List of marine spiny-finned fishes of South Africa

This is a sub-list of the List of marine bony fishes of South Africa for spiny-finned 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.

Map of the Southern African coastline showing some of the landmarks referred to in species range statements

List ordering and taxonomy complies where possible with the current usage in Wikispecies 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. Synonyms may be listed where useful.

Acanthopterygii (meaning "spiny finned one") is a superorder of bony fishes in the class Actinopterygii. Members of this superorder are sometimes called ray-finned fishes for the characteristic sharp, bony rays in their fins; however this name is often given to the class Actinopterygii as a whole. (Full article...)


Superorder Acanthopterygii — Spiny-finned fishes

Order Cetomimiformes — Whalefishes

Family: Barbourisiidae — Red whalefish

  • Barbourisia rufa Parr, 1954 (occasionally trawled off West Coast. Atlantic Ocean (56°N- 35°S))[1]

Family: Cetomimidae — Whalefishes

  • Cetomimus indagator Rofen, 1959 (1 specimen off Port St Johns, former Transkei)[1]
  • Cetomimus picklei (Gilchrist, 1922) (1 specimen off Cape Town)[1]

Family: Rondeletiidae — Redmouth whalefish

Order Syngnathiformes

Family: Aulostomidae — Trumpetfishes

Family: Centriscidae — Snipefishes and shrimpfishes

Family: Fistulariidae — Flutemouths

  • Smooth flutemouth Fistularia commersonii Rüppell, 1938 (widespread Indo-Pacific south to Mossel Bay)[1]
  • Serrate flutemouth 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)[1]

Family: Solenostomidae — Ghost pipefishes

  • Ghost pipefish Solenostomus cyanopterus Bleeker 1854 (Indo-Pacific region including India, Japan and Australia, and south to East London)[1](one specimen reported from False Bay)

Family: Syngnathidae — Seahorses and pipefishes

Suborder: Atherinoidei

Family: Atherinidae — Silversides

  • Cape silverside Atherina breviceps Valenciennes, 1835 (Luderitz to northern KwaZulu-Natal)[1][2]
  • Hardyhead silverside Atherinomorus lacunosus (Forster, 1801) (East London to Indo-West Pacific)[1][2]
  • Pricklenose silverside Atherion africanus Smith, 1965 (Natal to India)[1]
  • Slender silverside Hypoatherina barnesi Schultz, 1953 (Natal to Comores)[1]

Family: Notocheiridae — Surf sprites

  • Surf sprite Iso natalensisRegan, 1919 (Indian ocean south to Cape Agulgas)[1]
Superfamily: Exocoetoidea

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)[1]
  • Spotfin flyingfish Cheilopogon furcatus (Mitchill, 1815) (offshore in all tropical seas. Off South African coast from the Cape eastwards)[1]
  • Blackfin flyingfish Cheilopogon nigricans (Bennett, 1840) (Tropical eastern Atlantic to Indo-West Pacific. One specimen known from South African waters)[1]
  • Smallhead flyingfish Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus altipinnis (Valenciennes, 1846) (Cape to Kosi Bay)[1]
  • Two-wing flyingfish Exocoetus monocirrhus (Richardson, 1846) (Indo-West Pacific south to Durban)[1]
  • Tropical two-wing flyingfish Exocoetus volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) (worldwide in tropical waters, occasionally seen in South African waters)[1]
  • Subtropical flyingfish Hirundichthys rondeletii (Valenciennes, 1846) (widely distributed in subtropical waters of all oceans, common off the Cape)[1]
  • Mirrorwing flyingfish Hirundichthys speculiger (Valenciennes, 1846) (worldwide in tropical waters, one juvenile from Mbibi, Zululand, another from False Bay)[1]
  • Sailfin flyingfish Parexocoetus brachypterus (Richardson, 1846) (Tropical Indo-Pacific, south to Natal)[1]
  • Shortfin flyingfish Prognichthys brevipinnis (Valenciennes, 1846) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific, recorded from Lake St. Lucia and Indian Ocean off South Africa)[1]
  • Shortnose flyingfish Prognichthys sealei (Abe, 1955) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific; one adolescent off Cape St. Lucia and a small juvenile from Port Elizabeth)[1]

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)[1]
  • Spotted halfbeak Hemiramphus far (Forsskål, 1775) (Knysna to Delagoa Bay. a few records west to False Bay)[1][2]
  • Tropical halfbeak Hyporhamphus affinis (Günther, 1866) (Sodwana Bay to tropical west Indo-Pacific)[1][2]
  • Cape halfbeak Hyporhamphus capensis (Thominot, 1886) (False Bay to southern Mozambique)[1][2]
Superfamily: Scomberesocoidea

Family: Belonidae — Needlefishes

  • Barred needlefish Ablennes hians (Valenciennes, 1846) (Worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters, south to Algoa Bay)[1]
  • Cape needlefish Petalichthys capensis Regan, 1904 (South African endemic, False Bay to Pondoland)[1]
  • Garfish or Yellow needlefish or Banded needlefishStrongylura leiura (Bleeker, 1850) (Durban to Persian Gulf)[1][2]
  • Crocodile needlefish Tylosurus crocodilus crocodilus (Peron and Lesueur, 1821) (Indo-West Pacific south to Knysna)[1]

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)[1]


Suborder: Berycoidei

Family: Berycidae — Berycids

Suborder: Holocentroidei

Family: Holocentridae — Squirrelfishes and Soldierfishes Subfamily: Holocentrinae — Squirrelfishes

  • Spotfin squirrelfish Neoniphon sammara (Forsskål, 1775) (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Durban)[1]
  • Tailspot squirrelfish Sargocentron caudimaculatum (Rüppell, 1838) (Red sea and Indo-Pacific south to Xora river mouth, Transkei)[1]
  • Crown squirrelfish Sargocentron diadema (Lacepède, 1802) (Durban to Mozambique)[2] (Indo-Pacific south to East London)[1]
  • Dark-striped squirrelfish Sargocentron praslin (Lacepède, 1802) (Indo-West Pacific reported by Smith to reach Durban, but no specimens available from south of Mozambique)[1]
  • Speckled squirrelfish Sargocentron punctatissimum (Cuvier, 1829) (Indo-Pacific south to Algoa Bay)[1]
  • Sabre squirrelfish Sargocentron spiniferum (Forsskål, 1775) (Red sea and east coast of Africa south to Natal)[1]

Subfamily: Myripristinae — Soldierfishes

  • Shadowfin soldier Myripristis adusta Bleeker, 1853 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)[1]
  • Bigscale soldier Myripristis berndti Jordan and Evermann, 1903 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)[1]
  • Yellowfin soldier Myripristis chryseres Jordan and Evermann, 1903 (Aliwal shoal)[1]
  • Epaulette soldier Myripristis kuntee (Cuvier, 1831) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)[1]
  • Pale soldier Myripristis melanosticta Bleeker, 1863 (Indian ocean (Sri Lanka, Maldives and Sodwana Bay) to Japan and New Hebrides)[1]
  • Blotcheye soldier Myripristis murdjan (Forsskål, 1775) (Transkei to Mozambique)[2](Red Sea and Ind-Pacific south to Natal)[1]
  • Lattice soldier Myripristis violacea Bleeker, 1851 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)[1]
  • Shy soldier Plectrypops lima (Valenciennes, 1831) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)[1]
Suborder: Trachichthyoidei

Family: Anoplogastridae — Fangtooth

  • Fangtooth Anaplogaster cornuta (Valenciennes, 1839) (In Agulhas current to about 29°S; north of 35°S off west coast. Worldwide between 46&degN and 46°S)[1]

Family: Diretmidae — Diretmids

  • Diretmoides parini Post and Quero, 1981 (Tropical to temperate in Atlantic ocean with gap between 7°N -17°S; probably curcumglobal in southern oceans)[1]

Family: Monocentridae — Pineapple fishes

  • Pineapple fish Monocentris japonicus (Houttuyn, 1782) (Indo-West Pacific and Red Sea south to Mossel Bay)[1](Recorded from False Bay on at least two occasions)[3]

Family: Trachichthyidae — Slimeheads

Order Gasterosteiformes

Family: Pegasidae — Seamoths

Order Perciformes — Perciform (perch-like) fishes

See article List of marine Perciform fishes of South Africa

Order Pleuronectiformes — Flatfishes

Suborder: Pleuronectoidei

Family: Achiropsettidae

  • Neoachiropsetta milfordi (Penrith, 1965) (off Cape Town, Argentina, Falkland Islands and New Zealand)[1](syn. Mancopsetta milfordi Penrith, 1965)

Family: Bothidae — Lefteye flounders

  • Cape flounder Arnoglossus capensis Boulenger, 1898 (Angola to Natal)[1]
  • East coast flounder Arnoglossus dalgleishi (von Bonde, 1922) (Natal, Zanzibar, Mombasa and northern Indian Ocean)[1]
  • Tropical flounder Bothus mancus (Broussonet, 1782) (Durban to Hawaii and Easter Island)[1][2]
  • Disc flounder Bothus myriaster (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) (Definitely known from Inhambane, juveniles and larvae possibly occur south to Cape St. Blaize. Southeast Africa to Taiwan and Japan)[1]
  • Leopard flounder Bothus pantherinus (Rüppell, 1830) (Confirmed records from Port Alfred northward, juveniles possibly south to Cape St. Blaize. Indo-West Pacific from South Africa to Hawaii)[1]
  • Pelican flounder Chascanopsetta lugubris Alcock, 1894 (Natal to Delagoa Bay, Indo-Pacific and Atlantic Oceans)[1]
  • Broadbrow flounder Crossorhombus valderostratus (Alcock, 1890) (Durban to St. Lucia Bay, possibly reaches East London)[1]
  • Warthog flounder Engyprosopon grandisquama (Temminck & Schlegel, 1848) (Indo-Pacific, Durban to Japan)[1]
  • Natal flounder Engyprosopon natalensis (Regan, 1920) (Known only from off Amatikulu River, Natal)[1]
  • Engyprosopon smithi Nielsen, 1964 (Known only from 3 specimens from off Durban and Kenya)[1]
  • Khaki flounder Laeops natalensis Norman, 1931 (Known only from Natal)[1]
  • Blackspotted flounder Laeops nigromaculatus von Bonde, 1922 (Natal, Delagoa Bay and Japan)[1]
  • Longarm flounder Laeops pectoralis (von Bonde, 1922) (Natal, Delagoa Bay and Mombasa)[1]
  • Crosseyed flounder Neolaeops microphthalmus (von Bonde, 1922) (One specimen from Natal, also known from Japan, Taiwan and Indo-Australian Archipelago)[1]
  • Psettina brevirictis (Alcock, 1890) (Record from South Africa based on juvenile collected off Port St. Johns)

Family: Citharidae — Largescale flounders

  • Largescale flounder Citharoides macrolepis (Gilchrist, 1905) (Known only from Natal to Kenya)[1]

Family: Paralichthyidae

  • Largetooth flounder Preudorhombus arsius (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa Bay and possibly to Knysna)[1]
  • Ringed flounder Pseudorhombus elevatus Ogilby, 1912 (Indian Ocean south to Algoa Bay)
  • Smalltooth flounder Pseudorhombus natalensis Gilchrist, 1904 (Durban and off Tugela River)

Family: Pleuronectidae — Righteye flounders


Suborder: Soleoidei

Family: Cynoglossidae — Tonguefishes

Family: Soleidae — Soles

  • Unicorn sole Aesopia cornuta Kaup, 1858 (Natal to Mozambique)[1]
  • West coast sole Austroglossus microlepis (Bleeker, 1863)(Cape to KwaZulu-Natal)[2](Northern Namibia to False Bay)[1]
  • East coast sole Austroglossus pectoralis (Kaup, 1858) (Cape Point to Durban)[1][2]
  • Cape sole Heteromycteris capensis Kaup, 1858 (Walvis Bay to Maputo)[1][2]
  • Foureye sole Monochirus ocellatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Natal)[1]
  • Dwarf sole Parachirus xenicus Matsubara & Ochiai, 1963 (Sodwana Bay)[1]
  • Speckled sole Pardachirus marmoratus (Lacepède, 1802) (Red Sea and western Indian Ocean from Sri Lanka and Persian Gulf to Durban)[1]
  • Persian carpet sole Pardachirus morrowi (Chabanaud, 1954) (Kenya to Sodwana Bay)[1]
  • Blackhand sole Solea bleekeri Boulenger, 1898 (Cape Columbine to Maputo)[2](False Bay to Maputo)[1]
  • Lemon sole Solea fulvomarginata Gilchrist, 1904 (False Bay to Transkei)[1][2]
  • Shallow-water sole Synaptura marginata Boulenger, 1900 (Knysna to Delagoa Bay)[1]
  • Lace sole Synapturichthys kleini (Risso, 1833) (Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean to South Africa and round south coast to Durban)[1]
  • Zebra sole Zebrias regani (Gilchrist, 1906) (Known only from Natal)[1]


Superfamily: Cottoidea

Family: Psychrolutidae — Fatheads

Superfamily: Cyclopteroidea

Family: Liparidae — Snailfishes

  • Careproctus albescens Barnard, 1927 (off Cape Point)[1]
  • Paraliparis australis Gilchrist, 1904 (off Cape Point)[1]
  • Paraliparis copei Goode & Bean, 1896 (Northwest Atlantic, Azores and South Africa. off Cape Point)[1]
  • Paraliparis micruris (Barnard, 1927) (Cape of Good Hope, southern Indian Ocean and South Pacific)[1]
Suborder: Dactylopteroidei

Family: Dactylopteridae — Helmet gurnards

  • Helmet gurnard Dactyloptena orientalis (Cuvier, 1829) (Port Elizabeth northwards; east to central Pacific)[1]
  • Starry helmet gurnard Dactyloptena peterseni (Nyström, 1887) (East London and Delagoa Bay)[1]


Suborder: Platycephaloidei

Family: Hoplichthyidae — Spiny flatheads

  • Spiny flathead Hoplichthys acanthopleurus Regan, 1908 (off Natal)[1]

Family: Parabembridae

Family: Platycephalidae — Flatheads

  • Crocodile flathead Cociella crocodila (Tilesius, 1812) (Durban northwards and from Red sea to Japan and Guadalcanal)[1]
  • Spotfin flathead Cociella sp. (East London north to Madagascar and Oman)[1]
  • Thorny flathead Grammoplites portuguesus (Smith, 1953) (Durban to Beira)[1]
  • Large-scale flathead Onigocia oligolepis (Regan, 1908) (three specimens known from Natal)[1]
  • Madagascar flathead Papilloculiceps longiceps (Ehrenberg, 1829) (Widespread from Durban north to Red sea)[1]
  • Bartail flathead Platycephalus indicus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cape Agulhas to Mozambique)[2](Widespread from Mossel bay northward to Red sea and Japan and Australia)[1]
  • Sand flathead Thysanophrys arenicola Schultz, 1966 (Natal north to Seychelles; Chagos archipelago; Indonesia, Australia, Philippines and Marshall Islands)[1]
  • Quarterspined flathead Thysanophrys celebica (Bleeker, 1854) (Durban north to Zanzibar)[1]
  • Longsnout flathead Thysanophrys chiltonae Schultz, 1966 (Red sea and Indo-West Pacific from northern Natal to Australia)[1]
  • Fringelip flathead Thysanophrys otaitensis (Parkinson, 1829) (Natal north to Seychelles, and throughout tropical Indo-Pacific)[1]
Suborder: Scorpaenoidei

Family: Apistidae

  • Bearded waspfish Apistus carinatus (Bloch, 1801) (Natal northwards, coastal areas of Indo-West Pacific)[1]

Family: Aploactinidae — Velvetfishes

  • Roughskin scorpionfish Cocotropus monacanthus (Gilchrist, 1906) (4 specimens from off Natal)[1]
  • Crested scorpionfish Ptarmus jubatus (Smith, 1935) (Natal coast north to Porto Amelia, Mozambique) [1]

Family: Caracanthidae — Coral crouchers

  • Spotted croucher Caracanthus madagascariensis (Guichenot, 1869) (Tropical western and central Indian ocean, south to Sodwana Bay)[1]
  • Coral croucher Caracanthus unipinna (Gray, 1831) (Tropical waters throughout Indo-Pacific; reaches Sodwana bay)[1]

Family: Congiopodidae — Horsefishes

  • Spinenose horsefish Congiopodus spinifer (Smith, 1839) (Walvis Bay to Natal)[1]
  • Smooth horsefish Congiopodus torvus (Gronovius, 1772) (Namibia to Pondoland)[1]

Family: Scorpaenidae
Subfamily: Choradactylinae

  • Threestick stingfish Choridactylus natalensis (Gilchrist, 1902) (Durban to Mozambique)[1]

Subfamily: Minoinae

  • Onestick stingfish Minous coccineus Alcock, 1890 (Durban, northwards; also in Red sea, Arabian sea and eastwards to gulf of Thailand)[1]

Subfamily: Pteroinae

  • Shortfin turkeyfish Dendrochirus brachypterus (Cuvier, 1829) (Transkei north to Red sea and east to central Pacific)[1]
  • Zebra turkeyfish Dendrochirus zebra (Cuvier, 1829) (off Durban; northwards to Red sea and eastwards to central Pacific)[1]
  • Blackfoot firefish Parapterois heterurus (Bleeker, 1856) (Natal and northwards across Indian ocean to western Pacific)[1]
  • Broadbarred firefish Pterois antennata (Bloch, 1787) (KwaZulu-Natal northwards and to central Pacific)[1][2]
  • Devil Firefish Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828) (Port Elizabeth northwards)[2](Port Alfred northwards to Red sea and eastern Indian ocean)[1]
  • Deepwater firefish Pterois mombasae (Smith, 1957) (off Durban, Sri Lanka and New Guinea)[1]
  • Radial firefish Pterois radiata Cuvier, 1829 (KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)[2](Sodwana Bay northwards and to central Pacific)[1]
  • Plaintail firefish Pterois russelii Bennett, 1831 (Kwa-Zulu-Natal northward and to western Pacific)[1][2]

Subfamily: Scorpaeninae

  • Decoy scorpionfish Iracundus signifer Jordan and Evermann, 1903 (one taken off Sodwana Bay)[1]
  • Spotfin scorpionfish Neomerinthe nielseni (Smith, 1964) (several specimens from off Durban)[1]
  • Ocellated scorpionfish Parascorpaena mcadamsi (Fowler, 1938) (Sodwana Bay, Zululand, and Mozambique to Pacific)[1]
  • Golden scorpionfish Parascorpaena mossambica (Peters, 1855) (Xora and Sodwana Bay northwards, east Africa to central Pacific)[1]
  • Phenacoscorpius adenensis Norman, 1939 (near Buffalo River)[1]
  • Speckled deepwater scorpionfish Pontinus leda Eschmeyer, 1969 (off west coast from gulf of Guinea to 18°45'S)[1]
  • Blacklash scorpionfish Pontinus nigerimum Eschmeyer, 1983 (one specimen off Natal)[1]
  • Popeyed scorpionfish Rhinopias frondosa (Günther, 1891) (Durban north along African coast and east to Japan and Caroline Islands)[1][2]
  • Bigscale scorpionfish Scorpaena scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 (Algoa bay to Natal)[1]
  • Guam scorpionfish Scorpaenodes guamensis Quoy and Gaimard, 1824 ((Transkei northwards and throughout Indo-West Pacific)[1]
  • Hairy scorpionfish Scorpaenodes hirsutus (Smith, 1957) (Sodwana Bay northwards, scattered localities in Indo-West Pacific to Hawaii and Tahiti)[1]
  • Dwarf scorpionfish Scorpaenodes kelloggi (Jenkins, 1903) (Sodwana bay and scattered localities in Indo-Pacific, east to Hawaii and Tahiti)[1]
  • Cheekspot scorpionfish Scorpaenodes littoralis (Tanaka, 1917) (a few specimens from deep reefs off Natal; also scattered localities in Indo-West Pacific)[1]
  • Coral scorpionfish Scorpaenodes parvipinnis (Garrett, 1863) (Durban northwards; widespread on coral reefs throughout Indo-West Pacific)[1]
  • Blotchfin scorpionfish Scorpaenodes varipinnis Smith, 1957 (Sodwana bay and northwards in western Indian Ocean)[1]
  • Bigmouth scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis brevifrons Eschmeyer and Randall, 1975 (Sodwana bay northward; also at scattered localities in the Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • False stonefish Scorpaenopsis diabolus Cuvier, 1829 (Xora northwards, widespread in Indo-West Pacific.)[1]
  • Humpback scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis gibbosa Bloch and Schneider, 1801 (Transkei northwards, Indian Ocean and Red sea)[1]
  • Gilchrist's scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis gilchristi (Smith, 1957) (1 specimen off Tugela river)[1]
  • Smallscale scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis oxycephala Bleeker, 1849 (Sodwana Bay and scattered localities in the Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Spinycrown scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis possi Randall & Eschmeyer, 2001(Sodwana Bay northwards, throughout Indo-Pacific))[5]
  • Raggy scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis venosa (Cuvier, 1829) (Durban northwards and scattered localities in Indo-Pacific)[1][2]
  • Yellowspotted scorpionfish Sebastapistes cyanostigma (Bleeker, 1856) (Port Alfred northwards to Red sea and east to central Pacific)[1]
  • Spineblotch scorpionfish Sebastapistes mauritiana (Cuvier, 1829) (Transkei northwards, scattered Indo-Pacific localities)[1]
  • Barchin scorpionfish Sebastapistes strongia (Cuvier, 1829) (Transkei northwards, widespread in Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Darkspotted scorpionfish Sebastapistes tinkhami (Fowler, 1946) (Sodwana bay, western and south Pacific)[1]
  • Paperfish ir Leaf scorpionfish Taenianotus triacanthus Lacépède, 1802 (Durban northwards and to central Pacific)[1]

Family: Sebastidae

Family: Setarchidae

  • Setarches guentheri Johnson, 1862 (Natal, nearly worldwide in warm seas)[1]

Family: Synanceiidae — Stonefish

Family: Tetrarogidae — Waspfishes

Family: Triglidae — Gurnards

  • Cape gurnard Chelidonichthys capensis (Cuvier, 1829) (Cape Fria to Maputo)[1][2]
  • Bluefin Gurnard Chelidonichthys kumu (Cuvier, 1829)[6] (Cape Point to Delagoa Bay)[1][2]
  • Lesser gurnard Chelidonichthys queketti (Regan, 1904) (Table bay to Natal)[1]
  • Prickly gurnard Lepidotrigla faurei (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1914) (Durban northwards to India)[1]
  • Spiny gurnard Lepidotrigla multispinosa Smith, 1934 (Natal to Kenya)[1]
  • African gurnard Trigloporus lastoviza (Bonnaterre, 1788) (St. Sebastian Bay to Port Alfred)[1](syn. Trigloporus lastoviza africanus (Smith, 1934))

Order Stephanoberyciformes

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)[1]
  • Melamphaes microps (Günther, 1878) (off South Africa and New Zealand)[1]
  • Melamphaes simus Ebeling, 1962 (Tropical/subtropical regions of Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans)[1]
  • Poromitra crassiceps (Günther, 1878) (All oceans except Arctic and Mediterranean)[1]
  • Poromitra megalops (Lütken, 1877) (Eastern Atlantic, Indo-Pacific and eastern equatorial Pacific)[1]
  • Scopeloberyx robustus (Günther, 1887) (Tropical/subtropical regions of Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans)[1]
  • Scopelogadus beanii (Günther, 1887) (Atlantic, southern Indian and western south Pacific oceans)[1]
  • Sio nordenskjoldii (Lönnberg, 1905) (South Atlantic and Indian oceans south of 30°S; several records off South Africa)[1]

Family: Stephanoberycidae — Pricklefishes

  • Acanthochaenus lutkeni Gill, 1884 (off mid Atlantic USA, Azores and off Durban (29°42'S, 33°19'E)[1]

Order Tetraodontiformes

Family: Balistidae — Triggerfishes

Family: Diodontidae — Burrfishes and porcupinefishes

Family: Molidae — Ocean sunfishes

Family: Monacanthidae — Filefishes

Family: Ostraciidae — Boxfishes

Subfamily: Aracaninae

  • Chubby basketfish Anoplocapros robustus (Fraser-Brunner, 1941) (one specimen from Algoa Bay)[1](syn. Strophiurichthys robustus Fraser-Brunner, 1941)

Subfamily: Ostraciinae

Family: Tetraodontidae — Blaasops or Puffers


Family: Triacanthodidae — Spikefishes

  • Trumpetsnout Macrorhamphosodes uradoi (Kamohara, 1933) (1 record from off Port Elizabeth; Kenya to Japan)[1]
  • Sawspine spikefish Paratriacanthodes retrospinis (Fowler, 1934) (Japan and China to Mozambique and Natal)[1]

Shortsnout spikefish Triacanthodes ethiops Alcock, 1894 (Japan to South Africa)[1]

  • Fleshy lipped spikefish Tydemania navigatoris Weber, 1913 (Japan to east coast of Africa,; several records from South Africa)[1]


Suborder: Caproidei

Family: Caproidae — Boarfishes

  • Boarfish Antigonia rubescens (Günther, 1860) (Indo-West Pacific from Natal to Japan)[1]
Suborder: Zeioidei

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)[1]
  • Cyttus traversi Hutton, 1872 (Walvis ridge and off cape town to Algoa bay, south coast of Australia and New Zealand)[1]
  • Buckler dory Zenopsis conchifer (Lowe, 1850) (Walvis Bay to Natal and north to India)[1]
  • Cape dory Zeus capensis Valenciennes, 1835 (St Helena Bay to Natal)[1]
  • John dory Zeus faber Linnaeus, 1758 (common along whole SA coast)[1]

Family: Zenionidae — Zeniontids

Order Mugiliformes

Family: Mugilidae — Mullets

  • Diamond mullet Liza alata (Steindachner, 1892) (Indo-West Pacific to Algoa bay)[1]
  • Groovy mullet Liza dumerili (Steindachner, 1870) (Breede River to Bazaruto)[1][2]
  • St. Lucia mullet Liza luciae (Penrith & Penrith, 1967) (Northern Transkei to southern Mozambique)[1]
  • Large-scale mullet Liza macrolepis (Smith, 1846) (Indo-West Pacific to Port Alfred)[1]
  • Giantscle mullet Liza melinoptera (Valenciennes, 1836) (Indo-West Pacific, occasional specimens reach Natal)
  • Southern mullet Liza richardsonii (Smith, 1846) (Kunene River to St. Lucia estuary)[1][2]
  • Striped mullet Liza tricuspidens (Smith, 1935) (Mossel Bay to northern Kosi estuary)[1][2]
  • Squaretail mullet Liza vaigiensis (Quoy and Gaimard, 1825) (Indo-West Pacific, south to Durban)[1]
  • Flathead mullet Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758 (All warm and temperate seas, estuaries and rivers)[1][2]
  • Freshwater mullet Myxus capensis (Valenciennes, 1836) (Knysna to KwaZulu-Natal)[1][2]
  • Bluetail mullet Valamugil buchanani (Bleeker, 1854) (Knysna to Indo-West Pacific)[1][2]
  • Longarm mullet Valamugil cunnesius (Valenciennes, 1836) (Indo-West Pacific, occasionally reaches Natal)[1]
  • Bluespot mullet Valamugil seheli (Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-West Pacific south to Transkei)[1]

References

  1. Ed. Smith, Margaret M, and Heemstra, P. Smith's sea fishes. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown. Struik publishers, Cape Town, 2003.

  2. Branch, G.M. Griffiths, C.L. Branch, M.L. Beckley, L.E. Two Oceans: A guide to the marine life of southern Africa. 5th impression, David Philip, Cape Town, 2000. ISBN 0-86486-250-4
  3. Zsilavecz, Guido, Coastal fishes of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay: A divers' identification guide. SURG, Cape Town, 2005. ISBN 0-620-34230-7
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 2009. Seahorses and their Relatives ISBN 978-0-9775372-1-1
  5. Bailly, N. (2009). Scorpaenopsis possi Randall & Eschmeyer, 2001. In: Nicolas Bailly (2009). World Database of Marine Pisces. Accessed through the World Register of Marine Species at http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=277535 on 2010-01-17
  6. Bailly, N. (2009). Chelidonichthys kumu (Cuvier, 1829). In: Nicolas Bailly (2009). World Database of Marine Pisces. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218122 on 2010-01-18
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