Museum. projecting. Maxilla reaching to below centre of eye. Giull-rakers 13- 15 on lower part of anterior arch, the anterior ones mere rudiments. D VIII+I 138, 3rd spine longest, nearly 4 length of head. Space between the dorsals (measured from spine to spine) about 4 in length of head. A III 13. Pectoral 12-12, ventral 2, in length of head. Scales: 1.1. 53-55. Pyloric caeca 8. Length.—Up to 360 mm. Colour (preserved).—Grey or brownish, with a violet tinge. Locality False Bay, Agulhas Bank, Algoa Bay, Natal, 26-207 fathoms. Type in coll. Govt. Marine Survey. The characters given by Gilchrist as differentiating this species from the Japanese species boops are not too satisfactory, as Gilchrist him- self indicated. But when to these characters is added the fact that dubius has only 8 pyloric caeca as against 18 in boops (Giinther, Challeng. Rep., vol. xxu, p. 14, 1887), the validity of the species would seem to be assured. The West Indian species oculatus Poey has 10 pyloric caeca. The stomachs of the specimens in the South African Museum contain remnants of other fishes and of Squids (Loligo). Gen. NEOScOMBROPS Gilch. 1922. Gilchrist, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 67. Body oblong, with thin, deciduous, cycloid scales. Villiform teeth in jaws, with a pair of canines at symphysis of upper jaw, a similar pair and a lateral series in lower jaw ; a patch on vomer, and a single series on each palatine. Preopercle without submarginal ridge, angle rounded, feebly denticulate. Opercle with 2 feeble spines. First dorsal with 9 spines, 2nd rather long. Anal short, with 3 spines. Vertical fins scaleless. Vent (?) normal. A South African genus distinguished from Scombrops by the absence of lateral canines in the upper jaw and by the scaleless fins. Neoscombrops annectens Gilch. 1922. Gilchrist, loc. cit., p. 68, pl. xi, fig. 2. Depth 34-34, length of head 23-3, in length of body. Eye 3, snout 31, in length of head, the snout equal to the interorbital width. Maxilla extending to below centre of eye. D IX-+I 9, 1st spine very A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 529 short, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th longest. A III 7. Caudal emarginate. Scales: 1.1. 47. Four between lateral line and Ist dorsal. Length.—180 mm. (S.A.M.). Colour (as preserved).—Purplish brown. Locality.—Natal coast, 62-260 fathoms. Type in coll. Govt. Marine Survey. In a specimen in the South African Museum the head is greater than depth of body; Gilchrist’s figure does not quite correspond with his description. Gen. Acropoma Schl. 1846. Schlegel in Temminck and Schlegel, Fauna Jap. Poiss., p. dl. 1901. Jordan and Snyder, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxiii, p9Lt. 1909. Lloyd, Mem. Ind. Mus., vol. ii, p. 159 (Synagrops). Body oblong, with moderate-sized, deciduous, cycloid or ctenoid scales. Villiform teeth in jaws and on vomer and palatines; small canines at the symphysis of the jaws. Preopercle with a submar- ginal ridge, outer edge entire or serrate. Opercle produced backwards in a long membranous flap, with denticulate edge. Soft dorsal and anal short. Anal spines 3. Vent far forward, nearer base of ventrals than anal. An Indo-Pacific deep-sea genus. * Acropoma cynodon Regan. 1921. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. vii, p. 415. 1922. Gilchrist, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., 11, p. 69. Depth nearly 4, length of head 23, in length of body. Snout a little shorter than eye, which is 34 in length of head. Lower jaw projecting. Maxilla extending to below centre of eye. A pair of strong canines in upper jaw. Preopercular edge serrate. Gill-rakers 16 on lower part of anterior arch. D IX+I 10, almost contiguous, 3rd spine longest. ATII 7. Caudal emarginate. Scales: 11. ca. 47. Length.—165 mm. Colour.—Reddish (2). Locality.— Natal coast, 130-230 fathoms. Type in British Museum. 530 Annals of the South African Museum. Fam. 22. CARANGIDAER. Horse-mackerels, Maasbankers, Albacores. Body oblong or elongate, or short and deep, more or less com- pressed, with well-developed cycloid scales, or scales reduced and embedded in skin, or absent altogether. Caudal peduncle slender. Mouth moderate, more or less oblique, usually protractile. Maxilla not concealed. Subocular shelf present. Teeth generally small. Adipose eyelids often well developed. Nostrils paired. Gill-mem- branes usually not united, free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. Two dorsal fins, contiguous, or more or less separate, spinous portion weak, spines short, usually depressible in a groove, soft portion long. In Apolectus a single long dorsal. Anal short or long, with 2 spines separate from the rest of the fin. Detached finlets at hinder end of dorsal and anal often present. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, without axillary process. Caudal forked. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca usually numerous. Lateral line single, sometimes armed with bony scutes larger than the other scales of the body. A large family represented in all temperate and tropical seas. Many of the species are pelagic and of wide distribution. The eggs are in all cases, as far as yet known, pelagic, and the young often undergo considerable changes before reaching the adult shape. Although most of the species are valued as food in all parts of the world, the only one of economic importance is the Maasbanker (Trachurus trachurus). Key to the South African genera. J. Two dorsal fins. A. Lateral line armed (at least in part) with scutes (Caranginae). 1. Body scaly. a. Lateral line armed throughout. 3 F . Trachurus. b. Lateral line armed only on hinder part. i. Several detached finlets behind both dorsal and anal fins Megalaspis. ii. One finlet only . ‘ ‘ ‘ : Decapterus. iii. No detached finlets. a. A deep furrow on isthmus . : : Selar. 6. No furrow on isthmus : i . Caranz. 2. Body naked (apparently ; scales embedded), very deep and com- pressed. a. Soft dorsal and anal anteriorly elongate, rays filamentous Alectis, b. Soft dorsal and anallow . ; : : : Vomer. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 531 - B. Lateral line without scutes. 1. Dorsal and anal uD in length, usually strongly falcate (T'rachy- notinae) . ‘ ; Trachynotus. 2. Dorsal and anal not, or ole aiehaly. falente a. Anal shorter than dorsal (Seriolinae). i. No finlets. a. Dorsal spines connected by membrane. * Ll. with single slight curve. + Snout conical . , Seriola. T7 Snout short and blank Zonichthys. ** Ll. with double curve ‘ ; Lichia. 6. Dorsal spines free - . Naucrates. ii. One detached finlet behind both aaneal and anal Elagatis. b. Anal equal to dorsal. Several finlets (Scomberoidinae) Ohorinemus. II. A single long dorsal fin, spines rudimentary, ventrals obsolete in adult A polectus. Gen. TRAcHURUS Raf. 1810. Rafinesque, Ind. d’Itt. Sic., p. 20, and Caratt., p. 41. 1920. Nicholls, Bull. Amer. Mus., 42, p. 477. Body elongate-oblong, rather compressed, with scales. Jaws, palate, and tongue with very fine teeth, usually in single series. First dorsal moderately high, preceded by a forwardly directed, procumbent spine. Anal about as long as soft dorsal. No finlets. Pectoral long, falcate. Lateral line armed with scutes throughout its length; an accessory branch running along base of dorsal to its hinder end. Posterior adipose eyelid well developed. Trachurus trachurus Linn. Maasbanker ; Horse-mackerel. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 298. 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ix, p. 11, pl. cexlvi. 1916. Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iu, p. 9, fig. 5 (egg and larva). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 388 (references and synonymy). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 99 (references and synonymy). 1919. Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. lvi, p. 290 (semispinosus). 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 24 (references and synonymy). VOL. XXI, PART 2. 35 532 Annals of the South African Museum. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 214 (semi- Spinosus). Depth 4-44, length of head 31-32, in length of body. Eye subequal to snout, and to interorbital width, 33-34 in length of head. Maxilla extending to below anterior quarter of eye. Gill-rakers 48-50 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+ VIII+I1 30-34. A II+I 27-30. Scales: 1.1. 70-77, of which 38-42 are spinose; height of scutes 2 diameter of eye. (Plate XXIII, fig. 1.) Length.—Up to 500 mm. Colour.—Greenish or bluish above, silvery below, opercular spot and axil of pectoral blackish, iris very brilliant silvery, with a blue tinge. Locality. Off St. Helena Bay, Table Bay, False Bay, and Agulhas Bank to Natal, Zululand, Delagoa Bay, down to 100 fathoms. Distribution.—N. and 8. Atlantic. The Australian and Japanese forms are now considered as separate species. Nicholls (loc. cit.), without, however, material for comparison, thinks that the Cape form should be distinct on account of geographical reasons. This view is not acceptable. In the North Atlantic the Horse-mackerel migrates inshore for spawning during the summer months (June-August), and it appears that in South Africa the inshore migration occurs at about the corresponding season, or somewhat earlier (October—January). The young fry have been observed to prefer the neighbourhood of jelly-fishes, under the umbrella of which they take shelter (Meek, Migrations of Fish, 1916, p. 316). Gen. MEGALASPIS Blkr. 1851. Bleeker, Verh. Bat. Gen., vol. xxiv.* 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 147. Body elongate-oblong, somewhat compressed, with scales. Jaws, palate, and tongue toothed. Ist dorsal moderately high. Anal about as long as soft dorsal. Dorsal and anal each with several detached finlets. Pectoral long, faleate. Shoulder-girdle without a furrow at its junction with isthmus. Lateral line with very high scutes, which are absent, however, anteriorly. Adipose eyelids well developed. This genus contains only the following species. * The name Megalaspis was used in the same year by Angelin for a Trilobite (Palaeont. Suec., I, i, 1851). I am unable to discover which author has priority. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 533 Megalaspis cordyla (Linn.). 1758. Linne, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 483. 1797. Bloch, Ichth., vol. x, p. 40, pl. ecexlvi (rottler7). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 387 (rottlerz) (references). 1924. Wakiya, loc. cit., p. 147, pl. xv, fig. 1. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 214. Depth of body equal to length of head, slightly less than 4 in length of body. Eye equal to or slightly greater than snout, about equal to interorbital width, 32-34 in length of head. Giull-rakers about 20 on lower part of anterior arch. D VIII+I1 10-11+8-9. A II+I 8-10+6-8. Scales: 1.1. 50-54 spinose scutes on straight part, their height 14-2 times diameter of eye. Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, a black opercular spot, hind margin of caudal and tips of spinous and soft dorsals blackish, rest of fins yellowish, upper half of pectoral dusky. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific to Japan and N.E. Australia. Gen. DECAPTERUS Blkr. 1851. Bleeker, Natuurk. Tyds. Ned. Ind., vol. i, p. 352. 1915. Ogilby, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. iii, p. 58. 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carnegie Mus., vol. xv, p. 148. Body elongate, more or less compressed, with scales. Teeth feeble. First dorsal moderately high. Anal about as long as soft dorsal. Dorsal and anal each with a single detached finlet. Pectoral long, falcate. Shoulder-girdle with a shallow groove at its junction with isthmus. Lateral line with scutes only on posterior straight part. Adipose eyelids well developed. Key to the South African species. 1. Teeth on tongue obsolete. Anal with 24-26 soft rays . : . russelli. 2. Teeth present in a band on tongue. Anal with 28-30 rays. a. Palatines not toothed. i. Upper jaw toothed anteriorly : : : ‘ . muroadsi. ii. Upper jaw toothless . : : : : : macrosoma. b. Palatines toothed : 5 : : 5 . : ; lajang. 534 Annals of the South African Museum. * Decapterus russelli (Riipp.). 1828. Riippell, Atl. Fische, p. 99. 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ix, p. 44 (kurra). 1860. Ginther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 1, p. 427 (kurva). 1915. Ogilby, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. iii, p. 59, pl. xix (references and synonymy). 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 321 (kurra). 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 149, pl. xv, fig. 2. Depth 5, length of head 33, in length of body. Eye 5 in length of head, 1 in snout. Maxilla extending scarcely to below anterior margin of eye. Teeth in a single series on jaws; two small patches and a median strip on vomer; palatines, but not tongue, toothed (sometimes a very small patch on latter near hinder end). Opercular membrane sharply serrate, but indistinctly so in young. Gill-rakers 31-32 on lower part of anterior arch. D VIII+130-32+1. AII+I 24-26+1. Pectoral equal to head without snout. Scales: Ll. 45 spinose scutes on hinder part of line, their height just over half diameter of eye. Length.—Up to 400 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, opercular spot black; snout, back, and all fins tinged with red; caudal with yellow margin. Locality.— Natal coast. : Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to Japan and N.H. Australia. *Decapterus muroadsi (Schl.). 1844. Temminck and Schlegel, Fauna Jap. Poiss., p. 108, pl. viii, stag, AE 1884. Steindachner and Déderlein, Denkschr. Ak. Wiss. Wien, vol. xlvili, p. 37, pl. iv, fig. 1 (sanctae-helenae non C. and V.). 1924. Wakiya, loc. cit., p. 152, pl. xvi, fig. 1. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p. 213 (sanctae- helenae). Depth about 44, length of head 33-4, in length of body. Hye 55 in length of head (Wakiya; Fowler gives 34), less than snout. Maxilla scarcely reaching to anterior margin of eye. Teeth in a single series on the jaws, those on upper jaw only at anterior end; a transverse band on vomer ; palatines and tongue toothed. Opercular membrane not serrate. Gill-rakers 28 on lower part of anterior arch. D VIII+I A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 535 31-33-+1. A II+I1 26-28+1. Pectoral a little longer than head without snout. Scales: 1.1. 33 scutes on hinder part of line, their height equal to $ eye-diameter. Length.—Up to 335 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, opercular spot black, a reddish or yellowish streak from snout to caudal, fins brownish. Locality — Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Japan. The true Atlantic sanctae-helenae C. and V. appears to be distin- guished by a series of black spots along the side. *Decapterus macrosoma Blkr. 1851. Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind., vol. i, p. 358. 1917. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 5, p. 258. 1924. Wakiya, loc. cit., p. 153, pl. xvi, fig. 2. Depth 54, length of head 34, in length of body. Eye 5 in length of head, 12 in snout. Maxilla extending to below a point midway be- tween posterior nostril and anterior margin of eye. Teeth very feeble, none in upper jaw or on palatines, a single series in lower jaw, a trans- verse band on front part of vomer, a band on tongue. Opercular membrane bluntly serrated, feebly so in young. D VIII+132-35-+1. A II+128-30-++-1. Pectoral greater than head without snout. Scales : 1.1. 27 spinose scutes on hinder part of line, their height 2 diameter of eye. Length. Up to 350 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, opercular spot black. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—East Indies, tropical Pacific, Japan. Decapterus lajang Blkr. 1855. Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind., vol. v, p. 302. 1860. Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. ii, p. 425. 1924. Wakiya, loc. cit., p. 155, pl. xvii, fig. 1. Depth 54-54, length of head 4, in length of body. Eye 44-43 in length of head, 14 in snout. Maxilla extending almost to below anterior border of eye, its hinder end concave and expanded down- wards. Teeth obsolete in upper jaw, in a single series in lower jaw and on palatines, a transverse and a median longitudinal series on vomer, a band on tongue. Opercular membrane not serrated. Gill- 536 Annals of the South African Museum. rakers about 32 on lower part of anterior arch. D VIII+ 1 34-35+1. A II+I 28-30+1. Pectoral equal to head without snout. Scales: l.1. 28 spinose scutes on hind part of line, their height just over half diameter of eye. Length.—Up to 260 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, opercular spot black. Locality.—Simon’s Bay in False Bay. Distribution.—East Indies, tropical Pacific, Japan. A single specimen in the South African Museum, measuring 175 mm. in length, agrees with Wakiya’s description. It was caught in the trek-nets at the end of March 1911. This species is very closely allied to the preceding and the other species of the genus, but is distinguished by the character of the dentition. Gen. SELAR Bleeker. 1851. Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind., vol. 1, p. 359. 1862. Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., p. 431 (Lrachurops). 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 159. Body elongate, more or less compressed, with scales. Jaws, palate, and tongue toothed. Shoulder-girdle with a deep longitudinal furrow at its junction with isthmus. First dorsal moderately high. Anal about as long as soft dorsal. No detached finlets. Pectoral long, faleate. Lateral line not strongly curved, with scutes on its posterior portion. Breast scaly. Adipose eyelids well developed. Key to the South African species. 1. Scutes 34-36. ’ ‘ ; ; crumenophthalmus. 2. Scutes 39-47. a. Depth 2}in length . ; ¢ : ‘ , : kalla. 6. Depth 3} in length . ; ; ; : é : : affinis. c. Depth 3$in length . : : ; : : tabulae. *Selar crumenophthalmus (BL.). 1793. Bloch, Ausl. Fische, vol. vii, p. 77, pl. ccexliii. 1824. Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. Uranie Zool., p. 359 (mauritianus). 1828. Riippell, Atl. Fische, p. 97, pl. xxv, fig. 4 (macrophthalmus). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 217, pl. xlix, fig. 1. 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxviii, p. 187, fig. 71 (synonymy). A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 537 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 398. 1917. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 5, p. 458. 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, pp. 159, 160, pl. xviii, figs. 2, 3 (mauritianus and macrophthalmus). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvii, p. 214. 1925. Meek and Hildebrand, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., zool. ser vol. xv, p. 335. Depth 34-34, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Eye 34-34 in length of head, about equal to snout and to interorbital width. Maxilla extending to below centre of eye. Teeth ina very narrow band in upper, in a single series in lower, jaw; very weak on palate and tongue. Gill-rakers 23-27 on lower part of anterior arch. D VIII+1 23-26. A II-+I 20-23. Pectoral 14-1} in length of head. Scales : Ll. scutes 34-36 (Day, 27-32), commencing under 9th or 10th dorsal ray. Lateral line scarcely curved. Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, opercular spot very faint. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—Circumtropical. There is some doubt as to whether the Atlantic form (erwmeno- phthalmus) should include the Indo-Pacific, or whether the latter should be separated under the name mauritianus ; but see Fowler (1919, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. lvi, p. 209). ve Selar kalla (C. and V.). 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ix, p. 49. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 219, pl. xlix, fig. 5. 1915. Ogilby, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. iii, p. 62, pl. xx (references and synonymy). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 383 (references). 1917. Jordan and Starks, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xi, p. 4438 (calla). 1925. Fowler, J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. xxx, Pi 2p. oll. 1925. Id., Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. xxvii, p. 215. Depth 23-23, length of head 34, in length of body. Eye 3 in length of head, slightly greater than snout and than interorbital width. Teeth in a single row in jaws. Maxilla reaching to below anterior third of eye. Ventral profile more strongly curved than dorsal. Gill-rakers 27-28 on lower part of anterior arch. D VIII-+I1 23-24. A II+I 19-20. Pectoral longer than head, nearly equal to depth of body. 538 Annals of the South African Museum. Scales: 1.1. scutes 40-45, commencing below 4th or 5th dorsal ray. Lateral line moderately curved. | Length.—Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, a black opercular spot, caudal yellow, other fins pale, dorsal with dusky margin. Locality.— Natal coast, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indian seas to China and N.E. Australia. *Selar affinis (Riipp.). 1835. Riippell, Neue Wirbelt. Fische, p. 49, pl. xiv, fig. 1. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 219, pl. xlix, fig. 4 (references and synonymy). 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii, paldo, te. (6: 1917. Jordan and Starks, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xi, p. 448. 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 25. 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 200, pl. xxx, fig. 1. Depth 34-34, length of head 34-33, in length of body. Eye 4-5 in length of head, slightly less than snout and than interorbital width. Teeth in a single row in jaws, except at symphysis. Maxilla reaching to below anterior margin of eye. Dorsal and ventral profiles equally curved. D VIII+I 23-24. A II+I 19-21. Pectoral longer than head and equal to depth of body. Scales: 1.1. scutes 42-47, com- mencing below 6th or 7th dorsal ray. Lateral line moderately curved. Length.— Up to 230 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, with a series of short vertical bars, a black opercular spot, fins yellow, soft dorsal posteriorly, with dusky margin. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific to N.W. Australia. Selar tabulae n. sp. Depth about equal to length of head, 34 in length of body. Eye 14 in snout and in interorbital width, 4 in length of head. Lower jaw projecting. Teeth very small, uniserial and nearly obsolete in jaws, in narrow bands on vomer, palatines, and tongue ; the vomer has a transverse anterior and a median band. Maxilla reaching to below anterior margin of eye, or slightly further. Posterior adipose eye- A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 539 lid well developed. Gill-rakers 55 on lower part of anterior arch. DI+VIII+I 38. A II+I 30. Pectoral falcate, equal to length of head. Scales: 1.1. scutes 39, commencing below 6th or 7th dorsal ray, their margins denticulate. Lateral line moderately curved. Breast and whole of head, including interorbital, but not the snout, scaly. Length.—410 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, a black opercular spot, spinous dorsal blackish, soft dorsal and anal dusky. Locality.—Table Bay, Type in South African Museum. This species appears at first sight near to D. sanctae-helenae C. and V., but apart from the absence of the black lateral spots it has no detached finlet behind dorsal and anal fins, and has longer falcate pectorals. Gen. CaRANX Lacép. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. in, p. 57. 1915. Ogilby, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. i, p. 66. 1924. McCulloch, zbid., vol. vii, p. 67 (key to Australian species). 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 162. Body oblong or ovate, compressed, with scales. Dentition various. Shoulder-girdle not furrowed. First dorsal moderately high, preceded by a forwardly directed procumbent spine. Anal about as long as soft dorsal. Soft dorsal and anal often falcate anteriorly. No de- tached finlets. Pectoral long, faleate. Lateral line moderately curved, with scutes on its posterior straight portion. Adipose eyelids more or less developed. Breast with or without scales. The subdivision of this genus is fraught with difficulty, as all the characters which have been used by various authors appear liable to considerable variation and intergradations. Conservative authors, in fact, have not accepted the separation of such genera as Decapterus, Selar, etc. The course here adopted in separating certain distinctive forms is admittedly done for the sake of convenience. Key to the South African species. I. Teeth present. A. Teeth in villiform bands in both jaws. 1. Breast scaly. : ‘ : ‘ ‘ 3 : equula. 2. Breast naked. a. Gill-rakers 16-17. Scutes 25-28 : : chrysophrys. b. Gill-rakers 23-24. Scutes 25-28 : : malabaricus. c. Gill-rakers 21. Scutes 17-25 : : ' . armatus, 540 Annals of the South African Museum. B. Teeth in upper jaw in a narrow band with an outer enlarged series, in lower jaw uniserial with some larger ones intermixed. 1. Breast scaly. a. Gill-rakers 15. Scutes 30-35 : : . _ forsteri. b. Gill-rakers 18. Scutes 34-38 ‘ ; : melampygus. 2. Breast scaleless except an oval patch in front of ventrals. a. Scutes 33-37. 2 : , : : . carangus. b. Scutes 28-30. f : : : F . tgnobilis. C. Teeth uniserial in both jaws. 1. Snout not twice diameter of eye f : : . djeddaba. 2. Snout twice diameter of eye : ; é : : dentex. II. Teeth absent (at least in adult) . d : : ; ; . speciosus. Caranz equula T. and 8. 1844. Temminck and Schlegel, Fauna Jap. Poiss., p. 111, pl. Ix, oe 1857. Bleeker, Verh. Batav. Gen., vol. xxvi, p. 102. 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 166, pl. xix, fig. 3. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvii, p. 214 (dasson). Body compressed. Depth 2,4,, length of head 3, in length of body. Eye 4 in length of head, 14 in snout and in interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to, or slightly beyond, front margin of eye. Teeth in villi- form bands in jaws and on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Adipose eyelids feebly developed. Gill-rakers 19-20 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+VIII+I 23-25. A II+I 21-23. Anterior rays of soft dorsal and anal not falcate. Pectoral as long as, or slightly longer than head. Scales: 1.1. scutes 26(—28), rather feebly armed, com- mencing below about the 15th dorsal ray. Breast scaly. Length.—Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Yellowish-silvery, darker above, with 5-6 broad, dark, vertical bars, more distinct in young, with or without a dark opercular spot, spinous dorsal dusky, soft dorsal and anal with a submarginal dark stripe, leaving the margin light. Locality — Agulhas Bank, 30 fathoms; Natal coast, 40 fathoms. Distribution.—East Indies and Japan. Fowler’s description evidently applies to this species. Caranz chrysophrys C. and V. 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ix, p. 77, pl. cexlvi. 1851. Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind., p. 366 (chrysophryoides). 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 328, pl. xxxi, fig. 4. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 541 1909. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 242 (chrysophryovdes). 1909. Id., ibid., p. 244 (Carangichthys typus non Blkr.). 1915. Ogilby, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. ii, p. 77, pl. xxiv. 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 384 (chrysophryoides). 1917. Id., ibid., p. 8388 (Carangichthys typus non Blkr.). 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 180, pl. xxiv, fig. 1. Body strongly compressed. Profile of head and breast trenchant (in adult). Depth 14 (young)—24 (adult), length of head about 3, in length of body. Eye 4 in length of head, 14 in snout, about equal to interorbital width. Teeth in villiform bands in both jaws, and on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Maxilla reaching to below anterior quarter of eye. Adipose eyelids feebly developed. Giull-rakers 16-17 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+ VIII+I 18-20. A II-+I 16- 17. Anterior portion of soft dorsal and anal falcate, the longest rays in each about equal, 4—? depth of body (longer in young than adult). Pectoral longer than head. Scales: 1.1. scutes 25-28, rather feebly armed, commencing below about middle of soft dorsal. Breast naked. Length—Up to 315 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, soft dorsal and anal dusky, with or without a small dark opercular spot, but the opercle below the position of the spot has an irregular dusky patch, ventrals blackish in young. Locality.— Natal coast, Mozambique. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to Formosa and N.E. Australia. The genus Carangichthys was instituted by Bleeker for a juvenile form with denticulate preopercle. This character, however, is common to the young of many species of Caranz. Gilchrist and Thompson’s specimen belongs to this species. *Caranz malabaricus (Bl. Schn.). 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 31. 1878-88. Day, Fish. Ind., p. 221, pl. v, fig. 2. 1924. Wakiya, loc. cit., p. 178, pl. xxiii, fig. 3. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvii, p. 216. Body strongly compressed. Profile of nape elevated. Depth 2, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Eye 34-4 in length of head, 1f in snout. Teeth in villiform bands on both jaws, and on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Maxilla extending to below anterior border of OQ 542 Annals of the South African Museum. eye. Adipose eyelids feebly developed. Gill-rakers 23-24 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+ VIII+I 22. A JI+I1 18-19. Anterior portion of soft dorsal and anal falcate, dorsal a little higher than anal, about 4 depth of body. Pectoral longer than head. Scales: 1.1. scutes 25-28, feebly armed, commencing below about middle of soft dorsal. Breast naked. Length. Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, soft dorsal and caudal with blackish margins, a black opercular spot, axil black. Locality.—Natal coast, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.— Indo-Pacific to Formosa. Distinguished from chrysophrys by the more elevated nape, shorter snout relatively to eye, and number of dorsal and anal rays. Caranz armatus (Forsk.). 1775. Forskal, Desc. Anim., vol. xu, p. 53. 1828. Riippell, Atl. Fisch., p. 102, pl. xxv, fig. 8 (ciliaria). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 223, pl. li, fig. 2 (references and synonymy). 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 169, pl. xx, fig. 1 and p. 170, pl. xx, fig. 2 (schlegelc nom. nov. for ciliaris C. and V.); p. 171, pl. xx, fig. 3 (plumbeus) ; p. 172, pl. xxi (ciliaris Riipp.). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p. 217. Body strongly compressed, Profile of head trenchant, the nape prominently elevated. Depth 1;°5-2y'5, length of head 34-34, in length of body. Eye 34 in length of head, about equal to snout and to inter- orbital width. Maxilla reaching to below middle of eye. Teeth in narrow villiform bands in jaws and on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Adipose eyelids feebly developed. Gill-rakers 21 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+VIII+I 20-21. A II+I1 16-17. Soft dorsal and anal anteriorly strongly falcate, the 1st ray of each produced into a long filament, middle rays of dorsal filamentous and produced in ¢. Scaly sheath at base of dorsals and anal very prominent. Pectoral considerably longer than head. Scales: 1.1. scutes 17-25, feebly armed (and therefore permitting considerable latitude in counting at the anterior end), commencing below about the posterior third of soft dorsal. Breast naked. Two oblique ridges or keels on each side of base of tail. Length.— Up to 500 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, spinous dorsal and ventrals usually A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 543 blackish, 1st rays of soft dorsal and anal black, pectoral yellowish, a black opercular spot, axil black ; young vertically banded. Locality.—Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas to Formosa, and N.E. Australia. Caranz forstert C. and V. King-fish (Natal). 21824. Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. Uranie Poiss., p. 358, pl. Ixv, fig. 4 (sexfasciatus). 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ix, p. 105. 1876-81. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, vol. u, p. 131, pl. lxxxiv (hippos non Linn.). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 216 (hippos non Linn.). 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 329, pl. xxx, fig. 3. 1909. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 240 (hippos non Linn.). 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 395. 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 385 (latws non Agass.) (synonymy not applicable to this species). 1917. Jordan and Starks, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xi, p. 442. 1918. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 2, p. 76 (hippos). 1921. Gilchrist, Tr. Roy. Soc. 8. Afr., vol. x, p. 24 (djeddaba non Forsk.). 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 184, pl. xxv, figs. 3 and 4 (sexfasciatus Q. and G.). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 216 (sez- fasciatus). | Depth 24-23, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Hye 4-44 in length of head, subequal to snout, slightly less than interorbital width. Teeth in a narrow band in upper jaw, with an outer enlarged series, in a single row in lower jaw; teeth on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Maxilla reaching to below posterior third of eye. Posterior adipose eyelid well developed. Giull-rakers 15-16 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+VIII+I 20-21. A II+I 16-17. Anterior portion of soft dorsal and anal shortly falciform, longest dorsal ray at least twice in depth of body. Pectoral longer than head. Scales: 1.1. scutes 30-33, commencing below 3rd dorsal ray. Breast completely scaly. Length.—Up to 1000 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above; dorsals, anal, and caudal dusky ; = 544 Annals of the South African Museum. pectoral bright yellow ; no dark opercular spot or a very small one; young usually with broad, dark, vertical cross-bars. Locality.— Natal and Zululand coast, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. Wakiya (loc. cit.) identifies this species with sexfasciatus Q. and G., and Jordan, who revised the paper, seems to imply his agreement in a footnote on p. 191, though in earlier papers (1909, Mem. Carn. Mus., vol. iv, p. 179, and 1917, loc. cit. supra) he and his collaborators have retained the name forsterv. It is quite certain, however, that this form is distinct from the true hippos Linn. of the Atlantic. The examples from Dar-es-Salaam, referred to by Gilchrist (loc. cit. supra) as living in captivity in the St. James Aquarium, are now in the South African Museum, and belong to this species. Caranz melampygus C. and V. 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ix, p. 116. 1876-81. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, vol. ii, p. 133, pl. Ixxxvi. 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii, p. 192, fig. 73. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 386 (references). 1924. McCulloch, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. viii, p. 70, pl. xi, fig. 2. 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 192. 1925. Meek and Hildebrand, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., zool ser., vol. xv, p. 353. Depth 24-22, length of head 35-34, in length of body. Eye 33-43 in length of head, less than snout, about equal to interorbital width. Teeth in a narrow band in upper jaw, with an outer enlarged series, in a single row in lower jaw; teeth on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Maxilla reaching to below anterior third of eye. Posterior adipose eyelid well developed. Gill-rakers 18 on lower part of anterior arch. DI+VIII+I 21-23. AII+118-19. Anterior portion of soft dorsal and anal falciform, longest dorsal ray 14 in depth of body. Pectoral slightly longer than head. Scales: 1.1. scutes 34-38, commencing below 3rd dorsal ray. Breast completely scaly, except near isthmus. Length.—Up to 600 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, with or without small dark dots ; dorsals, anal, and caudal dusky, no dark opercular spot. Locality — Zululand coast. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. A Monograph ofthe Marine Fishes of South Africa. 545 Caranz carangus (Bl.). King-fish (Natal). 1788. Bloch, Ichthyol., p. 340. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 215, pl. 1, fig. 4. 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 325. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 384 (references). Depth 24-23, length of head 33-34, in length of body. Eye 34-4 in length of head, equal to snout and to interorbital width. Teeth in a narrow band in upper jaw, with an outer enlarged series, in a single series in lower jaw; teeth on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Maxilla reaching to below middle of eye. Posterior adipose eyelid narrow. Gill-rakers 16-17 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+ VIII+I 20- 22. A JI+I1 16-18. Anterior portion of soft dorsal and anal falcate, longest dorsal ray 13-1? in depth of body. Pectoral considerably longer than head. Scales: 1.1. scutes 33-37, commencing below 5th or 6th dorsal ray. Breast naked, with an oval patch of scales in front of ventrals. Length.— Up to 400 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, lst dorsal and margin of soft dorsal and of caudal dusky, opercular spot, if present, small. Locality.—Natal coast, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies, tropical Atlantic. Distinguished from melampygus by the incompletely scaly breast and lower soft dorsal. I am inclined to think that Fowler’s specimen from Delagoa Bay, which he records (1925, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p. 216) as C. sansun (Forsk.) is conspecific with the specimens I have seen from Natal and Delagoa Bay, and here regarded as carangus. Jordan and Evermann (1905, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxii, p. 190) regard sansun as a synonym of ignobilis. *Caranz ignobilis (Forsk.). 1775. Forskal, Descr. Anim., p. 55. 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii, p. 188, fig. 72. 1924. Wakiya, loc. cit., p. 193, pl. xxvii, fig. 3. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvii, p. 215. Depth a little over 2, length of head 34—34, in length of body. Eye 546 Annals of the South African Museum. 35-38%, In length of head, 1-1} in snout. Teeth in a single series in both jaws, rather strong, canine-like ; teeth on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Maxilla reaching to below centre of eye. Adipose eyelid narrow. Giull-rakers 15 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+VIII+I 19-21. A II+I 16-17 (Jord. and Everm., 19). Anterior portion of soft dorsal and anal falciform, about 4 depth of body. Pectoral longer than head. Scales: 1.1. scutes (27)28-30, commencing below about 6th dorsal ray. Breast naked below, with a small patch of scales in front of ventrals. Length.— Up to 550 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, no black spot on opercle, or only a faint dusky spot, dorsal fins and caudal greyish. Locality.— Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to Japan. Caranz djeddaba (Forsk.). 1775. Forskal, Desc. Anim., vol. xii, p. 56. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 218, pl. xlix, fig. 3. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 385 (references). 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 199, pl. xxix, fig. 1. 1925. Fowler, J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. xxx, p. 316. Depth 22-3, length of head 34-4, in length of body. Eye about equal to snout and to interorbital width, about 4 in length of head. Teeth minute, uniserial in both jaws, in narrow bands on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Maxilla reaching to below anterior third of eye. Posterior adipose eyelid well developed. Giull-rakers 26-28 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+ VIII+I 22-25. A II+I 19-22. Soft dorsal and anal not falcate. Pectoral slightly longer than head. Scales: 1.1. scutes 45-58, commencing below Ist dorsal ray. Breast scaly. Length.—Up to 350 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, fins yellowish, spinous and soft dorsals and caudal dusky, a black opercular spot. Locality Natal, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas to Formosa. Caranz dentex (Bl. Schn.). 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 30. 1827. Geoffr. St. Hilaire, Descr. Egypte. Poiss., pl. xxiii, fig. 3 (luna). . ae i t A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 547 1836-44. Valenciennes in Webb and Berthelot, Iles Canar. Poiss., p. 57, pl. xii (analis). 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. u, p. 441. 1911. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xi, p. 39 (natalensis). 1911. Zugmayer, Res. Sci. Monaco, fasc. xxxv, p. 106. 1914. Pellegrin, Ann. Inst. Ocean., vol. vi, p. 65. 1915. Clark, Sci. Res. “ Scotia,” vol. iv, p. 396. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p- 387 (natalensis). Depth 24-34, length of head about 22-3, in length of body. Eye 5-6 in length of head, 2-24 in snout, not quite 2 in interorbital width. Lower jaw shorter than upper. Teeth in a single series in jaws and on tongue ; none on vomer or palatines (a single row on palatines in natalensis). Maxilla scarcely reaching vertical from anterior border of eye. Adipose eyelids feebly developed. Gill-rakers 23-27 on lower part of anterior arch. D J+ VIII4+I 24-27. A II+I1 20-22. Soft dorsal and anal not falcate. Pectoral about as long as head. Scales: © 1.1. scutes 24-28, commencing below about the middle of soft dorsal. Breast and whole of opercle, except margin of preopercle, scaly. Length.—Up to 825 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, a black opercular spot, fins yellowish or greyish. Locality — Table Bay, Natal coast. Distribution.—Tropical and subtropical Atlantic to Mediterranean. Type of natalensis in South African Museum. Jordan and Evermann (1896, Fish. N. and Mid. Amer., vol. i, p. 927) record this species under the name guara Bonn 1788, and suggest with some doubt that it may be the same as the earlier adscensionis Osbeck 1757. The occurrence of true dentex in South Africa rests on the ‘ Scotia ” record (Table Bay), and the British Museum specimen from Durban. The original description of natalensis is faulty in several respects. Re-examination of the type specimens (330 and 230 mm.) leaves little doubt that they should be assigned to dentex. Mr. J. R. Norman of the British Museum, who has seen a cotype, is disposed to agree with this conclusion. The group, however, which is represented in the Atlantic by dentez, is represented in the Indo-Pacific by the analogous species platessa C. and V., georgianus C. and V., and delicatissimus Déd., and future investigation of more abundant material may show that the Natal VOL. XXI, PART 2. 36 548 Annals of the South African Museum. “dentex’’ should really be assigned to one or other of the latter species. *Caranx speciosus (Forsk.). 1775. Forskal, Descr. Anim., vol. xii, p. 54. 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxii, Pao ole esa 1915. Ogilby, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. ii, p. 67, pl. xxi (synonymy). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 387 (references and synonymy). 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 209, pl. xxxi, fig. 3. 1925. Meek and Hildebrand, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. xv, p. 361. Depth 23-22, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Eye 32-5 in length of head, 14—2+4 in snout, slightly smaller than interorbital width. Lower jaw shorter than upper. Teeth, none in adult ; in young, some- times minute granular teeth in jaws. Maxilla reaching to below front border of eye. Adipose eyelids feebly developed. Giull-rakers 19-21 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+ VIJI+I1 19-21. A II+I 15-17. Soft dorsal and anal not falcate. Pectoral about as long as head. Scales: 1.1. scutes 10-18, feebly armed, commencing below the pos- terior dorsal rays. Breast scaly. Length.—Up to 900 mm. Colour.—Silvery-golden, darker above, with 10-12 alternately broad and narrow vertical cross-bars, not quite reaching ventral profile, the bars becoming nearly or quite obsolete in the adult ; sometimes a black opercular spot, fins yellowish, spinous dorsal and edge of soft dorsal dusky, tips of caudal lobes black. Locality.— Zululand coast. Distribution.—EKast coast of Africa, Indo-Pacific seas to Panama, W. and N.E. Australia. Gen. ALECTIS Raf. 1815. Rafinesque, Analyse Nat., p. 84. 1896. Jordan and Evermann, Fish. N. and Mid. Amer., vol. 1, evel: 1920. Nichols, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. xlu, p. 285. 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 212. Body ovate, deep, strongly compressed, more or less covered with minute embedded scales, the skin apparently naked. Teeth in villi- form bands in jaws and on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Spinous A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 549 dorsal represented by short, rudimentary spines, disappearing more or less with age. Soft dorsal and anal equal, the anterior rays of both very elongate and filiform, becoming shorter with age. No detached finlets. Pectoral falcate. Ventrals long in young, shorter in adult. Lateral line curved, with scutes only on posterior portion on caudal peduncle. Adipose eyelids rudimentary. Not essentially different from Caranz, but easily distinguished by the deep rhombic form, apparently naked skin, and filiform dorsal and anal rays. The change in form at different ages is often extremely great, and makes the differentiation of species often merely a matter of personal opinion. The genus is found in all tropical seas. Key to the South African species. 1. Preorbital less than diameter of eye . : ; f ‘ on) eoharis: 2. Preorbital nearly twice diameter of eye : : : ; . mdicus. Alectis ciliaris (B1.). Thread-fish. 1788. Bloch, Ichthyol., vol. vi, p. 29, pl. exci. 1828. Riippell, Atl. Fische, p. 129, pl. xxxiil, fig. 2 (fasciatus). 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii, p. 200, fig. 78. 1915. Ogilby, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. ui, p. 88, pl. xxvii (refer- ences and synonymy). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 384 (references). 1920. Nichols, loc. cit., p. 286. 1924. Wakiya, loc. cit., p. 213, pl. xxxu, fig. 4; p. 214 (endicus C. and V. non Riipp.); p. 215 (temmoncki); p. 216, pl. xxiii (breviven- tralis). 1925. Meek and Hildebrand, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. xv, p. 364. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 218 (Blepharis c.). Depth 1 (young)—14 (adult), length of head 23-23, in length of body. Hye 24 (young)—34 in length of head, equal to (adult) or greater than (young) snout. Profile almost evenly convex, with an occipito-nuchal prominence. Maxilla reaching to below anterior third of eye. Pre- orbital less than diameter of eye. Gill-rakers 3-15 on lower part of anterior arch. D VI+118-19. AII+I 15-16. Anterior 6 or 7 rays 550 Annals of the South African Museum. of soft dorsal and anterior 4 or 5 of anal produced in long filamentous streamers, often several times the length of the body, becoming shorter in adult. Pectoral shorter than head in young, longer in adult. Ventral reaching anterior third of anal in young, not reaching origin of anal in adult. Scales: 1.1. scutes 10-15, feeble and often very indistinct. Length—Up to 247 mm. Colour.—Silvery, with 6-7 dark vertical bands on upper part of body in young, a dark opercular and supraorbital spot, the latter ill- defined ; a dark blotch on bases of anterior soft rays; filamentous dorsal and anal rays black, except the lst in each fin, which is white ; ventrals black in young, other fins yellowish. Locality. False Bay, Agulhas Bank, Natal. Distribution.—Circumtropical ; crimtus from the Atlantic coast of N. America being considered synonymous. Alectis indicus (Riipp.). Straight-nosed Thread-fish. 1788. Bloch, Ausl. Fische, vol. vi, pl. excii, fig. 1 (gallus non Linn.). 1828. Riippell, Atl. Fische, p. 128, pl. xxxiu, fig. 1. 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ix, p. 145, pl. ecli, and p. 168, pl. ccliv (major= young). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 224, pl. hi, fig. 3 (gallus non Linn.). 1908. Stead, Edible Fish. N.S.W., p. 88, pl. lviii (gallus non Linn.). 1915. Ogilby, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. ii, p. 83, pl. xxvi (refer- ences and synonymy). 1920. Nichols, loc. cit., p. 286. . 1924. Wakiya, loc. cit., p. 217, pl. xxxiv, fig. 1 (major). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sei. Philad., ‘vol. Ixxyu)>po ame (Scyris 7.). Depth 1} (young)—1,%, length of head 22 (young)—34, in length of body. Eye 34(young)-4$ in length of head, less than snout. Profile with an occipito-nuchal prominence, below which it is straight or even slightly concave. Maxilla reaching to below anterior margin of eye. Preorbital almost or quite twice diameter of eye. Gill-rakers 22-23 on lower part of anterior arch. D VI+I1 19. A II+I 16. Anterior dorsal and anal rays filamentously produced, becoming shorter in adult. Pectoral equal to (young) or longer than head. Ventral very long in young, reaching to end of caudal; in A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 551] adult not reaching origin of anal. Scales: 1.1. scutes 8-12, weak and eften indistinct. Length— Up to 1000 mm. Colour.—Silvery, bronzy above, with 5-6 more or less distinct dark vertical bands in young, a dark opercular spot, nuchal ridge black, filamentous dorsal and anal rays and ventral in young black, caudal yellowish. Locality. Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to Formosa and H. Australia. A much larger species than ciliaris, and easily distinguished in all stages by the deeper preorbital and larger number of gill-rakers. Gen. VoMER C. and V. 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 1x, p. 189. 1896. Jordan and Evermann, Fish. N. and Mid. Amer., vol. 1, p- 933. 1918. Nichols, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. xxxviii, p. 669. Body deeply ovate, strongly compressed, profile especially anteriorly sharp and trenchant, head gibbous above eye ; with minute embedded scales, skin apparently naked. Teeth minute in jaws, and on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Spinous dorsal with low and feeble spines, becoming to a large extent obsolete in adult, as do the two detached anal spines. Soft dorsal and anal low, not falcate. No finlets. Pec- toral falcate. Lateral line curved, with some feeble scutes at posterior end. Adipose eyelids rudimentary. | Distinguished from the preceding genus by the low dorsal and anal fins, and from the similarly shaped genus Selene by the same character and by the presence of scutes on the caudal peduncle. Tropical and temperate Atlantic and Pacific coast of America. Nichols (loc. cit.) regards all the so-called species as geographical races of one species: setepinnis. The West African form is here given specific rank, distinguished by the slightly greater number of dorsal and anal rays. Vomer dorsalis Gill. 1862. Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., p. 436. 1896. Jordan and Evermann, loc. cit., p. 934. 1914. Gilchrist and Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. ii, p. 130, text- fig. (Selene gibbiceps). 1918. Thompson, zbzd., vol. iv, p. 101 (Selene gibbiceps). 552 Annals of the South African Museum. 1918. Nichols, loc. cit., p. 669. Depth 13-14, length af head 24, in length of body. Eye 44 in length of head, 2 in es Profile prominently gibbous above eye, concave below. Maxilla reaching to below anterior nostril. Gill-rakers 32 on lower part of anterior arch. D VIJ-VIII+I 24-25. A II+I 19-20. Pectoral slightly longer than head. Scales: 1.1. scutes about 18, very feebly armed. Length.— Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, nuchal ridge and an ill-defined blotch on opercle blackish, caudal yellowish green. Locality.—Walfish Bay. Distribution.—Senegal to mouth of Congo. Type of Selene gibbiceps in South African Museum. As regards the number of gill-rakers, this specimen resembles de- clivifrons Hildebr. 1925 from Panama, which is considered distinct from setipinnis, which has 24-27 gill-rakers (1925, Meek and Hilde- brand, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., zool. ser., vol. xv, p. 367). Gen. TRAcHYNoTUS Lacép. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. i, p. 78. Body ovate-oblong, compressed, with small cycloid scales. Snout conical or blunt. Villiform teeth in jaws and on vomer and palatines ; becoming obsolete with age. Spinous dorsal of 6 low spines, connected by membrane in young, but free and often becoming obsolete in adult, preceded by a forwardly directed procumbent spine. Second dorsal and anal long, anteriorly more or less faleate. No finlets. Pectoral short. Lateral line without scutes, moderately curved. No keel on tail. In the young the preopercle is armed with 3 large spines, which later are absorbed into the substance of the preopercle and disappear. The spinous dorsal is a perfect fin, but becomes obsolete in the adult. The teeth and pseudobranchiae also often disappear more or less completely with age. These young forms have been described under the names Doliodon and Bothrolaemus. Pelagic fishes of the tropical and temperate seas, in many parts valued as food-fishes. Key to the South African species. 1. Dorsal and anal not faleate , . : , : ' . glaucus. 2. Dorsal and anal anteriorly falcate. a. Body deep, uniform . : : : : : ‘ ovatus. b, Body ovate, with 3-5 indistinct eae ‘ ; : ; . russellit. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 553 *Trachynotus glaucus (Linn.). 1766. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, vol. i, p. 494 (not glaucus Bloch). 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vii, p. 358, pl. cexxxiv. 1836. Valenciennes in Webb and Berthelot, Iles Canar. Poiss., poe, pl pan, fis. 1. 21889, Giinther, Challeng. Rep., vol. xxxi, p. 9, pl. 1, fig. G (young). 1896. Collett, Res. Sci. Camp. Monaco, fasc. x, p. 24. 1903. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (7), vol. xu, p. 349. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 104. 1919. Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. lvi, p. 199 (Caestomorus g.). Depth 23-3, length of head 32-4, in length of body. Eye less than snout, 4-4? in length of head. Maxilla reaching to below anterior margin of eye. Snout conical. Gill-rakers 28-31 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+ V—VI-+I 24-27. A II4I1 23-25. Soft dorsal and anal not strongly elevated or falcate anteriorly. Pectoral equal to length of head without snout. Lateral line very little curved above pectoral. Length.—Up to 500 mm. Colour.— Uniform dusky, darker above, or with indistinct vertically- ovate spots on sides; tips of soft dorsal and anal and of caudal lobes, black. Locality — Cape seas, Algoa Bay. Distribution.—Mediterranean, West Africa, Ascension, St. Helena, Brazil. Castelnau’s statement that this fish is very rare in Cape waters seems to be perfectly true, as it has not been recorded since his time. Jordan and Hubbs (1917, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xi, p. 463) have adopted Klein’s genus Glaucus 1775 for this species. If accepted the family name will have to be changed to Glaucidae. Trachynotus ovatus (Linn.). Pampano. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, vol. i, p. 296. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 234, pl. hi, fig. 2. 1916. Ogilby, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. v, p. 154, pl. xix (references and synonymy). 554 Annals of the South African Museum. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 391 (references and synonymy). Body deeply ovate, dorsal profile strongly arched. Depth 13-2, length of head 34-4, in length of body. Hye 4-44 in length of head, slightly less than snout. Snout very blunt, its anterior profile vertical. Maxilla reaching to below anterior margin of eye. Gill-rakers 12 (Ogilby, 9) on lower part of anterior arch. D I+VI+I 18-23. A II+I 16-20. Soft dorsal and anal more or less strongly falcate anteriorly. Pectoral 14-14 in length of head. Lateral line gently curved. Length.—Up to 760 mm. Colour.—Silvery white, bluish above, lobe of soft dorsal and upper caudal lobe blackish. Locality.—Natal, Delagoa Bay, Chinde. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to N.E. Australia. Trachynotus russellii C. and V. Moonfish. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vill, p. 436 and p. 437 (oblongus). 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 11, p. 484 (oblongus). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 233, pl. 51B, fig. 3. 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 187 (oblongus). 1917. Zd., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 391 (oblongus). Body ovate. Depth 24-22, length of head 34, in length of body. Kye about 4 in length of head, and about equal to snout. Maxilla reaching to below centre of eye. Snout subconical. Gill-rakers 12-13 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+ VI-+I 22-23. A II+I 20-21. Soft dorsal and anal falcate anteriorly. Pectoral equal to length of head without snout. Ventrals reaching to vent. Lateral line nearly straight. Length.—Up to 550 mm. Colour.—Silvery white or yellowish, bluish or greenish above, 3-5 indistinct, dark, oval blotches on side above the lateral line ; lobes of soft dorsal, anal, and caudal blackish. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 555 Gen. SERIOLA Cuv. 1817. Cuvier, Régne Anim., ed. 1, p. 315. 1896. Jordan and Evermann, Fish. N. and Mid. Amer., vol. 1, p. 901. 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 222. Body oblong, moderately compressed, with small cycloid scales. ' Snout conical. Teeth villiform in bands in jaws, and on vomer, palatines, and tongue; the width in front of the band in upper jaw greater than that in lower jaw. Gill-rakers moderately numerous, well developed. Spinous dorsal of 5-7 low spines connected by mem- brane, preceded by a horizontal spine. Soft dorsal and anal slightly elevated, not, or only slightly, falcate anteriorly; the anal much shorter than soft dorsal, with the 2 preceding spines very small, obsolete in old specimens. No finlets. Pectoral short. Ventrals long, connected by a double membrane to centre and sides of belly. Lateral line without scutes, slightly curved, sometimes with a slight keel on caudal peduncle. Pyloric caeca numerous or very numerous (Cuvier and Valenciennes, 50; Wakiya, up to 500). Moderate or large fishes inhabiting all warm and temperate seas, migratory in habits. They are of graceful build and powerful swimmers, and are valued as food and sporting fishes. Owing to their wide distribution, it seems probable that many of the nominal species described by various authors will be united when a revision of the genus is undertaken. Key to the South African species. 1. Upper part of opercle not scaly . : 3 : ; é . lalandi. 2. Upper part of opercle scaly ; : ; : d B bonariensis. Seriola lalandii C. and V. Yellow-tail, Geel-staart, Albacore, Halfcord. 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ix, p. 208. 1856. Pappe, Syn. Edib. Fish. C.G.H., p. 23 (Scomber capensis). 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 40 (Lichia pappei). 1916. Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iii, p. 9 (eggs). 1918. Thompson, ibid., vol. iv, p. 101 (references and synonymy). Head conical, profile not steep. Depth 34-4, length of head 33-44 in length of body. Eye 5-6 in length of head, 2 in snout. Maxilla 556 Annals of the South African Museum. reaching to below anterior border of eye, or a little further. Gill- rakers 14-15 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+VII+I 32-34. A II+I 20-22. Soft dorsal and anal not falcate anteriorly. Pectoral twice in length of head. Ventrals longer than pectoral, inserted below - hind end of base of pectoral. Cheek, but not opercle, scaly. Length.—Up to 1800 mm. (6 ft.). Colour.—Silvery white, bluish above, with a yellow or golden longi- tudinal band from snout to caudal peduncle, dorsal and anal dusky, with yellowish margin, pectoral yellowish, ventrals and caudal yellow-olivaceous. Locality.—Port Nolloth, Table Bay, False Bay, Agulhas Bank. Distribution.—Tropical and temperate Atlantic. Like all the members of this genus, this species is migratory, appearing on the Cape coasts from about October onwards through- out the summer. It is rare on the west coast, but appears in vast shoals in False Bay and off the Cape Point. From an angling point of view it is one of the gamest fishes, and some interesting notes on this subject appeared in “ Sporting World and Outdoor Life,” April and May 1922, by C. L. Biden. The record catch appears to be one of 55 lb. Seriola bonariensis C. and V. Braxlian Yellow-tail. 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ix, p. 211. 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 1, p. 464. 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 321. Head subconical. Depth a little over 3, length of head 32, in length of body. Eye nearly 14 in snout, 44 in length of head. Marxilla reaching to below anterior third of eye. Guill-rakers 17 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+VII+I 29(-31). A JI+I 18(-21). Soft dorsal and anal slightly falcate anteriorly. Pectoral twice in length of head. Ventrals longer than pectoral, inserted below middle of base of pectoral. Cheeks and upper part of opercle scaly. No keel on caudal peduncle. Pyloric caeca about 20. Length.—Up to 360 mm. Colour.—Silvery white, darker bluish-grey above, a dark band from nape through eye to preorbital, more or less distinct ; young usually with dark cross-bars. Locality.—Natai coast. Distribution.— Brazilian coast, West Indies, (? Mediterranean). A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 557 This species has been considered synonymous with falcata C. and V., and both of them with the Mediterranean rivoliana C. and V. (see Jordan and Evermann, Fish. N. and Mid. Amer., vol. i, p. 905, 1896, and Ribeiro, Arch. Mus. Nac. Rio Janeiro, vol. xvu, p. 30, 1915). Its inclusion in the South African fauna-list rests solely on Norman’s record, unless the specimen (360 mm.) above described belongs to this species. There is a close resemblance between this fish and the Hawaiian sparna Jenk. 1903, with which it may perhaps be more properly identified. Gen. ZONICHTHYS Swains. 1839. Swainson, Nat. Hist. Classif. Fish., vol. 1, p. 248. 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 230 (Serzolina). Similar to Seriola, but the head about as deep as long, with strongly convex and steep profile, the snout short and blunt, scales largely concealed in the skin and visible only posteriorly, gill-rakers few, short, more or less knob-like and rudimentary, pyloric caeca com- paratively few (about 20), width in front of the bands of teeth in upper and lower jaws equal. A few species from the Indo-Pacific region and the West Indies. Zonichthys ngrofasciata (Riipp.). Black-banded Y ellow-taal. 1828. Riippell, Atl. Fische, p. 92, pl. xxiv, fig. 2. 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ix, p. 215 (binotata), p. 216 (ruppelliz), and p. 217 (dussumiert). 1844. Temminck and Schlegel, Fauna Jap. Poiss., p. 116 (inter- media). 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. ii, p. 465. 1871. Klunzinger, Abh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. xxi, p. 450. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 227, pl. li, fig. 6. 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 230, pl. xxxviii, fig. 1 (entermedia). Head as deep as long, profile strongly convex. Depth 22-3, length of head 34-34, in length of body. Eye about equal to snout, 4-44 in length of head. Maxilla reaching to below posterior third of eye. Width in front of bands of teeth in upper and lower jaws equal. Profile of snout steep, nearly vertical. Gill-rakers 8-9 on lower part of anterior arch, short and stout, the lower ones more or less rudimentary, none on upper part of arch. D I+V-VI-+I 31-35. 558 Annals of the South African Museum. A II+115-17. Soft dorsal and anal not falcate anteriorly. Pectoral § length of head. Ventrals much longer than pectorals, especially in young, reaching to, or nearly to, vent. Skin smooth, scales visible only posteriorly. Pyloric caeca 20-22. Length.—Up to 360 mm. (700 mm., Klunzinger). Colour.—Yellowish, white below, bluish-grey above, uniform, but in the young with 5-7 dark irregular cross-bars, running obliquely forwards and downwards from above; fins olivaceous, tips of dorsal and anal blackish, upper (inner) surface of ventrals black, caudal yellowish, the lobes dark in young. Locality. Algoa Bay. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas, East Indies to Japan. Wakiya (loc. cit.) places intermedia in a new genus Seriolina, charac- terised by the knob-like gill-rakers. He distinguishes, on what seem to me to be characters variable with age, intermedia from nigrofasciatus ; but in any case both forms should be placed in the same genus, and for this purpose it would seem that Zonichthys Swainson 1839 is available. Gen. LicHta Cuv. 1817. Cuvier, Régne Anim. 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ix, p. 255 (Porthmeus= young). 1903. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (7), vol. xu, p. 348. Body oblong, compressed, with small ovate, cycloid scales. Snout conical, more so in young than adult. Teeth villiform, in rather broad bands in jaws and on palatines, in a rhomboid or ovate patch on vomer and tongue. Gill-rakers few, stout. Spinous dorsal of 7 spines, con- nected by membrane in young, but free in adult, preceded by a horizontal spine. Soft dorsal and anal nearly equal in length, their anterior portions elevated and falcate. Pectoral short, ovate. Ven- trals shorter than pectoral. Lateral line without scutes, running in an ascending curve above pectoral and in a descending curve in the middle of the side, becoming straight posteriorly ; without keel on caudal peduncle. Pyloric caeca numerous. | ‘A single species, widely distributed in the Atlantic Ocean, and of migratory habits. The young were originally described as belonging to a different genus and species : Porthmeus argenteus. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 559 Inchia amia (Linn.). Leer-vis ; Garrick (Natal). 1766. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, vol. i, p. 495. 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, loc. cit., vol. ix, p. 256, pl. celxiv (Porthmeus argenteus). 1850. Cuvier, Régne Anim. IIl. Poiss., pl. liv, fig. 3. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 104 (references). 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 321. Depth (between origin of soft dorsal and anal) 23-33, length of head 34-44. Eye 5-54 in length of head, about 1$ in snout. Lower jaw prominent. Maxilla reaching to below hind margin of eye, or a little beyond. Gill-rakers 7-9 on lower part of anterior arch. DI-+VII+I 20-21. A II+J 20-21. Pectoral equal to postorbital part of head or a little longer. (Plate XXIII, fig. 2.) The Porthmeus stage (up to about 100 mm.) has the greatest depth of the body between the spinous dorsal and ventrals, 3-34 in length of body, length of head 23-3. Snout pointed, lower jaw very prominent. Hye 34-4 in length of head, greater than, or equal to, snout. Angle of preopercle with a spine, the lower and hinder margins with several ‘denticulations ; all these are completely lost in adult ; in a specimen 100 mm. even the spine is practically obsolete. The anterior soft dorsal and anal rays are much less elevated than in adult, in very young scarcely elevated at all. Length —Up to 1800 mm. (6 ft.). Colour_—Grey or plumbeous, passing into cream or white on belly, greenish or bluish on back, soft dorsal and anal greyish, the anterior portions darker, caudal plumbeous, pectoral and ventrals light, the lateral line distinctly, especially on the descending curve, outlined with black. The Porthmeus young is silvery, bluish above, with several more or less distinct dark, irregular cross-bands, which are frequently represented by oval or round spots, spinous dorsal black, soft dorsal and anal longitudinally banded with black, caudal and pectoral yellow, lateral line not outlined. Locality—Table Bay, False Bay, Agulhas Bank to East London and Natal. Distribution.—Mediterranean and west coast of Africa ; occasionally extending to N.W. Europe. The Leer-vis seems to arrive at the Cape somewhat later than the Yellow-tail (Biden, ‘“‘ Sporting World and Outdoor Life,” April 1922, p. 12), and is found throughout the summer season in varying numbers a —————— a it ce ms 560 Annals of the South African Museum. up to about May. The young (Porthmeus) are common at the same season and are frequently seen in the rock-pools along the shore of False Bay or washed up on the beach. Gen. NAUCRATES Raf. 1810. Rafinesque, Carrat. Nuovi Gen., p. 44. ‘ 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ix, p. 247 (Nauclerus=young). 1844. Richardson, Voy. Erebus and Terror Fish., p. 52 (Xysto- © phorus=young). 1880. Liitken, Spolia Atlant., p. 504 (young stages). Body elongate-oblong, not much compressed, with small cycloid scales. Snout somewhat blunt. Teeth villiform, in bands in jaws and on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Gill-rakers moderate in number. Spinous dorsal of 4-5 low, disconnected spines in the adult; in the young the spines are connected by membrane. Soft dorsal and anal slightly elevated anteriorly, the latter much shorter than former. Pectoral short, ovate. Ventrals a little longer than pectoral. Lateral line without scutes, gently curved; a strong keel on either side of caudal peduncle. Pyloric caeca moderate in number. A single cosmopolitan species in tropical and temperate seas. The young stages (Xystophorus and Nauclerus) not only have a perfect spinous dorsal fin, but are without the keel on the caudal peduncle; like the young of several other members of this family they have spinous processes on the supraorbital, suprascapula, and preopercle. Naucrates ductor (Linn.). Pilot-fish ; Lootsman. 1758: Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 295. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 229, pl. h, fig. 2. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 102 (references and synonyms). 1918. Gilchrist, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. i, p. 114 (eggs and spawning habits). 1922. Norman, ibid., (9), vol. ix, p. 321. 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 38, fig. 2 (andzcus). 1926. McCulloch, Rec. Austr. Mus., vol. xv, p. 34, pl. i (young). Depth 34 (adult 9)—44, length of head 33-34, in length of body. Eye 6-64 in length of head, about 2 in snout. Maxilla reaching to below A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 561 anterior border of eye. Gill-rakers 16-17 on lower part of anterior arch. D IV(III-V)+I 26-28. A II+I1 16-17. Pectoral equal to postorbital part of head. Length.—Up to 600 mm. Colour.—Silvery, blackish or bluish above, with 5-7 broad, dark vertical bars, the hinder ones extending on to the soft dorsal and anal fins, tip of pectoral dark, tips of caudal lobes light. Locality —Off Table Bay, Agulhas Bank, Natal coast. Distribution.—Cosmopolitan, pelagic. The Pilot-fish has become one of the best-known fishes through the writings of numerous travellers and naturalists. In its young stages it swims about under and in the neighbourhood of jelly-fishes, Portu- guese Men-of-war (Physalia), Turtles, floating wreckage, and Sargasso weed. The adults, however, seem to prefer the company of sharks or ships, which they follow with great persistency, the customary ex- planation being that the association with sharks rested on a mutual benefit whereby the Pilot-fish obtained scraps of food in return for piloting the shark to the food. A far more plausible explanation has been put forward by Gilchrist (loc. cit.) based on the character of the eggs. It was found that each ege was furnished with a long filament and that by means of these filaments the eggs hung together and adhered to objects with which they came in contact. Gilchrist therefore suggested that the eggs were laid so as to adhere to the skin of the shark or other object, and that the anxiety of the Pilot-fish to keep close to the shark was due to solicitude for its eggs similar to that exhibited by Blennies and other fishes which guard their eggs. This very plausible suggestion is, however, discountenanced by an observation on the structure of the egg, diametrically opposed to that given by Gilchrist. A ripe female received at the Museum was found to contain eggs which possessed no filaments, but, on the other hand, possessed an oil-globule and floated in sea-water. They were, there- fore, typical pelagic eggs (Barnard, “‘ Nature,”’ vol. cxviii, 14th Aug. 1926). No explanation of these opposing observations has yet been given, and the question can only be solved by the examination of further material. Gen. Evacatis Benn. 1840. Bennett, F. D., Narr. Whaling Voy., vol. ii, p. 283. 1854. Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind., vol. vi, p. 196 (Seriolichthys). 562 Annals of the South African Museum. Body elongate, with small cycloid scales. Snout pointed. Teeth villiform in jaws, and on vomer and palatines. Gill-rakers in moderate number. Spinous dorsal of 6 low spines connected by membrane. Soft dorsal and anal slightly elevated anteriorly, the latter shorter than former, each with 1 detached finlet (composed of 2 rays) behind. Anal spines almost or quite obsolete. Pectoral short, ovate. Ventrals of about same length as pectoral. Lateral line without scutes, very shghtly curved ; no keel on caudal peduncle. A single circumtropical species. Elagatis bipinnulatus (Q. and G.). Runner ; Prodigal Son. 1824. Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. Uranie Zool., vol. i, p. 363, pl. lxi, fig. 3. 1876. Giinther, Fische d. Stidsee, vol. ii, p. 136, pl. xe, fig. 13. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 228, pl. li, A, fig. 1. 1907. Stead, Add. Fish Fauna, N.S.W., No. 1, p. 17, pl. v. 1918. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 390 (references). 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 233, pl. xxxvu, fig. 2. 1925. Meek and Hildebrand, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., zool. ser., vol. Xv, p. 393: Depth 33-44, length of head 33 to nearly 4, in length of body. Hye 51-54 in length of head, 2 in snout. Maxilla reaching to vertical from midway between nostrils and front margin of eye. Gill-rakers 26 on lower part of anterior arch. D VI-+I 25-27-42. A (II)+I1 17-42. 12-16 Pectoral about 4 length of head. Scales: 1.1. 95-105; Ltr. ane Length.—Up to 1000 mm. Colour.—Yellowish, plumbeous or bluish above, 2 blue longitudinal bands along sides, caudal yellow. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Circumtropical. Gen. CHORINEMUS C. and V. 1800. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ii, pl. xx, fig. 3 (Scombéroide commersonnien, figure only). 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. viii, p. 367. Scomberoides cannot be accepted, not for the reason given by Cuvier A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 563 and Valenciennes (liable to confusion with Scomber or Scombroidei), nor because it is based only on a figure (though an easily recognisable figure) without locality, but for the intrinsic reason that the words in the caption of the figure were used in a popular sense, were not Latinised, and are not comparable with e.g. “‘ Les Trachinotes,”’ which latter term was used with a definite generic conception. Body elongate-oblong, compressed, with small elongated scales, more or less embedded in the skin. Snout conical. Premaxilla not protractile, except in young. Teeth villiform, in bands in jaws and on vomer, palatines and tongue; small canines sometimes present in front of jaws. Gull-rakers in moderate number. Spinous dorsal of 6-7 spines, connected by membrane in young, but nearly free in adult, preceded by a horizontal forwardly directed spine. Soft dorsal and anal equal in length, anterior rays rather elevated, posterior rays penicillate and nearly or quite disconnected to form finlets. Anal spines strong. Pectoral short, ovate. Ventrals about as long as pec- toral, connected to middle line of belly and depressible in a groove. Lateral line without scutes, slightly but somewhat angularly curved above pectoral; no keel on caudal peduncle. A few species of circumtropical distribution. Key to the South African species. 1. Maxilla extending well behind eye - : : - lysan. 2. Maxilla not extending beyond hind margin of eye. a. Seales lanceolate : F : : ‘ 3 : sancti-petri. b. Scales needle-like : : : : ; : : . . tol. Chorinemus lysan (Forsk.). 1775. Forskal, Desc. Anim., No. 67, pl. liv. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 392 (references). 1919. Regan, zbid., vol. ii, pt. 4, p. 198. 1924. Wakiya, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xv, p. 238. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 218. Depth about 3, length of head 44-42, in length of body. Eye 4-5 in length of head, equal to or rather greater than snout, which is rather blunt. Usually a few canines in front of jaws. Maxilla scarcely widened behind, rounded, extending well beyond hind margin of eye. Gill-rakers 11 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+ VII+I 19-20. A II+I1 18. Scales lanceolate. VOL. XXI, PART 2, 37 564 Annals of the South African Museum. Length —Up to 1000 mm. Colour.—Silvery white, bluish above, 6-8 dark oval spots along side, fins pale greyish, pectoral yellowish. Locality.— Natal coast, Delagoa Bay, Chinde. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific to Japan. Chorinemus sancti-petri C. and V. Five-fingers ; Queenfish ; Sanct Pieter Vis. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss, vol. viii, p. 379, pl. cexxxvi. 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 331 (synonymy). 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 186. 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 392 (references). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvun, p. 213. Depth 33-33, length of head 44-44, in length of body. Eye 43-54 in length of head, 14-12 in snout, which is moderately pointed. Canines absent in adult, small in young; vomerine teeth in a tri- angular or pear-shaped patch. Maxilla widened posteriorly, truncate, extending to below hind margin of eye. Giull-rakers 16-17 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+ VII-+I 20-21. A II+I1 18-19. Scales lanceolate. Length.—Up to 600 mm. Colour.—Silvery white, bluish above, a bluish band from occiput to pectoral, a series of 6-8 small dark, oval spots above, and a second series of 3-5 less-distinct spots below the lateral line, fins yellowish, a blackish blotch on the elevated portion of soft dorsal, tips of caudal lobes usually dusky. Locality.—Natal coast, Delagoa Bay, Mozambique. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to Japan and Australia. The synonymy of this species is in some confusion, and besides Sauvage (loc. cit. supra) reference should be made to Weber (1913, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 390). The description given above is based entirely on South African specimens. Chorinemus tol C. and V. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss,. vol. vill, p. 385. 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 390 (synonymy). Depth 3§-4}, length of head 44, in length of body. Eye 5}-5} in length of head, 13 in snout, which is pointed. A few of the front teeth A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 565 in jaws slightly enlarged. Maxilla expanded posteriorly, truncate, reaching to below centre of eye, or hind margin of pupil. Gill-rakers 19-20 on lower part of anterior arch. D I+VII+I 19-20. A II+I 17-18. Scales needle-like, giving the skin a striated appearance. Length. Up to 500 mm. Colour.—Silvery white, bluish above, 6-8 oval, dark, but often in- distinct, spots, the anterior ones cut by the lateral line, fins yellowish tips of elevated portion of dorsal blackish. Locality—East London, Natal coast, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific. The synonymy of this species is also confused. The above descrip- tion is based on South African specimens only. The species is easily distinguished from the other two species found along our coasts, by its more slender body and needle-like scales. Gen. APOLECTUS C. and V. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss:, vol. vili, p. 438 (non Bennett, 1831). 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 1, p. 397 (Stromateus part). Body ovate, compressed, with scales. Teeth small, in a single row in jaws; none on palate or tongue. A single long dorsal fin, with rudimentary spines anteriorly. Anal long. No detached finlets. Pectoral faleate. Ventrals jugular in young, obsolete in adult. Lateral line curved, with a few keeled scales posteriorly on the caudal peduncle. No adipose eyelids. This genus was regarded by Giinther as a synonym of Stromateus, but lacks the characteristic pharyngeal teeth of the Stromaterdae, and in all essentials is a Carangid. Cuvier and Valenciennes recognised its affinity to Trachynotus. Fowler includes it in the Carangidae, though Jordan (Classif. Fish, p. 184) places it in a separate family, Apolectidae, adjoining the Carangidae. Apolectus mger (Bl.). 1785. Bloch, Ichthyol., vol. xu, p. 93, pl. cdxxii. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss, vol. viii, p. 439, pl. cexxxvui (A polectus stromateus). 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. ii, p. 401. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 247, pl. liii, fig. 4. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. xxvii, p. 218. 566 Annals of the South African Museum. Depth 2-24, length of head 4, in length of body. Eye 44-6} in length of head, 14-2 in snout. Maxilla reaching to below anterior margin of eye. Gill-rakers 14 on lower part of anterior arch. D (II-V) 42-46. A (II) 35-39. Dorsal and anal scaly, the anterior portion elevated, more or less falciform, especially in young. Pectoral longer than head. Scales: 1.1. 110-120. Length.—Up to 600 mm. Colour.—Deep brown, greyish or purplish-grey, dorsal and anal with black margins, caudal grey with dark margin ; in young, caudal yellow with 1-3 black cross-bars. Locality.— Natal coast. Mstribution.—Indian seas, East Indies to China. An excellent edible fish. Distinguished from the true Stromateus (Butterfish) by the coloration, slight keel on caudal peduncle, and falcate pectoral. Fam. 23. CoRYPHAENIDAE. Body elongate, strongly compressed in adult, with small cycloid scales. Forehead elevated in adult male. Mouth large, oblique, not protractile. Maxilla narrow. Teeth cardiform in jaws and on vomer and palatines ; villiform on tongue. Nostrils paired. Guill-membranes free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae absent. A single long dorsal fin, not strongly elevated, without spines. Anal similar, but shorter. Pectoral short. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, without axillary process, and partly received into an abdominal groove. Caudal strongly forked. Air-bladder absent. Pyloric caeca very numerous. Lateral line distinct, somewhat angularly bent above pectoral. A single genus, with two species of large, powerful, widely dis- tributed pelagic fishes. Gen. CORYPHAENA Linn. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 261. With the family characters. Coryphaena hippurus Linn. Dolphin-fish. 1758. ‘Linné, loc. cit., p. 261. 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ix, p. 278, pl. colaavit A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 567 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 248, pl. li. 1895. Goode and Bean, Ocean. Ichthyol., p. 209, figs. 219, 220, 220a, 2206. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 121 (references and synonymy). Depth of body about equal to length of head, 43-53 in length of body. Eye 5-64 in length of head, 2 in snout. Maxilla reaching to below centre or posterior margin of eye. Profile of head nearly vertical in adult male, less elevated in female and not at allin young. D 55-65. A 25-27. Ventrals inserted below base of uppermost pectoral ray. (Plate X XVI, fig. 1.) Length.—Up to 1800 mm. (6 ft.). Colour.—Greenish or bluish, darker above, with golden iridescence, belly whitish, with a yellowish or golden band, small black or dark blue spots scattered over the body, dorsal and anal dark bluish, caudal yellowish. Locality.—Cape seas, Table Bay, False Bay. Distribution.—Mediterranean, Atlantic, Indo-Pacific. The young is cylindrical, less compressed and without the ridge- like profile of the head. The eye is relatively large, greater than the snout. There are irregular, dark, vertical cross-bars on the body. The changes in form, from the young up to the adult, have been described by Liitken (1880, Spolia Atlantica *), who has also detailed the specific differences between this species (the Large Dolphin-fish) and the Lesser Dolphin-fish (C. eqguisetis Linn.). The Dolphin-fish is a very powerful swimmer and preys on the Flying-fish and other fishes which congregate in shoals. The flesh is excellent eating. Fam. 24. ScIAENIDAE. Meagres, Drums, Croakers. Body oblong or rather elongate, with cycloid or more or less ctenoid scales. Mouth moderate or rather large, somewhat protractile. Maxilla wholly or partly concealed under preorbital, without supplemental bone. Subocular shelf, if present, slender. Teeth usually villiform, with or without an enlarged series or canines ; none on vomer, pala- tines, or tongue. Nostrils paired. Gill-membranes free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae usually present. Dorsal * A translation, without figures, is given in Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (5), vol. vii, pp. 1-14, 107-123, 1881. 568 Annals of the South African Museum. fin deeply notched or divided into spinous and soft portions, the latter much the longer. Anal typically much shorter than soft dorsal, spines 1 or 2. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, with or without axillary process. Caudal variable, never forked. Air-bladder usually present, usually large with lateral processes. Pyloric caeca usually few. Lateral line single, the tubes often branched. A large family of warm-water fishes which are important from an economic point of view. Most of the species are of rather large size, though the flesh is not everywhere regarded as of the highest quality ; the large size of the air-bladder makes it valuable for the manufacture of isinglass, though of an inferior quality. They are also good sporting fishes. An interesting peculiarity of many of the species is their power of producing sounds which can be often plainly heard when the fish is some distance below the surface. The production of this noise, which has been termed “‘ drumming,” and which has given rise to various names for these fishes, such as Drums, Croakers, Grunters, is usually considered to be due to muscular action on the air-bladder. The species of this family are present in all warm seas, except around the Pacific Islands. Some frequently enter estuaries and rivers, but none are deep-water dwellers. Key to the South African genera. 1. No barbels on chin. a. Poresonchin . : ; : ; i ‘ . Sciaena. b. No pores on chin i. Canines in front of both jaws ; ale at : . Otolithus. ii. Canines in upper jaw only . : : : . Cynoscion. i. No canines : : Atractoscion. *. A single barbel on chin : : : : : ‘ . Umbrina. Gen. Scramna (Artedi) Linn. 1758. Linne, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 289. 1911. Jordan and Thompson, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxxix, p. 244. 1918. Ogilby, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. vi, p. 69. Body more or less elongate. Cleft of mouth usually oblique. Snout usually with conspicuous pores or slits. Similar pores on chin. No barbels. Lower jaw equal to upper, or slightly shorter. Bands of teeth in jaws villiform with the outer (upper jaw) and inner (lower jaw) rows enlarged, but no true canines. Gill-rakers few. Pseudo- A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 569 branchiae present. Dorsal deeply notched. Outer ray of ventral often prolonged as a filament in young. Caudal varying, truncate, rounded, rhomboid. Lateral line tubes simply bifurcate or many- branched. Air-bladder present. Attempts to subdivide the genus (Pseudosciaena, Corvina, Johnius, etc.) have not been very successful owing to the intergrading of characters. Key to the South African species. 1. Tubes of the lateral line arborescent. a. Anal spines weak : : : : : : ; hololepidota. b. Anal spines strong. 5 . 5 . ; : soldado. 2. Tubes of the lateral line Giimoate: a. Enlarged teeth in both jaws : : : : : ; vogleri. b. Enlarged teeth in upper jaw only 5 3 , 5 . belengeri. Corvina stellifer Bl., a West Indies and Brazilian species, is not admitted here, as it seems probable that Bloch erroneously gave the Cape as the locality of his original specimen. It has never been authentically recorded from South African waters. Corvina punctata Cast. 1861 is not a Sciaenid at all, as it has three anal spines. Sciaena hololepidota (Lacép.). Kabeljaauw (Cape) ; Cob (East London) ; Salmon-bass (Natal). 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iii, p. 517, pl. xxi, fig. 2. 1803. Id., wbid., vol. v, p. 685 (aquila). 1849. Smith, Ill. Zool. 8. Afr. Pisc., pl. xv. 1875. Haly, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (4), vol. xv, p. 269 (margaritifera). 1903. Gilchrist, Mar. Invest. 8. Afr., vol. ii, p. 191 (egg). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 349 (references), and p. 350 (margaritifera). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 76 (references). 1918. Ogilby, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. vi, p. 70, pl. xxi (subsp. antarctica). 1923. Von a. Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 16 (aquila). Depth 32-3,%, length of head 31-34, in length of body. Eye 44 pees) Th (adult) in length of er 1 (young)—2 (adult) in snout, less than interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to below centre of eye, or a little beyond, not completely concealed beneath preorbital. Teeth in narrow bands, uniserial posteriorly, the outer row in upper jaw, the inner in lower jaw, enlarged, conical. Upper jaws slightly over- lapping lower. Angle of preopercle serrulate in young. Géill-rakers 570 Annals of the South African Museum. 9-10 and a few rudiments on lower part of anterior arch. D X.I 27-28, Ist short, 3rd or 4th spine longest, soft dorsal not scaly. A II 7, 2nd spine weak. Caudal rounded in young, subtruncate in adult. Scales ctenoid : 1.1. 51-55 (excluding those on caudal fin) ; |.tr. — (11-12 above if counted obliquely). Lateral line tubes with several branches. Pyloric caeca 8-10. (Plate XXIII, fig. 3.) Length.—Up to 1600 mm. Colour.—Silvery, iridescent bluish or greenish above, white on belly, the silvery lustre less noticeable in large examples, which are more greyish ; young often with oblique dark stripes above the lateral line corresponding with the series of scales; fins greyish, ventrals white, axil of pectoral blackish. Locality.—Luderitzbucht and west coast to Table Bay, False Bay to Natal and Delagoa Bay, down to 200 fathoms. Distribution —N. and 8. Atlantic, Mediterranean, Madagascar, Mauritius, and E. coast of Australia. Type of margaritifera in British Museum. This species is known in Europe as the Meagre or Maigre, and in Australia asthe Jew-fish. It is everywhere regarded as a valuable food- fish, though large examples tend to become coarse. The Australian fish has been given the subspecific title antarctica Cast., but there are no specific differences between it and the Atlantic form. Lacépéde first described the species from Mauritius. On the French coasts it is protected by law. At the Cape the Kabeljaauw is one of the most important fishes economically. Adults appear mostly during the winter months, and spawning takes place from October to December; immature fishes are abundant during the summer months and often enter the mouths of rivers in pursuit of the shoals of Harders, Sardines, Maasbankers, etc. *Sciaena soldado (Lacép.). 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, pp. 344, 390. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. v, p. 94 (males). 1855. Peters, Wiegm. Arch., p. 242 (dorsalis). 1876. Bleeker, Atl. Ichth., vol. ix, pl. ecclxxxv, fig. 3 (miles). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 185, pl. xlin, fig. 5 (meles) (synonymy). 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 350, pl. xvii, fig. 3 (dorsalis). Ty ode i ‘ vee ay : Tee hy Se. ¥ ait ern f wOpene, Cas : are ie af ne Ly ie : : a rap Peat, f . Bey ek r J a We ca ' ape, ia a } ae, i j . t a ® eS . bd , Te 5 8! ‘ ae) OS Aa ; ee q , ° i ; : ‘ = < iy, ; phe —— ida ' ‘ ‘i i i ~ i qi t > £ ; ; =a » a f , ——— . = » ; ve 7 i : . : et, ae ; mT i ; ’ = ie By i 4 a PLATE XXIII. FIG. 1. Trachurus trachurus Linn. (after C. and V.) . 2. Lichia amia (Linn.) (original photo) . 5 3. Sciaena helolepidota (Lac.) (after Ogilby) . | 4. Umbrina capensis Pappe (original photo) .. 4q ‘ ‘ . : f vn 3 ‘ih : ant “~ : 7 7? h Ann. S. Afr. Mus., Vol. XXI. Plate XXIII. 3 ASK eel eee Neill & Co., Lid. SS eS eee ~ * es = . rr “ t a i ; ;: \ { ‘ = Nie ned r j ; 3 i r : 4 4 ) 0d ‘ 4 > ~ r t i i 1 e ~ x ‘ th e = y , (fess F , { } ' A E | | | i pas ' =) 2 . i \ 7 th ? . y } " ‘ F \ { i t i , “7 { ‘ mye ° } n i ii ie 7 we i ih ; : 5 tae a ie “ ‘ ' r q i“ ’ : 7) ae se oy eat ri vit a - ‘ - ne P Dy © <_< ; = i a _ sieath vn a | i ied ~~ : ; 7 eae 1 : *y i \ in my pie i. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 571 1918. Ocilby, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. vi, p. 81, pl. xxiv (synonymy). 21925. Fowler, J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. xxx, p. 320 (males). Depth 3-34, length of head 33-33, in length of body. Eye 45-5 in length of head, equal to interorbital width, less than snout. Maxilla reaching to below posterior third of eye, completely concealed under preorbital. Snout not overhanging upper jaw, which equals lower. Teeth villiform, with an enlarged series in both jaws. Angle of pre- opercle serrulate. Gill-rakers 8, with some rudiments, on lower part of anterior arch. D IX—X.I 27-32, Ist spine very short, 2nd and 3rd longest, soft dorsal scaly at base. A II 7, 2nd spine very strong and nearly as long as first ray. Caudal wedge-shaped. Scales ctenoid : 8 Pip te i= ltr. i Lateral line tubes with several branches. Length.—Up to 600 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, belly white; margins of fins, except ventrals, usually dark. Locality.—Quilimane, Portuguese East Africa. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies, 8. and E. Australia. It is doubtful whether Fowler’s description applies to the true soldado. He gives the number of gill-rakers as 15, and there are several other points of difference between his description and those of Day and Ogilby. Sciaena vogleri (Blkr.). Lesser Salmon-bass. 1853. Bleeker, Nat. Tijds. Ned. Ind., vol. iv, p. 253. 1874. Id., Verh. Ak. Amsterd., vol. xiv, p. 35. 1876. Id., Atl. Ichth., vol. ix, pl. ecclxxxvi, fig. 4. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 186, pl. xlv, fig. 1. 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 183 (parva). 1917. Zd., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 350 (parva). 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 319 (marleyz). 1922. Id., abid., p. 321. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 247 (parva and marley). Depth about equal to length of head, 3-34 in length of body. Eye 44-42 in length of head, equal to or less than snout, and interorbital 572 Annals of the South African Museum. width. Maxilla reaching to below centre of eye, completely concealed under preorbital. Teeth villiform, with an outer enlarged row in both jaws. Upper jaw slightly longer than lower, snout rounded but not overhanging upper jaw. Angle of preopercle finely serrulate. Gill- rakers 12 and some rudiments on lower part of anterior arch. D X.I 27-31, Ist spine very short, 2nd—4th subequal, base of soft dorsal scaly. A II 7, 2nd spine stout. Caudal wedge-shaped 6 (rhomboid). Scales ctenoid : 1.1]. 48-50; Ltr. a Lateral line tubes bifurcate. Pyloric caeca 7-9. Length.—Up to 270 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, spinous dorsal blackish, especially at margin, soft dorsal and caudal dark grey, a dark axillary spot some- times present. Locality.—Pondoland and Natal coast, Delagoa Bay, down to 50 fathoms. DMstribution.—Indian seas, East Indies. Type of parva in South African Museum; of marley: in British Museum. The very similar S. sina C. and V. is recorded from Delagoa Bay (Fowler, 1925, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 247). From Day’s (Fish. Ind., p. 186) descriptions of the two species it is difficult to find any specific differences, though the figure of sera shows a rather more prominent or inflated snout. *Scraena belengert (C. and V.). 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. v, p. 120 and p. 122, pl. evi (lobata). 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. ii, p. 303. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 191, pl. xliv, fig. 5. 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 321. Depth about equal to length of head, 33-32 in length of body. Eye 34-3? in length of head, about equal to snout, and to interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to below centre of eye, completely concealed under preorbital. Teeth viliform, with an enlarged series in upper jaw, but none in lower. Snout rounded and overhanging upper jaw, which is slightly longer than lower. Angle of preopercle serrulate. D IX-X .I 27-32, 1st spine very short, 2nd and 3rd longest, soft dorsal scaly at base. A II 7, 2nd spine stout. Caudal wedge-shaped. « i A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 573 6 Scales ctenoid: 1.1. 48-52; Ltr. ae Lateral line tubes bifurcate. Pyloric caeca 5(8). Length.— Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, often some dark blotches on back (lobata) ; dorsal, caudal, and anal fins black, opercle with a dark blotch. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies. Gen. OTOLITHUS Cuv. 1829. Cuvier, Régne Anim., ed. 2., vol. ii, p. 172. 1918. Ogilby, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. vi, p. 62. Body more elongate as a rule than in Sciaena. Cleft of mouth oblique. Pores on snout, but none on chin. No barbels. Lower jaw projecting beyond upper. Maxilla completely (or almost) concealed under preorbital. Bands of villiform teeth in jaws (anteriorly only in lower jaw) with an enlarged series, two strong curved canines in upper jaw and one (median) in lower jaw, an additional smaller one often present alongside one or other of the canines. Gill-rakers few. Pseudobranchiae present. Dorsal deeply notched. Caudal rhomboid or rounded. Lateral line tubes simply bifurcate or arborescent. Air- bladder present. As here used in the restricted sense, the genus is distributed over the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. Otolithus ruber (Schn.). Long-toothed Salmon-bass. 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 75, pl. xvii. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. v, p. 60, pl. cil. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 350 (references). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 246. Depth 33-4, length of head 3-31, in length of body. Eye 5-6 in length of head, 1-14 in snout and in interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to below posterior third of eye, completely concealed, ex- cept lower hind angle, under preorbital. Preopercular margin serrulate. Gill-rakers 10 on lower part of anterior arch. D X . I 28-30, Ist spine short, 3rd longest. A II 7, spines weak. Caudal rhomboid in young, 574 Annals of the South African Museum. more rounded inadult. Scales ctenoid: 1.1. 50-54; |.tr. 7 Ts Lateral line tubes strongly arborescent. Pyloric caeca 5. Length.—Up to 750 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, with reddish sheen. Locality.—Natal and Zululand coast, Delagoa Bay, Chinde. Distribution.—Indian seas, Malay Archipelago. Day states that the shoulder-flap or scale is entire, but this is surely an error. Gen. Cynoscion Gill. 1862. ‘Gill, Procsy Ac. Nat. Sei. Philad:, p. 18. Body elongate. Cleft of mouth oblique. Snout with pores. No barbels. Lower jaw projecting. Teeth in narrow bands, with 1-2 canines in upper jaw; no canines in lower jaw. Gill-rakers few, strong. Pseudobranchiae present. Dorsal deeply notched. Last ray of anal nearly opposite last ray of dorsal. Caudal truncate or emar- ginate. Air-bladder present. Chiefly in American waters, where on account of their tender flesh they are known as Weak-fishes. Distinguished from Otolithus by the absence of canines in lower jaw. *Oynoscion nebulosus (C. and V.). Courbina ; Spotted Weak-fish (America). 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. v, p. 79. 1898. Jordan and Evermann, Fish. Mid. N. Amer., vol. ui, p. 1409, fig. 563 (synonymy). 1914. Pellegrin, Ann. Inst. Ocean., vol. vi, p. 44. Depth 4, length of head 33, in length of body. Eye 64 in length of head. Maxilla reaching to below hind margin of eye. Gill-rakers 7 on lower part of anterior arch. D X.I 25-27, 3rd and 4th spines 10 longest. A II 10, spines weak. Scales: 1.1. 70-75; Ltr. Th Length.—Up to 350 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, body posteriorly with numerous round, black spots; dorsal and caudal fins similarly marked. Locality.—Mossamedes (Pellegrin). Distribution.—Tropical Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, S.E. coast of United States. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 575 Gen. ATRACTOSCION Guill. 1862. Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., p. 18. 1918. Ogilby, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. vi, p. 66. Body elongate as in Ofolithus. Cleft of mouth wide, oblique. Snout conical, with pores. No pores on chin. No barbels. Lower jaw pro- jecting beyond upper. Maxilla not concealed under preorbital. Bands of villiform or cardiform teeth in jaws, with an enlarged series in upper and lower jaws, but no canines. Gill-rakers few, very short and stout, especially in adult. Pseudobranchiae present. Dorsal deeply notched. End of base of anal almost below last dorsal ray (further back than in Sciaena or Otolithus). Caudal emarginate. Lateral line tubes arborescent. Air-bladder present. This genus was originally instituted for the Cape species. Ogilby has associated with it the Australian species atelodus Gnthr., which is here considered identical with aequidens. Atractoscion aequidens (C. and V.). Geelbek ; Cape Salmon ; Teraglin (Australia). 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. v, p. 66. 1849. Smith, Illustr. Zool. 8. Afr. Pisces, pl. xi. 1867. Giinther, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (3), vol. xx, p. 60 (atelodusy. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 350 (references). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 77 (references). 1918. Ogilby, loc. cit., p. 67 (atelodus) (references). 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., 1, p. 16. Depth 4-44, length of head 33-34, in length of body. Eye 5-7 in length of head, 14-2 in snout, 14-14 in interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to below hind margin of eye. Preopercular margin with some widely spaced short spines, disappearing with age. Gill-rakers 8-9 on lower part of anterior arch (in adult so short as to be only knobs). D X .I 27-31, 1st spine short, 3rd or 3rd and 4th longest. A II 9, 14-17 25-29 Lateral line tubes (in adult) arborescent on anterior part of body, trifurcate on hinder part. Pyloric caeca 5. Length—Up to 1000 mm. Colour.—Silvery, bluish above, belly white, edges of both jaws and spines weak. Scales ctenoid (often feebly so): 1.1. 75-80; Ltr. 576 Annals of the South African Museum. of opercle bright yellow, fins greyish, anal and ventrals white, a black axillary spot. Locality Table Bay, False Bay and Agulhas Bank to Algoa Bay and Natal, down to 30 fathoms. Distribution.—Coast of New South Wales. I have examined a specimen of the Australian atelodus from the Australian Museum and can find no characters which will distinguish it from aequidens. Ogilby’s description applies exactly to Cape specimens, except that the scales are said to be cycloid and rather more numerous below the lateral line. The former character is variable as the scales are never strongly ctenoid and often very feebly so; as regards the latter difference Mr. Whitley informs me that none of the specimens he has examined have 33 scales below the lateral line, but 25-30. The Geelbek or Cape Salmon is one of the commonest and most valued food-fishes in these waters. Both here and in Australia its flesh is esteemed superior to that of the Kabeljaauw (Jew-fish) in flavour. Adults seem to appear inshore, in False Bay and other localities, during the summer months, but neither here nor in Australia is there any definite information as to the spawning season or the whereabouts of the spawning grounds. Gen. UMBRINA Cuv. 1817. Cuvier, Réegne Anim., p. 297. Body oblong-ovate. Snout prominent, with conspicuous pores. Similar pores on chin. A single rather thick-set barbel on chin. Lower jaw included. Bands of villiform teeth in jaws, the outer series in upper jaw enlarged; no canines. Gill-rakers few, short, lower ones often rudimentary. Pseudobranchiae present. Dorsal deeply notched or divided into two; Ist spine very short. Anal spines strong, Ist short. Caudal truncate, emarginate, or rounded. Lateral line tubes more or less branched. Air-bladder present. Warm seas, sometimes entering rivers. Key to the South African species. I. Scales cycloid . ‘ , : ; fuscolineata. II. Scales ctenoid. A. Dorsal rays 24-26. 1. Numerous oblique dark stripes. : : : . capensis. 2. Oblique pale streaks . ; ; : i . robinsoni. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 577 B. Dorsal rays 27-30. 1. Height of spinous dorsal more than half length of head sinuata. 2. Height of spinous dorsal less than half length of head. a. With dark more or less oblique stripes : striata. 6. Uniform . , : : ; : : . macroptera. Umbrina fuscolineata von B. 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 181 (dussumieri non C. and V.). 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 351 (dusswmerz non C. and V.) (not the references). 192-2 Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec: Rep., ‘1, p. 15, pl. iv. Depth about equal to length of head, 33-33 in length of body. Eye 43-5 in length of head, 14 in snout, 1} in interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to below anterior third of eye. Depth of preorbital equal to eye-diameter. Barbel about } diameter of eye. Gill-rakers 8-9 on lower part of anterior arch, the lower ones mere knobs. D X.I 26, 2nd spine or 2nd and 3rd longest, about $ depth of body. A II 7, 2nd spine moderately strong, equal to interorbital width, 2 longest ray. Caudalrounded. Scales cycloid: 1.1. 50-55 ; L-tr. . Lateral 6 14-16 line tubes bifurcate. Pyloric caeca 7-8. Length.—Up to 210 mm. Colour.—Brownish, silvery below, a dark band over nape to pectoral, top of head and of caudal peduncle dark, some dark horizontal stripes on sides below lateral line, opercle dark (bluish), a black axillary spot, pectoral bluish. Locality.— Natal and Zululand coast, 20-30 fathoms. Type in coll. Govt. Marine Survey. The specimens described by Gilchrist and Thompson as dussumieri are undoubtedly the same as von Bonde’s fuscolineata ; although con- siderably faded they still show traces of the dark stripe over the nape and shoulders. Gilchrist and Thompson noted certain differences from the typical dussumieri, but the chief difference lies in the lower spinous dorsal, which in dussuwmeri is much higher, being nearly or quite equal to the depth of the body. It is to be noted that the dark band over the nape and shoulders is found also in kuhli C. and V., a species which is considered by Day as synonymous with russellz, a species with ctenoid scales. 578 Annals of the South African Museum. Umbrina capensis Pappe. Baardmann. 1853. Pappe, Synops. Ed. Fish. C.G.H., ed. 1, p. 16, and ed. 2, 1866, jee Oe ? 1860. Ginther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. ii, p. 274 (cirrhosa non Linn.). 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. l’ Afr. Austr., p. 10. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 3dl. . 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 78. ¢1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 15. Depth 24-3, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Eye 4-4? in length of head, 14 in snout, 14 in interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to below centre of eye. Depth of preorbital not quite equal to eye- diameter. Barbel about 4 eye-diameter. Giull-rakers 8-9 on lower part of anterior arch; the lower ones mere knobs. D X.I 24-25, 3rd spine or 3rd and 4th longest, about 4 length of head and = depth of body. A II 7, 2nd spine stout, 3 in head, 34 in depth of body, and 3-2 longest ray. Caudal subtruncate (adult). Scales ctenoid (in- 9-11 16-2ee line tubes with 3-5 branches. Pyloric caeca 8. (Plate XXIII, fig. 4.) Length.—Up to 700 mm. Colour.—Greyish above, whitish below, with silvery sheen, with 17-20 more or less distinct dark, oblique, somewhat wavy streaks narrower than the intervals; axil of pectoral dark, spinous dorsal and ventrals blackish, other fins greyish, soft dorsal with dark margin. Locality.—False Bay and Agulhas Bank to Algoa Bay, down to 50 fathoms. Natal ? Distinguished from striata by the more numerous and more oblique stripes, and fewer number of dorsal rays. This species is very close to the European cirrhosa, a specimen of which was recorded from Algoa Bay by Giinther. This identification seems to be erroneous. The true cirrhosa is distinguished from the Cape form by having 2-3 dorsal rays less, but chiefly by the greater height of the spinous dorsal, which is 3 of the length of the head and of the depth of the body. The stripes appear to be much less distinct in capensis than in cirrhosa; neither Pappe nor Castelnau mention them, and they are not blue bordered with black in the living fish, as cluding those on head and breast): 1.1. 52-55; ltr Lateral A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 579 described for cirrhosa. Moreover, cirrhosa is stated to have 65 scales in the lateral line. Although recorded from Natal by von Bonde, I rather suspect that these specimens should be referred to the species here called striata. U. canariensis Val. occurs on the west coast of Africa as far south as Angola (see Pellegrin, 1914, Ann. Inst. Ocean., vol. vi, p. 44). Steindachner considers this a variety of cirrhosa (Denk. Ak. Wiss. Wien, vol. lxv, p. 7, pl. u, fig. 1, 1882). Umbrina robinson G. and T. Robinson’s Tassel-fish. 1908. Gilchrist and Thomson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 182. 1911. Id., ibed., vol. xi, p. 38 (angustilineata). 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 351. Depth 3-34, length of head 3, in length of body. Hye 4-5 in length of head, 14-14 in snout, 14-14 in interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to below anterior third of eye. Depth of preorbital slightly less (young) or slightly greater (adult) than eye-diameter. Barbel about } eye- diameter. Gill-rakers 9-10 on lower part of anterior arch, the lower ones mere knobs. D X.I 24-26, 3rd-spine (or 3rd and 4th) longest, about = depth of body or length of head. A II 7, 2nd spine strong, about = length of head. Caudal subtruncate. Scales ctenoid (in- Lateral line tubes 8-9 cluding head and breast): 1.1. 49-52; Ltr. i with 3-5 branches. Pyloric caeca 7. Length.—Up to 350 mm. Colour.—Brownish, probably with silvery sheen in life, with narrow wavy, oblique, light streaks, much narrower than the interspaces ; opercle often with dark blotch, all the fins dark brown, especially the spinous dorsal, ventrals, and anal, which are blackish. Locality.— Natal coast. Types of robinsoni and angustilineata in South African Museum. The type of angustilineata is a smaller specimen with the light streaks more distinct, but in no way differs from robinsoni. Umbrina sinuata Day. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 182, pl. xlvi, fig. 1. 1889. Id., Fauna Ind. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 109, fig. 48. 1908. Gilchrist and Thomson, Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 182 VOL. XXI, PART 2. 38 580 Annals of the South African Museum. 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 351. Depth 3 or a little less, length of head 3 or a little more, in length of body. Eye 34 (young)-54 in length of head, equal to interorbital width, and about equal to snout. Maxilla reaching to below anterior third of eye. Depth of preorbital 3-2 eye-diameter. Barbel about 4 eye-diameter. Gill-rakers 8—9 on lower part of anterior arch, the lower ones mere knobs. D X.J 27-29, 3rd spine or 3rd—4th longest, 2-3 length of head, and depth of body. A II 7, 2nd spine strong, 2 in length of head, 24 in depth of body. Caudal rounded or wedge-shaped. 7 Scales ctenoid: 1.1. 44-50; Ltr. ce Lateral line tubes bifurcate, the hinder ones simple (at least in young). Length.—Up to 420 mm. Colour.—Greyish or brownish, with silvery sheen, with 9 wide sinuous, oblique, dark bands, the bands wider than interspaces ; opercle and axil blackish, spinous dorsal and ventrals black, soft dorsal and anal with black margins, caudal with dusky margin. According to Day the bands are more numerous in adult, being the outer edges of the wide bands of the young. Locality.—Natal coast, 26 fathoms. Distribution.—Indian seas, Persian Gulf. The occurrence of this species in South African waters rests on the single small specimen described by Gilchrist and Thompson ; it is in very poor condition and shows no coloration except on the spinous dorsal and ventrals. Umbrina striata Blgr. Striped Tassel-fish. 1887. Boulenger, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 660. 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 181. 1911. Id., cbid., vol. xi, p. 58 (erratum). 1917. Id., Ann. Durban. Mus, vol. i, pt. 4, p.-351. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 248 (Sciaena s.). - Depth 22-3, length of head 3-35, in length of body. Eye 33-44 in length of head, in young slightly greater than in adult ; 13-1} in snout and interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to below anterior third of eye. Depth of preorbital } (young)—j eye-diameter. Barbel about } eye-diameter. Gill-rakers 7-8 on lower part of anterior arch, the lower ones mere knobs. D X. I 27-28, 3rd and 4th spines longest, about 4 A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 581 length of head, and rather less than $ depth of body. A II 7, 2nd spine stout, 4 length of head and 2 depth of body, or sometimes a little shorter, 2 longest ray. Caudal rounded in young, subtruncate in adult. Scales ctenoid (including those on breast and head): 1.1. 49-51; 7-8 often simple in young. Pyloric caeca 7-8. Length.— Up to 400 mm. Colour.—Greyish, whitish below, with silvery sheen, with 9-12 more or less distinct wavy, sometimes anastomosing, dark streaks, oblique on back, more or less horizontal on sides, narrower than the intervals ; opercle and axil of pectoral more or less blackish, spinous dorsal and ventrals dark, other fins (as preserved) greyish ; soft dorsal with dark margin. Locality.— East London and Natal coast. Distribution.—Persian Gulf. I very much doubt whether the Natal fish will prove to be the same as that from the Persian Gulf, as the proportions are considerably different, though it should be noted that striata was described from a single dry specimen. This species is distinguished from capensis by having the stripes, especially the lower ones, more or less horizontal: thus the stripe which begins near the axil of the pectoral runs to the upper surface of the caudal peduncle or to the hinder rays of the soft dorsal, whereas in capensis the corresponding stripe runs to the middle of the soft dorsal. l.tr Lateral line tubes with 3-4 branches, the posterior tubes Umbrina macroptera (Blkr.). 1853. Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind., vol. iv, p. 254. 1874. Id., Verh. Ak. Amsterd., vol. xiv, p. 60. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 182. 1917. Jordan and Starks, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xi, p. 454. 1925. Fowler, J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. xxx, p. 320. Depth 34-34, length of head 32-34, in length of body. Eye 44 in length of head, slightly less than snout, and nearly 14 in interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to below centre of eye. Depth of preorbital # eye-diameter. Barbel very short, less than 4 eye-diameter, some- times almost obsolete. Gill-rakers 10 on lower part of anterior arch, the lower ones rudimentary. D X.I 28-30, 2nd spine or 2nd—4th longest, 24 in depth of body. A II7, 2nd spine stout, not quite } depth of body, $ longest ray. Caudal rounded, wedge-shaped. Scales ctenoid 582 Annals of the South African Museum. Lateral line tubes 4 (except on head and breast) : 1.1. 46-50; Ltr. Er with 3-4 branches. Pyloric caeca 8 (Day, 11). Length.—Up to 230 mm. | Colour.—Greyish, silvery below, the sides with numerous minute dots, axil of pectoral and a blotch on opercle blackish, spinous dorsal blackish, other fins greyish or yellowish, dotted. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian seas, Malay Archipelago. Fowler’s scale-count of 8 scales below lateral line is evidently taken further back than Day’s or my own. Fam. 25. MULLIDAE. Surmullets ; Red mullets. Body oblong-elongate, with large cycloid or slightly ctenoid scales. Mouth small, subterminal, protractile. Maxilla partly concealed by preorbital, without supplemental bone. Subocular shelf strong. Teeth villiform in the jaws and often on vomer and palatines. Nostrils paired, far apart. Guill-membranes free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. Branchiostegals 4. Two long unbranched barbels on the chin. Two dorsal fins, both short. Anal short, with 1-2 spines. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, with axillary process. Caudal forked. Air-bladder usually present, simple. Pyloric caeca few or moderately numerous. Lateral line single, the tubes often branched. Tropical and subtropical seas, extending into temperate waters ; sometimes entering estuaries. Hggs pelagic. The Surmullets are noted for their brilliant colours. Though not reaching a large size, they are valued as food-fishes of excellent flavour. Key to the South African genera. 1. Vomer and palatines with teeth . t : ‘ ; . Upeneus. 2. Vomer and palatines without teeth. a. Teeth in jaws in bands or several series , : : . Mulloides. b. Teeth in jaws in a single series. : : ; ; Parupeneus. Gen. UPENEUS Cuv. 1829. Cuvier, Régne Anim., ed. 2, p. 157 (part). 1849. Bleeker, Verh. Batav. Gen., vol. xxii, p. 63 (Upeneordes). A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 583 1859. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 397 (Upeneordes). 1868. Bleeker, Versl. Ak. Amsterd., vol. 1, p. 345. 1907. Snyder, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxxu, p. 97, and footnote by Jordan, p. 88. Vomer and palatines with teeth. Teeth in the jaws in villiform bands. Snout comparatively short, maxilla reaching to below anterior margin of eye. Interorbital nearly flat, the eye touching or nearly touching the dorsal profile. Indo-Pacific Ocean. Key to the South African species. 1. Caudal with oblique dark bars. a. A black lateral stripe. First dorsal fin scarcely higher than 2nd _ tragula. b. No dark lateral stripe. First dorsal fin distinctly higher than 2nd vittatus. 2. Caudal without oblique dark bars d : : : : ‘ bensast. *U peneus tragula Rich. 1846. Richardson, Ichthyol. China, p. 220. 1877. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. ix, pl. ccexcn, fig. 2. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 121, pl. xxx, fig. 4. 1907. Snyder, loc. cit., p. 100 (references). 1919. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 11, p. 200. Depth 4, length of head 34-33, in length of body. Eye 4 in length of head, equal to interorbital width, 1$ in snout. Maxilla reaching to below anterior margin or anterior third of eye. Barbels scarcely reaching angle of preopercle. Gull-rakers 12 plus 4-5 rudimentary ones on lower part of anterior arch. D VIII-+I 8, lst spine minute or obsolete, 2nd longest, 2-2 depth of body, Ist dorsal scarcely higher than 2nd. ATI 7, spine feeble. Scales ctenoid, some on snout 2 ! and preorbital : 1.1. 30-32; L.tr. ae Lateral line tubes arborescent. Pyloric caeca 6. Length—Up to 230 mm. Colour.—Silvery or golden, reddish above, with dark dots and a dark or blackish lateral stripe from snout through eye to caudal, Ist dorsal with broad black margin, caudal with oblique dark bars, pec- torals, ventrals, and anal with reddish or dark bands. Locality.— Natal. coast. Disiribution.—Indo-Pacific to Japan and Australia. it , | 584 Annals of the South African Museum. Upeneus vittatus (Forsk.). Bar-tailed Surmullet. 1775. Forskal, Desc. Anim., p. 31. 1877. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. ix, pl. ccexcii, fig. 3. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 120, pl. xxx, fig. 2. 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 219, pl. xxvu, fig. 2. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 365 (references). 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 23. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 246. Depth 32-33, length of head 34-33, in length of body. Eye 33-33 in length of head, equal to interorbital width, 14-14 in snout. Maxilla reaching to below anterior third of eye. Barbels not reaching to angle of preopercle. Gill-rakers 11-12 plus some rudiments on lower part of anterior arch. D VIII+1 8, 1st spine minute, 2nd and 3rd longest, 3 depth of body, 1st dorsal distinctly higher than 2nd. A I 7, spine feeble. Scales ctenoid, some on snout and preorbital: 1.1. 37-39; 2 lebrs = Lateral line tubes arborescent. Pyloric caeca 11. (Plate SOV: fie, 1.) Length.— Up to 250 mm. Colour.—Golden, reddish above, with 2—4 yellow, orange, or reddish lateral stripes, Ist dorsal with black margin and 1-2 dusky bands, caudal with oblique black bars. Locality.—Natal coast, Delagoa Bay, to 40 fathoms. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. Upeneus bensasi (T. and 8.). 1845. Temminck and Schlegel, Fauna Jap. Poiss., p. 30, pl. xi, fig. 2. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 121, pl. xxx, fig. 5. 1907, Snyder, Proc. U.S, Nat. Mus., vol. xxaiy poy ee: Depth 32-4, length of head 3}-34, in length of body. Eye 4-44 in leneth of head, 14 to nearly 2 in snout, 14-14 in interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to below anterior margin of eye, or a little beyond. Barbels reaching to angle of preopercle, or a little beyond. Gill-rakers 13-14 plus a few rudiments on lower part of anterior arch. D VII +I 8 (true Ist spine obsolete), apparent Ist or Ist and 2nd spines longest, } depth of body, Ist dorsal a little higher than 2nd. A I 6, spine feeble. Scales ctenoid, some on snout and preorbital : 1.1. 32-24 ; A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 585 2 Li. a Lateral line tubes arborescent. Pyloric caeca 15 (Snyder). Length.—Up to 170 mm. Colour.—Rosy, darker above, lighter below, with faint yellow lines or reddish spots, spinous dorsal dusky, soft dorsal and caudal with reddish bars, those on caudal oblique, pectorals, ventrals, and anal yellowish. Locality.—Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific to Japan. Gen. MuLLOIDEs Blkr. 1848. Bleeker, Verh. Bat. Gen., vol. xxu. 1852. Id., Nat. Tijds. Ned. Ind., vol. iii, p. 697. Vomer and palatines without teeth. Teeth in jaws in several rows or narrow bands. Snout comparatively long, maxilla not nearly reaching to below anterior margin of eye. Indo-Pacific Ocean. Mulloides auriflamma (Forsk.). Yellow-stripe Surmullet. 1775. Forskal, Descr. Anim., p. 30. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. i, p. 406 (flavolineatus). 1870. Klunzinger, Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. xx, p. 742. 1877. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. ix, pl. ccexciv, fig. 3 (flavo- lineatus). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 122, pl. xxx, fig. 6 (flavolineatus). 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 231 (flavolineatus). 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 163 (U peneus quekett). 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 364 (references) and p. 365 (U. queketti). Depth 4-43, length of head 34-33, in length of body. Hye 33-4 in length of head, equal to or slightly less than interorbital width, 13-2 in snout. Maxilla reaching to below a point about midway (or a little more) from tip of snout to anterior margin of eye. Barbels reaching to angle of preopercle. Gill-rakers 14-15 and some rudiments on lower part of anterior arch. D VII-+I 8, the true lst spine quite obsolete, anterior (2nd) spine longest, 14-14 in depth of body. ATI 6, 586 Annals of the South African Museum. spine feeble. Scales ctenoid, none on preorbital : 1.1. 36-38 ; 1.tr. a7 Lateral line tubes arborescent. Pyloric caeca 17-18. Length—Up to 325 mm. Colour.—Pale golden or silvery, deeper orange or reddish above, a deep yellow lateral stripe from eye to caudal, fins pinkish; head and body often (? breeding season) with reddish spots of varying size. Locality.— Natal coast, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific. Types of Upeneus quekett: in South African Museum. Klunzinger (loc. cit.) states that in the Red Sea these fishes spawn during the months of June to August, when they arrive inshore and in the harbours in large shoals. Gen. PARUPENEUS Blkr. 1829. Cuvier, Régne Anim., ed. 2, vol. ii, p. 157 (Upeneus part). 1863. Bleeker (quoted from Jordan, Classification ; the Ind. Zool. gives 1887, Klunzinger). 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 294. Vomer and palatines without teeth. Teeth in jaws in a single series, rather strong and unequal. Snout moderately long, maxilla not reaching to below anterior margin of eye. Indo-Pacific Ocean. Key to the South African species. 1. Lateral line tubes with very short branches. No dark markings . cyclostomus. 2. Lateral line tubes arborescent. a. A dark lateral stripe and a spot on caudal peduncle. i, Last dorsal and anal ray prolonged. Gill-rakers 24 . macronema. ii. Last dorsal and anal ray not prolonged. Gill-rakers 16-17 barberinus. b. No dark lateral stripe. i. A dark saddle over caudal peduncle. : : . fraterculus, ii. A dark spot on caudal peduncle . : : . . indicus. iii. A dark spot below gap between dorsal fins . c pleurostigma. *Parupeneus cyclostomus (Lacép.). 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iui, p. 404, pl. xix, fig. 3. 1873-75. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, vol. i, p. 60, pl. xlv, fig. A (chryserythrus non Lacép.). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 125, pl. xxxi, fig. 2 (luteus). A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 587 1877. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. ix, pl. ccexciii, fig. 2 (chrysedrus non Lacép.). 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 226. pl. xxvi, fig. 4 (synonymy). 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 321. Depth 34-34, length of head 24-34, in length of body. Eye 5-6 in length of head, 24-34 in snout. Barbels reaching to, or nearly to, base of ventrals. D VIII+I 8, 1st spine short, 2nd or 2nd and 3rd longest, about 2-3? depth of body. AI6, spine feeble. Scales ctenoid : 2 Ee 30's) Ltr. = Lateral line tubes with very short lateral tubules. Length.—Up to 340 mm. Colour.—Reddish or orange-yellow, paler below, head with bluish stripes from snout to opercle, fins yellowish, soft dorsal and anal with 3-5 bluish bands. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. Parupeneus macronema (Lacép.). 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. i, pp. 383, 404, pl. xin, fig. 2. 1877. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. ix, pl. ccexcei, fig. 3. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 123, pl. xxxi, fig. 1. 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 224. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 245 Ge spilurus non Playf.). Depth 34-34, length of head 3, in length of body. Hye 44-5 in length of head, 2-24 in snout. Barbels reaching to angle of preopercle or beyond. Gill-rakers 24 on lower part of anterior arch. D VII- VIII+I1 8, lst spine minute or obsolete, 2nd rather strong, 3rd and 4th longest, 3 depth of body ; soft dorsal lower than spinous, last ray the longest, often reaching nearly to caudal fin. A I 6, spine feeble, last ray prolonged similarly to that of soft dorsal. Scales ctenoid : 2 LI. 29-30 ; tr: = Lateral line tubes arborescent. Length.—Up to 295 mm. Colour.—Rosy or salmon, a dark brown band from snout through eye to below end of soft dorsal, and a brown spot in middle (7.e. on the 24th-25th scales of the lateral line) of caudal peduncle, fins pinkish 588 Annals of the South African Museum. or yellowish, soft dorsal, anal and ventrals banded, a deep violet band along base of soft dorsal, caudal with dark edging. Locality.— Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies. Parupeneus barberinus (Lacép.). 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iu, p. 406, pl. xiui, fig. 3. 1873-75. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, vol. i, p. 57, pl. xlii. 1877. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. ix, pl. cccxciu, fig. 1. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 124. 1907. Snyder, Proc) U.S: Nat. Mus:, vol. xxx, p. 92: Depth 33-33, length of head 3, in length of body. Hye 44-54 in length of head, 2-24 in snout. Barbels reaching to angle of preopercle. Gill-rakers 16-17 on lower part of anterior arch. D VIII+I 8, Ist spine minute, 3rd longest, } depth of body; spinous dorsal a little higher than soft, the anterior rays of which are higher than the posterior ones. A I 6, spine feeble, last ray not prolonged. Scales 2 etenoid: 1.1. 29-31; Ltr. = Lateral line tubes arborescent. Pyloric caeca 17-18. Length—Up to 500 mm. Colour.—Pink or salmon or reddish, bluish and yellowish streaks more or less distinct, or simply a brown band from eye to tip of snout, a dark brown stripe from eye to below end of soft dorsal and a brown spot at end (7.e. on 27th and 28th scales of the lateral line) of caudal ~ peduncle, fins pinkish, soft dorsal and anal more or less distinctly banded. Locality.—Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific to Japan. Parupeneus fraterculus (C. and V.). East African Surmullet. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vii, p. 524. 1866. Playfair in Playfair and Giinther, Fish. Zanz., p. 41, pl. v, fig. 4 (dispilurus), and p. 41, pl. v, fig. 3 (pleurotaenia). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 125, pl. xxxi, fig. 3 (d¢spilurus). 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii (1903), p. 261, fig. 109. 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 164 (indicus non Shaw). A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 589 1909. Id., ibid., vol. vi, p. 229 (natalensis). 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 364 (natalensis). 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 321 (spilurus non Blkr.). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 246. Depth 3-34, length of head 3-3}, in length of body. Eye 44-5 in length of head, 12-24 in snout. Barbels reaching a litle beyond angle of preopercle. Gill-rakers 17-18 on lower part of anterior arch. D VIII+1 8, 1st spine short, 3rd and 4th longest, about } depth of body. ; 2 A16,spine feeble. Scales ctenoid: 1.1. 29-31; L.tr. = Lateral line tubes arborescent, especially the anterior ones. Pyloric caeca 22. Length —Up to 350 mm. Colour.—Reddish or carmine, a large golden blotch on side of back between the end of soft dorsal and a blackish saddle-like band over the upper part of caudal peduncle, scales on upper parts often with orange spots, often purplish band on snout to eye, dorsal purplish or dusky ; soft dorsal, anal, and caudal more or less distinctly banded or mottled. Locality.— Natal coast, Delagoa Bay, Chinde. Distribution.—East coast of Africa to Red Sea. Type of natalensis in South African Museum. In the localities above given this species is the commonest species of the family in South African waters. The specimens examined are clearly identical with Playfair’s specimens from further up the East African coast, and for these reasons it seems to me that Norman’s specimen should also be identified as dispilurus rather than as the Japanese spilurus. Parupeneus indicus (Shaw). 1803. Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. iv, pt. 2, p. 614. 1877. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. ix, pl. cccxciv, fig. 5. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 126, pl. xxxi, fig. 4. 1907. Snyder, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxxii, p. 93 (references and synonymy). 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 296. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 364 (references, except Gilchrist and Thompson, 1908). Depth 34-32, length of head 33-33, in length of body. Eye 44 in length of head, 2 in snout. Barbels reaching to angle of preopercle. Gill-rakers 17 on lower part of anterior arch. D VIII-+I 8, 1st spine 590 Annals of the South African Museum. minute, 3rd longest, 2-3 depth of body; soft dorsal a little lower than spinous, its last ray not prolonged. A I 6, spine feeble, last ray 2 not prolonged. Scales ctenoid: 1.1. 30; ltr. = Lateral line tubes arborescent. Length.—Up to 400 mm. Colour.—Reddish or olivaceous, an oval golden-yellow blotch on lateral line below interspace between the dorsals (fading after death), and a brown spot near end (7.e. on about the 26th and 27th scales of lateral line) of caudal peduncle, a dark band (violet with yellow mar- gins) from eye to tip of snout, spinous dorsal dusky or purplish, soft dorsal and anal faintly barred. Locality.— Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to Japan. *Parupeneus pleurostigma (Benn.). 1831. Bennett, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., vol. i, p. 59. 1873-75. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, vol. 1, p. 58. 1877. Bleeker, Atl. Ichth., vol. 1x, pl. ecexciii, fig. 3. 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 229. 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxii, p. 260, fig. 108. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu. Depth 33-33, length of head 34, in length of body. Eye 4-5 in length of head, 12 in snout. Barbels reaching to or a little beyond hind margin of preopercle. Gill-rakers 18 on lower part of anterior arch. D VIII+I1 8, Ist spine minute or obsolete, 2nd spine 1¢ in length of head ; soft dorsal lower than spinous. A I 6, spine feeble. 2 Scales ctenoid : 1.]. 29-31; 1.tr. = Lateral line tubes arborescent. Length.—Up to 225 mm. Colour.—Red, paler below, a round or oval black spot on lateral line below the space between the 2 dorsal fins, with a more or less distinct silvery spot behind it; Ist dorsal with dark margin, a dark band along base and some violet bars on 2nd dorsal, anal banded, pectorals, ventrals, and caudal yellowish or rosy. Locality.—Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Mauritius, Zanzibar, East Indies, 8. Pacific. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 591 Fam. 26. EMMELICHTHYIDAE. 1924. Chabanaud, Bull. Soc. Zool. Tr., vol. xlix, p. 248 (Diptery- gonotidae). Body oblong or elongate, with moderate or rather small ctenoid scales. Mouth oblique, strongly protractile. Maxilla broad, scaly, with supramaxilla slipping under preorbital. Teeth absent, or minute and deciduous. Nostrils paired. Guill-membranes free from isthmus. Gills 4, a sht behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. Spinous and soft portions of dorsal fin connected, shallowly or deeply notched ; or separate, with 1—4(5) disconnected spines between them. Anal short, with 3spines. Base of soft dorsal and anal scaly posteriorly. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, with axillary process. Caudal forked. Lateral line single. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca few. A small family of moderately deep-water fishes previously known from Australasia, Chile, East Indies, Hawai, and Japan, and now recorded from South Africa. They all have a compact and neat aspect (whence Richardson’s name for the type genus), and in a living state are brightly coloured. The true generic position of Boxaodon cyanescens Guich. (Chile) and Dipterygonotus leucogrammicus Blkr. (Kast Indies) seems a little doubtful. Hrythrocles scintillans Jord. and Thomps. (Hawaii) may require a new generic name, as it differs from HL. schlegeli Blkr. (Japan) in having the two dorsals narrowly united, without any disconnected spines. The family name Dipterygonotidae, adopted by Chabanaud, is in- admissible, as Hmmelichthys is the earliest genus. Key to the South African genera. 1. Disconnected spines between spinous and soft dorsal fins . Emmelichthys. 2. Spinous and soft portions continuous . : : : . Plagiogeneion. Gen. EMMELICHTHYS Rich. 1845. Richardson, Voy. Erebus and Terror, p. 47. 1848. Guichenot in Gay. Hist. Chile Zool., vol. ii, p. 208 (Boxaodon). Body elongate, slightly compressed. Dorsal spines 14, the last connected with soft dorsal, the preceding 4 disconnected. Last dorsal and anal ray produced, longer than preceding ones. Preopercle broadly rounded, hind (vertical) margin sloping downwards and back- wards, not concave. Preorbital strongly projecting, rounded anteriorly. 592 Annals of the South African Museum. No lateral ridge on caudal peduncle. Teeth completely obsolete. A long scaly process between bases of ventrals. Emmelichthys nitidus (Rich.). 1845. Richardson, loc cit., p. 47, pl. xxix, figs. 7, 8. 1859. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 395. 1907. Stead, Add. Fish-fauna N.S.W., No. 1, p. 16. 1911. McCulloch, Zool. Res. “ Endeavour,” vol. i, p. 66. Depth 4 or a little more, length of head 34, in length of body. Eye 4 in length of head, equal to snout, and equal to or slightly less than interorbital width. Maxilla rounded behind, reaching to, or nearly to, below centre of eye. Hind margin of preopercle and opercle minutely denticulate. Gull-rakers 27 on lower part of anterior arch. D IX+IV-+I 9-10; Ist spine 4-3 length of 2nd, which is nearly as long as 3rd and 4th, the latter slightly the longest, disconnected spines short, last about $ length of the spine adjoining the soft rays. 8-9 A III 10. Seales: 1.1. 96-100; 1.tr. 20-23 Top of snout scaleless. (Plate XXIV, fig. 2.) Length.—Up to 470 mm. Colour (as preserved).—Golden, with silvery sheen, pale longitudinal streaks from head to tail showing through the scales. _ Locality.—Simonstown, False Bay, 1891. There isa second specimen in the South African Museum collection without exact locality. Distribution.—W. and S8.E. Australia, New Zealand. The two South African specimens, 470 and 350 mm. in length, accord fully with Richardson’s description and figure, though he does not state the actual number of gill-rakers. Gen. PLAGIOGENEION Forbes. 1890, Horbes, Ir. N-Z. Inst., vol. sexu, pr aire. 1914. McCulloch, Zool. Res. “‘ Endeavour,” vol. 11, pt. 3, p. 103. Body oblong, moderately compressed. Dorsal fin continuous, spines 12, the penultimate as long as the ultimate one. Last dorsal and anal ray not produced. Preopercle broadly rounded, vertical margin gently concave. Preorbital projecting, somewhat angular anteriorly. No lateral ridge on caudal peduncle. A single row of minute teeth in each jaw, more or less obsolete ; sometimes a few on vomer. A short scaly process between bases of ventrals. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 593 Plagiogeneion rubsginosus (Hutton). 1876. Hutton, Tr. N.Z. Inst., vol. viii, p. 209. 1890. Forbes, cbid., vol. xxu, p. 273. 1913. Waite, 2bed., vol. xlv., p. 218, pl. vu. 1913. Id., Rec. Canterb. Mus., vol. 11, pt. 1, p. 18. 1914. McCulloch, Zool. Res. “‘ Endeavour,” vol. 11, pt. 3, p. 104. Depth 3, length of head a little over 3, in length of body. Eye 3in length of head, 14 times snout, a little greater than interorbital width. Maxilla angularly truncate behind, reaching to below anterior third of eye. Hind margin of preopercle minutely denticulate, of opercle smooth, entire. Lower margin of preorbital serrate. Gill-rakers 27 on lower part of anterior arch. D XII 10, spines graduated to 4th, which is longest. A III 9. Scales: 1.1. 68-71 (plus a few on base of 12 tail) ; L.tr. at Snout completely scaly. Length. Up to 365 mm. Colour.—Uniform silvery with delicate salmon-pink tinge on body and fins, iris silvery, pupil black. Locality —Off Cape Peninsula (33° 17’ S., 17° 26’ E.), 180 fathoms. Distribution.—New Zealand, 8.E. Australia. The single South African specimen, 280 mm. long, obtained by a trawler in 1925, agrees with McCulloch’s Australian specimen in having the base of soft dorsal distinctly less than half length of spinous dorsal, and the ventral spine arising below the 2nd—3rd dorsal spines. The caudal is scaly only at the base. Neither Waite’s description of rubsginosus nor McCulloch’s descrip- tion of macrolepis mention serrations on the preorbital, though there is a suggestion of such in Waite’s figure. Fam. 27. BRAMIDAE. Body oblong, more or less elevated, strongly compressed, with large or small, adherent, cycloid scales. Scales normal or more or less lobate ; in the young with a median ridge or spine, which disappears in adult, but may persist in some half-grown examples. Mouth moderate, very oblique, protractile. Maxilla broad. Teeth cardiform, in bands in jaws, and sometimes on vomer and palatines. Nostrils paired. Giull-membranes free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. A single dorsal fin, long, often elevated in front, anterior 3-4 spines simple, short, the remaining ones 594 Annals of the South African Museum. articulated, and branched. Anal similar to dorsal. Both dorsal and anal scaly, but without definite basal sheath. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, with axillary process. Pectoral moderate or rather long. Caudalforked. Air-bladder present or absent. Pyloric caeca few. Lateral line present or obsolete. A family of pelagic fishes, often descending to considerable depths, and widely distributed. Noticeable changes occur during growth, the young having spinose scales, while in the adult the spines are frequently lost. Key to the South African genera. 1. Scales small. Dorsal and anal not falcate . ; : : : Brama. 2. Scales large. Dorsal and anal falcate . : ; . Paractes. Gen. Brama BI. Schn. 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 98. 1810. Rafinesque, Caratteri, p. 53 (Lepodus). Palatine and vomerine teeth present, but often obscure or lost with age ; the outer series of teeth in the jaws more or less enlarged. Scales small, without spines in adult. Dorsal and anal moderately elevated anteriorly. Lateral line obsolete, or sometimes visible posteriorly. Air-bladder large. Preorbital at least half diameter of eye. Brama raw (BL). Sea-bream ; Bull-eye. 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 99. 1892. Smitt, Skand. Fish., vol. i, p. 77, pl. vi, fig. 1, text-fig. 23. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 122 (references). 1918. Schmidt, Dan. Ocean. Exp., vol. 1, A 6 (post-larval stages). Depth 2 (or a little over), length of head 33-4, in length of body. Eye equal to snout, and to interorbital width, 33-34 in length of head. Maxilla reaching to below centre of eye. Vomerine and palatine teeth often obscure or lost in adult. Gill-rakers 12 on lower part of anterior arch, their inner margins spinulose. D III 30-33, longest anterior rays a little over $ length of head. A II 26-27, longest anterior rays a little over $ length of head. Pectoral about } depth of body. Caudal deeply forked. Scales: lat. ser. 80-95, without spines in adult. Whole head, except snout, inter-, supra-, and pre-orbital, and lower jaw, scaly. Pyloric caeca 4. (Plate XXIV, fig. 3.) 3 .- —— a PLATE XXIV. FIG. . Upeneus vittatus (Forsk.) (after Day) . Emmelichthys nitidus (Rich.) (after Richardson) . Brama raii (B1.) (after Smitt) . Ambassis urotaena Blkr. (after Day) . Apogon queketti Gilch. (after Gilchrist) o fF WwW PS Ke TEXT-PAGE > 584 592 594 642 a ann. 9. Afr, Mus., Vol. XXI. Plate XXIV. \ \\)) 2 . on = Neill & Co., Ltd. 7}, i St) fi s ts (hind 1 a Ihe - é rs * j \ , ‘ | | i / . ? i 4 . 1 > * ; e 7 i" . a t ‘ e PT) A'a 7 ; A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 595 Length Up to 700 mm. Colour.—Brownish, darker along back, with silvery sheen, especially on belly and the scales covering the fins; vertical fins blackish, pectoral and ventral yellowish, iris black-brown, pupil light. Locality Table Bay, Agulhas Bank. Distribution.—Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean, Japan, New Zealand, down to 500 fathoms. The young has a deeper body, the ventral profile being much more convex than the dorsal, the scales bear a central hooked spine, and the preopercular angle is spinose. An excellent food-fish. Gen. TARACTES Lowe. 1843. Lowe, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 82. Palatine and vomerine teeth present. Scales rather large, without hooked spines in adult. Dorsal and anal fins strongly falcate in adult. Lateral line obsolete. Preorbital less than half diameter of eye. A transverse groove above and below on caudal peduncle at base of caudal. Taractes longipinnis (Lowe). Long-finned Sea-bream. 1843. Lowe, loc. cit., p. 82 (half-grown). 1843. Id., cbid., p. 83 (asper=young). 7 1863. Johnson, zbid., p. 36 (princeps, adult). Not Smitt, Skand. Fish., vol. i, p. 80, fig. 24 (=raschi1 Esmark). Depth 1% to nearly 2, length of head 34-34, in length of body. Hye 32-4 in length of head, slightly greater than snout. Maxilla reaching to below centre of eye. D III 31-32. A II-III 25-26. Both strongly falcate, the Ist ray equal to length of body in half-grown, half length of body in adult, the succeeding rays rapidly decreasing. Scales: lat. ser. 41-45, those on body in young and half-grown with recurved spines, those on caudal peduncle with antrorse spines, the change of direction occurring under the last dorsal rays, 2 series of spinose scales on each side of caudal peduncle. In adult no spines on scales. Whole head, except snout, inter-, supra-, and pre-orbital, and lower jaw, scaly. Pyloric caeca 5 (Johnson). Length—Up to 825 mm. . Colour.—Blackish-grey, iridescent coppery, iris dark brown, pupil pale grey (Johnson). VOL. XXI, PART 2. o9 596 : Annals of the South African Museum. Locality—Simonstown, False Bay, 1876. Distribution.—Madeira. The South African specimen is half-grown, 350 mm. long, and con- sists of a dried half-skin, otherwise in excellent condition. The scales are spinose and the longest dorsal and anal fins rays equal to length of body. The transverse grooves on caudal peduncle are present as in princeps, and the broad flat keel on either side mentioned by Johnson is indicated by the two rows of spines. There seems little doubt that Johnson described the adult of Lowe’s longipinnis, which was a half-grown specimen 456 mm. long. T. asper was founded on a young specimen, length not stated. On the other hand, 7. raschii Esmark 1861 would seem to be a different species, as his specimen measuring 334 mm. (or about 400 mm. including tail) is much shallower in the body (depth 24 in length), and the dorsal and anal] fins very much less elevated, than in the South African specimen of 350 mm. Fam. 28. PTERACLIDAE. Body oblong, more or less elevated, strongly compressed, with rather large, thin, adherent, cycloid scales. Scales lobate, with persistent median ridge or spine. Mouth moderate, very oblique, protractile only in young. Maxilla broad. Teeth cardiform in a single row or in bands in jaws, present or absent on vomer, palatine; absent on tongue. Nostrils paired. Gill-membranes free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. A single dorsal fin, very long, very high, composed wholly of spines, which are simple, non-articulate, unbranched (except the last one), the anterior ones often short and graduated. Anal similar to dorsal. Both dorsal and anal scaleless, but with a conspicuous basal sheath consisting of a single row of large scales. Ventrals jugular, of a spine and 5 rays, with axillary process. Pectoral moderate. Caudal forked. Air- bladder small. Pyloric caeca few. Lateral line obsolete, or nearly so. A small family of pelagic fishes closely related to the Bramidae and remarkable for their elevated sail-like dorsal and anal fins. Very few specimens are known, and most of the species are known only from single specimens. The scales are notable in being more or less lobate; those on the sides of the body and caudal peduncle each bearing a hooked spine, which fits into a notch in the preceding scale, as in the genus Taractes in the family Bramidae. } A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 597 Key to the South African genera. 1. Dorsal fin beginning on snout in front of eye : ; . Pteraclis. 2. Dorsal fin beginning behind eye . : é : : : Pterycombus. Gen. PTERACLIS Gron. 1763. Gronovius, Zoophyl., p. 136. 1772. Id., Acta Helvetica, vol. vu, p. 44. 1800. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 1, p. 512 (Oligopodus). 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ix, p. 359. 1901. Jordan and Snyder, J. Coll. Sci. Tokyo, vol. xv, p. 306 (Bentenia). 1919. Jordan, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xu, pp. 331-333. Body rather elongate. Dorsal fin beginning far forward on snout in front of eye, with 2-4 graduated spines in front, the Ist elongate spine more or less conspicuously thickened. Anal similar. No teeth on palate. Bentema has one of the dorsal and anal spines notably thickened, Pterachis apparently has the spines not or only shghtly thickened. The distinction seems scarcely of generic importance, especially when so little is really known about these forms. Jordan remarks that the two are in other respects very close to one another. Key to the South African species. 1. Depth 3iin length . : : ; 5 : . ocellatus. 2. Depth 43 in length : ; . velifera. * Pteraclis ocellatus C. and V.. 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, loc. cit., p. 363, pl. cc'xxi, 1829. Cuvier, Régne Anim., III. Poiss., pl. Ixvi, fig. 2. 1919. Jordan, loc. cit., p. 332, pl. lvii (after C. and V.). Depth of body equal to length of head, 34in length. Eye 3 in length of head. Maxilla reaching nearly to below hind margin of eye. D XLV-XLVI, commencing at a distance from premaxillary symphysis equal to about eye-diameter, Ist spine very short, 2nd and 3rd rather longer, 4th elongate, 3 length of body, 7th about as long as body, succeeding ones gradually decreasing. A XLII, commencing below hind margin of preopercle, 1st spine short, succeeding ones graduated to 5th, which equals longest dorsal spine. Scales: l.ser. 50-52; tr.ser.17. Lateral line apparently distinct. “5 ——_ A a —_a So a a a 598 Annals of the South African Museum. Length.—70 mm. Colour.—Silvery, dorsal and anal fins blackish, with a blue spot at top of dorsal, pectoral and caudal yellow. Locality.—Mozambique Channel, 30° S. lat. Type in Paris Museum. Pteraclis velifera (Pall.). 1767. Pallas, Spicil:; vol) van, p.19, pl an; fig. 1 1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, loc. cit., p. 370 (guttatus). 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 11, p. 411. 1919. Jordan, loc. cit., pl. lv (after Bonnaterre). Depth (not including fin sheaths) 44, length of head 5, in length of body. Eye 4 in length of head, a little larger than snout. Maxilla reaching to below hind margin of pupil. Teeth in a single series in both jaws, 4-5 in a single row on each palatine, 2 in a longitudinal line on vomer. Gill-rakers 6 on lower part of anterior arch, widely spaced, with spinules on their inner edges, a smaller one just above bend. Dca. LV, commencing at a distance from premaxillary sym- physis equal to 4 eye-diameter, lst spine very short, 2nd 10 mm., 3rd 15 mm., 4th 23 mm., equal to eye, 5th stout, about 110 mm., other spines mutilated. Aca. L, lst apparently lost, 2nd 20 mm., 3rd stout, 80 mm., other spines mutilated. Scales strongly lobate: l.ser. ca. 50; tr.ser. 16 or 17 (not including fin-sheaths). The scales from behind pectoral each with a hooked, backwardly directed spine. Whole head, except snout and lower jaw, scaly. Length.—520 mm. Colour (as preserved).—Traces of silver on body, dorsal and anal fins blackish. Locality.— St. Helena Bay. Distribution.—Indian Ocean. This old and rather badly mutilated specimen from the Old Museum collection described above seems to be referable to Pallas’ species. Lowe’s P. papilio from Madeira is excluded as having considerably fewer dorsal and anal spines. In any case it is certainly referable to Bentenia as defined by Jordan, having one spine in both the dorsal and anal fins notably enlarged. Gen. PTERYCOMBUS Fries. 1837. Fries, K. Ver. Ak. Handl. Stockh., pp. 14, 22. 1892. Smitt, Skand. Fish., vol. i, p. 72. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 599 1919. Jordan, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xu, p. 331. Body short. Dorsal fin beginning behind eye, with 10-13 graduated spines in front, none of the spines thickened. Anal with about 4 short graduated spines, the next spine abruptly longer. No teeth on palate or tongue. Centropholis Hilg. 1878 may possibly be synonymous with this genus, the difference in height of the anal scarcely being a generic character, judging by the figures of P. brama and C. goodei given by Jordan (loc. cit., pls. lvii and Iviii), though the former appears to have a few (? 3) short anal spines followed by one abruptly longer. The present species differs from both in having falcate dorsal and anal fins, but is nearer to Pterycombus. Pterycombus falcatus n. sp. Depth (at level of vent, and not including scaly sheath of dorsal) 24, length of head 4, in length of body. Eye nearly twice snout, slightly greater than interorbital width, 34 in length of head. Maxilla reaching to below centre of eye. Gill-rakers 7 on lower part of anterior arch, the front one shorter than the others, one small one just above the bend, all set with spinules on their upper (inner) edges. D XLIX, commencing above hind margin of eye, the anterior spines very short, but gradually increasing in length to 8th which equals diameter of eye, 9th nearly twice 8th, 10th 22 times 8th, 11th 3 times 9th, 12th- 14th 2 length of body, the succeeding spines decreasing rapidly to the last, which equals diameter of eye. A XLI, commencing below scaly base of pectoral, lst spine very short, 2nd twice Ist, 3rd twice 2nd, 4th 24 times 3rd, 5th and 6th abruptly longer, equal to longest dorsal spines, succeeding spines decreasing rapidly to last, which is equal to last dorsal spine. P 20, upper two rays spine-like, stouter than the others, longest equal to length of head. Ventral slightly longer than diameter of eye. Scales: 48 along middle of side from point of opercle (not counting small scales on base of caudal), 20 from dorsal to vent behind pectoral (not counting sheath scale) ; nearly all the scales with a hooked spine directed backwards, except those on the hind part of body and caudal peduncle, the change of direction occurring at the level of about the 43rd dorsal spine. Four rows of spiniferous scales on each side of caudal peduncle. Whole head, except snout, interorbital, supraorbital, anterior part of preorbital, lower jaw, and angle of pre- opercle, scaly. Dorsal, anal, and caudal completely scaleless. (Plate Sex, fig. 1.) 600 Annals of the South African Museum. Length.—300 mm. Colour.— Uniform bright silver, the fins (as preserved) pale horn- colour, the tips and margins of dorsal and anal brownish, iris silvery, pupil presumably black. Locality.—Cape seas, exact locality lost, but very probably cast ashore in Table Bay. Type in South African Museum. Although very closely related to the North Atlantic P. brama Fries 1837 this specimen appears to represent a distinct species, charac- terised by the falcate dorsal and anal fins. Compare the figures given by Smitt (loc. cit., p. 73, fig. 21) and Shufeldt (Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., vol. xxv, pl. 1, and reproduced in Jordan, loc. cit., pl. lv). Smitt also states that the caudal fin is scaly as in Brama, thus affording another mark of distinction. The type specimen of P. brama is 384 mm. long, so that it would seem the present specimen does not represent the adult form of the N. Atlantic form. The specimen is also very similar to Centropholis ledanoisi Belloc (1926, Bull. Mus. d’Hist. Nat. Paris., p. 271) from the N. Atlantic, and may possibly prove to be synonymous. C. ledanoisi, however, has slightly different proportions and scale- and fin-formulae, and non- falcate dorsal and anal fins. Belloc makes no mention of the hooked spines on the scales, and his figtire is too indistinct to allow one to judge whether they are present or not. Belloc says two of his specimens were “‘confondus par les pécheurs”’ with examples of Brama raw; this would seem scarcely possible if the scales were hooked. The specimen is in perfect condition, except that the pyloric caeca were decomposed and impossible to count. Fam. 29. DREPANIDAE. Similar to the following family Chaetodipteridae, but with the mouth protractile, no subocular shelf, elongate, faleate pectoral fins, and cycloid scales. Dorsal spines 9. Pseudobranchiae small, concealed. Caudal rounded or somewhat wedge-shaped. A single Indo-Pacific genus and species. Gen. DREPANE C. and V. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vu, p. 129. With the characters of the family. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 601 Drepane punctata (Gmel.). Sickle-fish ; Concertina-fish. 1793. Gmelin in Linné, Syst. Nat., p. 1243. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 116, pl. xxix, fig. 5. 1914. Pellegrin, Ann. Inst. Ocean., vol. vi, p. 57, figs. 9, 10 (var. africana Osorio). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 371 (references and synonymy). 1925. Fowler, J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. xxx, p. 321. fa25.0. roc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 251. Dorsal profile of head gently convex, often slightly concave in the nuchal region, and old individuals with a prominent interorbital bump. Depth not quite equal to length, length of head 3 in length of body. Hye 3—4 in length of head, 14-14 in snout, 1-14 in depth of preorbital. Gill-rakers 10 on lower part of anterior arch. D (VIII-)IX 21-22, lst 3 spines (especially lst) very small, 4th longest, as long, or nearly as long, as head. A III 18-19. Longest soft rays of dorsal and anal about as long as head. Pectoral elongate, falcate, reaching base of caudal fin. Scales: 1.1. 50-55; Ltr. = (Plate XXVI, fig. 2.) Length.— Up to 375 mm. Colour.—Silvery, with a golden or violaceous sheen, uniform or with a series of narrow vertical black bars or series of spots, prominent in young but obsolescent in adult ; fins pale or yellowish, soft dorsal oiten with a longitudinal series of dark spots, one between each ray, often also with a dusky margin like the anal fin. Locality.—Natal coast, Delagoa Bay, Chinde. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to Australia, west coast of Africa south- wards to Angola. A common fish, eaten by the native races in most parts, but not esteemed by Europeans. The var. africana Osorio merely has uninterrupted black bands, and is found among the Natal specimens as well as elsewhere, and is not peculiar to the West African coast. Fam. 30. CHAETODIPTERIDAE. (E'phippidae). Body deep, strongly compressed, with small ctenoid scales. Mouth small, terminal, not, or scarcely, protractile. Maxilla mostly con- 602 Annals of the South African Museum. cealed. Subocular shelf broad (Chaetodipterus) or very feeble (Plataz). Teeth pointed or tricuspid, movable, in bands in jaws; teeth occa- sionally on vomer, but none on palatines. Nostrils paired. Gill- membranes broadly united with isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present, small, sometimes concealed. Gill-rakers very short. A single dorsal fin, deeply notched in Chaetodipterus, with 3-9 spines, folding into a grove or more or less completely hidden in a scaly sheath. Anal with 3 spines. Soft portions of dorsal, anal, and caudal scaly. Pectoral short. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, with axillary process. Caudal truncate or emarginate. Air- bladder present. Pyloric caeca few. Lateral line single. Small fishes from warm seas, allied to the Chaetodontidae, found mostly on rocky shores or among coral reefs, carnivorous. Key to the South African genera. 1. One or more of the dorsal spines elongate. ; : . Chaetodipterus. 2. All the dorsal spines short, concealed . : : é : : Platax. Gen. CHAETODIPTERUS Lacép. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, p. 503. 1817. Cuvier, Regne Anim. (Hphippus). Dorsal fin deeply notched between spinous and soft portions, the former with 9 spines folding in a groove, the Ist two short, the 3rd or srd—5th elongate, flexible. Soft dorsal and anal moderately pro- longed in young, more or less falcate in adult. Caudal emarginate. Pseudobranchiae concealed. Tropical Atlantic and Indo-Pacific. Like the Chaetodonts the species of this genus pass through a Tholichthys stage (see p. 607). During the course of growth remark- able changes in the body-form and coloration occur, which have led to the institution of several nominal species. The Asiatic species have smaller scales and have been separated under the genus Ephippus. As this appears to be the only difference, the necessity for the two genera may be questioned. In any case, Chaetodipterus is the older name, and must determine the family name. Key to the South African species. 1. Scales : l.tr. saa. : _ goreensis. od i ‘ 2. Scales: l.tr. — : . , : ‘ : : . , . orbis. 15 “a ne OF A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 603 Chaetodipterus goreensis (C. and V.). Spade-fish. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vii, p. 125, pl. clxxvii. 1909. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 228 (faber, non Broussonet). 1914. Pellegrin, Ann. Inst. Ocean., vol. vi, p. 55, figs. 7, 8. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 367 ( faber, non Broussonet). Dorsal profile of head nearly straight, except for a slight antorbital prominence, meeting the ventral profile at an angle of 90° or a little more. Depth 12-14, length of head 33, in length of body. Hye 33-32 in length of head, 14 in length of snout, slightly less than interorbital width, and 14 to nearly 14 in depth of preorbital. Teeth all tricuspid, the cusps subequal, or the centre one slightly larger than the laterals. Gill-rakers 10 on lower part of anterior arch. D IX 20, Ist two spines short, 3rd—5th elongate, the 3rd longest, nearly twice length of head. A III 17-18. Anterior rays of dorsal and anal subequal, and nearly as long as head. Ventrals reaching vent, Ist ray filamentously pro- longed, reaching origin of anal fin. Scales: 11. ca. 45; Ltr. (from 12-13 23-24 Length.— Up to 230 mm. Colour._—Silvery, top of head brownish, 5-6 faint brownish vertical bands, a series of longitudinal streaks along each row of scales, ap- pearing (as preserved) either darker or of a more brilliant silver ac- cording to the angle at which the light strikes ; fins dusky, the elongate dorsal spines and their membranes burnished silver, lobe of soft anal brownish, ventrals blackish. Locality.—Natal coast, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Tropical west coast of Africa. The above description is taken from the specimen identified by Gilchrist and Thompson as faber, and another slightly smaller. These specimens are certainly not referable to faber (Atlantic coast of tropical N. and 8. America), and should possibly be considered as a new species. They approach, however, very closely to goreensis, differing only in the extra anal rays and scales in transverse series (goreensis : A III 15-16. 10-11 origin of dorsal to vent) Scales: L.tr 604 Annals of the South African Museum. Pellegrin (loc. cit.) figures two stages. The younger, 74 mm., has the 3rd dorsal spine only slightly longer than the head, and the cross- bands very distinct. The larger, 162 mm., has the 3rd—6th dorsal spines elongate, the 3rd and 4th extending to the base of the caudal, and the cross-bands less distinct. Cuvier and Valenciennes describe and figure a specimen a foot long, which has the 3rd (2nd as they count) dorsal spine about as long as the head. If the Natal specimens be considered as goreensis, it would seem that the dorsal spines increase in length and flexibility from the young up to the half-grown fish, and then decrease again in old individuals. The distribution may be compared with that of Drepane punctata. According to a MS. name in the Museum register book, Gilchrist and Thompson apparently intended to describe this species as dis- tinct under the name “ robinsoni,” and if the specific distinctness were confirmed, this name might be suitably employed to mark the interest displayed by Mr. R. Robinson in collecting our South African fishes. *Chaetodipterus orbis (Bl.). 1785. Bloch, Ausl. Fische, vol. ii, p. 81, pl. xxun, fig. 2, and Bloch © Schneider, Syst. Ichthyol., p. 232, pl. cei, fig. 2. 1877. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. ix, p. 20, pl. ccclxy)igjee@ (references). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 115, pl. xxix, fig. 4. 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 321. Profile evenly convex, passing into the ventral profile without any angle. Depth 14, length of head 34, in length of body. Eye 24 in length of head, slightly greater than snout, than interorbital width, and than depth of preorbital. D IX 19-20, 1st two spines very short, 3rd—5th elongate, the 3rd longest, 14 times length of head. A III 15-16. Longest soft dorsal and anal rays subequal, about § length of 7 head. Scales: 1.1. 42; St oe (Plate XX VI, fig. 5.) Length.—Up to 190 mm. Colour.—Silvery, greyish or greenish above, young with 4 dark cross-bands, fins diaphanous or whitish with dusky margins. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian seas to Malay Archipelago. Easily distinguished by the even curve of the front profile and the smaller number of scales in transverse series. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 605 Gen. PLatTax Cuv. 1817. Cuvier, Régne Anim. Dorsal fin not notched, the spinous portion with 3-7 (usually 5) spines increasing in length posteriorly and almost completely con- cealed in a scaly sheath. Soft dorsal and anal usually much pro- longed or falcate. Caudal truncate. Ventrals very long in young, becoming shorter in adult. Pseudobranchiae small, but not concealed. Indian seas to Japan and Australia. The form of the body undergoes remarkable changes, in consequence of which several nominal species have been instituted. P. novem- aculeatus McCull. (1916, ““ Endeavour ”’ Sci. Res., vol. iv, p. 188, pl. lv, fig. 1) has 9 dorsal spines and would appear to be a Chaetodipterus. Willey (Spolia Zeylan., vol. u, p. 52, fig., 1904) records the re- semblance of a young P. vespertilio to a leaf, both in colour and in its habit of sinking inertly on its side through the water. Key to the South African species. 1. Anterior profile of head evenly convex; vomerine teeth; 40-45 scales from beginning of lateral line to Ist dcteal spine : . terra. 2. Anterior profile angular at snout; no vomerine eet: : 25- 30 scales from beginning of lateral line to lst dorsal spine. : : . vespertilio. Plataz teira Forsk. Sea-bat. 1775. Forskal, Descr. Anim., p. 60. Heri. Bleeker, Atl. Ichth., vol. ix, p. 73, pl. ccelxxix, fig. 2 (adult), pl. ccelxxxu, fig. 1 (young). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 235, pl. li, B, fig. 4. 1902. Jordan and Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxv, p. 526 (references). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 371 (references). Anterior profile of head evenly convex, snout not projecting. Depth about equal to length in adult, greater than length in young, length of head 3-4 in length of body. Eye 24-4 in length of head, about 14 in snout, and 1} to nearly 2 in interorbital width. The three cusps of the teeth about equal. A small patch of pointed teeth on the vomer. Gill- rakers 8-9 on lower part of anterior arch. D V 28-34. A III 24-28. The soft dorsal and anal very elevated and falcate in young, becoming shorter and more obtuse in adult. Ventrals reaching to base of caudal 606 Annals of the South African Museum. or beyond in young, in adult not much longer than length of head. Scales: L.1. ca.60; 40-45 between beginning of 1.1. and 1st dorsal spine. (Plate XX XI, fig. 6.) Length.—Up to 500 mm. Colour.—Yellowish, greyish, or brownish, with 3 dark vertical bands, one through eye, one through base of pectoral, and the third and broadest covering the posterior half of the body (but not the caudal peduncle), these bands conspicuous in young, but disappearing in adult ; fins yellowish or fuscous, tips of dorsal and anal more or less blackish, ventrals black. Locality.—Natal coast, Delagoa Bay, Mozambique. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific to Japan and Australia. *Platax vespertilio (Bl.). 1785. Bloch, Ausl. Fische, vol. i, p. 67, pl. cxeix, fig. 2. 1877. Bleeker, Atl. Ichth., vol: 1x, p. 74; pl. ccelxax aie pl. ccclxxx, figs. 2, 3. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 236, pl. h, B, fig. 5. 1903. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lv, p. 161. Anterior profile angular, the profile of snout and chin meeting at an obtuse angle. Depth about equal to length in adult, greater in young, length of head 3-43 in length of body. Hye 24-34 in length of head, 1-14 in interorbital width. The median cusp of the teeth stronger than the lateral ones. No vomerine teeth. Gill-rakers on lower part of anterior arch. D V 35-38. A III 26-29. The soft dorsal and anal not so elevated as in fevra, becoming more obtuse in adult. Ventrals long in young, shorter in adult. Scales: Ll. ca. 60; 25-30 between beginning of |.l. and 1st dorsal spine. Length— Up to 310 mm. Colour.—Sunilar to that of teira, but the dark bands usually not so prominent, especially the hindmost one, which is usually only a - narrow band, usually a dark cross-band on base of caudal. Locality.—Mozambique. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies. Fam. 31. CHAETODONTIDAE. Butterfly or Coral Fishes. 1923. Ahl, Arch. Naturg. Berl., Abt. A, vol. lxxxix, Hit. 5, p. 1 (revision). Body ovate-oblong or deep ovate, compressed, with large, moderate, A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 607 or small, more or less ctenoid scales. Mouth small, terminal, pro- tractile. Maxilla small, mostly concealed. Subocular shelf present. Teeth setiform, in narrow bands in jaws, none on vomer or palatines. Nostrils paired. Guill-membranes more or less attached to isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae well developed. Gill- rakers very short. A single dorsal fin, with well-developed spinous portion. Anal with 3(-4) spines. Soft dorsal and anal densely scaly. Pectoral short. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, with axillary process. Caudal usually truncate or rounded-truncate. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca few or in moderate number. Lateral line single. A numerous family of tropical carnivorous fishes, particularly abun- dant among coral reefs, and notable for their varying and brilliant coloration and markings. The young pass through a stage called the “ Tholichthys,” in which the head is covered with enlarged bony shields and there are strong suprascapular and preopercular spines. Key to the South African genera. 1. Preopercle unarmed (adult). Scales comparatively large. a. Fourth dorsal spine greatly prolonged, filamentous 2 . Heniochus. 6. Fourth dorsal spine not prolonged : : : : . Chaetodon. 2. Preopercle with a strong spine. : : ‘ : ; Holacanthus. Gen. HEentocuus C. and V. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vii, p. 92. Body elevated, with bony protuberance on either forehead or neck, or both, in adult. Snout short. Preopercle unarmed. Dorsal spines 11-13, the 4th greatly elongate and filamentous. Anal spines 3. Scales moderate sized. Pyloric caeca few. Indo-Pacific to Japan and Australia. Heniochus macrolepidotus (Linn.). Coachman ; Angle-fish. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 274. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 110, pl. xxviii, fig. 3. 1902. Jordan and Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxv, p. 542. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 370 (references). 608 Annals of the South African Museum. 1923. Ahl, Arch. f. Naturg., Abt. A, vol. lxxxix, p. 33. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 252 (acuminatus). Depth 14-12, length of head 24-34, in length of body. Eye 34-34 in length of head. A granulose or spinulose projection at upper anterior margin of orbit in adult; none on neck. D XI-XII 23-27, 4th spine ending filamentously, equalling or often exceeding length of 10-12 eo fish, = AU TTT 17-18; Seales: 1:1. 48-55: Ltr. Length.—Up to 230 mm. Colour.—Silvery or yellowish-white, snout and a bar across fore- head blackish, one broad black band from origin of dorsal through pectoral to belly, another from hind part of spinous dorsal to hind part of anal, filament of dorsal fin white, soft dorsal, pectorals, caudal, and anterior half of soft anal yellow, ventrals and anal spines black. Locality.— Natal, Delagoa Bay, Mozambique. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to Japan and Australia. This fish gets its first vernacular name from the Greek name of the genus, and the second from the resemblance of the 4th dorsal spine to an angler’s rod, though it does not use this filamentous streamer ~ as does the Angler-fish (Lophius). Gen. CHanTopon (Art.) Linn. 1738. Artedi, Genera, p. 51, (non binomial). 1758. Linne, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 272. 1829. Cuvier, Régne Anim., ed. 2, p. 189. 1868. Giinther, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., p. 457 (Tholichthys, larva). 1923. McCulloch, Rec. Austr. Mus., vol. xiv, p. 1 (key to Australian species.) 1923. Ahl, Arch. Naturg., Abt. A, vol. lxxxix, p. 44. Body deep, very strongly compressed, without protuberances on head. Snout short. Preopercle unarmed. Dorsal spines 12—13(14), the middle ones higher than the front or hind ones, none of them elongate. Anal spines 3. Scales large or moderate sized. Pyloric caeca few. All tropical seas. Various attempts have been made to subdivide this large genus, but none of them appear to be successful. So far as the South African fauna is concerned, any subdivision is quite unnecessary as the species are so few. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 609 Key to the South African species. I. Scale-rows below 1.1. as well as those above running obliquely upwards and backwards. A. One of the dorsal rays prolonged ; , ; ; : setifer. B. None of the dorsal rays prolonged. 1. A dark wedge-shaped band from opercle to base of spinous dorsal lunula. 2. No dark wedge-shaped band between opercle and dorsal. a. Ocular band about equal to eye-diameter. i. No black spot on back 5 vagabundus. ii. Two black triangular spots on back . : falcula. 6. Ocular band much narrower than eye-diameter . melanotus. II. Scale-rows below 1.1. horizontal. A. Soft dorsal and anal black 5 : ‘ . xanthocephalus. B. Fins yellow . ; : : : : : marley. III. Scale-rows below 1.1. running obliquely downwards and backwards kleint. Chaetodon setifer BI. Whip Butterfly-fish. 1785. Bloch, Ichth., pl. cdxxvi, fig. 1. 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 225. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 106, pl. xxvu, fig. 3 (awriga var. setifer). 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii, p. 364, pl. xlvu. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus,, vol. i, pt. 4, p. 369 (references and synonymy). 1923. Ahl, Arch. Naturg., Abt. A, vol. lxxxix, p. 147 (auriga), and p. 148 (subsp. setzfer). Profile concave above snout, which is pointed. Depth 14-13%, length of head 23-34, in length of body. Eye 3-32 in length of head. D XII-XIIIT 23-26, 6th ray (5th and 6th or 6th and 7th sometimes) prolonged beyond the others as a filament, increasing in length with age. A III 20-21. Scales: 1.1. 40-44; l-tr. (origin of dorsal to belly) Rows below as well as those above 1.1. running obliquely upwards and backwards. (Plate XXVI, fig. 6.) Length.—Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Silvery or yellowish, with 5-6 dark narrow stripes running obliquely upwards, and 9-10 obliquely downwards, a black band from nape through eye to angle of interopercle, narrower and fainter above Ce antinntieeel SS ~<: silences eb — ee 610 Annals of the South African Museum. eye than below; fins yellow, a large black ocellus on about the 7th— 14th dorsal rays, soft dorsal with narrow black margin, anal with white margin and a fine black submarginal line, a white bar edged with brown across caudal. Locality —Natal and Zululand coast, Mozambique. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to Japan and Australia. C. auriga Forsk. 1775 is mentioned in Playfair and Giinther (Fish. Zanz., p. vill) as occurring at Mozambique. This species resembles setifer in the filamentous dorsal ray, but instead of the round or oval ocellus it has “ an oblique cuneiform blackish band from the origin of the soft dorsal to the posterior part of the anal.” C. setzfer is often regarded (Day ; Weber; Ahl) as a variety of the older species. Chaetodon lunula (Lacép.). Lunate Butterfly-fish. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, pp. 507, 510, 513. 1873-75. Giinther, Fische d. Stidsee, vol. i, p. 42, pl. xxxiui, figs. A-D (adult and young). 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii, p. 366, pl. liv (adult), and fig. 160 (young). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 368 (references). 1923. Ahl, Arch. Naturg., Abt. A, vol. lxxxix, p. 114. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvii, p. 251. Profile concave, snout pointed. Depth 13-13, length of head about 3, in length of body. Hye 22-3 in length of head. D XII 23-24. AUIIETee1G." Seales 1136-40 aeet I cales r 17-19 Rows below 1.1. running obliquely upwards and backwards. Length.—Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Yellow ; a black band from interorbital through eye to lower margin of preopercle, wider than eye; behind this a silvery white band from nape over opercle; a narrow triangular or wedge- shaped black bar from 6th and 7th dorsal spines to upper margin of opercle, bordered above and below with white ; oblique series of red spots, more or less united, following the lines of scales on sides; fins yellow, spinous and soft dorsal and anal with black margins, a reddish band along middle of soft dorsal and anal, an ill-defined black band starting from origin of dorsal and running along base of dorsal to . PLATE XXV. FIG. TRXT-PAGE 1. Pterycombus falcatus n. sp. (original photo) ‘ : 5 - 699. 2. Dipterodon capensis C. and V. (after C. and V.) . ; : ‘ . 635 3. Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsk.) (original photo) 3 : . ; . 633 Plate XXV. Ann S. Afr. Mus., Vol. XXL. Neill & Co., Ltd. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 611 caudal peduncle, where it ends in an enlarged well-defined ocellus ; caudal with a red, followed by a black cross-bar and a white margin. In the young the upper half of the body is more or less suffused with blackish, and there is a black ocellus on the soft dorsal, which gradually migrates to the margin and is eventually absorbed into the black margin, as in vagabundus. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to China and Australia. Chaetodon vagabundus Linn. Wandering Butterfly-fish. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 276. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 105, pl. xxvu, fig. 1. 1902. Jordan and Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxv, p. 532. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p- 369 (references). 1923. McCulloch, Rec. Austr. Mus., vol. xiv, p. 3, pl. i, figs. 1, 2 (young). 1923. Ahl, Arch. Naturg., Abt. A, vol. Ixxxix, p. 153. Profile concave above snout, which is pointed. Depth 14-14, length of head 24 (young)—34, in length of body. Eye 23 (young)-34 in length of head. D XII-XITI 25-26. ATIII 20-21. Scales: 1.1. 40-45; 5-6 . eave upwards and backwards. Length —Up to 150 mm. Colour.—Silvery or yellowish, with a series of 6 narrow dark stripes running obliquely from head to base of spinous dorsal, the lowermost abutting against about 11 similar stripes running in the reverse direc- tion to the base of anal; a blackish vertical stripe from origin of dorsal through eye to angle of interopercle, equal in width to eye; fins yellow, a black band from upper part of anterior dorsal rays across the soft dorsal and caudal peduncle on to hind end of anal, soft dorsal with black margin, anal with white margin and narrow black submarginal band, caudal with two black cross-bars. In the young there is a large black ocellus on the soft dorsal, which is gradually pushed outwards until it becomes merged in the black margin seen in the adult. Locality. Natal and Zululand coasts, Delagoa Bay, Mozambique. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to Japan and Australia. VOL. XXI, PART 2. 40) Ltr Rows below as well as those above 1.1. running obliquely 612 Annals of the South African Museum. The application of the name is not clear; it is not a more widely distributed species than, e.g. setifer. *Chaetodon falcula Bl. Two-spot Butterfly-fish. 1785. Bloch, Ausl. Fische, vol. ix, p. 102, pl. cdxxv (pl. cdxxvi, fig. 2). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 104, pl. xxvi, fig. 5. 1923. Ahl, Arch. Naturg., Abt. A, vol. lxxxix, p. 170. Profile concave, snout prominent, pointed. Depth about 14, length of head 22, in length of body. Eye nearly 4 in length of head. D XII-XITI 24-28. A Wl 21223) “Seales : 1.1. 25(-28)\G shee i Scales below I.1. running obliquely upwards and backwards. Length.—Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Reddish-lilac, becoming pale yellow posteriorly and on the fins ; several narrow, dark, vertical streaks ; 2 large triangular black patches on back, the first from 2nd—5th dorsal spines to lateral line or a little below, the second at end of spinous and beginning of soft dorsal to a little below lateral line; a black band, shghtly narrower than eye-diameter, from interorbital through eye to chest; a black band on caudal peduncle ; soft dorsal and anal and caudal with black intramarginal band and white margin. Locality.— Mozambique. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies. *Ohaetodon melanotus Bl. Schn. Black-backed Butterfly-fish. 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 224. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 108, pl. xxvii, fig. 1. 1923. Ahl, Arch. Naturg., Abt. A, vol. Ixxxix, p. 128 (references). Profile concave, snout pointed. Depth 14, length of head 3, in length of body. Eye 3 in length of head. D XII-XIII 19-22. A i 16-202) Seales: I. 374050 Nor: moe Rows below Ll. running obliquely upwards and backwards. Length.—Up to 157 mm. Colour.—Yellowish, brownish-black above, with dark oblique lines , A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 613 following the rows of scales; a black band, much narrower than eye, from interorbital through eye to chest, a black more or less interrupted band over caudal peduncle; fins yellow, soft dorsal and anal and caudal with a narrow black intramarginal band, margin white or greyish. Locality.— Mozambique. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to China. *Chaetodon xanthocephalus Benn. Black-finned Butterfly-fish. 1832. Bennett, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 182. 1855. Peters, Wiegm. Archiv., p. 246 (nigripinnis=juv.). 1861. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. u, p. 32 (nigripinnis). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 104, pl. xxvi, fig. 4. 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 260, pl. xxix, fig. 4 (negripinnis). 1898. Jatzow and Lenz, Voeltzkow’s Reise. Abh. Senckenb. Ges., vol. xxi, p. 503 (nigripinnis). 1923. Ahl, Arch. Naturg., Abt. A, vol. lxxxix, p. 68. Profile nearly straight or slightly concave above snout, which is not very pointed. Depth 13, length of head 3, in length of body. Eye 34 in length of head. D XIV 24. ATIII 23. Scales: 1.1.36. Rows below the 1.1. horizontal. Length.—Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Yellow, a narrow black band from nape through eye to in- teropercle, becoming obsolete in adult ; pectorals, ventrals, and caudal yellow, a large black patch covering the soft dorsal and posterior 5 spines, a similar patch on the anal, soft dorsal and anal margined with yellow. Locality Mozambique. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, India. Chaetodon marley Regan. Marley’s Butterfly-jish. 1921. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. iii, pt. 1, p. 1. 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 23. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvii, p. 251. Profile slightly concave above the pointed snout. Depth 14-14. length of head 3-34, in length of body. Eye 3-34 in length of head. 614 Annals of the South African Museum. i D X11 23-25. A. TIT 17-19. Seales: 11.4045: Ltr. Tis Rows on lower half of body horizontal. Length.—Up to 140 mm. Colour.—Silvery, each scale on body with a lemon-yellow centre, forming lines, oblique on upper half, horizontal on lower half, of body ; a dark median stripe from snout to interorbital; a dark, light-edged band from nape through eye to interopercle, slightly narrower than eye ; a broader dark band from 3rd—5th dorsal spines through pectoral to ventrals, and a similar band from junction of spinous and soft dorsal to middle of anal, at the dorsal end of the latter band on last spine and first 3 rays an oval black ocellus; a dark bar on caudal peduncle ; fins pale yellowish, soft dorsal and anal with a narrow black-and-white border, ventrals dusky, caudal with a dark, light- bordered cross-bar, convex anteriorly. Locality False Bay, Agulhas Bank to East London and Natal, down to 50 fathoms. Type in British Museum. Closely related to the Atlantic striatus Linn., under which name specimens have been in the South African Museum for many years. It seems to be specially common at Mossel Bay. Chaetodon kleini Bl. Klein's Butterfly-fish. 1785-95. Bloch, Ausl. Fische, vol. iv, p. 7, pl. xxvui, fig. 2. 1797. Bloch, Ichth., pl. cexvii, fig. 2. 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 225. 1877. Bleeker, Atl. Ichth., vol. ix, p. 45, pl. ceelxxin, fig. 3. 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasce. Poiss., p. 258. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 368. 1923. Ahl, Arch. Naturg., Abt. A, vol. Ixxxix, p. 144. Profile concave above snout, which is pointed. Depth 14, length of head 3, in length of body. Eye 24-3 in length of head. D XII Rows =—Xitt 22-25) .A-1IT 18-20... Scales: lil. S0=sSesleun: 12 below 1.1. running slightly downwards and backwards. Length.—Up to 125 mm. Colour.—Yellow, snout blackish, a black band the width of the eye A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 615 from nape through eye to throat and base of ventrals, a broad band from spinous dorsal to ventral, and a broader one from soft dorsal to anal; these two latter bands usually present but sometimes quite indistinct or even absent; fins yellow, soft dorsal and anal with fine black marginal line. Locality.—Natal coast, Mozambique. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies, to China and Australia. A specimen from Mozambique had no trace of the two broad dusky bands when freshly caught. Gen. HoLAcaANTHUS Lacép. 1803. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, p. 525. 1902. Jordan and Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxv, p. 544. 1915. Ogilby, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. i, p. 99. Body oblong or rather elevated, compressed but rather robust, without protuberances on head. Snoutshort. Preopercle with strong spine at angle and often serrations on lower and hind margins. Pre- orbital often serrate, and sometimes also with strong spines. Dorsal spines 12-15, usually increasing in height posteriorly, with or with- out a procumbent spine in front. Anal spines 3. Caudal lunate, truncate, or rounded. Scales small or moderate, rough, often inter- mixed with smaller ones. Pyloric caeca in moderate number (about 22). All tropical seas. The genus is here diagnosed in its wide sense, as the attempts to separate the numerous species into subgenera have not proved too successful as yet. The synonymy of the various species even needs extricating and revising. Key to the South African species. 1. Preorbital without spines. a. Strongly curved pale bands. Caudal rounded : ; nicobariensis. b. Feebly curved pale bands. Caudal truncate : : . striatus, 2. Preorbital with a strong spine (Xiphypops) . : ; . acanthops. Holacanthus nicobariensis (Bl. Schn.). 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 219, pl. 50. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vii, p. 191, pl. clxxxii (semicirculatus). 616 Annals of the South African Museum. 1873-75. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, vol. i, p. 54, pl. xli, fig. B. 1877. Bleeker, Atl. Ichth., vol. ix, p.' 69, pl. ceclxx, fig. 5 (sem#- curculatus), and p. 69, pl. ccelxv, fig. 1 (nicobariensis). 1878-88. Day, Fish. Ind., p. 112, pl. xxviii, fig. 6. 1915. Ogilby, loc. cit., p. 110 (semicirculatus) (references). 1918. Regan, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., vol. i, p. 192, fig. (sems- circulatus) (colour changes). Depth 13-12, length of head 32-34, in length of hody. Eye about 3 in length of head. Preorbital not denticulate. Hind and lower margins of preopercle feebly serrated, spine short, +4 length of head. D XITI-XIV 20-23, spines increasing in height posteriorly. : Ltr. a ; 3-4 series on cheek. Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colouwr.—Silvery, darker above, dorsal fin with a blackish margin. Locality Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies, 8. Pacific. 630 Annals of the South African Museum. Xystaema rappi nom. nov. 1861. Rapp in Giinther, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 142, pl. xxiv. (longirostris non Lacép.). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 352 (references) (longirostris). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 79 (references) (longi- rostris). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 244 (longi- rostris). Depth 2-24, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Eye about equal to snout, equal to or slightly less than interorbital width, 3-34 in length of head. Maxilla reaching slightly beyond anterior margin of eye. Gill-rakers 7 on lower part of anterior arch. D IX 10-11, 2nd spine slightly longer than 3rd, 24-22 in depth of body, succeeding spines decreasing gradually, soft rays scarcely, if at all, higher than posterior spine. A III 7. 6 Fic. 21.—Lower pharyngeal Scales: 1.1. 46-48; ltr. ——. Three rows on teeth of Xystaema rappt. 12 cheek. Lower pharyngeal bones not com- pletely fused, with a regularly arranged group of flattened molari- form teeth on the posterior portion. Length.— Up to 240 mm. Colour.—Silvery, with a more or less distinct series of dark longi- tudinal stripes. Locality. Natal coast. Type in Tibingen Museum. This species is a close ally of abbreviatus Blkr., but is distinguished by the more numerous scales in the lateral line and the less concave margin of the spinous dorsal, though the margin is slightly concave, not even as in Rapp’s figure, in which the height of the hinder spines appears to have been exaggerated. Fam. 35. LETHRINIDAE. Body ovate or oblong, compressed, with moderate-sized ctenoid scales. Mouth moderate, terminal, oblique, protractile. Maxilla without supplementary bone, mostly concealed under the broad pre- orbital. Anterior teeth in jaws villiform, with canines, lateral teeth | A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 631 conical or obtuse (molariform), in a single series; no teeth on vomer, palatines, or tongue. Nostrils paired. Gill-membranes broadly united, but free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. Gill-rakers mostly reduced, knob-like. A single dorsal, the spinous and soft portions subequal. Anal about equal to soft dorsal, with 3 spines. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, with axillary process. Caudal lunate or forked. Lateral line single. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca few. Subocular shelf small or vestigial. A small family of three genera, closely related to the Lutianidae, and inhabiting the Indo-Pacific region. One species of Lethrinus is found on the west coast of Africa. Gen. LETHRINUS Cuv. 1829. Cuvier, Régne Anim., ed. 2, p. 182. - Head large. Snout long, pointed. Preorbital deep. Cheeks and upper surface of head scaleless. Maxilla concealed. DX9. ATJII8. Lateral line tubes simple. Indo-Pacific, with one species on west coast of Africa. Excellent food-fishes. A large genus, but many of the so-called species are merely nominal. Differential characters are hard to find in this genus. The formula of the dorsal and anal fins is the same throughout. Bleeker finds the most reliable specific characters in the relative proportions, shape of the profile, number of scales above the lateral line, strength and length of the dorsal spines, and height of anal compared with its length (Atl. Ichthyol., vol. viii, p. 110). The lateral teeth, which are conical in the young, frequently become obtuse and molariform in the adult. Key to the South African species. 1. Depth of body less than length of head : : . miniatus. 2. Depth of body at least equal to, usually greater than, revet of head. a. Eye moderate. Brownish with blue spots . ‘ : . nebulosus. b. Eye large. Yellowish , : ‘ : : : . borbonicus. In addition to the species here mentioned, Playfair and Giinther (1866, Fish. Zanz., p. viii) record violaceus C. and V. (sic ?=virescens C. and V.) and mahsenoides C. and V. (? =insulindicus Blkr.) from Mozambique. In the present unsatisfactory state of our knowledge of the limits of the species in this genus, it is sufficient merely to note 632 Annals of the South African Museum. these records here. Fowler’s specimen of mahsenoides is probably referable to nebulosus (vide infra). Lethrinus minmatus (Forst.). Long-snouted Scavenger. 1801. Forster, Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichthyol., p. 281. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 213 (varvegatus), and p. 220 (rostratus). 1866. Playfair in Playfair and Giinther, Fish. Zanz., p. 44, pl. vil, fig. 2 (longirostris). 1876-77. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vin, p. 117, pl. ecexxvi, fig. 3; pl. cccxxx, fig. 2 (varvegatus) ; and p. 121, pl. cccix, fig. 3. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 134, pl. xxxiii, fig. 1 (rostratus), and Da Lok. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 241 (gen- vittatus), and p. 242 (acutus). Depth 23-32, length of head 22-3, in length of body. Eye 34 (young)—5 (adult) in length of head, 14 (young)—2 in snout, 1 (young) —14 in interorbital width, and 14 (adult) in depth of preorbital. Gill- rakers 8 on lower part of anterior arch. Lateral teeth usually remaining 5-6 Pee conical in adult. Scales: 1.1. 48; ltr Length.—Up to 370 mm. Colour.—Olivaceous or violaceous, with irregular, more or less distinct, narrow, vertical bands or reticulations, or scattered spots ; dark bands from eye across preorbital and snout, dorsal mottled, often with a dark spot at base of each spine and ray. Locality.—Natal coast, Delagoa Bay, Mozambique. Distribution.—Indian Ocean, East Indies. Although Bleeker keeps variegatus separate from miniatus on account of the extra scale above the lateral line in the latter, it would seem that this character is not distinctive. Bleeker’s figure (pl. cecxxvii, fig. 3) of variegatus corresponds as regards the spots at the base of the dorsal fin with Day’s figure of his miniatus, and Day gives 4 complete and 2 half series of scales as against Bleeker’s 53. The difference is more verbal than real. I have obtained specimens in the same haul of the net, some with the basal dorsal spots, some without, though owing to immaturity it was impossible to determine whether the presence or absence of such spots was a sexual character. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 633 Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsk.). Scavenger. 1775. Forskal, Desc. Anim., p. 52. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 289 (opercularis). 1876-77. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vii, p. 119, pl. cccxxxy, fig. 5 (opercularis). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 135, pl. xxxii, fig. 2 (karwa); p. 136, pl. xxxiu, fig. 4 (nebulosus) ; and p. 136 (opercularis). 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 168 (scoparius). 1914. Id., cbid., vol. xiii, p. 69 (chrysostomus % non Rich.). 1916. Ogilby, Mem. Queensl. Mus., vol. v, p. 163 (references). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 360 (also chrysostomus sed ? references, and scoparius). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 241 (sco- parvus), and p. 242 (mahsenoirdes). Depth 24 (large specimens)—22 (young), length of head 24-3, in length of body. Eye 4(young)-5 in length of head, 14 (young)—24 in snout, 1 (young)-14 in interorbital width, and 14(young)-2 in depth of preorbital. Gill-rakers 5-6 on lower part of anterior arch. Lateral teeth more or less obtuse or molariform in adult. Scales: (Plate X XV, fig. 3.) 6 fee 45 + | tr. Ihe Length.—Up to 750 mm. Colour.—Brownish, olivaceous, or greyish, somewhat silvery on belly ; head darker or violaceous above, each scale on the back and sides with a cobalt-blue centre, suprascapular scale and some streaks and spots on cheeks also cobalt-blue ; fins pale, the edges of the dorsal, anal, and caudal yellowish or reddish, ventrals bluish-grey (especially in young), lst (uppermost) and basal portion of 2nd pectoral rays blue, distal portion of 2nd reddish, inside of mouth and opercle orange or scarlet. Locality.— Natal and Zululand coasts, Delagoa Bay, Mozambique. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies to N.E. Australia. Type of scoparius in South African Museum. The true chrysostomus Richardson appears to have only 5 scales above the lateral line (see McCulloch, 1922, Austral. Zoologist., vol. i, p. 87, key). 634 Annals of the South African Museum. I have examined a large number of fresh specimens of all sizes from the nets at Delagoa Bay, and feel sure that Fowler’s mahsenoides is the same species. *Lethrinus borbonicus C. and V. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 303. 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 204, pl. 21, fig. 2. 1921. British Museum Report, p. 118. Depth 24, length of head 3, in length of body. Eye 33 in length of head, 14 in snout, and | in depth of preorbital. Lateral teeth molari- form. Scales: 1.1. 48; ltr. ? 5 above lateral line. Length.—175 mm. Colour.—Yellowish, with silvery sheen, head brown, mouth and fins reddish. Locality.— Delagoa Bay (Brit. Mus.). Distribution — Reunion. This species seems to be distinguished by the large eye and short snout. Fam. 36. GIRELLIDAE. Body oblong-ovate or ovate, compressed, with moderate-sized or - small ctenoid scales. Mouth small. Maxilla for the most part con- cealed under the preorbital, without supplemental bone. Subocular shelf present. Jaws with bands of incisor teeth ; vomer and palatines toothless. Nostrils paired. Guill-membranes scaly, joined to isthmus. Gills 4, a sht behind 4th: Pseudobranchiae present. A single dorsal fin. Anal spines 3. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, with axillary process. Caudal emarginate. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca moderately numerous, large. Lateral line single. This family, from the Indo-Pacific region, is closely allied to the Kyphosidae, but has the maxilla concealed and the gill-membranes united to the isthmus. Only two genera are found in South African waters, both of which are endemic, though ranging as far as Mada- gascar. Key to the South African genera. 1. Dorsal notched, with 10 spines. t 4 : é ; Dipterodon. 2. Dorsal not notched, with 11 spines’. : : ‘ . Pachymetopon. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 635 Gen. DIPTERODON C. and V. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vii, p. 274. 1914. Pellegrin, Bull. Soc. Zool. Fr., vol. xxxix, p. 231. Body deep ovate. Dorsal fin notched, with 10 spines. The anterior soit rays of dorsal and anal prolonged, forming lobes. Teeth in a single row, the front ones chisel-shaped, the lateral ones more pointed ; usually no inner rows, but occasionally a few small conical teeth are present, more or less concealed in fleshy pads. Opercle and whole of preopercle scaly. A South African genus with one species, which extends to Mada- gascar. Dipterodon capensis C. and V. Galjoen. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, loc. cit., p. 276, pl. clxxxvul. 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr., Austr., p. 34 (coloration). 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 165 (colour variation). 1914. Pellegrin, loc. cit., p. 231 (multifasciatus). 1914. Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. 11, p. 90 (habits). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 358 (references). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 86 (references). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 233. Depth 12-2 (or a little over 2 occasionally), length of head 3-34, in length of body. Eye 32 (young)—5 (adult) in length of head, equal to or a little less than snout, 14 (young)—1% (adult) in interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to, or almost to, below anterior margin of eye, its posterior end visible. Preopercle finely serrulate on hind margin and angle. Giull-rakers (12)14-15 on lower part of anterior arch. D X (17)18-23, 4th spine (or 4th and 5th) longest, 2-24 in length of head. A III 13-15, 2nd and 3rd spines about equal. Longest anal rays usually slightly longer than longest dorsal rays, about 14 in length of head. Scales: 1.1. 75-85; ltr. ca. 30 above lateral line. Pyloric caeca 14. (Plate XXV, fig. 2.) Length.— Up to 650 mm. Colour.—Grey, lighter or darker, often strongly silvery, belly silvery white; either uniform or with more or less distinct, dark, broad, vertical bands on the body, 5-6 in number, sometimes with intervening narrow bands (multifasciatus) ; fins greyish, soft dorsal and anal and ventrals blackish, anal and ventral spines white. 636 Annals of the South African Museum. Locality.— Walfish Bay to Table Bay, False Bay to Natal coast, Delagoa Bay. ; Distribution.—Madagascar. Types of capensis and multifasciatus in Paris Museum. The characters used by Pellegrin for differentiating multifasciatus are not constant; the 2nd and 3rd anal spines are about equal, de- creasing proportionately to the size of the fish with age, and in four specimens, all from Natal, the dorsal rays range from 18-23. One of these has the typical alternate broad and narrow bands of multi- fasciatus. The coloration, though usually uniform, is variable, as already noted by Castelnau and Gilchrist and Thompson, but the banded form is more typical of the warmer waters in the eastern part of our area. The contrast between the white spines of the anal and ventral fins and the black rays is usually well marked, especially in young fishes. The Galjoen, so called either from its resemblance to the high-built galleons of old days, or its habit of following them (Gilchrist, Tr. 8. Afr. Philos. Soc., vol. xi, p. 221, 1902), is found most commonly at the Cape, especially in False Bay, where it is one of the best known food- fishes. It is rare in Table Bay, and evidently prefers the warmer waters of the Mozambique and Agulhas currents. Its spawning habits and eggs are unknown. Gen. PACHYMETOPON Gnthr. 1859. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 424. 1914. Pellegrin, Bull. Soc. Zool. Fr., vol. xxxix, p. 264. Body ovate. Dorsal fin not notched, with 11 spines. Anterior soft rays of dorsal and anal not forming lobes. Teeth consisting of a single row of incisors, with a band of smaller, conical ones behind them. Opercle scaly, but the margin of preopercle naked. Two species, one from South Africa, the other from Madagascar, though possibly both are really the same fish. *Pachymetopon grande Gnthr. 1859. Giinther, loc. cit., p. 424 (the figure was not published). 1870. Steindachner, 8.B. Ak. Wiss. Wien, vol. lx, p. 135 (guenther?). 1880. Giinther, Study of Fishes, p. 406 (name only) (not Challenger Shore Fishes as given in Thompson, 1918). 1886. Zd., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (5), vol. xvim, p. 367. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 637 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 86 (grande and guen- thert). Depth 3, length of head 5, in total length including caudal. Eye 44 in length of head, 14 in snout, about half the interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to below posterior nostril. Hind margin of pre- opercle minutely serrulate. D XI 11, 5th spine highest, 23 in length of head, soft rays nearly as high. A III 10, 2nd and 3rd spines about equal in length, 2nd the stronger, rays equal to those of dorsal. Scales: 1.1. 70 (Steindachner)-80 (Giinther counted above the 1.1.) ; 11-138 “oo Length.—500 mm. Colour (as preserved).—Uniform greyish, but Giinther thinks it may have been red in life, with dorsal, anal, and ventral blackish. Locality.—Cape seas. Type of grande in British Museum. I have not seen the type or any other specimen. Giinther’s remark (loc. cit., 1886, p. 367) that Cape naturalists “ would have no difficulty in obtaining other examples” has not come true. Neither the Cape Government Survey nor the Union Government Survey obtained a specimen. Like Giinther, both Steindachner and Pellegrin had only a single specimen. Thus three species have been instituted on three specimens. Giinther considers guentheri to be the same as grande, and I cannot help thinking that Pellegrin’s gibbosum is also the same. The scales in the lateral line and even transversely, both in this genus and in Dipterodon, are difficult to count accurately (Giinther, loc. cit., 1886, p- 368), and the difference between the prominence “ across the fore- head ” (Giinther) and the “ gibbosité nuchale ” (Pellegrin) may be only a verbal one, or if real may be due to difference in age or sex. The distribution is not incompatible with there being only the one species, in view of the distribution of Dipterodon capensis. P. gibbosum Pellegr. from Madagascar, measured 257 mm., and Ler. 8 had D XI 12 and scales 1.1. 63; 1.tr. = Fam. 37. LOBOTIDAE. ‘Agreeing with the Lutianidae (p. 646), but without subocular shelf, and without any teeth on the vomer or palatines. Maxilla concealed 638 Annals of the South African Museum. throughout its length. Soft dorsal and anal lobate. Caudal rounded. Three genera from warm seas. Meek and Hildebrand (Field Mus. Nat. Hist., zool. ser., vol. xv, p. 484, 1925) apparently do not admit the necessity of Jordan’s genus Verrugato 1923 for the Pacific species pacificus Gilb. Gen. Losotses Cuv. 1829. Cuvier, Régne Anim., ed. 2, vol. 11, p. 177. Snout very short. Mouth moderately protractile, the premaxillary shafts not very long, not reaching frontals. Teeth in villiform bands, with an outer row of larger conical teeth in front. Preopercle strongly serrate. Anal spines not very strong, graduated. A single widely distributed species. Lobotes surinamensis (Bl.). Triple-tail. 1790. Bloch, Ichthyol., vol. vii, pl. cexli. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 84, pl. xxi, fig. 5. 1911. Jordan and Thompson, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxxix, p. 436 (references). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 324 (references). Depth slightly over 2, length of head nearly 3, in length of body. Eye (according to age) 6-82 in length of head, 1-2 in snout, 1-23 in interorbital width. Maxilla extending to below hind margin of eye. Preopercle with strong serrations, those at angle more or less spinate. Gill-rakers 13 on lower part of anterior arch. D XII 15. ATIII 11. 9-10 16-18 Length.—Up to 1000 mm. Colour.—Slaty-grey, with bronzy or silvery sheen; fins similarly coloured, except pectoral and margin of caudal, which are pale yellowish. Locality.— Natal and Zululand coast. Distribution.—All warm seas. An excellent food-fish, but seldom caught in South African waters. Scales: 1.1. 42-45; I.tr. (Plate XXVII, fig. 1.) A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 639 Fam. 38. MONODACTYLIDAE. Body ovate or very deep, strongly compressed, with small or moderate ctenoid or cycloid scales. Mouth very oblique, protractile. Maxilla exposed posteriorly, without supplemental bone. Subocular shelf present or absent. Teeth villiform in jaws and on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Nostrils paired. Gill-membranes free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. The single dorsal and the anal long, the former with 5-8, the latter with 3 graduated spines, both covered with scales. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, small or vestigial or absent, with or without axillary process. Caudalforked. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca numerous. Lateral line single. A small family of small fishes comprised in two genera, one of which extends from the shores of South and East Africa to Southern Asia and Australia, while the second, Schuettea Steind. 1866 (syn. Bramichthys Waite 1905), is exclusively from Australia. Regan maintains the genus Pseftus as distinct from Monodactylus on account of its abnormally deep body, the presence of a subocular shelf, and the ankylosis of the pelvic bones. Gen. Monopactyuus Lac. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 1, p. 131. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vu, p. 240 (Psettus). 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 44 (Stromatoidea). 1915. Boulenger, F.W. Fish. Afr., vol. ii, p. 119 (Psettus). Scales small, ctenoid. Body ovate or very deep. Ventrals either small but normally developed, or reduced with 2-4 rays. The species of this genus are often found in estuaries and in rivers several miles from the sea. Key to the South African species. 1. Body ovate. VI5. Gill-rakers 20-24 : ; falciformis. 2. Body subcircular. VI2-4. Gill-rakers 17-19 . , : . argenteus. Monodactylus falciformis Lac. 1801. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ii, pl. 5, fig. 4; and 1802, ibid., vol. iti, p. 132. 640 Annals of the South African Museum. 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 44 (Stromatoidea layardt). 1915. Boulenger, F.W. Fish. Afr., vol. iii, p. 120, fig. 89. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 366 (references). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep. vol. iv, p. 96 (references). Body ovate. Depth 1} (adult)-2 (young), length of head 22-33, in length of body. Eye 2-23 in length of head, about twice snout, and 11-14 times interorbital width. Gill-rakers 20-24 on lower part of anterior arch. D VIII 27-30. A III 27-30. Anterior rays of dorsal and anal forming obtuse lobes. V I 5, small but well developed. Scales: 1.1. 50-60. Length.— Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Silvery, brownish above, lobes of the dorsal and anal fins blackish ; young with 7-10 dark vertical cross-bands, the broadest across the caudal peduncle, and a dark-border to the dorsal and anal fins. Locality.— Algoa Bay to Natal and Zululand, Delagoa Bay, entering rivers. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas, to China and Polynesia. Monodactylus argenteus (Linn.). 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10; and L766, 2bid.) edu p. 461. 1915. Boulenger, F.W. Fish. Afr., vol. ii, p. 121, fig. 90. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 365 (references). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 95 (references). Body subcircular. Depth 14-1}, length of head 3-33, in length of body. Eye 24-3 in length of head, twice the snout, and equal to or a little greater than interorbital width. Gill-rakers 17-19 on lower part of anterior arch. D VIII 28-30. A III 29-32. Anterior rays of dorsal and anal forming somewhat acute lobes. V I 2-4, very small. Scales: 1.1. 50-60. (Plate XXVI, fig. 3.) Length.—Up to 210 mm. Colour.—Silvery, brownish above, lobes of dorsal and anal fins blackish ; young with two dark vertical bands, one through the eye, the other from nape through base of pectoral to between ventrals and anal. | Locality —Knysna and Natal coast, entering rivers. ——— A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 641 Distribution.—EHast coast of Africa, Indian seas, East Indies to Polynesia and Australia. Distinguished from falciformis by the deeper body and in the young by the presence of only two cross-bands. Fam. 39. CENTROPOMIDAE. (Ambassidae.) Body oblong or elongate, with ctenoid or cycloid scales of variable size. Mouth moderately protractile. Maxilla broad, exposed, with or without supplementary bone. Teeth villiform, in bands in jaws and on vomer and palatines. Nostrils paired. Gull-membranes free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. Preopercle often with a double ridge. Spinous and soft portions of dorsal fin separate or united, subequal, the former of 7-9 spines. Anal as long as, or a little shorter than soft dorsal, with 3 spines. Vent- rals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, with axillary process. Caudal forked. Lateral line single, extending on to caudal fin. Air-bladder present. The genus Ambassis has usually been included in the family Ambassidae, but as Regan now groups the genera Centropomus, Lates, etc. with Ambassis in a single family, the family name is taken from the earliest genus. Only one genus in South Africa. Gen. AmBassis © and V. 1828. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ii, p. 175. Opercle without spine. Preopercle with double denticulated ridge. Preorbital usually denticulate. No supramaxilla. Dorsal fins con- nected, a recumbent forwardly directed spine in front of spinous dorsal, which has 7 spines, the Ist very short, 2nd strong. A basal sheath of scales along dorsals and anal. Scales cycloid, sometimes minute and deciduous. Canines sometimes present. Lateral line continuous, interrupted or partly obsolete. Small coastal fishes of the Indo-Pacific region, often entering estuaries and rivers, some species exclusively fluviatile. 642 Annals of the South African Museum. Key to the South African species. 1. Seven to nine median scales in front of dorsal fin. a. Inner ridge of preopercle serrate . : ; urotaenwa. b. Inner ridge of preopercle smooth, with Sale" two spines at angle natalensis. 2. Eleven to fourteen median scales in front of dorsal fin. a. Lateral line continuous ; : : : : : commersont. b. Lateral line interrupted : : ; : ‘ - gymnocephalus. * Ambassis urotaenia Blkr. 1852. Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind., vol. ii, p. 257 1877. Id., Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vii, p. 135, pl. ccexliv, fig. 2 ; pl. eccli, fig agile 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 55, pl. xv, fig. 8. 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 216. 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iii, p. 130 (references). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 339 (references). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxviui, p. 220. Depth 24-23, length of head 24, in length of body. Hye 24 in length of head, twice length of snout. Teeth on tongue, no canines. Preorbital serrate. Preopercle with both edges serrate. Inter- opercle smooth. Gill-rakers 21 on lower part of anterior arch. 2-3 Do Vil. 9-10.: ANI 9=t0.) Sealeseo ly 2i-2s re al (not including fin sheaths). One (Day) or two (Bleeker) rows on cheek ; 7-8 in front of dorsal fin. Lateral line more or less interrupted. (Plate XXIV, fig. 4.) Length.—Up to 90 mm. Colour.—Translucent yellow, with a bright silver longitudinal band from eye to caudal; fins yellowish, tip of spinous dorsal and a longi- tudinal band on each lobe of caudal blackish. Locality — Natal coast, Delagoa Bay, entering rivers. Distribution.—Indian seas and Kast Indies. Ambassis natalensis G. and T. 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 148. 1917. Jd., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 339. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 220 (ambassis ? non Lacép.). Depth 23-3, length of head 3, in length of body. Hye 3 in length : A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 643 of head, snout 3-£ eye. Teeth on tongue; no canines. Preorbital serrate. Preopercle with outer edge denticulate, inner ridge smooth except for 2 spines at angle. Interopercle smooth. Gill-rakers 20-22 on lower part of anterior arch. DI.VII.110. ATII10. Scales: 2 ee 2 eo Ltr. 5 ; 2rows on cheek ; 9(—10) in front of dorsal. Lateral line continuous. Length—Up to 65 mm. Colour.—Yellowish (as preserved), without silver lateral band, but with a narrow, dark, longitudinal streak on hinder part of body to base of caudal fin; tip of spinous dorsal and membrane between 2nd and 3rd spines blackish. Locality.—Natal coast, entering rivers. Type in South African Museum. The above is an emended description, the original description being erroneous in one or two points, notably the number of scales above the lateral line. Fowler considers this as the same as A. ambassis Lacép., and possibly the earlier safgha Forsk. Ambassis commersoni C. and V. 1828. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ul, p. 176. pl. xxv. 1877. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vin, p. 136, pl. ccclii, fig. 1. 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 113, pl. xli, A, fig. 6. 1915. Boulenger, Freshwater Fish. Afr., vol. i, p. 112, fig. 85. 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist, (9), vol. ix, p. 321. Depth 24-23, length of head 2-3, in length of body. Eye 24 (young)—34 in length of head, as long as or greater than snout. Teeth on tongue; no canines. Preorbital serrate. Preopercle with both edges serrate. Interopercle smooth, or with 1-2 serrations. Guill- rakers 17-19 on lower part of anterior arch. DI. VII.110. ATII 10. 3 Scales: 1.1. 28-29:; L.tr. é > 2rows on cheek; 12-13 in front of dorsal. Lateral line continuous. Length.—Up to 150 mm. Colour.—Yellowish, with bright silver band from eye to caudal ; membrane between 2nd and 3rd dorsal spines blackish. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies. VOL, XX, PART 2, 42 644 Annals of the South African Museum. The figure given by Cuvier and Valenciennes, and copied by Boulenger, shows a deep suborbital with 5 rows of scales, which is in conflict with Boulenger’s description. If the figure is correct then commerson, of Boulenger and Sauvage, is an entirely different fish. The South African Museum specimen agrees with Boulenger’s description. Fischer’s Apogon roseus (1885, Jahrb. Hamb. Wiss. Aust., vol. u, p. 66) from Mozambique is too inadequately described for specific determination, though it is clearly an Ambassis, and may very prob- ably be this species. *Ambassis gymnocephalus (Lac.). 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ii, pl. xxiii, fig. 3; vol. iv, p. 216. 1828. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 1, p. 181; vol. vi, p. 503; vol. ix, p. 431 (dussumiert). 1877. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vii, p. 138, pl. ccclii, fig. 3 (synonymy). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 54, pl. xv, fig. 6. 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 217. 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 321 (dussumert). Depth 23-24, length of head 3, in length of body. Eye 3 in length of head, greater than snout. Teeth on tongue; no canines. Pre- orbital serrate. Preopercle with both edges serrate. Interopercle smooth. DI. VII.1 9-10. AIII 9-10. Scales: 1.1. 27-29; l.tr. a 2 rows on cheek, 14 in front of dorsal. Lateral line interrupted. Length.—Up to 100 mm. Colour.—Yellowish, with a bright silver band from eye to caudal ; fins yellowish; membrane between 2nd and 3rd dorsal spines blackish. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian seas and East Indies. Fam. 40. KyPHOSIDAE. Rudder-fishes. Body oblong-ovate, compressed, with small ctenoid scales. Mouth small, moderately protractile. Maxilla exposed, without supple- A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 645 mental bone. No subocular shelf. Jaws with an outer series of strong incisors, implanted with more or less conspicuous roots, with a narrow band of villiform teeth behind them; villiform teeth on vomer, palatines, and usually tongue. Nostrils paired. Gill- membranes free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudo- branchiae present. A single dorsal fin. Anal spines 3. Soft dorsal and anal scaly. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, with axillary process. Caudalforked. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca numerous. Lateral line single. Small fishes, of no great value as food-fishes, found in all tropical seas. Herbivorous, feeding on seaweeds and algae. These fishes obtain their name of Rudder-fishes from their habit of following ships. Gen. KypHosus Lacép. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 1, p. 114. 1803, Id., bid., vol. iv, p. 429 (Pimelepterus). 1912. Jordan and Thompson, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xhi, p. 594. 1920. McCulloch, Rec. Austr. Mus., vol. xii, p. 56. Top of head scaly. Preopercle feebly serrulate. Incisors strong, with conspicuous roots; teeth present on tongue. Gill-rakers long. Spinous and soft portions of dorsal about equal. Anal similar to, not higher than, soft dorsal. Caudal moderately forked. Junction of gill-membranes forming an angle. The skin covering the branchi- ostegals scaly. Most of the species of this genus are found in the Indo-Pacific region. Kyphosus fuscus Lacép. Rudder-fish : Bastard Jacob Piver (Cape) ; Blue-fish (Hast London) ; Butter-bream (Natal). 1803. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. v, p. 484. 1838. Riippell, Neue Wirbelt. Fische. p. 34, pl. x, fig. 3. 1914. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xiii, p. 70 (conerascens non Forsk.). 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. in, p. 113 (references). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 324, and p. 323 (cinerascens non Forsk. Only the 1914 reference). 1918. Regan, zbed., vol. 1, p. 76. 646 Annals of the South African Museum. Depth 2%, length of head 33-33, in length of body. Eye 33-34 in length of head, 14 in interorbital width. Preorbital scaleless. Gill- rakers 20 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 12~-13(14), none of the soft rays as high as the highest spine. A III 11-13, anterior rays 10-12 19-22 as long as the longest dorsal spine. Scales: 1.1. 64-69; Ltr. (Plate X XVII, fig. 2.) Length.—Up to 700 mm. Colour.—Brownish, paler and silvery below, head violaceous, a series of more or less distinct longitudinal stripes, which in preserved specimens are paler than the ground colour. Locality.— False Bay to Natal and Zululand. Distribution. —Red Sea, Indian seas, East Indies, to Hawatian Islands. Although frequent in Natal, this fish seems to be rare further west- wards. According to Castelnau it feeds on molluscs, and its flesh is good eating. The specimen identified by Gilchrist and Thompson as cinerascens is not that species, which is characterised by having the anterior soft dorsal rays higher than the spines. The species of this genus are all very closely allied, and it is perhaps possible that oblongior C. and V. and lembus C. and V. will eventually be united with fuscus. Fam. 41. LUTIANIDAE. Body oblong or ovate, compressed, with moderate-sized, more or less strongly ctenoid scales. Mouth moderate or large, nearly hori- zontal, protractile. Maxilla long, typically without supplementary bone. Teeth villiform or conical, sometimes molariform, but never incisiform, on jaws, vomer and palatines, and usually also tongue ; sometimes deciduous. Nostrils paired. Guill-membranes free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. Dorsal fin single, more or less notched between spinous and soft portions, sometimes almost separated into two. Anal spines 3. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, with axillary process (except in Pristipomoides). Caudal emarginate or forked. Lateral line single. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca few. A strong sub- ocular shelf. A large family chiefly inhabiting warm seas. All are good food- fishes, but few have any great economic importance. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 647 Key to the South African genera. 1. Soft dorsal and anal scaleless (Htelinae). a. All teeth villiform. Pectoral short : : ; . Apsilus. b. Canines present in jaws. Pectoral falcate . . Pristipomoides. 2. Soft dorsal and anal scaly (Lutianinae). a. No canine teeth : , ‘ : : } : Caesio. 6. Canine teeth present . ; : ; ; . Lutianus. Gen. APSILUS C. and V. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 548. 1922. Jordan and Jordan, Mem. Carn. Mus., vol. x, p. 50 (key to genera of Etelinae). All the teeth viliform, no canines, minute teeth on tongue. Pre- opercle entire. Caudal fin, but not the soft dorsal or anal, scaly. Dorsal not deeply notched, spines 10. Analrays 8. Last dorsal and anal ray not produced. Pectoral short. No transverse groove between interorbital and occipital. *Apsilus fuscus C. and V. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, loc. cit., p. 549, pl. elxviii bis. 1859. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 82. 1870. Klunzinger, Verh. Zool. Bot. Gesell. Wien, vol. xx, p. 705. 1917. Jordan and Starks, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xi, p. 450 (name only). Depth 3, length of head 33, in length of body. Eye 4% in length of head, 14 in snout (in figure, 34 and 1 respectively). D X 10, 4th or 5th spine longest. A III 8. Caudal deeply forked. Scales: ll. 65; I.tr. 20; 6 series of scales on cheek. Length —Up to 325 mm. Colour.—Brown, lighter below, dorsal mottled with darker. Locality.— Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Cape Verde (C. and V.), Red Sea, Réunion, Ceylon. I have seen a specimen in the British Museum from Delagoa Bay ex coll. Gilchrist. Gen. PRISTIPOMOIDES Blkr. 1852. Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind., vol. iii, p. 574. 1862. Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., p. 237 (Platyinius). 1903. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxu, p. 182 (Bowersia). 648 Annals of the South African Museum. 1911. Jordan and Thompson, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxxix, p. 459 (part). 1922. Jordan and Jordan, Mem. Carn. Mus., vol. x, pp. 48, 50. Canines in jaws on outer side of villiform bands, villiform teeth on vomer and palatines; tongue smooth. Preopercle feebly dentate. Caudal fin, but not dorsal or anal, scaly. Dorsal not deeply notched, spines 10. Anal rays 8. Last dorsal and anal ray prolonged. Pec- toral long, falcate. A transverse groove between interorbital and occipital. An Indo-Pacific genus, extending to the West Indies, if Platyinius be considered synonymous. Pristipomoides filamentosus (C. and V.). 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 508. 1833. Bennett, Proc. Zool. Soc., vol. i, p. 127 (mites). gee 1870. Klunzinger, Verh. Zool Bot. Gesell. Wien, vol. xx, p. 703. 1879. Castelnau, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., vol. ii, p. 373 (voseus). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 345 (references). 1917. McCulloch, Rec. Austr. Mus., vol. xi, p. 173, pl. xxx (roseus). Depth about 34, length of head 34-4, in length of body. Hye 43-44 in length of head, 14-14 in snout and in interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to below anterior margin or anterior third of eye. Depth of preorbital 14 in eye (longitudinal diameter). Preopercle obscurely serrate at angle. Gill-rakers 14 on lower part of anterior arch. D X 11, 4th spine longest. A III 8. Caudal deeply forked. Scales: 6-7 El. 61=62 1 -tr. ae 7 rows on cheek. Length.—Up to 750 mm. Colour.—Pink or reddish above, silvery below, basal part of each scale bluish, small blue and yellow lines over head, preorbital, and snout; spinous dorsal bluish and yellowish at base, pinkish and yellowish towards margin, soft dorsal with two rows of orange spots, ventrals and anal white, pectoral pale yellow, caudal light pink. (Klunzinger and McCulloch). Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Red Sea, islands of Indian Ocean, New South Wales. The Natal fish agrees so well with McCulloch’s description of Aprion roseus, that there is little doubt the two are identical. McCulloch does not mention teeth on the tongue, which is therefore presumed to be A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 649 smooth, bringing this fish within the genus Pristipomoides. On the other hand the palatine teeth are quite obsolete in the Natal fish. P. wolescens J. and E. (1903, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxii, p. 183; and 1905, zbid., vol. xxii, p. 236, fig. 97) from Hawaii is exceed- ingly close to, if not identical with, this species, in spite of certain slight differences in the descriptions. The axillary process of the ventrals is obsolete in the Natal fish, likewise in the figure of violescens, and McCulloch specifically mentions its absence in roseus. Gen. Carsio Lacép. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. i, p. 85. 1923. Nicholls, Amer. Mus. Nov., No. 94, p. 2 (Clupeolabrus =young). 1925. Chabanaud, Bull. Soc. Zool. Fr., vol. 50, p. 151. Teeth in one or several rows in both jaws, without canines, some- times minute teeth on vomer, none on palatines or tongue. Preopercle entire or minutely denticulate. Soft dorsal and anal scaly, caudal more or less so; sometimes spinous dorsal also scaly. Dorsal not deeply notched, spines (9)10-13, usually very slender. Anal rays 10-13. Last dorsal and anal ray not prolonged. Pectoral moderate or rather long. A row of crenulate scales from suprascapula to occiput, with a shorter row in front and parallel with it, above the posterior border of orbit. Indian seas to the Hast Indies. Key to the South African species. 1. Maxilla almost completely concealed below preorbital. A black spot in axil of pectoral . : : : ; : : : : . axillaris. 2. Maxilla not concealed. A golden band along side; a dark band along each caudal lobe 5 : d ‘ : : 5 : coerulaureus. Caesio axillaris Blgr. Windtoy. 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., pl. 31 (Cantharus brama). 1900. Boulenger, Mar. Invest. 8. Afr., vol. i, p. 10, pl. 1. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 83 (apzllaris sic). 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., 1, p. 22. Depth 24-23, length of head 34-33, in length of body. Eye 3}-4 650 Annals of the South African Museum. in length of head, 1-1} in interorbital width, equal to (young) or a little less than snout. Teeth in a single row; no vomerine teeth. Maxilla extending to below posterior nostril, almost completely con- cealed beneath the preorbital, the depth of which is a little over 4 (adult) diameter of eye. Guill-rakers 21-22 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 12, spines strong, middle spines longest, spinous portion naked. oe io * — ©F q “Aig = © y ate) 2s ° 1) a ey ie ORG) 0) ae “Bek oO CS OO vs Bm | . | 80 CO TO ° SF) aS ° 25 o © 25 2 Ce ©) ~%0 » ae coo Selby 20 42.9 ©) wet 0 s 5 “,% o 290 Qe oa . 2°90 22.2 20 Oe, me? © 6 0% . “! ° et) O v2.9 °0 . ° me Owe eae “yo ©%9 a2 D008 2 0°60 am “o*e o> 25 , 209 v3 és ‘a Oss no 330 c) - oe a¢ 3 eS On ) Fic. 22.—Diagrams of dentition (left side upper jaw) of Sparoids. a, Sparus globiceps ; b, Pagrus nasutus; ec, Diplodus cervinus; da, Dentex undulosus ; e, Caranthus emarginatus ; £, Boopsidea inornata ; g, Gymnocrotaphus curvidens ; h, Pagellus mormyrus. Incisor teeth represented by ovals with lines through them; canines and larger conical teeth by circles with central dots ; molars by plain circles, ovals, or oblongs ; small circles and dots represent minute conical teeth. Gen. Sparus (Art.) Linn. 1738. Artedi, Gen. Pisc., p. 35. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 277. Four to six compressed incisors, implanted vertically or nearly so, A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 685 in both jaws; a series of molars at the sides, 4—5 in upper, 2-3 in lower jaw, of which the innermost series is always the largest. In the young the hindmost 3 or 4 molars of the inner row are more or less trans- versely oval or oblong, forming a kind of pavement ; in the adult, of some species at least, the last 1 or 2 of these molars become very large, longitudinally oval, and flat-topped. Cheeks scaly. Interorbital scaleless. Posterior nostril a narrow slit. The dentition, scaleless interorbital, and slit-like posterior nostril are clean-cut characters separating the species of this genus, of which auratus is the genotype, from those of Pagrus (Chrysophrys). Key to the South African species. 1. Incisors even, the median pair not markedly larger than the others. a. Body shallower, with vertical black bars ; ‘ . globiceps. b. Body deeper, with more or less distinct lomprt celine lines : sarba. 2. Incisors unequal, the median pair much larger and more prominent than the others : ; : ; 4 é ; . a durbanensis. Sparus globiceps (C. and V.). White Stumpnose. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 100. 1861. Steindachner, Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. xi, p. 180 (Sargus natalensis). 1907. Schultze, Abh. Deutsch. Seefisch. Ver. Berl., vol. ix, p. 9, pl. u (after Bloch). 1908. Regan, Ann. Nat. Mus., vol. i, p. 253, pl. xl (Sargus nigro- fasciatus). 1914. fd., Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. u, p. 100 (habits). 1915. Clark, Sci. Res. “ Scotia,” vol. iv, p. 396 (nzgrofasciatus). 1916. Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. in, p. 4, fig. 1 (egg and larva). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p- 359 (nzgrofasciatus). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 92 (references). 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., 1, p. 19. Profile of head sloping, convex, gibbous in front of eyes. Depth 24-22, length of head 3, in length of body. Eye 34 (young)—4$ (old) in length of head, 14-12 in snout, 14-1} in interorbital width, a little greater than (young) to about equal to depth of preorbital. Pre- orbital longer than deep, not reaching down to angle of mouth, lower margin straight (young) or somewhat concave (adult); 4-6 incisors 686 Annals of the South African Museum. in each jaw, contiguous, even the middle ones not markedly larger than the others; 4-5 series of molars in upper, 2-3 in lower jaw, the inner series always largest, in young transversely oval or oblong, in adult the hindermost 1 or 2 longitudinally oval and very large. Gill- rakers 8-9 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 11-12, 3rd—5th spines longest. A III 10-11, 2nd spine rather shorter but stouter than 3rd. Seales: 11. 58-61; Mtr. ; 6(-7) series on cheek; limb of pre- 14-16 opercle and whole of interorbital scaleless. Fic. 23.—Outlines of heads of : a, Sparus globiceps (400 mm.) ; b, S. sarba (350 mm.) ; and c, S. durbanensis (550 mm.) (diagrammatic). a, b, ¢ are the respective centres of arcs drawn between the first dorsal spine and the tip of the upper jaw. Length.—Up to 500 mm. Colour.—Silvery, greyish above, whitish below ; 5-7 narrow vertical black bars, which often disappear with increasing age ; often more or less distinct longitudinal dark lines, margins of opercle and axil of pectoral usually dark, a golden or bronzy band between eyes; fins greyish, dorsal often with darker margin, iris golden. ; Locality.—Coast of South West Africa, Saldanha Bay, Table Bay, False Bay, and Agulhas Bank to Algoa Bay and Natal, down to 40 fathoms. Type of Sargus ngrofasciatus in British Museum. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 687 The White Stumpnose is a well-known and valuable Cape fish, occurring often in vast shoals. It does not appear to extend regu- larly far to the east, preferring the colder waters of the west coast. It is very similar to the Mediterranean C. aurata; aurata is said to have a deeper preorbital, but this feature is variable according to age. Sparus sarba Forsk. Silver Bream (Natal) ; River Stumpnose (Eastern Province). 1775. Forskal, Descr. Anim., p. 31. 1843. Temminck and Schlegel, Faun. Jap. Poiss, p. 67, pl. xxxi (aries). 21861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 25 (natalensis). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 142, pl. xxxiv, fig. 6. 21881. Steindachner, SB. Ak. Wiss. Wien, vol. Ixxxili, p. 30, pl. 3 (Sargus holubi). 1912. Jordan and Thompson, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xli, p. 581, fig. 9 (ares). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 361 (natalensis), and p. 362 (references). 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 21 (Sargus holubi). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 234 (nagro- fasciatus non Regan). 1925. Id., ibid., p. 237, fig. 4 (natalensis). Profile of head convex, snout rather steeply inclined, interorbital rather prominent. Depth 2-23, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Kye 3-44 in length of head, 1-2 in snout, 1-1? in interorbital width, greater than (young) to 14 in (adult) depth of preorbital. Preorbital longer than deep, not reaching down to angle of mouth, lower margin slightly concave in young, more so in adult. Four to six incisors in upper, 6-8 in lower jaw; 4 series of molars in upper, 3 in lower jaw, the inner rows larger than the outer. Gill-rakers 8 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 12-13, 4th spine longest. A III 11, 2nd spine stronger than 3rd. Scales: 1.1. 56-64; 1. tr. are ; 5-6 series on cheek; 13-15 limb of preopercle almost or quite scaleless ; interorbital scaleless. Length.— Up to 450 mm. Colour.—Silvery, with golden or brownish longitudinal stripes, often a dark spot at beginning of lateral line ; fins yellowish or greyish, 688 Annals of the South African Museum. margin of dorsal usually with narrow dark edge, iris yellow, axil of pectoral often dark. Locality.— Algoa Bay, East London, Natal and Zululand coast, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas to China and Japan. The young often enter estuaries and lagoons. In general aspect and details closely resembling the White Stump- nose (S. globiceps) ; in fact, it is extremely difficult to separate the young of the two species. The adults, and the half-grown also, though less satisfactorily, can be distinguished by the following features: in sarba the body is more elevated, the profile from tip of snout to origin of dorsal is an are of a circle whose centre lies on the belly, midway between base of ventrals and vent, the antorbital bulge scarcely, if at all, transgresses the line of this arc (see fig. 23 b); the incisors are more conical, less chisel-edged ; the hindmost inner molars do not become (even in a specimen 350 mm. long) greatly enlarged and longitudinally oval; the longitudinal streaks on the body are more pronounced. The black spot on the lateral line, it may be noted, occupies the same position as does the first black cross-bar in globiceps. Steindachner’s Sargus holubi appears to belong here. It is said to have cloudy black cross-bands, though Regan (1908, Ann. Natal Mus., vol. 1, p. 254) states that it is uniform. Specimens identified at the British Museum by Boulenger certainly belong to sarba. Sparus durbanensis (Cast.). White Biskop (Cape) ; Sandstompkop (Mossel Bay) ; Brusher (Natal). 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 18. 1909. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 230. 1917. Zd., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 359. Profile of head sloping, nearly evenly convex. Depth 24-3, length of head 32-34, in length of body. Eye 6-64 in length of head, 2-23 in snout, 23-3 in interorbital width, 14-14 in depth of preorbital. Preorbital longer than deep, its lower margin slightly concave. Four incisors in each jaw, the middle pair much larger than the others, curved, the upper pair overlapping the lower lip when mouth closed ; molars in 4-5 series in upper, 2-3 in lower jaw, the hindermost ones of the inner row very large. Gill-rakers 8-9 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 11, 3rd—5th spines longest. A III 10. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 689 6-7 14-16 and whole of interorbital scaleless. (Plate XXVIII, fig. 4.) Length.— Up to 1000 mm. Colour.—Silvery, sometimes with a bluish tinge above, fins whitish or greyish; young with 6-7 longitudinal narrow brownish stripes, which disappear in adult. Locality.—False Bay, Agulhas Bank, Algoa Bay to Natal. The White Poenskop or Biskop is a fine sporting fish. It is frequent on the Agulhas Bank, less so in False Bay, and is only a winter visitor on the Natal coast. It is perhaps a little doubtful whether this species should be included in Sparus or Diplodus. The incisors are certainly rather more obliquely implanted than in the White Stumpnose, but not nearly so obliquely as in typical Diplodus, and they have rounded, not square, chisel-like edges ; the molars are quite similar to those of globiceps. In general facies, moreover, this species is a Sparus and not a Diplodus. Scales: 1.1. 59-61; l.tr ; 7 series on cheek ; limb of preopercle Gen. DrpLopus Raf. 1810. Rafinesque, Ind. d’Ittiol. Sicil., p. 54. 1817. Cuvier, Regne Anim., ed. 1, p. 272 (Sargus non Fabr. Diptera). A single front row of strong incisors, implanted more or less obliquely, and several lateral rows of rounded molars in both jaws. Cheek scaly. Posterior nostril more or less slit-like. Tubes of the lateral line in some cases bifurcate towards the hinder end of body. Omnivorous fishes of moderate size from the Mediterranean, warmer parts of Atlantic, and southern and eastern coasts of Africa to India; often entering, especially when young, estuaries and lagoons. The dentition closely resembles that of Sparus, but the incisors are implanted more or less obliquely, and they are more markedly chisel-edged. Key to the South African species. 1. Broad black vertical bands. Lips thick and fleshy : : . cervinus. 2. A large black blotch on caudal peduncle. Dark bands, if present, narrow. Lips not thick and fleshy . : ; s rondeleti var. capensis. D. aurwentris (Peters), from Mozambique, is not included here, as Steindachner’s later description (Ichth. Beitr., vol. v, p. 156, 1876) is not available. 690 Annals of the South African Museum. Two species previously placed in this genus, holubi and nigro- fasciatus, are here transferred to Sparus. Diplodus cervinus (Lowe). Zebra ; Wilde-Paard ; Streep-dasje. 1841. Lowe, Trans. Zool. Soc. Lond., vol. 11, p. 177. 1849. Smith, Illustr. Zool. 8. Afr. Pisces, pl. xxii, fig. 1 (Sargus hottentotus). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 359 (references). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 87 (references). Profile sloping. Depth 2-24, length of head 24 (young)-3 or 34, in length of body. Hye 3 (young)—5$ in length of head, 1 (young)—23 in snout, | (young)—2 in interorbital width, twice the depth (young) or 13 in depth of preorbital. Preorbital entirely concealing maxilla. Lips very thick and fleshy, especially in large examples. Incisors oblique, 12 in upper, 8 in lower jaw; molars small, in two series in both jaws. Gill-rakers 9-10 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 12-13, 4th spine longest, about $ (young) to about 4 length of head. A Itt. Scales 1. G0=68s slit: = ; 4-5 series on cheek; limb of preopercle naked. Tubes of lateral line bifurcate on hinder part of body and caudal peduncle. Length.—Up to 500 mm. Colour.—Silvery (young) or more greyish in adult, with 5-6 broad black vertical cross-bands, the lst through the eye, the 2nd through ~ shoulder, the 6th (often faint or even absent) across caudal pedunele ; snout black; dorsal, anal, and ventrals blackish. Locality.—Saldanha Bay, Table Bay, False Bay to East London and Natal. Distribution.—Cap Blanc, Madeira, Canary Islands. Type of Sargus hottentotus in British Museum. The Zebra is a gregarious fish, going about in small shoals. It is very common in False Bay, though large examples are rarely caught inshore. Diplodus rondeleti (C. and V.). 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 14, pl. ex: 1914. Pellegrin, Ann. Inst. Ocean., vol. vi, p. 52. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 691 var. capensis Smth. Dasje (Cape) ; Black-tail (Natal). 1849. Smith, Illustr. Zool. 8. Afr. Pisces, pl. xxin, fig. 2. 1887. Boulenger, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 658. 1914. Gilchrist and Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. u, p. 96 (habits). 1916. Gilchrist, zbzd., vol. in, p. 5 (egg). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 359. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 87 (references). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 233. Profile sloping. Depth about 2, length of head 23-34, in length of body. Eye 24 (young)-54 (adult) in length of head, greater than (young) to 1} in snout, greater than (young) to 24 in interorbital width. Depth of preorbital 24 in eye-diameter (young), slightly greater than eye in adult. Preorbital with lower margin straight or slightly concave, completely concealing maxilla. Lips not thick and fleshy. Incisors oblique, 8 in both jaws; molars in 3-4 series in upper, 2-3 in lower jaw. Grill-rakers 9-10 on lower part of anterior arch. D XII 14 (Giinther gives XI-XII 12-15 fo- rondeleti and XII 14-16 for capensis), 4th and 5th spines longese, 2-4 length of nena. A Itt 13-14. Scales: Ll. 66—74;- ltr 5—6 serles on 16-18 ° cheek ; limb of preopercle naked. Tubes of lateral line simple. Length.—Up to 370 mm. Colour.—Silvery, often light or dark greyish in old examples, with more or less conspicuous silvery or dark longitudinal streaks along the rows of scales, and 4-5 narrow dark cross-bars, which vary in intensity, and are often scarcely visible; a broad black band across the caudal peduncle (sometimes faint or absent) ; fins pale or greyish, axil of pectoral more or less distinctly dark. Locality.— Mossamedes (typical form), Saldanha Bay, False Bay to Natal and Zululand, often entering estuaries and lagoons. Distribution.—Madagascar, Arabian coast, Persian Gulf. The typical form occurs in the Mediterranean, Madeira, Canary Islands, and on the coast of Angola. The var. capensis has been recorded also from Bermuda and St. Helena, but these records would seem more applicable to the typical form. The variety is said to VOL. XXI, PART 2. 45 692 Annals of the South African Museum. differ from the typical form in the series of incisors forming a rather stronger curve and in the indistinctness of the dark cross-bars (Bou- lenger, loc. cit., 1887). The latter feature, however, is a very variable one, and it is doubtful whether capensis should be maintained even as a variety. Type of capensis in British Museum. The Dasje lives in shoals and is very common in False Bay and further eastwards, but appears to be unknown in Table Bay, though I have seen a specimen from Saldanha Bay. Gen. Pacrus Cuv. 1817. Cuvier, Régne Anim., ed. 1, p. 272. 1817. Id., cbid., p. 272 (Chrysophrys). 21839. Swainson, Nat. Hist. Fishes, vol. ui, p. 221 (Chr ysoblephus). 1859. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 465. 21860. Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind., vol. xxi, p. 61 (Pagrichthys). Four to six strong canines in both jaws (usually 4 in upper, 6(-8) in lower), a series of more or less strong molars at the sides, with inner series of smaller molars in both jaws ; molars in (1)2—5 series in upper, 2-5 in lower jaw. Cheeks and interorbital scaly. Preorbital deep. Posterior nostril oval. Carnivorous fishes from warm seas, often growing to a large size, and all valuable food-fishes. There is really no hard and fast distinction between the genera Pagrus and Chrysophrys ; the former has only two series of molars in the upper jaw, and the scaling on the interorbital continued further forward. With regard to Chrysoblephus, I have not seen Swainson’s work, but Jordan and Thompson (1912, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xli, p. 580) state that the median molars are very large, and give gibbiceps as the type species. This species, however, is one which does not possess this character, though globiceps does. I am unable to say whether a lapsus calami, or a misidentification on the part of Swainson, or a confusion of the hindermost with the innermost molars, is responsible for this discrepancy. In any case, Chrysoblephus must fall into synonymy, either of Pagrus or Sparus. The identity of Pagrichthys castelnaui Blkr. (loc. cit., p. 61) remains doubtful. The genus seems to have been founded on a mutilated specimen with only 2 anal spines. The fin formula is given as D XI 10-11. A II 8-9. Scales in 1.1. 40. A considerable amount of synonymy has arisen in regard to the A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 693 South African species of this genus, and it is hoped that the present work will help towards the elucidation thereof. The most curious case is the confusion between the Roman and the Dageraad, whereby the former with a broad forehead has come to be known as cristiceps, and the latter with high occipital and nuchal crest as laticeps. Pappe and Castelnau seem to have been the originators of this reversal of names, which has been followed by later writers. Cuvier and Valenciennes’ descriptions are perfectly clear as regards the shape of the head, and when read with the actual specimens before one are quite unmistakable. Comparison also of further material from the Cape and Natal has shown that, with two exceptions, the supposed new species of Chryso- phrys described by Gilchrist and Thompson are untenable. P. unicolor Q. and G. has been omitted from the fauna-list as its presence in these waters rests solely on the doubtful record of Giinther (1859, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 468). Key to the South African species. T. Molars in 2 series in upper jaw (Pagrus). A. None of the dorsal spines elongate, flexible. 1. Pink. Ten series of cheek scales : : : . .aniarius. 2. Brewnish. Sixteen series of cheek scales . : - nasutus. B. Third to fifth or sixth dorsal spines elongate, flexible, filamentous. 1. Profile high. Third to seventh spines filamentous . spinifer. 2. Profile sloping. Third to fifth spines filamentous . ehrenbergi. II. Molars in 3 or more series in upper jaw (Chrysophrys). A. Nine or more series of scales between lateral line and origin of dorsal fin. 1. Scales small: 1.1.73 . : : . : : . dentatus. 2. Seales moderate : 1.1. 55-67. a. Profile steep. i. Occiput and nape more or less gibbous, often strongly so. a. Scaling on cheek extending forwards under eye gibbiceps. 6. Scaling on cheek not extending forwards under eye anglicus. ii. Occiput and nape forming a sharp ridge. Body (in adult) roughly triangular in shape . é . cristiceps. b. Profile sloping. Forehead broad, with a blue (dark) band laticeps. B. Five to seven series of scales between lateral line and origin of dorsal fin. Scales rather large: 1.]. 40-50. 1. Head with 2 black cross-bars. Scales |.]. 48-50 . . bifasciatus. 2. Lighter or darker grey. Scales 1.]. 43-46 . : berda. | 694 Annals of the South African Museum. Pagrus laniarius C. and V. Panga (Cape) ; Dik-bekje (Port Elizabeth). 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 163. 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 21. 1866. Pappe, Syn. Ed. Fish. Cape., ed. 2, p. 14. 1916. Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. ii, p. 6 (egg). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 362. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 88. 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 20. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. xxvii, p. 237. Profile of head sloping, gently and evenly convex. Depth 24-24, length of head 3 or a little less, in length of body. Hye 33—4 in length of head, 14-14 in snout, subequal to interorbital width, greater than (young) or equal to (adult) depth of preorbital. Preorbital scaleless, its posterior margin sloping downwards and forwards to angle of mouth, lower margin straight. Gill- rakers 13 on lower part of anterior arch. Four canines in upper, 6 in lower jaw, the outermost ones strongest and pro- jecting, especially those in upper jaw which curve outwards (sideways). D XII 10, spines strong, not filamentous, 4th and 5th longest. A III 8, spines stout, 2nd and 3rd about equal. Scales: LJ. 55 Fic. 24.—Outline of head of “jek 8 ! Pagrus lamarius to show _6Q- ].tr, —; 9-10 series on cheek ; limb shape of preorbital and 18 forward limit of scaling : (diagrammatic). of preopercle entirely scaly. Length.—Up to 400 mm. OColour.—Silvery-rose, with or without faint yellowish or bluish longitudinal stripes, fins pale rosy. Locality— Table Bay, False Bay, and Agulhas Bank to Algoa Bay, down to 45 fathoms. The Panga is a very common fish on the markets. It seems to be somewhat rare in Table Bay, but is abundant on the Agulhas Bank. The outwardly curving canines are distinctive. Fowler’s description of the colour is too vivid for a living specimen, the mauve tints only appearing after death. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 695 Pagrus nasutus (Cast.). Black Biskop or Poenskop (Cape) ; Musselcrusher (Natal). 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 24. 1903. Boulenger, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. i, p. 67, pl. 7 (nigripinnis). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p- 362 (nigripinnis). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 88 (nigripinnis). 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 20 (mgrr- pinnis). Profile of head sloping, gently convex. Depth 24—24, length of head 25, in length of body. Hye 44-5 in length of head, 12-2 in snout, 14 in interorbital width, slightly less than depth of preorbital. Pre- orbital scaleless, its hind margin nearly vertical, the postero-inferior angle behind the angle of mouth, lower margin concave, at least in adult. Gill-rakers 10 on lower part of anterior arch. Four canines in each jaw, sometimes also 2 small median ones in lower jaw ; a row of large conical molars on sides, with smaller series within. Snout in large specimens thick and prominent, forming a “ nose” depending over the upper lip. D XII 10, spines strong, not filamentous, 3rd—5th longest. A III 8, spines stout, 2nd and 3rd about equal. Scales: 10-12 21-24 scaly. (Plate XXIX, fig. 2.) Length.—Up to 1000 mm. Colour.—Greyish, irregularly blotched with darker, white below, fins greyish or blackish, ventrals pale (rosy) or dark, iris golden. Locality. False Bay, Agulhas Bank to Natal, down to 40 fathoms. Type of nigrvpinnis in British Museum. Castelnau’s description of nasutus is quite unmistakable, and exactly fits two large specimens in the South African Museum, except for the slight discrepancy in fin formula (D XI 10, and A II 9), which may well have been due to a miscount. Boulenger’s nigripinnis is a half- grown example. Thompson (loc. cit., 1918) seems to have recognised the identity of nasutus and nigripinnis, but adopts Boulenger’s later name. 1.1. 62-65 ;- Ltr. ; 16 series on cheek ; limb of preopercle partly The Poenskop or Musselcrusher grows to a large size, and at places like Hermanus on the Cape coast and in Natal offers excellent sport to the angler. It is frequent on the Agulhas Bank, but less so in False Bay. As its name implies, this fish feeds mainly on molluscs, but also on crabs, and takes a fish-bait. — ee 696 Annals of the South African Museum. Pagrus spinfer (Forsk.). 1775. Forskal, Descr. Anim., p. 32. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 138, pl. xxxiii, fig. 5. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 363 (references). 1923. Von. Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., 1, p. 197pheme (ciliaris). W925. 1d cod pau: 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvii, p. 234. Profile of head, especially in large examples, elevated, nearly straight, with a protuberance in front of eyes. Depth 14-24, length of head 3-32, in length of body. Eye 3-5 in length of head, 14-3 in snout, equal to or less than interorbital width, equal to or less than depth of preorbital. Preorbital scaleless, its postero-inferior angle behind the angle of mouth. Four canines in each jaw, 2 series of molars on sides. Gull-rakers 10 on lower part of anterior arch. D XII 10, lst 2 spines very short (scarcely projecting above the scales), ord longest, flexible, filamentous, reaching to base of caudal, shorter in adult, 4th—6th or 7th also flexible and filamentous. A III 8-9, 2nd 6-7 , 6-7 series iis) and 3rd spines subequal. Scales: 1.1. 50-55; Ltr on cheek ; limb of preopercle scaleless. Length.—Up to 600 mm. Colour.—Silvery, rosy above, faint longitudinal pink lines along centre of each row of scales, fins pink, anal and ventrals whitish ; young with vertical bands. Locality.—Natal coast, Delagoa Bay, down to 74 fathoms. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas, East Indies. Type of ciliaris in coll. Govt. Mar. Survey. *Pagrus ehrenbergi C. and V. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 155. 1859. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 471. 1882. Steindachner, Denks. Ak. Wiss. Wien, vol. Ixv, p. 4, pl. v, He 1914. Pellegrin, Ann. Inst. Ocean., vol. vi, p. 53. Profile of head sloping. Depth 34 in total length (Ginther). D XII 10, 1st 2 spines short but prominent, 3rd longest, flexible, A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 697 filamentous, reaching to soft dorsal, 4th and 5th also flexible and filamentous. A III 8-9. Scales: 1.1. 54. Length.—Not stated. Colour.—Red, the back above the lateral line with blue spots. Locality.—Mossamedes. Distribution.—Mediterranean, west coast of Africa, Canary Islands. I have not seen Steindachner’s work and can give no further par- ticulars than those contained in Cuvier and Valenciennes and Giinther. Pagrus dentatus (G. and T.). Dane. 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p: Eis. 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 361. 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 18. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 236. Profile of head sloping, straight. Depth 24, length of head 3, in length of body. Hye 4 in length of head, nearly 2 in snout, 14 in interorbital width, 13 in depth of preorbital. Preorbital as deep as long, reaching down to angle of mouth and completely concealing maxilla, lower margin straight; 4 canines in upper, 6 in lower jaw, projecting forwards, followed by a band of cardiform teeth, molars in 3—4 series in upper, 2-3 in lower jaw. Gill-rakers, according to Fowler, 12 on lower part of anterior arch (gills removed in type). D XIII 12 11, S3rdlongest. ATII9. Scales: 1.1. 73; Ltr. =e ; 10 series on cheek ; limb of preopercle with a few isolated scales. Interorbital, as far as vertical from posterior nostril, scaly. Length.—250 mm. Colour (as preserved).—Pale brownish, with a series of darker streaks along each row of scales, a dark band between eyes (below interorbital scaling) ; in life reddish, with yellowish soft dorsal, anal, pectorals, and ventrals. Locality.—Natal coast, Delagoa Bay, 25-50 fathoms. Type in South African Museum. : Distinguished from all other South African species by the small scales, preorbital entirely concealing maxilla, and projecting canines. 698 Annals of the South African Museum. Pagrus gibbiceps (C. and V.). Red Stumpnose. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 127, pl. exlvu. 1914. Gilchrist and Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. u, p. 97, fig. (habits). 1916. Gilchrist, abed., vol. i, p. 5, fig. 2 (egg and larva). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p: sok: 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 92 (references). 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 18. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. xxvii, p. 234, text- fig. 3 (Sparus lophus). Profile of head steep, snout concave, nape gibbous, in adults (? males only) with a more or less prominent rounded bump. Depth 22-22, length of head 23-34, in length of body. Eye 34-44 in length of head, 13-2 in snout, 14-14 in interorbital width, equal to (young), 14-12 in (adult) depth of preorbital. Interorbital somewhat flattened in adult or with a bump of wrinkled and pitted spongy tissue. Pre- orbital longer than deep, extending behind angle of mouth and con- cealing to a large extent the maxilla, lower margin more or less con- cave inadult. Giull-rakers 10-12 on lower part of anterior arch. Four canines in upper, 4-6 in lower jaw, outermost series of molars the largest, the hinder ones in adults large, flat-topped, 4—5 inner series. D XII 10 (XI 11), 3rd and 4th spines longest, 4-3 in length of head. A III (7)8-9, 2nd and 3rd spines subequal. Scales: 1.1. 53-56; Ltr. — ; 10-12 series on cheek, not including the patch which extends forwards under the eye; limb of preopercle scaly. Length.— Up to 500 mm. Colour.—Pinkish, paler below and on sides of head, broad trans- verse alternating bands of bright red and white or pale pink, a whitish patch in front of eyes, fins rosy. Preserved specimens often show a dark band across the interorbital. Locality.—Table Bay, False Bay, Agulhas Bank to Algoa Bay and Natal, down to 50 fathoms. Type of lophus in Philadelphia Academy of Sciences. The Red Stumpnose is one of the most esteemed of the Cape fishes. It is rare in Table Bay, but frequent on the Agulhas Bank. Its habit A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 699 of blowing holes in the sand in its search for shells and Crustacea is described by Gilchrist and Thompson (loc. czt., 1914). The maintenance of lophus as a distinct species appears to me to be very doubtful. It is based on a single specimen which differs from typical gibbiceps only in the greater length of the 3rd and 4th dorsal spines. Fowler’s count of 15 cheek scales evidently includes the patch extending forward under the eye ; my count does not. The length of the 3rd and 4th dorsal spines in typical gibbiceps is 4-2 the length of the head; but I have seen a specimen from Cape ae waters in which these spines reached # the length of the head. a. Fic. 25.—Outlines of heads of: a, Pagrus anglicus; and b, Pagrus gibbiceps, showing forward limit of scaling (diagrammatic). On the other hand, in examples from Natal, these spines are seen even on first glance to be longer than in the majority of Cape speci- mens. On measurement they prove to be from 3-1 length of the head. Where then can one draw the line between the Cape and Natal forms ? Is it possible that temperature of the water can affect the growth of two (or three) spines ? It is not a question of age. Young and half-grown examples from Cape waters show short spines ; and a Natal specimen with long spines has the wrinkled and protuberant forehead so often seen in typical gubbiceps. With more extensive material I believe a complete transition would be found between the short-spined and long-spined forms. 700 Annals of the South African Museum. Pagrus anglicus (G. and T.). Englishman. 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 172. 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 360. 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 18. Close to gibbiceps but distinguished by the following characters. Profile very steep, snout almost vertical and straight, nape sloping. Interorbital prominent. Preorbital as long as deep, scarcely extending behind angle of mouth, concealing less of the maxilla than in gibbiceps, 10-11 its lower margin straighter. Scales: 1.1. 65-67 ; ltr. anes. The cheek scales (11-12) not extending forward under eye, but ceasing on a line from hind margin of eye to hind angle of preorbital. Length.— Up to 470 mm. Colour.—Pinkish, silvery below, with darker vertical bands as in gibbiceps, a red stripe at base of pectorals, head dark red with a whitish patch in front of eyes. Locality.— Natal coast, down to 40 fathoms. Type in South African Museum. This species seems to be commoner on the Natal coast than gibbiceps, and does not occur at the Cape. The scaling on the cheek serves at once to distinguish the two species. Pagrus cristiceps (C. and V.). Dageraad or Daggegraat (Cape) ; Slinger (Natal). 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 132. 1866. Pappe, Syn. Ed. Fish. Cape, ed. 2, p. 13 (laticeps non C. and V.). 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 173 (puniceus). 1914. Id., Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. ii, p. 101 (laticeps non C. and V.) (habits). 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 362 (puniceus). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 93 (laticeps non ~ C. and V.). ; 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 19 (puniceus). Profile of head elevated, steeply sloping; a sharp ridge from fore- head to origin of dorsal; in the young (150 mm.) the profile is less A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 701 elevated and the ridge less prominent. Depth, in adult greatest across hind margin of opercle, in young further back, not quite 2 (adult)-24 (young), length of head 23-34, in length of body. Eye 3? (juv.)-53 in length of head, 14 (juv.)—2} in snout, 1 (juv.)—2 in interorbital width, 1 (juv.)-12? in depth of preorbital. Interorbital strongly convex. Preorbital longer than deep in young, at least as deep as long in adult, reaching almost to angle of mouth, its lower margin straight. Gill- rakers 10 on lower part of anterior arch. Four canines in upper, 4-6 in lower jaw; outermost molars largest, 3 inner rows in upper, 2 in lower jaw; none of the molars even in large examples becoming enlarged. Lips thick and fleshy, especially in adult, largely concealing the teeth. D XII 10, 4th spine longest. A III 8, 2nd and 3rd spines subequal. Scales: 1.1. 59-61; Ltr. = - ; 10 series on cheek ; limb of preopercle scaly. (Plate X XIX, fig. 1.) Length.—Up to 600 mm. Colour.—Rose-red, deeper and more of a crimson tinge above; the scales marked with golden and bluish reflections; lower margin of orbit and hind margin of opercle bluish (dark in preserved specimens) ; usually a dark spot in axil of pectoral and another at base of last dorsal ray ; fins rosy. Locality. Table Bay, False Bay, and Agulhas Bank to Algoa Bay and Natal, down to 50 fathoms. Type of puniceus in South African Museum. The Dageraad is very rarely taken in Table Bay, but is frequent from False Bay eastwards. The adult of this fish is easily recognised by its shape, which is roughly that of a right-angled triangle, the belly line forming the hypothenuse ; and the sharp frontal ridge. Young specimens may be distinguished from specimens of laticeps of equal size by the narrower forehead, the indication of the frontal ridge, and as a rule the absence of the blue (or dark) band across the forehead. The type of puniceus (250 mm.) is exactly similar to half-grown specimens from the Cape, which show clearly the transition from the ovate shape of the young to the triangular shape of the adult. Pagrus laticeps (C. and V.). Roman or Rooiman (Cape) ; Daggerhead (Natal). 1829. Cuvier, Régne Anim., ed. 2, Poiss., pl. xxxiv, fig. 2. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 122. 702 Annals of the South African Museum. 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 22 (eristiceps non Ce and: Va), 1861. Id., cbid., p. 22 (algoensis). 1866. Pappe, Syn. Ed. Fish. Cape, ed. 2, p. 13 (eristiceps non CoandsV"). 1909. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 234 (pugicephalus). 1914. Id., Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. 11, p. 100 (cristiceps non C. and V.) (habits). 1917. Ld., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 362 (pugicephalus). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 91 (algoensis) and p. 92 (eristiceps non C. and V.). 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 19 (pugi- cephalus and cristiceps non C. and V.). Profile of head sloping, nearly straight, no sharp frontal ridge ; forehead very broad. Depth 24-24, length of head 22-3, in length of body. Eye 32-43 in length of head, 14-12 in snout, 14 in inter- orbital width, slightly less than depth of preorbital. Interorbital slightly convex. Preorbital longer than deep, not reaching down to angle of mouth, lower margin straight. Gill-rakers 10 on lower part of anterior arch. Four canines in upper, 4-6 in lower jaw, outermost molars always the largest, 3-4 or 5 inner series in upper, 2—3 in lower jaw. D XII 10 (exceptionally XI 11), 4th or 4th and 5th spines longest. A III 8(7-9), 2nd and 3rd spines subequal in length, 2nd 9-10 ——; 12-15 series on cheek; 19-21 stouter.. Scales; Ll: 59201 Ut, limb of preopercle scaly. Length.—Up to 500 mm. Colour.—Brilliant orange-red, deeper above and paler below, head more orange ; a silvery whitish patch on side of body ; an azure-blue band between the eyes (usually persisting in preserved specimens as a dark band); axil of pectoral more or less dark ; sometimes a dark spot at base of last dorsal ray (more noticeable in preserved than in living specimens) ; fins rosy; ventrals and often soft dorsal and anal violaceous. In the young the silvery-white patch on the side is usually much larger than in the adult. Locality.—False Bay to Algoa Bay, East London and Natal, down to 36 fathoms. 3 Distribution.—Zanzibar and Mauritius (Steindachner). Type of pugicephalus in South African Museum. The Roman is one of the most plentiful and best-known fishes A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 703 along the coast in False Bay. The Natal fish (pugicephalus) is indis- tinguishable. Specimens are occasionally caught in which the ground colour is bluish-grey instead of red, but the whitish patch is present as in normally coloured specimens. * Pagrus bifasciatus (Forsk.). 1775. Forskal, Descr. Anim., p. 64. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 141, pl. xxxiv, fig. 5. 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 193, pl. xx, fig. 5 (scale). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 360 (references). Profile of head steeply inclined. Depth about 2, length of head a little less than 3, in length of body. Eye 43 in length of head, 14-2 in snout, 14 in interorbital width, about equal to depth of preorbital. Preorbital longer than deep, not reaching down to angle of mouth, its lower margin straight. Four to six incisors in each jaw, 4 series of molars in lower, 5 in upper jaw. D XI 12-15, 5th spine longest. A IIIT 10-11, 2nd spine strongest. Scales: 1.1. 48-50; I.tr. About 7 series on cheek. Length—Up to 375 mm. Colour.—Silvery, with dark lines along each row of scales; head with two black cross-bands, first through eye to angle of mouth, second from nape along margin of opercle; a yellow band before eyes, snout black, dorsal, caudal and pectoral yellow; dorsal spines black, soft dorsal with narrow black edge ; ventrals and anal blackish, the latter sometimes with a yellow band, or the last ray yellow. Locality.— Zululand coast, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas. Pagrus berda (Forsk.). River or Mud Bream (Natal). 1775. Forskal, Descr. Anim., p. 32. 1852. Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac., p. 681 (vagus). 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 30 (Pagrus caffer). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 140, pl. xxxiv, fig. 2, and pl. xxxv, fig. 2. 704 Annals of the South African Museum. 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 170 (robinsoni and estuarius). 1915. Boulenger, Freshwater Fish. Afr., vol. iii, p. 132, fig. 96 (vagus). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 361 (hasta references, and estuarivus), and p. 362 (rebinsoni). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 93 (vagus). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p, 236 (robinson). Profile of head sloping, straight; profile of chin and throat also nearly straight and nearly horizontal. Depth 2-24, length of head about 3, in length of body. Eye 4-5 in length of head, 14-14 in snout, 1-14 in interorbital width, 1-14 times the depth of preorbital. Preorbital much longer than deep, not reaching down to angle of mouth, lower margin straight, or in adults gently concave. Four to slx canines in upper, 6-8 in lower jaw; molars in 4-5 series in upper, 3-4 in lower jaw, the inner series largest. Gull-rakers 9-10 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 11-12, spines stout, 4th longest. A III 8-9; spines, especially 2nd, very strong. Scales: 11. 43-46; Ltr. 5 Te 5-6 series on cheek ; limb of preopercle scaleless. Length_—Up to 750 mm. (Day). Colour.—Silvery grey, lighter or darker, the scales either dark at their bases or with dark edges; in lighter varieties a dark spot at beginning of lateral line, fins greyish or blackish; dorsal with a black margin, anal (in lighter varieties) with a dark band, ventrals light or blackish. : Locality—Natal and Zululand coast, Delagoa Bay, mouth of Zambesi Rive:. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas to East Indies, and probably Japan. Often entering estuaries and rivers, especially when young. | Types of robinson and estuarvus in South African Museum. The synonyms of this species are numerous. Jordan and Thompson (1912, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xli, p. 583, fig. 10) adopt the name latus Houttuyn 1782 for Japanese specimens, because they were not absolutely convinced of the identity of latus and berda. The two forms described by Gilchrist and Thompson are clearly synonymous with vagus Peters, the darker form (robinsonz) corresponding with calamara, which Day makes a colour variety of berda. The strong 2nd anal spine was noted by Castelnau in his description of Pagrus caffer. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 705 It is possible that the variation in colour may be sexual, but the series in the South African Museum is not long enough to decide this point. Gen. PaGetuus C. and V. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 169. Teeth in front of jaws in cardiform bands, the outer row larger than the inner rows, but without canines, passing gradually into the lateral molars, of which there are several series, the innermost series increasing in size posteriorly, transversely oval or oblong. Cheek scaly. Interorbital and limb of preopercle scaleless. Preorbital deep or shallow. Posterior nostril oval or slit-like. Warm and temperate seas. Three species described as belonging to this genus have not since been recognised with certainty. These are afer Pappe, armatus Cast., and fascialis Cast. The first has usually been identified with the Panga (Pagrus laniarius), though the dorsal fin formula is quite different. Castelnau describes armatus from a single specimen, which he says closely resembles afer, or at least a specimen which he somewhat doubtfully identifies with Pappe’s species. He also doubts whether he is correct in assigning his fasczalis to the present genus. But for the different fin formula fascialis is strongly remini- scent of a Lethrinus. Under the circumstances these three species are omitted from the fauna-list. Key to the South African species. 1. Free margin of scales rounded. Posterior nostril slit-like. With black cross- bars (at least in young). a. Seales: 1.1. 48-50 : . ; ; : : : lithognathus. b. Scales: 1.1. 60-65 : 3 : : ; : ; Mormyrus. 2. Free margin of scales angular. Posterior nostril oval. Red, without cross- bars. a. Anal rays 9. Westcoast . : : : : : . erythrinus. b. Anal rays 10. South and east coasts . : : . . natalensis. Pagellus lithognathus C. and V. White or River Steenbras. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 204, ple chi: 1907. Schultze, Abh. Deutsch. Seefisch. Ver. Berl., vol. ix, p. 9 pl. i (after C. and V.). 3 —— ———— ee 706 Annals of the South African Museum. 1914. Gilchrist and Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. 11, p. 99 (habits). 1917. Zd., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 363 (references). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 90 (references). Snout pointed, profile straight. Depth 22-3, length of head about 3, In length of body. Hye 34 (young)-6 (adult) in length of head, 14-24 in snout, 1-2 in interorbital width, greater than (young) to 14 in depth of preorbital (from orbit to postero-inferior angle). Lips thick. Preorbital not entirely concealing maxilla, lower margin straight. Maxilla reaching to below anterior nostril, posterior end truncate ; in adult thick, swollen, and very hard. Posterior nostril a narrow slit. Gull-rakers 13 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 10, 4th and 5th spines longest. A III 8, 2nd and 3rd spines subequal or 2nd stronger. Scales with free margin rounded: 1.1. 43-50; Ktr. 5 —; 7 series on cheek. 14 Length.—Up to 1000 mm. Colour.—Greyish or brownish, paler below, more or less silvery, especially in young; 5-7 dark vertical cross-bars which are distinct in young, but become obsolete in adult ; fins greyish. Locality.—Coast of South West Africa, Table Bay, False Bay, and Agulhas Bank to Natal. The Steenbras is a well-known and valued food-fish. Apparently it frequents mud-banks, where it pokes about with its sharp snout in search of molluscs, crustacea, etc. Pagellus mormyrus (Linn.). Zee-basje ; Zeverrim ; Bontrok. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 281. 1914. Pellegrin, Ann. Inst. Ocean., vol. vi, p. 54. 1916. Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. i, p. 6 (egg and larva). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 363 (references). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 91 (references) 1919. Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. lvi, p. 212 and 284. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 238. Snout moderately pointed, not so much as in lithognathus, profile gently convex, often slightly gibbous in front of eyes. Depth 23-23, length of head 23-3, in length of body. Eye 4 (young)—6} (adult) in length of head, 2-3 in snout, 14-2 in interorbital width, 14-2 in depth A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 707 of preorbital. Lips not very thick. Preorbital with straight lower margin, entirely concealing maxilla except its hind apex, which is pointed. Posterior nostril slit-like. Giull-rakers long, 16-17 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI 12, 3rd and 4th spines longest. A III 10, 2nd and 3rd spines about equal. Scales with free margin rounded: 6-7 "13-15 Length.—Up to 400 mm. Colour.—Silvery, with 10-14 dark vertical cross-bars, usually alternately longer and shorter ; fins greyish or pale. Locality—Mossamedes, Saldanha Bay, Table Bay, False Bay to East London, Natal and Zululand coast, and Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Mediterranean, west coast of Africa, West Indies, and Atlantic coast of tropical 8. America. PISGO=6h:— Ltr ; 5 series on cheek. *Pagellus erythrvnus (Linn.). 1766, Linné, Syst. Nat., vol. i, p. 469. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 170, pl. cl. 1914. Pellegrin, Ann. Inst. Ocean., vol. vi, p. 54. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 89 (references). Snout moderately pointed, profile nearly straight. Depth 3, length of head 34, in length of body. Eye 44 in length of head, 12 in snout, about equal to depth of preorbital. Lips not thick. Preorbital with slightly concave lower margin, not entirely concealing maxilla, hind apex of which is rounded-truncate. Posterior nostril oval, scarcely larger than anterior one. D XII 10, 3rd and 4th spines longest. A III 9, 2nd and 38rd spines subequal. Scales with free margin 6-7 aneular: 1.1.60; Ltr. Ae 6 series on cheek. Length.—Up to 525 mm. Colour.—Carmine or rosy, silvery below, fins rosy. Locality.—Mossamedes. Distribution.—Mediterranean, Canary Islands, and west coast of Africa. Pagellus natalensis Stndur. Root Chor-chor. 1859. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, pp. 474, 475 (erythrinus var. OF sp. n.). 1887. Boulenger, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 659 (afinis part). VOL. XXI, PART 2. 46 708 Annals of the South African Museum. 1902. Steindachner, Denk. Ak. Wiss. Wien, vol. lxxi, p. 134. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 4, pt. 4, p- 363 (affinis non Bler.). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 89 (affinis non Blgr.). 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 21.(affinis non Blegr.). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 238 (affinis non Bler.). Snout moderately pointed, profile gently convex, in adult rather gibbous in front of eyes. Depth 23-3, length of head 22-3, in length of body. Eye 34-4 in Jength of head, 1-14 in snout, 1-1} in inter- orbital width, 14 times depth of preorbital. Lips not thick. Pre- orbital with lower margin straight in young, sinuous in adult, not entirely concealing maxilla, hind apex of which is rounded-truncate. Posterior nostril oval, scarcely or very slightly larger than anterior one. Gill-rakers 11-12 on lower part of anterior arch. D XII 10, 4th spine longest. A III 10, 2nd spine slightly stronger than 3rd. 6-7 Scales with free margin angular: 1.1]. 60-65; Ltr. aie 6 series on cheek, 6-7 across opercle. Length.— Up to 350 mm. Colour.—Carmine or rosy, silvery below; scales on upper part of body often with dark centres ; fins rosy. Locality.x—Mossel Bay and Agulhas Bank to Natal and Delagoa Bay, down to 75 fathoms. Type in Vienna Museum. Closely allied to erythrinus, but separated on account of the extra anal ray. Steindachner in describing and figuring specimens of affinis Blgr. states that these specimens have 11 scales across the opercle, whereas erythrinus and his Natal specimens have only 6. As all the South African specimens which I have seen agree with Steindachner’s state- ment, it seems probable that Boulenger did not notice this difference in the two specimens, one from Muscat and one from the Cape, from which he drew up his diagnosis of afinis. As the Muscat specimen is clearly indicated as the type specimen, Steindachner’s name is legitimately appled to the South African species if it is to be kept separate from erythrinus. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 709 Gen. CHARAX Risso. 1827. Risso, Eur. Merid., vol. in, p. 353. A single series of trenchant incisor-like teeth in front of jaws, and of very small molars on the sides. Cheeks scaly. Posterior nostril oval. One species. *Charax puntazzo (Gmel.). Puntazzo (Mediterranean). 1788. Gmelin in Linn. Syst. Nat., p. 1272. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 72, pl. exliv. 1859. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 453. 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 19 (capensis). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 93 (capensis). Depth 2 or a little over, length of head 3 or a little over, in length of body. Eye about 2 in snout and 44 in length of head. Snout pointed. Teeth prominently projecting; 8-9 incisors in each jaw. Preorbital deeper than eye. D XI 13-14. A III 12. Scales: 1. 55-60 ; 6-8 series above lateral line ; about 5 series on cheek. Pyloric caeca 7. Length.—Up to 500 mm. Colour.—Silvery, with 5-9 narrow blackish vertical bands and a black blotch on each side of the caudal peduncle; dorsal, anal, and ventrals blackish, caudal yellowish, with blackish hind margin. Locality.— Mossel Bay. Distribution.—Mediterranean, Canary Islands. There is a specimen in the British Museum, sent by Dr. Gilchrist from Mossel Bay. Castelnau states that his capensis had trifid molars and incisors apically tridentate. The Puntazzo appears to be mainly a vegetable feeder. Gen. CRENIDENS C. and V. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Boiss.; vol, vi, p. of. In both jaws two series of broad incisors, with crenulate edges, and - behind them a band of granular molars. Cheeks scaly. Preorbital Shallow. Posterior nostril a narrow slit. Vegetable feeders from the east coast of Africa and Indian seas. 710 Annals of the South African Museum. Crenidens forskalii C. and V. White Karanteen. 1775. Forskal, Descr. Anim., p. 15 (Sparus crenidens). 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, loc. cit., p. 377, pl. clxii quat. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban. Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 358 (references). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 85 (references). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 243 (crenidens). Depth about 24, length of head 33 to nearly 4, in length of body. Eye 34-34 in length of head, equal to or rather less than snout, 1 (young)—14 in interorbital width. Depth of preorbital about 3 eye- diameter. ‘Ten to twelve incisors in each series. Gill-rakers 9-10 on lower part of anterior arch. D XI11. ATII9-10. Scales: 1.1. 55-59; 6 iS l6 Length.—Up to 240 mm. Colour.—Silvery, greenish or bluish above, with narrow dark longitudinal stripes (at least in preserved specimens); dorsal and caudal greyish or greenish, with darker margins; anal and ventrals yellowish ; a more or less distinct black spot in axil of pectoral. Locality.—Natal coast, Delagoa Bay, Mozambique. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Red Sea, India. C. indicus Day is very closely allied, but has only 8 incisors, and black dorsal and anal fins. Ltr ; 3 series on cheek. Pyloric caeca 3. Gen. BoopstDEA Cast. 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 25. In both jaws a single series of 8-10 rather small but equal, sharply conical teeth in front, smaller and more granular ones at the sides, and behind the front teeth 2-3 series of small granular molars, the hindmost row being the largest. Cheeks scaly. EHyelarge. Posterior nostril oval. An endemic South African genus with one species. This genus seems worthy of maintenance on account of its general appearance, dentition, shallow preorbital, and large eye. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 711 Boopsidea inornata Cast. Fransch Madam. 1861. Castelnau, loc. cit., p. 26. 1881. Steindachner, Ichthyol. Beitr., vol. x, p. 25, pl. 11 (Pagrus (Chrysophrys) holub:). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 88 (Pagrus holubi). 19137 7d., thid., p. 94. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 236 (Sparus holubi). ; Depth 21-24, length of head 34-3, in length of body. Eye 22 (adult)—3 in length of head, greater than snout, equal to (young) or greater than interorbital width, 3 times depth of preorbital. Lower margin of preorbital straight. Gull-rakers 16 on lower part of anterior arch, well developed. D XI 10-11, 4th spine longest, rather greater than eye-diameter. A III 11, spines strong. Scales minutely ctenoid : 1.1. 63-68 ; I.tr. —— 8-9 series on cheek. Limb of preopercle, interorbital, and snout scaleless. Pyloric caeca 4. Length.—Up to 270 mm. Colour.—Brown, with rosy or purplish reflections, silvery below ; a brownish band over the upper part of the opercle, and a more or less distinct dark spot in axil of pectoral; iris yellow or golden, fins greyish, margin of spinous dorsal and ventrals blackish. Locality False Bay and Agulhas Bank to East London, down to 33 fathoms. Steindachner’s Pagrus (Chrysophrys) holubi is clearly synonymous ; Castelnau’s fish, though incompletely described as regards fin formula, etc., being easily recognisable. The Fransch Madam (see Gilchrist, 1902, Tr. S. Afr. Phil. Soc., vol. xi, p. 219 for origin of name) is moderately common, and though of rather small size is considered good eating. Gen. DENTEX Cuv. 1817. Cuvier, Régne Anim., ed. 1, p. 272. A row of sharp conical teeth in both jaws, the anterior ones (4-6) enlarged, canine-like, behind them several series of small, sharp teeth ; no molars. Cheek scaly. Preorbital usually deep. Posterior nostril oval or elongate oval, about equal to, or considerably larger than, eS SOS 712 Annals of the South African Museum. anterior nostril. Lateral line tubes simple, or with an ascending branch, or bifurcate. Carnivorous fishes, often reaching a large size, inhabiting the warm regions of the Mediterranean, Eastern Atlantic, and Indo-Australasian Oceans. All valuable food-fishes. In some species, e.g. D. vulgaris, and the South African undulosus, a large frontal gibbosity is developed in old males, similar to that in Pagrus gibbiceps (see Pellegrin, 1914, Ann. Inst. Ocean., vol. vi, p. 49, fig. 6). D. macrocephalus Lacép., which has hitherto been included in the fauna-list, is here excluded, as even if it is identifiable, it is supposed to have come from the Indian Ocean or South Sea Islands. It seems that Thompson (1918), or perhaps Bleeker before him, has misread Cuvier and Valenciennes. These authors in their arrangement merely ranged macrocephalus “ alongside of’ the preceding species from the Cape, namely rupestris. Key to the South African species. I. Dorsal spines 10. Top of head naked. Limb of preopercle naked (Gymnocranius) . : : 3 : 5 5 : . robinsoni.’ TI. Dorsal spines 11-12. Top of head scaly. Limb of preopercle scaly (Dente). A. Scales above lateral line distinctly smaller than those below. 1. D XI; 17-18 scales on cheek . . ; é . rupestris. 2. D XII; 11-12 scales on cheek . : ‘ ; praeorbitalis. B. Scales above lateral line not distinctly smaller than those below. 1. First 2 dorsal spines very short, 3rd elongate, more or less fila- mentously produced . E : 5 ‘ : filosus. 2. Dorsal spines graduated. a. Depth of body about equal to length of head. Body elongate. i. Eye 34 or more in head. Top of head scaly as far as vertical from anterior nostril. : argyrozona. ii. Eye 3 or less in head. Top of head scaly only as far as vertical from anterior margin of eye macrophthalmus. b. Depth of body greater than length of head. Body shorter. i. With 6 rows of dark dots . : . lineopunctatus. ii. With 4-6 wavy blue (or dark) bands along sides and a black blotch below 6th dorsal spine . wndulosus. Dentex robinsoni G. and T. 1837. Riippell, Neue Wirbelt. Fische, p. 116, pl. xxix, fig. 2 (rivulatus non Benn. 1835). 1909. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 226. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 713 1914. Id., ibid., vol. xii, p. 68 (rivulatus Riipp.). 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 356 (rivulatus Riipp., references) and p. 357. Depth 24-22, length of head 3, in length of body. Eye 3-34 in length of head, slightly less than snout, 1-14 in interorbital width, about equal to depth of preorbital. Canines 4—6, rather variable in size, as are the lateral teeth. Nostrils close together, the posterior one not elongate, scarcely larger than anterior one. D X 10-11, 4th and 5th spines longest, equal to postorbital part of head. A III 9-10. 651s 17-19’ preopercle scaleless ; scaling on top of head not extending forwards beyond vertical from hind margin of eye. Length.—Up to 400 mm. Colour.—Silvery, greyish above; wavy blue lines across snout, cheek, and opercle ; dorsal and anal fins rosy or yellowish, with deeper- coloured margin; caudal and pectoral pinkish, ventrals yellow. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Red Sea, Ceylon, Madagascar region. Type of robinson in South African Museum. D. robinsoni is the same as rivulatus Riipp., but owing to the latter name being preoccupied by Bennett (1835, Proc. Zool. Soc., vol. iii, p- 91), Gilchrist and Thompson’s name must be adopted for this well- known species. The gills have been removed from the specimens in the South African Museum, so that the number of gill-rakers cannot be given. Scales: 1.1. 45-49; lL.tr. (4-)5 series on cheek; limb of Dentex rupestris C. and V. Red Steenbras. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 231. 1849. Smith, Illust. Zool. 8. Afr. Pisces, pl. xiv. 1853. Pappe, Syn. Ed. Fish. Cape, p. 21. 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 23 (Chrysophrys lati- ceps non C. and V.). 1869. Kner, Reise d. “‘ Novara,’ Fische, p. 61, and p. 63 (brevis). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 82 (brevis and rupes- tris). Profile sloping, antorbital ridges prominent, especially in large examples. Depth about equal to length of head, a little less or a little 714 Annals of the South African Museum. more than 3 in length of body. Eye 4 (young)-7 in length of head, 24-2? in snout, 14-14 in interorbital width, 14-2 in depth of preorbital. Preorbital almost as deep as long in adult. Canines strong. Gill-rakers short and stout, 8-9 on lower part of anterior arch. Posterior nostril oval. D XI 10(-11), spines moderate, 5th longest, 24-3 in length of head. A III 8, 2nd spine stronger, but shorter, than 3rd. Scales : ; 17-18 series on cheek; limb of preopercle Ul ll. 58-62; L.tr. 18-20 scaly ; scaling on top of head extending to vertical from posterior nostril. Scales above lateral line smaller than those below. Length.—Up to 1500 mm. (5 ft.). Colour.—Reddish or brownish, becoming paler, pinkish or orange or whitish below ; back with bluish, greenish, or bronzy reflections ; jaws yellowish, a dark patch or band between the eyes, fins greyish or reddish, ventrals pale, axil of pectoral often dark. Locality.—Table Bay, False Bay, and Agulhas Bank to Natal. The specimen recorded by Fowler (1925, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p. 239) as rupestris is certainly not this species. I am in- clined to think it should be referred to filosus, but as the description, while giving several details, misses the essential distinguishing charac- teristics (e.g. relative sizes of scales above and below lateral line, size of lst 2 dorsal spines), one cannot be certain. I have never seen a specimen of rupestris with only 8 scales across the cheek, or 15 gill- rakers. The Red Steenbras, though rare in Table Bay, is common in False Bay and on the Agulhas Bank. It seems to prefer the neighbourhood of rocks. Dentex praeorbitalis Guthr. Scotchman. 1859. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 368 (not figured). 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 157. 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 356. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 82. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 239. Body and head compressed. Profile sloping, straight, nape convex, gibbous. Depth 22-24, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Hye 42-62 in length of head, 2-2} in snout, equal to or greater than in- terorbital width, 14-1? in depth of preorbital. Preorbital deeper than long. Canines moderate to strong. Gill-rakers 17 on lower part of A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 715 anterior arch. Posterior nostril small, oval. D XII 10, 4th spine longest, about 2 length of head. A III 8, spines moderate, 2nd and 9-1] ; ; 11-12 series on cheek ; 16-17 limb of preopercle scaly ; scaling on top of head extending to vertical from nostrils. Scales above lateral line much smaller than those below. Length. Up to 500 mm. Colour (as preserved).—Greyish or reddish, each scale above lateral line with a dark centre, forming more or less regular oblique lines of dark dots; upper and lower margins of orbit and a bar across inter- orbital, and a band along base of dorsal fin dark; fins pale. In life, dark yellow, with a blue band along base of dorsal and blue dots on body, those below larger and paler than those above lateral line, fins yellowish with mauve or violet tints, a blue streak above and at side of eye (from Marley’s colour-notes, quoted by Fowler). Locality Natal coast, down to 40 fathoms. Type (stuffed specimen) in British Museum. This species is easily recognised by its long and narrow “ face ”’ as seen from in front, the deep preorbita], and the marked difference in size of scales above and below the lateral line. 3rd subequal. Scales: 1.1. 59-62; l.tr Fowler correctly gives 11-12 series of scales across the cheek, and then proceeds to say that there are 16 in his specimen. Dentex filosus Val. Witte-vis (Cape) ; Soldier (Natal). 1836. Valenciennes in Webb and Berthelot, Iles Canar. Poiss., p. 37, pl. vi ( flamentosus on plate, non C. and V.). 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 155 miles). 1914. Id., Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. ii, p. 128, fig. (albus). 1914. Pellegrin, Ann. Inst. Ocean., vol. vi, p. 50. 1916. Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iii, p. 3 (albus) (egg). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 356 (filosus, references, and miles). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 82 (references). 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 22 (mules). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvii, p. 240 (miles). 11925. Id., cbid., p. 239 (rupestris non C. and V.). Depth 21-22, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Hye 716 Annals of the South African Museum. 35(young)—44 in length of head, 1 (young)—1?in snout, 4 (adult) or equal to (young) interorbital width, greater than (young) or less than (adult) depth of preorbital. Canines 4 in upper, 6 in lower jaw. Gill-rakers 13-14 on lower part of anterior arch. Posterior nostril elongate, oval. D XIT 10, spines flexible, except 1st 2 which are very short; 1st $ 2nd, which seldom exceeds 4 eye-diameter; 3rd elongate, filamentous, at least 4 length of head, a little shorter in adult (albus), up to # length of head, but variable; 4th or 4th and 5th also somewhat filamentous, but shorter than 3rd, other spines successively shorter. A III 8, 2nd and 3rd subequal, 2nd usually slightly stronger than 3rd, which is usually slightly longer than 2nd. Ventral with lst ray prolonged as a short filament, more pronounced in young and half-grown than in adult. Scales: 1.1. 58-62; l.tr ; 8(7-9) series on cheek ; limb 15-16 ° of preopercle more or less scaly, but scales often nearly obsolete ; scaling on top of head extending forwards to vertical from anterior margin of eye or posterior nostril. Length.—Up to 600 mim. Colour.—Silvery pink, deeper above, whitish below; more or less distinct dark specks or cloudy patches on top of head, back, and at base of last dorsal ray ; 4-5 pale blue longitudinal stripes, fading very rapidly after death ; fins rosy, dorsal and tips of caudal lobes usually with narrow blackish margin, ventrals white ; young (100 mm.) with 4 rather inconspicuous dark (as preserved) vertical cross-bars, the Ist across shoulder, the 4th from base of last dorsal ray. Locality—Mossamedes, Table Bay, Agulhas Bank to Natal, down to 70 fathoms. Distribution.—Coast of Algiers and west coast of Africa, Canary Islands. Types of miles and albus in South African Museum. These types, and the specimen referred by Gilchrist and Thompson in 1911 (Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xi, p. 32) to filosus, have been compared with a series from the Agulhas Bank and Natal and found to be identical. The identification with filosws appears to be justified, though none of the South African specimens is as long in the body as represented by Valenciennes. It is probable that Valenciennes described from dried specimens (see footnote in Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 1, p. 449, regarding similar discrepancies in Valenciennes’ description of Diplodus cervinus). Moreover, filosus has been recorded from various localities on the west coast as far south as Angola. — = Se a A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 717 The 3rd dorsal spine is variable. Valenciennes records a specimen in which it measured half the total length. | - The Witte-vis, so called because it is of a paler red than the Silver- fish and fades very rapidly, is rare in Table Bay, but frequent in the warmer waters of the Agulhas current. Dentex argyrozona C. and V. Silver-fish ; Kapenaar. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 235. 1849. Smith, Illustr. Zool. 8S. Afr. Pisces, pl. xix. 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 30 (macrodens). 1916. Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iii, p. 3 (egg and larva). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 356. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 81 (references). 1919. Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. lvi, p. 291. 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 22. Depth equal to length of head, 3 or a little less in length of body. Kye 33-42 in length of head, equal to or slightly less than snout and interorbital width, twice or a little less than twice depth of preorbital. Preorbital 2-23 times as long as deep. Canines strong, prominent, curved. Gill-rakers 18—20(21) on lower part of anterior arch. Posterior nostril oval. D XII 9-10, spines rather slender, 4th or 4th and 5th longest, 4-3 length of head. A III 8, 2nd spine shorter than 3rd. weales: 1.1. 60-62 ; Ltr. a 8-9 series on cheek; limb of preopercle scaly ; scaling on top of head extending to vertical from anterior nostril. Length —Up to 750 mm. Colour.—Silvery rose or pink, paler below, with several (4-6) brilhant silver longitudinal bands, fins rosy. Locality.—Table Bay, False Bay, and Agulhas Bank to Algoa Bay and Natal, down to 70 fathoms. One of the best-known and economically most important South African fishes. *Dentex macrophthalmus (B1.). 1785. Bloch, Ichthyol., pl. cclxxu. 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Nat., p. 337. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 227. 718 Annals of the South African Museum. 1859. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 370. 1914. Pellegrin, Ann. Inst. Ocean., vol. vi, p. 50. 1919. Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. lvi, p. 284. Depth 24-22, length of head 22-23, in length of body. Eye less than 3 (Cuv. and Val.), 34-34 (Fowler) in length of head, about equal to snout, greater than interorbital width. Preorbital shallow. Canines moderate. Gill-rakers 17-18 on lower part of anterior arch. D XII 10. A III 8, 2nd spine stronger and longer than 3rd. Scales: 1.1. 6 58-60 ; ltr. TE 7 series on cheek ; limb of preopercle scaly ; scaling on top of head not extending beyond vertical from anterior border of eye. Length.—Up to 450 mm. Colour.— Uniform red, silvery below. Locality.—Mossamedes. Distribution.—Mediterranean and neighbouring coasts of the Atlantic. D. maroccanus C. and V., of which there is a specimen from Angola in the British Museum, is closely allied to this species. The distribu- tion is the same, but maroccanus has a smaller eye and deeper pre- 5 orbital (eye 4 in head, equal to depth of preorbital) ; Ll. 47; ae ; 5-6 series on cheek. D. cunninghamu Regan (1905, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (7), vol. xv, p. 325), also from Angola, has eye 34 in length of head, depth of pre- orbital 2 eye-diameter, 10 gill-rakers; D XII 10; A III 10; 11. 60; 6 [Leite =a ; 6 series on cheek ; 7(8) canines in upper, 11(12) in lower jaw. Dentex lineopunctatus Blgr. Blueskin. 1903. Boulenger, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. iii, p. 66, pl. vi. 1908. Gilchrist and Thompson, ibid., vol. vi, p. 156 (natalensis). 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 356 (natalensis). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 240 (natalensis). Depth 24-24, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Eye 344 in length of head, 1-14 in snout, 1-1} in interorbital width, slightly greater than depth of preorbital. Canines moderate to strong. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 719 Posterior nostril elongate oval. D XII 10, spines moderately strong, 4th longest, $-¢ length of head. A III 8, spines very strong, 2nd 7 slightly longer than 3rd. Scales: 1.1. 53-58; Ltr. i 7-8 series on cheek ; limb of preopercle scaly ; scaling on top of head extending to vertical from anterior nostril. Length.—Up to 350 mm. Colour.—Pink or reddish, with a bluish tinge, with 6 rows, 3 above and 3 below the lateral line, of small purplish or bluish spots, some irregularly scattered spots on occiput and nape; dorsal, anal, and ventral] fins dark or violaceous. Locality.— Natal coast, down to 40 fathoms. Type in British Museum; of natalensis in South African Museum. The gills have been removed in all the specimens I have seen, but Fowler gives the number of gill-rakers as 13. Dentex undulosus Regan. Seventy-four. 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 28 (rupestris non C. and V.). 1908. Regan, Ann. Nat. Mus., vol. i, p. 252, pl. xl. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, Pa oot. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 83. Profile prominently gibbose above the snout in some old specimens (? males only). Depth 23-3 or 3§, length of head 33-34, in length of body. Hye 33 (young)—55 (adult) in length of head, 1 (young)-2 (adult) in snout, 1-2 in interorbital width, twice the depth of preorbital in young, 1% times in its depth in adult. Canines moderate to strong. Gill-rakers 14-16 on lower part of anterior arch. Posterior nostril elongate oval. D XII 10, 4th and 5th longest, equal to postorbital 9-] part of head. A III 9. Scales: 1.1. 57-61; Ltr. —_— 9-11 series on cheek ; limb of preopercle scaly (scattered scales in large examples) ; scaling on top of head extending forwards to above anterior nostril. Length.—Up to 900 mm. Colour.—Rose red. shading to white on belly, with silvery, golden, and metallic blue, green, or violet reflections on back; 4-6 irregularly 720 Annals of the South African Museum. wavy, narrow, longitudinal, cobalt or ultramarine blue streaks, the uppermost along the base of dorsal fin, each streak bordered above and below (the uppermost one bordered below only) with pink, a cloudy blackish blotch on lateral line below about 6th dorsal spine; dorsal greyish or viola- ceous, anal pale bluish, caudal and pectoral rosy, ventrals whitish. In pre- served specimens the streaks become dark, with more or less distinct light borders. Locality Table Bay, False Bay, and Agulhas Bank to Natal. Type in British Museum. The Seventy-four, supposed to derive its name from the resemblance of the Fic. 26.—Outline of head of a streaks along the sides to the rows of specimen of Dentew wndu- ons on an old man-of-war, or because losus, 800 mm. in length, showing frontal gibbosity one was once caught from such a vessel and forward limit of scaling of 74 guns (see Gilchrist, 1902, Tr. S (diagrammatic). 8 : ® i, ee Afr. Phil. Soc., vol. xi, p. 221), is rarely caught in Table Bay, but is abundant on the Agulhas Bank. The beautiful coloration of this fish is not so vivid in life as shortly after death, when the colours appear in all their brilliance. Gen. CARANTHUS nom. nov. 1817. Cuvier, Régne Anim., p. 278. (Cantharus, nom. preoce. Bolten 1798, and Montf. 1808.) Teeth in front of jaws in broad cardiform bands, becoming narrower latterly, the outermost row largest, lanceolate, without canines or molars. Cheek scaly. Interorbital and limb of preopercle scaly or naked. Preorbital moderately deep or shallow. Posterior nostril more or less slit-like. The tubes of the lateral line short, often appear- ing bifurcate owing to there being two divergent series of pores opening to the exterior ; in microlepis there is only a pair of pores, being the two terminal pores in the divergent series found in other species. Vegetable feeders inhabiting the Mediterranean and west coast of Europe, and the west, south, and east coasts of Africa. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 721 Key to the South African species. 1. Snout moderate, conical. Limb of preopercle scaleless. a. Lower margin of preorbital not notched 5 : F f blochi. 6. Lower margin of preorbital notched. i. Scales: 1.1. 68-75 : : ; : : . . lineatus. ii. Seales: 1.1. 80-85 : : ‘ i : ‘ emarginatus. iii. Scales: 1.1. 90-95 2 ‘ : : : . microlepis. 2. Snout short, blunt, pug-nosed : , : ; : 3 , aeneus. Caranthus blochi (C. and V.). Hottentot ; Hangberger. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 339. 1860. Bleeker, Nat. Tydsch. Ned. Ind., vol. xxi, p. 59 (castelnau:). 1914. Gilchrist and Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. ii, p. 94. 1916. Gilchrist, abed., vol. i11, p. 6 (egg). 1918. Thompson, zbid., vol. iv, p. 84 (references). Profile sloping, gently and nearly evenly convex. Depth about 23, length of head 3, in length of body. Eye 3} (young)-—5 in length of head, 1 (young)—2 in snout, 14 (young)—2$ in interorbital width, 14 times (young) to a little over once (adult) in depth of preorbital. Pre- orbital not concealing hinder portion of maxilla, lower margin straight (or almost so). Gill-rakers 13-14 on lower part of anterior arch. Outer row of teeth considerably larger than the succeeding inner series. D X 11-12, spines stout, 4th or 4th and 5th longest, 3 (or sometimes 4) in length of head, Ist ray longer than last spine. A III HOE oeales:: 1.1. 64-69; |.tr. = Lateral line tubes bifurcate, especially anteriorly ; (8-)9 series on cheek; limb of preopercle scaleless; scaling on top of head not extending forwards beyond vertical from posterior third or centre of eye. Length.—Up to 450 mm. Colour.—Uniform greyish, brownish, sometimes bronzy or bluish, sometimes lighter, sometimes darker, usually lighter or silvery below. Locality.—Coast of South-west Africa, Saldanha Bay, Table Bay, False Bay, Agulhas Bank. The number of dorsal spines seems to be constantly ten. The Hottentot is one of the commonest Cape fishes, but is more abundant on the west coast than on the Agulhas Bank. A single specimen in the South African Museum, 275 mm. long, agrees with blochi in all respects except the following: the teeth are 722 Annals of the South African Museum. rather stronger than in similar-sized specimens of undoubted blochi, especially the inner series, the outer row not being so abruptly larger than the succeeding rows; the preorbital, though quite straight on lower margin, completely conceals the maxilla. The exact locality is not recorded, but the specimen is from the collection made by the s.s. ‘‘ Pieter Faure.” ) *Caranthus lineatus (Mont.). 1815. Montagu, Mem. Wern. Soc., vol. ii, p. 451, pl. xxiii. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 319, pl. elx (vulgaris), and p. 333 (griseus). 1859. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 418. 1914. Pellegrin, Ann. Inst. Ocean., vol. vi, p. 51. Profile sloping, evenly and gently convex. Depth about 24, length of head 34, in length of body. Hye about 4 in length of head, slightly less than snout, greater than depth of preorbital. Preorbital with lower margin more or less deeply notched, exposing maxilla. D XI 12, spines slender, 4th-6th longest, about half length of head, Ist ray not longer than last spine. A III 10. Scales: 1.1. 68-75; Ltr. 9-10 19° V.’s figure) ; scaling on top of head not extending forward beyond vertical from centre of eye. Length.— Up to 450 mm. Colour.—Silvery grey, with numerous dark longitudinal streaks ; dorsal and anal dark grey or violaceous, ventrals brown. Locality. —Mossamedes. Distribution. Mediterranean, west coast of Europe and Africa, Canary Isles. ; 6-7 series on cheek; limb of preopercle scaleless (in C. and Caranthus emarginatus (C. and V.). Steenje. 1830. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vi, p. 338. 1914. Gilchrist and Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. ii, p. 94 (habits). 1915. Clark, Sci. Res. “ Scotia,” vol. iv, p. 396 (Scatharus graecus non C. and V.). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 357. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 84 (references). A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 723 Profile nearly straight to above eye, then rising more or less abruptly to the rather strongly convex nape, at least in adult. A rather pro- minent bulge in adult in front of orbit. Depth 25 (adult)—24 (young), length of head 34, in length of body. Hye 3$-4 in length of head, slightly greater than (young) or about equal to snout, 14 (young)-14 in interorbital width. Depth of preorbital about half eye-diameter, lower margin deeply notched, exposing the maxilla. Gill-rakers 15 on lower part of anterior arch. Teeth numerous and fine, the inner series very fine. D XI 12-13, spines slender, 4th or 5th longest, usually nearly half length of head, but sometimes only about one- third, lst ray not longer than last spine. ATIII10. Scales: 1.1. 80-85 ; 13 Lior, a Anterior tubes of lateral line bifurcate. Hight series on cheek; limb of preopercle scaleless; scaling on top of head not extending forward beyond vertical from centre of eye. Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Brownish, lighter or darker, with numerous narrow blue and yellow longitudinal streaks, back often with a bluish, bronzy, or violaceous sheen; dorsal, anal, and ventrals greyish or violaceous ; axil of pectoral often dark. Localityi—Saldanha Bay, Table Bay, False Bay to Algoa Bay. Distribution.—Madagascar region (Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Reoiss., p. 014, 1891). The Steenje is rare in Table Bay, but frequent in the warmer waters to the east. The specimen identified as Scatharus graecus is in the British Museum. It has a band of teeth and is therefore not a Scatharus. Clark suggests the possibility of a confusion of labels; if such has occurred it must have occurred after Clark’s identification, for the specimen which I examined at the British Museum labelled Scatharus graecus ex “‘ Scotia”’ Expedition is certainly our ordinary Steenje. Caranthus microlepis (G. and T.). 1909. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 231. 1917. fd., Ann. Durban Mus., vol.i, pt. 4, p. 357. 1921. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. vii, p. 419 (Pagellus macrolepis). Profile sloping, gently and nearly evenly convex, but with a slight bulge in front of eyes. Depth 25-22, length of head 3-3, in length of body. Hye 3-34 in length of head, equal to or a little greater than WOk. ~ = SS aE \ \ i es 1 ‘ ‘ ¢ 4 4 : 2 4 J / i , Vv p ' £ 4 } Y } S S 4 R y j 2 Neill & Co., Lid. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 763 Thalassoma hebraicum (Lac.). Collar Wrasse. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iii, pp. 455, 526, pl. xxix, fig. 3. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 404, pl. Ixxxvi, fig. 2. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 379 (references). ; Depth 34-32, length of head 34-34, in length of body. Hye 5-6 in length of head. Gill-rakers 13-14 on lower part of anterior arch, short, stout. D VIII13. AJIII11. Caudal truncate, with the lobes produced in adult. Scales: 1.1. 27-28. Length.— Up to 180 mm. Colour.—Green, darker above, each scale often with a dark vertical mark; with a white or yellowish, dark-edged, vertical (slightly oblique) cross-bar from first 2 dorsal spines to behind ventrals, often indistinct in adult ; head bluish, with 3 red or violet streaks radiating backwards from eye, the middle one curving over the cheek; dorsal and caudal greenish, former with a black ocellus or patch anteriorly, latter with a dark semilunar vertical bar; anal light, dorsal and anal sometimes with a dark band, often a black spot on pectoral. Locality.— Natal coast, Delagoa Bay, Mozambique. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Mauritius, Madagascar, and Indian seas. Thalassoma lunare (Linn.). Yellow-tail Wrasse. 1758. Linne, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 283. 1862. Bleeker, Atl. Ichth., vol. i, p. 90, pl. xxxiui, fig. 5. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 403, pl. lxxxvi, fig. 1. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 379 (references and synonymy). Depth a little less than length of head, 34-32 in length of body. Eye 5-6 in length of head. Gill-rakers 10-11 on lower part of anterior arch, short. D VIII 13. A III 11. Caudal lunate, lobes strongly produced in adult. Scales: 1.]. 27-28. Length—Up to 230 mm. Colour.—Green, each scale with a vertical red mark; head green or violaceous, with pink, red, or lilac curved bands and spots; a similarly coloured triangular patch below base of pectoral, and a 764 Annals of the South African Museum. stripe from gill cleft above base of ventral nearly to anal; dorsal and anal light green at base, then a band of peacock-blue and a marginal band of pink; caudal bright yellow in centre, each lobe with a pink stripe bordered above and below with blue; ventrals blue ; pectoral blue, with a large pink, red, or lilac oval spot in centre. Locality.— Natal and Zululand coast, Delagoa Bay, Mozambique. : Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to China and Japan. | A young specimen, 80 mm. long, resembles other preserved speci- mens in having indications of the vertical marks on the scales, the dark nebulous patch at base of caudal, bicoloured pectoral, and dark : base with light margin to the dorsal and anal fin; but has in addition | an irregular black patch on the basal band between the 2nd—6th | dorsal rays. * Thalassoma commersoni C. and V. Bicoloured Wrasse. 1839. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. xiii, p. 418. 1862. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. iv, p. 184 (bicolor), and p- 508. 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 322 (bzcolor). Depth 4, length of head 32, in length of body. D VIII 13. A III 11. Caudal lobes produced. Scales: 1.1. 28. Length —Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Anterior part of body and back dark blackish olive or 4q violaceous ; hinder part, belly, and caudal peduncle pale olive ; dorsal with a black spot between Ist and 3rd spines, and a broad violet band, with base and margin yellowish; anal with basal violet band ‘ and yellow margin; base and lobes of caudal blackish ; large black ; spot on hind end of pectoral, and a black axil. . Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Mauritius. Gen. CHILINUS Lac. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ii, p. 529. 1902. Jordan and Snyder, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxiv, p. 653. Body oblong, compressed. Scales large. Snout conical. Cheek and opercle with large scales. Preopercle entire. Teeth uniserial, anterior ones canine-like; no posterior canine. Dorsal spines 9, rarely 10. Dorsal and anal with more or less developed basal sheath. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 765 Caudal rounded in young, truncate or lunate with the angles prolonged in adult ; middle ray also sometimes prolonged. Lateral line inter- rupted, the tubules simple or branched. Key to the South African species. 1. Lateral line tubules simple. Dorsal spines 9. a. A violet spot behind orbit . : ; ; : ; mossambicus. b. No violet spot behind orbit : : t : . radiatus. 2. Lateral line tubules branched. Dorsal spines 310 : ; : . chlorurus. *Ohilinus mossambicus Guthr. 1839. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. xiv, p. 91 (radvatus, non Bl. Schn.). 1855. Peters, Wiegm. Arch., p. 264 (radzatus, non Bl. Schn.). 1862. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. iv, p. 127. 1866. Playfair and Giinther, Fish. Zanz., p. 88. Depth 3, length of head a little less than 3, in length of body. D IX 9-10. A III 8. Caudal with upper and middle rays pro- longed in adult. Scales: 1.1. 20-23. Lateral line tubules simple. Length.— Up to 130 mm. Colour (as preserved).—Brownish-olive, clouded with blackish, head with yellow lnes radiating from eye, a violet spot behind eye, spinous dorsal brownish-black, upper part of soft dorsal, anal, and caudal with yellow reticulations. Locality.—Mozambique coast. Distribution.—Zanzibar, East Indies, New Hebrides. Chilinus radiatus (Bl. Schn.). 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 270, pl. lvi. 1862. Bleeker, Atl. Ichth., vol. i, p. 68, pl. xxvi, fig. 1. 1862. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. iv, p. 131. 1871. Klunzinger, Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. xxi, p. 556. 1876-81. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, vol. u, p. 247, pl. cxxxv, fig. A. | 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 365. Depth 3, length.of head a little less than 3, in length of body. DIX10. ATIII8. Caudal truncate. Scales: 1.1. 23. Lateral line tubules simple. Length.— Up to 290 mm. Colour.—Reddish. or greenish, belly pinkish, each scale with a red 766 Annals of the South African Museum. spot (if ground colour is red, these spots are of a darker or brighter shade), head with dull red or crimson spots and lines more or less radiating from eye, a series of dark brown or violet lines running obliquely across cheek to lower angle of gill-cover; fins reddish or greenish, spinous dorsal often violaceous, caudal bluish-green, iris similar to the ground colour, with a blue horseshoe-shaped band (Klunzinger says a bright red ring.) Locality —_ Mozambique. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, East Indies, South Pacific. *Ohilinus chlorurus Bl. 1785. Bloch, Ichthyol., vol. v, p. 24, pl. celx. 1831. Bennett, Proc. Zool. Soc., vol. i, p. 167 (punctatus). 1839. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. xiv, p. 87, pl. ccexevi (punctulatus). 1862. Bleeker, Atl. Ichth., vol. i, p. 65, pl. xxvu, fig. 3. 1862. Ginther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. iv, p. 127 (punctatus), and p. 128. 1866. Playfair and Giinther, Fish. Zanz., p. 89 (punctatus). 1876-81. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, vol. 11, p. 245, pl. exxxu.. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 393, pl. Ixxxu, fig. 6. 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 363. Depth 24, length of head 3, in length of body. DX9. ATIII 8. Caudal trilobed in adult, the upper, middle, and lower rays produced. Scales: 1.]. 22. Lateral line tubules branched. Length—Up to 270 mm. Colour.—Olivaceous, head and most of the scales on body with yellow dots, head also with some yellow lines around the eye, the dots may be red or pale bluish ; dorsal reddish or greenish, with a yellow margin and a dark or greenish inframarginal band; soft dorsal and anal more or less mottled ; ventrals, anal, and caudal with numerous yellow dots. Locality.— Mozambique. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies, South Pacific. Gen. HEMIPTERONOTUS Lac. 1802. Lacépade, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iii, p. 215. 1815. Cuvier, Mem. Mus. d’Hist. Nat., vol. i, pp. 324, 329 (Xyrich- thys). ——" —_——~* A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 767 1817. Id., Regne Anim., ed. 1, p. 265 (Novacula). Body oblong, compressed. Scales large. Head nearly scaleless ; more or less developed patches of scales on cheek and suborbital or supraopercular regions. Snout more or less obtuse, profile often steep. Upper part of head high, often gibbous, or with a sharp median ridge. Preopercle entire. Teeth uniserial, anterior ones canine-like, a few inner granular ones; no posterior canines. Dorsal spines 9, the 2 anterior ones sometimes remote from the rest, inserted on the nape. Soft dorsal and anal without basal sheath. Caudal rounded-truncate. Lateral line interrupted, continued on caudal peduncle at a lower level. As Giinther (Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. iv, p. 169) remarks, no hard and fast distinction can be made between the genera or subgenera into which it has been proposed to split this genus. The most dis- tinctive species are those with tlie first 2 dorsal spines elevated and widely separated from the rest of the fin, which are grouped under the genus Inwstius Gill. This latter genus is here accepted, and for the genus Xyrichthys (= Novacula) the earlier name of Hemipteronotus Lac. adopted. Two or three species have been recorded from the “Cape” or * South Africa ” which would appear not to belong really to the South African fauna. The first is the European, Madeiran, and West Indian novacula Linn., to which Giinther (Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. iv, p. 170) assigns a stuffed specimen from “ South Africa.”’ The record is preceded by a query mark. The very similar, if not identical, argentimaculata Stndr. (1861, Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. xi, p. 134), described from two examples in the Vienna Museum from the Cape of Good Hope, has never since been recognised. Giinther (1862, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. iv, p. 170) identifies a specimen in the British Museum (ex Berlin Museum) from Brazil with Steindachner’s species. Ribeiro (1915, Arch. Mus. Nac. Rio de Janeiro, vol. xvii) mentions novacula but not argentumaculata as belonging to the fauna of Brazil. He also states that splendens Cast. 1855 extends to the Cape of Good Hope. On the west coast of Africa novacula has not been recorded further south than Senegal (Pellegrin, 1914, Ann. Inst. Ocean., vol. vi, p. 64). Under these circumstances it seems better to exclude both novacula and argentimaculata from the fauna-list until their presence is ascer- tained by authentic captures. Both species (if they really are separable) 768 Annals of the South African Museum. have a steep profile and a sharp ridge on the head, the first 2 dorsal spines not elevated and not remote from the rest, and a silvery spot on the side. Key to the South African species. 1. First 2 dorsal spines remote from the rest, but connected by membrane. Profile steep (Hemipteronotus) : . pentadactylum. 2. First 2 dorsal spines not remote from tie eae. Profile dopine (Novaculichthys) macrolepidotum. * Hemipteronotus pentadactylum (Linn.). Five-finger Wrasse. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., vol. 1, p. 447. 1862. Bleeker, Atl. Ichth., vol. 1, p. 150, pl. xxx, fig. 4. 1862. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. iv, p. 177. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 402. 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 459. 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. 1x, p. 322. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvii, p. 260. Profile very steep. Upper edge of head rather obtuse. Depth 3 or a little more, length of head 34, in length of body. Eye 44 in length of head. Preorbital deep, about twice the eye-diameter. D IX 12, the first 2 spines a little higher than the rest, flexible, remote but connected by membrane. A III 12. Only the last 3-4 dorsal and 8-9 anal rays are branched. Outer ventral ray prolonged. Scales: 1.]. 28; 7-9 series on cheek. Length.—Up to 150 mm. Colour.—Light brownish, with a reddish or greenish tinge, a row of 5-6 oval, red (white in alcohol) spots on suprascapular region, most of the scales with a red spot at base, a blackish blotch on the side below lateral line (covered by the end of the pectoral fin), dorsal with oblique bluish or reddish lines, anal with 2 longitudinal and caudal with several vertical bars of the same colour, ventrals yellowish, median line of head with a bluish stripe. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies to China. H. punctulata C. and V. (cf. Day, Fish. India, p. 402, pl. Ixxxvin, fig. 2) is very similar, but lacks the spots behind the eye on the supra- scapular region. The vernacular name alludes to the spots which look as if made by the five fingers of a hand. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 769 Hemipteronotus macrolepidotum (B1.). Black-chested Wrasse. 1785. Bloch, Ausland. Fische, p. 135, pl. cclxxxiv, fig. 2. 1861. Steindachner, Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. xi, p. 136, pl. iv, fig. 1 (arago). 1862. Bleeker, Atl. Ichth., vol. i, p. 144, pl. xxxi, fig. 6. 1862. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol iv, p. 174. 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 377. 1925 Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 259. Profile sloping. Upper edge of head obtuse. Depth 32-32, length of head 34-33, in length of body. Hye 5-54 in length of head. Pre- orbital shallow, depth about equal to eye-diameter. D IX 12-13, first 2 spines not elevated, not remote from rest. A III 12-13. None or only the last 2-3 dorsal and anal rays branched. Outer ventral ray usually prolonged, extending to anal. Scales: 1.1. 24-26; 2-4 rows below the eye. Length.—Up to 140 mm. Colour.—Rosy or light greenish, pale yellowish below, some bluish or white spots on side behind the pectoral region, a series of black irregular spots forming a more or less continuous longitudinal stripe from opercle to caudal peduncle, these spots sometimes confined to the hinder part of body ; a black patch on median line in front of bases of ventrals, head with a dark green or violaceous bar from snout to eye, 3 similar bars radiating backwards from eye, the lower one more or less crescentic; all these bands with narrow white, yellow, or dull orange borders, margin of flap of opercle dark green or violaceous ; fins rosy or greenish, usually a dark or black spot between 1st and 2nd dorsal spines, soft dorsal and usually anal with dark, wavy, oblique lines or spots, caudal sometimes with dark spots forming bars, iris yellow, with a cobalt-blue ring. Locality — Delagoa Bay, Mozambique. Distribution.—East Indies. All the living specimens IJ have seen have been of a greenish tint, with the bars on the head dark green bordered with dull orange. In addition there were two dull orange bars, one from the chin, the other from a little further back, curving upwards and backwards across the cheek, and some faint reddish chevron-shaped cross-bars on the lower half of the body above the anal fin. Thus they agree far more with the descriptions of Quoy and Gaimard and of Steindachner than with Bleeker’s coloured figure. 770 Annals of the South African Museum. Gen. Inustius Gill. 1862. Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., p. 143. 1902. Jordan and Snyder, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxiv, p. 654. Similar to Hemipteronotus, but the first 2 dorsal spines considerably elevated and completely detached from rest of fin, inserted far forward on the occiput. Profile steep. Upper edge of head sharp. *Inustius tetrazona (Blkr.). Crested Wrasse. 1859. Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind., vol. xvii, p. 169. 1862. Jd., Atl. Ichth., vol. 1, p. 149, pl. xxx, fig. 1. 1862. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. iv, p. 175. 1871. Klunzinger, Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. xxi, p. 531. 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 322. Depth a little less than 3, length of head 33, in length of body. Hye 4—5 in length of head. Preorbital deep, depth nearly twice the eye- diameter. D II+ VII 12, 1st spine about equal to depth of body, 2nd shorter. AIII 12. Scales: 1.1. 25-28. A few very small scales below eye. Length.—Up to 160 mm. Colour.—Rosy, yellowish or milky white below, with 5 broad, olive- brown or blackish cross-bars continued on to the dorsal and anal fins, the first across top of head and continued as a narrower and fainter bar from eye to angle of mouth, the last across base of caudal fin, de- tached dorsal and the ventrals black, soft dorsal with 2 black white- edged ocelli situated in the 3rd and 4th cross-bands, caudal yellowish or rosy. Locality.—Natal coast. 1 Distribution.—East Indies, Red Sea. j Gen. CyMoLUTES Gnthr. 1861. Giinther, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. viii, p. 387. 1862. Id., Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. iv, p. 207. Similar to Hemipteronotus, but scales small. First two dorsal spines not elevated or remote from rest. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. rere | Cymolutes praetextatus (Q. and G.). 1834. Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. Astrol., Poiss., p. 712, pl. xv, fig. 4. 1839. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. xiv, p. 54, pl. ecexcii (torquatus). 1862. Bleeker, Atl. Ichth., vol. i, p. 146, pl. xxxi, fig. 1. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 409, pl. xe, fig. 1. Depth 34-4, length of head 34-33, in length of body. Hye 4-5 in length of head. Preorbital deep, depth twice eye-diameter. Canines prominent. DIX12. ATII12. Scales: 1.1. 73 (Day), 80-92. Length.—Up to 150 mm. Colour.—Dull greenish, top of head sage-green, a dark blue-edged slightly oblique bar across shoulder above pectoral; a series of narrow brownish curved or angularly bent cross-bars, which are sometimes confined to the hinder half of body or absent altogether ; an indistinct brownish vertical bar across opercle; dorsal, caudal, and anal greenish, with faint reddish margins; spinous dorsal often with a black or pale violet margin, or the whole dorsal is rosy with blue or violaceous oblique wavy bars, and the anal pinkish. Locality. Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas, East Indies. C. lecluse Q. and G., from the Hawaiian Islands, appears to be scarcely distinct. It is said to have a black ocellus on side below 8th dorsal spine (Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii, p. 327). Playfair and Giinther (Fish. Zanz., p. 102) describe a variety of praetextatus which has a black spot below the 6th dorsal spine. Further investigation will probably show that only one species with variable coloration should be recognised. Fam. 49. ScARIDAE. Parrot-fishes. Body oblong, compressed, with large cycloid scales. Cheeks and opercles scaly. Three enlarged scales at base of caudal fin. Mouth not protractile. Maxilla firmly attached to premaxilla, slipping under preorbital. Teeth united to form a pair of sharp-edged cutting plates, resembling the beak of a parrot, or the teeth are fixed to the anterior edges of these plates, imbricate, with their apices more or less distinct ; separate posterior canines sometimes present in upper jaw. Lower pharyngeals completely united into one bone, quad- VOL. XXI, PART 2. 50 172 Annals of the South African Museum. rangular, concave, with transversely expanded linear teeth forming a pavement; second upper pharyngeals united with 3rd and 4th, similarly toothed. Nostrils paired. Guill-membranes sometimes joined to isthmus, sometimes united to form a fold across it. Gills 34. Pseudobranchiae present. Dorsal fin single, spines 9(8-10), flexible or pungent, rays 10-11. Anal spines 2-3. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, with axillary process. Caudal rounded in young, truncate or lunate in adult. Lateral line single, more or less sharply bent posteriorly, more or less completely interrupted. Air-bladder present. No pyloric caeca. No subocular shelf. Tropical and subtropical shore fishes of brilliant coloration, and often of rather large size (4 feet), feeding on vegetable matter, corals, or hard-shelled molluscs. They are not greatly valued as food, and some species are reputed to be poisonous. There is great uniformity in the various genera and species as regards the number of scales and the fin formulae. The former scarcely varies except on the cheeks. The coloration is often distinc- tive, but as in the Wrasses probably varies considerably in many species, In consequence of which many nominal species have been instituted. Key to the South African genera. 1. Two to four series of scales on cheek . : : : , : Scarus. 2. A single series of scales on cheek. a. Lateral line continuous : : : : - ‘ Scarichthys. b. Lateral line interrupted : 5 : : , : . Callyodon. Gen. Scarus Forsk. 1775. Forskal, Descr. Anim., p. 25. 1861. Bleeker, Versl. Ak. Wet. Amsterd., vol. xii, p. 3 (Pseudo- scarus). 1862. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. iv, p. 216 (Pseudoscarus). 1898. Jordan and Evermann, Fish. Mid. North Amer., vol. u, p. 1642. 1902. Jordan and Snyder, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxiv, p. 658. Two or more series of scales on cheek. Upper lip single in front, double only near angle of mouth. Teeth completely soldered together ; one or more posterior canines present or absent. Dentigerous plate of lower pharyngeal longer than broad. Dorsal spines flexible, the membrane between them not excised; basal sheath more or less A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 773 developed. Pectorals triangular. Lateral line usually completely interrupted. As Giinther (loc. cit., p. 217) remarks, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to identify with certainty preserved examples of this genus. Detailed notes of coloration should therefore be made at the time of capture and attached to every specimen. The fin and scale formulae are very constant throughout the genus, viz. D IX 10. A JI-III 8-9. Scales: 1.]. 23-27. Key to the South African species. 1. A single scale on lower preopercular limb. : : : . guttatus. 2. Two scales on preopercular limb . : : : : . enneacanthus. Scarus guttatus Bl. Schn. Blue-spotted Parrot-fish. 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 294. 1803. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, pp. 5, 21, pl. i, fig. 3 (maculosus). 1891. Sauvage, Hist. Nat. Madagasc. Poiss., p. 468. 1909. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, p. 259 (natalensis). 1917. Zd., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 383 (maculosus, references, and natalensis). 21925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 261 (collana). Depth about equal to length of head, a little less than 3 in length of body. Eye about 6 in length of head. Two series of scales on cheek and a single scale on lower preopercular limb, middle series on cheek composed of 5 scales. No posterior canine. Dorsal spines sub- equal. Angles of caudal somewhat produced. (Plate XXXII, fig. 1.) Length—Up to 380 mm. Colour.—Yellowish, head and body with irregular blue spots, bright coloured streaks from mouth to eye, vertical fins edged with blue, with blue spots along their bases, jaws whitish. Locality.—Natal and Zululand coast, Delagoa Bay, Mozambique. Distribution.— Mauritius. Type of natalensis in South African Museum. The description of natalensis discloses no real differences between it and the specimen doubtfully identified as maculosus by Gilchrist 774 Annals of the South African Museum. and Thompson (loc. cit., p. 258), and reference to the type specimen removes the few slight differences that are given. Thus the lateral series of scales is in both cases 25, though the pierced scales of the lateral line number 2-3 more. There are only 5 scales in the middle series across the cheek. There would seem to be no necessity for the institution of natalensis, especially when based on a preserved specimen. In view of Giinther’s remarks quoted above, the specimen may be identified with guttatus, which has already been recorded by Regan from Zululand. Fowler’s record of collana Riipp. may also refer to this species. *Scarus enneacanthus Lacép. 1803. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, pp. 2, 6. 1803. Id., cbid., pp. 8, 12, pl. i, fig. 1 (denticulatus). 1803. Id., ibed., pp. 2, 11 (chadri). 1839. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. xiv, p. 228, pl. edi (caprtaneus). 1862. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. iv, p. 228 (capitaneus). 1866. Playfair and Giinther, Fish. Zanz., p. 106 (capitaneus). Two series of scales on cheek and two scales on lower preopercular limb, the middle series composed of 6 scales. First dorsal spine shortest. Caudal rounded in young, emarginate in adult. Colour.—Blue, vertical fins edged with lighter (Giinther) ; brownish, with 3 rows of large whitish spots, the first of 3 spots near base of dorsal, 2nd of about 6 spots below lateral line, 3rd also of about 6 spots from axil of pectoral; dorsal, anal, and caudal uniform brown (Playfair and Giinther). Locality. Mozambique. Distribution.—Mauritius, Zanzibar. Gen. ScarRicHTuHys Blkr. 1861. Bleeker, Versl. Ak. Wet. Amsterd., vol. xii, p. 2. B62) Td. satl. Tehth.,. vol. i, p. 15. 1862. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. iv, p. 212. A single series of scales on cheek. Upper lip double in its whole circuit. Teeth completely soldered together, those in lower jaw in very oblique series ; no posterior canine. Dentigerous plate of lower pharyngeal broader than long. Dorsal spines flexible, the membrane between them excised; no scaly basal sheath. Pectorals short, A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 775 rounded. Lateral lime only slightly bent posteriorly, searcely interrupted. Scarichthys coeruleopunctatus (Riipp.). Brown Parrot-fish. 1835. Riippell, Neue Wirbelt. Fische, p. 24, pl. vu, fig. 3. 1862. Bleeker, Atl. Ichth., vol. 1, p. 16, pl. 1, fig. 2. 1871. Klunzinger, Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. xxi, p 557. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 410, pl. lxxxvu, fig. 5. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 260. Depth about equal to length of head, about 34 in length of body. Eye 4(young)-5 in length of head. D IX 10. A II 8-9. Scales: ll. 23-24. Length.—Up to 250 mm. Colour.—Olive-brown, scales mostly fuscous at base, with numer- ous small white or blue dots (dark in preserved specimens), and a more or less continuous and regular white or blue stripe from opercle to caudal, cheek pale, vertical fins and ventrals with small brown spots. Locality.— East London, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas, Malay Archipelago. A supposed second species with similar distribution, viz. auritus C. and V., is stated by Bleeker (loc. cit., p. 16) to have been recorded from Mozambique. It is said to differ from coeruleopunctatus by having a broad dark band from one cheek to the other across the throat, divided on the throat by two white bars, and other minor characters. Bleeker, however, admits that the two are very difficult to distinguish in the young state. This Parrot-fish may be recognised at once by its brownish colora- tion, very different from the brilliant colours of other Parrot-fishes. Gen. CALLYODON (Gron.) Cuv. 1766. Gronovius, Mus. Ichth., vol. ui, p. 8. 1839. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. xiv, p. 285. A single series of scales on cheek. Upper lip single in front, double posteriorly. Anterior teeth imbricate, more or less distinct; one or two posterior canines. Dentigerous plate of lower pharyngeals broader than long. Dorsal spines flexible, membrane between them not excised; basal sheath present. Pectorals triangular. Lateral line abruptly bent, more or less interrupted. 776 Annals of the South African Museum. *Callyodon viridescens (Riipp.). 1835. Riippell, Neue Wirbelt. Fische, p. 23, pl. vii, fig. 2. 1862. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. iv, p. 214. 1871. Klunzinger, Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, vol. xxi, p. 558. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 410, pl. xe, fig. 2. 1925, Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p. 261 (Lepto- SCATUS V.). Depth 25-3, length of head 3-33, in length of body. Eye 44-5 in length of head. Usually no teeth behind the front series in upper jaw. DIX10. ATII8-10. Scales: 1.1. 24-26. Length.—Up to 260 mm. Colour.—Olivaceous or brownish-yellow, marbled or spotted with darker, each scale with a dark (reddish) spot or streak and whitish specks, head with red streaks radiating from eye; dorsal and anal and caudal with red spots or wavy lines, often a black spot between lst and 2nd dorsal spines. Locality.—Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas. Group TEUTHIDOIDEI. Key to the South African families. 1. Tail armed with spines or plates. Teeth incisiform : 3 Teuthididae. 2. Tail unarmed. Teeth setiform . ; ‘ : : : . Zanclidae. Fam. 1. TEUTHIDIDAE (ACANTHURIDAE). Surgeon-fishes. Body ovate, compressed, with minute scales, usually ctenoid, often rough. Mouth very small, not or but slightly protractile. Maxilla immovably united with premaxilla. Subocular shelf more or less developed. Teeth incisor-like, in a single row in each jaw; no vomerine or palatine teeth. Nostrils paired. Guill-membranes broadly attached to isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. Gill-rakers greatly reduced or obsolete. A single dorsal fin. Anal spines 2-3. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 2-5 rays, without axillary process. Caudal truncate, emarginate, or lunate. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca few. Lateral line single. Caudal peduncle armed with one or more sharp spines or bony plates. A family of moderate-sized herbivorous fishes found in all warm A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. T77 seas, especially among coral reefs, and distinguished by their caudal armature. The sharp, lancet-like shape of the spine has suggested their common name. The young stages are very different in appearance from the adults, and have been described as separate genera. Key to the South African genera. 1. Tail with an antrorse erectile spine on each side . : : . Teuthis. 2. Tail with a pair of immovable bony plates on each side : . Monoceros. Gen. TEutTuHIs Linn. 1763. Gronovius, Zooph. Gronoy. (Hepatus nonbinomial). 1766. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, p. 507. 1775. Forskal, Descr. Anim., p. 59 (Acanthurus part). 1861. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. m, p. 345 (Acronurus, young). 1902. Jordan and Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxv, p. 551. 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 316 (Acanthurus) (fig. of larva). Tail with a sharp antrorse movable spine on each side. Dorsal fin with about 9 spines, anal with 3. Soft dorsal and anal not elevated. Teeth serrulate. Snout blunt. Ventral with 5 rays. Coloration often brilliant. The young stages, Acronurus, are subcircular in side view, scaleless, the skin vertically wrinkled or corrugated, opercles and breast silvery, the rest of the body more or less transparent. This generic name has often been applied to the members of the following family and Acanthurus used in its place.* The numerous species of this genus badly require revision. These fishes should be handled with care, as they lash their tails from side to side when captured, and are capable of inflicting a nasty wound. Key to the South African species. 1. Teeth not dilated, fixed (Teuthis). a. With dark cross-bars : . : : : : . triostegus. 6. Without dark cross-bars. i. With a dark spot at base of last dursal and analrays . elongatus. ii. No dark spots on last dorsal and anal rays . - nigrofuscus. 2. Teeth dilated, movable (Ctenochaetus) . ‘ : ‘ : . striatus. * But see Opinion 93, Intern. Comm. Nomencl., Smiths. Mise. Coll., vol. lxxiii, p- 10. 778 Annals of the South African Museum. Teuthis triostegus (Linn.). Barred Surgeon-fish. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 274. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 204, pl. xlvii, fig. 2. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 373 (references and synonymy). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 252 (Hepatus t.). : Depth not quite 2, length of head 3-4, in length of body. Eye 3-4 in length of head, 14-24 in snout. Profile of snout somewhat concave. Teeth fixed. D IX-X 22-25. A III 20-22. V I 5. Scales small and ctenoid on body, rudimentary on head. Caudal spine small, without posterior process. (Plate XXXI, fig. 5.) Length.— Up to 230 mm. Colour.—Dark greenish or slaty, more or less clouded with yellow ; chin, throat, belly, and a narrow strip along base of anal white, sharply demarcated from the dark colour above by a narrow irregular dark band; 5 narrow black vertical bars, the 1st through the eye ; caudal peduncle with 2 black spots on each side, the upper one often connected with its fellow on the opposite side; vertical fins dusky, anal with narrow white border, pectoral pale, ventrals white below, dusky above. Locality — Natal coast. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to Japan and Australia. T. sandvichensis Streets should be included in the synonymy of this widely distributed species. Teuthis elongatus (Lacép.). Two-spot Surgeon-fish. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, p. 471, pl. vi, fig. 2. 1861. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 11, p. 331 (b¢punctatus). 1902. Jordan and Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxv, p. 554 (bipunctatus). : 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiu, p. 389 (synonymy). Depth 2, length of head 34, in length of body. Eye 4% in length of head, 22 in snout. Profile slightly concave on snout, convex on the interorbital. Teeth fixed, 14 in upper, 16 in lower jaw. D IX 26. PLATE XXXI. TEXT-PAGE 1. Liopempheris russelli (Day) (after Day) : : ; : : . 668 2. Histiopterus spinifer Gilch. (original photo) . : : ‘ . 620 3. Zanclus canesens (Linn.) (after Day) . ; ; : : : . ee 4, Siganus oramin (Bl. Schn.) (after Day) : ; : : : so es 5. Teuthis triostegus (Linn.) (after Day) . : é : ; 2) iS 6. Platax teira Forsk. (after Day) . : : : ‘ . 605 Plate XXXI. Ann. -. Afr; Mus., Vol. X-XI. Neill & Co., Ltd. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 779 A III 24. VI 5. Scales ctenoid on body; cycloid, more or less rudimentary, on head. Caudal spine with posterior process. Length.—Up to 190 mm. Colour.— Uniform brown, with very obscure traces of fine longi- tudinal lines, dorsal and anal fins darker than body, a black spot at base of last dorsal and anal rays, groove containing caudal spine margined with black, caudal fin with narrow whitish border, lips blackish. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—China and Pacific Ocean. The above description is taken from a single specimen in the South African Museum, which may be identified with the above species. Jordan and Evermann give the depth as 2°8 in the length, but this does not correspond with Jordan and Fowler’s description, or with Lacépeéde’s figure, though too much reliance cannot be placed on the latter. The specimen closely resembles Giinther’s figure of his lineolatus (Fische d. Siidsee, vol. i, p. 112, pl. Ixxin, fig. A), a species which Jordan and Evermann renamed atrimentatus (1903, Bull. U.S. Bish Comm. vol. xxu, p. 198, and 1905, zbid., vol. xxm, p. 393, fig. 171), but is darker brown in colour. Teuthis nigrofuscus (Forsk.). Surgeon-fish. 1775. Forskal, Descr. Anim., p. 64. 1835. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. x, p. 204 (matordes). 1873-75. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, vol. i, p. 109, pl. Ixix, fig. B (blocht). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 205 (matoides) (synonymy). 1902. Jordan and Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxv, p. 553 (argenteus) (synonymy). 1903. Jordan, zbid., vol. xxvi, p. 695 (note on use of name argenteus). 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii, p. 388, fig. 168 (gtintherz). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 372 (matordes) (references and synonymy), and p. 375. Depth 2 or not quite 2, length of head 34-33, in length of body. Hye 33-5 in length of head, 2-3 in snout. Profile convex, especially in large examples. Teeth fixed. D IX 25-28. ATIII 24-28. VI5. 780 Annals of the South African Museum. Scales small and ctenoid on body, rudimentary on head. Caudal spine with posterior process. Length.—Up to 600 mm. Colour.—Dark brown or slaty, more or less mottled, sometimes with narrow light bands across cheeks and along body; vertical fins dark; dorsal and anal with bluish or greyish longitudinal stripes ; caudal often with a white cross-band at base, obscure in adult; outer half of pectoral usually yellowish, ventrals dark. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution —Indo-Pacific to Japan. T. leucopareius Jenk. and umbra Jenk. should also probably be added to the synonymy. This species has been identified with Forskal’s nigrofuscus, but on this point later authors are not agreed. South African specimens have been recorded under nigrofuscus by Regan, and matoides by Gilchrist and Thompson. *Teuthis striatus (Q. and G.). Streaked Surgeon-fish. 1824. Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. l’Uranie, Zool., p. 373, pl. lxin, fig. 3. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 207, pl. xlvu, fig. 2 (strigosus). 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxii, p. 398, fig. 174. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 373 (strigosus) (references and synonymy). Depth not quite 2, length of head 34, in length of body. Eye 4 in length of head, nearly 2 in snout. Profile more or less convex. Teeth movable, dilated at their ends, with three deep clefts. D VIII 27-30. A ITI 24-27. V I 5. Scales very small and ctenoid on body, rudimentary on head. Caudal spine with posterior process. Length.— Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Coppery-red or dark brown, with numerous very fine longitudinal pale blue lines, which bend upwards and downwards respectively on the hinder ends of dorsal and anal fins; orange or reddish spots on head, ventrals black-tipped, pectoral orange, often a light band on caudal. Locality — Zululand coast. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 781 Gen. MonoceErRos Schn. 1775. Forskal, Descr. Anim., p. 59 (Acanthurus part). 1801. Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 186. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 11, p. 106 (Naso). 1815. Rafinesque, Anal. Natur. (Naseus). 1835. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. x, p. 304 (Keris=young). 1902. Jordan and Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxv, p. 558 (Acanthurus). 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr., 57, p. 320 (Naseus) (fig. of larva). Tail with 2 large immovable, keeled, often brightly coloured plates in adult. Head in adult with a long bony cylindrical horn on the forehead. Dorsal fin with 5-6 spines, anal with 2. Soft dorsal and anal not elevated. Ventral with 3 rays. Teeth usually serrulate. Scales minute, rough. Indo-Pacific. The caudal plates and frontal horn are not present in the young, but develop gradually. The lesser number of dorsal spines, however, sufficiently distinguishes such young specimens from members of the preceding genus. Monoceros unicornis (Forsk.). Umnicorn-fish. 1775. Forskal, Descr. Anim., p. 63. 1873-75. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, vol. 1, p. 118, pl. Ixxvii and text-figs. 1-4. 1902. Jordan and Fowler, loc. cit., p. 559 (references). Depth 14 (young)—24 (adult), length of head 34-4, in length of body. Eye 3-54 in length of head, 14-4 in snout, according to age. Specimens up to about 150 mm. in length usually without any trace of horn, which develops gradually, and in old examples may pro- ject beyond the vertical from the end of snout. Teeth not serrate. D V-VI 28-31. A II 26-30. VI3. Caudal in old examples often with upper and lower rays more or less produced as streamers. Caudal scutes developed in examples of about 150 mm; the spines on the scutes develop later. Length.—Up to 550 mm. Colour.—Olivaceous-brownish, often with a violet patch over the pectoral spotted with lighter, caudal often bright brown or orange, 782 Annals of the South African Museum. the bony scutes blue, dorsal and anal with blue and yellow longitudinal bands, caudal pale olivaceous, pectorals and ventrals pale. Young, uniform olivaceous, with the dorsal and anal fins more or less banded. Locality.—Mozambique. . Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to Japan. The young specimen on which the inclusion of this species in the fauna-list is based, is 90 mm. in length and has the teeth finely serrulate. For this reason it may perhaps be the young of marginatus C. and V. Fam. 2. ZANCLIDAE. Body ovate, elevated, strongly compressed, with minute rough scales. Mouth small, not protractile. Snout more produced in adult than in young. A conspicuous conical spine in front of each eye in adult, absent in young. Teeth slender, setiform, in a single row in jaws, sometimes a few very fine inner teeth ; none on vomer or pala- tines. Nostrils paired. Giull-membranes broadly united across isth- mus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. Gill- rakers rudimentary. A single dorsal fin with 7 spines, the 3rd and, to a lesser extent, the following spines elongated, filamentous. Anal spines 3, anterior rays moderately prolonged. Ventrals thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, without axillary process. Caudal lunate. Air- bladder present. Pyloric caeca moderately numerous (14). Lateral line single. Caudal peduncle unarmed. A single genus and species found along rocky coasts and coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. Gen. ZANCLUS C. and V. 1803. Lacépede, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, p. 473. 1803. Id., ibid., p. 517 (Pomacanthus). 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vu, p. 102. 1902. Jordan and Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxv, p. 549. With the family characters. Zanclus canescens (Linn.). Moorish Idol. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 272. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, pp. 111, 786, pl. xxviu, fig. 4 (cornutus). A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 783 fic) bleeker Atl. Tehth., vol. ix, p. 77, ‘pl. ceclxvi, figs..1, 2 (cornutus), and p. 78, pl. ceclxvi, fig. 3 (canescens). 1876-81. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, vol. i, p. 142, pl. xcii (ad. and juv.) (cornutus). 1902. Jordan and Fowler, loc. cit., p. 549 (references and synonyms). 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii, pyoo2, pl. iva. 1906. Bryan, Occ. Pap. B.P. Bishop Mus., vol. u1, pt. 4, p. 22, fig. 2 (ruthiae). 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 321. Depth about equal to length, length of head 24-23, in length of body. Hye 24 (young)-5 in length of head. D VII 38-45, first 2 spines very short, 3rd elongated into a filament at least equal to length of body, sometimes (young) 24 times length of body. A III 31-36. Supra- orbital ridge serrulate in young, developing in adult into a short, stout, conical spine. Preorbital with a recurved spine above the angle of the mouth in some young examples (canescens), absent in others, but always obsolete in adult. (Plate XXXI, fig 3.) Length.—Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Anterior part of body white, posterior part white, suffused with yellow or orange or a faint greenish tinge, upper lip and lower jaw blackish; upper part of snout with a triangular orange patch bordered with black, a broad black vertical band from Ist dorsal spine through eye to ventrals, with a narrow white or bluish border in front, and crossed by 2 narrow bluish stripes which sometimes do not extend above level of pectorals; a second broad, vertical, black band from anterior rays of dorsal to anterior rays of anal, with a narrow white or bluish stripe near its posterior margin; fins whitish or yellowish, posterior dorsal and anal rays often with a bluish longi- tudinal stripe, caudal with a broad black cross-band, margined an- teriorly with bluish, ventrals black. In the young the cheeks and breast are bright silver and the black vertical bands are only faintly indicated. Locality.—Mossel Bay, Natal coast, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to Japan and Australia. The specimen from Mossel Bay, which has been in the South African Museum many years, is a young one 65 mm. long, with preorbital spine and silvery breast. There are several misstatements and contradictions in the 1902 and 1905 descriptions quoted above. 784 Annals of the South African Museum. Group SIGANOIDEI. Fam. SIGANIDAE. Body ovate, compressed, with minute cycloid scales, the skin having a very smooth and slippery feeling. Mouth very small, not protractile. Maxilla firmly united with premaxilla. Subocular shelf more or less developed. Teeth incisor-like, in a single series in each jaw; no vomerine or palatine teeth. Nostrils paired. Guill-membranes attached toisthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present. Gill- rakersrudimentary. A single dorsal fin, with a forwardly directed pro- - cumbent spine in front. Anal spines 7. Ventrals thoracic, each with an inner and an outer spine with 3 intervening rays; no axillary process. Caudal lunate. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca few. Lateral line single. Caudal peduncle unarmed. A family, with two genera, of herbivorous fishes from the Indo- Pacific region. They show several peculiarities, one of the most obvious being the presence of two spines in each ventral fin, from which they get their name; they are usually grouped near the Teuthididae. Gen. S1ganus Forsk. 1766. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, (Leuthis part). 1775. Forskal, Descr. Anim., p. 26. 1801. Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 206 (Amphacanthus). 1850. Cantor, Cat. Malay. Fish., p. 207 (Leuthis). 1902. Jordan and Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxv, p- 560. | With the characters of the family. Snout not produced. The species of this genus are extremely hard to identify from pre- served specimens, as there are scarcely any morphological characters, and coloration and markings are the principal means of separating the species. Consequently, there has probably been a multiplication of nominal species, the number of which will be reduced when a re- vision based on adequate material is undertaken. It is very probable that there is really only one species in South African waters. Key to the South African species. 1. Mottled darker and lighter brown : : : : : . nebulosus. 2, Brown with white spots. : : : : ‘ d : oramin. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 85 ~I Siganus nebulosus (Q. and G.). Mottled Spinefoot. 1824. Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. Uranie, Zool., p. 369. ¢1828. Riippell, Atl. Fisch. Roth. Meer., p. 45 (lurida). 1908. Stead, Edible Fish. N.S.W., p. 81, pl. xlix. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 374 (references). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 253. Depth 24-24, length of head 33-4, in length of body. D I+XII —XIII 10, anterior soft rays higher than posterior spies. A VII 9, anterior rays scarcely longer than last spine. Cheek scaleless. Length.—Up to 330 mm. Colour.—Brown or olivaceous, paler below, more or less distinctly mottled and marbled, a more or less distinct dark spot behind opercle above base of pectoral. Locality. Kast London, Natal coast, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Northern and Hastern Australia. It is possible that lurida from the Red Sea is a synonym. As regards the coloration, it should be noted that the mottling seen in preserved specimens is not natural. When taken out of the water the fish is often uniform olivaceous, which turns brown when the fish is dead. If another fish or pieces of weed, stick, etc. happen to be lying on top of the fish, the shaded parts do not turn brown or dark, and when preserved these accidental ight and dark markings are retained. Siganus oramin (BI. Schn.). W hate-spotted Spinefoot. 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichth., p. 207, pl. xlviii (guttatus var. oramin). 1845. Temminck and Schlegel, Faun. Jap. Poiss., p. 128 (albo- punctatus). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 168, pl. xl, fig. 6. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 374 (references). 1919. Regan, cbid., vol. 11, pt. 4, p. 200 (albopunctatus). Similar to the preceding species except in colour. Colour.—Brownish, with numerous small round white or pale 786 Annals of the South African Museum. bluish spots, a large dark spot behind the opercle above base of pectoral. (Plate XXXI, fig. 4.) Locality.—Natal and Zululand coast. Distribution.—Indian seas and Hast Indies to Japan. S. albopunctatus is usually considered a synonym of fuscescens Hout. 1782. Group SCOMBROIDEI. (1909. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (8), vol. iii, p. 66, classification.) Tail strongly forked, or absent. Scales usually small and thin, or absent. Dorsal and anal spines not detached, weak and slender. Dorsal elongate, single or divided. Ventrals thoracic or subthoracic. Pseudobranchiae present. Premaxilla not protractile, typically pro- duced and pointed. No bony stay for the preopercle. Though difficult to define, the Scombroids are nevertheless easily distinguished by their general facies. They include the Snoek, true Mackerel, Scabbard Fish, and Sword-fish. In habits they are all rapid and powerful swimmers, and predaceous. Key to the South African families. I. No long pointed rostrum. A. Strong anterior canine teeth. Pectoral fins placed low. 1. Spinous dorsal longer than soft . : 5 ‘ Gempylidae. 2. Body strongly compressed, elongate. Spinous dorsal, if distinct, not longer than soft . 4 5 : : Trichiuridae. B. No strong anterior canines. Pectoral fins placed high . Scombridae. II. A long pointed rostrum. A. Ventral fins absent. Scales absent in adult. No teeth in adult Xiphiidae. B. Ventrals 1-3-rayed. Scales present. Teeth present . Histiophoridae. Fam. 1. GEMPYLIDAE. Body oblong or elongate, compressed. Maxilla exposed. Spinous dorsal longer than the soft. Anal with 3 spines. Ventral fin of 1 spine and 5 rays, or reduced to the spine only. Caudal fin well developed. Caudal peduncle not keeled. Pectoral placed low. Strong anterior canine teeth in the jaws. Gill-membranes free from isthmus. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 787 Key to the South African genera. 1. Lateral line single (or obsolete). a. Ventral fins well developed. i. Detached finlets 2 : : A ‘ : : . Ruvettus. ii. Detached finlets 6 ‘ 4 : ; : 5 . Thyrsites. b. Ventral fins reduced to a pair of small spines ; : . Gempylus. 2. Lateral line double. : ; ; ‘ ‘ : : . Epinnula. Gen. RuvEttus Cocco. 1829. Cocco, Giorn. Sci. Sicil., vol. xlu, p. 2. 1895. Goode and Bean, Ocean Ichthyol., p. 196. Body moderately elongate. Spinous dorsal with 13-15 spines, close to or contiguous with soft dorsal. Anal arising behind origin of soft dorsal. Two detached finlets behind both dorsal and anal. Pectoral slightly nearer ventral than dorsal profile. Ventral well developed. Belly keeled. Skin with minute cycloid scales and with bony spinose plates or tubercles. Lateral line single, but scarcely indicated ; the skin on the body, snout, and edges of opercles permeated with fine mucous pores. Besides the species here mentioned there is R. tydemani Weber 1913 from the Indo-Pacific, of which R. pacificus Jord. and Jord. 1922 is a synonym. The two forms are very closely allied, the only differences being the slightly smaller numbers of dorsal and anal spines and rays (D XIII+15-16+2, and A 15-16+-2), and of longi- tudinal and transverse series of spiny plates (1.1. 85, ltr. 38). The single specimen described by Gilchrist and von Bonde from Delagoa Bay agrees with the Atlantic form in the fin formula (the number of spiny plates is not given) ; and indeed discloses no points of difference which can not reasonably be ascribed to differences in age and sex (or sexual maturity). The Escolar (Scholar) is frequently abundant in the deep waters off the West Indies and Madeira, and often enters the Mediterranean. Its flesh is usually regarded as palatable, though the oil is a strong purgative. Ruvettus pretiosus Cocco. Escolar ; Oul-fish. 1829. Cocco, loc. cit., p. 21. 1895. Goode and Bean, loc. cit., p. 196, fig. 210 (references). VOL. XxX, PARI 2. 51 788 Annals of the South African Museum. 1924. Gilchrist and von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., vii, p. 16 (delagoensis). Depth 4 (juv.)-6, length of head 34 (juv.)—4, in length of body. Eye 44-54 in length of head, 1? in snout, 14 in interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to about vertical from hind margin of eye. Upper jaw with 3-5 canines in front ; 3 strong teeth on vomer, and a single row on palatine. D XIV-XV+16-18+2. A 16-18+2. Gill-rakers greatly reduced, about 8 small pairs of spines on lower part of anterior arch, a single strong spine in the angle of anterior arch. Scales minute, covering whole body and head, with the exception of the interorbital space and the top of snout, both of which areas are like- wise free of spiny plates; number of spiny plates: 1.1. ca. 120-150; ltr. ca. 40-50. Pyloric caeca 12. Length.— Up to 1800 mm. (6 it.). Colour.—Dark greyish brown or blackish, lighter below. The Delagoa Bay specimen, 380 mm., is said to be yellowish white. Locality — Off Table Bay, Delagoa Bay, 200-275 fathoms. Distribution.—Tropical parts of the Atlantic, Mediterranean. Type of delagoensis in coll. Govt. Marine Survey. The number of pyloric caeca and the description of the skin are taken from the Table Bay specimen in the South African Museum. Gen. THYRSITES C. and V. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vin, p. 196. Body moderately elongate. Spinous dorsal with 20 spines in a groove, close to soft dorsal. Anal arising behind origin of soft dorsal. Six detached finlets behind both dorsal and anal. Pectoral slightly nearer ventral than dorsal profile. Ventral moderately developed. Belly not keeled. Scales small. Lateral line single, abruptly curved downwards below the hind part of spinous dorsal. A single species widely distributed in the Southern Hemisphere, and living in large shoals. Thyrsites atun (Kuphr.). Snoek ; Barracouta (Australia) ; Sverra (Chile). 1791. Euphrasen, Vet. Ac. Nya Handl., vol. xu, p. 315. 1914. Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. ii, p. 116, fig. (habits and statistics). A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 789 1916. Jd., ibed., vol. 11, p. 8 (egg). 1918. Thompson, zbid., vol. iv, p. 113 (references). 1921. McCulloch, Rec. Austr. Mus., vol. xin, pt. 4, p. 139, pl. xxiv, fig. 2. Depth 72-8, length of head 4-43, in length of body. Eye 63-7 in length of head. Maxilla reaching to level of front margin of eye. D XVIII-XX+10-12+5-6. A III 8-10+6. (Plate XXIX, fig. 4.) Length.—Up to 1000 mm. Colour.—Silvery, steely or bluish black on the upper parts. Locality From Table Bay northwards to Mossamedes, False Bay to Mossel Bay or as far as Algoa Bay (the eastward extension varies). Distribution.—Tristan d’Acunha, Australia, Tasmania, New Zea- land, Chile. Down to 40 fathoms. Gen. GEMPYLUS Cuv. 1829. Cuvier, Regne Anim., ed. 2, vol. 11 (fide Agassiz. Nom. Zool.). 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vill, p. 207. 1831. Lesson, Voy. Coquille, Poiss., p. 160 (Lemnisoma). Body very elongate. Spinous dorsal very long, with 30 or more spines, continuous with soft dorsal. Six detached finlets behind both dorsal and anal. Pectoral slightly nearer ventral than dorsal profile. Belly not keeled. Scales almost or quite obsolete. Ventral rudi- mentary, reduced to a very small spine. Lateral line single. A single widely distributed species. Gempylus serpens C. and V. Snake Mackerel. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, loc. cit., p. 207. 1873. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, vol. 1, p. 106, pl. xviii, fig. B. 1914. Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. u, p. 126, fig. 1918. Thompson, zbid., p. 116 (references and synonymy). Depth 14-17, length of head 5-54, in length of body. Eye 31 in snout, 6% in length of head. Strong canine teeth in front of upper jaw. D XXX-XXXT 12-13+6. A III 12+6. Length.—Up to 1000 mm. Colour.—Uniform silvery, upper part of dorsal fin black. Locality.—East London. Distribution.—Tropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 790 Annals of the South African Museum. Only a single specimen, now in the South African Museum, has been found in these waters. Gen. EPINNULA Poey. 1854. Poey, Mem. Hist. Nat. Cuba, vol. i, p. 369. 1895. Goode and Bean, Ocean. Ichthyol., p. 198. Body moderately elongate. Spinous dorsal with 15 spines, con- tiguous with soft dorsal. Anal arising behind origin of soft dorsal. No finlets. Pectoral slightly nearer ventral than dorsal profile. Ventral well developed. Belly not keeled. Scales minute, deciduous. Lateral line double, the second line running near the ventral profile. The type species, magistralis Poey, is known from the W. Indies. *Epinnula orientalis G. and v. B. 1924. Gilchrist and von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., vu, p. 15, pl: iv, fig. 1 Depth 3%, length of head 3/5, in length of body. Eye 5 in length of head. Maxilla reaching level of middle of eye. Teeth strong anteriorly. D XVI-I 21. A III 19. Scales minute, deciduous, absent from vertical fins (number in 1.1. ?). Lateral lines unbranched. Length. Up to 235 mm. Colour.—Uniform (? brownish), anterior dorsal blackish. Locality.— Off Natal coast and Delagoa Bay, 157-275 fathoms. Type in coll. Govt. Mar. Survey. Fam. 2. TRICHIURIDAE. Body very elongate, strongly compressed. Maxilla sheathed by the preorbital. Spinous dorsal, if distinct, not longer than the soft. Anal with numerous short spines. Ventral fins reduced to a pair of scale-like appendages, or absent. Caudal small or absent. Caudal peduncle not keeled. Pectoral placed low. Strong anterior canines in the jaws. Gill-membranes free from isthmus. Key to the South African genera. 1. Caudal fin developed. a. Pectoral fin broad. Ventral fins behind pectorals . ; . Lepidopus. b. Pectoral slender. Ventral fins under pectorals F . Benthodesmus. 2. Caudal absent . ; : , ‘ : : . ’ . Trichiurus. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 791 Gen. LEPIDOPUS Gouan. 1770. Gouan, Hist. Poiss., p. 185. Body attenuate, band-like. Dorsal uniform, continuous from behind head almost to caudal. Caudal small but well developed. Anal spines numerous but minute. No strong post-anal spine. Ventral represented by a minute scale-like spine situate behind the level of pectoral. Skin naked. Gull-rakers in several series on all the arches. Lepidopus caudatus (Euphr.). Scabbard-fish ; Frost-fish ; Kalkvis. 1788. Euphrasen, Vet. Ac. Nya Handl., vol. ix, p. 52, pl. ix, fig. 2. 1914. Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. 1, p. 125, fig. 1918. Thompson, zbid., vol. iv, p. 114 (references and synonymy). 1918. Strubberg, Dan. Ocean. Exp., vol. 11, A 6, p. 7 (post-larval stages). Depth about 154, length of head about 6, in length of body. Eye 54 in length of head. D 102-104. A 24-25. (Plate XXX, fig. 1.) Length.—Up to 1600 mm. Colour.—Uniform silvery, darker bronzy on top of head, dorsal fin with a narrow black margin, iris bronzy brown, pupil black. Locality.— Table Bay, False Bay, down to 200 fathoms. Distribution.—Eastern parts of Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean, South-east Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand. An excellent food-fish. Gen. BENTHODESMUS G. and B. 1881. Goode and Bean, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. iv, p. 380. 1895. Id., Ocean. Ichthyol., p. 204. 1915. McCulloch, “ Endeavour ” Res., vol. ii, pt. 3, p. 152 (sub genus). Body attenuate. Dorsal uniform, continuous from behind head almost to caudal. Caudal small but well developed. Anal spines short and numerous, preceded by a scale-like appendage. No strong post-anal spine. Ventral represented by a minute scale-like spine, situate under base of pectoral. Skin naked. Gill-rakers in a single series on the Ist and 2nd arches, almost obsolete on 3rd and 4th. McCulloch regards this at most as a subgenus of Lepidopus. 792 Annals of the South African Museum. * Benthodesmus atlanticus G. and B. 1881. Goode and Bean, loc. cit., p. 183, pl. 11 (elongatus non Clarke). 1895. Id., loc. cit., p. 205, fig. 215. 1917. Gilbert, Smiths. Misc. Coll., vol. lxvi, No. 18, p. 1. 1924. Gilchrist and von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., vu, jo LG). Depth of body (at vent) 4 in length of head, which is 74 in length of body. Eye 4 length of snout, which is 24 in length of head. D 142-154. Aca. 100. Length. Up to 1037 mm. Colour.—Uniform silvery, head and tail darker. Locality.—Natal coast, 250 fathoms. Distribution.—N. Atlantic and W. Indies, 25-208 fathoms; N. Pacific (British Columbia). As another species (elongatus Clarke) is known from New Zealand (Hokitika), and another (tenwis Gnthr.) from Japan, it is possible that the Natal specimen is not correctly identified; unless all are really only forms of the same widely distributed species. Gen. TrRicHIURUS Linn. 1758. Linne, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 246. Body attenuate, band-like, tapering to a point without caudal fin. Dorsal uniform, continuous from behind head to tail. Anal spines numerous, but minute and scarcely visible. No strong post-anal spine. Ventral fins reduced to a pair of scales, or quite absent. Skin naked. The species of this genus frequent the shallower and warmer seas, and are often found entering estuaries. Key to the South African species. 1. D 130 ; : ; : : : f : ; : . haumela. 2. D 135 5 : : : : é ; : , . lepturus. Prichiurus haumela (Forsk.). Haiv-tail. 1775. Forskal, Desc. Anim., p. 72. 1914. Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. 1, p. 126, fig. 1918. Thompson, ibid., vol. iv, p. 116 (references). A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 793 Depth 15-17, length of head 6-7, in length of body. Eye 2} in length of snout. D about 130. Interorbital space flat. Length—Up to 1300 mm. Colour.—Silvery, upper parts and the margin of the dorsal fin blackish. Locality Agulhas Bank to Natal, Delagoa Bay, Chinde, down to 36 fathoms. Distribution.—Indian and EH. Indian seas. Trichiurus lepturus Linn. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 246. 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 1, p. 346. 1896. Jordan and Evermann, Fish. N. Amer., vol. 1, p. 889. ° This species is scarcely distinct from the preceding, but appears to have a slightly greater number of dorsal spines (135-137). Locality.— Walfish Bay. Distribution.—Gold Coast and Atlantic Ocean, chiefly in the western parts. The Walfish Bay specimen and another from the Gold Coast in the South African Museum possess a few more dorsal spines than the specimens from the east coast, and are therefore kept separate. It is very doubtful, however, whether the Atlantic and Indian forms can really be specifically distinct. Fam. 3. SCOMBRIDAE. Body fusiform, moderately elongate and compressed. Spinous dorsal not longer than the soft. Anal with 1-3 feeble spines. Pos- terior rays of soft dorsal and anal forming detached finlets. Ventral fin of 1 spine and 5 rays, well developed. Pectoral placed high. Caudal peduncle laterally keeled. No canine teeth in jaws. Gill-membranes free from isthmus. The Scombrid fishes, comprising the true Mackerels, Tunnies, Al- bacores, are readily distinguished by their general shape and metallic coloration, and the presence of the detached finlets behind the dorsal and anal fins. They are all swift swimmers, pelagic in habit, and widely dis- tributed. The majority are of economic importance. Their flesh is firm, oily, and usually more or less reddish in colour. 794 Annals of the South African Museum. Key to the South African genera. I. No groove along the belly. A. Caudal peduncle with 2 keels on each side. Dorsal spines 9-12. 1. Depth of body less than length of head 5 : . Scomber, 2. Depth of body about equal to length of head : Rastrelliger. B. Caudal peduncle with a single keel on each side. 1. Scales absent except on corselet and along lateral line. Dorsal spines 15-16 : : Gymnosarda. 2. Scales over entire body. Dorsal spines 13-26. a. Teeth slender. Gill-rakers numerous. Corselet distinct. i. Villiform teeth on vomer and palatine. Dorsal spines 13-14. a. Pectoral short . . ‘ . . Thunnus. fp. Pectorallong . : d : Germo. ii. Vomer toothless. Palatine with one row of strong teeth. Dorsal spines 18-22. : : : Sarda. 6. Teeth strong. Gill-rakers few. Corselet obscure Scomberomorus. II. A deep groove along belly : : : ; é . Gasterochisma. Gen. SCOMBER Linn. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 297. Body rather elongate, somewhat compressed. Caudal peduncle slender, with two small lateral keels on either side. Scales very small, not forming a corselet. Mouth wide; a single row of smali slender teeth in both jaws and on vomer and palatine. Adipose eyelids. Dorsal fins well separated, spinous portion of 9-12 feeble spines. Five to nine finlets behind both dorsal and anal. Pectorals and ventrals small. Gill-rakers long and slender. Pyloric caeca very numerous. Air-bladder small or wanting. A few widely distributed species, everywhere highly valued as food. The record of S. scombrus, the Common Mackerel of Europe, rests on Bleeker’s authority. He gives the name only, and was very prob- ably mistaken. The species does not seem to have been met with by later investigators, and is not accepted here as being found in South African waters. Scomber colias Gmel. Cape Mackerel ; Makreel. 1788. Gmelin, Linné, Syst. Nat., vol. 1, p. 13829. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Maus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 393 (references and synonymy). A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 795 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 105 (references and synonymy). 1919. Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. lvi, p. 290. 1919. Gilchrist and Hunter, Tr. Roy. Soc. 8. Afr., vol. vii, p. 4, pl, fie. 6; pl. nu, fig. 7 (egg, larva). Depth 51-53, length of head 34, in length of body. Hye 4-5 in length of head, 14 in snout, equal to or slightly greater than inter- orbital width. D IX+11-12+5. AJI11-12+5. Teeth in jaws and on vomer and palatine. Maxilla reaching to or slightly beyond level of front margin of eye. A translucent area on top of head. Posterior border of eye with large radiating scales. No groove, or a very shallow one, between the two dorsal fins. Gill-rakers 30-33 on lower part of anterior arch, the longest near the bend of arch. Air-bladder present. (Plate XXX, fig. 2.) Length.— Up to 406 mm. Colour.—Silvery, iridescent, bluish or greenish above, with blackish wavy streaks and irregular blotches and spots extending slightly below lateral line, black specks on preopercle in more than one row, a black axillary spot. Locality.—Table Bay, False Bay, Natal. Distribution.—Both coasts of N. Atlantic, Mediterranean. The above description is taken entirely from South African speci- mens, and differs somewhat from other descriptions. The Cape form, however, appears to be indistinguishable from European specimens. The Japanese form (japonicus) and the form from the Pacific coast of N. America (diego) are apparently also identical ; in which case the species should really bear the name japonicus (Houttuyn 1782). Gen. RASTRELLIGER J. and S. 1908. Jordan and Starks in Jordan and Dickerson, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxxiv, p. 607. Agreeing with Scomber, but the body deeper in proportion to length, the scales larger, and the dentition feebler. The chief distinguishing character lies in the gill-rakers, which are very numerous and very long, so that the mouth when opened looks as if it were “ full of feathers.” There are also osteological differences in the skull, mentioned by Jordan and Starks. As regards the gill-rakers, Rastrelliger bears the same relation to Scomber as Ulua does to Caranz. 796 Annals of the South African Museum. Key to the South African species. 1. Gill-rakers 35 on lower part of Ist arch : ; : . microlepidotus. 2. Gill-rakers 44 on lower part of lst arch . 4 . , brachysomus. Rastrelliger microlepidotus Riipp. Striped Mackerel. 1803. Russell, Fish. Vizagapatam, vol. i, p. 28, pl. cxxxvi (kana- gurta). 1838. Riippell, Neue Wirb. Fische, p. 38, pl. xi, fig. 2. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 250, pl. liv, figs. 3-5. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, p. 394 (references and synonymy). 1925. Fowler, J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. xxx, p. 316. Depth equal to length of head, 34 in length of body. Hye about 4 in length of head, 14 in snout, subequal to interorbital width. D [X- X+11+5. AI11-12+5. Teeth in jaws minute, none on vomer or palatine. Maxilla reaching to level of middle of eye. No groove between the two dorsals. Gill-rakers about 35 on lower part of arch, the longest situate in middle of lower part of arch. Air-bladder present. Length. Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Silvery, iridescent, dark greenish above, a row of dark spots along base of dorsal and (in adult) some dark longitudinal streaks, 2-3 golden streaks along sides in adult ; fins yellowish, dorsal and caudal tipped with black, a dark spot covered by the pectoral. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian seas, E. Indies, Philippine Islands, China. *Rastrelliger brachysomus Blkr. 1850. Bleeker, Makr., p. 356. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 251. 1908. Jordan and Dickerson, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxxiv, p- 609, fig. 3. | 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 393 (references). Depth 31-33, length of head 33, in length of body. Eye 33-4} in length of head, 14 in snout, 1} in interorbital width. D X-+12-+5. A1I11-+5. Maxilla reaching to level of posterior third of eye. Gill- rakers 44 on lower part of anterior arch. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. yi Length—Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Silvery, dark above, very similar to S. microlepidotus, with 2 shining spots above and behind each eye, posterior part of spinous dorsal blackish. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific seas. I have seen no specimens of this species, which is very similar in all respects to S. microlepidotus. The specimen reported on by Gilchrist and Thompson in 1908 is no longer in the South African Museum collection. Jordan and Starks (1917, Ann. Carn. Mus., vol. xi, p. 440) identify brachysomus with kanagurta. Gen. GYMNOSARDA Gill. 1862. Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., p. 125. Body moderately elongate and compressed. Caudal peduncle slender, with a single lateral keel on either side. Scales small, forming a corselet around the anterior part of the body, but entirely absent from other parts of the body. Mouth wide; a single row of conical teeth in both jaws, bands of villiform teeth (usually) on palatine, no teeth on vomer. Dorsal fins contiguous, spinous portion with 15-16 spines. Seven to eight finlets behind both dorsaland anal. Pectorals and ventrals moderate. Gill-rakers numerous, slender. Pyloric caeca exceedingly numerous. Air-bladder small or absent. Gymnosarda pelamys (Linn.). Oceanic Bonito ; Lesser Tunny ; Katunker. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 297. 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii, pt. 1, p. 172, fig. 64. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 110 (references). Depth about 4, length of head 34-34, in length of body. Eye 6}- 75 in length of head, 2 in snout, which is sharply conical. Maxilla reaching to level of middle of eye. D XV-XVI12+8. A I-II 12-+7. Gill-rakers 38 on lower part of anterior arch. Lateral line making a distinct bend below the soft dorsal. Length.— Up to 825 mm. Colour.—Silvery, bluish black above, 4 brownish longitudinal stripes on each side of the belly below the lateral line. 798 Annals of the South African Museum. Locality.—Cape seas. Distribution.—Tropical and subtropical seas. The Lesser Tunny is easily distinguished from the Tunny and the true Bonito by the absence of scales on the body, except anteriorly in the region of the corselet. Its chief food consists of Flying-fish. Gen. THUNNUS South. 1817. Cuvier, Regne Anim., p. 313 (Thynnus, nom. preocc. Fabricius i) 1845. South, Encycl. Metropol., vol. v, p. 620. Body moderately elongate and compressed. Caudal peduncle slender, with a single lateral keel. Scales small, over the whole body, those on the pectoral region forming a corselet. Mouth moderately wide ; a single row of conical teeth in both jaws, bands of villiform teeth on palatine and vomer. Dorsal fins contiguous, spinous portion with 13-14 spines. Eight to ten finlets behind dorsal and anal. Pectorals and ventrals moderate. Gill-rakers numerous. Pyloric caeca exceedingly numerous. Auir-bladder small or absent. Thunnus thynnus (Linn.). Tunny. 1758. Linne, Syst. Nat, ed. 10) py 297. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. viii, p. 58, pl. cex (vulgaris). 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. u, p. 362. 1892. Smitt, Skandin. Fish., p. 97, fig. 28. 1895. Jordan and Evermann, Fish. N. Amer., vol. 1, p. 870. 1918. Roule, Bull. l’Inst. Oc. Monaco, No. 345, pp. 1-24 (biology and bibliography). 1926. Jordan and Evermann, Occ. Pap. Calif. Ac. Sci., vol. xii, joe Oh Depth 4-44, length of head 32-4, in length of body. Hye 7-8 in length of head, 24in snout. Maxilla not reaching level of front margin of eye. D XIII-XIV 13-14+9-10. A I-II 12+8-9. Length.—Up to 3000 mm. (10 ft.). Colour.—Greyish or silvery below, bluish black above. Locality.—Table Bay, Hout Bay (Cape Peninsula). Distribution.—Tropical and subtropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Mediterranean. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 799 The Tunny is the largest of the Scombrid fishes, reaching a length of 10 ft. and a weight of 1500 lbs. It is further noteworthy as being the only fish known to be warm blooded. The flesh of the Tunny, though oily, is excellent, and the Tunny fisheries of the Mediterranean have been of economic importance for centuries. The fishes segregate, especially about spawning time, in large schools, and are chased and herded into nets. In South African waters it appears to be only an occasional migrant, and is here recorded for the first time. Two specimens are in the South African Museum from the west coast of the Cape Peninsula ; the larger specimen measures 9 ft. to the middle of the caudal fin. Gen. GeRmo Jord. 1817. Cuvier, Régne Anim., p. 314 (Orcynus non Rafinesque). 1888. Jordan, Proc. Ac. Sci. Philad., p. 180. Similar in all respects to Thunnus, but with the pectoral fin very long and falciform. Germo alalonga (Gmel.). Long-finned Albacore ; Germon (France). 1788. Gmelin, Linné, Syst. Nat., p. 1330. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. viii, p. 120, pl. cexv. 1910. Cunningham, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., pt. 1, p. 109, text-fig. 3. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 108 (references and synonymy). 1918. Joubin and Roule, Bull. Inst. Oc. Monaco, No. 348, pp. 1-7 (food). 1926. Jordan and Evermann, Occ. Pap. Calif. Ac. Sci., vol. xu, p. 1. Depth 33-32, length of head 34-34, in length of body. Eye about 6 in length of head, 2in snout. Maxilla reaching to level of middle of eye. D XIV 14-15+8. A II-III 12+7-8. Pectoral reaching to origin of anal or to end of soft dorsal fin. Length.—Up to 1000 mm. (40 inches). Colour.—Silvery below, steely blue above, faint indications of light stripes on sides; soft dorsal, anal, and the finlets lemon yellow. Locality.— West coast (Saldanha Bay). Distribution.—All warm seas. The flesh is far inferior to that of the Tunny. 800 Annals of the South African Museum. Gen. Sarpa Cuv. 1829. Cuvier, Régne Anim., vol. ii, p. 199. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vii, p. 149 (Pelamys nom. preocc. Daudin). Body moderately elongate and compressed. Caudal peduncle slender, with a single lateral keel. Scales small, covering the whole body, and forming a corselet on the pectoral region. Maxilla not concealed by the preorbital. Mouth wide; a single row of rather strong teeth in both jaws and on the palatine, but none on vomer. Dorsal fins separated by a short interspace, spinous portion of 18-22 spines. Eight to nine finlets behind dorsal and anal fins. Pectorals and ventrals moderate. Gill-rakers moderate or strong. Pyloric caeca very numerous. Air-bladder absent. Key to the South African species. 1. Spinous dorsal XXI-X XII 2 ; ; : 5 : s sarda. 2. Spinous dorsal XVIII : : ; : : : : . chilensis. *Sarda sarda (Bloch). Bonito. 1793. Bloch, Ichthyol.,-vol. x, p. 35, pl. cecxxxiv. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vii, p. 149, Piece vil. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 111 (references and synonymy). Depth 4, length of head 3%, in length of body. Eye about 7 in length of head, 24 in snout. Maxilla reaching beyond level of eye. D XXI-XXII+14-16+8-9. A I-II 18+7. Gill-rakers 11-12 on lower part of anterior arch. Length.—Up to 750 mm. Colour.—Silvery below, steely blue above, with numerous dark stripes running obliquely forwards and downwards from the back. Locality. —Cape seas. Distribution.—Atlantic Ocean. As a food-fish the Bonito is of no great value. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 801 *Sarda chilensis (C. and V.). Pacific Bonito. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. vii, p. 163. 1850. Temminck and Schlegel, Fauna Jap. Poiss., p. 99, pl. li (orientalis). 1858. Girard, Pac. R. R. Survey, vol. x, p. 106 (lineolata). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 253, pl. lvi, fig. 1. 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii, p. LFS. 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 321 (orientalis, fam. Scorpididae sic). Differs from the preceding species in having: D XVIII+14-16+ (6)7-9; A ITI 10-12+6-9. Length Up to 900 mm. Colour.—Silvery below, steely blue above, with about nine dark longitudinal streaks. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific to Japan, California, Hawaiian Islands, and Chile. Gen. SCOMBEROMORUS Lacép. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. i, p. 292. 1829. Cuvier, Régne Anim., vol. 1, p. 120 (Cybium). Body elongate, but not strongly compressed. Caudal peduncle moderately slender, with a single lateral keel. Scales small, rudi- mentary, or even absent in parts, not forming a corselet anteriorly. Maxilla not concealed by preorbital. Mouth wide; strong, com- pressed, conical teeth in both jaws, villiform bands on vomer and palatine. Dorsal fins contiguous, spinous portion with 12-18 feeble spines. Soft dorsal and anal somewhat falcate, each followed by 7-10 finlets. Pectorals moderate. Ventrals small. Gill-rakers few. Air-bladder present. The fishes of this genus are widely distributed in warm seas, and are variously known as Spanish Mackerel, King-fish, Cavalla, Pintado, Sierra. Key to the South African species. 1. Finlets 4-5. Dorsal spines 12. : : : : . flavobrunneus. 2. Finlets 9-10. Dorsal spines 16. a. Sides with vertically elongated spots . ; - - commersont. b. Sides with longitudinal spots : : : : : lineolatus. 802 Annals of the South African Museum. *Scomberomorus flavobrunneus (Smth). Yellow-brown King-fish. 1849. Smith, Illustr. Zool. 8. Afr. Pisces, pl. xx. 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 11, p. 373. 1911. Weber, Fische Aru u. Kei-Ins., p. 31. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 113 (references), Depth 43, length of head 32, in length of body. Eye 5 in length of head. Maxilla reaching to level of anterior third of eye. Teeth of upper jaw much smaller than those in lower jaw. D XII 17+5. A II 138+4. Anal arising below middle of soft dorsal. Scales small, distinct (in dried skin). Length.—Up to 600 mm. Colour.—Yellowish brown, head and fins reddish brown, lower jaw and operculum silvery. Locality.—Cape seas. Distribution.—Aru Islands, E. Indies. Type in British Museum. This fish is stated by Smith to be caught occasionally in Cape seas, but apparently has never been seen in recent years. In the Museum copy of Giinther’s Catalogue is a mark opposite this species, indicating that a specimen was in the Museum. The specimen, however, is no longer here. Scomberomorus commersoni (Lacép.). Commerson’s King-fish. 1800. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 11, p. 600, pl. xx, fig. 1. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 255, pl. lvi, fig. 5. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 395 (references). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 112 (references). Depth 5-7, length of head 4-43, in length of body. Eye 6} in length of head, 2} in snout. Maxilla reaching slightly behind level of hind margin of eye. Upper teeth not very much smaller than lower teeth. D XVI-XVII 15-17+ 9-10. A II-III 12-14+9-10. Anal rising below middle of soft dorsal. Scales mostly absent. Lateral line with a distinct bend below soft dorsal, becoming horizontal below 2nd finlet. Length.—Up to 1200 mm. Colour.—Silvery, bluish black above, back and sides with numerous dark, vertically elongated spots, which are more visible in the preserved A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 803 than the fresh condition ; spinous dorsal dark anteriorly, transparent posteriorly with a black margin, anal dark, pectoral light. Locality—EKast London and Natal coast, extending at certain seasons westwards to Port Elizabeth and Mossel Bay. Distribution.—Indian seas. Scomberomorus lineolatus (C. and V.). Inneolate King-fish ; Barracouda (Natal). 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. viu, p: L710, 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p- 395 (references). Depth equal to length of head, 42-5 in length of body. Hye 64-7 in length of head, 24 in snout. Maxilla reaching to level of hind margin of eye. Upper teeth not very much smaller than lower teeth. D XVI 16+9-10. A II 14+10. Anal arising below middle of soft dorsal. Scales mostly absent. Lateral line gently curving down- wards, and becoming horizontal below about the 4th or 5th finlet. Length.—Up to 1200 mm. Colour.—Silvery, bluish black above, sides with numerous short longitudinally elongated spots, spinous dorsal dark. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—Indian seas, E. Indies. Gen. GASTEROCHISMA Rich. 1845. Richardson, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. xv, p. 346. 1846. Id., Voy. Erebus and Terror, Ichthyol., p. 60. 1889. Giinther, Challeng. Rep., vol. xxxi, p. 15 (Lepidothynnus). 1903. Lahille, An. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires, ser. 3, vol. ii, p. 376 (Chenogaster). Body moderately elongate, rather strongly compressed. Caudal peduncle slender, with two lateral keels oneachside. Scales moderately large, cycloid, covering the whole body, cheeks, and postorbital part of head. Maxilla not concealed by preorbital. Mouth wide; teeth small, conical, in a single row in both jaws, and in patches on vomer and palatine. Dorsal fins contiguous, spinous portion consisting of 17 long, flexiblespines. Anallow,short. Six to seven finlets behind dorsal and anal fins. Pectorals short. Ventrals varying, sometimes very large and broad, folding into a groove along the belly, extending from VOL. XXI, PART 2. 52 804 Annals of the South African Museum. the base of ventrals to the vent. Gill-arches with numerous small teeth, but none on tongue. Pyloric caeca numerous. A single species. Gasterochisma melampus Rich. 1845. Richardson, loc. cit., p. 346. 1846. Id., loc. cit., p. 60, pl. xxxvu, figs. 1-3. 1889. Giinther, loc. cit., p. 15, pl. vi, figs. A, A? (Lepidothynnus huttonc). } 1903. Lahille, loc. cit., p. 376 (Chenogaster holmberg?). 1905. Id., abed., ser. 3, vol. iv, p. 461. 1907. Stead, Add. Fish-fauna N.S. Wales, No. 1, p. 21, pl. vi. 1913. Lahille, An. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires, vol. xxiv, p. 7, text- fig. 2 and pls. 3, 4 (boulengeri). 1913. Waite, Tr. N. Zeal. Inst., vol. xlv, p. 220, pl. viii (references). Depth 34-32, length of head 4, in length of body. Eye 647 in length of head, 23-3 in snout. Maxilla reaching about to level of centre of eye. D XVII 10-11+6-7. A II 10+6-7. Pectoral 14 (S.A. Mus. specimen) to 12 (Stead) in length of head. Ventral 24 (Richardson) or 24 (Stead) to 6 (S.A. Mus.) or 8 (Giinther). Scales: 11:80; I-tr (S. A. Mus.). (Plate XXX, fig. 3.) 8-9 "15-16 Length.—Up to 1650 mm. (54 ft.). Colour.—Silvery white below, bluish black above, ventral fins black. Locality.—Table Bay. Distribution.—New Zealand, New South Wales, Tasmania, Argentine. A fine specimen of this species was caught in Table Bay in 1920, measuring 3 ft. 7 in. in length, and is now mounted in the South African Museum. It constitutes the only record of this Australasian fish in South African waters. In the young, up to about 16 in. in length, the ventral fins are very large, as described by Richardson and Stead; but in the adult they are of more normal proportions. The only description of an adult is that of Giinther, under the name Lepidothynnus, based on a skeleton and some notes and a drawing of a New Zealand specimen. Giinther’s description applies well to the Cape specimen, except that he states that the spinous and soft dorsals are well separated. This statement is probably due to erroneous observation on the part of Giinther’s correspondent. Unfortunately, the Cape specimen was caught while I was away in England, and I am thus unable to give any details as to the gill-rakers and other anatomical features. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 805 Fam. 4. XIPHIIDAE. Sword-fishes. Body elongate, compressed, with a long-pointed rostrum formed by the nasals and the united premaxillae. Rostrum depressed. Lower jaw in the young also produced, but not equalling the rostrum in length. Maxilla with an expanded anterior and a rod-like posterior portion. Two dorsal fins (united in the young), spines feeble and scarcely differentiated from the rays, second dorsal and anal short, the latter divided in adult. No detached finlets. No anal spines. Ventral fins absent. Pectoral fins placed low. Caudal peduncle with one lateral keel. No teeth in adult. Scales absent in adult; skin in young covered with rough granulations. Gull-membranes free from isthmus. Gills of peculiar structure, the laminae of each arch being united into a single plate by reticulations. Air-bladder present. Pyloric caeca very numerous. A single, large pelagic species, a strong swimmer, and very pugnacious. The Sword-fish is found in all warm seas, and in many localities is regularly hunted, as its flesh, though dark in colour and oily, is excellent. There are numerous accounts of its ferocity in attacking ships and boats, both with and even without any provocation. It feeds on other fishes such as mackerel, bonitos, etc., which swim together in shoals. Gen. XIPHIAS Artedi. 1738. Artedi, Gen. Pisc., p. 29. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 248. 1923. Nicholls, Amer. Mus. Nov., No. 94, p. 1 (Phaetonichthys non Blkr. 1879, young). With the family characters. Xiphias gladius Linn. Sword-fish. 1758. Linné, loc. cit., p. 248. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. viii, p. 255, pls. coxxv, ccxxvi, ccxxxi. 1881. Goode, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. iv, p. 428 (references). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 119 (references). 1823. Nicholls, loc. cit., p. 1, fig. (Phaetonichthys tuberculatus =young). 806 Annals of the South African Museum. 1924. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. xiii, p. 224, fig. (young). 1926. Jordan and Evermann, Occ. Pap. Calif. Ac. Sci., vol. xii, De (ipl: Depth 4—4$ in length of body (from point of lower jaw). Length of rostrum (to anterior border of eye) about 13—2 in distance from eye to base of caudal fin. Rostrum flattened, with trenchant edges. D ca. 40+4. Aca. 18+4. Dorsal elevated in young; the middle part both of dorsal and anal becoming low or disappearing altogether in older individuals. (Plate XXX, fig. 4.) Length.—Up to 12 ft. Colour.—Silvery white below, deep purplish blue above. Locality.—Cape seas. Distribution.—Atlantic, Mediterranean, Southern Pacific (Honolulu, New Zealand). Fic. 27.—Xiphias yladius, young example nearly 200 mm. in length. (After Regan.) The Sword-fish appears to be very rare in our waters. The South African Museum possesses a skull with rostrum and lower jaw, which appears to be the one referred to in 1831 by Cuvier and Valenciennes as having been sketched by Quoy and Gaimard. Castelnau refers to it again in his 1861 Memoire, p. 42. No other record apparently exists of the presence of the Sword-fish in South African waters. Fam. 5. HISTIOPHORIDAE. Sail-fishes ; Spear-fishes. Resembling the Xiphiidae in most respects, but with ventral fins consisting of 1-3 rays, rounded (in section) rostrum, rudimentary teeth, scales, caudal peduncle with 2 lateral keels, and maxilla of nearly equal width throughout its length. Three genera, two of which are represented in South Africa. In habits the Sail-fishes are very similar to the Sword-fish, but they do not appear to have the same reputation for ferocity as the latter. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 807 Key to the South African genera. 1. Ventral rays 2-3. Dorsal fin single, elevated - ; : Histiophorus. 2. Ventral rays 1. Dorsal fin double : ; ; ; : . Makaira., Gen. HistiopHorRvuS Lacép. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ii, p. 374 (Lsteophorus). Skin covered with elongate scales. Dorsal fin single, very high, with numerous rays. Anal fin double. Ventral consisting of 2-3 elongate rays. Pectoral short. Numerous tooth-like asperities on the jaws. Histiophorus gladius (Brouss.). Sadl-fish. 1786. Broussonet, Mem. Ac. Sci., p. 454, pl. x. 1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. viii, p. 293, pl. cexxix (indicus). 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 42 (granulvfer). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 118 (references). 1921. McCulloch, Rec. Austr. Mus., vol. xi, pt. 4, p. 137, pl. xxiv, ney 1, 1926. Jordan and Evermann, Occ. Pap. Calif. Ac. Sci., vol. xu, p. 38. Depth about 64-7 in length of body (from point of lower jaw). Ros- trum (to anterior border of eye) 23-3 in distance from eye to base of caudal fin. Rostrum subcylindrical, granulate laterally and on lower surface. Mandibles with similar granules. D 42-50+7. A10- 12+6-7. Dorsal fin much higher than body. Upper profile of head straight or nearly so. Length.—Up to 124 ft. Colour.—Silvery white below, deep bluish above, membrane of dorsal fin spotted. Locality —Cape seas, St. Sebastian Bay. Distribution.—Indian seas. Type of granulifer (skull with rostrum and lower jaw) in South African Museum. The only records of this species in South African waters are based on a specimen in the British Museum and Castelnau’s granulifer. The Sail-fish is frequently observed swimming near the surface with its dorsal fin projecting out of the water, whence its name of Sail-fish. 808 Annals of the South African Museum. Gen. MAKAIRA Lac. 1803. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, p. 688. Body with scale-like scutes, covered by the skin. Two dorsal and anal fins. Only the anterior dorsal rays elongate, the rest short. Ventral consisting of a single slender ray, shorter than pectoral. Numerous asperities on the jaws. * Makara herscheli (Gray). Herschel’s Spear-fish. 1838. Gray, Ann. Nat. Hist., vol. i, p. 313, pl. 10. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 118. 1926. Jordan and Evermann, Occ. Pap. Calif. Ac. Sci., vol. xii, p. 69. Depth 5-6 in length of body (from point of lower jaw). Rostrum (to anterior border of eye) about 3 in distance from eye to base of caudal fin. Rostrum subcylindrical, granulate on sides and below. Mandibles similarly granulate. D35-42+7. A11-12+6-7. Anterior dorsal rays not, or but little, exceeding the height of the body, posterior rays much shorter. Upper profile of head more or less arcuate. Length. Up to 134 ft. Colour.—Silvery or greyish below, bluish above, margin of dorsal and tip of pectoral often blackish. Locality.— Table Bay, East London. Type of herscheli in British Museum. An excellent photograph of the East London specimen appeared in the Cape Times, weekly edition, 19th June, 1907. Group GOBIOIDEIL. Gobies. 1911. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (8), vol. vu.) paeiees (classification). Body naked or scaly. Spinous dorsal, when present, of a few flexible spines. Anal similar to soft dorsal, without or with a feeble spine. Ventrals thoracic or subjugular, each with a weak spine and 4—5 rays. Gill-membranes attached to isthmus. No bony stay for the preoper- culum. A more or less developed anal papilla, larger in males. No lateral line. No pyloric caeca. Air-bladder usually absent. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 809 The Gobies form a large group. They are mostly small fishes, carnivorous and marine. Some are found in estuaries and rivers ; two species are known to descend below the 100-fathom line. The majority are littoral, and the typical forms with united ventral fins are easily distinguished. Key to the South African families. 1. Ventral fins completely separate . . : Eleotridae. 2. Ventral fins united either at base only, or complstele fining a sucking disc Gobiidae. Fam. 1. ELEOTRIDAE. Ventral fins separated, their bases not contiguous. Two dorsal fins. Soft dorsal and anal free from caudal, which is rounded. Pectorals well developed, upper rays without free filaments. Teeth in a single row, or in bands, with or without canines. Giull-rakers long or reduced. Scales cycloid or ctenoid. Gen. ELEotrRIs Gron. 1754. Gronovius, Mus. Ichthyol., p. 16. 1763. Id., Zooph., p. 83. 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichthyol., p. 65. 1918. Fage, Dan. Ocean. Exp., vol. u, A 3, p. 99 (post-larval stages). Teeth small, conical, the outer series enlarged, with or without canines ; none on vomer. Scales moderate or small, cycloid or ctenoid. Gill-rakers more or less reduced. Pseudobranchiae more or less re- duced. No barbels. This genus has been variously subdivided, but so far as the South African fauna is concerned, it 1s quite unnecessary. Coasts and rivers between the tropics. Boulenger (Freshwater Fishes of Africa, vol. iv, 1916) records 14 species from African rivers. Key to the South African species. 1. A strong spine at angle of preopercle, concealed beneath the skin. Scales: l.ser. 60-78 ; : 2 Se Ne : : ‘ : : fusca. 2. No preopercular spine. a. Body strongly compressed . : ‘ : : . 3 . butts. b. Body feebly compressed. i. Scales: Lser. 35-42. : : : : . ophiocephalus. ii. Scales: Lser. 28 . : : t : P : delagoensis. 810 Annals of the South African Museum. Eleotris fusca (Bl. Schn.). 1801. Bloch Schneider, Syst. Ichthyol., p. 453. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 313, pl. Ixv, fig. 7. 1916. Boulenger, Freshwater Fish. Africa, vol. iv, p. 21, fig. 14 (references). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 401 (references). Body feebly compressed. Depth 4-42, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Head broader than deep. Eye 44 (young)—7 in length of head, 1—2 in interorbital width, equal to or rather less than snout. Maxilla extending to below centre or posterior third of eye. No canine teeth. A strong spine at angle of preopercle, projecting downwards and forwards, concealed beneath the skin. D VI-+I 8. AI8. P 18.- Seales ctenoid: J/Ser. 60-78; trser. 17-21) Here scaly, except on snout and chin. Gill-rakers 10 on lower part of anterior arch, very short. Pseudobranchiae reduced. Length.—Up to 260 mm. Colour.—Dark brown or blackish, vertical fins mottled or banded. Locality.—Natal and east coast of Africa. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. *Eleotris butvs (Ham.-Buch.). 1822. Hamilton-Buchanan, Fish. Ganges, p. 57. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 315, pl. Ixvii, fig. 3. 1916. Boulenger, Freshwater Fish. Afr., vol. iv, p. 10, fig. 6 (references). Body strongly compressed. Depth 44-5, length of head 23-3, in length of body. Head much depressed, broader than deep. Eye 5-6} in length of head, 3 (young) or 4 length of snout, 1-13 in interorbital width. Maxilla extending to below anterior third or centre of eye. No canine teeth. No preopercular spine. D VI+18. AI8. Scales ctenoid: l.ser. 29-32; tr.ser. 10-11. Head almost entirely scaly, with finely serrated ridges above and a groove on each side behind eye. Length.—Up to 1385 mm. Colour.—Brownish, soft dorsal and caudal spotted, anal with dark margin edged with white, Ist dorsal dark, a light or scarlet spot divided by a black mark on base of pectoral. Locality.—Mozambique. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indian seas, Malay Archipelago. ————= ——— | — 3 ‘ PLATE XXXII. FIG. TEXT-PAGE 1. Scarus guttatus Bl. Schn (original photo) . : : ‘ : oe ee 2 Anchichoerops natalensis (G. and T.) (original photo) . : : . T47 3 Pomacentrus sindensis (Day) (after Day) : : : ‘ : « “TSS 4 Halidesmus scapularis Gnthr. (after Gnthr.) . ‘ : : : . 870 5. Gobius nudiceps C. and V. (original photo) , : : : « HOLS 6. Eleotris ophiocephalus C. and V. (after Day) . f : ‘ : : “Si Annes. Atr. Mus., Vol. XXL Plate AXcaIT. Sete ss is no Fam. 6. FIERASFERIDAE. Body elongate, tapering, naked. Mouth not protractile. Lips not strongly developed. No barbels. Teeth cardiform, in jaws, and on vomer and palatines; canines often present. Dorsal and anal fins confluent, without spines, no caudal fin. Ventral fins absent. Pseudo- branchiae absent. Gill-membranes free from isthmus. Gill-openings A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 885 wide. Mucous canals of head and lateral line well developed. Pyloric caeca absent (rudimentary). Air-bladder present. Vent at the throat. A family of small fishes from temperate and tropical seas, remark- able for their habit of living symbiotically with Holothurians (sea- cucumbers), Asteroids (Star-fish), Tunicates, and bivalve molluscs. They are not parasitic, but seek their food in a normal manner, merely returning to the Holothurian or other animal for protection and seclusion. They seem to be attracted to the Holothurian by the respiratory current and enter it tail first. They are sometimes caught buried in sand or in crevices of coral-reefs. The eggs are pelagic and are embedded in a mass of slime. The newly-hatched larva has been observed to float in a vertical position, head downwards. It possesses a remarkable elongate filament with foliate expansions, probably a modification of the Ist dorsal ray, which hangs down over the head and is evidently a sensory appendage, perhaps for the purpose of perceiving the respiratory currents of Holo- thurians, etc., and guiding it to a suitable retreat. Gen. FIERASFER Cuv. 1810. Rafinesque, Ind. Ittiol. Sicil., p. 57 (Carapus, no type specified). 1817. Cuvier, Régne Anim., ed. 2, vol. ii, p. 239. 1837. Thompson, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 55 (Hchiodon). 1843. Lowe, zbed., p. 92 (Diaphasia). 1844-48. Richardson, Voy. Erebus and Terror, Fish., p. 74 (Oxybeles). 1860. Kaup, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., p. 272 (Porobronchus, larva). 1864. Guill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., p. 152 (Carapus). 1870. Gasco Bull. Assoc. Nat. Med. Napoli, p. 59 (Vewillefer, larva). 1874. Putnam, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. xvi, p. 347 (Enche- lophis, larva). 1874. Jones, Zoologist., vol. 1x, p. 3838 (Lefroyia). 1880. Emery, Faun. Flor. Golf. Neapel. Monogr., ii (anatomy, habits, etc.). 1912. Popta, Notes Leyd. Mus., vol. xxxiv, p. 185. 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr. 57, p. 95. With the characters of the family. The genus is subdivided according as the premaxilla and maxilla are free (Fverasfer) or concealed under the skin (Jordanicus, Gilb. 1905 *). As this character is not mentioned by all authors and the * Popta (loc. cit., p. 187) states that home Rich., the type species of Oxypbeles, has the upper jaw free, so that Oxybeles becomes a synonym of Fverasfer (sensu stricto), and cannot be used for the second division, as Popta has done. 886 Annals of the South African Museum. rather numerous species have not been revised, all the species here mentioned are referred to Fierasfer. Key to the South African species. 1. Teeth in narrow bands in jaws . ; : ‘ : : . neglectus, 2. Teeth uniserial in jaws, without canines. a. One canine on vomer . : : , ; ; : . punctatus. b. Four canines on vomer : ; , : ; . - gracshes, * Fierasfer neglectus Peters. 1855. Peters, Wiegm. Arch., p. 260. 1862. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. iv, p. 382. Length of head 10 in total length. Teeth in jaws and on palatines in narrow bands, the outer series stronger and curved; 3 very long curved canines on vomer. Length and colour not stated. Locality.—Island of Ibo, Mozambique. *Fierasfer punctatus Fischer. 1885. Fischer, Jahrb. Hamb. Wiss. Anst., vol. 1, p. 74. Length of head 8 in total length. Teeth in jaws and on palatines in single rows, without true canines ; a single long canine on vomer. Length.—236 mm. Colour.—Yellowish-brown, head and body with numerous small black points and specks. Locality.—Mozambique, in Holothuria scabra var. tagris. * Fierasfer (Jordanicus) gracilis Blkr. 1856. Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind., vol. xi, p. 105. 1862. Ginther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus:, vol. iv, p. 382. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 263. 1926. Id., Ann. Nat. Mus., vol. v, p. 402, text-fig. 2. Length of head 11 in total length. Upper jaw concealed beneath the skin. Teeth in jaws and on palatines in single rows, without canines ; 4 slightly larger teeth on vomer. (Plate XXXV, fig. 6.) Length.—Up to 160 mm. Colour.—Pale mauve, with bluish tinge; when preserved, drab, with obscure darker mottlings and ocelli; fins transparent. Locality.—Natal coast, 120 fathoms. Distribution.—Kast Indies. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 887 Fam. 7. OPHIDIIDAE. Body elongate, more or less tapering behind, usually with very small cycloid scales, or naked; the scales usually are not imbricated, but embedded in the skin at right angles to one another as in some of the Eels, or in oblique rows. Mouth protractile. Teeth in both jaws, and usually on vomer and palatines, viliform or with larger ones which are usually movable. Dorsal and anal elongate, composed of soft rays, and confluent with caudal. Ventral fins inserted between the rami of lower jaw, each reduced to a pair of rays. Pseudobranchiae present. Guill-membranes separate, narrowly attached to the isthmus behind the ventrals; gill-openings wide. Lateral line more or less distinct. Air-bladder and pyloric caeca present. A family of carnivorous fishes, mostly from moderately deep or deep water. (For post-larval stages of Ophidium see Fage, 1918, Dan. Ocean. Exp., vol. 11, A 3, p. 148.) One genus in South Africa. Gen. GENYPTERUS Phil. 1849. Smith, Ill. Zool. S. Afr. Pisces, pl. xxxi (Xiphiurus nom. preocc.) 1857. Philippi, Wiegm. Archiv., p. 268. 1858. Kaup, zbid., p. 93 (Holophycis). 1903. Regan, Proc. Zool. Soc., vol. 1, p. 67. Head scaleless, except on preopercle and opercle. Scales on body not imbricated, arranged in oblique rows (in quincunx). Lateral line distinct. Some of the outer row of teeth in both jaws enlarged, and some of them movable; vomer and palatines also with some of the teeth enlarged. Opercle ending in a spine concealed under the skin. No spine on tip of snout. Air-bladder (in the Cape species) oblong- ovate, contracted only at the extreme hind end into a small point, without posterior foramen. Pyloric caeca (in the Cape species) 8. Vent antemedian. An austral genus apparently confined to the southern extremities of South Africa, South America, and Australasia. Genypterus capensis (Smith). King Klip-fish ; Koning Klipvis. 1849. Smith, loc. cit., pl. xxxi. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 417 (references). 888 Annals of the South African Museum. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 152 (references). 1922. Gilchrist, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., iii, p. 78. 1923. Von Bonde, zbid., i, p. 35 (Otophidium c.). Depth 8 (adult)—103 (young, 100 mm.), length of head 4?-5, in length of body. Eye in young slightly greater than snout, twice the interorbital width, 4 in length of head ; in adult, 2 in snout, equal to or 14 in interorbital width, 8-9 in length of head. The distance from tip of snout to vent is just over twice the length of head, and is 14 (adult)—14 (young) in distance from vent to caudal fin. Maxilla ex- tending beyond hind margin of eye, its posterior width greater than leneth of eye. Lips papillose. Gull-rakers 4, together with some rudi- mentary knobs on lower part of anterior arch. Branchiostegals 7. D commencing above anterior 4 or axil of pectoral. Ventrals 4 (adult) to nearly 4 (young) length of head. Lateral line distinct nearly to tip of tail; about 13 series of scales between it and base of dorsal ; bases of dorsal, and to a lesser extent anal, with minute scales. Pyloric caeca 8 (5 on one side, 3 on the other). (Plate XXXV, fig. 5.) Length.—Up to 1600 mm. Colour.—Brownish, pinkish-brown, or salmon-coloured, more or less irregularly blotched and marbled; belly whitish; whole body, especially in young, with a silvery sheen; dorsal and anal fins, especi- ally in young, posteriorly black, with a narrow, pure white edge ; iris similar to the surrounding colour. Locality.— Off west coast (St. Helena and Saldanha Bays), Table Bay, Cape Point, Agulhas Bank, as far east as Algoa Bay, 20-214 fathoms. Regan (1906) describes a specimen said to have come from the Natal coast, but the Marine Survey vessel, s.s. “ Pickle,” did not find it in this locality. The Cape species is very close to blacodes Bl. Schn. from Australia and New Zealand, and a detailed comparison might possibly prove them to be synonymous. The other Australian species, microstomus Regan, appears to be distinguished by the narrower interorbital space and the broad white margin to the dorsal and anal fins. Comparisons should, however, be instituted between specimens of the same size, as a very considerable alteration in the relative proportions of the eye, etc., takes place between the young and the adult. The King Klip-fish grows to a large size at the Cape, viz. up to at least 5 ft. in length, the largest specimens usually being trawled in the deeper waters. It is one of the finest food-fishes of Cape waters. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 889 Group STROMATEOIDEI. Fam. STROMATEIDAE. 1902. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (7), vol. x, pp. 115, 194 (revision). 1922. Gilchrist, abed., (9), vol. ix, p. 249 (oesophageal teeth). Body deep ovate, oblong or elongate, with moderate or small cycloid, usually deciduous, scales. No bony stay for preopercle. Subocular shelf usually present. Mouth small or moderate, protractile or not. A single series of small pointed teeth in both jaws; palate toothed or toothless. Nostrils paired. Gill-membranes free from isthmus (with one exception). Grills 4, a slit behind 4th. Pseudobranchiae present, often rudimentary. Dorsal fin with the spinous portion almost or quite forming a separate fin; or spinous portion may be rudimentary. Anal long, with 3 or more spines. Ventrals, when present, thoracic, of a spine and 5 rays, attached to the belly by membrane and depres- sible into a more or less well-marked groove. Lateral line single, continuous. Air-bladder present or absent. Pyloric caeca few in number, simple or much branched. Oesophagus with lateral sacs which are toothed internally. This family, distinguished anatomically by the oesophageal teeth, contains marine pelagic or deep-sea fishes. Changes in the body shape and length of fins, and other growth- changes frequently occur, the young being deeper in the body, the ventral fins larger, etc. Key to the South African genera. I. Ventral fins present in adult. A. Lateral line parallel with dorsal profile. Dorsal fin divided. 1. Teeth on vomer and palatines . : . Nomeus. 2. Teeth on vomer and tongue, at least in young. . Cubiceps. 3. Palate toothless ‘ , : Psenes. B. Lateral line straight, but Gumved anitaniotity “bore the pectorals. Dorsal fin continuous. 1. Body elongate : : : : : : Centrolophus. 2. Body ovate : ; ; : ; : 2 ; Lirus. II. Ventral fins absent in adult : ; : : : : Stromateus. Gen. NomMEus Cuv. 1817. Cuvier, Régne Anim., ed. 1, vol. ii, p. 315. 1902. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (7), vol. x, p. 121. Body oblong, moderately compressed. Scales moderate, deciduous. 890 Annals of the South African Museum. Head scaly, except the snout. Mouth small. Maxilla without supple- mental bone, entirely concealed under preorbital. Teeth on vomer and palatines. Pseudobranchiae well developed. Dorsal divided. Spinous part with 10-11 slender spines, the middle ones longest, al- most separated from soft dorsal. Anal spines 3. Pectorals long. Ventrals well developed, inserted before pectorals in young, below them in adult, large, depressible in a deep furrow. Caudal forked. Lateral line high, parallel with dorsal profile. Air-bladder present. © A single species. Nomeus gronovia (Gmel.). Blue-bottle Fish. 1788. Gmelin, Linn. Syst. Nat., vol. xii, p. 1205. 1850. Cuvier, Régne Anim. Ill. Poiss., pl. lvi, fig. 2 (maculatus). 1895. Goode and Bean, Ocean. Ichthyol., p. 220, fig. 227. 1916. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. 11, p. 103 (references). 1922. Gilchrist, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 253 (oeso- phageal teeth). | 1923. Gilchrist and von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., iv, p. 6. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 212. Depth equal to length of head, 34-32 in length of body. Eye 23-3 in length of head, subequal to interorbital width and about twice length of snout. Gill-rakers 16-18 on lower part of anterior arch. 4—5 © 20-21" Below the lateral line a straight groove from suprascapular region to caudal fin. Length.—Up to 81 mm. Colour.Silvery white, top of head indigo-blue ; 4—5 black irregular cross-bars, the first through pectoral, the last across caudal pedunele, widest above, narrowing below; one or more round black spots be- tween the lower ends of the cross-bars ; spinous dorsal blackish ; soft dorsal alternately black and white ; 3 brown spots on anal, ventrals black ; a black stripe along middle of each caudal lobe. Locality. —Off Cape Point, False Bay, Natal coast. Distribution.—Tropical Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans. This little fish is commonly found associated with the Siphonophores Physalia and Velella, popularly known as Portuguese Men-of-war and Blue-bottles. It also accompanies jelly-fishes. The stinging tentacles of the Physalia may provide a certain amount of protection D X-XI [I 25-27. a : a i . , s 7 ‘5 ey a ar } ¢ ae i 4 +. ~ A a 1 i ) ‘eo s 4 i ie ‘ ; bd Als a 1 ifaw ipa ; b " ” t resent ae) be wa = =< be A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 923 Two nostrils on each side. Gill-membranes broadly connected, often joined to isthmus. Pseudobranchiae present. One or two pairs of dentigerous upper pharyngeals. Spinous dorsal separate from the soft dorsal, or united with it in a common cutaneous sheath; soft dorsal long. Anal similar to soft dorsal, without spines. Pectorals large, the rays mostly simple. Ventrals rarely absent, normal, close together, with 1 spine and 3-5 rays. Caudal separate. usually rounded. This family is a very large one, comprising a great variety of forms, especially characteristic of the Northern Hemisphere. There are fresh- water and marine forms, the latter mostly from shallow waters, but a few deep-sea species are known. None of them are of any value as food. In the case of the shallow-water forms the eggs are usually attached to stones, weed, etc., and several species are known to makea kind of nest. In South Africa only one deep-sea genus has been found. COTTUNCULOIDES n. g. Head very large, the body tapering rapidly to the slender tal. Mouth large, terminal, oblique. Villiform teeth in jaws; none on vomer or on palatine. Bones of the head more or less spinose, the spines not penetrating the skin. Gills 34, no slit behind the last arch. Gill-membranes broadly joined to isthmus. Pseudobranchiae very small. Skin naked, smooth or with smail granules, loose and flabby. Spinous and soft dorsal united by and concealed in the skin. Ventrals short, with 3 rays. The genus Cottunculus is sometimes included in a separate family, Cottunculidae, on account of the single dorsal fin and a slight difference in one of the bones (parasphenoid) of the skull. The present genus differs from the N. Atlantic and Japanese genus Cottunculus by the complete absence of vomerine teeth. Key to the South African species. 1. Head smooth . : . ‘ ‘ : : 5 : . inermis. 2. Head spinose . : : : : , : : : . spinosus. Cottunculoides inermis (Vaill.). 1888. Vaillant, Exp. Travailleur et Talisman, Poiss., p. 365, pl. xxviul, fig. 2. 1904. Gilchrist, Mar. Invest. 8. Afr., vol. ii, p. 7, pl. xxiv (macro- cephalus). 924 Annals of the South African Museum. 1906. Id., ibid., vol. iv, p. 149 (macrocephalus). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 139 (macrocephalus). 1922. Gilchrist, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., iii, p. 78 (macrocephalus). Depth about 3, length of head 24, in length of body. Head smooth, without spinous processes. Hye about 7 in length of head, 14 in snout. Maxilla reaching to below centre of eye. No vomerine teeth. D VII- VIII 17-18. A13-14, P 19-21. VI3. (Plate XXXIV, fig. 1.) Length.—Up to 290 mm. Colowr.—Light brown, paler below. Locality. —Oft Cape Point, 190-560 fathoms. Distribution.—Oft N.W. coast of Africa, 930-1495 metres. Type of macrocephalus in South African Museum. The above description is taken from the largest specimen, an ovigerous 2, 290 mm. in length. The type is a very small specimen, 45 mm. long, and is in poor condition. A specimen 112 mm. long, apparently an immature 3, agrees with the large specimen, but the eye is larger than length of snout, not quite 4 in length of head. Vomerine teeth are absent in all three specimens. Cottunculoides sprnosus (Gilch.). 1906. Gilchrist, Mar. Invest. 8. Afr., vol. iv, p. 149, pl. xxxvin. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 139. 1922. Gilchrist, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 78. Depth (at junction of head and body) 44, length of head 2, in length of body. Head with spinous projections, the largest being the occipital pair; 1 nasal and 1 interorbital (in middle line), 3 postorbital, 1 temporal, 1 humeral, 3 preopercular, and some minor points on the suborbital and preorbital. Eye equal to snout, 4 in length of head. No vomerine teeth. DIV10. Al10. P16. VI3. Length.—78 mm. Colour (as preserved).—Pale brown. Locality.—Off Cape Point, 800-1190 fathoms. Type (ovigerous 9) in South African Museum. Owing to the shrivelling of the hinder part of the body I am unable to check the fin-formula as given by Gilchrist. Except for the absence of vomerine teeth, very similar to Cottunculus torvus Goode. Fam. 4. LIPARIDAE. Body elongate, compressed behind. Skin delicate, loose, smooth or with minute prickles. Head short. Two nostrils on each side. Gill- A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 925 membranes joined to isthmus. Pseudobranchiae small, or wanting. One or two pairs of upper dentigerous pharyngeals. Spinous dorsal united with soft dorsal. Soft dorsal and anal confluent with caudal. Anal without spines. Pectorals very broad, base decurrent, some of the lower rays more or less free and prolonged. Ventrals united to form a circular suctorial disc, or completely absent. No air- bladder. The Liparidae or Sea-snails are closely related to the Cyclopteridae or Lump-suckers, and are often included under one group: Dzscoboli. They are well represented in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in the Pacific. Most are shallow-water forms, but a few descend to considerable depths. In some of the shallow-water forms it has been observed that the _ eggs are laid attached to stones and other objects, and are guarded by the male until hatched. (For post-larval stages of Inparis see Fage, 1918, Dan. Ocean. Exp., vol. u, A 3, p. 119). Key to the South African genera. 1. Ventral disc present . : > : , : - : Careproctus. 2. Ventral disc absent. a. Mouth horizontal : ; : P : ‘ : Paraliparis. b. Mouth oblique . : : . ‘ : : : . Psednos. Gen. CAREPROCTUS KréGyer. 1862. Kroyer, Naturb. Tidsskr., vol. i, p. 257. Ventral disc present. Teeth mostly simple, some of them some- times tricuspid. Mouth horizontal. Pseudobranchiae present, but small. Caudal fin feeble, but its end distinct from dorsal and anal. Vent nearer to ventral disc than to origin of anal fin. A genus of rather small-sized deep-water fishes, whose headquarters seem to be in the Northern Pacific. Careproctus albescens n. sp. Depth 43, length of head 33, in length of body. Eye 3? in length of head. Profile of head evenly rounded, snout rather vertical (but shape possibly altered by the specimens resting on their snouts in the jar). Teeth mostly simple, but a few tricuspid. Guill-opening not extending below base of upper pectoral ray. D ca. 50. Aca. 45. P 35, lower rays (ca. 17) not strongly produced. Diameter of ventral disc 5 in 926 Annals of the South African Museum. length of head. Skin smooth. Distance of vent from posterior margin of ventral disc greater than diameter of disc, about equal to diameter of eye. Pyloric caeca 12. Length.—Up to 100 mm. (the best preserved and type specimen 65 mm.). Colour (as preserved).—Whitish, peritoneum dark brown. Locality.— Off Cape Point, 630-800 fathoms. Type in South African Museum. With the exception of the type the specimens are all very soft and rather badly preserved, but they serve to confirm the above characters. There seems no doubt that the species is a true Careproctus. Gen. PARALIPARIS Coll. 1878. Collett, Vid. Selsk. Forh. Christ., No. 14, p. 32. Ventral disc absent. Teeth minute, simple. Mouth horizontal. Pseudobranchiae absent. Pectoral distinctly divided into two lobes. Caudal completely confluent with dorsal and anal. Vent far forward. Key to the South African species. 1. Large species. D 60. A50. P17+3 : : : : : copet. 2. Small species. D48. A43. P 14+3 : , : ; . australis, Paraliparis cope: G. and B. 1895. Goode and Bean, Ocean. Ichthyol., p. 279, fig. 253. 1919. Roule, Res. Sci. Camp. Monaco, vol. lu, p. 62. Depth about 52, length of head about 64, in length of body. Hye about equal to snout, 34 in length of head. Interorbital width equal to postorbital length of head. D ca. 60. A ca. 50. P 17-18+3-4. Pyloric caeca 7 (Goode and Bean: 4-6). Length.—Up to 170 mm. Colour.—Whitish or translucent, posterior portion of body brownish ; snout, chin, gill-opening blackish; peritoneum violet- black. Locality. —Off Cape Point, 900-1000 fathoms. Distribution.—N. Atlantic, 353-538 fathoms; off the Azores, 1692 metres. Two specimens, 120 and 160 mm. in length, appear to be undoubtedly referable to this species. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 927 *Paraliparis australis Gilch. 1902. Gilchrist, Mar. Invest. 8. Afr., vol. 1, p. 107, pl. vii. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 139. 1922. Gilchrist, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., 1u, p. 78. Depth 32, length of head about 4, in length of body. Eye smaller than snout, 34 in length of head. Interorbital width greater than postorbital part of head. D 48. A 43. P 14+3. Pyloric caeca? (Plate XX XIII, fig. 6.) Length.—Up to 50 mm. Colour.—Translucent. Locality.— Off Cape Point, 210-312 fathoms. Type 2 lost. PSEDNOS n. g. Ventral disc absent. Teeth simple on jaws, none on vomer or palatine. Mouth very oblique, lower jaw projecting. No barbels. Pseudobranchiae absent. Pectoral not divided into two lobes. Caudal completely confluent with dorsal and anal. Vent far forward, between lower extremities of bases of pectorals. General outline tadpole-like, head and trunk nearly circular, tail abruptly narrower. The distinctive shape of the body, which is not due to distension with eggs, and the strongly oblique mouth serve to distinguish this genus from all the other genera in this family. Resembling Amitra in the pectoral, but differing in the absence of pseudobranchiae, as well as in the above two characters. Psednos micrurus 0. sp. Depth 3, length of head 4$,in length of body. Eye 3 in length of head, equal to snout, and 1} in postorbital portion of head (excluding opercular flap). Maxilla reaching to below anterior third of eye. Lower jaw projecting, with a knob on chin. D ca. 35. A ca. 30. Distance from snout to origin of dorsal nearly twice, to origin of anal 24 times, length of head. P17,rays at least as long as head, the lower rays probably slightly longer, but mutilated. Pyloric caeca 4, short and stout. (Plate XX XIII, fig. 5.) Length —Up to 45 mm. Colour (as preserved).—Greyish-brown. Locality.—Ofi Cape Point, 660-700 fathoms. Type (ovigerous 9) in South African Museum. The type has the body cavity filled with a number of large eggs, 1mm.indiameter. Another specimen of the same size is rather badly mutilated, but confirms the characters above given. 928 Annals of the South African Museum. Fam. 5. CONGIOPODIDAE. Horse-fishes. Body moderately elongate, compressed. Skin naked or granulate. Head not completely cuirassed, sometimes with spines. A single nostril on each side. Gill-openings restricted to above the pectorals. Pseudobranchiae present. Three pairs of toothed upper pharyngeals. Spinous and soft dorsals united, spines strong. Anal without strong spines. Pectorals without free rays. Ventrals close together, with 1 spine and 5 rays. Snout produced. Mouth small, protractile. Villiform teeth sometimes in jaws, none on vomer or palatine. Air- bladder present. No pyloric caeca. The Horse-fishes form a small family of two genera with an austral distribution, being found in South Africa, Kerguelen, South Australia, and South America. In South Africa they are commoner in the cooler waters of the west coast, and are rarely met with far to the east. If, however, the genera Snyderina and Ocosza be included in this family, the range extends up to Japan. Regan in 1913 does not admit them to the family as characterised above, from which they differ in having 3 anal spines and the gill-openings not restricted to above the pectorals. Gen. Coneiopopus Perry. 1810. Perry, Arcana, pl. lv and letterpress. | 1829. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, p. 380 (Agriopus). 1926. McCulloch, Rec. Austr. Mus., vol. xv., pt. 1, p. 37. Dorsal spines 17—21, the first arising above the eye, no deep notch between spinous and soft portions. Vilhform teeth in jaws. Ventral fins arising immediately behind bases of pectorals. Head without strong spines. Key to the South African species. 1. No spines on snout. Skin papillose or smooth . : : : torvus. 2. Spines on snout. Skin spinulose : : : : : . spinifer. f Congiopodus torvus (Gronov.). aie Horse-fish ; Paardevis. se > 1760. Gronovius, Act. Helv., vol. vii, p. 47, pl. 111, fic. Py ei 1829. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, p. 382. 1829. Id., 2bid., p. 387, pl. xci (verrucosus). 1835. Burton, Proc. Zool. Soc., vol. 11, p. 116 (wnicolor). Gronoius L.7. 1/772. Animalium rarioram fa scic ul 7 ~~ fv : oak hy | tmme f = f) . . a a - ee co Yisces, CTa Helvit CA , LL 0 ee ee ees A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 929 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 7 (multcdentatus). 1903. Gilchrist, Mar. Invest. 8. Afr., vol. 11, p. 189 (verrucosus egg). 1914. Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. u, p. 102 (habits). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 138 (references). Depth 3, length of head 34-33, in length of body. Eye 14 in snout, 4 in length of head, nearly twice the (narrowest part of) interorbital width. No spines on snout or forehead. Supra- and sub-orbital, temporal and preopercular regions more or less granulate, the granules tending to become obscured in the adult by the fleshy skin. Upper part only of interorbital space granulate. Skin papillose in the young (verrucosus), quite smooth, or nearly so, in the adult; sometimes the papillae towards the upper region of the head conceal minute spinules, but the feel of the skin is soft and velvety. Lips thick and fleshy, corrugate internally. Teeth villiform on the jaws, very variable in development, sometimes forming a well-marked band, sometimes reduced to nearly a single row, and often difficult to observe owing to the fleshy nature of the gums. D XX-XXI 13-14, Ist spine = (young) to 4 (adult) length of 2nd, 3rd or sometimes 3rd and 4th longest. A 8, the Ist ray more or less spiniform. Gill-rakers 8-9 on lower part of anterior arch. No indication of lateral line. (Plate XXXIV, fig. 5.) Length.—Up to 675 mm. Colour.—Light brown with 2 more or less regular rows of round or oval darker spots along sides of body, more or less confluent into a solid stripe; belly and forehead with irregular small round spots ; dorsal fin with spots which are arranged on the anterior part of the spinous portion in more or less regular oblique rows ; pectoral and caudal with more or less regular rows of spots; iris with alternate dark and light patches: older specimens tend to become nearly uniform dark brown, sometimes almost black. Locality.—Table Bay, False Bay to Hermanus. The variation in the teeth is remarkable. I have seen specimens, otherwise identical, in which the teeth form either a broad band (multidentatus) or a narrow band, or are reduced to a few isolated ones scattered along the jaws. Congiopodus spinifer (Smth.). Spiny Horse-fish. 1849. Smith, Illustr. Zool. 8. Afr. Pisces, pl. iii. £904. Gilchrist, Mar. Invest. S: Afr., vol. ii, p., 144, pl. ix, figs. 49, 50 (development). 930 Annals of the South African Museum. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i. pt. 4, p. 411 (references). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 138 (references). 1919. Gilchrist and Hunter, Tr. Roy. Soc. S. Afr., vol. viii, p. 3, pl. i, fig. 4, pl. u, fig. 5 (egg, larva). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p. 254. Depth 3, length of head 32, in length of body. Eye subequal to snout, 34-34 in length of head, twice the (narrowest part of) inter- orbital width. A pair of spines on the snout immediately in front of the eyes, and 3 sharp or jagged spines on the anterior part of each preorbital above the angle of the mouth. Orbital, interorbital, temporal, preopercular, and opercular regions granulate, more strongly so in the young than the adult. Supraorbital, suborbital, temporal, postorbital, and opercle each with a ridge which is prominent in the young, becoming less so in the adult. Skin with scattered spinules, being distinctly rasp-like to the touch. Lips thick, fleshy, feebly corrugated. Teeth variable as in torvus, forming a well-marked band or nearly obsolete. D XIX—-XXI-+12-14, Ist spine 3 (or a little more) 2nd, 2nd—4th evenly graduated to the 5th, which is longest. A 9-10, 1st ray more or less spiniform. Gull-rakers 8-9 on lower part of anterior arch. Lateral line more or less distinct, but always marked by a series of nearly equidistant spinules, or groups of 2-3 spinules. Length. —Up to 312 mm. Colour.—Brownish or greyish, belly lighter, more or less silvery ; back and sides marbled and spotted with darker brown ; all the fins with series of spots forming more or less definite bands ; membrane of dorsal near upper margin with a black blotch between Ist and 2nd spines, and one on either side of the 6th or the 7th spine. Locality.—Saldanha Bay, Table Bay, False Bay, Mossel Bay, down to 80 fathoms ; Natal and Zululand coast. Type in the British Museum. The occurrence of this species, or indeed of any species of this genus, on the Zululand coast is rather remarkable. Fam. 6. PLATYCEPHALIDAE. Flat-heads. Body elongate, cylindrical, or anteriorly depressed. Head more or less strongly depressed, armed above with spines and bony ridges. Skin with ctenoid scales. Lateral line present. Two nostrils on A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 931 each side. Gull-membranes free. Pseudobranchiae present. . Villi- form teeth in jaws and on vomer and palatine ; enlarged canine teeth sometimes present. Spinous dorsal shorter than and separate from soft dorsal. Anal with or without spines. Pectorals without appendages, but the tips of the lower rays more or less free. Ventrals widely separated, below or behind bases of pectorals, with 1 spine and 5rays. Caudal separate, truncate, or rounded. No air-bladder. Pyloric caeca moderately numerous. An Indo-Pacific family of marine fishes which are mostly bottom- dwellers in shallow or moderately deep water. Key to the South African genera. 1. Ventrals behind base of pectorals. Head strongly depressed . Platycephalus. 2. Ventrals below bases of pectorals. Head moderately depressed Parabembras. Gen. PLATYCEPHALUS BI. 1795. Bloch, Ichthyol., vol. xu, p. 90. 1925. Jordan and Hubbs, Mem. Carn. Mus., vol. x, p. 285. Head broad and strongly depressed. Body depressed anteriorly. A detached spine in front of spinous dorsal. Ventrals behind bases of pectorals. Anal without spines. This genus has been subdivided into a number of genera, which are here regarded as only subgenera; a sharp differentiation of these “genera”? seems impossible without excessive subdivision (see Jordan and Hubbs, loc. cit.). Key to the South African species. I. Head almost or quite smooth. Vomer with teeth in a transverse crescentic band. Scales very small. Lateral line smooth (Platycephalus) . indicus. Il. Head more or less strongly spinose. Vomer with teeth in two separate longi- tudinal patches. A. Lateral line unarmed. 1. Two preopercular spines. a. A cirrus over eye (Insidiator part) - : tentaculatus. b. No cirrus over eye (Cocius) : : F . crocodilus. 2. Three preopercular spines . : : ‘ é : pristis. B. Lateral line spinose. No cirrus over eye. 1. Lateral line spinose anteriorly only . : : . heterolepis. 2. Lateral line spinose throughout (Grammoplites) . : scaber. VOL. XXI, PART 2. 60 932 Annals of the South African Museum. Platycephalus indicus (Linn.). Sand-fish. 1758. Linne, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 250. 1878. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. ix, pl. cdxviii, figs. 3, 3a. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 411 (enszdrator) (references). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 140 (inszdiator) (references). | 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvn, p. 255 (ensediator). Length of head 34-32 in length of body. Eye 2 in snout, 7-9 in length of head, equal to (young), or twice in, interorbital width. Ridges on head quite smooth. Two preopercular spines of about equal length. A skinny flap on opercular margin below preopercular spines. Vomerine teeth canine-like, in a crescentic transverse band. Palatine with a single row of canine-like teeth. DI+VII+135. A153. Scales very small: 1.1. ca. 120, quite smooth. Length.—Up to 500 mm. Colour.—Brownish, vaguely and irregularly mottled or spotted with darker ; fins yellowish, more or less spotted ; caudal with a median horizontal black stripe, and an oblique black stripe above and below. Locality.—East London, Natal coast, Delagoa Bay, and coast of Portuguese Hast Africa. Distribution.—Indo-Pacifie. * Platycephalus tentaculatus Riipp. Tentacled Flat-head. 1838. Riippell, Neue Wirbelt. Fische, p. 104, pl. xxvi, fig. 2. 1876-81. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, vol. u, p. 166, pl. evn, figs. A, B. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol.i, pt. 4, p. 413. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvi, p. 255. Length of head 3 in length of body. Head ridges denticulate, strong. Two preopercular spines, the upper stronger than the lower. Fleshy tentacles above nostril and eye, and 2 below preopercular spines. Interorbital width less than: vertical diameter of eye. A skinny opercular flap under preopercular spines. Vomerine teeth in separate longitudinal patches. D I+VII-VIII+11. A 11. Scales small: 1.1. 65-70, quite smooth. Length.—Up to 540 mm. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 933 Colour.—Greenish-brown, mottled or spotted with darker; fins spotted ; ventrals with large black spots. Locality.—Kosi Bay (Zululand), Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Red Sea, East coast of Africa, East Indies. This is the only South African species with a tentacle over the eye. Platycephalus crocodilus Til. Spotted Flat-head. 1812. Tilesius, Krusenstern’s Reise, pl. lix, fig. 2. 1829. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, p. 243 (punctatus). 1891. Sauvage, Poiss. Madagascar, p. 307, pl. xxxvi, figs. 5, 5a (punctatus). 1908. Jordan and Richardson, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxxiu, p. 638, fig. 4 (references). 1909. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. §. Afr. Mus., vol. vi, pt. 3, p- 253 (malabaricus non C. and V.). 1911. Id., cbod., vol. xi, pt. 2, p. 36 (punctatus). 1917. Id., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 412 (malabaricus and punctatus). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 255 (mala- baricus). Length of head 3-34 in length of body. Hye 14 in snout, 43-5? in length of head. Interorbital space 1} in diameter of eye (Jordan and Richardson say 24, Sauvage figures it as 24, and Bleeker as 2). Supra- ocular ridge with 5-6 denticulations ; a sharp spine at anterior corner of orbit; 2 small spines between anterior nostrils; suborbital ridge with 3 distant spines, 2 below eye, the other almost opposite posterior nostril; opercle with 2 low ridges ending in spines; scapular and occipital ridges each with 2 spines; 3 postorbital spines. Two pre- opercular spines, the upper 14 in eye, the lower much shorter and pro- jecting somewhat downwards. Opercular membrane with skinny flap under preopercular spines. Vomerine teeth in 2 longitudinal patches, viliform ; palatine teeth in a narrow band. D I+ VII-VIII+11-12. All. Scales small: 1.1. 80-90, quite smooth. Length.—Up to 400 mm. Colour.—Brownish, with 4-5 dusky cross-bands across back, and (usually) numerous small round black spots ; spinous dorsal, ventrals, and caudal more or less blackish ; soit dorsal, anal, and pectoral more or less spotted. 934 Annals of the South African Museum. Locality.—Natal and Zululand coast. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. There seems little doubt that the Natal specimens should be identi- fied with crocodilus, in spite of the differences in the relative proportions of the eye and interorbital width. All the other characters are in agreement. The specimens identified by Gilchrist and Thomson as malabaricus C. and V. are exactly the same as those identified as punctatus C. and V. The eye was measured vertically in the latter and horizontally in the former case. In the present descriptions, the horizontal diameter is always taken unless the vertical diameter is definitely mentioned. *Platycephalus pristis Peters. 1855. Peters, Wiegm. Arch., p. 240. 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 1, p. 188. 1898. Jatzow and Lenz, Voeltzkow’s Reise, Abh. Denclenb: Ges., vol. xxi, p. 505, pl. xxxiv, fig. 3, a-c. Interorbital width 4 diameter of eye. Top of head with several series of spines and ce series between preorbital and preopercle. A pair of nasal spines. Three preopercular spines, the uppermost one (middle one in Jatzow and Lenz’s figure) longest. D I+ VII+13. A l4 Scales; 1.1.51, smooth: Colour.—Yellowish-brown, marbled with darker on head and sides, fins with spots arranged in bands. Locality Mozambique coast. Distribution.— Zanzibar. Platycephalus heterolepis n. sp. Length of head 2# in length of body. Eye 1$ in snout, 44 in length of head. Interorbital width 24 in eye. Supraorbital, infraorbital, scapular, and occipital ridges finely serrulate. A pair of nasal spines. Two antorbital spines. Two preopercular spines, the upper stronger and half the diameter of eye, a third still smaller below. Opercular membrane scarcely indented below preopercular spines. Vomerine teeth in two longitudinal bands; palatine teeth in a band about as wide aS vomerine; no canines. D I+ VIII+12. A 12. Seales moderate : 1.1. 52-55, the first 15-20 with small spines ; scales on the breast and throat larger than the others, feebly ctenoid.. (Plate XXXIV, fig. 2.) Length.—200 mim. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 935 Colour.—Brownish ; spinous dorsal blackish; all the other fins, except anal, spotted. Locality.— Delagoa Bay. Type in South African Museum. This species is closely allied to P. tuberculatus C. and V., townsendi Regan (1905, J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. xvi, p. 323, pl. A, fig. 1), and jugosus McCull. (1914, Res. F.I.8. “ Endeavour,” vol. ii, pt. 3, p. 144, pl. xxx, fig. 2 and text-fig. 11). It resembles tuberculatus in the sculpturing of the head, but is like jugosus in not having the infra- orbital ridge projecting over the cheek below it. It differs from both these species, and, so far as can be ascertained from descriptions, from all other species, by the enlarged scales on the breast and throat. Platycephalus scaber (Linn.). Rough-scaled Flat-head. 1754. Linné, Mus. Ad. Fred., vol. u1, p. 66. 1878. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. 1x, pl. cdxix, figs. 5, 5a. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 275, pl. Ix, fig. 4. 1891. Sauvage, Poiss. Madagascar, p. 305, pl. xxxvi, figs. 1, la. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 412 (references). Length of head 22-3 in length of body. Hye 1-14 in snout; 3? (young), 4-5 in length of head. Interorbital width 14 (young)—23 in eye. Supraorbital, occipital, scapular, opercular, and infraorbital ridges spinulose. A pair of small nasal spines. One antorbital spine, flanked by one or two smaller ones. Two preopercular spines, the upper 3 length of eye, lower 4 length of upper. Opercular membrane without flap below preopercular spines. Vomerine teeth in two longi- tudinal patches; palatine teeth in a narrow band; no canines. D I +VIII+12. A112. Scales moderate: 1.1. 55, each scale armed with a strong spine. Length.—Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Brownish, spinous dorsal blackish; ventrals, anal, and caudal dark grey; soft dorsal and pectorals spotted. Locality.—Coast of Natal and Zululand. Distribution.—Indian Ocean. The South African specimens appear to belong to this species. All that I have seen possess a relatively larger eye, but this may be due to their being young specimens. 936 Annals of the South African Museum. Gen. PARABEMBRAS Blkr. 1874. Bleeker, Versl. Ak. Amst., (2), vol. viii, p. 370. 1925. Jordan and Hubbs, Mem. Carn. Mus., vol. x, p. 281. Head not strongly depressed. Body cylindrical. No detached spine in front of spinous dorsal. Ventrals inserted below bases of pectorals. Anal fin short, with 2-3 spines and 5-6 rays. One other species from Japan, besides the South African one. Parabembras robinsoni Regan. 1921. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. vu, p. 418. 1922. Gilchrist, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., iii, p. 75 (curtus non Temm. and Schleg.). Depth 5, length of head 24, in length of body. Eye equal to snout, 33-33 in length of head. Interorbital width 32-4 in eye. Vomerine teeth in an angular transverse band. Maxilla reaching not quite to below middle of eye. A pair of small nasal spines. A pair of small spines in front of each eye. Supraorbital ridge with 9-15 serrations. Lateral suborbital ridge with 1 preorbital spine and 6—9 spines from below eye to (and including) the preopercular spine. Two to four little points on margin below preopercular spine. One subopercular spine. Operculum with 2 smooth ridges ending in spines. Three postorbital and one to two scapular spines on each side; and a pair of occipital spines. A spine above the axil. D X—XI-+I1 9, longest spine about 14 times diameter of eye. AIII 5. P19, 3 length of head. Caudal subtruncate. Scales moderate: 1.1. 40-43. Length.— Up to 240 mm. Colour.—Bright red. Locahity.—Natal coast, 120-220 fathoms. Type in British Museum, topotypes in South African Museum. The arrangement of the suborbital and preopercular spines is subject to considerable variation. Fam. 7. HopLIcCHTHYIDAE. Body elongate, tapering, depressed. Head strongly depressed, upper surface and sides bony. Skin naked, except for a row of bony scutes along the upper part of each side. Two nostrils on each side. Gill- membranes attached to isthmus. Jaws, vomer, and palatine with minute teeth. Pseudobranchiae present. Two dorsal fins, the soft dorsal much longer than spinous. Anal long, without spines. Pectorals A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 937 large, with the lower 3-4 rays detached. Ventrals in front of bases of pectorals, moderately far apart, with 1 spine and 5 rays. Caudal separate, truncate. No air-bladder. This family comprises a single genus of Indo-Pacific marine fishes, having an external likeness to the Platycephalidae. Gen. HopLicutuys C. and V. 1829. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, p. 264. With the characters of the family. Hoplichthys acanthopleurus Regan. 1908 Reean, Tr. Linn. Soc. Lond., Zool., vel. xu, pt. 3, p. 239, pl. xxvii, fig. 5. 1914. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann..S. Afr. Mus., vol. xii, pt. 5, p. 74 (langsdorfi non Cuv. and Val.). 1917. Zd., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 413 (langsdorfi non Cuv. and Val.). 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 322. 21922. Gilchrist, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., 1, p. 78 (cotranus non Gilbert). Length of head 3 (young)—34, width across preopercular spines 32-4, in length of body. Hye 3% in length of head, slightly less than snout. Maxilla extending to below anterior margin of eye. Ridges of head denticulate, lateral margins not strongly indented, spinose ; a patch of spines behind angle of jaws ; 12 gill-rakers on lower part of anterior arch. D VI-+15, spinous dorsal scarcely higher in ¢ than 9, spines not produced; soft dorsal in 3 with all the rays produced into fila- ments, the 3rd, 7th, and 8th being nearly as long as head. A 17. P 13+3, the detached rays about as long as the ventrals. Lateral scutes 27, each with a strong spine and 1-2 small ones below it. (Plate XXXIV, fig. 4.) Length.—Up to 180 mm. Colour (as preserved).—Pale brownish, a dark blotch on spinous dorsal. Locality.—Coast of Natal and Zululand, 60-150 fathoms. Distribution.—Seychelles, 123 fathoms. It is probable that the specimen named H. citrinus by Gilchrist should be referred to the present species. H. citrinus Gilbert differs in having the Ist dorsal spine and only the first 4 soft rays in the $ produced into filaments. 938 Annals of the South African Museum. Fam. 8. TRIGLIDAE. Gurnards ; Knorhaan. Body elongate, covered with scales or bony plates. Head completely cuirassed, usually with more or less prominent spines. Two nostrils on each side. Nuchal shield more or less produced backwards. Mouth terminal or inferior. Teeth small, in bands in jaws and usually on vomer and palatine ; or absent altogether. Gill-membranes free from isthmus. Pseudobranchiae present. Three pairs of dentigerous upper pharyngeals. Spinous dorsal shorter than soft. Anal with one pun- gent spine or none. Pectorals moderate or large, with 2—3 lower rays detached. Ventrals widely separated, with 1 spine and 5 rays. Air- bladder present. Pyloric caeca usually present, few in number. Marine fishes from warm and temperate seas, in shallow or deep water. Hasily distinguished by the mailed head and the large pectorals with their finger-like lower rays. These are used as feelers in searching under stones, etc. for the Crustacea and other animals on which these fishes live. The Dutch name is given to these fishes on account of the grunting noise they make. Gurnards are well-known food-fishes. Key to the South African genera. I. Body covered with scales (7'riglinae). A. Scales relatively large, 50-65 in the lateral line . ‘ Lepidotrigla. B. Scales very small, 80 to more than 100 in the lateral line. 1. Lateral line unarmed é : : ‘ . Chelidonichthys. 2. Lateral line spinose . : : : ; : Trigla. [I. Body covered with spinate bony plates (Peristediinae) . ; Peristedion. Gen. LEPIDOTRIGLA Gnthr. 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 1, p. 196. 1918. Fage, Dan. Ocean. Exp., vol. ii, A 3, p. 117 (post-larval stages). Body covered with scales of moderate size. Three free pectoral rays. No teeth on palatines. A row of spinose plates along base of spinous and soft dorsal fins. Lateral line unarmed. Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific. Lepidotrigla faurer G. and T. Large-scaled Gurnard. 1914. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xiii, pt. 3, p. 75. 1914. Id., ibed., p. 76 (natalensis). ’ ‘ : . ‘ * ae ’ * - , ’ ' s ' VWs , ~ ——— *. = = s x : iy ! « ‘ i * * ! Vo » . i.e ‘ AF Pte ; be. ; re Wy ast . ye ‘ + ae PLATE XXXV. FIG. 1. Blennius cornutus (Linn.) (original photo) 5 2. Clinus robustus G. and T. (original photo) . 3. Lycodonus vermiformis n. sp. (original) Y 4. Selachophidium guentheri Gilch. (after Gilchrist) Ore Genypterus capensis (Smth.) (after Smith) . 6. Fierasfer gracilis Blkr. (original, but after Fowler) . i ’ * * i, _ . ' yo we Pi i re >. ms A = @ a) ; i ol : mm id i . r : (> a’ Sa iy sae " pee * i ty q 4 j 1.2 i ; ‘ : vi ie Aa . Ann. S. Afr. Mus., Vol. X XI. Plate XXXV. PON NE Nae ES SoS SRM MSS o> ts ar Neill & Co., Ltd. a A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 939 1917. fd., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 414. Depth 43-42, length of head 31-34, in length of body. Eye 3-34 in length of head, slightly longer than snout (excluding preorbital spines), 14 times the interorbital width. Snout slightly concave between the projecting preorbitals, each of which is armed with 3 (young)—5 spines, the outermost the strongest. Profile of snout straight or slightly concave. Interorbital space deeply concave. Two inconspicuous spines on supero-anterior margin of orbit. A short deep groove behind each orbit. Nuchal spines reaching to below base of 3rd dorsal spine. D VIII+15-17, 3rd spine longest, 1st and 2nd serrulate. A 15-16. Pectoral reaching to anterior third of soft dorsal, longest free ray reaching to tip of ventral. Ventral reaching to 2nd or 3rd ray of anal. Caudal truncate. Scales: 1.1. 58-62. Twenty-three to twenty-five spines along base of dorsal. Breast naked. Gill-rakers 8 (excluding rudimentary ones at lower end). Pyloric caeca 7-8. Length.—Up to 180 mm. Colour (as preserved).—Greyish, no trace of dark spot on spinous dorsal, pectoral dark. Probably reddish in life. Locality.— Coast of Natal and Zululand, 40-65 fathoms. Types of faurer and natalensis in South African Museum. L. natalensis is clearly the same species; there are several in- accuracies in the original description. This species seems most closely allied to the Japanese L. abyssalis J. and 8., differing in the preorbital spines and the relative lengths of 2nd and 3rd dorsal spines. Gen. CHELIDONICHTHYS Kaup. 1873. Kaup, Archiv. f. Naturg., p. 87. Body covered with small or very small scales. Three free pectoral rays. No teeth on palatines. A row of spinose plates along base of spinous and soft dorsal fins. Lateral line unarmed, without elongated shields, usually bifurcating at base of tail. European, African, Japanese, and Australasian seas. Key to the South African species. 1. Preorbital ending in several spines. Breast naked. a. Eye about equal to interorbital width . 5 s : . capensis. b. Kye distinctly greater than interorbital width é : : kumu. 2. Preorbital ending in a single spine. Breast pitted : : . quekettr. 940 Annals of the South African Museum. Chelidonichthys capensis (C. and V.). Red Gurnard ; Roode Knorhaan. 1829. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, p. 55. 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. l’Afr. Austr., p. 6 (Prionotus pusillus). 1904. Gilchrist, Mar. Invest. 8. Afr., vol. ii, p. 190, pl. i, figs. 14, 15 (egg, larva) (kwmu non Less.). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 413 (references). Fic, 28.—Diagrams of heads of Chelidonichthys to show sculpturing on preorbital and opercular bones; fine lines represent lines of granules, dots represent irregularly arranged granules. a, kumu; b, queketti; c, capensis. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv., p. 141 (references). 1919, Gilebrist,“Tr. Roy.-Soc. 8. Aiz., vol. vii, p, 3, pl. 1, fesse pl. 1, fig. 3 (egg, larva) (kumw non Less.). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 256. (Non capensis Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xin, Dt: ee. (id): Depth 5-54, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Eye 23-24 in snout, 43-5 in length of head, almost or quite equal to interorbital width. Profile of snout straight. Front of snout concave between the preorbitals, each of which bears 5-6 spines, the middle ones strongest. Interorbital space gently concave or almost flat. Two spines on supero-anterior margin of orbit. Preorbital without any A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 94] keel, irregularly granular in front, the granules posteriorly arranged in gently radiating lines with smooth interspaces. Nuchal spines reaching to level of Ist dorsal spine. D VIII-IX+15-16, 2nd spine longest, Ist scarcely roughened. A 15-16. Pectoral reaching to middle of soft dorsal, longest free ray not reaching quite to tip of ventral, which reaches to vent. Caudal emarginate. Scales very small. Twenty-four spines along base of dorsal. Breast naked. Gill-rakers 16 (excluding rudimentary ones). Pyloric caeca 9. (Plate XXXIV, fig. 3.) Length.— Up to 550 mm. Colour.—Reddish or greyish, lower half of body silvery white ; young frequently with a yellowish lateral tint ; spinous dorsal, anal, ventrals, and caudal reddish ; soft dorsal pink along base and margin ; pectoral on outer side blackish, the ribs of the rays white ; on inside bronzy-green, with a black oval patch containing several oval white blue-edged spots. Locality.—Table Bay, Agulhas Bank to Natal, 5-50 fathoms. Steindachner (SB. Ak. Wiss. Wien, vol. lvi, p. 683, 1867) considers that capensis is identical with the EHuropean species lucerna Linn. ; but Smitt’s (Skand. Fish., p. 200, fig. 57) description and figure of the latter species certainly does not apply to the Cape species. Castelnau’s “ Prionotus pusillus”’ would appear to have been a young specimen of this species. Chelidonichthys kumu (L. and G.). Grey Gurnard ; Graauwe Knorhaan. 1826. Lesson and Garnot, Voy. Coquille, Poiss., p. 214, pl. xix. 1829. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, p. 53 (peroniw part). £908) Jordan and Richardson, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxxiii, p. 656 (references). 1914. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xii, p. 76 (natalensis). 1914. Id., abid., p. T7 (capensis non Cuv. and Val.). 1914. Id., ibed., p. 78 (peronr). 1917. fd., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i; pt. 4, p. 413. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, pp. 141, 142 (kumu and peroni) (references). 1921. Waite, Rec. 8. Austr. Mus., vol. u, p. 178, fig. 294. 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., vol. i, p. 33. Depth 5-54, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Eye 14-13 942 | Annals of the South African Museum. in snout, 32-4 in length of head, 14 or nearly 2 times the interorbital width. Profile of snout straight. Front of snout concave between the preorbitals, each of which bears 4-5 inconspicuous subequal spines. Interorbital space concave. Two spines on supero-anterior margin of orbit. One (or two) very inconspicuous spine on posterior margin of orbit, with a shallow and very short cross furrow behind it. Preorbital with a low keel ending behind in the preopercular spine, lines of granules radiating from a point just behind the anterior spines, and a second set of lines of granules radiating forwards, upwards, and backwards from a point just above end of maxilla. Nuchal spines not quite reaching level of 1st dorsal spine. D IX-+15-16, 2nd spine longest, Ist spine scarcely roughened. A 15-16. Pectoral scarcely reaching beyond anterior third of soft dorsal, longest free ray reaching to tip of ventral, which reaches to slightly beyond vent. Caudal emarginate. Scales very small. Twenty-three to twenty-five spines along base of dorsal. Breast naked. Gill-rakers 8-9 (excluding rudimentary ones). Pyloric caeca 6-7. Length.—Up to 300 mm. (In Australia nearly 2 ft.) Colour.—Grey, olivaceous, or reddish, silvery below; outside of pectoral dark, inside dark brown with an oval black patch containing white spots ; caudal (at least in young) with a light cross-band. (The ereen specimen mentioned by Gilchrist and Thompson owes its colour to copper sulphate staining, and is not natural.) Locality.—False Bay, Agulhas Bank to Natal and Zululand, down to 100 fathoms. Distribution.—Australasia, China, Japan. Type of natalensis in South African Museum. Reynaud’s Cape specimen, assigned by Cuvier and Valenciennes to their species peronii, was probably a specimen of kumu. Trigla natalensis G. and T. seems to be merely an aberration of this species, distinguished by the unusually large eye, 34 in length of head. The tubercular or nodular character of the first 6 dorsal spines is evidently due to healing after fracture. I have compared Australian examples with South African ones and find them specifically identical. Chelidonichthys queketti (Regan). Quekett’s Gurnard. 1904. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (7), vol. xiv, p. 128. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus.,vol.1, pt. 4, p. 414. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 943 Depth 5-54, length of head 34-34, in length of body. Eye 14-12 in snout, 34-32 in length of head, 14 times the interorbital width. Profile of snout straight. Front of snout concave between the pre- orbitals, each of which bears a single strong spine, with sometimes a smaller one internally. Interorbital space concave. Two (or three) spines on supero-anterior margin of orbit. No postorbital spine or groove; a low but well-marked temporal ridge. Preorbital without keel, with 3 series of radiating lines of granules, one anteriorly, one above end of maxilla, and another between the latter and the eye. Nuchal spines reaching to level of 1st dorsal spine. D IX+18, 2nd spine longest, Ist almost smooth. A 17. Pectoral reaching to 3rd or 4th soft dorsal ray; longest free ray reaching to posterior third or quarter of the ventral, which reaches to origin of aral. Caudal feebly emarginate. Scales small: 1.1. about 80. Twenty-six to twenty-seven spines along base of dorsal fin. Breast more or less scaly. Gill-rakers 10-11 (excluding rudimentary ones). Pyloric caeca 8-9. Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Red, with yellow vermiculations, silvery below, pectoral fins pinkish on outer side, olive-green on inner side, with the membrane between the innermost 4 rays pinkish, other fins reddish, soft dorsal pink along base and margin. Locality. False Bay, Agulhas Bank, Natal coast; occasionally caught in Table Bay. Type in the British Museum. Gen. Tricia Art. 1738. Artedi, Gen. Pisc., p. 42. 1918. Fage, Dan. Ocean. Exp., vol. u, A3, p. 114 (post-larval stages). Body covered with moderately or very small scales. Three free pectoral rays. No teeth on palatines. A row of spinose plates along base of spinous and soft dorsal fins. Lateral line armed with a series of bony plates, each bearing a crest or a spine. Europe and Africa. Trigla lineata (Gmel.). 1785. Bloch, Syst. Ichth., pl. cecliv. 1788. Gmelin, Linné, Syst. Nat., vol. i; p: 1345. 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 11, p. 200. Depth 43-5, length of head 34-32, in length of body. Eye 13-13 944 Annals of the South African Museum. in snout, 4in length of head, 14 times the interorbital width. Profile of snout shightly concave, descending very abruptly from top of head. Front of snout rounded, preorbitals without spines. Interorbital space concave. Three spines on supero-anterior margin of orbit. No postorbital spine or furrow. Preorbital without keel, with 3 series of radiating lines of granules, one anteriorly, one above end of maxilla, and the third between the latter and the orbit. Preopercular spine feeble. Nuchal spines reaching to level of 1st dorsal spine. Vomerine teeth absent. D X+15-17, 2nd spine longest, 1st slightly roughened. A 16-17. Pectoral reaching to anterior third of soft dorsal, longest free ray reaching to posterior quarter of ventral, which reaches to Srd or 4th anal ray. Scales moderately small, the skin raised into vertical folds between the rows of scales: 1.1. about 68-70, larger than the other scales, each bearing a spinose keel. Twenty-four to twenty-five spines along base of spinous and soft dorsal fins. Breast and throat more or less scaly. Gill-rakers 7 (excluding rudimentary ones). Pyloric caeca 8-10. Length.—Up to 230 mm. Colour.—Red, mottled with darker red or brownish, silvery below ; spinous and soft dorsal mottled ; caudal mottled, especially on upper margin ; anal white along base and margin, with a pink band between ; ventral pink ; pectoral on outside mottled and barred, the free rays also barred, on inside olivaceous, with an ultramarine-blue border and large oval spots, membrane between the innermost 3 rays pink. Locality.—Agulhas Bank, Algoa Bay, 20-40 fathoms. Distribution.—South-west coast of Europe, Mediterranean, Madeira. Gen. PERIsTEDION Lacép. 1802. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 11, p. 368. 1859. Kaup, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 103 (Peristethus). 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr. 57, p. 511 (synopsis of Indo- Pacific species). Body covered with bony plates, each of which is armed with a spine. Two free pectoral rays. Each preorbital produced in a long flat process over the mouth, which is inferior. The outstanding keel of the preorbital continued backwards to the strong preopercular spine. Teeth absent. Spinous and soft dorsal more or less separate. Lower jaw with barbels. Deep-sea Gurnards from the tropical and sub-tropical regions. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 945 Key to the South African species. 1. Forehead with a median spine. Dorsal with l4 rays . : : aden. 2. Forehead without a spine. Dorsal with 20 rays . - - : gracile. Peristedion adeni (Lloyd). P07, Uloyd, Kec. Ind. Mus., vol. i, pt. 1, p: 8. 1908. Ilustr. Zool. Investig. Fishes, pl. xl, figs. 1, la. 1921. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. vu, p. 412. 1922. Gilchrist, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., in, p. 78. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p. 256. Depth 5, length of head 24-24, in length of body (rostral projections excluded in each case). Eye 22 in snout, 5 in length of head, equal to interorbital width. Preorbital (rostral) processes subparallel, the outer margins converging, length 4 distance from their apices to anterior border of orbit. Preorbital ridge nearly straight, finely serrulate, ending in the preopercular spine, whose (free) length is equal to 2 orbit. A pair of nasal spines. A single median spine on forehead. One antorbital and one postorbital spine. Occipital, temporal, and opercular spines. D VII-VIJI14. A14-15. Barbels fringed, the longest equal to width of mouth. Giull-rakers 14 on lower part of anterior arch (excluding 3-4 rudimentary ones). Greatest length of each anterior ventral plate equal to (or almost) combined breadth of both plates; greatest length of posterior ventral plates half (or a little more) that of anterior plates. Body with 4 rows of plates on each side, each with a single recurved spine, those on the 2 ventral rows less conspicuous than the others ; 1.]. 24-25 (counting from the bare skin around base of pectoral, but not including 5 addi- tional spinose plates around the opercular flap). Length.—Up to 220 mm. Colour.—Reddish, dorsal tipped with black. Locality —Natal coast, 33-207 fathoms. Distribution.—Gulf of Aden, 130 fathoms. *Peristedion gracile G. and B. 1896. Goode and Bean, Oceanic Ichthyol., p. 473, fig. 387. 1924. Gilchrist and von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., 11, p. 22. Depth nearly 6, length of head nearly 3, in length of body (rostral processes excluded in all cases). Eye about equal to interorbital space, x length of snout, 32 in length of head. Preorbital processes elon- gate, nearly $ distance from their apices to anterior margin of orbit. 946 Annals of the South African Museum. Preorbital ridge ending in a blunt preopercular spine. No spine on forehead. No nasal or antorbital spines. Postorbital, small occipital, temporal, and opercular spines. D VIII 20. A19. Barbels fringed, the longest equal to diameter of eye. ,Gill-rakers 27. Body with 4 rows of plates on each side, each bearing a recurved spine; 1.1. 30. Length.—Up to 125 mm. Colour.—Yellowish, darker above, pectorals mottled. Locality.— Off Delagoa Bay, 260 fathoms. Distribution.—Gulf of Mexico. The identification of the East African specimens with a Mexican species seems a little doubtful, especially as there are already 16 other species, besides P. adeni, recorded from the Indo-Pacific region. It seems to me that there is far more likelihood of these specimens being identical with P. orientale Temm. and Schl. | Fam. 9. DACTYLOPTERIDAE. Flying Gurnards. Body elongate, subquadrangular. Head blunt, completely cuirassed. Preopercle produced in a long spine. Nuchal shield produced back- wards on either side of front part of dorsal fin as a bony plate. Scales bony, strongly keeled; small scales on cheeks and opercles. Two knife-like scales on either side of base of tail. Lower jaw included in upper, mouth small. Teeth granular on jaws, none on vomer or pala- tine. Guill-membranes free from isthmus. Two nostrils on each side. Pseudobranchiae large. Giull-rakers minute. Dorsal of two parts, the spinous part preceded by 1 or 2 long flexible free spines. Second dorsal and anal short, the latter without spines. Pectorals very large in adult, inserted horizontally, with about 6 anterior rays, short and almost completely divided from rest of fin. Ventrals narrowly separated, with 1 spine and 4 rays. Caudal lunate. Air-bladder divided into two lateral parts. Pyloric caeca numerous. The Flying Gurnards form a small but distinctive family represented in the warm parts of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans by four genera. In habits they resemble the Flying-fish, but do not fly for such long distances, and unlike the Flying-fish vibrate the pectoral fins. They also to a large extent frequent the bottom, where they have been observed, in aquaria, to scratch up the ground in search of food with the short anterior part of the pectoral fins. The young forms, known as Cephalacanthus, have short pectoral fins. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 947 Gen. DAcTYLOPTENA J. and R. 1908. Jordan and Richardson, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxxiii, p. 665. No lateral line. One long and one short detached spine in front of spinous dorsal. Preorbitals not meeting in front on snout. The Atlantic genus, Dactylopterus, differs in having two semi-detached short rays which fold back on either side of spinous dorsal. Dactyloptena orientalis (C. and V.). Flying Gurnard. 1829. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. iv, p. 134, pl. Ixxvi. 1860. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 1, p. 222. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 279, pl. lx, fig. 6. 1908. Jordan and Richardson, loc. cit., p. 666. 1913. Weber, Siboga Exp. Monogr. 57, pp. 516, 517, fig. 109 (young). 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 33. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 256. Depth 54-6, length of head (without preopercular spine) 3$—44, in length of body. Hye about equal to postorbital part of head, less than interorbital width. Scapular processes acute, reaching to 2nd dorsal spine, distance between their apices 14-14 in the depth of the notch between them, which forms an acute angle. D I+I+V-+8, Ist de- tached spine greatly elongate, 2nd half height of spinous dorsal. A short spine between spinous and soft dorsals. A 6-7. Pectorals reaching to or beyond base of caudal. Scales: lr. ca. 47; ltr. 21; 4 enlarged scales on lower posterior part of body. (Plate XXXVI, fie.) Length.—Up to 350 mm. Colour.—Greyish-brown, with darker spots on back, whitish below, spinous dorsal and pectoral dark, the latter with blackish spots. Locality Kast London, Natal coast, Delagoa Bay, down to 33 fathoms. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific. Division 20. PLECTOGNATHI. (1902. Regan, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., vol. , p. 284, classification). Air-bladder without open duct (physoclystic). No mesocoracoid. Opercular bones more or less reduced. Gill-opening much reduced. VOU.) SX PART 2s 61 948 Annals of the South African Museum. Maxilla and premaxilla often firmly united. Pectoral arch suspended from the skull. Pelvic bones, if present, more or less fused. No ribs. Spinous dorsal present or absent. Ventrals, if present, thoracic, re- duced. Jaws strong, teeth separate or united into a beak. Skin naked or with osseous scales, scutes, or spines. This division includes the easily recognisable Trigger-fishes, Box- fishes, Globe-fishes, and Sun-fishes. They are mostly tropical and sub- tropical marine fishes ; some are found in brackish water and estuaries. Closely related to the Teuthididae (Acanthuridae) (Surgeon-fishes). Following Regan and Boulenger, two groups are here recognised. Key to the South African families. I. Supraclavicle vertical. Spinous dorsal present or absent. Ventrals present or absent. Teeth separate or united (Sclerodermi). A. Spinous dorsal present. 1. Ventral fins represented by a pair of spines . . Triacanthidae. 2. Ventral fins represented by a single spine. . Balistidae. B. Spinous dorsal and ventrals absent . é : . Ostraciontidae. II. Supraclavicle oblique. Spinous dorsal and ventrals always absent. Teeth always united (Gymnodontes). A. Beak with a median suture. Bodyinflatable . . Tetrodontidae. B. Beak without median suture. 1. Caudal fin present . ; , ; : : Diodontidae. 2. Caudal fin absent, the body truncate posteriorly . . Molidae. Fam. 1. TRIACANTHIDAE. Maxilla and premaxilla not fused. Teeth separate, conical or in- cisor-like. Spinous dorsal with 2-6 spines. Ventral fins each repre- sented by a strong spine, with an inner basal knob which locks it when everted ; rarely with 1-2 rudimentary soft rays. Scales small, spinous or bony. Key to the South African genera. 1. Dorsal spines 4-6. Mouth horizontal. a. Caudal peduncle long. Teeth incisor-like . 4 . [Triacanthus]. b. Caudal peduncle short. Teeth conical . : : . Triacanthodes. 2. Dorsal spines 3. Mouth directed upwards . ; ‘ ; [Tydemania]. Although not actually recorded from our region, the Indo-Pacific genera Triacanthus and Tydemania are included in the above key, as it is quite possible they may later be found here. ee SE + A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 949 Gen. TRIACANTHODES Blkr. 1858. Bleeker, Act. Soc. Sci. Indo-Neerl., vol. ii, Japan, pt. 4, p. 37. Body compressed. Caudal peduncle short. Scales small, spiny. No distinct lateral line. Dorsal spines 4-6. Ventrals usually with 1-2 rudimentary soft rays. Teeth conical, with a few forming an inner tow. Hye large. Indo-Pacific, in rather deep water. Triacanthodes ethiops Alck. 1894. Alcock, J. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. lxiu, pt. 2, p. 137, pl. vii, fig. 6. 1895. Illustrat. Zool. Investigator, Fish., pl. xv, fig. 9. 1899. Alcock, Cat. Deep-sea Fish. Ind. Mus., p. 208. Depth a little more than half length. D VI 14-16. Al14. P 12-13. Vii. € 12. First dorsal spine rather shorter than ventral sping, which is 4 length of body. Allthespinesrough. (Plate XXXVI, fig. 2.) Length.—Up to 85 mm. Colour.—Mottled black and white, young blue-black (Alcock). Locality.— Natal coast, 100 fathoms. Distribution.—Indian seas, 145-250 fathoms. A young specimen, 21 mm. long, is assigned to this species. The snout is not so pronounced as in Alcock’s figure, the depth is 2 the length, the ventral spine is only about as long as the Ist dorsal spine, and 34 in length. Fam. 2. BALISTIDAE. Trigger-fishes. Maxilla and premaxilla fused. Teeth separate, incisor-like. Spinous dorsal with 1-3spines. Ventrals, if present, represented by a single short rough spine. Skin covered with movable scutes or small rough scales. The Trigger-fishes and File-fishes are abundant in all warm seas, especially among coral-reefs. Their strong dentition enables them to feed on corals and hard-shelled molluscs. They are mostly brightly coloured, and the flesh of many of them poisonous. The name * Trigger-fish ” has been given on account of the peculiar mechanism of the dorsal spines. When the lst spine is erected it is locked in position by the 2nd spine, and cannot be depressed by external force. The species of Monacanthus are more properly called “ File-fishes,” the rough and slender 1st dorsal spine resembling that tool; their tough skin has been responsible for the name “ Leather-jacket.” 950 Annals of the South African Museum. Key to the South African genera. I. Spinous dorsal of 3 spines. Scales rather large, bony, forming a coat of mail (Balistinae). A. Gill-opening with enlarged scutes behind it. 1. A groove in front of eye . : ; ; ; . Balistes. 2. No groove in front of eye . : : ; : . Balistapus. B. No enlarged scutes behind gill-opening : . Canthidermis. II. Spinous dorsal of a single spine. Scales minute, spinose, the skin more or less. velvety (Monacanthinae). A. Ventral spine present. 1. Ventral spine movable 3 : ; , . Monacanthus.. 2. Ventral spine immovably fixed . : : 5 Cantherines. B. Ventral spine absent : : ; : : ; . Aluiera. Gen. Bauistes Linn. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 327. 1902. Regan, loc. cit., p. 289. 1922. Jordan and Jordan, Mem. Carn. Mus., vol. x, p. 84. Scales moderate or large, juxtaposed, bony, forming a coat of mail. Spinous dorsal of 3 (rarely 2) spines, the Ist very strong, the 2nd well developed, the 3rd, if present, remote from the first 2. Caudal rounded or truncate, the upper and lower rays often produced. Osseous scutes behind the gill-opening. A groove in front of eye. Lateral line more or less developed (usually visible only when scales are dry). Hach jaw with usually a single series of incisor-like teeth. Regan recognises only the one comprehensive genus Balvsies. Tropical and subtropical seas, shallow water. Key to the South African species. 1. Caudal peduncle depressed (Levurus) . : : 4 : . stellatus. 2. Caudal peduncle compressed (Sufflamen). a. Caudal peduncle with recurved spines or tubercles. i. Caudal fin with white margins : 5 : . niger. ii. A light stripe from mouth towards root of nace capistratum. b. Caudal peduncle without spines or tubercles . : : ’ vetula. Balistes lineatus Bl. Schn. (=undulatus Park), rectangulus BI. Schn., and flavomarginatus Riipp. are recorded from Mozambique in Playfair and Giinther (Fish. Zanz., pp. xii and 134), but in Giinther’s Catalogue this locality is not given for these species. ; A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 951 Balistes stellatus Lacép. Stellate Trigger-fish ; Varken-vis (Dutch East Indies). 1798. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 1, p. 350, pl. xv, fig. 1. 1865. Bleeker, Atlas Ichthyol., vol. v, p. 105, pl. cexv. 1870. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. viii, p. 212. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 687, pl. clxxvu, fig. 1. Depth about 24 in length. Caudal peduncle depressed, with two low granular ridges on either side. Teeth white, notched. D III+ 26-27; 2nd dorsal spine nearly as long as Ist. A 24-25. Soft dorsal and anal not produced. Caudal undulated, upper and lower lobes produced in long filaments in adult. Twenty-four series of scales between origin of soft dorsal and vent. Cheeks scaled. (Plate XXXVI, fig. 3.) Length.—Up to 600 mm. Colour.—Greyish or olive-green, with irregular bluish spots and 3 large white blotches on back ; spinous and soit dorsal, anal, and caudal fins banded ; pectoral, and some stripes from mouth towards base of pectoral, yellowish. Locality.—Mossel Bay. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. Balistes niger M. Park. Black Trigger-fish. 1791. Mungo Park, Tr. Linn. Soc., vol. in, p. 37. 1865. Bleeker, Atlas Ichthyol., vol. v, p. 115, pl. cexvi, fig. 1 (armatus). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 688, pl. clxxxi, fig. 1. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 420 (references). Depth about 15 in length. Caudal peduncle compressed, with 6-8 rows of recurved spines. Teeth white, notched. D III+26-28; 2nd dorsal spine considerably shorter than Ist. A 23-25. Soft dorsal and anal not elevated. Caudal truncate. Twenty-six series of scales between origin of soft dorsal and vent. Cheeks scaly. Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Brownish-black ; soft dorsal and anal, margins of caudal, and a ring around mouth light yellow or whitish. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. 952 Annals of the South African Museum. Balistes capistratus Shaw. Bridled Trigger-fish. 1804. Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. v, p. 417. 1865. Bleeker, Atlas Ichthyol., vol. v, p. 114, pl. ccexxiu, fig. 2 (frenatus). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 689, pl. clxxvu, fig. 3 (mtis). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p- 419. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 158 (references and synonymy). Depth about 12-2 in length. Caudal peduncle compressed, with a small tubercle (often more or less obsolete) on each scale. Teeth white, notched. D III+ 29-31; 2nd spine ? length of Ist. A 26-28. Soft dorsal and anal not elevated. Caudal truncate. Thirty-four series of scales between origin of soft dorsal and vent. Cheeks scaly. Length.— Up to 500 mm. Colour.—Brownish, with a yellow ring around mouth and (usually) a yellow stripe from mouth towards base of pectoral (resembling a bridle). Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. *Balistes vetula Linn. Blue-banded Trigger-fish ; Old Wife. 1758. Linne, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 329. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 157 (references). Caudal peduncle compressed, without any spines or tubercles on the scales. D JII+30-32. A 29. Anterior rays of soft dorsal and the caudal lobes produced into long filaments in adult. About 36 series of scales between origin of soft dorsal and vent. Cheeks scaly. Length.—Up to 400 mm. Colour.—Brownish ; two bluish, dark-edged bands on side of head ; a black line below eye and several other lines radiating from eye ; dorsal and anal fins with blue bands; upper and lower margins of caudal and a cross-band near the posterior margin, blue. Locality.—Cape seas. Distribution.—Tropical Atlantic (W. Indies, Ascension, etc.), rare in Indian seas and Kast Indies. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Afroca. 953 Gen. BALISTAPUS Til. 1820. Tilesius, Mem. Ac. Nat. Sci. Petersb., vol. vii, p. 302. Resembling Balistes, but without a groove in front of eye, and lateral line quite obsolete. Balistapus aculeatus (Linn.). Spiny-tailed Trigger-fish. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 328. 1865. Bleeker, Atlas Ichthyol., vol. v, p. 120, pl. cexvi, fig. 3. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 690, pl. clxxvin, fig. 3. 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii, p. 414, pl. lxn. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p- 418 (references). 1921. Gilchrist, Tr. Roy. Soc. 8. Afr., vol. x, pt. 1, pp. 24, 25 (sleep habits). Depth about 2 in length. Caudal peduncle compressed, with 24 rows of strong, recurved spines. Teeth white, notched. D III+25; 2nd spine little more than $ length of Ist. A 22. Soft dorsal and anal rounded or undulate. Caudal truncate. Twenty-three series of scales between origin of soft dorsal and vent. Cheeks scaly. Length.—Up to 250 mm. Colour.—Greyish or yellowish, with a dark irregular patch on sides, with bands extending to soft dorsal and anal; 4 interocular bands, 3 between eye and pectoral, and a band over snout, blue; a yellow or orange stripe between mouth and pectoral; back with reddish, yellowish, or greenish tints ; caudal spines black. Locality.— Coast of Zululand and Portuguese Hast Africa. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific, and coast of W. Africa. This fish, according to Gilchrist, has the habit of going to sleep on its side at night-time. “Hf disturbed at night it was aroused with difficulty, and usually turned over on the other side and went to sleep again.” (Of. the Wrasse, p. 742.) It is also known to produce a drumming sound by means of friction between the bones of the shoulder-girdle. Gen. CANTHIDERMIS Swains. 1839. Swainson, Nat. Hist. Classif. Anim., vol. 1, p. 325. Differs from Balistes in having no enlarged scales behind the gill- opening. The body is more elongate than in typical Balistes. 954 Annals of the South African Museum. Key to the South African species. 1. 28-30 transverse series of scales . ; ; F : E . maculatus. 2. 18-19 transverse series of scales . : : : : : . -ringens. Canthidermis maculatus (Gmel.). Blue- and Whate-spotted Trigger-fish. 1788. Gmelin in Linné, Syst. Nat., vol. i, p. 1468. 1865. Bleeker, Atlas Ichthyol., vol. v, p. 122, pl. cexviii, fig. 4. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 159 (references and synonymy). Depth about 24-22 in length. Eye 3 in length of snout. Caudal peduncle compressed, without spines or tubercles. Teeth white, notched. D III-+24-26. == ess Ct 966 Annals of the South African Museum. Key to the South African species. I. Nostrils paired, sessile (7.e. flush with the surface), or on a short papilla. A. A lateral cutaneous fold. 1. Nostrils flush with surface. D and A 12-15, more or less falcate. a. Whole interocular space bony (Lagocephalus). i. Back naked. Caudal lunate : . lagocephalus. ii. Back spinulose. Caudal truncate ; . oblongus. b. Bony interorbital not as wide as interocular space (Spheroides). ii Back naked . ; ; ; : . Inermis. ii. Back spinulose. a. Back uniformly coloured . . . spadiceus. f. Back spotted. A triangular silvery patch in front. of eye 5 : : : . sceleratus. 2. Nostrils on a short papilla. D 8-9. A 7-8 a. Upper teeth much smaller than lower. Back black, with yellow spots . : : . honckent. b. Upper teeth not much smaller étien lone Cheek with one or more cross-bars_. . hypselogeneion. B. No lateral fold. Dorsal in advance of anal poe rounded, of 6-9 rays. 1. Body smooth and naked (Liosaccus) . ‘ ‘ . cutaneus. 2. Body spinulose ; 5 : : ; . Spinosissimus. II. Nostril on each side single, tubular . : : é pleurospilus. III. Nostril a single, imperforate cavity surrounded by a lobed margin patoca. IV. Nostril on each side consisting of a bifid solid tentacle. A. Spots darker than ground colour. Vent ina black ring — aerostaticus. B. Upper and lower margins of caudal fin black : immaculatus. C. One or two pale rings round pectoral. : : : . hispidus. Tetrodon lagocephalus Linn. Atlantic Blaasop. 1759. Linné, Amoen. Acad., vol.1i, p. 310, pl. xin, fig. 4 1808. Donovan, Brit. Fish., vol. iii, pl. Ixvi (stellatus). 1870. Giinther, Cat. Fish. eet, Mus., vol. vill, p. 278. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 166 (references). 21925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 267 (stellatus). Body elongate, depth about 6 in length. Naked above and on sides. Belly from below middle of snout almost up to vent with fixed 4-rooted short spines. Lateral cutaneous fold distinct. Length of head less than its distance from dorsal fin. Interocular width equal to snout and to postorbital part of head. Upper margins of orbits formed by the lateral expansions of the frontals, the whole inter- ocular space being thus formed by the bony interorbital. Nostrils Vi 4 A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 967 paired, flush with surface of snout. Mucous canals on head distinct. D ‘14. A 12. Both faleate. Caudal lunate. Pectoral equal to distance from point of snout to hind margin of eye, somewhat falcate. on B. Gc: a, E. Fie. 29.—Diagrams of right nostrils of Tetrodon: a, inermis; b, honckeni ; c, pleurospilus ; d, patoca; e, immaculatus. Length.—Up to 525 mm. Colour.—Back dark brown or bluish-black, sides silvery, belly white, small round black spots along sides; fins dark, except the lower 4 of pectoral, which is white; young with dark cross-bands on back as well as black spots on belly. Locality.—Table Bay and False Bay to Algoa Bay and Natal. Distribution.—Atlantic and Mediterranean, Mauritius. It seems a little uncertain whether the lagocephalus of Linné, supposed to be founded on Indian specimens, is identical with the lagocephalus of Giinther or stellatus Donovan from Europe. *Tetrodon oblongus Bl. Olive Toby. 1795. Bloch, Ausl. Fische, vol. ii, p. 6, pl. cxlvi, fig. 1. 1855. Bianconi, Spec. Zool. Mossamb., p. 224, pl. ii, fig. 1 (hartlaubi). 1865. Bleeker, Atlas Ichthyol., vol. v, p. 62, pl. ceviul, fig. 4. 1870. Ginther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. viii, p. 278 (part). 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 702, pl. clxxxii, fig. 3. Body moderately elongate, depth 3 in length. Back, belly, a band in front of, and another behind pectoral! with small 2-rooted spines. Lateral fold moderately distinct. Length of head equal to its distance from dorsal. Interocular space exceeding length of snout. Eye about midway between end of snout and gill-opening. Interorbital (in adults) broad, equal to length of snout. Nostrils paired, flush with surface. D 12. A10-11. Both falcate. Caudal truncate. Pectoral shghtly longer than snout. Length.—Up to 375 mm. 968 Annals of the South African Museum. Colour.—Olivaceous, whitish below, back with brown bands en- closing irregular oblong or round light spots. Locality.—Mozambique. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. Tetrodon inermis Schleg. Toby ; Grey Blaasop. 1847. Schlegel, Fauna Jap. Poiss., p. 278, pl. cxxti, fig. 2. 1878-88: Day, Kish. India, p. 70 plex, fic. 1: 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 431 (references). 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., vol. 1, p. 39. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvii, p. 266. Body rather elongate, depth about 4 in length. Naked above and on sides. Belly from below middle of snout to vent with lines of pores or granules, representing spines. Lateral folds usually distinct. Length of head about equal to its distance from the dorsal. Interocular space not quite equal to length of snout. Hye nearer to gill-opening than to end of snout. Interorbital equal to postorbital part of head. Nostrils paired, flush with surface of snout. Mucous canals distinct. D 12. A 11-12. Both somewhat faleate. Caudallunate. Pectoral rounded, a little less than length of snout. Length.— Up to 500 mm. Colour.—Uniform greenish-grey above, silvery or whitish below. Locality.—Coast of Natal and Zululand, down to 45 fathoms. Mstribution.—Indian seas, Japan, Australia. The American laevigatus Linn. differs only in having small but definite 3-rooted spines. Tetrodon spadiceus Rich. Golden Toby. 1844. Richardson, Voy. Sulphur, Ichthyol., p. 123, pl. lvin, figs. 4, 5. 1865. Bleeker, Atlas Ichthyol., vol. v, p. 64, pl. cevn, fig. 1. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 4381 (lwnaris var. spadiceus). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 167 (references). Body rather elongate, depth about 4 in length. Interorbital and fore part of back and belly with small spines ; snout, sides, and tail naked. Lateral fold distinct. Length of head equal to or a little less A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 969 than its distance from the dorsal. Interocular space subequal to snout. Hye nearer gill-opening than to end of snout. Interorbital equal to postorbital part of head. Nostrils paired, flush with surface of snout. Mucous canals distinct. D 12. A 12. Both somewhat falcate. Caudal lunate. Pectoral longer than snout. Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Uniform brown above, sides silvery, belly white, fins yellowish. Locality.—Port Elizabeth to Natal, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific, Australia. All the specimens examined belong to this form, which is sometimes considered as a variety of Junaris Bl. Schn. It seems, however, to be constantly distinguished by the rather shorter head and having only the fore part of the back spinulose ; in luwnaris the whole of the back is spinulose. } Tetrodon sceleratus Forster. Silver Blaasop. 1788. (Forster), Gmelin, Syst. Nat., p. 1444. 1832. Bennett, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., vol. u, p. 184 (argyropleura). 21861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. l’Afr. Austr., p. 75 (blochz). 1865. Bleeker, Atlas Ichthyol., vol. v, p. 64, pl. ccix, fig. 1. 1870. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. viii, p. 276. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 701. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 265. Body elongate, depth 4-44 in length. Caudal peduncle depressed. Head and back finely spinulose, belly with very small 3-rooted spines extending slightly beyond anal fin, sides naked. Lateral fold distinct from tail to chin. Length of head 2-3 its distance from the dorsal. Interocular space about equal to snout. Eye nearer to gill-opening than to end of snout. Interorbital equal to postorbital part of head. Nostrils paired, flush with surface. Mucous canals distinct. D 11-12. A 10-11. Both somewhat falcate. Caudal lunate. Pectoral about equal to snout. Length.—Up to 700 mm. Colour.—Brownish or olivaceous above, with numerous small round black spots, sides with a distinct silvery band, below which a light brown band running around chin, belly white, a triangular silvery patch before the eye, gill-opening black. Locality. False Bay, Natal coast. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific, Australia. 970 Annals of the South African Museum. One small specimen only. Castelnau’s inadequately described species may possibly be synonymous, or may only be a young specimen of the following species. Tetrodon honckeni Bl. ‘ Blaasop. 1795. Bloch, Ausl. Fische, vol. i, p. 133, pl. exliii. 1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 74 (algoensis). 1865. Bleeker, Atlas Ichthyol., vol. v, p. 60, pl. cevi, fig. 2. 1914. Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. i, p. 109 (habits). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 429 (references). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 166 (references). 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 40. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. xxvii, p. 267. Body rather plump, depth 3-34 in length. Caudal peduncle stout. Head, back, and belly, and a narrow band connecting back and belly behind pectoral, with small cutaneous scale-like papillae; spines minute, resembling setules, in adult usually obsolete ; a few similar papillae extending to the tail along the lateral line and the lateral fold, which latter is distinct only on the posterior part of body. Length of head less than its distance from the dorsal. Interorbital space nearly twice length of snout. Eye slightly nearer end of snout than gill- opening. Bony interorbital narrow, twice in postorbital part of head. Snout short, lower jaw prominent, chin square. Upper teeth much smaller than lower. Nostrils paired, on a short papilla. Mucous canals moderately distinct. D 8-9. A 7-8. Both slightly falcate. Caudal truncate. Pectoral equal to interorbital width. (Plate XXX VI, fig. 6.) Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Bluish or brownish-black above, with numerous irregular lemon-yellow or whitish spots of various sizes, belly pale yellowish, caudal fin black. Locality.— False Bay, Agulhas Bank to Natal and Zululand. Distribution.—East Indies, China. Tetrodon hypselogeneion Blkr. Banded-cheek Blaasop. 1852. Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind., vol. i, p. 300. 1865. Id., Atlas Ichthyol., vol. v, p. 61, pl. cexi, fig. 5. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. Oil 1878-88. Day, Fish. Ind., p. 702, pl. clxxxiii, fig. 5. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 430 (references). Body not very elongate, depth 34-4 in length. Whole body, ex- cept the sides on the posterior half of body and caudal peduncle, the upper and lower surfaces of the latter and the chin, with minute spinules hidden under scale-like cutaneous papillae. Lateral fold not very dis- tinct. Length of head equal to its distance from dorsal. Interocular space a little greater than snout. Hye midway between end of snout and gill-opening. Interorbital very narrow, less than diameter of eye. Lower jaw prominent, chin square. Upper teeth not much smaller than lower. Nostrils paired, on a short papillae. Mucous canals indistinct. D 9. A 7-8. Both somewhat rounded. Caudal truncate. Pectoral equal to length of snout plus eye. Length—Up to 150 mm. Colour.— Brown or black above, with numerous small, round, whitish spots, sides silvery, belly white, cheek with 1-5 cross-bars. Locality.—Port Elizabeth to Natal, Delagoa Bay, Mozambique. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. The South African specimens have only one well-defined cross-bar on the cheek in place of the usual 3-5. Tetrodon cutaneus Guthr. Smooth Blaasop. 1870. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. viii, p. 287. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 165. 1919. Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. lvi, p. 206, fig. 3. 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., 1, p. 40, pl. 1, fig. 3 (dubius). Body oblong, depth 3-34 in length. Whole body perfectly naked and smooth, with innumerable very fine longitudinal wrinkles. No lateral fold. Length of head a little more than its distance from dorsal. Interocular space equal to or a little more than length of snout. Eye nearer gill-opening than to end of snout. Interorbital slightly less than postorbital part of head. Mucous canals faint. Nostrils paired, ona short papilla. D 8-9. A 7-8. Both small, oblong; dorsal wholly in advance of anal. Caudal truncate. Pectoral subequal to post- orbital part of head. Length —Up to 312 mm. Colour.—Greyish or olive above, lighter on sides, which are not SS ee SS ee ee SS SS SS OS ee EE 972 Annals of the South African Museum. silvery ; belly white; dorsal and anal whitish, pectoral pale olive, caudal suffused with black at end. Locality.—Table Bay, Algoa Bay, Natal coast, down to 100 fathoms. Distribution.—St. Helena, Azores. Type of dubius in coll. Govt. Marine Survey. Giinther queried the Cape as a locality for this species, but there is no doubt that these specimens are identical with his. The Table Bay specimen bridges the gap in the distribution. Tetrodon sprnosissimus Regan. Many-spined Blaasop. 1908. Regan, Tr. Linn. Soc. Lond., Zool., vol. xii, pt. 3; p. 253, Jol SO-o-als aml (3y, 1910. Annandale and Jenkins, Mem. Ind. Mus., vol. i, pt. 1, p: 14) ples) 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 322. 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i, p. 39, pl. u, fig. 1 (unifasciatus). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p. 265 (un- fasciatus). Body rather short, depth about 2 in length. Whole body, except lips and caudal peduncle, with rather strong 2-rooted spines. No lateral fold. Length of head less than its distance from dorsal fin. Kye subequal to snout, and midway between end of snout and gill- opening. Interocular space nearly twice, interorbital scarcely more than 4, diameter of eye. Mucous canals distinct. Nostrils paired, on a short papilla. D8. A 6-7. Both small, oblong; dorsal in advance of anal (not well shown in Regan’s figure). Caudal truncate. Pectoral slightly longer than postocular part of head. Length.—Up to 110 mm. Colour.—Grey above, lighter below ; a dark spot above and behind each eye, another at base of dorsal; a diffuse dark patch on side; fins light ; caudal with black posterior margin ; minute black specks over the belly. Locality.— Coast of Natal and Zululand, 40-120 fathoms. Distribution.—Seychelles, 123 fathoms ; Indian seas, 100 fathoms ; Hong Kong. Type of untfasciatus in coll. Govt. Mar. Survey. ae A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 973 Tetrodon pleurospilus Regan. 1919. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. u, pt. 4, p. 203. Body rather elongate, depth about 3 in length. Naked, except for a patch of spines on belly extending from below eye to vent. No lateral fold. Length of head rather less than its distance from the dorsal. Interocular space rather greater than length of snout, inter- orbital equal to postocular part of head. Eye about midway between gill-opening and end of snout, which is rather pointed. Mucous canals indistinct. Each nostril consisting of a short tube bilobed at its end. D9. A 7. Both small, oblong; anal arising below last dorsal ray. Caudal subtruncate. Pectoral slightly shorter than length of snout. Length.—Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Dark brown above, belly white; sides with a series of more or less confluent dark spots running from mouth to tail and con- nected with the dark upper parts by 4 irrregular transverse bars, 1 across cheek, 1 before and behind gill-opening, 1 just in front of level of dorsal, and 1 at base of caudal peduncle. Locality.—Natal coast. Type in British Museum. Tetrodon patoca Ham. Buch. 1822. Hamilton-Buchanan, Fish. Ganges, pp. 7, 363, pl. xviu, fig. 2. 1865. Bleeker, Atlas Ichthyol., vol. v, p. 76, pl. ccx, fig. 2. 1870. Ginther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. vii, p. 288. 1878-88. Day, Fish. Ind., p. 703, pl. clxxxu, fig. 4 (references). Body oblong, depth about 34 in length. Back and belly with very small spines, rest of body naked. No lateral fold. Length of head rather less than its distance from dorsal fin. Interocular space greater than snout, about 2 length of head, interorbital equal to postocular part of head. Hye midway between end of snout and gill-opening. Mucous canals moderately distinct. Each nostril a single imperforate cavity with a raised, lobed margin. D 9-10. A 8-9. Both rounded. Caudal subtruncate. Pectoral equal to snout. Length.—Up to 325 mm. Colour.—Brownish above, with numerous round or oval white spots ; belly white ; young often with 4 blackish cross-bands (through eyes, pectoral, dorsal, and end of caudal peduncle) ; fins light, end half of caudal fin suffused with blackish. Locality. Delagoa Bay, Chinde. Distribution.—Indian seas, Kast Indies, China. ~- ————- . = =ica ee ea — ——- 974 Annals of the South African Museum. Tetrodon aerostaticus Jenyns. Black-spotted Toby. 1842. Jenyns, Voy. Beagle, Zool., p. 152. 1878-88. Day, Fish. Ind., p. 705, pl. clxxxiii, fig. 3 (stellatus). 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 429 (references and synonymy). Body oblong, depth about 24 in length. Whole body, except lips and extreme end of caudal peduncle, with small spines. Length of head about equal to its distance from dorsal fin. Eye midway between gill-opening and end of snout. Interocular space about equal to, interorbital ¢, length of snout. Each nostril with a bifid tentacle, without opening. D 10-11. A 10-11. Both rounded. Caudal rounded. Pectoral less than snout. Length.—Up to 600 mm. Colour.—Dark brown above, with black spots, which are confluent into stripes in young ; belly whitish, in adult without stripes or with very faint darker lines, in young with rather broad black bands which are either confluent or broken up into spots ; fins more or less spotted, base of pectoral and a ring round gill-opening black ; lower lip black, a black ring round vent. Locality.—Natal coast, Mozambique. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific, Australia. Tetrodon immaculatus Bl. Schn. Immaculate Toby. 1801. Bloch-Schneider, Syst. Ichthyol., p. 507. 1878-88. Day, Fish. Ind., p. 703, pl. clxxxiu, fig. 4. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 427 (references and synonymy). var. virgata Rich. Banded Toby. 1846. Richardson, Voy. Erebus and Terror, Fish., p. 62, pl. xxxix, figs. 8, 9. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, loc. cit., p. 428 (references and synonymy). Body oblong, depth about 3 in length. Whole body, except lips : i ’ A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 975 and hind part of caudal peduncle, with small spines. Length of head about equal to its distance from the dorsal. Eye midway between gill-opening and end of snout. Interocular space about equal to, interorbital ?, length of snout. Each nostril with a bifid tentacle, without opening. D9-10. A 9-10. Bothrounded. Caudal rounded. Pectoral scarcely as long as snout. Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Olivaceous, lighter below, with or without several dark longitudinal stripes, sometimes a white spot over eye ; caudal fin with upper and lower margins and end black, base of pectoral black; no black ring round vent. Locality. Natal, Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific, Australia. The banded variety seems to be much rarer in Natal waters than the immaculate form. Tetrodon hispidus Lacép. Rough Toby. 1798. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. i, p. 487, pl. xxiv, fig. 2. 1878-88. Day, Fish. Ind., p. 706, pl. clxxxiil, fig. 2. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p- 427 (references and synonymy). Body oblong, depth about 3 in length. Whole body, except snout and hind part of caudal peduncle, with short bristle-like spines. Length of head about equal to its distance from dorsal fin. Eye mid- way between gill-opening and end of snout. Interocular width equal to, interorbital 3, length of snout. Hach nostril with a bifid tentacle, without opening. D10. A10. Bothrounded. Caudal rounded or subtruncate. Pectoral nearly as long as snout. Length.—Up to 500 mm. Colour.—Dark brown above, with scattered, round, bluish-white spots ; sides often with 4-5 vertical dark cross-bars, belly white, with or without numerous longitudinal dark stripes; fins pale or dusky, caudal often with pale spots, a dark blotch round gill-opening and pectoral, bordered by one or two whitish rings, no black ring round vent. Locality.—East London to Natal and Portuguese Hast Africa. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific, Australia. ee ee - -ii—- 976 Annals of the South African Museum. Gen. TROPIDICHTHYS Blkr. 1839. Swainson, Nat. Hist. Class. Fish., vol. ui, p. 194 (Canthigaster, no type specified). 1854. Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind., vol. vi, p. 500 (Lropidichthys). Body short, deep, compressed, the back more or less sharply ridged. Nostrils very small and inconspicuous, sometimes apparently imper- forate. Dorsal rays 8-12, anal 8-10. Key to the South African species. 1. No black spot at base of dorsal fin. a. D 11-12. No dark cross-bands . : : : , . natalensis. b. D 9(-10). Three to four dark cross-bands . : : . valentini. 2. A black spot at base of dorsal fin. a. Body with light spots x . : margaritatus. b. Body with 2 dark stripes from oehordl +6 fal : . caudofasciatus. *Tropidichthys natalensis (Guthr.). 1865. Bleeker, Atlas Ichthyol., vol. v, p. 79, pl. Cex aaa (amboinensis). 1870. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. vi, p. 303 (amboinensis var.) 1908. Regan, Tr. Linn. Soc. Lond., vol. xii, pt. 3, p. 253. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 431. Profile of the back low. No black spot at base of dorsal fin. Head and body scabrous. D 11-12. A 11. Length.—Up to 220 mm. Colour.—Olivaceous, with numerous roundish, black spots, inter- mixed with similar white ones, the sides of the head in front of pectoral and basal half of caudal fin ornamented like the rest of the body, cheeks with short horizontal and vertical bluish lines. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Seychelles. This form appears to be merely a colour variety of the East Indian amboinensis Blkr. *Tropidichthys cinctus (Rich.). Valentyn’s Blaasop ; Zeehaantje (Dutch East Indies). 1850. Richardson, Voy. Samarang, Zool., p. 19. 1854. Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind., vol. iv, p. 130 (valentine). A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 977 1855. Peters, Wiegm. Arch. Naturge., vol. xxi, p. 275 (taeniatus). 1865. Bleeker, Atlas Ichthyol., vol. v, p. 80, pl. cevin, fig. 1 (valentinz). 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii, p. 433, fig. 189. Profile of back rather high. No dark spot at base of dorsal. D 9-10. A 9. Head and body scabrous. Length —Up to 175 mm. Colour.—Olivaceous, lighter below, 3-4 dark brownish-black cross- bands, body with orange ocelli, head with bluish lines. Locality.— Mozambique. Distribution.—Indian seas, East Indies, Polynesia. *Tropidichthys margaritatus (Riipp.). Ocellate Toby. 1828. Riippell, Atlas Fische, p. 66. 1844. Richardson, Voy. Sulphur, Fish., p. 125, pl. Ivu, figs. 4-6 (soland77). 1850. Id., Voy. Samarang, Fish., p. 20, pl. 1x, figs. 1, 2 (ensignitus). 1855. Bianconi, Mem. Acad. Sc. Bologn., vol. vi, p. 147, pl. u, fig. 2 (peterst). 1855. Peters, Wiegm. Arch. Naturge., p. 274 (ocellatus). 1865. Bleeker, Atlas Ichthyol., vol. v, pp. 80, 81, pl. ccxiv, fig. 5, and pl. cexiu, fig. 4 (ocellatus and margaritatus). 1870. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. vin, p. 300. 1878-88. Day, Fish. Ind., p. 707 (references). 1910. Annandale and Jenkins, Mem. Ind. Mus., vol. 1, pt. 1, p. 16, pie te. 3: 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 266. Profile of back rather high. A black spot at base of dorsal fin. Head and body scabrous. D 9-10. A 9. Length.— Up to 150 mm. Colour.—Dull orange or olivaceous, lighter below, with numerous yellow (or bluish) dark-edged ocelli on back and sides, those on the back more or less confluent into horizontal or transverse angular stripes ; lines on the head horizontal, a black spot at base of dorsal, fins yellowish. Locality.— Natal, Mozambique. Distribution.—East coast of Africa, Indo-Pacific. SS SLES OSES SES — —————— 978 Annals of the South African Museum. Tropidichthys caudofasciatus (Gnthr.). Two-stripe Toby. 1870. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. viii, p. 304. 1900. Steindachner, Denks. Ak. Wiss. Wien, vol. lxx, p. 518, pl. ii, fig. 3. 1901. Jenkins, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xix (1899), p. 400, fig. 12 (brtaencatus). 1905. Jordan and Evermann, zbid., vol. xxiii (1903), p. 435, fig. 191 (bitaenratus). 1908. Regan, Tr. Linn. Soc. Lond., Zool., vol. xii, pt. 3, p. 253. Profile of back low. A black (ill-defined) spot at base of dorsal. Belly spinulose, a very few feeble spinules on back and nape, rest of body naked. D10. A 10. Length.—Up to 90 mm. Colour (as preserved).—Brownish above, with small, dark brown spots and reticulations ; a blackish ill-defined spot at base of dorsal ; a dark stripe from base of upper caudal ray to pectoral, passing round in front of pectoral and running backwards to tail more or less parallel with the upper stripe; a small black spot on outer side of base of pectoral; snout suffused, with indistinct darker lines; curved brown cross-bars on caudal fin and bases of upper and lower caudal rays blackish ; belly whitish, immaculate. Locality.— Coast of Natal and Zululand, 40 fathoms. Distribution.—Philippine and Hawaiian Islands; Seychelles, 37 fathoms. Fam. 5. DIODONTIDAE. Porcupine Fishes. Maxilla and premaxilla fused. Teeth fused into a beak, without median suture. No spinous dorsal. No ventral fins. No anal spines. Caudal normal. Skin with well-developed more or less movable spines. Belly inflatable, but not so strongly as in the Tetrodontidae. Air- bladder present. The Porcupine Fishes live in shallow water in tropical and sub- tropical regions. Their singular form has always attracted collectors of curios, and consequently the majority of species have been well known since the early days of Ichthyology. The synonymy, however, seems considerably confused. The flesh is poisonous. As in the genus Tetrodon, attempts have been made to distribute % PLATE XXXVI. FIG. TEXT-PAGE 1. Dactyloptena orientalis (C. and V.) (after Day) : ; ; ‘ . 947 2. Triacanthodes ethiops Alck. (after Alcock) . : ‘ : : - 949 3. Balistes stellatus Lac. (after Day). , : : Y ; : “, ee 4, Diodon hystrix Linn. (after Day) . : ; : : , : - 980 5. Lactophrys concatenatus (Bl.) (after Smith) . ‘ : g p . 964 6. Tetrodon honckeni Bl. (original) . , ‘ : : ; ‘ - “S70 7. Antennarius hispidus Bl. Schn. (after Day) . : : : ‘ - 1001 8. Chaunax pictus Lowe (after Goode and Bean) : 5 s - 1003 Plate XXXVI Ann. S. Afr. Mus., Vol. X XI. Pe Oe Se re < ee aC Neill & Co., Ltd. ee . . ei cae , | fF * ; : = - : . : 7 | : = cre = s 1 } j a t « . : r s * | ; - ee ’ 7 : j =e : a A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 979 the species among several genera. Regan and Boulenger, however, recognise only two genera: Diodon and Lyosphaera. The latter is distinguished by the very fine and feeble spines attached to papery plates, and very short anal fin of only 4 rays. Gen. Diopon Linn. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 335. Body stout, with strong spines, which are either 2- or 3-rooted ; the 2-rooted spines being movable. Nostrils in a tubular papilla. D 10-15. A 10-15. Key to the South African species. I. Nasal tube simple, with 2 openings. A. Spines mostly 2-rooted, movable (Diodon). 1. Spines not compressed. a. Frontal spines longer than others : : holacanthus. 6. Frontal spines shorter than others. i. Small round black spots only é : : hystrix. ii. Large irregular black bands and spots as well as smaller ones . : ; : 5 5 . maculatus. 2. Spines strongly compressed : ; : . maculifer, B. Spines mostly 3-rooted, immovable (Ghilamuctanuay 1. Foremost spines 2-rooted, 4—5 over eye : : ; calori. 2. All spines 3-rooted. a. Three spines over eye. i. Nine transverse series before dorsal fin. No skinny tentacles. : : orbicularis. il. Eleven transverse series. Skinny anteleles scattered over body . ; : : : ‘ . echinatus. b. Two spines over eye. i. Narrow light and dark longitudinal stripes . spinosus. li. Large and small black spots ; : antennatus. II. Nasal tentacle with 2 branches, no opening (Dicotylichthys) . punctulatus. Diodon holacanthus Linn. Long-spined Porcupine Fish. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 335. 1870. Ginther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. viii, p. 307 (spinosis- simus). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 168 (references). Spines 2-rooted, subulate, very long and slender ; frontal spines at least as long as, usually longer than, those behind the pectoral, about VOL. XXT, PART 2. 63 i i 980 Annals of the South African Museum. twice the diameter of eye. Upper part of caudal peduncle with one pair of spines. Fourteen to seventeen transverse series of spines ih between snout and dorsal fin. Nasal tube simple. D 12-13. A 12. Length.—Up to 375 mm. : Colour.—Greyish or brownish above, with round black spots, a r more or less distinct black band across the chin, belly white, fins pale, i dorsal, caudal, and pectoral with black spots. 5 Locality.— Table Bay. id Distribution.—All warm seas. It is possible that this form is synonymous with hystrix; the two forms may be the two sexes of one species. Diodon hystrix Linn. " Porcupine Fish ; Zee-vark. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 335. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 708, pl. clxxix, fig. 4. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 169 (references and E synonymy). \ 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. xxvii, p. 267. F Spines 2-rooted, subulate, frontal spines shorter than those behind pectoral, not more than 14 times diameter of eye. Upper part of caudal peduncle with 2-3 pairs of spines. Fourteen to seventeen f transverse rows of spines between snout and dorsal fin. Nasal tube ) simple. D12. A12. (Plate XXXVI, fig. 4.) ‘ Length.—Up to 625 mm. Colour.—Greyish or brownish above, with round black spots, belly | white ; fins pale, all spotted with black. Locality.— False Bay, Agulhas Bank, Natal. Distribution.—All warm seas. Diodon maculatus Lacép. 1800. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 11, p. 13. ! 1818. Cuvier, Mem. Mus. Hist. Nat., vol. iv, p. 136 (multimaculatus). | 1865. Bleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. v, p. 57, pl. cevi, fig. 3 (novem- maculatus). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 170 (references). 1922. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. ix, p. 322. Spines 2-rooted, subulate, frontal spines shorter than those behind pectoral, rather longer than diameter of eye. Upper part of caudal A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 981 peduncle without spines. Sixteen to nineteen transverse rows of spines between snout and dorsal fin. Nasal tube simple. D12. A 12. Usually some skinny tentacles above eye, on back, throat, and belly. Length.—Up to 300 mm. Colour.—Greyish or brownish above, with large irregular black patches mixed with small spots, belly white, fins unspotted; the larger patches usually disposed as follows: one between eyes and extending down on to cheek, one across nape extending in front of pectoral, one in middle of back, one behind pectoral, one at base of dorsal extending downwards towards anal. Locality. Knysna, Agulhas Bank. Distribution.— All warm seas. *Diodon maculifer Kaup. Flat-spined Porcupine Fish. 1787. Bloch, Ichthyol., pl. cxxvi (non Linn.). 1855. Kaup, Wiegm. Archiv. Naturge., p. 229. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 171 (references). Spines 2-rooted, strongly compressed laterally. Upper part of caudal peduncle without spines. About 15 transverse series of spines between snout and dorsal fin. Nasal tube simple. Length.—Up to 250 mm. Colour.—Dark above, with round black spots, belly white, fins usually unspotted. Locality.—Cape seas. Distribution.— West Indies. * Diodon calori Bianc. 1855. Bianconi, Mem. Ac. Sc. Bonon., vol. vi, p. 145. 1870. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. vin, p. 309. Spines short, moderately strong. Foremost spines on head and around snout 2-rooted and erectile, all the rest 3-rooted. Four to five supraorbital spines. About 17 transverse series of spines between snout and dorsal fin. A pair of spines on side of caudal peduncle. Inner masticatory plate with about 7 transverse grooves. Nasal tube simple. D12. A? Length—Up to 250 mm. Colour.—Greyish, with a dark bar below eye, another in front of 982 Annals of the South African Museum. gill-opening ; a blackish blotch behind pectoral; base of dorsal, and a spot on either side of caudal peduncle, black. Locality.— Mozambique. Distribution.—Kast coast of Africa. Diodon orbicularis Bl. 1787. Bloch, Ichthyol., pl. cxxvii. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 172 (references). 1919. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. u1, pt. 4, p. 203. 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., i,. p. 38, pl. ix, fig. 2 (parcomaculatus). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p. 267. All spines 3-rooted, strong but short. Three supraorbital spines and one in middle of forehead. About 9 transverse series between snout and dorsal fin. Caudal peduncle spineless, except roots of a pair of lateral spines crossing behind dorsal fin. Superciliary edges raised. Jaws feeble, inner masticatory surface smooth, concave. Nasal tube simple. D12. A 12. Length.—Up to 150 mm. Colour.—Brownish, irregularly clouded and spotted with black or dark brown, the most constant spots being 2 behind and below the eye, some behind the pectoral, and between the dorsal and anal fins ; fins faintly banded. Locality. —Table Bay (rare), False Bay to Natal, down to 60 fathoms. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. Type of parcomaculatus in coll. Govt. Mar. Survey. Diodon echinatus (Gron.). 1854. Gronovius, Syst., ed. Gray, p. 27. 1870. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. viii, p. 312. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 171. All spines 3-rooted, short and rather feeble. Three supraorbital spines and one in middle of forehead. About 11 transverse series of spines between snout and dorsal fin. Caudal peduncle spineless, but roots of 2 lateral spines crossing behind dorsal fin. Superciliary ridges not raised. Slender filamentous cutaneous tentacles arising from the bases of many of the spines on head, back, sides, and belly. Jaws strong, upper with a median ridge, inner masticatory surface with 2-3 pads, divided by a median line. Nasal tube simple. D12. A 11. Length.— Up to 175 mm. eT ee ee Oe ee ee a ee. ee ba an aa A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 983 Colour.—Brownish above, belly white, black spots on back, sides, and belly, fins unspotted. Locality.— False Bay, Agulhas Bank. Distribution.—There is a specimen, ascribed to this species, from Muscat in the British Museum. *Diodon spinosus Linn. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 325. 1898. Jordan and Evermann, Fish. Mid. and N. Amer., p. 1748, fig. 649 (schoepfi). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 172 (references and synonymy). All spines 3-rooted, strong but short. Two supraorbital spines and one in middle of forehead. Superciliary edge raised. Fleshy tentacles along lower parts of sides, one on each side of anal fin especially developed, usually one between the superciliary spines. Caudal peduncle spineless, but roots of 2 lateral spines crossing behind dorsal fin. Nasaltube simple. D12. A 10. Length.—Up to 225 mm. Colour.—Brownish above, with narrow light and dark brown longi- tudinal stripes which become oblique on sides, a large black blotch behind pectoral and another at base of dorsal fin, belly white, fins unspotted. Locality.—Cape seas. Distribution.—N. and 8. Atlantic, West Indies. * Diodon antennatus Cuv. 1818. Cuvier, Mem. Mus. Hist. Nat., vol. iv, p. 131, pl. vu, 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 171 (references). All spines 3-rooted, strong but short. Two supraorbital spines and one in middle of forehead. Superciliary edge not raised. Fleshy tentacles along lower parts of sides, one on each side of anal fin especially developed, usually one between the superciliary spines. Caudal peduncle spineless, but roots of 2 lateral spines crossing behind dorsal fin. Nasal tube simple. Length.—Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Brownish above, a black spot on nape, one above pectoral, and another at base of dorsal, generally a small black spot below 984 Annals of the South African Museum. eye, back and sides also with smaller black spots, belly dusky, fins unspotted. Locality.—Cape seas. Distribution.—West Indies. *Diodon punctulatus (Kaup). 1855. Kaup, Wiegm. Arch. Naturge., p. 230. 1899. Waite, Mem. Austr. Mus., vol. iv, p. 98, pl. xix. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 173. Anterior spines 2-rooted, erectile, rest 3-rooted. Dorsal spines much shorter than those on sides and belly. About 13 transverse series of spines between snout and dorsal fin. Nasal tentacle 2-branched, without opening. D12. A 12. Length.— Up to 425 mm. Colour.—Brownish above, with small round scattered spots; a vertical black bar below eye, a large black spot in front of, and a larger one behind, pectoral; fins unspotted. Locality.—Cape seas. DMistribution.—Eastern Australia ; Mauritius ? Fam. 6. MoLipag. Sun-fishes. Maxilla and premaxilla fused. Teeth fused into a beak, without median suture. No spinous dorsal. No ventral fins. No anal spines. No caudal fin. Dorsal and anal fins high. Body strongly compressed, non-inflatable, more or less truncate posteriorly. Skin rough or tessellated. Air-bladder absent. Pseudobranchiae well developed. The Sun-fish is one of the most remarkable of fishes. The shape of the body, the small mouth, high dorsal and anal fins, and absence of tail fin render it distinctive. To these characters may be added the enormous size (8 or even 10 ft.) and weight to which the species of Mola grow. : Sun-fishes are usually captured when swimming at the surface of the open sea, but are known to descend to considerable depths. They swim leisurely, and when at the surface the high dorsal fin projects above the water. They appear to be more or less gregarious, at least at certain seasons (Albert de Monaco, Bull. Soc. Zool. France, vol. xiv, 1889, p. 16, and Pellegrin, zbid., vol. xxxvu, 1912, p. 229). | The species of Mola are known to feed chiefly on larval Eels (Lepto- cephali), and Jelly-fishes. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 985 Definite information as to the life-history of the Sun-fishes has only recently been obtained (see Schmidt, Medd. Havunders. Copenhagen, ser. Hisk., 6, 1921, No. 6, and Nature, vol. cvii, No. 2681, p. 76, figs., 1921). The newly hatched larva resembles an ordinary fish, with strong tail. Conical spinose protuberances are developed over Cy Fic. 30.—Four stages in the growth of the Sun-fish. a, 6, copies from Schmidt ; c, d, copies from Ryder. The younger stages more highly magnified than the older stages. the whole body (fig. 30 a). At a later stage the tail is reduced and (in Mola lanceolatus) 5 of the spines reach an enormous development (fig. 30 6). Later all the spines are reduced, though traces of them may be found even in the adult, as for instance the bony tubercles on the throat. The larval forms were formerly placed in a separate genus : Molacanthus (fig. 30 ¢, d.). ; Two genera are recognised. a a 5 ae a_i 986 Annals of the South African Museum. Key to the South African genera. 1. Skin rough. Gill-rakers concealed in thick skin . : : ; . Mola. 2. Skin smooth, tesselated with small hexagonal plates. Géill-rakers free Ranzania. Gen. Moua Linck. 1790. Linck, Mag. Neu. Phys. Naturge., vol. vi, pt. 3, p. 37. 1798. Cuvier, Tabl. Elem. Hist. Nat. Anim., p. 323. 1801. Bloch-Schneider, Syst. Ichthyol., p. 510 (Orthagoriscus). 1884. Guill, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. vii, p. 425 (Masturus). Body ovate, strongly compressed. Skin thick, rough, leathery, granulate, but without bony plates. Gull-rakers (in lanceolata) feeble, concealed in thick fleshy skin. I have not been able to examine a fresh example of mola to see the character of the gill-rakers. Two species are recognised. Key to the South African species. 1. Hind end of body rounded or lobed (Mola) . : : : a mola. 2. Hind end of body more or less pointed (Masturus) : 3 . lanceolata. Mola mola (Linn.). Sun-fish. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, pp. 334, 412. 1913. Wairte, Tr. N.Z. Inst., vol. xlv, p. 223, pl. 1x: 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 174 (references and synonymy). The hind end of the body is truncate, but slightly convex, and divided irregularly into a number of lobes. Snout, particularly in old examples, more prominent than chin. The skin, especially in old examples, is very coarse and rough, with patches of bony tubercles. Dorsal and anal fins, especially in large specimens, short and obtuse. Length.—Up to 2400 mm. (8 ft.). Colour.—Uniform greyish or olivaceous-brown, or blackish ; young examples dark above, with more or less conspicuous dark round spots on hind part of body, belly whitish; in the very young the belly is silvery. Locality.—Table Bay, Agulhas Bank, Durban. Distribution.—Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The only record I have of this fish from Durban rests on a news- paper picture, undated. I have not been able to obtain any further A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 987 particulars. The figure shows a young specimen, nearly as deep as long; length of dorsal and anal fins subequal to length of head and about 3 in total length ; hind end of body evenly convex, faintly lobed. The upper half of the body is dark and on the hinder part are some dark round spots. Fic. 31.—Outline of Mola lanceolata, from specimen in South African Museum. Mola lanceolata (Lién.). Pointed-tailed Sun-fish. 1840. Liénard, Mag. Zool., p. 291. 1870. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. vin, p. 319. 1889. Perugia, Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova, [II], vol. 27. 1896. Collett, Res. Sci. Camp. Monaco, fasc. 10, p. 163, pl. vi, fig. 1 (mola). 1922. Jordan and Jordan, Mem. Carn. Mus., vol. x, p. 88, fig. 7. The hind end of the body is triangularly produced to a point, forming an apparent tail. Chin more prominent than the snout. Skin granular, not so rough as in mola. Dorsal and anal fins elevated, pointed, more or less falcate. ~~). —, = 988 Annals of the South African Museum. Length.—Up to 1875 mm. (6 ft. 3 in.). Colour.—Dark brown or blackish above, lighter beneath. Locality.—Table Bay. Distribution.— Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. From the records given below it appears that this species, though not observed so often as mola, is far from uncommon in South African waters. By most ichthyologists this form is regarded as synonymous with mola. Collett concluded that the pointed “ tail’? was an abnormal retention in the adult of a juvenile feature. The constancy, however, of the characters observed in these forms indicated a distinct species. Proof of this is now established by the researches of Dr. Schmidt (see reference above), who finds distinguishing features in the larval and post-larval stages of the two forms. There appear to be more fin-rays in lanceolata than in mola (Giinther gives D 24, A 21, and D 17-18, A 14-19 respectively) ; but they are difficult to count accurately, and are not taken into account here. Sun-fishes are of frequent occurrence in, or in the neighbourhood of, Table Bay. They seem to come inshore mostly in mid or late summer as the following records show ; contrary perhaps to expecta- tion, they are seldom observed during the winter months when storms and heavy seas come in from the N. and N.W. (lanceolata) February, 1900. Mounted in South African Museum. (mola) April, 1907. Mounted in South African Museum, 7 ft. (mola) 3rd February, 1917. (lanceolata) January, 1918. Mounted in South African Museum, 64 ft. (mola) 6th November, 1920. (lanceolata) 9th July, 1921. (mola) 25th December, 1923. Two specimens. (mola) 1st January, 1924. (mola) January, 1925. (lanceolata) 6th to 18th March, 1927. Two specimens, one mounted in South African Museum. (mola) June, 1927. Hermanus coast. These are records notified to, or observed by, the South African Museum. Many other specimens are certainly washed ashore, which are not notified to the Museum. In all the specimens I have examined there is a band around the - A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 989 bases of the dorsal and anal fins connected by a vertical band across the base of the tail. In mola this band is more or less granular, but never so strongly granular as the rest of the skin, and consequently is always easily distinguishable. In lanceolata it is even more dis- tinct, as it is nearly or quite smooth. These bands, of course, are the areas where the skin is pliable, allowing movement of the fins. Gen. RanzaAnia Nardo. 1840. Nardo, Ann. Sci. Regno. Lomb. Venet., vol. v, pp. 10, 105. Body elongate-ovate, especially in young, strongly compressed. Fic. 32.—Ranzania truncata. Semidiagrammatic, to show pattern of markings. From specimen in South African Museum. Skin smooth, tessellated with small hexagonal plates. Smaller in size than Mola. Gill-rakers free, 9-10 on anterior arch, each with a sharp point. A single widely distributed species is known. Ranzania truncata (Retz.). Oblong Sun-fish. 1785. Retzius, Vet. Ak. Nya Handl., vol. vi, pt. 2, p. 116. 1895. Jenkins, Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci.,‘ser. 2, vol. v, p. 780, pl. (makua). 990 Annals of the South African Museum. 1905. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxiii (1903), p. 440, fig. 194 (makua). 1912. Pellegrin, Bull. Soc. Zool. France, vol. xxxvii, p. 228, here: 1913. Snyder, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xliv, p. 455,0pl bem (makua). 1915. Ribeiro, Arch. Mus. Nac. Rio de Jan., vol. xvii, Molidae, p. 4, pl. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 176 (references). Body about twice as long as deep (a young specimen, described by Snyder, has the body 3 times as long as deep), hind end truncate, very slightly convex. Dorsal and anal fins narrow, elevated, and pointed. Length.—Up to 700 mm. Colour.—Dark blackish-brown above, silvery on sides and belly ; sides of head with a number of transverse silver bands, the first three on the snout with black margins, the other 4—6 with small black spots, and black margins only at ventral ends ; sides of body with a network of bright silver bands, with small black spots, enclosing oval patches of dull greyish silver ; back with irregular dark marks, hind end of body with dull bluish-silver spots, pectoral bluish-silvery ; dorsal and anal black, “ tail’ pinkish-brown or violaceous. Locality.—Table Bay, False Bay. Distribution.—Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. There are three specimens of this species in the South African Museum, the largest 254 inches in length. No data are available about the first specimen beyond the fact that it was washed up on Blaauwberg Beach, Table Bay. The second specimen was caught at Gordon’s Bay, False Bay, on Ist November, 1911, and arrived at the Museum with the colours and markings well shown. The third speci- men was obtained by a trawler off Dassen Island on the west coast in May 1926. Its stomach contained several pieces (in various stages of digestion) of littoral seaweeds, some of which had evidently been torn off the rocks. In the Hawaiian Islands this fish is called the King of the Mackerels. All Mackerel and allied fishes are supposed to be subjugate to this Sun-fish in the same manner as the Oar-fish (Regalecus) in Norway is regarded as the King of the Herrings. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 991 Division 21. PEDICULATI. (1912. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (8), vol. ix, p. 277.) Air-bladder, if present, without an open duct (physoclystic). No mesocoracoid. Mouth bordered above mainly by the premaxillae. Opercle large, but hidden under the skin. Gill-opening often reduced to a small slit, more or less behind the base of the pectoral fin. Gills reduced. Ventral fins, if present, jugular. Spinous portion of dorsal normal, or modified in structure and position, the anterior rays being on the head. Skin frequently naked. This division comprises two groups: the more normally constructed Batrachoidei, and the highly aberrant Lophioider. The former are a connecting link between the Blennies, next to which they are frequently classed, and the latter. The most important feature which the two groups have in common is the more or less elongate and arm-like base of the pectoral fin (pseudobrachium). Key to the South African families. I. Spinous dorsal normal. Gill-openings wide, in front of pectoral (Batrachoidet) Batrachoididae. II. Spinous dorsal modified to form tentacles on the head. Gill-openings small, more or less behind pectoral (Lophioidei). A. Pseudobranchiae present. Body depressed : : Lophiidae. B. Pseudobranchiae absent. 1. Body compressed. a. Ventral fins present. i. Spinous dorsal with 3 spines ; . Antennariidae. ii. Spinous dorsal represented by 2 spines, or by the Ist only Chaunacidae. b. Ventral fins absent. i. Soft dorsal with 5 rays : : Himantolophidae. ul. Soft dorsal with 12-15 rays . . . Melanocetidae. 2 Body depressed : : ; ; ; Onchocephalidae. Fam. 1. BATRACHOIDIDAE. Mouth very large, bordered mainly by the maxillae. Teeth usually strong, on both jaws and palate. Body robust, head and anterior part of body more or less depressed. Skin with small cycloid scales or naked. Gills 3. Pseudobranchiae absent. Gill-membranes broadly united to the isthmus. Branchiostegals 6. Dorsal fin with 2-3 spines detached from the long soft portion. Anal also long, without spines. Ventrals jugular, with 1 spine and 2-3 branched rays. Pectorals very broad. Pyloric caeca none. —— SSS = ————— ca —- =o + — —_—_ a eee ee = <— -- SS = ee = — 992 Annals of the South African Museum. Voracious, carnivorous fishes from warm and tropical seas, some- times ascending rivers. The young are able to adhere to rocks by means of a ventral disc, which, however, soon disappears. The eggs are very large and are deposited in a rock crevice, or beneath a stone, where they are guarded by the male. An account of the biology of the American forms is given by Gill (Smiths. Misc. Coll., vol. xlviii, p. 388, 1907). In some species the opercular and dorsal spines are hollow and con- vey poison from poison glands situated beneath the skin at their bases. The South African species are not poisonous. Most of the species make a grunting noise when handled, whence they are called Knorhaan in the Dutch East Indies. Key to the South African genera. 1. Body scaleless . ‘ : ; ; : ; Marcgravia. 2. Body with small scales, often obscured by mucus . : : Batrachoides. Gen. MarcGRAviaA Jord. 1887. Jordan, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. ix, p. 546. 1915. Ribeiro, Arch. Mus. Nac. Janeiro, vol. xvii, Batrachoididae, p. 3. (Marcgravichthys). Body robust, scaleless. Head large, depressed. Teeth in series on jaws and palate, usually a double series in the front of the jaws. Opercle with two diverging spines. Subopercle with 2 spines which are subparallel, or moderately divergent. No foramen in axil of pectoral. Lateral line consisting of inconspicuous pores. Dorsal with 3 spines. No poison glands. The absence of the foramen in the axil of the pectoral distinguishes this genus from Opsanus Raf. It appears to be a southern genus (Brazil, 8. Africa, Australia), though extending also to the East Indies. Ribeiro changed the name under the impression that it was necessary to avoid confusion with a botanical name. Marcgravia apiatus (C. and V.). Spotted-tailed Frog-fish. 1837. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. xu, p. 477. 1850. Cuvier, Régne Anim. Poiss., pl. Ixxxv, fig. 3. 1861. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 559. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 151 (Opsanus a.). SS —_ =< —- -- ~~ A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 993 Depth 53-6, length of head 3-33, in length of body (the depth less, the head longer proportionately in the young than in adult). Eye 5—6 in length of head, slightly greater than width of bony ridge between eyes, which is about equal to snout. Outline of mouth viewed from above nearly straight or only very gently curved. Teeth in a double series in front of both jaws; 9-12 teeth on palatine, somewhat un- equal in size. D IJ]+20-22. A 14-16. P 18-19. Spine of ventral fin with thick fleshy cover. Interorbital space and occiput reticu- lately wrinkled. Anterior nostril fimbriate. Short tentacles and papillae on snout, behind and below orbits, behind angle of jaw, and on lower surface of mandible. No supraorbital tentacle. Lateral line pores single. Length.—Up to 170 mm. Colour.—Light brown, with 4 irregular dark brown cross-bands, the last on the caudal peduncle, and some small dark brown spots (absent in young) ; fins, including the fleshy part of ventrals, irregu- larly barred and spotted; caudal fin with two or three transverse series of spots. Locality. False Bay. It seems reasonable to assume that Cuvier and Valenciennes’ type was scaleless, though this point is not actually mentioned in the description. Giinther places apiatus among the scaleless species of “ Batrachus.” The reticulate skin on the head is very characteristic and was specially mentioned in the original description. Gen. BATRACHOIDES Lac. 1798. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. ii, p. 306. . 1898. Jordan and Evermann, Fish. N. Amer., vol. iii, p. 2314. 1924. Gilchrist and Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., vii p. 21 (Bathybatrachus). Similar to Marcgravia, but with small cycloid scales, which are frequently obscured by a deposit of mucus. Subopercular spines sub- equal and divergent. No axillary foramen. 2 Key to the South African species. 1. Eye 34-43 in length of head. a. Pectoral not reaching origin of anal _ : 2 : . melanurus. 6. Pectoral reaching 3rd analray . : ; : : albolineatus. 2. Eye 7in length of head . : : : , : . damaranus. 994 Annals of the South African Museum. Batrachoides melanurus n. sp. Black-tailed Frog-fish. 1914. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xiii, p. 71 (apratus non C. and V.). 1914. Ld., ibid., p. 72 (diemensis non Lesueur). 1917. fd., Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 416 (Opsanus diemensis). Depth 4-43, length of head 23-3, in length of body (the depth less and the head longer proportionately in the young). Eye 4-44 in length of head, slightly greater than snout, and 14 times the width of the bony ridge between eyes. Outline of mouth viewed from above well curved. Teeth in a double, occasionally partly triple, series in front of jaws; 7-8 subequal teeth on palatine. D III+19-20. A 14-16. P 22, not or scarcely reaching origin of anal. Spine of ventral fin with thick fleshy cover. Top of head smooth, not wrinkled. Anterior nostril fimbriate. Short tentacles and papillae on snout, behind and below orbits, behind angle of mouth, and on lower surface of mandible. No supraorbital tentacle. Lateral line pores double. (Plate XX XVII, fig. 1.) Length.— Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Light brown, with 4 irregular dark brown cross-bands, the last on the caudal peduncle, and more or less numerous small dark spots; fins, including fleshy part of ventral, barred and spotted ; caudal with distal half or three-quarters dark with a light margin. Locality.—Agulhas Bank to Natal, 25-100 fathoms. One specimen, evidently a straggler, from west side of Cape Peninsula. Type in South African Museum. I have examined the specimens described by Gilchrist and Thompson and find that they both belong to this species. The descriptions are inaccurate. * Batrachoides albolineatus (G. and v. B.). White-striped Frog-fish. 1924. Gilchrist and von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., vii, p. 21, pl. vi, fig. 1 (Bathybatrachus a.). Depth 4, length of head 3, in length of body. Eye 3,'5 (in figure 33) in length of head. D III-+18. A 14. P 20, reaching to 3rd anal ray. Spine of ventral fin with thick fleshy cover. No supraorbital tentacle. Lateral line pores double. Length.—165 mm. eS eet 2. a ae >», = @ A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 995 Colour.—Body marked with darker and lighter markings, a white line across base of caudal; fins darker, dorsal with a broken oblique white line. Locality.— Natal coast, 250 fathoms. Type in coll. Govt. Mar. Survey. This form is very closely allied to the preceding, and the two may prove to be synonymous; in which case the name albolineatus has priority. From the description it appears that the pectoral reaches to the 3rd anal ray, whereas in melanurus it does not reach, or scarcely reaches, the origin of the anal. A new genus was instituted for this form, but the diagnosis given by the joint authors discloses no features by which it can be differen- tiated from Batrachoides. It may differ in the absence of the sub- opercular spines, but these are not mentioned. The skin is said to be naked, but I am of opinion that, if closely examined, the small scales would be found embedded in the skin or concealed by mucus. More- over, aS mentioned above, this fish so closely resembles melanurus in its specific characters, that I do not hesitate to place it in the genus Batrachovdes. Batrachoides damaranus nu. sp. Ocellate Frog-fish. Depth 44, length of head 2%, in length of body. Hye 7 in length of head, subequal to width of the bony ridge between eyes, and 1} in snout. Outline of mouth viewed from above well curved. Teeth in a triple series in front of both jaws; 11 unequal teeth on palatine. DIII+19. A13. P 21, not reaching origin of anal. Spine of ventral fin with thick fleshy cover. Top of head smooth. Anterior nostril fimbriate. Tentacles as in melanurus. No supraorbital tentacle. Lateral line pores single. - Length.—260 mm. Colour.—Light brown, with 4 indistinct darker patches, the last on caudal peduncle, and numerous ocelli on head and small round spots on body ; fins, including fleshy part of ventral, and caudal, uniform grey-brown. Locality.— Walfish Bay. Type in South African Museum. Although I have seen only one specimen, this seems a very distinct species, differing from melanwrus in the smaller eye and uniform fins. VOL. XXI, PART 2. 64 = Sa Sas = ee a ee ae 2 , ~ tikes a [= ee eee ee ee Se Di teal z= 2 = =e | = —— 996 Annals of the South African Museum. Fam. 2. LOPHIIDAE. Angler-fishes. (Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (7), vol. xi, p. 277, revision.) Body depressed, tapering rapidly behind the shoulders. Naked. Head very broad, depressed. Mouth very wide, terminal, protractile. Teeth in jaws strong, unequal, some canine-like, mostly depressible. Vomer and palatine usually also with strong teeth. Gill-openings not very small, in lower axils of pectorals. Pseudobranchiae present. Gill- rakers absent. Gills 3, none on 4th branchial arch. Spinous dorsal of 3 isolated tentacle-like spines on head, followed by 3 smaller ones united together. Second dorsal and anal short. “‘ Arm ” of pectoral scarcely bent. Ventrals with 1 spineand 5rays. Pyloric caeca present. Skin usually with fringes and flaps on head and body. The Angler-fishes form one of the most remarkable families of fishes. The commonest and largest form is Lophius piscatorius, many of whose peculiarities and habits were well known to Aristotle. It is a sluggish animal, lying quietly on the bottom, with which it harmonises in colour. The numerous and irregular little flaps of skin on, and especially around the edges of, the body resemble bits of sea- weed and help to mask the animal. It is supposed that the front tentacle, with its loose piece of skin, the “rod and bait ”’ or illicium, is waved to and fro in front of the mouth and lures smaller fishes within reach. These are engulfed by a sudden spring brought about by the action of the powerful pectoral fins. The eggs of Lophius piscatorius are remarkable for being embedded in a band of slime which floats at some little distance below the sur- face. These bands of slime are often a foot wide and several feet in length. In the young the rays of the ventral fin are greatly elongate. (See Gill, “The Life History of the Angler,’ Smiths. Misc. Coll., vol. xlvui, 1905.) Key to the South African genera. 1. Gill-openings partly below, partly in front of and above the pectorals Chirolophius. 2. Gill-openings entirely below or behind the pectorals. a. Teeth in lower jaw mostly in 3 series. A A : Lophiomus. b. Teeth in lower jaw mostly in 2 series . ; : i . Lophius. Gen. CHIROLOPHIUS Regan. 1903. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (7), vol. xi, p. 279. Gill-openings extending in front of and above the pectorals. Oper- A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 997 cular membrane with a free posterior margin. Teeth in lower jaw mostly in 3 series, anteriorly in 4-5 series; 3 spines on palatine. Dorsal with IV—VI spines and 7-9 rays. Anal with 5-6 rays. Vertebrae about 19. Supraorbital ridge elevated and dentate. The members of this genus are inhabitants of deep water in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Key to the South African species. 1. D VI+8. A6. Humeral spine bifid . i : : : . insidiator. 2. DV+7. A5. Humeral spine trifid . : : : . quinqueradiatus, Chirolophius insidiator Regan. 1914. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xi, p. 73 (upsicephalus, non Smith). 1921. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. vii, p. 418. 1922. Gilchrist, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., 11, p. 79. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p. 268. Disc longer than broad, equal to half the length. Snout 14 times eye, which is 5 in length of head and equal to interorbital width. Teeth in upper jaw in two series in front and one series laterally. Humeral spine bifid. D VI-+8, Ist spine ending in a flap, reaching posterior margin of eye when laid back, 2nd longer, 3rd longest, ? length of head, 2nd—4th spines. with lateral branches and filaments. A6. P 18. Length.—Up to 160 mm. Colour.—Greyish ; exposed part of tongue mottled, lower surface of pharynx behind branchial region blackish. Locality.—Natal coast, 40-230 fathoms. Type in British Museum. *Chirolophius quinqueradiatus Brauer. 1906. Brauer, Wiss. Ergebn. Deutsch. Tiefsee Exp., vol. xv, pt. 1, p. 313. 1924. Gilchrist and von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., vii, p. 22. Disc very slightly longer than broad, about half the length. Snout 32 times eye, which is 8-84 in length of head and 4 in interorbital space. Teeth in both jaws in 2 rows in front and 1 row laterally. Humeral spine trifid. D V+7, Ist spine ending in a flap, 2nd without, 3rd somewhat shorter than length of head, fringed with filaments, 4th and 5th simple. A5. P15. — 998 Annals of the South African Museum. Length.—Up to 244 mm. Colour.—Grey-brown. Locality.—Natal coast, 150-250 fathoms. Distribution.—Sumatra and east coast of Africa, 150-485 fathoms. Gen. Lopuiomus Gill. 1883. Gull, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus.,; vol. v, p. 552. 1903. Regan, loc. cit., p. 282. 3 Gill-openings below and behind pectorals. Opercular membrane without free posterior margin. Teeth in lower jaw mostly in 3 series, anteriorly in 4-5 series; 2 spines on palatine. Dorsal with about VI spines and 8 rays. Anal with about 6. Vertebrae about 19. Supraorbital ridge short, with 2 spines. Lophiomus setigerus (Vahl). 1797. Vahl (Wahl), Skrivt. Naturh. Selsk. Copenhag., vol iv, p. 214, pl. iu, figs, 5, 6. 1850. Schlegel, Faun. Japon. Poiss., p. 158, pl. Ixxx. 1849. Smith, Ill. Zool. 8. Africa Pisces, pl. 1x (wpsicephalus). 1861. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 180. 1898. Alcock, Ill. Zool. Investigator, pl. xix, fig. 3 (¢ndicus). 1899. Id., Cat. Ind. Deep-sea Fish., p 53 (andicus). 19038. Regan, loc. cit., p. 282. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 155 (uwpsicephalus). 1922. Gilchrist, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., 1, p. 79 (upss- cephalus). 1923. Von Bonde, zbid., Spec. Rep., i, p. 36 (wpsicephalus). Disc subcircular, half the length. Snout about twice eye, which is 7-10 in length of head and a little less than the interorbital width. Teeth in 2 alternate series in upper jaw, in 3 series in lower jaw ; 1-3 teeth on each side of vomer. Humeral spine trifid or multifid (usually 5 points). D VI+8-9. A 6-7. P 22-23. (Plate XXXVII, fig. 3.) Length.—Up to 1040 mm. Colour.—Greyish-brown above, reticulate or with small dark rings, white below ; tongue in young white with black reticulations, in adult dark with pale spots. Locality.— Natal coast, 50-194 fathoms. Distribution.—Indo-Pacific, 25-90 fathoms. This is the common Fishing-frog of Japan. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 999 Gilchrist and von Bonde record this species from off Table Bay as well as Natal, but I am unwilling to accept the former locality as both authors are evidently unaware of the identity of wpsicephalus with setigerus. The Cape records should probably be transferred to the following species. Gen. Lopuius Linn. 1758. Linne, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 236. 1903. Regan, loc. cit., p. 283. Gill-openings below and behind pectorals. Opercular membrane without free posterior margin. Teeth in lower jaw in 3 series anteriorly, in 2 posteriorly ; 2 spines on palatine. Dorsal with VI spines and 8-12 rays. Anal with 8-11. Vertebrae 27-32. Supraorbital ridge short, with 2 spines. This is the typical genus and contains a small number of species from the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Japanese seas. Lophius piscatorius Linn. Angler ; Fishing-frog ; Padda; Monk-fish ; Allmouth. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 236. ?1837. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. xu, p. 381 (vomerinus). 1905. Gill, Smiths. Misc. Coll., vol. xlvu, p. 500, figs. (life-history). 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 154 (references), and p. 155 (vomerinus). Length of head 2-24 in length of body. Humeral spine stout, usually trifid, 53-8 in the distance from its base to front end of pre- maxilla. Eye 7-10, interorbital width 3-34 in this same distance. Teeth strong, 8-11 in the posterior series of fixed premaxillary teeth, 1-3 on each side of vomer. D VI+11-12, Ist spine ending in a flap, 2nd nearly as long as Ist. A 10-11. P 25-28. Length—Up to 1200 mm. Colour.—Slaty or greyish-brown above, white below ; pectorals dark above, white below, with well-defined black margin; ventrals white (blackish in young specimens), mouth behind tongue white. Locality.—Saldanha Bay, Table Bay, and off Cape Point, 9-154 fathoms. Distribution.—Both coasts of N. Atlantic, Mediterranean, Brazil. L. vomerinus was founded on a single large specimen which had no teeth on the vomer. Giinther (Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 181) 1000 Annals of the South African Museum. says these may have been lost. In other respects it seems to agree with piscatorius. A separate genus, Lophiopsis, has been proposed for this species, but is not accepted by Regan. I regard it here as an aberrant specimen of piscatorius until further evidence is forthcoming. Fam. 3. ANTENNARIIDAE. Toad-fishes. Body compressed. Naked or spinulose. Head compressed. Mouth protractile, very oblique or nearly vertical. Teeth in jaws and on palate. Giull-openings small, immediately below bases of pectorals. Pseudobranchiae absent. Gill-rakers absent. Gulls $+24, complete on 2nd and 38rd arches, reduced on Ist and 4th. Spinous dorsal 3-rayed. Soft dorsal and anal moderate. “ Arm ”’ of pectoral strongly bent. Ventrals with 4-5 rays. Toad-fishes are inhabitants of tropical seas and are especially abundant among coral-reefs and the gulf-weed (Sargassum). Their brilliant and variegated colouring harmonises well with the sur- rounding colours of the corals and seaweeds among which they lie in wait for their prey. Their breeding habits are not known, but it is not unlikely that they resemble those of the Anglers mentioned above. Key to the South African genera. 1. Skin prickly. Ventrals short. : : : “ : Antennarius. 2. Skin naked or granular. Ventrals elongate . : 5 : Pterophryne. Gen. ANTENNARIUS Lacép. 1798. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. i, p. 421. Skin covered with minute spinules or prickles. Ventral fins short. First dorsal spine wholly free, not enveloped in membrane, Caudal peduncle free (dorsal and anal fins not united to it by membrane). Mostly inhabitants of coral-reefs, but also found amongst floating weeds. Key to the South African species. 1. First dorsal spine with a single flap. a. Head and body with dark markings . ; : : . hispidus. b. Head and anterior part of back immaculate . ; ‘ . bigibbus. 2. First dorsal spine with 3 flaps. , . : ; : . striatus. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 1001 Antennarius hispidus Bl. Schn. 1878-88. Day, Fish. India, p. 271, pl. Ix, fig. 2. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 417 (references). Kye 14-2 in snout. D III+12, 1st spine together with its ciliated flap about equal to 2nd, and barely reaching base of 3rd spine. A 7. P 10. (Plate XXXVI, fig. 7.) Length.—Up to 170 mm. Colour.—Yellowish, with brown spots and streaks, more or less continuous dark bars on dorsal, anal, and caudal, pectorals spotted. Locality.—Natal coast, 0-50 fathoms. ~ Distribution.—Indian seas and East Indies, down to 50 fathoms. *Antennarius bigibbus (Lacép.). 1798. Lacépéde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. i, p. 325. 1861. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. i, p. 199. 1876. Id., Fische d. Siidsee, vol. v, p. 165, pl. cv, fig. B. 1918. Regan, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. u, pt. 2, p. 77. D If{+ 12, Ist spine longer than 2nd, with undivided filament, 3rd spine very robust. AZ. P 11. Length.—Up to 200 mm. Colour.—Red, head and anterior part of back rose, immaculate ; rest of body and dorsal fin reticulated with black; pectoral, ventral, caudal, and anal with a black band across middle. Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Madagascar, Mauritius, Pacific Islands. Antennarius striatus (Shaw). Striped Toad-fish. 1797. Shaw, Nat. Miscel., vol. v, pl. clxxv. 1837. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. xu, p. 410 (prnniceps). 1876. Giinther, Fische d. Siidsee, vol. v, p. 162, pl. xcix, fig. B. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. i, pt. 4, p. 418 (pinniceps). 1923. Von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., 1, p. 36 (punniceps). Kye about 2 in snout. D III+12, 1st spine as long as 2nd, and terminating in 3 flaps, which reach to middle of 3rd spine, the 2 outer —_—-- SS Ee —_ ow ee OO ——— ee nian Cree = 1002 Annals of the South African Museum. flaps as long as the spine, the middle one shorter, 2nd spine with filaments. A 7. P 10. Length.—Up to 180 mm. Colour.—Yellowish, spotted and streaked with brown; all fins more or less strongly barred and spotted with dark brown. Locality.— Natal coast. Distribution.—Indo-Malayan and Australian seas. Gen. PTEROPHRYNE Gill. 1863. Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., p. 90. Skin naked or with smooth granules. Ventrals elongate. First dorsal spine wholly free, not enveloped in membrane. Caudal peduncle free. Inhabitants of floating weeds and consequently widely distributed. Pterophryne histrio (Linn.). Sargassum-fish. 1758. Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 237. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 156 (synonymy and references). Skin minutely granular. Eye 14-2 in length of snout. D I1I+12, lst spine shorter than 2nd, bulbous at end and covered with small filaments, 2nd and 3rd spines also with apical spines. A 7. P 10. Length.—Up to 125 mm. Colour.—Brown, variously mottled and marbled with lighter shades and with white spots, fins barred with dark brown. Locality.— False Bay, East London. Distribution.— Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans. Fam. 4. CHAUNACIDAE. Head as broad as deep, cuboid. Skin spinulose. Mouth large, nearly vertical. Jaws and palate with bands of small teeth. Gill- openings small, above and behind bases of pectorals. Pseudobranchiae absent. Gill-rakers present. Gills 25, absent on Ist, reduced on 4th arch. Spinous dorsal represented only by the Ist spine (illicium), which is retractile into a groove. Soft dorsal moderate. Anal short. Ventrals small. Lateral line and mucous canals prominent. e . 4 i= Tega leen Dae yon ee ae y ERY, Seu rte vt, ‘Adie’ cy, BAD a) as eee Ye Tee eee fae te : e - ‘ { vary } ’ aah ; ‘ ey en On Ve > if iz i i . HU iz i ) i | ia PLATE XXXVI. i. FIG. Si 1. Batrachoides melanurus n. sp. (original photo) ea 2. Himantolophus reinhardti Liitk. (original photo) 3. Lophiomus setigerus (Wahl) (original photo) . 4. Halieutaea hogaster Regan (original photo) . 5, Melanocetus rotundatus Gilch. (after Gilchrist) i f i” i i a a ; , \ , . , 1 J hae f ¥ 5 = : ! | Pat 7 * - ; 1 a oe ‘4 " wine Ann. S. Afr. Mus., Vol. X XI. Plate XXXVII Nail & Co., Lid. os . © « i ‘ z t > a sf J co eee 2 ' 4 . A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 1003 Deep-sea forms resembling the Antennariids, but differing in a number of important features. Gen. CHAUNAX Lowe. 1846. Lowe, Tr. Zool. Soc. Lond., vol. i, p. 339. With the characters of the family. The so-called “ species ”’ are ill-defined and really all belong to one widely distributed species. Chaunax pictus Lowe. 1846. Lowe, loc. cit., p. 339. 1896. Goode and Bean, Ocean. Ichthyol., p. 487, fig. 398. 1921. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. vu, p. 412. 1922. Gilchrist, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., 11, p. 79. Head about 14 in length. Eye a little less than length of snout. DI+11. Tentacle (1st dorsal spine) about equal to vertical diameter of eye, slightly enlarged and fimbriate apically. A 5-6. P 11-12. (Plate XXXVI, fig. 8.) Length.—Up to 400 mm. Colour.—Grey, tinged with orange-red ; sides rosy, fins bright red, end of tentacle black. Locality.—Natal coast, 130-200 fathoms. Mstribution.—Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans, 130-400 fathoms. The abdomen of this species is very distensible as in the genus Tetrodon. In specimens preserved in this condition the ventral firs are often drawn in through the skin and appear at first sight to be absent. Fam. 5. HIMANTOLOPHIDAE. Body mostly compressed. Skin naked, with or without scutes. Eye usually small. Mouth moderate or wide, not protractile, hori- zontal, oblique or vertical. Teeth on jaws slender, depressible ; vomer sometimes toothed. Giull-openings small. Gills 24 or $+2$, the gill on Ist arch either absent or reduced, that on 4th reduced. Gill- rakers present or absent. No pseudobranchiae. Spinous dorsal represented by a tentacle on the snout, sometimes followed by a second ray. Soft dorsal short, of 5 rays. Anal short. Ventrals absent. Pectorals small. No lateral line or mucous canals. These Anglers live in the open sea at various depths, and are not bottom-dwellers. They are uniform black or dark in colour, and the tentacle frequently bears luminous organs. — = a a — ee —— ————— eae nn ea a7 pms wwe ~~" = 6 See a 1004 Annals of the South African Museum. Key to the South African genera. 1. Skin naked, without large scutes, a. No caruncles in front of soft dorsal . ; : : Dolopichthys. b. Three fleshy caruncles in front of soft dorsal : i Cryptosaras. 2. Skin with large spinous scutes. é : : : . Himantolophus. Gen. DoLoPICHTHYS Garm. 1899. Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harv., vol. xxiv, p. 81. 1909. Gill, Ann. Rep. Smiths. Instit. for 1908, p. 580. Skin without scutes. Mouth horizontal. Head large, body at- tenuated behind. Hye small. Fins much reduced and more or less enveloped in the loose skin of the body. Spinous dorsal consisting of the tentacle only, which has a basal part to which is hinged the ter- minal part bearing at its end a more or less enlarged luminous bulb. A sharp spine above each eye. No barbel on chin. This genus comprises D. allector Garm., from the Pacific Ocean ; D. niger Brauer, from the Indian Ocean; and the present species. The tentacle appears to afford the only marked specific difference. * Dolopichthys cornutus (G. and v. B.). 1924. Gilchrist and von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., vu, p: 23, pl. vi, fig. 2 (Onezrodes c.). Length of tentacle about equal to length of snout, basal part about half the length of the terminal part ; luminous bulb well developed. DI+4. Pca.8. Aabsent. A depressible spine behind angle of the mouth. Teeth on vomer ? Length.—16-5 mm. Colour.— Uniform black. Locality.—South African seas (no locality given). Type in coll. Govt. Marine Survey. Gen. CRYPTOPSARAS Gill. 1883. Gill, Forest and Stream, Nov. 8, p. 284 (quoted from next references). 1895. Goode and Bean, Ocean. Ichthyol., p. 491. 1898. Jordan and Evermann, Fish. Mid. and N. Amer., vol. 1, p. 2731. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 1005 Body ovate, compressed. Skin covered with minute setiform prickles. Head very large, trunk shortened. Eye rudimentary or absent. Mouth vertical. Teeth on mandible and upper jaw depres- sible, uniserial or biserial, those in upper jaw much smaller than those in lower jaw ; a few small teeth sometimes present on vomer. Nostrils indistinct. Chin with two small spines or a bony knob. Ilhcium (1st dorsal spine) consisting of a very short basal joint embedded in skin, and a long slender distal joint terminating in a bulb-like expan- sion. A large median dorsal caruncle, flanked on either side by a smaller one, in front of the dorsal fin. Dorsal and anal fins each of 4 rays. Caudal of 8 rays, the middle four bifurcate. Pectoral of (12)15-16 rays. Ventrals absent. Cryptopsaras couest Gill. 1883. Guill, loc. crt., p. 284. 1887. Giinther, Challeng. Rep., vol. xxii, p. 55, pl. xi, fig. D (Cera- tras carunculatus). 1896. Goode and Bean, loc. cit., p. 491, fig. 402. 1898. Jordan and Evermann, loc. cit., p. 2731. 1906. Brauer, Wiss. Ergebn. D. Tiefsee Exp., vol. xv, p. 317, pl. xv, fig. 7 (Ceratias). Depth of body equal to distance from-gill-slit to base of caudal fin, and 22 in length of head plus trunk. Eyes completely degenerate ; on the right side there is a minute pale spot, smooth and transparent, about in the position which the eye should occupy, but there is no trace of a similar spot on the left side. Teeth biserial in both jaws, a few extra teeth at symphysis of lower jaw, hinder part of upper jaw also with an extra row of fine teeth making the band triserial. A sharp knob on chin. Nostrils not visible. No pores (such as described by Ginther) on trunk or tail. Illicium equal to distance from snout to pectoral, reaching when laid back to first dorsal ray, a narrow streak of phosphorescent tissue at end of bulb, but no filament. A low fleshy median ridge in front of the median caruncle as described by Brauer. Pectoral rays 16. Length.—205 mm. (without caudal rays, 170 mm.). Colour.—Violaceous-black, membrane of dorsal, anal, and caudal fins white, the rays black; illicitum, mouth, and gullet also black. Locality.—Off west coast (Table Bay), deep water. Distribution.—EKast coast of N. America, 1686 fathoms; Japan, 345 fathoms; Gulf of Aden, 1840 metres. 1006 Annals of the South African Museum. The above description is taken from a perfect specimen brought in by a trawler from the Stock-fish grounds outside Table Bay. It is far larger than any hitherto known specimen, Brauer’s specimen from the Gulf of Aden being the largest yet recorded: 67 mm. Never- theless there appear to be no differences which can be accounted specific. It seems a little doubtful whether Gunther’s carunculatus should be considered conspecific. In spite of very careful scrutiny, I have failed to find any openings for the nostrils, and no trace of an eye on the left side. Gen. HIMANTOLOPHUS Reinh. 1837. Reinhardt, Dansk. Vidensk. Selsk., p. 74. 1878. Guill, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. 1, p. 219 (Corynolophus). Head and body compressed, short. Skin with large scutes, each bearing a spine. Mouth oblique. Eye very small. Spinous dorsal represented by the tentacle only, which is unjointed and bears at the end a large bulb and numerous filamentary appendages. Soft dorsal and anal well developed, the former with 5 rays (4 of these are forked, which apparently explains why the number was originally given as 9). Pectorals well developed. Gull-rakers present. { In the present state of our knowledge there seems little reason for separating Corynolophus from Reinhardt’s genus. Himantolophus reinhardti Liitk. 1878. Liitken, Kon. Dansk. Videns. Selsk., p. 321. 1895. Goode and Bean, Ocean. Ichthyol., p. 494, fig. 405. 1908. Tanaka, J. Coll. Sci. Tokyo, vol. xxii, pt. 13, p. 22, pl. 1, fig. 5. Depth 14 in length. DI-+5. The tentacle is about §} length of head, its stalk covered with small prickles, the terminal bulbous ex- pansion bears a group of 4 smaller bulbs with luminous spots, and a tassel of simple and branched filaments. P (16-)17. C(8-)9. (Plate XXXVII, fig. 2.) Length.—Up to 350 mm. Colour.—Dark blackish-grey. Locality. — Off Cape Point. Distribution.—N. Atlantic (Greenland), Japan. A specimen, 280 mm. long, of this most interesting Angler was cast up on the beach at Kommetje, on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula in September 1923, and secured for the South African Museum. It is | A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 1007 in perfect condition and corresponds with the description of H. rein- hardti. The presence of this species in the S. Atlantic is noteworthy. Fam. 6. MELANOCETIDAE. Body more or less compressed, the head enormous. Skin naked. Eye moderate or small. Mouth very large, not protractile, oblique or vertical. Teeth in jaws slender, depressible ; vomer sometimes toothed. Gull-openings small. Gills 24, that on lst arch absent. Gill- rakers not described. No pseudobranchiae. Spinous dorsal represented by the tentacle on the snout, bearing a terminal luminous bulb. Soft dorsal far back, moderate, with 12-15 rays, Anal short. Ventrals absent. Pectorals small. No lateral line or mucous canals. Bathypelagic Anglers resembling the preceding family in their uniform black coloration, but distinguished by the more numerous rays in the soft dorsal. Gen. MELANOCETUS Gnthr. 1864. Giinther, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 301. Vomerine teeth present. nocetus, the only other genus, has no vomerine teeth. Owing to the distortion due to the method of capture, the shape and proportions of the body are of little use in distinguishing the species of these fishes. * VMelanocetus rotundatus Gilch. 1903. Gilchrist, Mar. Invest. 8. Afr., vol. u, p. 206, pl. xv. 1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Durban Mus., vol. 1, pt. 4, p. 417. 1918. Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. iv, p. 155. D [+14-15, the soft dorsal confluent with caudal. A 4. C 8-9. (Plate XX XVII, fig. 5.) Length —Up to 39 mm. Colour_—Black, the fins and a patch behind the eye white. Locality. Off Cape Point and Natal coast, 600 fathoms. Type 2 lost. This species is probably synonymous with M. krechi Brauer from the E. coast of Africa. I have seen neither the type nor the immature specimen mentioned by Gilchrist, though I have seen the original drawing of the latter. It shows D15; C9. 1008 Annals of the South African Museum. The Atlantic species M. johnsoni Gnthr. has the soft dorsal separate from the caudal. Fam. 7. ONCHOCEPHALIDAE. (Sometimes spelt : Ogcocephalidae, or Oncocephalidae.) Bat-fishes. Head forming a very broad and depressed disc, body slender and tapering. Skin with bony tubercles and spines. Eyes moderate. Mouth small or moderate, horizontal, terminal or subterminal. Villi- form teeth on jaws and sometimes on palate. Gull-openings small, above bases of pectorals. Gulls 2 or 25, none on Ist arch. Gill-rakers present or absent. No pseudobranchiae. Spinous dorsal represented by the tentacle only, which has a very short stalk with a broad ter- minal expansion, and is contained in a depression on the front of the snout. Sometimes the forehead is produced forwards as a rostrum, causing the tentacle to be directed downwards. Soft dorsal and anal short ; in one genus dorsal obsolete. Pectorals well developed, the arm strongly bent. Ventrals present, jugular. These Anglers or Bat-fishes are bottom-dwellers, some living in shallow water, but the majority in deep water. Observations on some shallow-water species show that these fishes rest on the bottom in a position resembling that of a toad but with this distinction: the hind part of the body is supported by the pectoral fins, corresponding with the fore limb of.the toad, while the head and the front part of the body is supported by the ventral fins, corresponding with the hind limb of the toad. Key to the South African genera. 1. Forehead elevated. Snout more or less produced forwards. Orbits lateral Malthopsis. 2. Forehead depressed. Snout rounded. Orbits partly dorsal. a. Vomer and palatine with teeth. No gill-rakers . . Halieutichthys. b. Vomer and palatine without teeth. i. Disc subcircular. Gill-rakers present . : ; Halieutaea. ii. Dise subtriangular : ; 5 : : 5 Dibranchus. Gen. Mattruopsis Alck. 1891. Alcock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (6), vol. 8, p. 26. 1899. Id., Cat. Ind. Deep-sea Fishes, p. 64. Disc depressed, subtriangular. Forehead produced into a sharp projection overhanging a cavity on the snout, in which the tentacle A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 1009 is situate. Orbits lateral. Teeth on vomers and palatines. Gills on 2nd and 3rd arches only. Gill-rakers ? An Indo-Pacific genus, in rather deep water. *Malthopsis triangularis Lloyd. 909. -Gloyd, Mem. Ind. Mus., vol. u, pt. 3, p, 169, pl. xlv, i figs. 1, la. 1924. Gilchrist and von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., vii, p. 24. Disc nearly twice as broad as long, its antero-lateral margins straight and forming a right angle. Spine on forehead nearly vertical and slightly more than half diameter of eye. A pair of plates between the ventral fins, with a group of 5 in front of them. Between ventrals and vent a large plate surrounded by 6 others. Subopercular spine (at postero-lateral angle of disc) as large as rostral spine and bearing 4 little spinelets. DI+5. A4. V5. Length —Up to 55 mm. Colour.—Yellowish-pink. Locality.— Natal coast, 260 fathoms. Distribution.—Andaman seas, Indian Ocean. Gen. HaLIEUTICHTHYS Poey. 1863. Poey, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., p. 83. Disc subecircular. Forehead not elevated or produced. Orbits dorso- lateral. Teeth on vomers and palatines. Gills 24. No gill-rakers. The presence of this West Indian genus in 8. Africa is interesting. *Halieutichthys fitzsimonsi G. and T. 1916. Gilchrist and Thompson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. i, p. 58, fig. Disc slightly wider than long, its length about 2 (or 3) length of body. Margin with stout trifid spines and short irregular filaments. Large spines on disc and trunk. Ridge over rostral cavity with 3 simple spines; 6 supraorbital spines. Lower surface smooth, except for a submarginal row of spines on anterior half of disc. Eye about 9 in length of disc (according to figure), slightly less than interorbital width. DI+5. Tentacle 3-lobed. A? P14. V5. C9. Length.—158 mm. Colour.—Greyish, with darker markings forming an irregular net- work; 2 brown spots behind the orbits followed by 2 white ones ; 1010 Annals of the South African Museum. dorsal and caudal fins apically blackish; white below (said to be coral-red in life). Locality.—Algoa Bay. Type ? lost. Apparently only one specimen of this species has been discovered. The markings, as well as the presence of teeth on the palate, form a ready means of distinguishing it from the following species, which also occurs in the same locality. Gen. HALIEUTAEA C. and V. 1837. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. xii, p. 455. Disc subcircular. Forehead not elevated or produced. Orbits dorso-lateral. Vomerine and palatine teeth absent. Gills 24. Gill- rakers present. The genus is Indo-Pacific in distribution. Halieutaea liogaster Regan. 1921. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), vol. vii, p. 419. 1922. Gilchrist, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., ii, p.:79. 1923. Von Bonde, zbid., Spec. Rep., i, p. 36. Disc broader than long, its length not quite 14 in length of body. Margin with stout bifid or multifid spines and short fleshy filaments. Large spines, mostly 4-rooted, on disc and trunk. Ridge over rostral cavity with 3 simple spines. Five supraorbital spines, with a sixth between the foremost one and the median rostral spine. Lower sur- face quite smooth except for a row of spines along lower jaw and a submarginal row on anterior half of disc. Hye 63-74 in length of dise, equal to or (usually) slightly less than interorbital width. D I-+5. Tentacle 3-lobed, the lower lobes fringed below. A4. P14. V5. C9. (Plate XX XVII, fig. 4.) Length.—Up to 180 mm. Colour.—Greyish, with dark markings forming a large meshed net- work, a pair of rings in the middle of the disc being the most con- spicuous ; under side white ; pectorals and caudal apically blackish. Locality —Agulhas Bank to Natal, 25-250 fathoms. Type in British Museum. Gen. DIBRANCHUS Peters. 1876. Peters, Monatsber. Kon. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, p. 736. Disc subtriangular. Forehead not elevated or produced. Orbits A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 1011 dorso-lateral. Vomerine and palatine teeth absent. Gills 2. Gill- takers absent (present on anterior arch in D. erythrinus Gilbert). Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans. * Dibranchus stellulatus Gilbert. 1905. Gilbert, Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., vol. xxii, p. 698, fig. 276. 1924. Gilchrist and von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv. Spec. Rep., vii, p. 24 (stellatus typogr. laps.). Disc considerably broader than long, its length 2 length of body. Antero-lateral margins nearly straight and forming a right angle. Marginal spines bifid or multifid. Subopercular (at postero-lateral angles of disc) and rostral spines strong, each bearing several spinelets. Upper surface with sharp 4—6-rooted spines, giving a stellate appear- ance. Lower surface with similar but smaller spines. Eye about 7 in length of disc and about equal to interorbital width. D I-+5. A4. P14-15. VI5. Length.—67 mm. Colour.—Olive-brown, 2 small black spots behind each eye, a second pair on each side in middle of disc, a third pair in front of each gill- opening ; white beneath. Locality.—Natal coast, 260 fathoms. DMistribution.—Hawaian Islands, 178-202 fathoms. Division 22. OPISTHOMI. (1912, Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (8), vol. ix, p. 217.) No mesocoracoid. Air-bladder without an open duct (physoclystic). Pectoral arch attached to the vertebral column behind skull. Opercle well developed, but hidden under the skin. Fins without spines, but a series of detached spinelets in front of the dorsal. Ventral fins absent. More or less eel-like, carnivorous fishes from fresh and brackish waters of Southern Asia and tropical Africa, comprised in the single family, Mastacembelidae. Three species of Mastacembelus come within the area of South Africa, and are referred to in ‘“‘ The Freshwater Fishes of 8. Africa,” p. 549, and Appendix, p. 578. VOU. XXl, PART 2. 65 1012 Annals of the South African Museum. ALP PEN Dak. Additions and Corrections. Page 21. Add the following species :— * Heptranchias platycephalus (Ten.). 1809. Tenore, Mem. Acad. Pont., vol. i, pp. 241, 258. 1835. Agassiz, Rech. Poiss. Foss., pl. EH, fig. 1 (Notedanus indicus). 1918. Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harv., vol. xxxvi, p. 18. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p. 188. Differs from H. pectorosus in the absence of a median tooth in the upper jaw. Locality.—Cape coast, 40 fathoms. Distribution.—Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, N.E. Pacific. Page 24. Add the following species :— * Carcharinus vagatus (Garman). 1913. Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harv., vol. xxxvi, p. 116. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 190. This species is one of the Scolcodon group and is closely allied to walbeehnu ; in fact, further investigation will probably prove its identity with the latter. It is differentiated by Garman in having longer labial grooves on both jaws, and rather more numerous teeth. Locality.—Delagoa Bay. _ Distribution.—Zanzibar. Page 26. Add the following species :— * Carcharinus dussumiert (M. and H.). 1841. Miller and Henle, Plagiost., p. 47, pl. xix, fig. 8. 1878-88. Day, Fish. Ind., p. 714, pl. clxxxvui, fig. 2 1913. Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harv., vol. xxxvi, p. 187. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 190. In the key on p. 23 belongs to the Prionodon group with Ist dorsal nearer pectoral than ventral. Snout bluntly rounded, its preoral length little more than width of mouth. Teeth 23-26, the upper stouter and more inclined than the lower ones. Colour.—Grey, fins with paler edges, except 2nd dorsal, which has a black tip. Locality.—Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indian seas to China. te st eee Peeps ee, ? Pe Fo wh P ep A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 1013 Page 29. The genus Muste.us must be ascribed to Linck (1790, Mag. Neu. Phys. Naturg., vol. vi, pt. 3, p. 31); see Gill, 1903, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxvi, p. 960, and Opinion 93 of Intern. Commiss. Nomencel. (Smithson, Misc. Coll., vol. Ixxin, p. 4, 1926). Page 30. Mustelus canis (in key on p. 29 as vulgaris) is made the type of Cymas Gill (1903, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xxvi, p. 960). See Opinion 93, quoted above. Page 31. Scylliogaleus queketti. Boulenger (Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. i, p. 63, 1903) states that this species, of which only the type is known, was caught from the rocks at Umkomaas River mouth, not at a depth of 40 fathoms as originally recorded. Pages 39 and 40. Scylliorhinus africanus and pantherinus. Add reference : 1925; Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvn, p. 189 (Poroderma a. and p.). Additional locality for pantherinus.—Natal and Zululand coast. Page 42. Scylliorhinus regani. Add references : 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 188, fig. 1. _ 1926. Id., Ann. Nat. Mus., vol. v, p. 399, fig. 3. In both these references the species is wrongly attributed to von Bonde, instead of to Gilchrist. Additional locality — Natal coast, 20 fathoms. Page 47. After EHchinorhinus spinosus add the following genus and species :— Gen. HetTERoscymnus Tanaka. 1912. Tanaka, Fish. Japan, vol. vi, p. 104. 1913. Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harv., vol. xxxvi, p. 239. Snout depressed. Skin with minute scales. Dorsal fins small, without spines, Ist about midway between bases of pectorals and pelvics, Ist a little larger than 2nd. Mouth transverse, with deep groove ateach angle. Teeth in upper jaw numerous, erect, lanceolate ; in lower jaw larger, with oblique triangular cusp pointing outwards. Spiracles small. Gill-slits moderate. Pupil round. A single species. * Heteroscymnus longus Tanaka. 1912. Tanaka, loc. cit., p. 102, pl. 26. 1913. Garman, loc. cit., p. 239. 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 191. The species will be recognised from the generic description above. Length —Up to 1360 mm. a" ic —— = SS SS = os 1014 Annals of the South African Museum. Colour.—Blackish-brown, edges of the fins darker (Tanaka), tips white (Fowler). Locality.—Natal coast. Distribution.—Japan. Type in Science College Museum, Tokyo. Page 48. Squalus acutipinnis Regan. Fowler (1925, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. xxvii, p. 191) identifies Natal specimens with fernandinus, but makes no mention of the character of the nasal valves. Page 56. According to Gill (loc. cit., supra) the first author of the genus Pristis is Linck, 1790, Mag. Neu. Phys. Naturg., vol. vi, pt. 3, Devoe Page 57. Pristis pectinatus Lath. Add reference : 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 192. Page 59. A valuable revision of the genus Rhinobatus is given by Norman, 1926, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 944 sqq. Rhinobatus annulatus M. and H. Add reference : 1926. Norman, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 964, fig. 17. Page 61. Rhinobatus holcorhynchus Norm. Fowler (1925, Proce. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 192) recognises the identity of his natalensis with Norman’s species, but makes both synonymous with rasus Garman, a West African species. There are, however, differences in the shape of the nasal flaps, and the two projections from margin of spiracle are subequal, whereas Garman describes the inner as being rudimentary. Add reference: 1926, Norman, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 957, fig. 10. Rhinobatus blochti M. and H. Add reference : | 1926. Norman, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 968, fig. 21. Page 62. For halavi (Forsk.) read obtusus M. and H. Add reference : 1926, Norman, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 950, fig. 4. In addition to the four species described in this monograph, Norman describes two new species in the paper quoted. These are: Rhinobatus leucospilus Norm. 1926. Norman, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 966, fig. 18. Very close to annulatus, but snout shorter and broader. Margins of pectoral and pelvic fins bluish-grey, snout and pectoral fins with pale bluish-grey spots and blotches. Up to 415 mm. Durban. I rather doubt whether this species will be maintained as separate from annulatus when a long series is examined. All the Cape speci- mens I have seen (200 mm. upwards) are undoubtedly annulatus. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 1015 Three young specimens (120-130 mm., with the umbilical cord still attached) from Hast London show the following proportions: pre- orbital length 14 times the distance between the spiracles, width of mouth 24-23 in preoral length, eye 4 in preorbital length, eye plus spiracle 14 in interspiracular distance, nostril 2 in width of mouth, equal to internarial distance, distance from margin 3 in preoral length. Thus it is uncertain which species they should be referred to. The coloration is faded and does not help. * Rhinobatus ocellatus Norm. 1926. Norman, Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 967, fig. 20. Snout bluntly pointed, sides straight. Preoral length 34 times width of mouth. Eye 52in preorbital length, which is about 3 times interspiracular space. Nostril 13 in width of mouth, 14 in internarial space. Anterior nasal flap extending inwards well beyond level of inner edge of nostril. Two spiracular projections. A series of small blunt spines down middle of back. Rostral cartilages separate, almost parallel. Up to 700 mm. Brownish with numerous bluish- grey ocelli. Algoa Bay. This species has a longer snout than annulatus, approaching holco- rhynchus, but distinguished from the latter by the absence of the black blotch below the tip of snout. Page 67. Rava ocellifera Regan. Add reference: 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvn, p. 193. Page 79. Playfair and Gitinther (Fisb. Zanz., p. 143) record Taenwura lymma trom Mozambique, but this locality is not given in Giinther’s British Museum Catalogue (vol. vii, p. 483), nor in Garman (1913). Taeniura is distinguished from Dasybatis by having a cutaneous fold below the tail and extending to its extremity. Pages 82 and 83. Myliobatis and Aetobatis. Jordan and Hubbs (Mem. Carn. Mus., vol. x, p. 116, 1925) are of opinion that Myliobatis must stand down in favour of Aetobatus Blainv. 1816, and that for the species narimary Cantor’s name Stoasodon must be adopted. The family name would thus become Aetobatidae. See, however, Opinion 93, Intern. Comm. Nomencl. (Smithson, Misc. Coll., vol. Ixxii, pt. 4, pp. 6, 10), where the question is still sub judice. Page 87. Manta ehrenberg:.. A fine specimen of this species was caught at Hast London in March 1925, and forwarded to the South African Museum, where a plaster cast was made and is now exhibited. The dental ribbon and certain anatomical preparations were preserved, but the whole of the internal organs had unfortunately been removed before shipment to the Museum. The specimen measured 13 ft. 6 in. from mouth to tip of tail, and 18 ft. across the wings. Its weight was estimated at 1200 lb. SS SS CSS ve Se SS SSS aS SS aS See. SS CS Saa&eP t2== SS SF es. 1016 Annals of the South African Museum. Page 90. Narcobatus marmoratus (Risso). Add reference: 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 193 (panthera). Page 92. Heteronarce garmani Regan. Narcine natalensis is a synonym of this species. Add the following references : 1925. Fowler, Ann. Nat. Mus., vol. v, p. 198, text-fig. 2. 1925. Id., Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvui, p. 193. The species grows to a length of 260 mm. Fowler apparently does not admit Regan’s genus Heteronarce. Type of garmani in British Museum ; of natalensis in Philadelphia Academy of Sciences. Page 96. Callorhynchus capensis. A young specimen 150 mm. in length shows small sharp spines on the head and back arranged as follows: a V-shaped series on the interorbital space, the arms of the V diverging posteriorly, each with about 14-15 spines; a row of about 12 spines on each side of the median line in front of the 2nd dorsal fin and a similar row of about 12 on each side of the median line between the 2nd dorsal and the caudal fins. These spines are still visible in a specimen 260 mm. in length, but disappear com- pletely in the adult. Page 99, line 11. In the reference to Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. for vol. Will pb..a, Tead = serr o, volume. Page 110. Add the following species :— * Pellona hoeveniw Blkr. 1852. Bleeker, Verh. Bat. Gen., vol. xxiv, p. 21. 1872. Jd.) AG ichth yol., vol: va, p.117,al: cele tes 1878-88. Day. Fish. Ind., p. 644, pl. elxv, fig. 6. 1913. Weber and de Beaufort, Fisb. Indo-Austr. Arch., vol. 11, p. 86, text-fig. 29 (jaw-bones). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 195. Upper profile nearly as convex as the ventral profile. Depth 23-3, length of head 3-34, in length of body. Eye greater than snout, 22-34 in length of head, equal to interorbital width. Maxilla reaching to below centre of eye. A toothed bone connecting pre- maxilla with maxilla, latter minutely serrate. Posterior halves of occipital ridges converging. Gill-rakers 20-23 (Fowler: 27) on lower part of anterior arch. D 17-18. A 33-38. Scales: 1.1. 40-45 (Fowler: 36-38); ltr. 12-13. Scutes 14-18 in front of, 8-9 behind, ventrals. Length.—Up to 180 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker on the back. Locality.—Natal coast, Delagoa Bay. | Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 1017 Hasily distinguished from natalensis by the convex profile, though otherwise closely allied. The number of gill-rakers in natalensis is 24-25. Page 111. Hilsa durbanensis (Regan). Add reference : 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. kxxvu, p. 195. Additional locality.—Delagoa Bay. Page 112. Sardina sagax (Jenyns). Add reference : 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvu, p. 194. Page 113. Add the following species :— * Sardinella melanura (Cuv.). 1829. Cuvier, Régne Anim., ed. 2, vol. ii, p. 318. feo Dleeker, Atl. Ichthyol., vol. vi, p. 105, pl. cclxm, fig. 5 (sundaica) ; p. 106, pl. cclxvil, fig. 5 (atricauda); and p. 111, pl. cclxix, laa 1878-88. Day, Fish. Ind., p. 636, pl. clxiv, fig. 5 (atricauda). 1917. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (8), vol. xix, p. 384 (references). 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 194. Depth 34-4, length of head 4-44, in length of body. Eye about equal to snout, 34-4 in length of head. Maxilla extending to below anterior 4 of eye. D 18-19. A 16-18. Ventral 8-rayed. Scales: 1.1. 43-46; Ltr. 12-13 (Fowler: 10). Scutes sharply keeled, 18-20 in front of, 12-13 behind, ventrals. Gull-rakers 38-44 on lower part of anterior arch. Length.—Up to 160 mm. Colour.—Silvery, darker above, a dark spot at base of anterior dorsal rays, tips of caudal blackish. Locality.—Delagoa Bay. Distribution.—Indo- Pacific. Compare Harengula vittata, p. 115. Page 118. Thryssa vitrirostris G. and T. Add reference : 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. Ixxvii, p. 195 (vitr- rostris Sic). Page 125. Gonorhynchus gonorhynchus (Gmel.). Add reference : 1925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., vol. lxxvu, p. 193. The depth ‘600 fathoms” would appear to be a misprint, as the occurrence of this species at that depth is very unlikely. Page 133. Astronesthes boulengert. A specimen has been received from off Dassen Island (West coast), 200 fathoms. Colour when fresh : black, opercle silvery, photophores amethystine. = SS See ee 1018 Annals of the South African Museum. Page 148. Omit Gen. YARELLA and diagnosis, and substitute the following :— Gen. PotyMETME McCull. 1926. McCulloch, Biol. Res. ‘“‘ Endeavour,” vol. v, pt. 4, p. 166. Resembling Photichthys, but the dorsal placed somewhat further back, and no enlarged fangs in jaws. Differs from Yarella in the presence of an adipose fin. The species becomes Polymetme africana (G. and v. B.). Page 157. Synodontidae (Fresh-water). This name not only conflicts with the marine family Synodontidae, p. 224, but should be changed to Mochokidae as the earliest genus in the family is Mochokus Joannis 1835 (spelt Mochocus by Giinther, Regan, Bou- lenger). Page 174. In key to families, for Muraenoidei read Muraenidae. Page 175. Since the descriptions of the South African species of Anguilla were written, Dr. J. Schmidt of Copenhagen has examined by means of X-rays a considerable amount of South African material, including that belonging to the South African Museum, with the result that he finds there is only one species of Kel in South Africa, viz., A. mossambica (Peters). }+ (Papers by Gilchrist, von Bonde, Swart). * It should be noted that in later works the references to these papers frequently give erroneous dates, viz., the dates of the volwmes instead of the actual date of publication of the separate papers. The date of publication, which is the correct one to quote, is given at the end of each paper, except the first two in volume I. The date of publication of these is 1898. There are also occasional misprints in these papers + Typographical errors are very frequent in these papers, especially in the numbers given for fin formule, scale-counts, etc.; the descriptions therefore should be read with caution. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 1033 7. Annals of the South African Museum (Cape Town), vols. iii, vi, x1, xii. (Papers by Boulenger, Gilchrist and Thompson, Barnard.) 8. Annals of the Natal Government Museum (Pietermaritzburg), vols. i, v. (Papers by Regan, Fowler.) 9. Annals of the Durban Museum (Durban), vols. i, 11, iii. (Papers by Regan, Gilchrist and Thompson.) 10. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa (Cape Town), vols. ili, vi, X, Xli, xiv. (Papers by Gilchrist, von Bonde.) To these may be added : 11. Clark, Scottish National Antarctic Expedition Sci. Res., vol. iv, 1915. 12. Fowler, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. Washington, vol. lvi, 1919. 13. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. Ixxvu, 1925. On the subject of the Eggs and Life-histories of South African fishes, Gilchrist is the only writer : 15. Id., Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. 111, 1916 (gives an account of all the known eggs and larvae). 16. Id., Trans. Roy. Soc. 8. Afr., vol. vi, 1917 (protective resem- blance in post-larval fishes). 17. Id., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 9 (11), p. 114, 1918 (Naucrates ductor). ESseld- @: Journ. Microse. Sei. (63), vol. 1, p. 141, 1918 (Hepia- tretus). ft? Gilehrist and Hunter, Trans. Roy. Soc. 8S. Afr., vol. viu, p. 1, 1919 (Table Bay fishes). 20. Id., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 9 (vii), p. 173, 1921 (deep-sea fishes). From a more popular point of view, the local names of our fishes are important and many of them have an interesting history, which is discussed in : 21. Gilchrist, Trans. 8. Afr. Philos. Soc., vol. xi, 1902. 22. Robinson, Mar. Biol. Rep., vol. i, 1916. The earlier writers, Pappe and Castelnau, frequently misapplied the local names, and adopted the wrong scientific name for a par- ticular fish (e.g. the case of the Dageraad and the Roman). See also note at head of Index to Common Names (p. 1059). A popular account of the growth of the fishing industry will be found in: 23. Thompson, The Sea Fisheries of the Cape Colony, Cape Town, 1913. 2S ae SSS See ee 1034 Annals of the South African Museum. INDEX TO SCIENTIFIC NAMES. A PAGE pace | afra (Atherina) . ; : er | abdominalis ae a a . 737 | africana (Chimaera) . 95 Ablennes . . 258,1022 |- ,, (Drepane punctata’ var. re 601 Abudefduf : : ‘ Hor GIO “ (Macdonaldia) ; may ~acanthias (Squalus) . ; . Ad ys (Paraplagusia marmorata Acanthidium . : s' “BO var.) . ; ‘ ; . 410 acanthiger (Coelorhynchus) . 343 | africana (Sphyraena) . . 313, 1024 Acanthistius . : , . 489 | africana (Squatina) . , . ee Acanthocepola . « O05 Pa (Yarrella) . . 148, 1018 acanthonotus (Nemichthys) . . 198 | africanus (Psenes) . : . 893 acanthopleurus (Hoplichthys) . 937 | africanus (Scylliorhinus) . 39, 1013 acanthops (Holacanthus) . . 617 | agassiz (Bathysaurus) : - wae Acanthuridae . ; , 2 gO »» (Gymnothorax) . - 2 Acanthurus - ; . . 77,781 | Agriopus . : ;. S28 acaudatus (Areliscus) . : . 415 | agulhensis (Dasybatis) : yaa - iN SCM RLS : so M47. oe (Gobius) . , . 821 Achirus . : . 404 | alalaua (Priacanthus) : . 499 acinaces (Xystaema) . ‘ . 629 |-alalonga (Germo) : , . 199 Acronurus : : é . 777 |~alatum (Myctophum) ; . 240 Acropoma ; : ; . 529 |~alba (Cyclothone signata var.) . 145 Acropomatinae . . ; . 513 | albalinea (Raia) 3 ; 5) Come Actinoberyx > : . 363 | albescens (Careproctus) : | ORs ~ aculeatus (Balistapus) 3 .. 053 ss (Congermuraena) . . 188 ~ acuminatus (Clinus) . : » 809 a (Echeneis) . : . 42) acuminatus (Heniochus) . . 608 | albisella (Dascyllus) . : 2 hea acus (Coelorhynchus). : . 339 | alboguttatus (Lutianus) : - 655 —acus (Syngnathus) . . 288 |~albolineatus (Batrachoides) . 994 acutecaudatum (M elanonosoma) . 332 | albomarginatus (Epinephelus) . 477 acuticeps (Sphagebranchus) . 206 | albopunctatus (Gobius) ‘ - S2t acutipennis (Gobius) . ; 2 eee a (Siganus) : - 185 | acutipinnis (Gobius) . ; 823 | albotaeniatus (Lepidaplois) . . 745 | acutipinnis (Sphyraena) . 313, 1024 | albovittatus (Plectorhynchus) . 671 | = ¥ (Squalus) . . 48,1014 | Albula . . )105 ~ acutus (Carcharinus), . : . 24 | Albulidae . ; : ; ~) Ge acutus (Lethrinus) . ; . 632 | albus (Dentex) . : : eS adenensis (Glyphisodon). . . 737 | Aldrovandia . . : - 166 adeni (Peristedion) . : . 945 | Alectis . - A E . 548 aeneofuscus (Gobius) . , . 819 | Alepidosaurus . : : . 250 aeneus (Caranthus) . : 724 | Alepisauridae . 3 A . 249 Aeoliscus . : 280, 1023 | Alepisauroidea . ‘ : . 224 aeolochrus (Myctophum) 5 . 1021 | Alepisaurus : : oa an aequidens (Atractoscion) . . 575 | Alepocephalidae : : . 320 aerostaticus (Tetrodon) : . 974 | Alepocephalus . : ‘ eee Aesopia . : . 408 | Aleposomus : ; ; ~ ae aestuarius (Spratelloides) : . 109 | alfredi (Manta) . ; : « “Bi Aetobatis . ; : . 83,1015 | Algoa 5 : ; : ~ Se affinis (Aldrovandia) . : 167 | algoensis (Hoplegnathus) . . 505 ~ ,, (Argyropelecus) ; . 152 | algoensis (Ophichthys) : . 208 affinis (Pagellus) : f . 707 | algoensis (Pagrus) : : . es ee | Peeks tag : . 673 | algoensis (Paralichthodes) . ~ 398 affinis (Selar) . ‘ . 688 | algoensis (Tetrodon) . : . 970 ° a 22s = A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 1035 PAGE | PAGE Allocyttus ; . 377 | Antigonia ; ‘ ; . 380 ALLOTRIOGNATHI : . 350 | Antimora . : . 321 i ~ allporti (Callanthias) . : . 465 | antjerius (Gey phisodon) ; ee Alopias. . P . 34 | Aphoristia ; : ay alticlarens (Priacanthus) : . 9800 | apiatus ( Batrachoides) : . 994 altipennis (Hxocoetus) ; . 270 |-apiatus (Marcgravia) . : . 992 Alutera . d ‘ 3 . 960 |.apicalis HEBEL 7 ; 204 M Ambassidae : : 5 . 641 | Apistus. ’ o Obs Ambassis . : ‘ . 641 | APODES. : ; ; oo VS ambassis (Ambassis) . : . 642 | Apogon . ; nits Amblyapistus . . 917 | Apogonidae : : : oe ble amboinensis (Tropidichthys) . 976 | Apolectus : ; . “B65 americanus (Odontaspis) . . 36 | aprinus (Cirrihitichthy ayes . 453 ! ~ americanus (Polyprion) ; 488 | Aprion . ‘ : , . 648 amethystino-punctatus (Maurolicus) 151 | Apristurus ; : : hs ~ amia (Lichia) . : : . 559 | Apsilus. ; ‘ . 647 | Ammodytes : i : . 430 |-aquila (Myliobatis) : i ey S62 [ Ammodytidae . : : . 430 | aquila (Pteromylea) . : mites | Ammodytiformes : : . 426 » (Sciaena) : : . 569 Amphacanthus . : ; . 784 | arab (Plotosus) . : ‘ .~ L68 fl Amphiliidae , : . 157 | arago (Hemipteronotus) . a9 i Amphiprion . : ‘ . 729 |~araneus (Trachinus) . 440 Amphiprionidae ‘ F . 728 | arborescens (Clinus superciliosus | Anabas . : : . 296 Vale ire : . 855 ! ANACANTHINI : : lols |) ancatus (Paracirrhites) : : 461 i Anacanthobatis ; : . 79 | archionema (Uranoscopus) . . 436 | Anago. : . 1018 + arcticus (Galeocerdo) . : fad anago (Congermuraena) 2) 190; 10LS Ms, (Trachypterus) ; . 353 ~ anale (Dissomma) . : 248 | Arelia : : ‘ : . 413 analis (Caranx) . : 5 . 547 | Areliscus . : . 414 » (Lutianus) ; ; . 657 | arenaceus (Cantherines) ‘ . 958 analis (Neobythites) . ‘ . 879 | arenatus (Priacanthus) . 499 Anchichoerops . ‘ . 746 | argentaria (Gazza) : - 626 andersoni (Epinephelus) : . 480 | argentatus (Coelorhynchus) . 339 andersoni (Pseudorhombus) . 388 | argentatus (Branchiostegus) POL a anglicus (Pagrus) ; : 700 | argentatus (Petraites) : . 865 Anguilla . : i : 115, 1018 | argenteus (Dules) : 3 . > 496 ~ anguillaris (Clinus) . : 862 | argenteus (Lyconodes) ; . 339 iis (Dysomma) ; LOS as (Monodactylus) . . 640 53 (Plotosus) . ; Gs 9 (Myctophum) . i238 Anguillidae Fea! ay 5) (Parapempheris) . 2 G67 anguilliformis (Aldrovandia) HAGE 5 (Photichthys) . 2 oo) angustilineata (Umbrina) . . 579 | argenteus (Porthmeus) ; . 5859 : Anisotremus . s G15 = (Teuthis) . 5 Beart!) annectens (Neoscombrops) ; . 528 | argenteus (Therapon) 468 annectens (Notacanthus) . ce AG) argentimaculata (He mipteronotus) 767 i annularis (Apogon) . ; . 521 | argentimaculatus (Lutianus) - (661 ; annulatus (Hologymnosus) . . 748 | Argentina ; : : eles |) annulatus (Pomacentrus) . 733 | Argentinidae . F ; MPD hy 3 (Rhinobatus) . 59, 1014 | argus (Epinephelus) . : aS i Anogramma 3 i . 464 » (Scatophagus) . ‘ .' 3618 a. ansorgei (Syngnathus) : . 287 | argyreus (Pomadasys) : 5 GTS antarctica (Sciaena hololepidota Argyropelecus . : Solan ho | : subsp. ) ‘ . 569 | argyropleura (Tetrodon) : . 969 | a Biaticonsn (Myctophum) . . 240 | argyrozona (Dentex) . : Baer fF ( antarcticus (Bathylagus) . . 129 | aries (Sparus) . ; : », O87 i antarcticus (Callorhynchus) . 964) Aridae : ‘ : DS i Antennariidae . : . . 1000 | Ariomma . : : ; - SOL | Antennarius. ‘ - 1000 | Arius : : . 158 ~antennatus (Diodon) . ‘ . 983 | armatus (Atractophorus) : 1 S2 Anthias . : : ; . 461 | armatus (Balistes) : : Yt / 1 1036 armatus (Caranx) Arnoglossus arsius (Pseudorhombus) ascensionis (Epinephelus) asper (Taractes) Aspidontus Astrape Astronesthes Ateleopidae Ateleopoidea Ateleopus atelodus (Atractoscion) ater (Bathypterois) ater Cae) Athaena Atherina . Atherinidae atherinoides (Gobius) . Athlennes . Atimostoma atlanticus ( Benthodesmus) : Be (Idiacanthus) Atractophorus . Atractoscion atricauda (Sardinella). attenuata (Arelia) atun (Thyrsites) Atyposoma ‘ Aulacocephalus . Aulostoma Aulostomatidae Aulostomoidei . aurantiacus (Lutianus) aurantius (Epinephelus) auratus (Mugil) . aureus (Apogon) : auriflamma (Mulloides) auriga (Chaetodon) auritus (Scarichthys) . auriventris (Diplodus) australis (Alepocephalus) Anguilla) Antimora) . » ( » ( 99 ( M4 (Engraulis) . . (Epinephelus) australis (Histiobranchus) australis (Marsis) australis (Maurolicus) australis (Paraliparis) Austroberyx Austroglossus Avocettina Awaous axillaris (Caesio) », (Lepidaplois) B Bagridae . ; bahienses (Exocoetus) Balistapus Congermuraena) . PAGE 542 391 388 481 820 258, 1022 ooo 792 136 Dik 575 . LOU, A413; 1027 788 664 487 Df Pala Die 657 473 308 521 585 609 UTO. 689 121 177, 1018 321 190 1h by 470 186 682 15 927 362 406 199 819 649 744 - GLox 269, 1022 . 953 Annals of the South African Museum. PAGE Balistes 950 Balistidae 949 banana (Gobius) 819 banko (Ophichthys) 204 Barathronus 884 barbatus (Petroscirtes) 842 es (Salarias) 846 ~barberinus (Parupeneus) 588 barnardi (Ctenotrypauchen) 830 y (Myxus) 311, 1024 Bathybatrachus . 993 bathy bius (Histiobranchus) 186 Bathygadinae 331 Bathygadus 332 Bathylagus 129 Bathymacrops . 129 bathyphilum (Gonostoma) , 144 Bathypterois 232 Bathysauropsis . 230 Bathysaurus 228 Bathytroctes : : - za -batis (Raia) : : ; a BATOIDEI . ‘ : . 56 Batrachoidei g ‘ = SBE Batrachoides 993 Batrachoididae . a bazarutense (Branchiostoma) - » ae Bdellostoma : 5 : ~t) ake beani (Limanda) . 3895 », (Serrivomer) 200 belengeri (Sciaena) 572 Belone 4 254 Belonepterois 232 Belonichthys 286 Belonidae . 253 bengalensis (Anguilla) 177, 1018 bengalensis (Glyphisodon) > Soe bs (Lutianus) 652 bennetti (Pomadasys) 677 ~ benoiti (Myctophum) . 242 bensasi (Upeneus) 584 Bentenia . : 597 Benthodesmus . : : ieee berda (Pagrus) . : .' h03 bertolont (Monacanthus) . 956 Berycidae : 363 BERYCOMORPHI 358 Beryx ; 363 biaculeatus (Syngnathoides) 285 bibarbatus (Gobius) 825 bicoarctata (Yozia) 292 ~ bicolor (Barathronus) 884 bicolor (Thalassoma) . 764 bicolorata (Poecilopsetta) 396, 1025 bicuspis (Lactophrys) . 964 bifasciatus (Apogon) . 521 a (Pagrus) 703 bifilum (Blennius) . 833 bigibbus (Antennarius) . 1001 bilunulatus (Lepidaplois) 745 binotata (Tetraroge) . 918 A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 1037 } ——__ —__» aa ee PAGE PAGE binotata (Zonichthys) . ; . 557 | brevibarbatus (Lionurus) . . 349 biocellatus (Glyphisodon) . . 739 | brevicaudatus (Dasybatis) . dls Gea (Pomacentrus) . . 734 | breviceps (Atherina) . , . 298 bipinnulatus (Elagatis) A . 562 | brevicristatus (Clinus) 3 . 856 biporosus (Clinoporus) F . 864 | brevirostris (Sphagebranchus) . 1019 bipunctatus (Teuthis) . : . 778 | brevis (Dentex) . ‘ yg le bitaeniatus (Tropidichthys) . . 978 | brevispinis (Chilodactylus) F . 458 bivius (Scylliorhinus) . 144 54 (Macrorhamphosus) . 277 ) ~)blainvilli(Squalus) . ; . 48 | breviventralis (Alectis) F . 549 bleekeri (Apogon) ; : . 516 | brevoorti (Euleptorhamphus) . 264 bleekeri (Solea) . - . 403, 1026 | Brotulidae : ; . 8i4 Blennechis : : : 838 | brownriggi (Gly phisodon) : . &/o9 [ Blenniidae é ‘ : . 831 | brunneus (Ilyophis) . ; . 182 Blennioclinus . : ‘ . 851 | butis (Eleotris) . ; : » 810 BLENNIOIDEI : : . 831 | butonensis (Lutianus) . - . 655 Blennius . : é : isGane, | Blepharis . p ; : . 549 CG blochi (Caranthus) . : 721 ,» (Rhinobatus) . ’ 61, 1014 |-cabrilla (Serranus) . . 460 blochi (Tetrodon) : : ae caeruleopunctatus (Epinephelus) . 485 it » (Leuthis) . : s . 79 | Caesio : : : ; . 649 \ blochit (Priacanthus) . ; : 498 Caesiomorus . : : . 553 ~ boa (Stomias) . ‘ : . 137 | caffer (Gobius) . : : SRS LG | ~ bohar (Lutianus) : : =), Gp9 >> (Pagrus)> - “103 } bonae-spei (Heterodontus) . . 45 |-calabaricus (Hemirhamphus) . 262 i bonaparti (Notacanthus) . . 171 | calla (Selar) : ‘ : > BB | bonariensis (Seriola) . : . 5056 Goines : : : . 464 | boops (Cyttosoma) . ; . 3875 | Callionymidae . ‘ : . 444 ! 3 (Priacanthus) . : . 500 | Callionymiformes : : . 426 Boopsidea : : . a 10 |) Calkonymus (2 s : . 445 borbonicus (Lethrinus) ' . 634 | Calliurichthys . : : . 447 Borostomias . : : . 135 | Callorhynchidae : : POS | Bothidae . j : : . 384 | Callorhynchus . 8D \ Bothrolaemus . ; : . 552 | callorhynchus (Callorhyn chus) a eas Li) Bothus . ; : . 384 | Callyodon j i agchD H bottonensis (Lutianus) 2 655 | calori (Diodon) . : it todl boulengeri (Astronesthes) . 133, 1017 | camelopardalis (Hippocampus) wr p24 boulengert (Gasterochisma) . 804 | camptosiensis (Mugil) . : . 302 Boulengerina . : . 495 |}-canadus (Rhachycentrum) . aul bovinus (Pteromylacus) : . 83 | cancellata (Percis) . f . 442 Bowersia . ‘ : . . 647 | cancellatus (Gymnothorax) . ees | Box 3 : : : . 726 | canescens (Zanclus) . : . 4&2 Boxaodon . . 691 |.canis (Galeorhinus) . : ae 28 brachycephalus (Cynoglossus) an », (Mustelus) : . > 30;4013 ~brachycephalus (Clinus) . . 852 | Cantharus : : : as) 420 brachydactylus (Palunolepis) . 458 | Cantherines : : : i EA) { ~ brachyptera (Echeneis) : . 421 | Canthidermis . : : a (953 ‘4 ie (Pterois) : . 914 | Canthigaster : : + S96 ( brachypterus (Parexocoetus) . 267 | capense (Branchiostoma) : <2 i brachysomus (Rastrelliger) . 2 i96 Es (Lepidion) . ‘ . 324 iF Brama_. . : . 594 | capensis (Achirus) . : . 404 brama (Cantharus) : : . 649 » (Ammodytes) : 431 Bramidae . : : ; oS 3) (Anabas)ia : ~ 1/296 Branchiostegidae 4 : . 500 > (Arnoglossus) : Peers 1 Branchiostegus . : : 2 (500 > (Astronesthes) 3 1 34 | Branchiostoma . é : an eae Bf 59 (Bathygadus) : », B04 Branchiostomidae . ge LO) PP (Bathypterois) ‘ ee ) brasiliensis (Narcine) . é seevOL » (Belone) . . 255 braueri (Coelorhynchus) . Me Dan ee (Callorhynchus) . 96, 1016 fo. (Wroconger): . ; . 193 | capensis (Carcharodon) ; a 2) Bregmaceros . : - . 324 | capensis (Champsodon) : . 432 1038 Annals of the South African Museum. capensis (Charax) capensis (Chelidonichthys) ; capensis (Chelidonichthys) . capensis (Clinus) », (Cubiceps) i ( Diastobranchus) . ” (Diplodus rondeleti var.) 691 *e (Dipterodon) capensis (EKlops) capensis (Engraulis) eh (Gaidropsarus) * (Genypterus) s (Gillias) capensis (Gobius) capensis (Hippocampus) % (Leptocephalus) - (Merluccius) . capensis (Mugil) capensis (Myxine) capensis (Narke) : capensis (Petalichthys) a (Physiculus) . capensis (Porogrammus) capensis (Quinquarius) capensis (Raia) . 4 ms (Regalecus) . 5 (Scomber) capensis (Scylliorhinus) » (Sebastichthys) mr (Sebastosemus) Y (Solea) capensis (Stromateus) capensis (Trulla) 99 (Umbrina) 3 (Zeus) capistratus (Balistes) . $3 (Gobius) . capitaneus (Scarus) capito (Blennius) HG oreail)) Caproidae capros (Antigonia) Carangidae Caranginae carangus (Caranx) Caranthus Caranx Carapus Carcharias Carcharias : carcharias (Carcharodon) Carcharinidae Carcharinus Carcharodon Care proctus carinatus (Cory phaenoides) carneus (Dascyllus) carolinus (Priacanthus) carunculatus (Ceratias) castaneus (Blennius) castelnaut (Cantharus) PAGE 709 940 941 853 891 185 635 104 116 323, 1024 887 867 402, 1026 898 416 578 aiden 952 819 Tree! 837 304 380 380 530 530 545 castelnaui ‘apts Cataetyx . Catalufa caudaspinosa (Raia) . caudatus (Lepidopus) caudimacula (Coris) ° caudofasciatus (Tropidichthys) Centriscidae Centriscoidei Centrolophodes . Centrolophus Centropercis Centrophorus Centropomidae . Centroscymnus . cepedianus ( Lophotes) CEPHALOCHORDA Cephalopholis Cephaloptera Cephaloscyllium cephalus (Mugil) Cepolidae . Ceratoptera cervinus (Diplodus) Cetomimidae Cetorhinus ceylonensis (Mugil) chabaudi (Serranus) chadri (Scarus) . Chaeropsodes Chaetodipteridae Chaetodipterus . Chaetodon Chactodontidae Chalinura . Champsodon Champsodontidae Champsodontiformes . Chanidae . Chanos chanos (Chanos) Characidae Charax Chascanopsetta . Chauliodus Chaunacidae Chaunax . Chelidonichthys. Chenogaster Chiasmodon Chiasmodontidae Chiasmodus chilensis (Sarda) Chilinus Chilio ‘ Chilodactylidae _ Chilodactylus Chilodipterinae . Chilodipterus Chilomycterus Chiloseyllium A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. Chimaera . Chimaeridae chinensis (Aulostoma) Chirocentridae . Chirocentrus Chirolophius . , chirospilus (Anthias) . chirtah (Lutianus) CHISMOPNEA Chlorophthalmus chloropterus (Exocoetus) chlorostigma (Gymnothorax) chlorurus (Chilinus) ; Choerops . chotrocephalus (Monacanthus) Chondrobrachii . 5 3 chondropus (Sillago) . CHONDROSTEI choram (Tylosurus) CHORDATA Choridactylodes . Choridactylus Chorinemus Chorismodactylus Chorisochismus . Chromis chrysedrus (Parupeneus) chryserythrus (Parupeneus) . Chrysoblephus : chrysophryoides a Chrysophrys chrysophrys (Caranx) chrysostomus (Lethrinus) chubbi fe oinynenes) Cichlidae . ciliaria (Caranx) ciliaris (Alectis) ciliaris (Caranx) »» (Pagrus) ciliata (Synaptura) cinctus (Tropidichthys) cinerascens (Kyphosus) cinereus (Conger) Be (Muraenesox) cingulum (Glyphisodon) circularis (Platophrys) circularis (Raia) cirratus (Pristiophorus) cirrhifer (Monacanthus) Cirrhitichthys Cirrhitidae Cirrhitiformes Cirrhitus . cirrhosa (Scorpaenopsis) cirrhosa (Umbrina) Cirribarbis Cirrhimuraena . citrinus (Hoplichthys) Clariidae . , clarkw (Amphiprion) : clavata (Raia) : 188 741 1039 PAGE cleverleyt (Solea) 399, 1026 Clinidae : 850 Clinoides . 851 Clinoporus 864 Clinus 850 Clupaeidae 107 Clupeolabrus 649 clypeata (Echeneis) 421 coccinotaenia (Lepadichthy s) 424 coccoi (Myctophum) . 244 Coccotropsis 919 Coccotropus 918 Cocius 931 coelestinus (Glyphisodon) 737 Coelorhynchus . ; 338 coerulaureus (Caesio) . I 650 coeruleopunctatus (Lutianus) 655 coeruleopunctatus (Scarichthys) . 775 coeruleovittata (Guentheria) . 752 coeruleus (Gomphosus) 759 colias (Scomber) 794 collana (Scarus) 713 columnae (Rhinobatus) 59 commersoni (Ambassis) 643 He (Scomberomorus) 802, 1027 5 (Sphyraena) 314 commersont (Sphyraena) 315 commersoni (Thalassoma) . 764 compressicauda (Laemonemodes) 328 concatenatus (Lactophrys) . 964 conchifer (Zenopsis) 374 Conchognathus . : 180 concolor (Gymnomuraena) . 215 Conger : 187 Congermuraena _ 189 Congermuraenae australis (Lepto- cephalus) 219 Congiopodidae . 928 Congiopodus 928 Congrellus 189 Congridae 186 Congrinae 187 Congri vulgaris (Leptocephalus) . 219 Congrogadidae . 869 conidens (Temnodon) . 510 constantiae (Mugil) 302 conwayi (Hoplegnathus) 505 coopert (Callionymus) 446 copei (Paraliparis) 926 cordyla Reealaep le) 533 Coris 750 cornuta (Aesopia) 409 cornutus (Blennius) See Be (Dolopichthys) . 1004 ae (Ostracion) . 963 cornutus (Ostracion) 963 A (Zanclus) iy fae coromandelicus (Tylosurus). . 1022 coronatus (Plectromus) 369 Corvina 569 Corynolophus . 1006 1040 PAGE Coryphaena : 566 Coryphaenidae . : : . 566 Cory phaenoides 336 Cory phaenoididae 330 Cory phaenoidinae 336 Corythoichthys . : . 290 Cossyphus ; , . 744, 754 costatus (Paracallionymus) . 448 Cottidae : : 922 cottoides (Clinus) 858 Cottunculoides . : ; . 923 couesi (Cryptopsaras). - 1005 CRANIATA . : a 4 crassispinus (Plectorhynehus) ) 678 Crenidens . : . 109 crenilabis (Mugil) 5) U7 crenilepis (Mugil) 309 criniger (Gobius) 820 crinitus (Alectis) 550 cristatus (Blennius) : . 830 cristiceps (Pagrus) . ; mT) cristiceps (Pagrus) . ‘ «102 crocodilus (Platycephalus) . 933 CROSSOPTERYGII . ‘ eS Crossorhombus . : . 385 cruentatus (Priacanthus) 498 crumenophthalmus (Selar) . 536 Cryptopsaras : 1004 Ctenotry pauchen : ; - “830 Cubiceps . : : : 2 Soll cubicus (Ostracion) 962 cuneata (Dicologlossa) ; . 1026 cunnesius (Mugil) : . 304, 1023 cunninghamii (Dentex) : le il ks: curtus (Parabembras) . 936 curvidens (Gymnocrotaphus) Be earl cutaneus (Tetrodon) . A Om cyanophrys (Psenes) . : . 893 cyanopterus (Exocoetus) . 270 ~ (Solenostoma) . esl cyanospilus (Syngnathus) . 290 Cybium . : : 2 S0l CYCLOSTOMATA 5 : Pied gu is cyclostomus (Parupeneus) . . 586 Cyclothone : : . 144 cylindricus (Hpinephelus) . 479 Cymolutes . : Merit (0) Cynias LOLS cynodon (Petroscirtes) . . 841 Cynoglossidae 409 Cynoglossoides . . 413 Cynoglossus 4 : < a RL Cynoscion : é : . O74 cynodon (Acropoma) . . 629 Cyprinidae - : ~ LBM eyprinoides (Megalops) : . 104 Cypselurus 1022 Cyttosoma 375 Annals of the South African Museum. D PAGE Dactyloptena 947 Dactylopteridae 946 Dacymba . ‘ . 675 dalgleishi (Trichopsetta) ; - oul mn (Xenolepidichthys) . id damaranus (Batrachoides) . . 995 darwini Ws Saas : : SGr Dascillus . ; : me iS Dascyllus . : : : . 730 dasson (Caranx) ; . 540 Dasybatidae : ; i Wie Dasybatis i : : ee Daina. , . 465 decadactylus ( Beryx) 364 Decapterus : . 533 delagoae (Hemirhamphus) . 2638, 1022 delagoensis (Eleotris) . : : Olt delagoensis (Ruvettus) + 8S delagoensis (Samaris) 4 . en delicatulus Sees aang : : 20 Dendrochirus . : a dentatus (Pagrus) : «| OOF Dentex . ; : 2 es dentex (Caranx) . 546 », (Chorisochismus) 423 dentex (Gazza) 626 denticulatus (Coelorhynehus) 341, 1024 denticulatus (Scarus) . 774 depressa (Fistularia) 274 dewaali (Gobius) 815 diabolus (Scorpaenopsis) 906 diacanthus (Epinephelus) . 478 Diacope . ; . 651 diadema (Holocentrum) 366 . (Mugil) 309, 1023 diadematum (Gobiosoma) . 829 Diagramma : 669 Diagrammella 670 diana (Lepidaplois) ‘ . 745 diaphana (Sternoptyx) : . 154 diaphanus (Ostracion) . 963 Diaphasia 885 Diaphus 237, 1021 Diastobranchus 184 Dibranchus 4 : 1010 Dicerobatis . : : - ee Dicologlossa 1026 Dicotylichthys . : . 979 Dicrolene . : : : . “S8t diemensis (Opsanus) 994 diepenhorsti (Ophichthys) 204 dimidiatus (Chromis) . : . dimidiatus (Labroides) : . 149 dimorphus (Crossorhombus) 386 Dinoperca 489 Diodon 979 Diodontidae 978 Diplacanthopoma 878 diplodon We Gama a 1019 Diplodus . 689 A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. PAGE Diplophos ae DIPNOI . Dipterodon ; 635 dipterygia (Paraplagusia) 410 Dipterygonotidae ; 591 DISCOCEPHALI i ees dispilurus (Parupeneus) . 487, 588 Dissomma : 247 divergens (Ventrifossa) 346 djeddaba (Caranx) 546 djeddaba (Caranx) . 543 djeddensis (Rhynchobatus) 58 Doliodon . 552 doliatus (Branchiostegus) 502 doliatus Pages nosus) 748 Dolopichthys 1004 dorab (Chirocentrus) . 120 dorsale (Thalassoma) . 762 dorsalis (Clinus) 861 dorsalis (Sciaena) 570 dorsalis (Vomer) 551 draco (Trachinus) 439 draconis (Pegasus) 1023 Drepane 600 Drepanidae ; 600 dubius (Anacanthobatis) 80 dubius (Clinus) . 865 dubius (Scombrops) 527 dubius (Tetrodon) 971 ductor (Naucrates) 560 Dules : 496 duodecimlineata (Lutianus) 653 duops (Apogon) : 522 durbanensis (Cynoglossus) . 412, 1027 as (Gobius) . jay ro Ss ¥, (Hilsa) TE TOLy - durbanensis (Plectorhynchus) 672 durbanensis (Raia) 69 durbanensis (Scorpaena) 902 3 (Scorpaenopsis) 905 durbanensis (Sparus) . 688 dussumiert (Ambassis) 644 dussumieri (Arius) a Pat a (Carcharinus) 2 1OU2 bs ae 263, 1022 3 (Salarias) . 846 dussumiert (Umbrina) 577 ae (Zonichthys) 557 Duymaeria ‘ 754 Dysomma 195 Dysommidae 195 E eaton (Raia) . 66 ecaudatus (Areliscus) . 415 Kcheneidae 419 Kcheneis . : : : . 420 Echidna . : : . 213, 1020 echinatus (Diodon) . 982 Echinorhinus 46 —— Echiodon . edentulus (Liognathus) edwardsi (Scylliorhinus) ehrenbergi (Manta) 29 (Pagrus) Elacate Elagatis . ELASMOBRANCHIL Eleotridae Eleotris elongatum (1 (Myctophum) elongatus (Benthodesmus) ze (Cantharus) elongatus (Petroscirtes) a (Omosudis) on (Teuthis) Elopidae . Elops emarginatus (Caranthus) Emmelichthyidae Emmelichthys . Encheliophis Engraulidae Engraulis . Engyschistae . enneacanthus (Scarus) Enneapterygius Entomacrodus Ephippidae ephippium (Amphiprion) Ephippus . Epigonus . Epinephelus Epinnula . EPiscopus (Pteromylaea) Equula equula (Caranx) » (Liognathus) . equulaeformis (Gazza) eregoodoo (Mobula) Er isphea : erumel (Psettodes) erythrinus (Pagellus) . erythrinus (Pagellus) . erythropterus (Lutianus) estuartus (Pagrus) Etelinae ethiops Triacanthodes) Etmopterus : Etropus Ktrumeus Kuelatichthys Euleptorhamphus Eumecichthys euronotus (Mugil) Evenchelys Evistias Evistius evolans (Halocypselus) Exallias : Exocoetidae 1041 87, 1015 696 511 561 18 809 809 238 2) #92 bl O2 $40 249 778 103 103 ea, 591 591 885 115 116 206 174 868 844 601 729 602 Sys 469 790 83 624 540 624 626 86 918 383 707 707 657 704 647 949 48 394 108 670 2 264 » 1025 307 - 1020 S "620 454 268 848 265 oe ee ee ee ee 1042 Exocoetoidea Exocoetus faber (Ephippus) faber (Zeus) faleatus (Pterycombus) . falciformis (Monodactylus) . falcula (Chaetodon) fallax (Glyphisodon) . far (Hemirhamphus) . fario (Salmo) ; fasciata (Athaena) fasciatus (Alectis) fasciatus (Apogon) . 5 (Chilodactylus) As (Coelorhynchus) (Corythoichthys) . me (Epinephelus) fasciatus (Hologymnosus) 40 (Mugil) fascigula (Blennius) if (Echidna) faurei (Apistus) : », (Lepidotrigla) . favagineus (Gymnothorax) . feliceps (Galeichthys) fernandinus (Squalus) ferox (Alepisaurus) », (Bathysaurus) », (Idiacanthus) ferox (Stomias) . fiatola (Stromateus) Fierasfer . Fierasferidae filamentosus (Aspidontus) Ee (Dentex) : filamentosus (Pristipomoides) $5 (Pteragogus) filamentosus (Xystaema) filiferum (Neostomias) filiferus (Bathypterois) filosus (Dentex) : jimbriatus (Chorisochismus) fisket (Lophotes) fiskii (Lophotopsis) Fistularia . : Fistulariidae fitzsimonsi (Halieutichthys) flabellispinis (Coelorhynchus) flavicauda (Sphyraena) “b) flavobrunneus (Scomberomorus) . flavocaeruleus (Epinephelus) flavofasciatus (Corythoichthys) flavolineatus (Mulloides) flavomarginatus (Balistes) . ( Gymnothorax) ' florentulus (Gly phisodon) fluviatilis (Belonichthys) foetela (Plectorhynchus) PAGE 253 269 603 373 599 639 612 740 262 127 423 549 514 455 340, 1024 291 483 748 307 357, 1025 273 «ole - 1009 . 341 . 1024 802 475 291 585 950 212 740 286 672 Annals of the South African Museum. fornasini (Ostracion) . forskali (Hepsetia) forskalii (Crenidens) forsteri (Caranx) Be (Paracirrhites) forsteri (Scombresox) . Franzia fraterculus (Parupeneus) frenatus (Amphiprion) frenatus (Apogon) frenatus (Balistes) frigidus (Lycodes) fucorum (Clinus) fulviflamma (Lutianus) fulvomarginata (Solea) fumosus (Bathygadus) Fundulus . : furcatum (Pomadasys) furcatus (Cypselurus) . fusca (Eleotris) . fuscoguttatus (Epinephelus) fuscolineata (Umbrina) fuscomaculata (Ostracion) fuscomaculatus (Narcobatus) fuscus (Apsilus) », (Centroscymnus) », (Gobius) . », (Kyphosus) » (Sphagebranchus) fuscus (Thalassoma) G Gadidae Gadomus . Gaidropsarus Galaxiidae Galeichthys Galeocerdo Galeorhinus gallus (Alectis) . gangeticus (Carcharinus) gardineri (Calliurichthys) garmani (Heteronarce) Gasterochisma . Gastrophori Gastrotokeus Gazza : gelatinosum (Melanostigma) gembra (Lutianus) : Gempylidae Gempylus genivittatus (Lethrinus) Genyoroge . : Genypterus Gephyroberyx Germo Gerres Gerrinae gibbiceps ( (Pagrus) | gibbiceps (Selene) PAGE 963 300 710 543 450 259 462 588 — 730 518 952 872 853 660 400, 1026 . 333 253 681 A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. MOl. “<< xXT, PART Oe PAGE gibbosa (Sardinella) 113 » (Scorpaenopsis) 906 gibbosum (Pachymetopon) . 637 gibbosus (Lactophrys) 964 gibbosus (Neocyttus rhomboidalis Wars). : ake gibbus (Lutianus) 655 gigas (Epinephelus) 482 | gigas (Xystaema) 629 Gigliolia . 169 gilberti (Epinephelus) : 479 gilchristi (Chascanopsetta) . Bel oO a (Cynoglossus) 412, 1027 gilchristi (Gobius) 816 gilchristi aa aaa 329 Gilchristia F 621 Gillias 867 Girellidae . 634 giuris (Gobius) . 814 gladius (Histiophorus) 807 gladius (Regalecus) 354 gladius (Xiphias) 805 glauca (Isurus) . 33 Glaucus - 553 glaucus (Carcharinus) 26 » (Trachynotus) 553 glesne (Regalecus) 354, 1025 globiceps (Laemonema) 327 = (Sparus) 685 Glossogobius 814 Glyphidois» 735 Glyphisodon 736 Glyphisodon 735 Glyphisodontidae : 728 gnathopus (Hoplobrotula) . 883 -Gnathypops : ; 443 Gobiesocidae 423 Gobiidae . 812 GOBIOIDEI 808 Gobiosoma 828 Gobius 812 Gomphosus 759 Gonorhynchidae 124 Gonorhynchus . 124 gonorhynchus ( Gonorhynchus) 125, 1017 Gonostoma 143 gooder (Aldrovandia) . : 168 goreensis (Chaetodipterus) : 603 gracile (Peristedion) 945 gracilis (Bathylagus) . 129 gracilis (Bathysauropsis) 230 » (Fierasfer) 886 5 (Macrorhamphosus) 276 », (Melanonus) 332 » (Saurida) 225 graecus (Scatharus) 722 graminis (Clinus) 863 grammatophorus (Epinephelus) 480 grammepomus (Gobius) 818 Grammicolepidae 370 Grammistes 491 Grammoplites . grande (Pachymetopon) grandis (Gonostoma) . 5 (Palunolepis) . : grandisquama (Platophrys) . grandisquama (Scaeops) grandisquamis (Mugil) granulifer (Histiophorus) granulosus (Etmopterus) -graphidopterus ( Cirrhitichthys) grimaldii (Conchognathus) griseus (Cantharus) griseus (Hexanchus) . ,, (Plectorhynchus) gronovii (Nomeus) guara (Caranx) . guaza (Epinephelus) guenthert (Pachymetopon) . guentheri (Selachophidium) Guentheria gunthert (Teuthbis) - (Thalossoma) guoraka (Pomadasys) gurneyr (Atyposoma) . guttata (Aetobatis) guttatus (Pteraclis) guttatus (Scarus) guttatus (Siganus) guttulatus (Hippocampus) gymnauchen (Gobius) . gymnocephalus (Ambassis) . Gymnocranius . Gymnocrotaphus gymnoderma (Coccotropsis) Gymnodontes : : Gymnomuraena Gymnosarda Gymnosimenchelys Gymnothorax H Halaelurus : halavi (Rhinobatus) Halichoeres Halidesmus Halieutaea Halieutichthys . Halocypselus Halosauridae Halosauropsis Halosaurus hamrur (Priacanthus) Haploblepharus Ben jorhilicliihys Haplochilus : haplodactylus (Scorpaena) : haplostoma ea a Harengula hartlaubi (Tetrodon) . hasta (Pagrus) Be 1045 PAGE 931 636 143 457 386 387 310 807 49 453 181 ee 22. 671 174 207. 1019 | 3S 62, 1014 / “Fok 870 - 1010 - 1009 268 165 166 166 499 39 253 253 903 436 114 967 704 1044 hasta (Pomadasys) haswelli (Heptranchias) haumela (Trichiurus) . hawaiensis (Macrorhamphosis) hebetans (Narcobatus) hebraicum (Thalassoma) hectori bec nigeg Heleogramma Heliases Heliastes . Helicolenus Hemicoris hemigymnus (Argyropelecus) Hemipterois Hemipteronotus Hemirhamphidae Hemirhamphus . 5 hemistictus (Epinephelus) 5 Hemitautoga ; Heniochus hepatus (Serranus) Hepatus Hepsetia . Heptatretus Heptranchias Heptranchidae . herscheli (Makaira) heterodon (Clinus) Heterodontidae Heterodontus . ; heterolepis (Platyeephalus) HETEROMI . 5 Heteronarce Heteroscymnus . HETEROSOMATA Hexanchus hexatrema (Heptatretus) hexophthalma (Parapercis) hians (Ablennes) ., (Myctophum) hillianus (Parexocoetus) Hilsa Himantolophidae Himantolophus . Hippocampus hippos (Caranx) hippurus (Coryphaena) hirsutus (Lepidaplois) hispidus (Antennarius) i (Tetrodon) Histiobranchus . Histiophoridae . Histiophorus Histiopteridae Histiopterus histrio (Pterophryne) . hoevenii (Pellona) Holacanthus holacanthus (Diodon) : holcorhynchus (Rhinobatus) holmbergi (Chenogaster) 61, 1014 . 804 Annals of the South African Museum. Holocentridae Holocentrum . HOLOCEPHALI ; holodon (Stolephorus) Hologymnosus . ; hololepidota (Sciaena) hololepis (Zenion) Holophycis HOLOSTEI . holubi (Chrysophrys) . ” (Sargus) . homopterus (Bathytroctes) ' honckeni (Tetrodon) . Hoplegnathidae Hoplegnathus Hoplichthyidae . Hoplichthys Hoplobrotula Hoplochromis Hoplopteryx Hoplostethus hoskyni (Aldrovandia) hottentotus (Sargus) huchtii (Anthias) humboldti (Myctophum) humerosus (Centriscops) hunteri (Cynoglossus) huttoni (Lepidothynnus) huttoni (Platystethus) Hyalorhynchus . Hyoprorus : hypenetes (Blennius) . Hypoclydonia : Hyporhamphus HY POSTOMIDES HYPOTREMATA hypselogenion Gag Hypsinotus : hystrix (Diodon) Ichthyorhamphos Idiacanthus : ignobilis (Caranx) Ljimaia Ilyophidae Lyophis ‘ immaculata (Lampris) immaculatus (Tetrodon) impar (Solea) indica (Acanthocepola) indicum (Chiloseylium) indicus (Alectis) indicus (Alectis) » (Heptranchias) », (Histiophorus) », (Lophiomus) . indicus (Malacosteus) indicus (Naucrates) indicus (Parupeneus) . 454, A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. PAGE indicus (Parupeneus) . 588 indicus (Platycephalus) 932 », (Psenes) 893 » (Synodus) 227 inermis (Chilio) . : 743 », (Cottunculoides) 923 » (Tetrodon) 968 infans (Avocettina) ; 199 infernalis (Histiobranchus) , 186 Iniistius : F 770 INIOMI 223 inornata (Boopsidea) . TAL Insidiator 931 insidiator (Chirolophius) 997 43 (Liognathus) 625 insidiator (Platycephalus) 932 insignitus (Tropidichthys) . Si insulindicus (Lethrinus) 631 intermedia (Zonichthys) 557 interrupta (Stethojulis) 756 intronigra oo 882 Ipnops 231 irideus (Salmo) . 127 iris (Trachypterus) 353 irvini (Centrolophodes) : 895 isigakius (Corythoichthys) . apv2gl isingteena (Gymnothorax) . a) 626 ise." : : ; : 300 ISOSPONDYLI 102 Istiophorus 807 Isuridae 32 Isurus 32 J jacksoniensis (Etrumeus) 108 japonica (Sphyraena) . 1024 japonicus (Branchiostegus). 501 { (Monocentris) 360, 1025 be (Synodus) . - 1020 ee u(Zeus) 374, 1025 jarbua (Therapon) 467 javanicus (Gymnothorax) 212 a (Psenes) . 893 jayakari (Plectorhynchus) . 2 Ga jello (Sphyraena) 314, 1024 johni (Lutianus) 661 johni (Lutianus) 660 Jordanicus 885 Julis 760 K kalla (Selar) 537 kallopterus (Apogon) . 519 kallosoma (Stethojulis) 758 kanagurta (Rastrelliger) 796 kasmira (Lutianus) 652 kaupi agen cP neu) 183 Keris : 781 kirki (Arius) 159 kirki (Ophichthys) kitaharae (Lambdopsetta) . kleini (Chaetodon) : Kneriidae : knysnaensis ( Serranus) kodipungi (Pterois) koelreuteri (Periophthalmus) kosiensis (Salarias) kuda (Hippocampus) . kuhli (Mobula) . Kuhha : Kuhliidae kumu (Chelidonichthys) kunzet (Clupea) . kurra (Caranx) . Kyphosidae Kyphosus L labiata (Anguilla) Labridae . ‘ Labriformes Labroides : LABYRINTHICI Lactophrys Lactoria Laemonema Laemonemodes . Laeops laevis (Echeneis) laevis (Malacocephalus) » (Mustelus) Lagocephalus lagocephalus (Tetr odon) lajang (Decapterus) lalandii (Seriola) Lambdopsetta . Lamna Lampadena Lampanyctus Lamprididae Lampris lanceolatus (Epinephelus) Ea (Mola) langsdorfi (Hoplichthys) laniarius (Pagrus) laticeps (Pagrus) laticeps (Pagrus) Latilidae . A Latilus : latipennis (Clinus) . latovittatus (Labroides) latus (Caranx) ‘ laurentii (Petraites) layardi (Stromatoidea) Lefroyva : Leiobatis . Letrus leiuroides (Ty losurus) Lemnisoma 1045 344, PAGE 204 393 614 126 421 1025 29 966 966 ao 555 393 32 237, 1021 700, r- Bi 350 350 486 987 937 694 701 713 500 501 860 749 543 866 640 885 79 896 257 789 1046 lentiginosus (Ostracion) leonis (Lionurus) leopardinus ( Paracanthistius) leopardus (Raia) Lapadichthys Lepidaplois Lepidion . lepidolepis (Anthias) . lepidolepis (Holacanthus) Lepidopus : Lepidothynnus . Lepidotrigla Lepodus Leptecheneis Leptocarcharias Leptocephalus . leptolepis (Zenion) Leptophycis Leptorhynchus Leptoscarus Leptostomias lepturus (Trichiurus) . a (Uroconger) . lessoni (Plectorhynchus) Lethrinidae : Lethrinus . leucopleura (Gly phisodon) leucospilus (Rhinobatus) leucozona (Glyphisodon) levenensis (Salmo) Lichia : lida (Cynoglossus) lilliei (Notopogon) Limanda . limbata (Acanthocepola) limbatus (Carcharinus) lineata (Trigla) . lineatus (Balistes) lineatus (Caranthus) . is (Lutianus) », (Phbtheirichthys) », (Plectorhynchus) lineatus (Polydactylus) lineatus (Syngnathus) ; (Trachichthodes) lineolata (Sarda) lineolatus (Apogon) Rr (Scomberomorus) lineolatus (Xystaema) lineopunctatus ie lintea (Raia) liogaster (Halieutaea) Liognathidae Liognathinae Liognathus Lionurus . Liopempheris Liosaccus . Liparidae . Lirus lithognathus (Pagellus) - 1010 PAGE 962 349 469 74, 424 744 323 462 616 791 803 938 594 420 28 217 379 326 202 776 142 793 191 671 630 631 737 - 1014 741 127 558 411, 1027 279, 1022 395 503 26 943 950 G22 658 419 671 SHE) - 1023 363 SOL 516 803 628, 629 718 72 623 624 624 346 668 966 924 896 705 Annals of the South African Museum. PAGE lithophilus (Scorpis) 663 litturatus (Gobius) 818 livida (Cyclothone) 145 lobata (Sciaena) . 572 Lobotes 638 Lobotidae 3 637 longifilis (Petroscirtes) 842 ne (Mugil) 1023. longipinnis (Beryx) 363. 3 (Exocoetus) 271 bs (Taractes) 595 longirostris (Euleptorhamphus) 264 ne (Leptocephalus) 22 a (Lethrinus) 632 Ph (Xystaema) 628, 630 longus (Heteroscymnus) 1013. Lophiidae : 996 Lophioidei 991 Lophiomus 998. Lophiopsis 1000 Lophius 999 Lophotes . 356. Lophotidae : : . 356 Lophotopsis : ; . 357, 1025 lophus (Sparus) . ; ; 698 lucifer (Etmopterus) . 50 luna (Caranx) 546 luna (Lampris) . : 351 lunare (Thalassoma) . 763 lunaris (Caesio) . 650 » (Tetrodon) 968. lunula (Chaetodon) 610 lurida (Siganus) 785 luteus (Parupeneus) 586 Lutianidae : 646. Lutianinae 647 Lutianus . 651 Lycodes + See Lycodontis . 1019 Lycodonus 873 Lyconinae 335. Lyconodes 335 lymna (Taeniura) - 1015 lysan (Chorinemus) 563 M macclellandi (Bregmaceros) 325. Macdonaldia . : 171 machnata (Elops) 103 macracanthus (Xystaema) 627 macrocephalus (Cottunculoides) 923 a (Dentex) . ie % (Gymnomuraena). 216. macrochir (Aldrovandia) 168 macrodens (Dentex) : 717 macrolepidotum (Hemipteronotus) 769 macrolepidotus (Heniochus) 607 (Neoscopelus) 246 macr olepis (Bathymacrops) 129 * (Mugil) . : 309, 1023. A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. PAGE macrolepis (Paracitharus) 389, 1025 macronema (Parupeneus) 587 Macropharyngodon 751 macrophthalmus (Dentex) Ti kee (Plectromus) 369 macrophthalmus (Selar) 536 macrops (Epigonus) 523 macrops (Neobythites) 879 macrops (Plectorhynchus) . 674 macroptera (Umbrina) 581 macropteroides (Apogon) 516 macropterus (Apogon) 516 macropus (Priacanthus) 500 Macrorhamphosidae 275 Macrorhamphosus 275 macrosolen (Notopogon) 279 macrosoma (Decapterus) 535 Macrouridae ‘ 330 Macrourus 336 MACTOUrUS (Lepidaplois) 745 Macruridae : 330 macrurus (Pterois) 913 » (Thyrsoidea) 212, 1020 maculata (Chascanopsetta) . 390 maculata (Raia) a 6 (Sillago) 508 maculatum (Plectropoma) . 469 a (Pomadasys) 679 maculatus (Canthidermis) 954 maculatus (Cirrhitus) . 452 maculatus (Diodon) 980 Be (Epinephelus) 478 s (Helicolenus) 907 ef (Lirus) 896 maculatus (Nomeus) A 890 oe (Paracanthistius) 469 maculatus (Pseudocyttus) 376 maculifer (Diodon) 981 maculosus (Scarus) 13 Maenidae . <2 681 mahsenoides (Lethrinus) 631, 633 major (Alectis) . . 550 Makaira 808 makua (Ranzania) 989 malabarica (Pempheris) 666 malabaricus (Caranx) 54] malabaricus (Epinephelus) . 484 e (Gobius) . : 818 a (Platycephalus) 933 Malacocephalus 2 344 Malacosteus : 139 malleus (Sphyrna) 32 malo (Kuhlia) - 497 Malthopsis ‘ . 1008 manadensis (Anthias) 463 manazo (Mustelus) 30 mangula gage 666 Manta : : 2) 586 Mapo : : : Spits S20 Marcgravia : 992 Marcgravichthys 992 1047 PAGE margaritatus (Tropidichthys) 977 margariteus (Glyphisodon) . 738 margaritifera (Sciaena) 569 margaritophorus (Gymnothorax) . 209 marginata (Acanthocepola) . 903 marginata (Raia) 65 3 (Synaptura) 406 marginatus (Conger) 188 marginatus (Dascyllus) 731 marginatus (Dules) 495 a (Lutianus) 656 marginatus (Ophichthys) 1019 Mar leyella " 1025 marleyi (Amblyapistus) 917 aa (Areliscus) 414 “ (Callionymus) 446 < (Chaetodon) . 613 marley (Sciaena) 571 marmorata (Gymnomuraena) 215 ie (Paraplagusia) . . 410 marmoratus (Anacanthobatis) eo s (Callionymus) . 447 ae (Cirrhitus) 452 a (Narcobatus) 90, 1016 ue (Pardachirus) . 405, 1026 marmoratus (Schedophilus) . 896 ue (Scorpaenopsis) 905 maroccanus (Dentex) 718 Marsis « 682 Mastacembelidae ~ LOTT Masturus . 5 986 matoides (Teuthis) 779 mauritianus (Selar) 536 Maurolicus é 150 maximus (Cetorhinus) atrnod. mbaoensis (Solea senegalensis var. ) 399, 1026 mediterraneum (Hoplostethus) 362 mediterraneus (Plectorhynchus) . 673 Megalaspis 532 Megalops . ‘ 104 megalops (Plectromus) 369 a (Squalus) 48 megalopterus (Mustelus) 29 Melamphaes : 368 Melamphaidae . : 367 melampus (Gasterochisma) . 804 melampygus (Caranx) 544 Melanobranchus ‘ 332 melanobranchus (Bathygadus) 334 melanocephalus (Gobius) 818 Ss (Monacanthus) 956 Melanocetidae . 1007 Melanocetus . 1007 Melanonosoma . 331 Melanonus , 331 melanops (Melanostomias) : . 142 melanoptera (Solea) 401, 1026 melanopterus (Carcharinus) 24 Melanostigma 874 Melanostoma 526 1048 PAGE Melanostomias . i 142 melanotaenia (Apogon) 519 melanotus (Chaetodon) 612 melanotus (Gomphosus) . 760 af (Tylosurus) . 1022 melanura (Clupea) 115 melanura (Sardinella) 1017 melanurus (Batrachoides) 994. > (Marsis) G82 melas (Hpinephelus) 470 melas (Kpinephelus) ; 474. meleagris (Gymnothorax) . 208 iy (Salarias) 846 mentalis (Petraites) 866 mento (Parexocoetus) 267 Merluccius : 320 merra (Kpinephelus) . 483 mesogaster (Parexocoetus) . 267, 1022 Me: soprion : 651 mesoprion (Acanthocepola) . 5038 M esopr istes 465 messieri (Cataetyx) 877 messinensis ({Lyoprorus) 221 microchirus (Stromateus) 899 MICROCYPRINI 252 microdon (Cyclothone) 146 microlepidotus (Rastrelliger) 796 microlepis (Austroglossus) . 407 (Caranthus) 723 a (Pagellus) . feo i = dam (Laeops) 392 (Trulla) 416 mic ops (Scylliorhinus) 41 micropterus (Gymnomuraena) 216 micropus (Ktrumeus) . 108 Microstomidae . 128 micrura (Pteroplatea) SO micrurus (Psednos) 927 miles (Dentex) . 715 miles (Porogadus) . SSL miles (Pterois) 912, 913 » (Sciaena) . 570 miniatus (Epinephelus) 474 > (Lethrinus) . 632 Minous : : 920 minuta (Gazza) . . 626 miraletus (Raia) 68 mitis (Balistes) . 952 5, (Pristipomoides) 648 mitratus (Petroscirtes) 842 mizolepis (Plectromus) 368 Mobula ; 85 Mobulidae 28d Mochokidae . 1018 Mochokus Oe modestoides (Cantherines) ; 958 modestus (Kpinephelus) 481 modestus Sa acseiahe 2 739 Mola ; ; 986 mola (Mola) 986 mola (Mola) 987 Annals of the South African Museum. Molacanthus Molidae molucca (Liopempheris) moluccensis (Clupea) . Monacanthus ; monacanthus (Coccotropus) Monocentridae . a Monocentris Monoceros ; monoceros (Alutera) . monochrous ( Apogon) Monodactylidae Monodactylus monogramma (Scolopsis) monstrosa (Chimaera) Mormyridae ‘ mormyrus (Pagellus) . morrhua (Epinephelus) morrisil (Leptocephalus) moseleyi (Notacanthus) mossambica (Anguilla) 3 (Scorpaena) mossambicus (Chilinus) mossambicus (Syngnathus) . Motella mucronatus (Maurolicus) Mugil Mugilidae ; Mullidae Mulloides .° multicolor (Coris) multidentatus (Congiopodus) multifasciatus (Dipterodon) multilineatus (Mugil) . multimaculatum (Pomadasys) multimaculatus (Diodon) multipunctatus (Scopelopsis) multiradiatus COMMS ai He Mupus Muraenesocidae_ Muraenesox Muraenidae murdjan (Myripristis). muricata (Pterois) muroadsi (Decapterus) murrayi (Ipnops) mus (Clinus) muscatensis (Opisthognathus) Mustelus . : Myctophidae Myctophoidea Myectophum Myliobatidae Myliobatis myops (Trae hinocephalus) . Myripristis : Mystriophis Myxine Myxinidae Myxodes . Myxus 230, 17 175, 1018 903 765 290 322 . 26r 301, 1023 300 582 585 751 929 635 304 679 980 246 455 S96 196 197 207 367 912 534 231 854 . 443 29, 10138 . | 284 . 224 240, 1021 81 82, 1015 227, 1020 367 A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 1 N naevus (Raia) Narcine . : NARCOBATOIDEI : Narcobatus : narinari (Aetobatis) Narke F Naseus Naso nasutus (Pagrus) natalense (Acanthidium) natalensis (Ambassis) > (Anchichoerops) . a (Anthias) s (Apogon) natalensis (Areliscus) . natalensis (Ateleopus) 3 (Belone) natalensis (Cantharus) a (Cantherines) a (Caranx) . > (Chelidonichthys) natalensis (Choridactylus) . natalensis (Coelorhynchus) . iS natalensis (Cubiceps) . natalensis (Dentex) Gobius) es pepowmnpys) natalensis (Iso) . re (Lepidion) . natalensis (Lepidotrigla) » (Mugil) iD (Mustelus) . natalensis (Narcine) Be (Notopogon) es (Pagellus) . natalensis (Parupeneus) natalensis (Pellona) ss (Physiculus) natalensis (Psenes) IP & natalensis (Pseudochromis) natalensis (Pseudorhombus) a (Pterois) natalensis (Pteroplatea) natalensis (Rhinobatus) natalensis (Rhynchohyalus). ( natalensis (Sargus) a (Scarus) natalensis (Scorpaena) Mf (Scylliorhinus) natalensis (Sparus) a (Sphyraena) natalensis (Synagrops) Nauclerus Naucrates : naucrates (Leptecheneis) nebulopunctatus (Gobius) nebulosa (Echidna) ( : = (Engyprosopon) . ( ; ( ( F 33 Pes oe d 341, 1024 892 718 386 816 049 PAGE nebulosa (Parapercis) 44] nebulosa (Saurida) 225 nebulosus (Cynoscion) 574 af (Lethrinus) 633 34 (Siganus) 785 neglectus (Fierasfer) . 886 Nematops 395 nematopterus (Pte ragogus) « 166 Nemichthidis scolopacei (Tilurella) 223 Nemichthyidae . : o LOT Nemichthys 198 Nemophis . 849 Neobythites 879 Neocyttus 376 Neoscombrops . 528 Neoscopelus 246 Neostomias 138 nesogallica (Pempheris) 666 * (Scorpaenopsis) . 906 Nettastoma : 193 Nettastomatis (Leptocephalus) 221 Nettastominae . 187 nicobariensis (Holacanthus) 615 niger (Aldrovandia) 168 niger (Apolectus) 565 », (Balistes) . 951 », (Centrolophus) . 895 », (Chiasmodon) 434 ,, (Etmopterus) 50 », (Melanostomias) 142 nigra (Elacate) . 511 nigricans (Plesiops) 494 nigripes (Apogon) 514 nigripinnis (Chaetodon) 613 nigripinnis (Diplacanthopoma) 878 nigripinnis (Pagrus) . 695 “ (Pterois) . 913 nigrofasciata (Zonichthys) . 557 nigrofasciatus (Sargus) « 685,687 nigrofuscus (Teuthis) a i) nigromaculatus (Laeops) 392 nigromaculatus (Lepidaplois) 746 nigromaculatus (Lionurus) . . 3848 nigromarginatus (Opisthognathus) 444 nigrum (Myctophum) 239 nitidus (Emmelichthys) 592 nobilianus (Narcobatus) 89 nobilis (Polymixia) 359 Nomeus 7 889 noordzicki (Conger) 188 Notacanthidae . 168 Notacanthus . 169 notatus (Glyphisodon) 737 Notidanidae 20 Notopogon 277 Novacula . : : 767 novacula (Hemipteronotus) 767 novae-hollandiae (Hippocampus). 294 novemcinctus (Serranus) 460 novemmaculatus (Diodon) 980 nuchalis (Gobius) 824 1050 nudiceps (Goblus) nudivomer (Gymnothorax) . nuttingt (Polyipnus) O obesus (Hemirhamphus) oblongus (Monacanthus) + (Tetrodon) . oblongus (‘Trachynotus) oblongus (Xystaema) obseura (Cyclothone) . obscurus (Carcharinus) obscurus (Gobius) obtusata (Sphyraena) obtusirostre (Heleogramma) obtusus (Rhinobatus) . occidentalis (Uranoscopus) . ocellala (Apogon) ocellata (Solea) . ocellatus (Actobatis) ocellatus (Blennius) ocellatus (Galeichthys) ocellatus (Pteraclis) a (Rhinobatus) ” (Symphurus) ocellatus (‘Tropidichthys) ocellifera (Raia) : octatrema (Heptatretus) oculata (Raia) Odontaspidae Odontaspis oeur (Mugil) olfersi (Argyrope lecus) oligolepis (Mugil) Oligopodus olivaceus (Gobius) Omosudidae Omosudis ‘ Onchocephalidae Oneirodes Onos , oortii (Salarias) operculare (Pomadasys) opercularis (Lethrinus) opercularis (Pteragogus) Ophichthidis — serpentis cephalus) Ophichthus Ophichthyidae . Ophichthys Ophidiidae . ophiocephalus ( Eleotris) Ophthalmolophus Opisthognathidae Opisthognathus OPISTHOMI Oplegnathus Opsan Us oramin (Siganus) orbicularis (Diodon) PAGK o CORO 209, LOLD » 165 262 956 967 554. 629 147 25 821 316, 1024 869 62, 1014. . 436 522 401 84. 836 161 . 697 » LOWS 418 977 67, LOLS . 1023 597 816 248 249 . L008 . 1004 . 1024 8458 675 633 : . 764 (Lepto- ; . 220 201 201 201, 1019 . 887 811 851 443 . 443 « LOM 504 992 785 982 Annals of the South African Museum. PAGE orbignianus (Parexocdetus) . 267 orbis (Chaetodipterus) 604 » (Tripterodon) 725 Orcynus 799 Orectolobidae ¢ ; 36 orientalis (Dactylopterna) . 947 ss (Epinnula) . 790 orientalis (Grammistes) 492 a (Sarda) 801 orissa (Manta) 87 ornatus (Clinus) 856 » (Samaris) 396 Orthagoriscus 986 Osbeckia . 960 OSTARLOPHYSI 156 Ostracion . : 961 Ostraciontidae . , 961 otaitensis (Pempheris) 666 Otolithus . 573 Oltophidium 888 oualensis (Pempheris) 666 ovalis (Platophrys) 394 ovatus (‘Trachynotus) 553 oweni (Halosaurus) 166 Owstonia . 492 Oxybeles 885 oxycephalus (Cirthitichthys) 453 Oxygadus 342 Oxymacrurus 341 oxyrhynehus (Hologymnosus) 748 Oxystomus ; , 201 Oxyurichthys 824 oyena (Xystaema) 628 iy Pachymetopon . 636 Pagellus 705 Pagrichthys 692 Pagrus 692 pallida (Cyclothone microdon var, ) 146 Palunolepis 2 456 panthera (Narcobatus) x . ay pantherinus (Bothus) . 385, 1025 pantherinus (Gymnomuraena) , 215 pantherinus (Scylliorhinus) 40, 1013 Pantodontidae ; 126 papper (Ichth. yorhamphos) 505 » (Lachta) . 555 Parabembras 936 Paracallionymus 448 Parachaeturichthys 826 Paracirrhites 450 Paracitharus 389 Paracyttopsis 378 Paradicrolene SSL paradiseus (Labroides) 749 paradoxus (Stylophthalmus) 140 Parahynnodus . : . 525 Paralichthodes 397 Paralichthodidae 397 A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. Paraliparis : parallelus (M acrurus) Paralosa Paramacrurus Paramia : Parapempheris . Parapercis Paraplagusia Parascombrops . Parascorpis parasiticus (Simenchelys) Parasphenanthias Parasyngnathus Parazenopsis ; parcomaculata (Raia) . parcomaculatus (Diodon) Pardachirus pardalis (Cantherines) Parexocoetus Parupeneus parva (Sciaena) . : parviceps (Nettastoma) ‘parvipinnis (Atherina) parvipinnis ( Synaphobranchus pinnatus var.) . pastinacus (Dasybatis) patoca (Tetrodon) pavo (Clinus) ,, (Pomacentrus) PAGE 926 342 lll 340 52D 667 44] 410 526 664 181 492 289 374 68 982 405 959 266 586 pectinatus (Pristis) . 57 1014 pectoralis (Austroglossus) 407 pectoralis (Gomphosus) 760 pectoralis (Lambdopsetta) . 393 pectorosus (Heptranchias) . 21 PEDICULATI . + 290 Pegasidae 295, 1023 Pegasus - 1023 Pegusa . 1026 pelagicus (Lampris) 351 pelagicus (Syngnathus) 289 Pelamys 800 pelamys (Gymnosarda) 797 Pelates : 4 465 Pelecinomimus . 252 Pelicanichihys 389 Pellona 110, 1016 Pempheridae 665 Pempheris 665 pennanti (Maurolicus) 151 Pentaceros : : «622 pentadactylum (Hemipteronotus) 768 perarmatus (Dissomma) 248 PERCESOCES . 296 Perciformes 427 Percoidei . ; 426 PERCOMORPHI . 425 perelegans (Callionymus) 447 Periophthalmus ; 827 periophthalmus (Salarias) 848 Peristedion 944 Peristethus 944 1051 PAGE peroni (Cantherines) . 957 peronit (Chelidonichthys) 941 perrotteti (Pristis) . : Pees): ) personatus (Gobius) 818 Petalichthys 55 petersi (Tropidichthys) petimba (Fistularia) 2 74, 1022 Petraites . 865 Petroscirtes 838 Phaetonichthys 805 phekadopleura (Stethojulis) 759 phengodes (Myctophum) 241 phlegon (Syngnathus) 289 Photichthys 149 Phtheirichthys . 419 Physiculus 325 picklei (Pelecinomimus) 252 pictus (Chaeropsodes) . . 146 pictus (Chaunax) ; . 1003 » (Gymnothorax) 210, 1019 5, (Plectorhynchus) 670 picuda (Sphyraena) 315 Pimelepterus 645 Pinguipedidae 440 pinguis (Hepsetia) 299 pinnatus (Lyconus) 3395 re (Sy naphobranchus) ie pinniceps (Antennarius) . 1001 piscatorius (Lophius) . . 999 PISCES . : : : ae Plagiogeneion . @ : . 592 PLAGIOSTOMI : ; We Plagusia : H . 410 Plagyodus 250 Platax 605 plater ( Callanthias) . 465 Platophrys 384, 394 Platycephalidae .» 930 Platycephalus : . 9al platycephalus (Heptranchias) . 1012 Platyglossus 751 Platyinius 647 platynotus ( Gobius) 814 Platyschistae re 7 Platystethus : 454, 458 playfairi (Cirrhimuraena) 205 plebeius (Polydactylus) 317 PLECTOGNATHI 947 Plectorhynchidae 668 Plectorhynchus 669 Plectromus 368 Plectropoma 468 Plesiopidae 494 Plesiops ; 494 Pleuronectidae . 394 Pleuroscopus 437 pleurospilus (Tetrodon) 973 pleurostigma (Parupeneus) . . 690 pleurotaenia (Parupeneus) . . 688 PLEUROTREMATA ; ea, Pliotrema ‘ ; : «ie 1052 PAGE Plotosidae 5 : z . L6S Plotosus . : 4 oe es plumbeus (Caranx) ; : . 542 plutonia (Raia) . ; 2 OS Poecilopsetta . . ; +, 1800 polleni (Narcobatus) . 5 » 1. 80 Polydactylus. : . 3816, 1024 Polyipnus ; : , Loo polylepis (Apogon) ; ; ey 40) Polymetme ; ; P 1018 Polymixia : : ‘ . 359 Polymixiidae . F A peasit polymnus (Amphiprion) : Ae hp) polynema (Gobius) . . . 826 Polynemidae . : . 9316, 1024 Polynemus ; : . 9016, 1024 polyophthalma (Parapercis) . . 442 polyophthalmus (Gymnothorax) . 210 Polyprion : et polystigma (Scylliorhinus) ; . 43 polytaenia (Hippocampus) . - 298 polyzona (Echidna) . . borer) Pomacanthus . . ; ee Pomacentridae . d : Ae hte) Pomacentriformes . ; . 427 Pomacentrus . : : toe Pomadasidae . ' , . 668 Pomadasys : 5 ’ . 674 Pomatomidae . A : 5 iO) Pomatomus . : ; ade Pompilus . : : : . 894 Porobronchus . : : . 885 Poroderma : : 1013 Porogadus ; : : . 880 Porogrammus . A 5 . 870 Porthmeus : . 508 praeopercularis (Epinephelus) . 476 pracorbitalis (Dentex) : . @14 praetextatus (Cymolutes) . oe pretiosus (Ruvettus) . ; 2 TS Priacanthidae . ‘ : . 497 Priacanthus ; : : . 498 princeps (Taractes) . : 2 OOD Pristidae . , : : oO Pristiophoridae . 5 : se Oe Pristiophorus . A ; ae Oe Pristipoma . d ; . 674 Pristipomatidae . ; : ; (668 Pristipomoides . : : 647 Pristis 5 56, 1014 _pristis (Platycephalus) , 934. proboscidea (Venefica) : . 194 procerum (Myctophum) . . 2o8 profundus (Heptatretus) . . | tO prognathus (Polyprion) ; . 488 propinquus (Allocyttus verrucosus var.) . 4 « ote proroscopus (Bathytroctes) : . eZ Protopterus : : : . 98 psacas aL : : ae (3 V Psednos_ . : é me ee Annals of the South African Museum. Psenes Psettodes . Psettodidae Psettus s Pseudochromis . Pseudocyttus . pseudodorsalis (Pleuroscopus) pseudominiatus (Platyglossus) Pseudomonacanthus Pseudopentaceros Pseudophycis Pseudorhombus Pseudoscarus Pteraclidae Pteraclis . Pteragogus Pterois Pteromylaeus Pterophryne Pteroplatea ; pterotum (Myctophum) Pterycombus. pugicephalus (Pagrus). pumiliceps (Lionurus) punctata (Corvina) A (Drepane) 93 (Harengula) punctatissima (Synaptura) . punctatum (Plectorhynchus) punctatum (Xystaema) punctatus (Chilinus) punctatus (Chlorophthalmus) ae (Fierasfer) . ue (Ostracion) punctatus (Platycephalus) punctatus (Scylliorhinus) punctifer (Blennius) punctillatus (Gobius) . punctulatus (Aeoliscus) punctulatus (Chilinus) punctulatus (Diodon) puniceus (Pagrus) puntazzo (Charax) purpurea (Dasybatis) purpureum (Thalassoma) pusillus (Knneapterygius) pusillus (Prionotus) Q Quadrarius quadricolor (Thalassoma) quadricornis (Lactophrys) . quadricornis (Salarias) quadrifasciatus (Apogon) quadrilineatus (Therapon) . quadrimaculata (Clwpea) quadrimaculata (Raia) quadriocellata (Solea) : quadrioculatum (Neostoma) . queketti (Apogon) PAGE 383 752 957 621 325 230 886 962 933 43 834 82] 280, 1023 A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. PAGE queketti (Chelidonichthys) . . 942 aS (Dinoperca) . ; . 490 ys (Seylliogaleus) 31, 1013 quekettt (Upeneus) . : 585 Quincuncia ‘ ; , hss Quinquarius. : 1 G22 quinquelinearis (Lutianus) - 652, 653 quinquelineata (Chilodipterus) . 526 quinquelineatus (Lutianus) . G52 quinqueradiatus (Chirolophius) . 997 R Rachycentron . : : , Ou radians (Mugil) . : : . 3805 radiatus (Chilinus) . : 1 NGS radiatus Se E : 38 GD. Raia 2 : ‘ af G2 raii (Brama) : ; . 594 Raiidae . : : F 62 Ranzania . j ; ay iter’) rappi (Xystaema) ‘ : . 630 rarum (Myctophum) . : - 245 raschii (Taractes) : : 4 595 Rastrelliger : ; : Soe rasus (Rhinobatus) 1014 raynert (Galeocerdo) . ‘ Paar | rectangulus (Balistes) : “7 99E0 Regalecus : 354 regani (Aesopia) 408 ;, .(Scylliorhinus) . 42, 1013 Regania . ‘ oP nee reinhardti (Himantolophus) 1006 reinhardti a benoiti Var.) « : : . 242 Remora 420 remora (Echeneis) 422 remora (Echeneis) : 4 : renardi (Stethojulis) . : i hod reticulatum (Dascyllus) ; Set reticulatus ee eens) oO Rhachicentridae : 2 DEL Rhachicentrum . ; " Se OLE Rhinobatidae . A : 57 Rhinobatus : : 59, 1014 rhinobatus (Rhinobatus) ; Aas Rhinodon : oO rhinorhynchus (Petroscirtes) . 840 rhizacanthus (Raia) . ay G4: rhomboidalis (Neocyttus) . An STi rhomboides (Holacanthus) . ba GilG Rhomboidichthys : . 384 Rhynchobatus . : 1 fos Rhynchohyalus : : . 1380 Rhypticus : . 490 richardsoni (Borostomias) : Me tle ty bi (Gymnothorax) 1019 < (Pseudopentaceros) . 621 richardsonit (Mugil) . ; 2 307 ringens (Canthidermis) . 954 rivulatus (Dentex) . : a) GL 1053 PAGE rivulatus (Epinephelus) - . 480 rivulatus (Lutianus) . : Gee a (Salarias) . : . 845 robinsoni (Dentex) . ; OM od (Hoplegnathus) . . 506 robinsoni (Pagrus) . ; . 704 robinsoni (Parabembras) . . 936 robinsoni (Paraplagusia) . . 410 robinsoni (Platyglossus) . shag 3 (Umbrina) . : / MD robusta (Tylosurus) . : MLSS robustus (Clinus) : : . 860 ms (Mugil) : : . 305 zs (Parahynnodus) 525 ronchus (Pomadasys) . : 2. COME rondeleti (Carcharodon) : ae ie rondeleti (Diplodus) . : . 690 rondelett (Scombresox) : ot OO rosea (Scorpaenopsis) : 2) 1904 roseipinnis (Apogon) . : 2) p2 roseus (Apogon) . 514, 644 roseus (Pristipomoides) : . 648 rostellatus (Ophichthys) . . 202 rostrata (Macdonaldia) ; eee! Pr rostratus (Aspidontus) : . 843 rostratus (Bathytroctes) . ' 122 rostratus (Lethrinus) . - « (632 rottleri (Caranx) : 5 : \dae rotundatus (Melanocetus) 1007 ruber (Otolithus) ‘ : none rubescens (Antigonia) >) 1 900: 4025 rubiginosus (Plagiogeneion) heos rubrum (Holocentrum) 366 ruconius (Liognathus) : 2* 625 rupestris (Dentex) . : Swit le rupestris (Dentex) fio, 719 rupestris (Kuhlia) . 495 Rupiscartes - . 844 ruppellra (Zonichthys y , ey | russelli (Decapterus) . : . 534 » (Hemirhamphus) . .' 261 ,, (Liopempheris) . 668 » (Lutianus) . : 660 »» | (Pseudorhombus) 388, 1025 russellit (Pterois) ‘ : 913 russellii (Trachynotus) ‘ ~ god ruthiae (Zanclus) : : 5 © Sie Ruvettus . : : : ae NSE S Sacura . A : «61 safgha (Ambassis) ; : . 643 Safole : : . 495 sagax (Sardina). 112, 1017 sagifue (Macrohamphosus) . 276 salar (Salmo) . : : aT Salarias . : : : . 844 Salariichthys . ‘ : . 844 saldanha (Gobius) : : | S23 (Seylliorhinus) . ieee 1054 "PAGE saliens (Mugil) . 307 Salmo 127 salmoides (Epinephelus) 484 salmoneus (Chanos) 106 Salmonidae ‘ 126 salmonoides (Lutianus) 662 salpa (Box) 726 saltator (Pomatomus) 509 Samaris 396 sammara (Holocentrum) 365 sanctae-helenae (Decapterus) 534 sancti-petri (Chorinemus) 564 sandvichensis (Teuthis) 778 sandwichiensis (Cantherines) 959 sangiensis (Apogon) 515 sansun (Caranx) 545 saponaceus (Rhypticus) 491 sarba (Sparus) . : = 687 Sarda . 800 sarda (Sarda) 800, 1027 Sardina 112 Sardinella : 113, 1017 Sargus 685, 6 687, 689, 690 Sarpa 726 Saurida 224 Saurus 226 saurus (Elops) 103 », (Scombresox) . 259 saxatilis (Glyphisodon) 736 scaber (Platycephalus) 935 Scaeops 387 scapularis (Halidesmus) 870 7S Soa ac: 752 Scarichthys 774 Scaridae ak Scarostoma 504 Scartichthys 844 Scarus 772 Scatharus . 2 122 Scatophagidae . 618 Scatophagus 618 sceleratus (Tetrodon) 969 Schilbeidae 157 schlegelt (Caranx) : 542 schlegeli (Rhinobatus) 61 schoepfi (Diodon) 983 schreineri (Dasybatis) 76 schwenki (Pempheris) 667 Sciaena 568 Sciaenidae 567 Scianectes 392 Sclerodermi : 948 SCLEROPAREI : 899 scolopaceus (Nemichthys) » 198 scolopax STecuene uel) 276, 277 Scolopsis . ‘ . 669 Scomber . 794 Scomberoides 562 Scomberoidinae 531 Scomberomorus 801 Scombresocidae 259 Annals of the South African Museum. Scombresocoidea Scombresox Scombridae d SCOMBROIDEI Scombropinae Scombrops : scoparius (Lethrinus) . Scopelarchidae . Scopelopsis Scopelus Scorpaena Scorpaena Scorpaenidae Scorpacnoidet Scorpaenopsis Scorpididae Scorpis scripta (Alutera) scrofa (Scorpaena) scullyi (Blennius) sculptus (Glyphisodon) scutatus (Paracyttopsis) Scuticaria ; Scylliogaleus Seylliorhinidae . Seylliorhinus Scyris : sebae (Lutianus) Sebastichthys sebastoides (Acanthistius) . Sebastosemus sector (Serrivomer) Secutor seheli (Mugil) Selachophidium Selar ‘ Selene semicirculatus (Holacanthus) semidiscus (Hologymnosus) semispinosus (Trachurus) senegalensis (Solea) Seriola . Seriolichthys Seriolina . Seriolinae . serpens (Gempylus) es (Ophichthys) . serpentinus ad i 7s) Serranidae : Serranus . serrata (Fistularia) Serrivomer servus (Therapon) setifer (Chaetodon) » (Monacanthus) » (Xiphasia) setigerus (Lophiomus) setirostris (Thryssa) setosus (Gobius) sexfasciatus (Caranx) . sexfasciatus (Salarias) 273, 306, 1023 875 536 551 615 748 531 399, 1025, 1026 555 561 558 531 789 202 202 458 459 274 200 467 609 955 849 998 119 823 543 845 A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. sexlineatus (Grammistes) sexspinis (Notacanthus) sextarius (Polydactylus) siculus (Ammodytes) . Siganidae . : SIGANOIDEI . Siganus signata (Cyclothone) . signatus (Gobius) sihama (Sillago) Sillaginidae Sillago Siluridae . Simencheliidae . Simenchelys simonensis (Solea) simus -(Cantharus) sina (Sciaena) sindensis (Pomacentrus) stndensis (Sardinella) . sinuata (Umbrina) sinus-persici (Narcobatus) . Siphostoma Sirembo sloanei (Chauliodus) Smaris smithi (Letocarcharias) smith (Mugil) smithi (Narcobatus) » (Raia) snodgrasst (Sphyraena) socialis (Xenodermichthys) solandri ('Tropidichthys) soldado (Sciaena) Solea Soleidae . SOLENICHTHYES . Solenostoma Solenostomatidae Solenostomoidei : sonnerati (Epinephelus) sonneratit (Opisthognathus) sordidus (Glyphisodon) spadiceus (Tetrodon) . Sparidae . sparoides (Glyphisodon) Sparus speciosus (Caranx) spectabilis (Gobius) speigleri (Mugil) Sphagebranchus Spheroides Sphyraena sphyraena (Argentina) Sphyraenidae Sphyrna spicifer (Syngnathus) . Spilotichthys : spinacidermis (Raia) . spinax (Etmopterus) . spinifer (Congiopodus) PAGE 492 en GS 317, 1024 43] 784 784 570 399, 1026 398, 1025 271 281 281 212 472 444 737 968 683 738 684 548 823 Be aOes 206, 1019 966 312 128 312 =) 289 669 73 49 814, spinifer (Histiopterus) ”? (Pagrus) spinosissimus (Diodon) spinosissimus (Tetrodon) spinosus (Cottunculoides) e. (Diodon) + (Echinorhinus) (Polyipnus) . ; (Trachichthodes) . splendens (Beryx) 3 (Kuhlia) Spratelloides Squalidae Squalus F 3 squamipinnis (Anthias) Squatina . Squatinidae stabuliforis (Raia) stellatus (Balistes) stellatus (Tetrodon) stellifer (Corvina) stellifera (Gymnothorax) stellulatus (Dibranchus) Stephanolepis stercope (Polyipnus) Sternoptyx Stethojulis Stoasodon Stolephorus Stomias Stomiatidae striata (Umbrina) striatum (Pomadasys) : striatura (Coryphaenoides) . striatus (Antennarius) (Clinus) : ie (Holacanthus) a (Teuthis) strictus (Symphurus) . strigosus (Teuthis) strigiventer (Stethojulis) Stromateidae . : STROMATEOIDEI . Stromateus ‘ Stromateus ‘ stromateus (Apolectus) Stromatoidea : Strongylura ‘ strophodes (Lepidaplois) Stylophthalmus : subcoronatus (Hippocampus) Sudidae : suessi (Narcobatus) Sufflamen sufflans (Scylliorhinus) suillum (Pomadasys) . summana (Epinephelus) sundaica (Sardinella) . superciliosus (Clinus) . i (Minous) 99 99 929 | surinamensis (Lobotes) 1055 PAGE 620 696 979 972 924 983 46 155 363 364 497 10S 45, ay 3 1056 PAGE Symphurus ‘ i ‘ wed PLT, Synagrops : 3 : 2 peo Synagrops ; ; : . 529 Synanceia ‘ ? : + 2920 Synanclidae : , «yi O20 Synaphobranchi pinnati (Lepto- cephalus) . d : a erat ke) Synaphobranchidae . : =o Se Synaphobranchus. : tee Synapteretmus . 5 ; . 282 Synaptura : . 405 SYNENTOGNATHI . : op Syngnathidae . : : Aa te? Syngnathoides . - 285 Syngnathus 287, 288, 1023 Synodontidae 157, 224, 1018 Synodus . 226, 1020 synodus (Synodus) . 1020 £ tabulae (Selar) . : ' 297938 taenia (Diplophos) . : . 149 taenva (Trachypterus). : . 393 taeniatus (Aspidontus) ; . 842 taeniatus (Polydactylus) . ee rs (Tropidichthys) . LET taenionotus (Amblyapistus) ely taeniophorus (Pomadasys) . 7 0Si taeniops (Epinephelus) : . 472 as eas a) 5 = Oo Taeniura . ‘ 1015 taeniura (Kuhlia) : : . 496 Talismania : ; ‘ o wl22 tapeinosoma (Gazza) . : ~ 026 Taractes . ; : : . 595 taurus (Carcharias) . : ~ | 36 ter) CLs). ; . . 8d8 tauvina (Epinephelus) ; . 484 teira (Platax) . ‘ j 605 TELEOSTEI! . : ; ‘al OS TELEOSTOMI , : oye telescopus (Epigonus) : 1!) 029 tembang (Clupea) : f x LS temmincki (Alectis) . . 049 temmincki (Aulacocephalus) . 487 3 (Syngnathus) . 21 HS tentaculata (Pteroplatea) . 1 ok tentaculatus (Pisty compalne) . 932 terina (Stethojulis) . fats) tessellata (Gymnothorax) . . - 210 tetracanthus (Scatophagus) . «) G18 Tetradrachmum . ‘ 4 + Aa Tetraroge . ; . 918, S19 tetrazona (Iniistius) : : RAs) Tetrodon . ; ; ; . 965 Tetrodontidae . : : «' 965 Tetrosomus ; : ; + 3062 Teuthididae . ; : toe ea TEUTHIDOIDEI . : Re (0) Teuthis . ° . , re i! Annals of the South African Museum. PAGE Teuthis 784 Thalassoma 760 Therapon . 465 theraps (Therapon) ; . 466 Tholichthys E 607, 608, 619 Thryssa P . os Thunnus . 798 thurstoni (Mobula) 86 thynnus (Thunnus) 798 Thyrsites . 788 Thyrsoidea 212 tigrina (Gymnomuraena) 2 Tilurella : : 218, 226 Tiluropsis « ae Tilurus 218 tol (Chorinemus) 564 Torpedinidae 88 Torpedo 89 torquatus (Cymolutes) 771 torvus (Congiopodus) 928 Trachichthodes . 362 Trachichthyidae 360 Trachinidae 438 Trachiniformes . 426 Trachinocephalus 227 Trachinus 439 Trachurops 536 Trachurus o31 trachurus (Trachurus) 531 Trachynotinae . o31 Trachynotus 552 Trachypteridae . 352 Trachypterus 352 tractus (Aspidontus) 843 tragula (Upeneus) 583 TREMATOPNEA 19 Triacanthidae 948 Triacanthodes 949 Triacanthus . 948 triangularis (Malthopsis) 1009 Trichiuridae 4 790 Trichiurus 792 Trichopsetta 390 tricuspidatus (Carcharias) 36 tridentifer ( ieee ualeneh 155 Trigla ; 943 Triglidae : 938 trilineatus (Pomacentrus) 734 trilobatus (Thalassoma) 761 trimaculatus (Dascyllus) 731 Triorus : 965 triostegus (Teuthis) 778 Tripterodon 725 Tripterophycis . 329 Tripterygium - 867 tripunctatus (Pomacentrus) 734 triserialis (Ophichthys) 203 Tropidichthys ? 976 Trulla : 415 truncata (Ranzania) . 989 trutta (Salmo) . 127 A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. Trygon Trypauchen tuberculatus (Ostracion) tuberculatus (Phaetonichthys) tumbil (Saurida) ‘ ; tumilabris Beene) turbynei (Solea) . Tydemania Tylosurus ‘ typicus (Rhinodon) typus (Carangichthys) typus (Parascorpis) U uarnak (Dasybatis) Umbrina . : umbrostigma (Thalassoma) : undosquamis (Saurida) undulatus (Balistes) : ee (Gymnothorax) . undulosus (Dentex) unicolor (Congiopodus) unicolor (Ophichthys) ,, (Pagrus) os (Salarias) unicornis (Monoceros) unifasciatus (Tetrodon) Upeneoides : Upeneus . wpsicephalus (Chirolophius) ae (Lophiomus) Uranoscopidae . Uranoscopus Uroconger Urophori . Uropterygius urotaenia (Ambassis) . Vv vagabundus (Chaetodon) vagatus (Scoliodon) vagina (Trypauchen) . vagus (Pagrus) . vaillant: (Chimaera) a (Paradicrolene) valentini (Aulostoma) valentini (Tropidichthys) vampyrus (Manta) variabilis (Petroscirtes) variegata (Echidna) variegatus (Lethrinus) a (Sceylliorhinus) variegatus (Symphurus) ~ (Synodus) . varius (Gomphosus) varius (Synodus) velifera (Pteraclis) velitaris (Macrorhamphosus) velox (Kuleptorhamphus) 256, 1022 ot 541 664 417 296, 1020 750 226 598 PATHE 264 1057 PAGE Venefica 194 Ventrifossa 345 venustris (Clinus) . 861 vermicularis (Gy mnothorax) . 1019 vermiformis (Lycodonus) 873 verrucosus (Allocyttus) 378 verrucosus (Congiopodus) 928 vespertilio (Platax) 606 vetula (Balistes) 952 Vexillifer . 885 vicinus (Uroconger) 192 villosa (Fistularia) 273, 1022 viola (Antimora) 321 violaceus (Lethrinus) . 631 virescens (Lethrinus) . : 631 virgata (Tetrodon immaculatus Ware). = 974 viridescens (Callyodon) 776 viridis (Algoa) ‘ 319 vitrirostris (Thryssa) . 118, 1017 vittata (Harengula) 115 vittatus (Upeneus) 584 vittiger (Apogon) 518 vogleri (Sciaena) 571 volitans (Pterois) 912 Vomer : 551 VOMEFINUS (Lophius) ‘ 999 vulgaris (Cantharus) 722 vulgaris (Conger) 187 ce (Merluccius) . 321 vulgaris (Mustelus) 30, 1013 ne (Solea) . 416 vulgaris (Sphyraena) . 313 vulgaris (Thunnus) 798 vulpes (Alopias) 34 », (Albula). 106 W waigiensis (Lutianus) . .- 656 3 (Mugil) 310, 1023 wakanourae (Yozia) ee! )- walbeehmi (Carcharinus) eo, Eee warmingi (Myctophum) 237, 102] warreni (Pliotrema) ees ee (Apogon) 515 weberi (Owstonia) 493 woodi (Petroscirtes) 839 ».¢ xanthocephalus (Chaetodon) 613 xanthopterus (Gymnomuraena) 216 xanthosoma (Dascyllus) 731 xanthurus (Chromis) . 732 Xenoberyces 358 Xenodermichthys 123 Xenolepidichthys 370 XENOPTERI . 422 Xiphasia . 849 Xiphias 805 Xiphiidae 805 i ’ 1058 Annals of the South African Museum. PAGE PAGE Xiphiurus ; : , . 887 | Zanclidae . , 5 ‘ . 782 Xiphogadus ; : : . 849 | Zanclus . : ; : - 182 Xiphy pops ‘ J : . 617 | zanzibarensis (Yozia) . : . 292 Xyrichthys : E ; . 766 | zebra (Aesopia) . : ; - 408 Xystaema : : ; . 627 | zebra (Echidna) ¥ ; - 1020~ Xystophorus. , ; 2560 3 (Pterois) . : : . STB Zebrias . : : - = ¥ Jeidae . |. yapilli (Lutianus) : ; . 661 | Zenion . ; : : . of Yarella. E ‘ . 148, 1018 | Zenopsis . : : Z - oe Yozia : ‘ : ; . 29) | ZHOMORPHI . : ; . 369 Zeus , ; ; ae Z Zoarcidae . . 5 : . 6A Zalises . 5 : ; . 1023 | Zonichthys ; : : . 557 zambesensis (Carcharinus) . . 25 | zygaena (Sphyrna) . , - ae zambezensis (Belonichthys) . . 286 | Zygaena : 4 31 ¢ ~ A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. 1059 INDEX TO COMMON NAMES. Norte.-—Only the more important and best known of the more strictly South African popular names have been employed in the present work. In different localities different names are applied to the same fish by fishermen and anglers, and the same name may denote entirely different fishes. Verbal corruptions are frequent. Moreover, since the first part of this work was published, a process of stan- dardising the spelling of Afrikaans words is taking place, as a result of which, e.g. “ visch ” is now spelt “ vis.” A PAGE pace | Biskop, White . é , . 688 Adalah_ . : 5 : . 383 | Blaasop . : : - wart U Albacore . Z : . 555 Atlantic ‘ : : . 966 Long-finned . : : 5. YE) Banded-cheek , : . a0 Allmouth . ; : ; g YEY Grey . : 5 : . 968 Anchovy, Cape . : i 4 MENG Many-spined . ; ’ ae! hr East Coast . ; ; 5 Silver . , : : . 969 Angel-fish { ? : - 054 Smooth : F ‘ ran Angle-fish : : : 5. OU Valentyn’s . ; 4 Hewayo Angler. 5 ; : . 999 | Black-fish : : : . 490 Argentine é : : . 128 | Black-tail : : 09) Assous . : : “ . 298 | Blenny, Banded Skipping : . 845 Blue-striped . : . 840 B Collared Skipping . ; 142847 Common Cape A : . 833 Baardmann : : 3 2) 75s Crested . - : . 835 Bafaro. : ; ‘ . 488 Dussumier’s Skipping . . 846 Bagger, Black . : , 5 LGD) Elongate : 3 . 840 Ocellate : : : alol Moustache . ! : : $a7 Red : : , ; Ge Ocellate : ; > 1 Sp6 White . : : ; GO Punctate : : : . 834 Bamboo-fish . : ie 026 Sabre-toothed : 5 . 841 Band-fish, Black- spotted : - 508 Scully’s ; 4 : . 836 Barbel . : : . 160 Spotted Skipping . : . 846 Dussumier’s . 3 ; 5) Striped . - , : . 842 Barbudo . 5 : ; DY Wood's : : . 839 Barracuda é : : ap ol4 | ‘Blue- bottle fish . : : . 890 (Australia) . ; : . 788 | Blue-fish . 4 : . 645, 897 (Natal) . ; . : . 803 | Blue-skin . : : : Pee |. Black-finned . : : . 314 | Boar-fish . , : : . 380 European j : : eo Ono: % : ; : . 800 Pointed-finned : : wale Oceanic ; : ; Yee Bat-fishes 5 : : . 1008 Paces’. $ : : . 801 Beaked Salmon : : . 125 | Bonnet-skate . : : BS Bellows-fish ; : : . 276 | Bontrok . . : ‘ 106 Long-snouted : ; . 279 | Box-fish . ; : : . 963 Natal . 3 : 2 A raihe: Diaphanous . ; : - 963 Big-eye . . : : . 498 Four-angled . : . 962 Bijter : : : : . 8383 Three-angled . . 964 Biskop, Black . : : om G0 White-spotted : : . 962 VOL. XXI, PART 2. 68 1060 Bream, Bronze . Butter . Mud River Silver Brusher Butter-fish Butterfly-fish Black-backed Black-finned . Klein’s . Lunate . Marley’s Plain-tailed Short-finned . Two-spot Wandering Whip . Butterfly oe Atlantic Natal! -. C Cape Lady , : Cape Salmon (Cape) . (Port Elizabeth) (Natal) . Cardinal-fish, Annulate Barred . , Black-fin Five-stripe Natal . Ocellate One-stripe Orange-spotted Plain Quekett’s Two-banded . Two-stripe Warren’s Chimaera, African Common Chor-chor Coachman Cob. : Cod-fishes Concertina-fish . Conger, Cape Lesser . Japanese Lesser White Conger-Kel Conger- Pike : Coral-fish, Banded Brownrigg’s Vive-barred Sordid . Three-spot Yellow-tail Courbina . Cow-fish PAGE 724 645 703 703 687 688 i 1897 606, 912 9 OL 613 614 610 613 913 897 OD Os 569, 1027 521 516 514 519 520 O22 518 516 517 Annals of the South African Museum. D Dab, Bean’s Dageraad . Daggegraat Daggerhead Dane Dasje Dassie 5 Deal-fish, Mediterranean North Atlantic Devil-fish. \ . Straight-horned Dik-bekje Dik-kop . Dodskop . Dog-fish, Balloon Banded Barbed Spiny Cape Common Cape Deep-water Long-snouted Spiny Mottled Natal Ocellate as Piked Punctate Quekett’s , Slender-toothed Spiny Small-eyed Spiny Striped . Variegated White-spotted Dolphin-fish Dorab : Dory, Buckler . Ox-eye . Dragonet, Banded Cape . Long-tailed Marley’s Kagle Ray Spotted Eel, Avocet Biology of Cape . Duck-billed Mozambique . Parasitic Proboscis Silver Snub-nosed Thread . Electric Skate Marbled One-finned 199 178 175 175, 1018 A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. Electric Skate, Smith’s MFG. : : Englishman Escolar File-fish . Black-spot Brown . Oblong . Reticulate Rough-skinned Tooth-brush . Yellow-finned Fishing-frog Five-fingers a Flat-head, Rough- scaled Spotted Tentacled . : Flounder, Broad- forehead : Crested . Dalgleish’s Kitahara’s Large-scaled . Mottled Pelican . Russell’s Flute-mouth Flattened Spiny-back . Flying-fish, Pointed- chinned Flying- fishes Fransch Madam Frog-fish, Black-tailed Ocellate : Spotted-tailed White-striped Frost-fish . Galjoen Bastard Gar-fish Garrick Geel-bek . Geel-staart Germon Glass-nose Goby, Bearded . Common - Dewaal’s Durban Flat-head Fuscous Long-tailed River Skipping Spot-tailed Spotted PAGE 90 | Gregarious Smooth-skin 509 | Grey-skin . 700 Grunter 787 Banded Blotched Bull Rock ‘ 955 Spear-spined . 956 Striped . 958 | Gurnard, F hs 956 Grey . 959 Large-scaled . 958 Quekett’s 957 Red 959 999 564 H 935 Hag-fishes 933 See: Hair-tail . 386 ion 396 Half-beak, Tce: S Large 391 Pel 393 elagic . 339 Half- hee Groote = | Halfeord . 385 Hammer-head 390 Hangberger 388 aa 973 arder. . Herring, Banded Lesser 274 Natal i 212 Punctate Lesser 267 R 265 ound . Straight- backed Tit Whiskered 994 Horse-fish 995 ; 992 Spiny . Horse Mackerel 994 H 79] ottentot Blue Natal Hound, Common Long-snouted 635 Smooth 505 257 559 I 575 ; 555 | Isibubu-lungwana 799 118 825 J 816 | Jacob Evertson 815 | Jacob Piver, Peatardh 815 | Jacobpever ‘ 814 Spiny 821 John Brown 824 | John Dory, Cape 819 Japanese 828 | Johnny 826 | Joseph 818 {| Josup 302, 304, 1061 PAGE 123 671 675 681 679 679 677 677 680 947 94] 938 942 940 1062 Annals of the South African Museum. K Kabeljaauw Kalk-vis . Kapenaar Kapitein-vis Karanteen, Striped White Katonkel . Katunker . Kerper King-fish . Commerson’s . Lineolate Yellow-brown King Klip-fish . Natal . : King-of-the- Herrings : Klip-fish . ‘ : Bearded Blunt-nosed . Bull Grass 3 Low-crested . Mouse . iMmimeoloured Ornate . Peacock Striped . Weed Klip-vis Bont Klipzuiger Knight-fish Knorhaan, Graauwe . Roode . t Koning Klip-vis Lady-fish . Lancelet . Lantern-fish, Murray's 8 Leer-vis A Lizard-fish : Blunt-nosed . Deep-sea Indian . Variegated Long-fin Lootsman Lui-haai . Lung-fish . Maasbanker Mackerel . Makreel Melk-vis Milk-fish . Monk-fish PAGE 569 791 717 862 726 re H7 10 elOgs 797, 1027 296 351, 548, 545 802 803 802 887 883 354 855 853 858 858 863 856 854 861 856 857 862 853 855 861 423 360 941 940 887 492, 560 Moon-fish . Moorish Idol Moray, Banded . Brown Finless Clouded Long-tailed Marbled Finless Ocellate Pear]-spotted Spotted : Spotted Finless Tessellate Undulate Yellow-edged : Yellow-tailed Finless Mullet, Blue-tail Ceylon . Diamond Flathead Fleshy-lipped Golden . Grey Indian . Large- scaled . Stout Musselcrusher Naald-vis . Needle-fish Common Cape Oar-fish Oil-fish . Old Woman Old Wife . Opah Paarde-vis Padda Pampano . Pampelmoes Panga Pappegaai-vis Paradise-fish Parrot-fish ; Blue-spotted . Brown . Pilot-fish . Pine-cone Fish . Pipe-fish, Common Pelagic . Slender . Spiny Temminck’s Poenskop . ‘ Pofadder Haai . PAGE 351, 554 782 213 215 214 212 215 210 209 208 216 210 211 212 215 305 305 309 308 307 308 304 306 309 305 695 262 262 255 354 787 616 952 351 928 999 553 897 694 505 749 505 775 560 360 695 A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. Porbeagle Porcupine-fish . Flat-spined Long-spined . Pouter ; Long-spine Striped . Prodigal Son Puffer, Spotted Puntazzo . Queenfish . R Rat-tail, Banded Black-spotted Shovel-nose Small-scaled . Ray (see also Skate) Smooth-skinned Whip-tailed Razor-fish Remora . Ribbon-fish Fisk’s Rock-cod, de ons Ss Ascension Island Banded Blue-spotted . Gilbert’s Honeycomb Marbled : Orange-spotted Reds : Red-spotted . Scarlet . Sonnerat’s Spotted Streaked Two-spined Variegated White-lined White-margined Yellow and Blue Yellow-stripe Rockling, Cape Three- bearded Rock-Salmon Rog Roman . Rooi Chor- ones Rooiman . Rudder-fish Runner Sail-fish Salmon-bass Lesser . PAGE 33 980 981 979 629 627 628 , 562 437 709 Salmon-bass, Long-toothed Sancord Sanct Pieter Vis Sand-eel, Cape . Sand- fish. Sand-shark, Bloch’ s Blunt- nosed R Unicolourous . Spotted Sand Smelt Ocellate Sie eae Sardijn Sardine Lesser . : Sargassum-fish . Saury Saw-fish : Saw-shark, Water? 8. Scabbard- alh Scavenger Long-snouted Scham-oog Scorpion-fish, Bar-tailed Bearded ; Hunchback Natal Roseate Scotchman Sea-bat Sea Bream , Long-finned . Sea-devil . Sea-horse, Cape Sea-snake Sea-swallow Serpent-eel, Common. Kirk’s ; Playfair’s Rostellate Short-nosed : Unicolourous . 4 Seventy-four Shad : ; Shark, Basking . Black . k Black-fin ‘ Black-finned . Blue Dusky . Fox Hammer- Head ‘ Indo-Pacific Basking Man-eating : Port Jackson River . é Seven-gilled . Sharp-nosed . Six-gilled 5 Slender-toothed Smith’s ; 1063 PAGE 573 907 564 . 431 125, 932 1064 Annals of the South African Museum. Shark, Spiny Thresher Tiger ‘ Walbeehm’s . Shovel-nose Sickle-fish Sierra s Siil-smelt . Silver-fish 3 Silversides, Black-backed Cape . , Skate, Angular Atlantic Deep-water Buckler Cape Diamond Electric European Leopard Long-nosed Mottled : Natal Deep-water . Ocellate : Rough-skinned Sandy Sharp-nosed . Short-tailed Smith’s Smooth : Spiny-tailed . Spotted Skipper Slangetje . Slime-heads Slimy : Spotted Slinger Smelt : Smooth-head Snake Mackerel Snapper, Black-margined Black-spot Blue-banded . Narrow-striped Ruby Seba’s Two-spot : Yellow-margined Yellow-streaked Snoek Soap-fish . Soldier . Soldier-fish, Dark- striped Light- striped Red F Sole ‘ Black- finned . Bleeker’s Blunt-nosed_ . Cape . Horned 128, ! Sole, Ocellate Regan’s Double-banded . Senegal Single- banded Small- sealed . White-margined Yellow-margined Spade-fish : : Spear-fish, Herschel’s Spet ; Spieringtje Spine-foot, Mottled White-spotted Spiny-back Cape Long- snouted Moseley’ s Springer (Cape) (Natal) . Stargazer . : Steenbras, Bank Red River Spotted White Steenje : ; Steenklipvis, Banded . Lesser ‘ , Steenvis . Sting-ray, Agulhas Common Duck-billed Marbled Purple . Short-tailed Stockfish . Stok-visch Stone-bass Stone-fish Streep-dasje Stripe-tail Stront-vis Stumpnose, Red River White Sucker-fish Grey Natal . Striped . Sun-fish Oblong . Pointed- tailed Surf-sardine, Natal Surgeon-fish Barred . Streaked Two-spot 3 Surmullet, Bar- tailed East African . Yellow-stripe Sword-fish 302, PAGE 401 408 399 409 407 406 400 603 808 313 298 785 785 169 173 172 171 307 103 436 497, 1027 A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa. ie Tarpon Tassel- fish, Striped Robinson’ S Teraglin Thorn-back : Thread-fin, Six- rayed Striped . ‘ Thread-fish Straight-nosed Tiger 3 : Tiger-fish, Sea . Toad-fish, Striped Toby : : Banded : Black-spotted Golden . Immaculate Ocellate Trigger- fish, Black Blue-and-White- spotted Blue-banded . Bridled . Spiny-tailed . Stellate Triple-fin, Gilchrist’s Triple- tail Trumpet-fish Lillie’s . Long-spined . Natal : Tunny Lesser . Unicorn-fish Vv Varkenvis Varrtje - . Viper-fish, Sloane’s PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY NEILL AND CO., LTD., 104, - 1001 781, PAGE 106 580 579 575 64 Sly 317 549 550 676 467 968 974 974 968 974 OTT 967 975 407 28 951 954 952 952 953 951 329 638 276 279 276 278 798 TSM 960 951 677 141 W Weak-fish, Spotted Weever, Greater Whale- fish Whitebait Wilde-Paard Windtoy . Witte-vis . Wolf-Herring Wrasse, Banded Bicoloured Black-back Black-chested Black-spot Collar Crested . Elongate Five-finger Giant Purple . Thread-fin Window Yellow-tail Wreck-fish ¥ Yellow-eye, Flat-snouted Punctate Yellow-tail : Black-banded Brazilian Zandkruiper Zebra Zee-basje . Zee-duivel Zee-haantje Zee-slang . Zee-vark . Zeverrim . EDINBURGH. 1 109, 065 230 230 a00 557 556 PARTS OF THE ANNALS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED— Vol. [.—Part 1, out of print; Part 2, out of print; Part 3, out of print. 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Vol. VII (containing Palaeontological papers published in conjunction with the Geological Survey).— Part 1, 3/-; Part 2, out of print; Part 3, 5/-; Part 4, 8/-; Part 5, 5/6; Part 6, 1/6; Index, Title, etc., 1/6. Vol. VIII.—Complete, out of print. Index, Title, etc., 1/6. Vol. [X.—Part 1, 4/6; Part 2, 5/6; Part 3, 10/-; Part 4, 6/6; Part 5, 3/6; Part 6, 11/-; Part 7, 9/-; Index, Title, etc., 1/6. Vol. X.—Part 1, 3/-; Part 2, 2/6; Part 3, 2/-; Part 4, 3/—; Part 5, 20/-; Part 6, 3/-; Part 7, 10/-; Part 8,.2/6; Part 9, 5/-; Part 10, 2/6; Part 11, 20/-; Part 12, 7/-. Complete. Vol. XI.—Part 1, 3/6; Part 2, 2/-; Part 3, 18/6; Part 4, 1/6; Part 5, 17/-; Part 6, 11/- ; Index, Title, etc., and Plate III, 3/-. Vol. XII (containing Palaeontological papers published in conjunction with the Geological Survey).— Part 1, 15/6; Part 2, 3/6; Part 3, 4/6; Part 4, 3/—; Part 5, 7/-; Part 6, 6/-; Part 7, 20/-; Part 8, 20/-; Index, Title, etc., 1/6. 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Vol. XXII (containing Palaeontological papers published in conjunction with the Geological Survey).— Part 1, 20/-; Part 2, Vol. XXIII.—Part 1, 12/6; Part 2, 8/—; Part 3 (with Index, Title, etc.), 9/-. Vol. -XXV.—Part 1, 12/6. The Annals of the South African Museum will be issued at irregular intervals, as matter for publication ts available. Copies may be obtained from— Messrs. WHELDON & WESLEY, Ltp., 2, 3, and 4 Arraur Srreet, New Oxrorp STREET, Lonpon, W.C. 2; or, The LIBRARIAN, Sours Arrican Musnum, Cars Town. RAPRARRRAAS | oy: Paap ame - rR | di dilies | dl \ tiie | ce. | ag (ss a A se j SRAAAAABAAAAa An anne nna eoe —j a1 tan | ON I i ge, f Ry p. m PARR pRRRRamaa aaanaaaanaanns=s*~ ~. see ee ee = - CL RRRARRRARRH | Ranepreeneen cece A ei, ~ PC ARRAN = | u aA, ENF FA —~r>¥a NARA RAAAR AA ant WAAR Rapala i ~ ~~ we a . 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