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List of marine bony fishes of South Africa

This is a sublist of the List of marine fishes of South Africa for bony fishes recorded from the oceans bordering South Africa. This list comprises locally used common names, scientific names with author citation and recorded ranges. Ranges specified may not be the entire known range for the species, but should include the known range within the waters surrounding the Republic of South Africa.

List ordering and taxonomy complies where possible with the current usage in World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), and may differ from the cited source, as listed citations are primarily for range or existence of records for the region. Sub-taxa within any given taxon are arranged alphabetically as a general rule. Details of each species may be available through the relevant internal links. Synonyms should be listed where relevant.

Parvphylum Osteichthyes – Bony fishes

All entries in this list are included in this infraphylum of Gnathostomata. There are two gigaclasses represented: Actinopterygii and Sarcopterygii.

Gigaclass Actinopterygii – Ray-finned fishes

Class Teleostei

Order: Acanthuriformes

Family: Acanthuridae – Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes.

Family: Antigoniidae – Boarfishes

Family: Chaetodontidae – Butterflyfishes

Family: Drepaneidae – Sicklefishes

  • Concertina-fish, Drepane longimana (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to East London)

Family: Ephippidae – Batfishes

Family: Leiognathidae – Soapies

Family: Lobotidae – Tripletails

  • Atlantic tripletail, Lobotes surinamensis (Bloch, 1790) (Cape St Francis northwards, all tropical and subtropical oceans)

Family: Luvaridae – Louvar

  • Louvar, Luvarus imperialis Rafinesque, 1810 (All oceans and Mediterranean sea, Not reported in polar seas or near equator)

Family: Pomacanthidae – Angelfishes

Family: Scatophagidae – Scatties

Family: Siganidae – Rabbitfishes

Family: Zanclidae – Moorish idol

Order Acropomatiformes

Family: Acropomatidae – Lanternbellies

  • Lanternbelly, Acropoma japonicum Günther, 1859 (off Natal)
  • Japanese splitfin, Synagrops japonicus (Doderlein, 1884) (off Natal)
  • Sombre splitfin or silver splitfin, Verilus cynodon (Regan, 1921), reported as syn. Neoscombrops annectens Gilchrist, 1922 (off Natal and southern Mozambique) and as syn. Neoscombrops cynodon (Regan, 1921) (Known from 2 specimens off Natal)

Family: Bathyclupeidae – Bathyclupeids

  • Neobathyclupea elongata (Trunov, 1975), recorded as syn. Bathyclupea elongata Trunov, 1975 (Known only from holotype taken off Western Cape)

Family: Champsodontidae – Gapers

Family: Creediidae – Sand burrowers

Family: Epigonidae – Cardinal fishes

Family: Howellidae

Family: Pempheridae – Sweepers

Family: Pentacerotidae – Armourheads

Family: Polyprionidae – Wreckfishes

Family: Scombropidae – Gnomefishes

Order Albuliformes – Bonefishes

Family: Albulidae

  • Bonefish, Albula vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) (Algoa Bay to tropics)

Order Anguilliformes – Eels

Family: Anguillidae – Freshwater eels

  • African mottled eel, Anguilla labiata (Peters, 1852), recorded as syn. Anguilla bengalensis labiata (Peters, 1852) (Knysna to Kenya)
  • Shortfin eel or Indonesian shortfin eel, Anguilla bicolor, recorded as syn. Anguilla bicolor bicolor McClelland, 1844 (Knysna to Kenya)
  • Madagascar mottled eel or giant mottled eel, Anguilla marmorata Quoy and Gaimard, 1824 (Western Cape to Kenya)
  • Longfin eel or African longfin eel, Anguilla mossambica (Peters, 1852) (Most waters of the Cape northwards)

Family: Chlopsidae – False morays

Family: Moringuidae – Spaghetti eels

  • Spaghetti eel or lesser thrush eel, Moringua microchir (Bleeker, 1853) (Natal to Indo-West Pacific)

Family: Muraenidae – Moray eels

Family: Congridae – Conger eels

  • Blunt-tooth conger, Ariosoma mauritianum (Pappenheim, 1914) (Natal to Indo-West Pacific)
  • Tropical conger, Ariosoma scheelei (Stromman, 1896) (Natal to Mozambique and Indo-Pacific)
  • Hairy conger, Bassanago albescens (Barnard, 1923) (Cape Point)
  • Longnose conger, Bathycongrus wallacei (Castle, 1968), recorded as syn, Rhechias wallacei (Castle, 1968) (Natal to southern Mozambique)
  • Large-toothed conger, Bathyuroconger vicinus (Vaillant, 1888) (off Cape Point)
  • Indo-Pacific shorttail conger, Coloconger scholesi Chan, 1967 (Natal to southern Mozambique)
  • Blackedged conger or longfin African conger, Conger cinereus Rüppell, 1830 (Mossel Bay to Mozambique)
  • Cape conger, Conger wilsoni (Bloch and Schneider 1801) (Cape to southern Mozambique)
  • Southern conger, Gnathophis capensis (Kaup, 1856) (False Bay to Plettenberg Bay)
  • Strap conger, Gnathophis habenatus (Richardson, 1848) (Southern Cape to East London)
  • Longtail conger or slender conger, Uroconger lepturus (Richardson, 1854) (Natal to Red Sea and Indo-Pacific)

Family: Derichthyidae – Longneck eels

Family: Muraenesocidae – Pike congers

  • Common pike conger, Muraenesox bagio (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Knysna to Indo-Pacific)

Family: Nettastomatidae – Witch eels

Family: Ophichthidae – Snake-eels and worm-eels

  • Snake eel, Apterichtus klazingai (Weber. 1913) (off Durban; Indonesia and western Pacific)
  • Longtailed sand-eel, Bascanichthys kirkii (Günther, 1870) (Natal to Aden)
  • Crocodile snake eel, Brachysomophis crocodilinus (Bennett, 1833) (Natal, Tanzania, Seychelles, Mauritius and Indo-Pacific)
  • Marbled snake-eel, Callechelys marmorata (Bleeker, 1853) (Natal to central Indo-Pacific)
  • Fringelip snake-eel, Cirrhimuraena playfairii (Günther, 1870) (Kosi Bay to Zanzibar)
  • Sharpnose sand-eel, Ichthyapus acuticeps (Barnard, 1923) (Durban to Zululand)
  • Finny sand-eel or oriental worm-eel, Lamnostoma orientale (McClelland, 1844) (Natal)
  • Halfbanded snake-eel or saddled snake-eel, Leiuranus semicinctus (Lay and Bennett, 1839) (Knysna to Indo-Pacific)
  • Ocellated snake-eel Myrichthys maculosus (Cuvier, 1816) (Port Alfred to Kenya, Indo-Pacific and eastern PacificM)
  • Bluntnose snake eel, Ophichthus apicalis (Bennett, 1830) (St Francis Bay to Kenya, Madagascar and Indo-Pacific)
  • Slender snake-eel, Ophichthus serpentinus Seale, 1917, recorded as syn. Ophichthus bennettai McCosker, 1986 (Cape Province west coast)
  • Saddled snake-eel Ophichthus erabo (Jordan and Snyder, 1901) (off Durban; Indo-Pacific to Hawaii)
  • Shorthead snake eel, Ophichthus marginatus (Peters, 1855) (Knysna; Aldabra to Inhaca)
  • Plain snake eel, Ophichthus unicolor Regan, 1908 (Algoa Bay)
  • Sand snake-eel or serpent eel, Ophisurus serpens (Linnaeus 1766) (Angola to southern Mozambique)
  • Estuary snake-eel or rice-paddy eel, Pisodonophis boro (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Knysna to Indo-Pacific)
  • Longfin snake-eel, Pisodonophis cancrivorus (Richardson, 1844) (Algoa Bay to Indo-Pacific)
  • Slender worm-eel, Scolecenchelys gymnota (Bleeker, 1857) (Bredasdorp to Zululand, east Africa to central Pacific)(syn. Muraenichthys gymnotus Bleeker, 1864)
  • Redfin worm-eel, Scolecenchelys laticaudata (Ogilby, 1897) (East London to Indo-Pacific)(syn. Muraenichthys laticaudata (Ogilby, 1897)
  • Orangehead worm-eel, Scolecenchelys xorae (Smith, 1958) (Algoa Bay to Natal)(syn. Muraenichthys xorae Smith, 1958)
  • Earthworm snake-eel, Yirrkala lumbricoides (Bleeker 1853) (off Durban; Northern Australia and Indo Pacific)
  • Thin sand-eel, Yirrkala tenuis (Günther, 1870)(Natal to southern Mozambique, Red Sea and possibly Mauritius)

Family: Nemichthyidae – Snipe eels

Family: Serrivomeridae – Sawtooth eels

Family: Synaphobranchidae – Cutthroat eels

Order Alepocephaliformes

Family: Alepocephalidae – Slickheads

Order Argentiniformes

Family: Argentinidae – Argentines

Family: Opisthoproctidae – Barreleyes

Family: Microstomatidae

Subfamily: Bathylaginae – Deep sea smelts

  • Melanolagus bericoides (Borodin, 1929), recorded as syn. Bathylagus bericoides (Borodin, 1929) (off Cape Town; Throughout tropical and subtropical seas)

Order Ateleopodiformes

Family: Ateleopodidae – Tadpole fishes

Order: Atheriniformes

Family: Atherinidae – Silversides

Family: Notocheiridae – Surf sprites

  • Surf sprite, Iso natalensis Regan, 1919 (Indian ocean south to Cape Agulgas)

Order Aulopiformes

Family: Alepisauridae – Lancetfishes

  • Lancetfish or shortsnout lancetfish, Alepisaurus brevirostris Gibbs, 1960 (one specimen from off Algoa Bay; in all major oceans)
  • Longsnout lancetfish, Alepisaurus ferox Lowe, 1833 (Walvis Bay to Sodwana Bay; in all major oceans)

Family: Evermannellidae – Sabretooth fishes

  • Coccorella atlantica (Parr, 1928) (central water areas of all 3 major oceans; off western and south-western Cape coast, 1 specimen from 31°34'S, 30°09'E)
  • Balbo sabretooth, Evermannella balbo (Risso, 1820) (4 specimens from off southern Natal, presumed to be circumglobal in transition region of southern oceans)

Family Omosudidae

  • Hammerjaw, Omosudis lowii Günther, 1887 (1 specimen from not far off east coast at about 25°S; otherwise known from all oceans between 40°S and 40°N)

Family: Paralepididae – Barracudinas (incl. Anotopteridae – Daggertooths)

  • Anotopterus pharao Zugmeyer, 1911 (off west coast; south of Cape Agulhas; off Transkei and in Mozambique channel; worldwide between 25°N and 65°S)
  • Lestidiops jayakari (Boulenger, 1889) (worldwide in tropical to temperate waters)
  • Lestidiops similis (Ege, 1933) (Tropical and temperate Atlantic between 45°N and 45°S)
  • Lestidium atlanticum (Borodin, 1928) (Tropical to subtropical all oceans)
  • Lestrolepis intermedia (Poey, 1868) (Tropical in all oceans; off South Africa only in Agulhas current)
  • Macroparalepis affinis Ege, 1933 (anti-tropical in Atlantic Ocean)
  • Macroparalepis macrogeneion Post, 1973 (South Atlantic sub-tropical convergence area from South Africa to continental slope off South America)
  • Magnisudis prionosa (Rofen, 1963) (Circumglobal in southern oceans from 20°S to Antarctic)
  • Spotted barracudina, Arctozenus risso (Bonaparte, 1840), recorded as syn. Notolepis rissoi (Bonaparte, 1840) (worldwide in temperate and tropical waters)
  • Paralepis elongata (Brauer, 1906) (One specimen from Natal, now missing)
  • Stemonosudis elegans (Ege, 1933) (tropical Indo-Pacific, off South Africa only in Agulhas current)
  • Stemonosudis gracilis (Ege, 1933) (Tropical waters of Indian and Pacific oceans; Off South Africa only in Agulhas current)
  • Sudis hyalina Rafinesque, 1810 (Atlantic Ocean from 50°N to South Africa)

Family: Scopelarchidae – Pearleyes

  • Benthalbella infans Zugmayer, 1911 (off south-western Cape; tropical/subtropical in all 3 major oceans)
  • Lagiacrusichthys macropinnis (Bussing & Bussing, 1966), recorded as Benthalbella macropinna Bussing and Bussing, 1966 (off south-western Cape coast; circumpolar in subantarctic and Antarctic waters)
  • Short fin pearleye, Scopelarchus analis (Brauer, 1902) (Common off southern Africa; tropical/subtropical all oceans)
  • Staring pearleye, Scopelarchus guentheri Alcock, 1896 (off Durban; mainly tropical in the Atlantic, tropical/subtropical in Indian and Pacific oceans)
  • Bigfin pearleye, Scopelarchus michaelsarsi Koefoed, 1955 (South-east of Durban;tropical/subtropical in all oceans)

Family: Ipnopidae

  • Black lizardfish, Bathysauropsis gracilis (Günther, 1878) (off Cape Point; circumglobal in southern oceans)

Family: Chlorophthalmidae – Greeneyes

  • Chlorophthalmus punctatus Gilchrist, 1904 (both coasts of South Africa) (possibly a synonym of C.agassizii Bonaparte, 1840)

Family: Ipnopidae

Family: Notosudidae – Notosudids

Family: Bathysauridae

  • Bathysaurus ferox Günther, 1878 (off Cape Province; Both sides of Atlantic; off New Zealand)

Family: Giganturidae – Telescopefish

  • Gigantura indica Brauer, 1901, recorded as syn. Rosaura indica (Brauer, 1901) (Tropical/subtropical in all 3 major oceans; Indian Ocean from 35°49'S, 23°09'E northwards)

Family: Synodontidae – Lizardfishes

  • Blotchy lizardfish, Saurida gracilis (Quoy and Gaimard, 1824) (Indo-West Pacific to Algoa Bay)
  • Largescale lizardfish, Saurida undosquamis (Richardson, 1848) (Indo-West Pacific to Knysna)
  • Spotnose lizardfish, Synodus binotatus Schultz, 1953 (Indo-West Pacific, south to Natal)
  • Variegated lizardfish, Synodus dermatogenys Fowler, 1912 (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa Bay)
  • Indian lizardfish, Synodus indicus (Day, 1873) (Mossel Bay to Red Sea and Sri Lanka)
  • Blacktail lizardfish, Synodus jaculum Russell and Cressey, 1979 (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
  • Redband lizardfish, Synodus variegatus (Lacepède, 1803) (Central KwaZulu-Natal to Red Sea)
  • Painted lizardfish, Trachinocephalus myops (Forster, 1801) (Tropical and warm temperate waters of all oceans, east coast south to Knysna)

Order Batrachoidiformes

Family: Batrachoididae – Toadfishes

Order Beloniformes

Family: Belonidae – Needlefishes

  • Barred needlefish ot flat needlefish, Ablennes hians (Valenciennes, 1846) (Worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters, south to Algoa Bay)
  • Cape needlefish, Petalichthys capensis Regan, 1904 (South African endemic, False Bay to Pondoland)
  • Garfish or yellow needlefish or banded needlefish, Strongylura leiura (Bleeker, 1850) (Durban to Persian Gulf)
  • Crocodile needlefish or houndfish, Tylosurus crocodilus crocodilus (Peron and Lesueur, 1821) (Indo-West Pacific south to Knysna)

Family: Exocoetidae – Flyingfishes

  • Blackwing flyingfish, Cheilopogon cyanopterus (Valenciennes, 1846) (Tropical and subtropical Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. One juvenile from Port Alfred, another from Natal)
  • Spotfin flyingfish, Cheilopogon furcatus (Mitchill, 1815) (offshore in all tropical seas. Off South African coast from the Cape eastwards)
  • Blackfin flyingfish, Cheilopogon nigricans (Bennett, 1840) (Tropical eastern Atlantic to Indo-West Pacific. One specimen known from South African waters)
  • Smallhead flyingfish, Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus altipinnis (Valenciennes, 1846) (Cape to Kosi Bay)
  • Two-wing flyingfish, Exocoetus monocirrhus (Richardson, 1846) (Indo-West Pacific south to Durban)
  • Tropical two-wing flyingfish, Exocoetus volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) (worldwide in tropical waters, occasionally seen in South African waters)
  • Subtropical flyingfish, Hirundichthys rondeletii (Valenciennes, 1846) (widely distributed in subtropical waters of all oceans, common off the Cape)
  • Mirrorwing flyingfish, Hirundichthys speculiger (Valenciennes, 1846) (worldwide in tropical waters, one juvenile from Mbibi, Zululand, another from False Bay)
  • Sailfin flying fish, Parexocoetus brachypterus (Richardson, 1846) (Tropical Indo-Pacific, south to Natal)
  • Shortfin flyingfish, Prognichthys brevipinnis (Valenciennes, 1846) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific, recorded from Lake St. Lucia and Indian Ocean off South Africa)
  • Shortnose flyingfish, Prognichthys sealei (Abe, 1955) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific; one adolescent off Cape St. Lucia and a small juvenile from Port Elizabeth)

Family: Hemiramphidae – Halfbeaks

  • Ribbon halfbeak, Euleptorhamphus viridis (van Hasselt, 1823) (reported from Table Bay, also known from Algoa bay and Kei river Mouth. Tropical and temperate waters of Indo-Pacific)
  • Spotted halfbeak, Hemiramphus far (ForsskÃ¥l, 1775) (Knysna to Delagoa Bay. a few records west to False Bay)
  • Tropical halfbeak, Hyporhamphus affinis (Günther, 1866) (Sodwana Bay to tropical west Indo-Pacific)
  • Cape halfbeak, Hyporhamphus capensis (Thominot, 1886) (False Bay to southern Mozambique)

Family: Scomberesocidae – Sauries

  • Dwarf saury, Nanichthys simulans Hubbs and Wisner, 1980 (Warm temperate waters of the Atlantic and southern Indian oceans; Off the Cape up the west coast)

Order Beryciformes

Family: Barbourisiidae – Red whalefish

  • Velvet whalefish, Barbourisia rufa Parr, 1954 (occasionally trawled off West Coast. Atlantic Ocean (56°N- 35°S))

Family: Berycidae – Berycids

  • Beryx or alfonsino, Beryx decadactylus Cuvier, 1829 (Saldanha Bay to Natal)
  • Slender beryx or splendid alfonsino, Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834 (Saldanha Bay to Natal)
  • Short alfonsino, Centroberyx spinosus (Gilchrist, 1903) (Storms river to Durban) (also reported from False Bay)

Family: Cetomimidae – Whalefishes

  • Cetichthys indagator (Rofen, 1959), recorded as syn. Cetomimus indagator Rofen, 1959 (1 specimen off Port St Johns, former Transkei)
  • Cetomimus picklei (Gilchrist, 1922) (1 specimen off Cape Town)

Family: Melamphaidae – Bigscale fishes

  • Melamphaes eulepis Ebeling, 1962 (Atlantic south of 13°S, around Africa, in Indian Ocean, throughout Indonesia and in central equatorial Pacific)
  • Melamphaes microps (Günther, 1878) (off South Africa and New Zealand)
  • Melamphaes simus Ebeling, 1962 (Tropical/subtropical regions of Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans)
  • Poromitra crassiceps (Günther, 1878) (All oceans except Arctic and Mediterranean)
  • Poromitra megalops (Lütken, 1877) (Eastern Atlantic, Indo-Pacific and eastern equatorial Pacific)
  • Scopeloberyx robustus (Günther, 1887) (Tropical/subtropical regions of Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans)
  • Scopelogadus beanii (Günther, 1887) (Atlantic, southern Indian and western south Pacific oceans)
  • Sio nordenskjoldii (Lönnberg, 1905) (South Atlantic and Indian oceans south of 30°S; several records off South Africa)

Family: Rondeletiidae – Redmouth whalefish

  • Rondeletia loricata Abe and Hotta, 1963 (3 specimens taken off Southern Cape coast of South Africa)

Family: Stephanoberycidae – Pricklefishes

  • Acanthochaenus lutkeni Gill, 1884 (off mid Atlantic USA, Azores and off Durban (29°42'S, 33°19'E)

Order: Blenniiformes

Family: Blenniidae – Blennies

Family: Clinidae – Klipfishes

Family: Tripterygiidae – Threefin blennies or Triplefins

Order: Callionymiformes

Family: Callionymidae – Dragonets

Order Carangaria incertae sedis

Family: Menidae – Moonfish

Family: Polynemidae – Threadfins

Family: Sphyraenidae – Barracudas

Order Carangiformes

Family: Carangidae – Kingfishes

Family: Coryphaenidae – Dolphinfish or Dorades

  • Dolphinfish, Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus, 1758 (all tropical and subtropical waters to 35°S)

Family: Echeneidae – Remoras

  • Shark remora, Echeneis naucrates Linnaeus, 1758 (Namibia to Mozambique) (all warm waters except eastern Pacific)
  • Slender remora, Phtheirichthys lineatus (Menzies, 1791) (Worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters)
  • White remora, Remora albescens (Temminck & Schlegel, 1850) (Worldwide, prefers Manta rays)
  • Whale remora, Remora australis (Bennett, 1840) (Worldwide, pelagic: found only on cetaceans)
  • Spearfish remora, Remora brachyptera (Lowe, 1839) (Worldwide, prefers billfishes)
  • Remora, Remora remora (Linnaeus, 1758) (Worldwide, prefers sharks)

Family: Istiophoridae – Sailfish, spearfishes and marlins

Family: Rachycentridae – Cobia

Family: Xiphiidae – Swordfishes

Order Centrarchiformes

Family: Cheilodactylidae – Fingerfins

Family: Cirrhitidae – Hawkfishes

Family: Dichistiidae – Galjoens

Family: Kuhliidae – Flagtails

Family: Kyphosidae – Sea chubs

Family: Oplegnathidae – Knifejaws

Family: Parascorpididae – Jutjaw

Family: Terapontidae – Thornfishes

Order Cichliformes

Family: Cichlidae – Cichlids

Order Clupeiformes

Family: Alosidae

  • Pilchard or sardine, Sardinops sagax (Jenyns, 1842) (Namibia to Mozambique)

Family: Chirocentridae – Wolfherrings

  • Wolfherring or dorab wolf-herring, Chirocentrus dorab (ForsskÃ¥l, 1775) (Durban to Mozambique)

Family: Dorosomatidae

  • Blueline herring or bluestripe herring, Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus (Rüppell, 1837) (Algoa Bay to Indo-Pacific)
  • Razorbelly or Kelee shad, Hilsa kelee (Cuvier, 1829) (Transkei to Mozambique and Indo-Pacific)
  • Gizzard shad, Nematalosa nasus (Bloch, 1795) (off Durban Bay; Gulf of Aden to Hong Kong)

Family: Dussumieriidae – Round herrings

  • East coast roundherring or red-eye round herring, Etrumeus sadina (Mitchill, 1814), recorded as syn. Etrumeus teres (De Kay, 1842) (Durban to Mozambique border)
  • Roundherring or Whitehead's round herring, Etrumeus whiteheadi Wongratana, 1983 (Walvis Bay to KwaZulu-Natal)

Family: Ehiravidae

  • Estuarine round herring or Gilchrist's round-herring, Gilchristella aestuaria (Gilchrist, 1913) (Knysna to Kosi bay, Saldanha Bay and possibly north to Orange River mouth)

Family: Engraulidae – Anchovies

  • Buccaneer anchovy, Encrasicholina punctifer Fowler, 1938, recorded as syn. Stolephorus punctifer (Fowler, 1938) (St Lucia, possibly Durban, to Indo-Pacific to Hawaii)
  • Cape anchovy or Japanese anchovy, Engraulis japonicus Temminck & Schlegel, 1846 (Walvis Bay to Mozambique and Indo-Pacific)
  • Thorny anchovy or natal anchovy, Stolephorus holodon (Boulenger, 1900) (Swartkops estuary to northern Mozambique)
  • Indian anchovy, Stolephorus indicus (van Hasselt, 1823) (Natal to Indo-Pacific)
  • Longjaw glassnose, Thryssa setirostris (Broussonet, 1782) (Transkei through Indian Ocean to Indonesia and China)
  • Orangemouth glassnose or bony, Thryssa vitrirostris (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)

Family: Pristigasteridae

  • Indian pellona, Pellona ditchela Valenciennes 1847 (Durban to Indo-Pacific)
  • White sardinella, Sardinella albella (Valenciennes 1847) (Durban to Indo-Pacific, possibly East London)
  • Round sardinella, Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847 (Walvis Bay to Saldanha Bay)
  • Goldstripe sardinella, Sardinella gibbosa (Bleeker, 1849) (Port Alfred to Mozambique)

Family: Spratelloididae

Order Dactylopteriformes

Family: Dactylopteridae – Helmet gurnards

  • Helmet gurnard or oriental flying gurnard, Dactyloptena orientalis (Cuvier, 1829) (Port Elizabeth northwards; east to central Pacific)
  • Starry helmet gurnard, Dactyloptena peterseni (Nyström, 1887) (East London and Delagoa Bay)

Family: Pegasidae – Seamoths

  • Seamoth or little dragonfish, Eurypegasus draconis (Linnaeus, 1766) (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa Bay)
  • Longtail seamoth, Pegasus volitans Linnaeus, 1758 (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Durban)

Order Elopiformes

Family: Elopidae – Ladyfishes

  • Atlantic ladyfish or West African ladyfish, Elops lacerta Valenciennes, 1846 (Atlantic coast to 23°S)
  • Ladyfish or springer, Elops machnata (ForsskÃ¥l, 1775) (Mossel Bay to Mozambique)

Family: Megalopidae – Tarpons

  • Oxeye tarpon or Indo-Pacific tarpon, Megalops cyprinoides (Broussonet, 1782) (Port Alfred to Mozambique)

Order Eupercaria incertae sedis

Family: Callanthiidae – Goldies

Family: Caesionidae – Fusiliers

Family: Cepolidae – Bandfishes

Family: Dinopercidae

Family: Emmelichthyidae – Rovers

Family: Gerreidae – Pursemouths

Family: Haemulidae – Rubberlips and grunters

Family: Labridae – Wrasses

Family: Lethrinidae – Emperors

Family: Lutjanidae – Snappers

Family: Malacanthidae – Tilefishes

Family: Monodactylidae – Moonies

Family: Nemipteridae – Butterfly breams, spinecheeks

Family: Priacanthidae – Bigeyes

Family: Scaridae – Parrotfishes

Family: Sciaenidae – Kobs

Family: Sillaginidae – Sillagos

Family: Sparidae – Seabreams

Order Gadiformes

Family: Bregmacerotidae – Codlets

Family: Lotidae – Lings and rocklings

Family: Macrouridae – Grenadiers

  • Bathygadus favosus Goode and Bean, 1886 (off Cape Town)
  • Bathygadus melanobranchus Vaillant, 1888 (Table Bay and Natal coast. Unverified, specimens missing)
  • Bathygadus sp. (cf. favosus Goode and Bean) (Mozambique and Agulhas Bank)
  • Coelorinchus acanthiger Barnard, 1925 (off Namibia to Cape Point)
  • Coelorinchus braueri Barnard, 1925 (Saldanha and Table Bay, Cape Point, East London; Angola to Mozambique)
  • Coelorinchus denticulatus Regan, 1921 (Natal coast to Tanzania)
  • Coelorinchus fasciatus (Günther, 1878) (off south coast)
  • Coelorinchus flabellispinis (Alcock, 1894) (Indian Ocean. Specimens from southern Africa differ somewhat from those off India and may be a different species)
  • Mahia whiptail, Coelorinchus matamua (McCann & McKnight, 1980) (apparently abundant off South Africa, also found off New Zealand and southern Australia) (syn. Mahia matamua McCann and McKnight, 1980)
  • Abyssal grenadier, Coryphaenoides armatus (Hector, 1875) (abyssal, all oceans except Arctic. One Atlantic record off South Africa)
  • Coryphaenoides striaturus Barnard, 1925 (off Cape Point)
  • Longrayed whiptail, Coryphaenoides subserrulatus Makushok, 1976 (Agulhas bank)
  • Gadomus capensis (Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924) (Table Bay to Mozambique)
  • Macrourus holotrachys Günther, 1878 (Cape Point and Prince Edward Island; also off New Zealand and southwestern Australia)
  • Kuronezumia leonis (Barnard, 1925), recorded as syn. Nezumia leonis(Barnard, 1925) (off Cape Point); Namibia; southwestern Atlantic)
  • Lucigadus ori (Smith, 1968), recorded as syn. Ventrifossa ori (Smith, 1968) (off Agulhas bank, Durban and East London)
  • Malacocephalus laevis (Lowe, 1843) (off South Africa; widespread in Atlantic and Indian oceans)
  • Mesovagus antipodum (Hubbs & Iwamoto, 1977), recorded as syn. Mesobius antipodum Hubbs and Iwamoto, 1977 (off south coast of SA; New Zealand, eastern Indian Ocean and Madagascar plateau)
  • Nezumia brevibarbata (Barnard, 1925) (Cape Point; Known only off the Cape, where it is common)
  • Trachyrincus scabrus (Rafinesque, 1810) (Namibia, west coast of South Africa; eastern North Atlantic and Mediterranean sea)
  • Ventrifossa aff. divergens Gilbert and Hubbs, 1920 (off East London, Durban, Natal and southern Mozambique)
  • Ventrifossa nasuta (Smith, 1935) (Durban to Mozambique)

Family: Melanonidae – Melanonids

  • Pelagic cod, Melanonus gracilis Günther, 1878 (Circum-Antarctic south of Subtropical convergence; off Cape Peninsula)

Family: Merlucciidae – Hakes

Family: Moridae – Deepsea cods

Order: Gobiesociformes

Family: Gobiesocidae – Clingfishes

Order: Gobiiformes

Family: Eleotridae – Sleepers

Family: Gobiidae – Gobies

Subfamily: Amblyopinae

Subfamily: Gobiinae

Subfamily: Gobionellinae

Subfamily: Oxudercinae

Family: Microdesmidae – Gobies

Subfamily: Ptereleotrinae

Family: Trichonotidae – Sand divers

Order Gonorynchiformes

Family: Chanidae

  • Milkfish, Chanos chanos (ForsskÃ¥l, 1775) (Krom river to tropical Indo-West Pacific)

Family: Gonorynchidae – Beaked sandfish

Order: Holocentriformes

Family: Holocentridae – Squirrelfishes and Soldierfishes

Subfamily: Holocentrinae – Squirrelfishes

  • Spotfin squirrelfish, Neoniphon sammara (ForsskÃ¥l, 1775) (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Durban)
  • Tailspot squirrelfish, Sargocentron caudimaculatum (Rüppell, 1838) (Red sea and Indo-Pacific south to Xora river mouth, Transkei)
  • Crown squirrelfish, Sargocentron diadema (Lacepède, 1802) (Durban to Mozambique) (Indo-Pacific south to East London)
  • Dark-striped squirrelfish, Sargocentron praslin (Lacepède, 1802) (Indo-West Pacific reported by Smith to reach Durban, but no specimens available from south of Mozambique)
  • Speckled squirrelfish, Sargocentron punctatissimum (Cuvier, 1829) (Indo-Pacific south to Algoa Bay)
  • Sabre squirrelfish, Sargocentron spiniferum (ForsskÃ¥l, 1775) (Red sea and east coast of Africa south to Natal)

Subfamily: Myripristinae – Soldierfishes

  • Shadowfin soldier, Myripristis adusta Bleeker, 1853 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
  • Bigscale soldier or blotcheye soldierfish, Myripristis berndti Jordan and Evermann, 1903 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
  • Pale soldier, Myripristis botche Cuvier, 1829, recorded as sym. Myripristis melanosticta Bleeker, 1863, (Indian ocean (Sri Lanka, Maldives and Sodwana Bay) to Japan and New Hebrides)

Order Kurtiformes

Family: Apogonidae – Cardinal fishes (see also Epigonidae)

Subfamily: Apogoninae

Subfamily: Pseudaminae

Order Lampriformes

Family: Lamprididae – Opahs (Lampridae in Smiths)

  • Spotted opah, Lampris guttatus (Brünnich, 1788) (all oceans but not in polar waters, occurs throughout South African waters, usually well offshore)
  • Southern opah Lampris immaculatus Gilchrist, 1904 (Circumglobal south of 30°S)

Family: Lophotidae – Crestfishes

  • Unicorn crestfish, Eumecichthys fiski (Günther, 1890) (1 specimen, Kalk Bay in False Bay)
  • Crestfish, Lophotus lacepede Giorna, 1809 (Cape to Plettenberg Bay, rare but widely distributed in all oceans)

Family: Radiicephalidae – Tapertail

Family: Regalecidae – Oarfishes

Family: Trachipteridae – Ribbonfishes

  • Polka-dot ribbonfish, Desmodema polystictum (Ogilby, 1898) (1 juvenile washed ashore at Xora river and 1 found at Simon's Town, False Bay)
  • Blacktail ribbonfish, Trachipterus jacksonensis (Ramsay, 1881) (East London and off Cape Town)
  • Peregrine ribbonfish, Trachipterus trachypterus (Gmelin, 1789) (off Table Bay)
  • Scalloped ribbonfish, Zu cristatus (Bonelli, 1819), (prejuveniles collected at Luderitz, Algoa bay and Durban)
  • Taper tail ribbonfish, Zu elongatus (Heemstra and Kannemeyer, 1984) (4 specimens trawled off the western Cape coast)

Order Lophiiformes – Anglerfishes

Family: Antennariidae – Anglers

  • Big angler, Antennarius commersoni (Latreille, 1804) (Natal, Red Sea and tropical Indo-West Pacific to Hawaiian islands)
  • Shaggy angler or shaggy frogfish, Antennarius hispidus (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) (Indo-West Pacific, south to Knysna)
  • Painted angler or painted frogfish, Antennarius pictus (Shaw and Nodder, 1794) (Durban to Zanzibar and tropical Indo-West Pacific to Hawaii)
  • Striped angler or striated frogfish, Antennarius striatus (Shaw and Nodder, 1794) (Algoa Bay through Indo-West Pacific to Hawaiian islands)
  • Freckled angler, Antennatus coccineus (Lesson, 1831), recorded as syn. Antennarius coccineus (Lesson, 1831), (Natal; throughout Indian Ocean, Red Sea and tropical Pacific to Hawaiian islands; Tropical and eastern Pacific off Costa Rica and Cocos and Galapagos islands)
  • Pygmy angler, Antennatus tuberosus (Cuvier, 1817), recorded as syn. Antennarius tuberosus (Cuvier, 1817) (Natal, Maputo, Madagascar, Aldabra islands, and throughout Indo-West Pacific including Hawaiian and Line islands, and Taumotu Archipelago to Pitcairn island)
  • Sargassum fish, Histrio histrio (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cape Point to Mozambique)

Family: Ceratiidae – Seadevils

  • Ceratias holboelli Krøyer, 1845 (single specimen off Cape Town at 34°12'S, 16°35'E; Nearly cosmopolitan in the world's oceans)
  • Ceratias tentaculatus (Norman, 1930) (Specimens from off Dealagoa bay, off southern Natal, off Saldanha bay. Throughout southern oceans)
  • Cryptopsaras couesii Gill, 1883 (off Cape of Good Hope, all major oceans)

Family: Chaunacidae – Coffinfishes

Family: Himantolophidae – Footballfish

Family: Linophrynidae – Dwarf anglers

  • Linophryne lucifer Collett, 1886, recorded as syn. Linophryne digitopogon Balushkin and Trunov, 1988, (1 specimen off Hondeklipbaai on west coast)
  • Linophryne parini Bertelsen, 1980 (1 specimen off Port Alfred)

Family: Lophiidae – Monks

  • Natal monk, Lophiodes insidiator (Regan, 1921) (Natal to northern Madagascar)
  • Lophiodes mutilus (Alcock, 1893) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
  • Lophiomus setigerus (Vahl, 1797) (Indo-West Pacific south to False Bay)
  • Monk, Lophius vomerinus (Valenciennes, 1837), also recorded as syn. Lophius upsicephalus Smith, 1841 (off Cape of Good Hope; Eastern South Atlantic and South western Indian Ocean off South Africa; Bay of Bengal off Burma)

Family: Melanocetidae – Devil-anglers

Family: Ogcocephalidae – Seabats

  • Coelophrys micropus (Alcock, 1891), recorded as Halieutopsis micropus (Alcock, 1891) (off Durban; South Africa to Philippines)
  • Circular seabat, Halieutaea fitzsimonsi (Gilchrist and Thompson, 1916) (Plettenberg bay to Tugela river, Natal)
  • Hairy seabat, Halieutaea hancocki Regan, 1908 (Tropical Indian Ocean; off Natal)
  • Spiny seabat, Halieutaea indica Annandale & Jenkins, 1910, recorded as syn. Halieutaea spicata Smith, 1965 (1 specimen, Isipingo, Natal)
  • Longnose seabat, Malthopsis lutea Alcock, 1891 (off Knysna; Eastern Indian Ocean and Japan)
  • Malthopsis mitrigera Gilbert and Cramer, 1897 (Natal to the Philippines, Japan and Hawaii)
  • Spearnose seabat, Malthopsis tiarella Jordan, 1902 (Natal and Japan)
  • Solocisquama stellulata (Gilbert, 1905), recorded as syn. Dibranchus stellulatus Gilbert, 1905 (Off Natal; Hawaii)

Order Mugiliformes

Family: Mugilidae – Mullets

  • Groovy mullet, Chelon dumerili (Steindachner, 1870), recorded as syn. Liza dumerili (Steindachner, 1870) (Breede River to Bazaruto)
  • Southern mullet, Chelon richardsonii (Smith, 1846), recorded as syn. Liza richardsonii (Smith, 1846) (Kunene River to St. Lucia Estuary)
  • Striped mullet, Chelon tricuspidens (Smith, 1935), recorded as syn. Liza tricuspidens (Smith, 1935) (Mossel Bay to northern Kosi estuary)
  • Bluetail mullet, Crenimugil buchanani (Bleeker, 1853), recorded as syn. Valamugil buchanani (Bleeker, 1854) (Knysna to Indo-West Pacific)
  • Bluespot mullet, Crenimugil seheli (Fabricius, 1775), recorded as syn. Valamugil seheli (ForsskÃ¥l, 1775) (Indo-West Pacific south to Transkei)
  • Squaretail mullet, Ellochelon vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825), recorded as syn. Liza vaigiensis (Quoy and Gaimard, 1825) (Indo-West Pacific, south to Durban)
  • Flathead mullet, Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758 (All warm and temperate seas, estuaries and rivers)
  • Longarm mullet, Osteomugil cunnesius (Valenciennes, 1836), recorded as syn. Valamugil cunnesius (Valenciennes, 1836) (Indo-West Pacific, occasionally reaches Natal)
  • Diamond mullet, Planiliza alata (Steindachner, 1892), recorded as syn. Liza alata (Steindachner, 1892), (Indo-West Pacific to Algoa Bay)
  • Large-scale mullet, Planiliza macrolepis (Smith, 1846), recorded as syn. Liza macrolepis (Smith, 1846) (Indo-West Pacific to Port Alfred)
  • St. Lucia mullet or giantscale mullet or otomebora mullet, Planiliza melinoptera (Valenciennes, 1836) recorded as syn. Liza luciae (Penrith & Penrith, 1967), and as syn. Liza melinoptera (Valenciennes, 1836) (Northern Transkei to southern Mozambique, Indo-West Pacific,)
  • Freshwater mullet, Pseudomyxus capensis (Valenciennes, 1836), recorded as syn. Myxus capensis (Valenciennes, 1836) (Knysna to KwaZulu-Natal)

Order Mulliformes

Family: Mullidae – Goatfishes

Order Myctophiformes

Family: Myctophidae – Lanternfishes

  • Benthosema fibulatum (Gilbert and Cramer, 1897) (Indian Ocean (18°N - 20°S), to 42°S in Agulhas current)
  • Benthosema suborbitale (Gilbert, 1913) (tropical distribution in 3 major oceans, extensions to 50°S and 50°N in western boundary currents)
  • Bolinichthys indicus (Nafpaktitis and Nafpaktitis, 1969) (Indian Ocean (20° - 45°S); Atlantic (20° - 50°N and 20° - 40°S))
  • Stubby lanternfish, Bolinichthys supralateralis (Parr, 1928) (off Cape Peninsula and in Agulgas current; Atlantic (40°N - 02°S and 32° to 40°S); Indian Ocean (21° - 30°S); west coast of Australia and near Hawaii)
  • Roundnose lanternfish, Centrobranchus nigroocellatus (Günther, 1873) (Atlantic (40°N - 36°S); Indian Ocean (08° - 34°S) and off Chile and New Zealand)
  • Warming's lantern fish, Ceratoscopelus warmingii (Lütken, 1892) (Atlantic(42°N - 40°S); Indian Ocean (20°N - 45°S);tropical/subtropical Pacific)
  • Bright lanternfish, Ctenoscopelus phengodes (Lütken, 1892), recorded as syn. Myctophum phengodes (Lütken, 1892) (Off all South African coasts)
  • Dasyscopelus asper (Richardson, 1845), recorded as syn. Myctophum asperum Richardson, 1845, (off east coast and in Agulhas water pockets off west coast.)
  • Dasyscopelus obtusirostris (TÃ¥ning, 1928), recorded as syn. Myctophum obtusirostre TÃ¥ning, 1928 (In Agulhas current and off west coast in pockets of Agulhas water)
  • Wisner's lanternfish, Dasyscopelus selenops (TÃ¥ning, 1928), recorded as syn. Myctophum selenops TÃ¥ning, 1928 (West of Cape Peninsula in Agulhas water pockets)
  • Spiny lanternfish, Dasyscopelus spinosus (Steindachner, 1867), recorded as syn. Myctophum spinosum (Steindachner, 1867) (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets)
  • Short-headed lantern fish, Diaphus brachycephalus TÃ¥ning, 1928 (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets; broadly tropical in Atlantic and Indo-Pacific)
  • Crown lanternfish. Diaphus diadematus TÃ¥ning, 1928 (in Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets and warmed upwelled central water northwards to 18°S; Indian Ocean (02°N - 38°S, and in Mozambique channel, but absent in central sector)
  • Dumeril's lanternfish, Diaphus dumerilii (Bleeker, 1856) (off west coast as pseudoceanic pelagic species southward to 23°S)
  • Headlight fish, Diaphus effulgens (Goode and Bean, 1896) (off all SA coasts)
  • Garman's lanternfish, Diaphus garmani (Gilbert, 1906)(east coast continental shelf/slope southwards to about 26°S)
  • Hudson's lanternfish, Diaphus hudsoni (Zubrigg and Scott, 1976) (From 18°S off west coast to 27°S off east coast)
  • Jensen's lanternfish, Diaphus jenseni TÃ¥ning, 1932 (one record at 33°49'S, 27°48'E; Indo-Pacific)
  • Spotlight lanternfish, Diaphus lucidus (Goode and Bean, 1896) (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets. Atlantic(40°N - 38°S, but absent in Benguela upwelling region); also Indo-Pacific)
  • Luetken's lanternfish, Diaphus luetkeni (Brauer, 1904) (In Agulhas current to 37°S. Atlantic (42°N - 11°S) also Indo-Pacific)
  • Mead's lanternfish, Diaphus meadi Nafpaktitis, 1978 (In upwelled waters off west coast northwards to at least 21°S. Circumglobal convergence species (32° - 41°S))
  • Spothead lantern fish, Diaphus metopoclampus Cocco, 1829 South of 29°S off west coast and 27°S off east coast. Mediterranean, Atlantic, Indo-West Pacific)
  • Soft lanternfish, Diaphus mollis TÃ¥ning, 1928 (off all SA coasts, Broadly tropical distribution in all major oceans)
  • Diaphus nielseni Nafpaktitis, 1978 (taken once from Agulhas current (30°17'S, 31°25'E); off east coast of Madagascar, in Mozambique channel, and from southeast Asian seas to southern Japan)
  • Ostenfeld's lanternfish, Diaphus ostenfeldi TÃ¥ning, 1932 (off west coast northwards to about 23°S; Circumglobal convergence species (35° - 45°S))
  • Parr's lanternfish, Diaphus parri TÃ¥ning, 1932 (in Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets, Indian Ocean (10°N - 12°S with extension to 25°S in Mozambique channel), southeast Asian seas and Pacific (tropical waters west of 95°W))
  • Transparent lanternfish, Diaphus perspicillatus (Ogilby,1898) (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets. Broadly tropical species in Atlantic (45°N - 36°S, but absent in southeastern sector); Indo-Pacific)
  • Problematic lanternfish, Diaphus problematicus Parr, 1928 (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets. Atlantic(40°N - 39°S but absent south of 13°S in eastern sector); tropical Indo-Pacific with extensions into higher latitudes in western boundary currents)
  • Diaphus richardsoni TÃ¥ning, 1932 (Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets)
  • Horned lanternfish, Diaphus splendidus (Brauer, 1904) (in Agulhas current southward to 31°S; Atlantic (40°N to 28°S, but absent south of 10°S in eastern sector); Indo-Pacific)
  • Slopewater lanternfish, Diaphus taaningi Norman, 1930 (over west coast continental shelf/slope southward to 24°S. Amphitropical species in Atlantic(western sector; tropical waters to 42°N; eastern sector: southward from Mauretanian upwelling region to South African region)
  • Watases lanternfish, Diaphus watasei Jordan and Starks, 1904 (Over east coast continental shelf/slope southwards to about 30°S)
  • Longfin lanternfish, Diogenichthys atlanticus (TÃ¥ning, 1928) (Atlantic (50°N - 48°S), Indian Ocean (22° - 45°S) and Pacific (35°N - 35°S, but absent in equatorial waters west of 130°W and near Hawaii)
  • Diogenichthys panurgus Bolin, 1946 (In Agulhas current to about 38°S and in Indian Ocean (19°N - 05°S))
  • Risso's lanternfish, Electrona risso (Cocco, 1829) (off east and west coasts of South Africa. Widespread in Atlantic (55°N - 40°S), Mediterranean, Indian Ocean (0° - 40°S), Tasman sea and Cook Strait, and eastern Pacific (42°N - 20°S))
  • Barne's lanternfish, Gonichthys barnesi Whitley, 1943 (Off east and west coasts, south of 30°S. Convergence species in all 3 oceans (30° - 40°S))
  • Gymnoscopelus braueri (Lönnberg, 1905) (Circumglobal between Subtropical convergence and Antarctica)
  • Southern blacktip lanternfish, Gymnoscopelus piabilis (Whitley, 1931) (off west coast in Benguela upwelling region)
  • Hansen's lanternfish, Hygophum hanseni (TÃ¥ning, 1932) (From 30°S on west coast to 33°S on east coast. Convergence species (30° to 43°S) in all 3 oceans)
  • Bermuda lanternfish, Hygophum hygomii (Lütken, 1892) (West of Cape Peninsula and off east coast (25° - 37°S))
  • Hygophum proximum Bekker, 1965) (South to about 37°S in Agulhas current; Indian Ocean (25°N - 10°S))
  • Luminous lanternfish, Lampadena luminosa (Garman, 1899) (In Agulhas current. In all 3 oceans (20°N - 20°S) with extensions into higher latitudes in western boundary currents)
  • Lampadena notialis Nafpaktitis and Paxton, 1968 (Off east coast and cape peninsula; convergence species in all 3 oceans)
  • Mirror lanternfish, Lampadena speculigera Goode and Bean, 1896 (Off west and southeast coasts. Atlantic (66° - 35°N and 35° - 45°S), Indian Ocean (30° to 45°S) and Pacific Ocean (30° - 45°S))
  • Onderbaadjie, Hector's lanternfish, Lampanyctodes hectoris (Common in Benguela uprising region)
  • Lampanyctus achirus Andriashev, 1962 (Southern Benguela upwelling region, off south and east coasts, north to about 31°S)
  • Lampanyctus alatus Goode and Bean, 1896 (Off all South African coasts; Atlantic (46°N - 38°S), Indian Ocean (0° - 39°S)
  • Lampanyctus ater TÃ¥ning, 1928 (Off all South African coasts; Atlantic (58° - 17°N and 15° - 40°S) and Indian Ocean (12° - 44°S))
  • Southern lanternfish, Lampanyctus australis TÃ¥ning, 1932 (Off all South African coasts; Circumglobal convergence species(33° - 43°S with northern extension to about 27°S in eastern boundary currents))
  • Lampanyctus festivus TÃ¥ning, 1928 (off all South African coasts. Atlantic(53° - 18°N and 28° - 40°S with northern extension to 12°S in Benguela current and Indo-West Pacific.)
  • Lampanyctus intricarius TÃ¥ning, 1928 (In southern Benguela upwelling region. Atlantic (65° - 32°N and region of subtropical convergence) and Indo-Pacific (region of subtropical convergence, with northern extension to 18°S in eastern boundary currents)
  • Lampanyctus lepidolychnus Bekker, 1967 (off all South African coasts, circumglobal convergence species (23° - 48°S))
  • Lampanyctus lineatus TÃ¥ning, 1928 (Taken once at 34°12'S, 16°35'E)
  • Lampanyctus macdonaldi (Goode and Bean, 1896) (West of Cape Peninsula, Circumglobal between subtropical convergence and Antarctic polar front)
  • Lampanyctus nobilis TÃ¥ning, 1928 (In agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets. Atlantic (40°N - 21°S), Indo-Pacific)
  • Lampanyctus pusillus (Johnson, 1890) (Off all South African coasts. Bisubtropical species in all major oceans)
  • Lampanyctus turneri (Fowler, 1934) (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets. Tropical and subtropical waters between south China sea and western Indian Ocean)
  • Lampichthys procerus (Brauer, 1904) (Off Cape Peninsula, circumglobal convergence species (32° - 48°S) with extensions into lower latitudes in eastern boundary currents)
  • Lobianchia dofleini (Zugmayer, 1911) (Off all South African coasts. Mediterranean, Atlantic (50°N - 40°S), Indian Ocean (23° - 38°S), Tasman sea and south Pacific(region of subtropical convergence))
  • Cocco's lantern fish, Lobianchia gemellarii (Cocco, 1838) (off all South African coasts. Worldwide in tropical/subtropical waters.)
  • Flaccid lanternfish, Metelectrona ventralis (Bekker, 1063) (West of Cape Peninsula in Southern Benguela upwelling region; Curcumglobal subantarctic species (36°-51°S))
  • Myctophum aurolaternatum Garman, 1899 (in Agulhas current south to about 31°S)
  • Myctophum nitidulum Garman, 1809 (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets)
  • Notolychnus valdiviae (Brauer, 1904) (off all South African coasts)
  • Notoscopelus caudispinosus (Johnson, 1863) (in Agulhas current south to 34°S. Broadly tropical in Atlantic (42°N - 37°S) and Indian oceans)
  • Notoscopelus resplendens (Richardson, 1845) (off all South African coasts)
  • Protomyctophum subparallelum TÃ¥ning, 1932 (off west coast at Vema seamount, Circumglobal in region of subtropical convergence with northern extension to 30°S in eastern boundary currents)
  • Protomyctophum normani TÃ¥ning, 1932 (once west of Slangkop lighthouse; Circumglobal convergence species (36° - 43°S))
  • Scopelopsis multipunctatus Brauer, 1906 (off all South African coasts)
  • Symbolophorus barnardi (TÃ¥ning, 1932) (occurs off all South African coasts)
  • Symbolophorus boops (Richardson, 1845) (Southern Benguela upwelling region north to 25°S; circumglobal in and south of subtropical convergence)
  • Symbolophorus evermanni (Gilbert, 1905) (Agilhas current south to about 33°S; tropical Indo-Pacific)
  • Taaningichthys bathyphilus (TÃ¥ning, 1928) (off east coast (30° - 33°S); widespread in all three oceans)
  • Taaningichthys minimus (TÃ¥ning, 1928) (taken at 34°15'S, 16°00'E; Atlantic (40° - 20°N and 08° - 38°S), Indian Ocean (20° - 30°S); central and eastern North Pacific)
  • Triphoturus nigrescens (Brauer, 1904) (In Agulhas current south to about 40°S; Indian Ocean (08°N - 15°S) and Pacific Ocean (30°N - 30°S))

Family: Neoscopelidae – Blackchins

  • Neoscopelus macrolepidotus Johnson, 1863 (off Natal between 27° and 30°S)
  • Neoscopelus microchir Matsubara, 1943 (one record off Natal (27°45'S, 32°44'E), both sides of the Atlantic and western Pacific)
  • Scopelengys tristis Alcock, 1890 (one record at 33°25'S, 27°54'E; also all 3 major oceans)

Order Notacanthiformes

Family: Halosauridae – Halosaurs

Family: Notacanthidae – Spiny eels

Order Ophidiiformes

Family: Aphyonidae – Aphyonids

Family: Bythitidae – Bythitids or Brotulas

Family: Carapidae – Pearlfishes

Family: Ophidiidae – Cuskeels

Family: Parabrotulidae – False brotulas

Order Osmeriformes

Family Leptochilichthyidae

Order Ovalentaria incertae sedis

Family: Ambassidae – Glassies

Family: Opistognathidae – Jawfishes

Family: Plesiopidae – Longfins

Subfamily: Acanthoclininae – Spiny basslets

Subfamily: Plesiopinae

Family: Pomacentridae – Damselfishes

Family: Pseudochromidae – Dottybacks

Subfamily: Congrogadinae – Snakelets

Subfamily: Pseudochrominae

Subfamily: Pseudoplesiopinae

Order Perciformes

6 suborders and 20 families are represented:

Order Pleuronectiformes – Flatfishes

Family: Achiropsettidae

  • Neoachiropsetta milfordi (Penrith, 1965) (off Cape Town, Argentina, Falkland Islands and New Zealand)(syn. Mancopsetta milfordi Penrith, 1965)

Family: Bothidae – Lefteye flounders

Family: Citharidae – Largescale flounders

Family: Paralichthyidae

Family: Pleuronectidae – Righteye flounders

Family: Cynoglossidae – Tonguefishes

Family: Soleidae – Soles

Order Polymixiiformes

Family: Polymixiidae – Beardfishes

  • Pacific beardfish, Polymixia berndti Gilbert, 1905 (Off Natal, Kenya, Philippines, Japan and Hawaii)

Order Saccopharyngiformes

Family: Cyematidae – Arrow eels

  • Bobtail eel or snipe eel or scissorjaw eel or arrow eel, Cyema atrum Günther, 1878 (Off southwest coast)
  • Neocyema erythrosoma Castle, 1978 (west of Cape Town)

Order: Scombriformes

Family: Ariommatidae

Family: Centrolophidae – Ruffs

  • Black ruff, Centrolophus niger (Gmelin, 1789) (Temperate waters of Australia, New Zealand, South America and South Africa, also North Atlantic and Mediterranean)
  • Antarctic butterfish, Hyperoglyphe antarctica (Carmichael, 1818) (Temperate waters; islands of south Atlantic and southern Indian oceans; New Zealand, southern Australia and South Africa)
  • New Zealand ruffe, Schedophilus huttoni (Waite, 1910) (Circumglobal in southern ocean, taken off Cape Town, common off Namibia)
  • Black butterfish or Peregrine driftfish, Schedophilus velaini (Sauvage, 1879) (Gulf of Guinea, to South Africa)(syn. Hyperoglypha moselii (Cunningham, 1910))
  • Flabby driftfish or Tasmanian ruffe, Tubbia tasmanica Whitley, 1943 (Temperate waters of Southern Ocean; New Zealand, Tasmania and South Africa off Natal)

Family: Chiasmodontidae – Swallowers

  • Black swallower, Chiasmodon niger Johnson, 1863 (Tropical/subtropical in the three major oceans)
  • Kali macrodon (Norman, 1929) (Tropical/subtropical in the three major oceans, taken off Cape Town and Natal)

Family: Gempylidae – Snake mackerels

Family: Nomeidae – Driftfishes

  • Black fathead, Cubiceps baxteri McCulloch, 1923 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans)
  • Blue fathead, Cubiceps caeruleus Regan, 1914 (Southern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans)
  • Cape fathead, Cubiceps capensis (Smith, 1845) (Probably circumglobal in southern hemisphere)
  • Longfin fathead, Cubiceps pauciradiatus Günther, 1872 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans)
  • Shadow driftfish, Cubiceps whiteleggii (Waite, 1894), recorded as syn. Psenes whiteleggi Waite, 1894 (Indian Ocean and Australia)
  • Bluebottle fish or man-of-war fish, Nomeus gronovii Gmelin, 1789 (Circumglobal in warm waters)
  • Banded driftfish, Psenes arafurensis Günther, 1889 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean)
  • Freckled driftfish, Psenes cyanophrys Valenciennes, 1883 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans)
  • Silver driftfish, Psenes maculatus Lütken, 1880 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans)
  • Blackrag or bluefin driftfish, Psenes pellucidus Lütken, 1880 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans)

Family: Pomatomidae – Elf

Family: Scombridae – Tunas, mackerels and bonitos

Subfamily: Gasterochismatinae

  • Bigscale mackerel or butterfly kingfish, Gasterochisma melampus Richardson, 1845 (Worldwide in southern ocean, mostly between 35° and 50° S, recorded from Table Bay)

Subfamily: Scombrinae

Family: Stromateidae

  • Blue butterfish, Stromateus fiatola Linnaeus, 1758 (Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean round the Cape to Natal)

Family: Tetragonuridae – Squaretails

Family: Trichiuridae – Frostfishes

  • Aphanopus mikhailini Parin, 1983 (Walters shoal)
  • Slender frostfish, Benthodesmus elongatus (Clarke, 1879), recorded as syn. Benthodesmus elongatus elongatus (Clarke, 1879) (New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, once found off Natal)
  • Buttersnoek or silver scabbardfish, Lepidopus caudatus (Euphrasen, 1788) (Mediterranean, eastern Atlantic from Norway to South Africa, Australia and new Zealand)
  • Cutlass fish, Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus, 1758 (Cosmopolitan in tropical and temperate waters)

Order Siluriformes – Catfishes

Family: Ariidae – Sea catfishes

Family: Plotosidae – Eel catfishes

  • Striped eel-catfish, Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg, 1787) (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)
  • Stinging eel-catfish, Plotosus nkunga Gomon & Taylor, 1982 (Knysna to Kosi Bay)

Order Stomiiformes

Family: Gonostomatidae – Bristlemouths

  • Benttooth bristlemouth, Cyclothone acclinidens Garman, 1899 (off Cape Point; tropical/subtropical in all three major oceans)
  • Bristlemouth, Cyclothone alba Brauer, 1906 (off Saldanha; all three major oceans)
  • Veiled anglemouth, Cyclothone microdon (Günther, 1878) (inshore from Saldanha to Mossel Bay; All 3 major oceans)
  • Tan bristlemouth, Cyclothone pallida Brauer, 1902 (all three major oceans)
  • Slender bristlemouth, Cyclothone pseudopallida Mukhacheva, 1964 (Off Cape Agulhas; all three major oceans)
  • Rebain's portholefish, Diplophos rebainsi Krefft and Parin, 1972 (off south western Cape coast; Southern Atlantic and south-eastern Pacific Oceans)
  • Diplophos taenia Günther, 1873 (all three major oceans; all around SA coast)
  • Gonostoma atlanticum Norman, 1930 ( 25°26'S, 38°11'E and 39°01'S, 20°04'E; tropical/subtropical all oceans)
  • Gonostoma denudatum Rafinesque, 1810 (Temperate/subtropical Atlantic; off Southern Africa to ca. 37°S)
  • Margrethia obtusirostra Jespersen & TÃ¥ning, 1919 (off Cape Agulhas and 25°26'S, 38°11'E; all three major oceans)
  • Margrethia valentinae Parin, 1982 (off South Africa (c. 37°S, 20°;E -20°W; probably part of Circumglobal Subtropical Convergence fauna)
  • Sigmops bathyphilus (Vaillant, 1884), recorded as syn. Gonostoma bathyphilum (Vaillant, 1884) (off Cape Point; temperate/subtropical Atlantic and Pacific oceans)
  • Elongated bristlemouth fish, Sigmops elongatus (Günther, 1878), recorded as syn. Gonostoma elongatum Günther, 1878 (off Saldanha; all three major oceans)

Family: Phosichthyidae – Lightfishes

  • Ichthyococcus australis Mukhacheva, 1980 (Circumglobal in subtropical convergence region of southern hemisphere with records between 30° and 40°S in Atlantic sector of our region)
  • Phosichthys argenteus Hutton, 1873 (South-east Atlantic, south-east of Cape Agulhas and off Natal coast)
  • Rendezvous fish, Polymetme corythaeola (Alcock, 1898) (off Natal; all three major oceans)
  • Slender lightfish, Vinciguerria attenuata (Cocco, 1838) (off Cape Point; all three major oceans)
  • Oceanic lightfish, Vinciguerria nimbaria (Jordan and Williams, 1896) (tropical/subtropical waters in all three major oceans; East London to Delagoa Bay)

Family: Sternoptychidae – Hatchetfishes

Subfamily: Maurolicinae

Subfamily: Sternoptychinae

Family: Stomiidae

Subfamily: Astronesthinae – Snaggletooths

  • Astronesthes boulengeri Gilchrist, 1902 (southeast of Cape Point, Circumpolar between 30° and 40°S)
  • Astronesthes indicus Brauer, 1902 (Circumglobal in tropical waters, Taken between 33° and 35°S on Atlantic side)
  • Astronesthes martensii Klunzinger, 1871 (Indonesia to Red Sea and south to Durban)
  • Borostomias mononema (Regan and Trewavas, 1929) (mainly in tropical waters of Atlantic and Indian oceans, Reported from Atlantic side at about 28°S and from Indian Ocean to about 25°S)
  • Neonesthes capensis (Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924) (off South Africa, Subtropical/temperate waters of all oceans)

Subfamily: Idiacanthinae – Sawtail-fishes

  • Idiacanthus atlanticus Brauer, 1906 (Circumglobal between about 26°S and Subtropical convergence
  • Ribbon sawtail fish, Idiacanthus fasciola Peters, 1877 (off east coast and in Agulhas water pockets in eastern south Atlantic. 24°-26°S)

Subfamily: Malacosteinae – Loosejaws

  • Aristostomias polydactylus Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (Taken once on Atlantic side, once on Indian Ocean side of the area, occurs in all three major oceans)
  • Malacosteus niger Ayres, 1848 (Tropical and subtropical in all three major oceans)

Subfamily: Melanostomiinae – Scaleless dragonfishes

  • Bathophilus digitatus (Welsh, 1923) (single specimen from off Cape Town; North Atlantic, Indian and pacific oceans)
  • Bathophilus longipinnis (Pappenheim, 1912) (off Cape Town; occurs widely in all three major oceans)
  • Bathophilus nigerrimus Giglioli, 1884 (Off Cape Town and off Port Elizabeth to Mozambique channel)
  • Echiostoma barbatum Lowe, 1843 (Southeast of Algoa Bay and off Cape Town; widespread in tropical/subtropical waters of all oceans)
  • Eustomias bulbornatus Gibbs, 1960 (south and west of Cape of Good Hope; Tropical Indian and Pacific oceans)
  • Eustomias filifer (Gilchrist, 1906) (off Cape Point; tropical and subtropical Atlantic)
  • Eustomias grandibulbus Gibbs, Clarke and Gomon, 1983 (off Cape Town)
  • Eustomias lipochirus Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (2 specimens from south west of Cape of Good Hope; Tropical/subtropical Atlantic)
  • Eustomias schmidti Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (off Cape Town; occurs widely in all three major oceans)
  • Eustomias trewavasae Norman, 1930 (circumglobal between about 33° and 40°S)
  • Leptostomias gladiator (Zugmayer, 1911) (Tropical, subtropical and temperate Atlantic, also Indian and Pacific oceans)
  • Melanostomias bartonbeani Parr, 1927 (once off Cape Columbine; widespread in Atlantic and southern Indian oceans)
  • Melanostomias niger Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924 (widespread in Atlantic between 20° and 50°S)
  • Melanostomias valdiviae Brauer, 1902 (off Cape Town and northeast of Durban; all three major oceans)
  • Opostomias micripnus (Günther, 1878) (northwest of Cape Town; occurs across the Atlantic, Pacific and possibly Indian Ocean south of about 33°S) (syn. Opostomias gibsonpacei Barnard, 1948)
  • Pachystomias microdon (Günther, 1878) (off Western Cape coast; widespread in all three major oceans)(Günther, 1878)
  • Photonectes braueri (Zugmayer, 1913) (off Cape Town; Atlantic and western Indian Ocean)
  • Photonectes parvimanus Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (off west coast; north Atlantic and central Pacific)
  • Trigonolampa miriceps Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (off west coast; apparently circumglobal in Southern Ocean south of 30°S)

Subfamily: Stomiinae – Scaly dragonfishes

  • Stomias longibarbatus (Brauer, 1902), recorded as syn. Macrostomias longibarbatus Brauer, 1902 (Taken once off Cape of Good Hope, Widespread in subtropical and tropical Atlantic and tropical Indian and Pacific oceans)
  • Stomias boa (Risso, 1810), recorded as syn. Stomias boa boa (Risso, 1810) (Taken offshore throughout the area)
  • Sloane's viperfish, Chauliodus sloani Schneider, 1801 (Taken offshore throughout the area)

Order: Stylephoriformes

Family: Stylephoridae – Tube-eye

  • Stylephorus chordatus Shaw, 1791 (Three specimens taken off the east coast between 31°51'S - 33°10'S, 28°17'E - 30°01'E)

Order Syngnathiformes

Family: Aulostomidae – Trumpetfishes

  • Trumpetfish or Chinese trumpetfish, Aulostomus chinensis (Linnaeus, 1766), (Indo-West Pacific south to East London)

Family: Centriscidae – Snipefishes and shrimpfishes

Family: Fistulariidae – Flutemouths

  • Smooth flutemouth or bluespotted cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii Rüppell, 1938 (widespread Indo-Pacific south to Mossel Bay)
  • Serrate flutemouth or red cornetfish, Fistularia petimba Lacepède, 1803 (Atlantic, Indian and western Pacific oceans; east coast of Africa south to Mossel bay; also reported from Walvis Bay and False Bay)

Family: Solenostomidae – Ghost pipefishes

  • Ghost pipefish or robust ghost pipefish, Solenostomus cyanopterus Bleeker 1854 (Indo-Pacific region including India, Japan and Australia, and south to East London)(one specimen reported from False Bay)

Family: Syngnathidae – Seahorses and pipefishes

Order Tetraodontiformes

Family: Balistidae – Triggerfishes

Family: Diodontidae – Burrfishes and porcupinefishes

  • Spotfin burrfish, Chilomycterus reticulatus (Linnaeus, 1758), (Only juveniles reported from Cape to Salt Vlei, worldwide in warm temperate waters)
  • Birdbeak burrfish, Cyclichthys orbicularis (Bloch, 1785) (Knysna to South China Sea, Philippines and Australia)
  • Yellow-spotted burrfish or spotbase burrfish, Cyclichthys spilostylus (Leis & Randall, 1982), (Cape to Port Alfred and northwards to South China Sea, Philippines and Australia)
  • Pelagic porcupinefish, Diodon eydouxii Brisout de Barneville, 1846 (Known from Algoa Bay. pelagic, circumtropical)
  • Balloon porcupinefish or long-spine porcupinefish, Diodon holocanthus Linnaeus, 1758, (Cape to Knysna and northward. Circumtropical)
  • Porcupinefish or spot-fin porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix Linnaeus, 1758, (Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park to Umtata river, Circumtropical)
  • Shortspine porcupinefish or black-blotched porcupinefish, Diodon liturosus Shaw, 1804, (Port Elizabeth to Japan, French Polynesia and Australia)
  • Fourbar porcupinefish, Lophodiodon calori (Bianconi, 1855), (Continental shelf from the Cape to South China Sea and Australia)

Family: Molidae – Ocean sunfishes

  • Sharptail sunfish or sharptail mola, Masturus lanceolatus (Lienard, 1840), (Warm temperate waters of all oceans; recorded from the Cape to East London)
  • Ocean sunfish, Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758), (All oceans but not polar seas)
  • Southern sunfish or giant sunfish, Mola alexandrini (Ranzani, 1839), recorded as syn. Mola ramsayi (Giglioli, 1883), (Known only from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Collected from near East London to Port St. Johns)
  • Trunkfish or slender sunfish, Ranzania laevis (Pennant, 1776), (Cape to Transkei; All oceans)

Family: Monacanthidae – Filefishes

Family: Ostraciidae – Boxfishes

Subfamily: Aracaninae

  • Chubby basketfish, Anoplocapros inermis (Fraser-Brunner, 1935), recorded as syn. Anoplocapros robustus (Fraser-Brunner, 1941) and syn. Strophiurichthys robustus Fraser-Brunner, 1941, (one specimen from Algoa Bay)

Subfamily: Ostraciinae

Family: Tetraodontidae – Blaasops or Puffers

Family: Triacanthodidae – Spikefishes

Order: Trachichthyiformes

Family: Anoplogastridae – Fangtooth

  • Fangtooth, Anoplogaster cornuta (Valenciennes, 1839) (In Agulhas current to about 29°S; north of 35°S off west coast. Worldwide between 46&degN and 46°S)

Family: Diretmidae – Spinyfins

  • Diretmichthys parini (Post & Quéro, 1981), recorded as syn. Diretmoides parini Post and Quéro, 1981 (Tropical to temperate in Atlantic ocean with gap between 7°N -17°S; probably curcumglobal in southern oceans)

Family: Monocentridae – Pineapple fishes

  • Pineapple fish, Monocentris japonica (Houttuyn, 1782) (Indo-West Pacific and Red Sea south to Mossel Bay)(Recorded from False Bay on at least two occasions)

Family: Trachichthyidae – Slimeheads

Order Zeiformes

Family: Grammicolepididae – Tinselfishes

Family: Oreosomatidae – Oreos

Family: Zeidae – Dories

  • Cyttopsis rosea (Lowe, 1843) (off Natal, Eastern Atlantic from France to Southern Angola, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, Southwest coast of India, Maldives and Japan)
  • King dory, Cyttus traversi Hutton, 1872 (Walvis ridge and off cape town to Algoa bay, south coast of Australia and New Zealand)
  • Buckler dory, Zenopsis conchifer (Lowe, 1850) (Walvis Bay to Natal and north to India)
  • Cape dory, Zeus capensis Valenciennes, 1835 (St Helena Bay to Natal)
  • John Dory, Zeus faber Linnaeus, 1758 (common along whole SA coast)

Family: Zenionidae – Zeniontids

  • Elongate dory, Zenion leptolepis (Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924) (Natal, Delagoa Bay and Kenya)

Gigaclass Sarcopterygii – Lobefin fishes

Class Actinista

Order Coelacanthiformes – Coelacanths

Family: Latimeriidae

  • West Indian Ocean coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae Smith, 1939 (northern KwaZulu-Natal to Pumula)

References