List of marine bony fishes of South Africa

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

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 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. Details of each species may be available through the relevant internal links. Synonyms may be listed where useful.

Osteichthyes (/ˌɒstiːˈɪkθi.iːz/), popularly referred to as the bony fish, is a diverse taxonomic group of fish that have skeletons primarily composed of bone tissue. They can be contrasted with the Chondrichthyes, which have skeletons primarily composed of cartilage. The vast majority of fish are members of Osteichthyes, which is an extremely diverse and abundant group consisting of 45 orders, and over 435 families and 28,000 species. It is the largest class of vertebrates in existence today. The group Osteichthyes is divided into the ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii) and lobe-finned fish (Sarcopterygii). The oldest known fossils of bony fish are about 420 million years old, which are also transitional fossils, showing a tooth pattern that is in between the tooth rows of sharks and bony fishes. (Full article...)


Superclass Osteichthyes – Bony fishes[]

All entries in this list are included in this superclass. There are two classes represented: Actinopterygii and Sarcopterygii.

Class Actinopterygii – Ray-finned fishes[]

Subclass Neopterygii[]

Only one Infraclass - Teleostei - is represented.

Superorder Acanthopterygii – Spiny finned fishes[]

Main article: List of marine spiny-finned fishes of South Africa

Superorder Clupeomorpha[]

Order Clupeiformes[]

Family: Chirocentridae – Wolfherrings

  • Wolfherring Chirocentrus dorab (Forsskål, 1775) (Durban to Mozambique)[1][2]

Family: Clupeidae – Herrings, sardines and pilchards

  • East coast roundherring Etrumeus teres (De Kay, 1842) (Durban to Mozambique border)[1]
  • Roundherring Wongratana, 1983 (Walvis Bay to KwaZulu-Natal)[1][2]
  • Estuarine roundherring Gilchristella aestuaria (Gilchrist, 1913) (Knysna to Kosi bay, Saldanha Bay and possibly north to Orange River mouth)[1][2]
  • Blueline herring Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus (Rüppell, 1837) (Algoa Bay to Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Razorbelly or Kelee shadHilsa kelee (Cuvier, 1829) (Transkei to Mozambique and Indo-Pacific)[1][2]
  • Gizzard shad Nematalosa nasus (Bloch, 1795) (off Durban Bay; Gulf of Aden to Hong Kong)[1]
  • Indian pellona Pellona ditchela Valenciennes 1847 (Durban to Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • White sardinelle Sardinella albella (Valenciennes 1847) (Durban to Indo-Pacific, possibly East London)[1]
  • Round sardinelle Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847 (Walvis Bay to Saldanha Bay)[1]
  • Goldstripe sardinelle Sardinella gibbosa (Bleeker, 1849) (Port Alfred to Mozambique)[1][2]
  • Pilchard or Sardine Sardinops sagax (Jenyns, 1842) (Namibia to Mozambique)[1][2]
  • Delicate roundherring Spratelloides delicatulus (Bennett, 1831) (Zululand to Indo-Pacific)[1]

Family: Engraulidae – Anchovies

  • Cape anchovy Temminck & Schlegel, 1846 (Walvis Bay to Mozambique and Indo-Pacific)[1][2]
  • Thorny anchovy (Boulenger, 1900) (Swartkops estuary to northern Mozambique)[1]
  • Indian anchovy Stolephorus indicus (van Hasselt, 1823) (Natal to Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Buccaneer anchovy (Fowler, 1938) (St Lucia, possibly Durban, to Indo-Pacific to Hawaii)[1]
  • Longjaw glassnose (Broussonet, 1782) (Transkei through Indian Ocean to Indonesia and China)[1]
  • Orangemouth glassnose or Bony (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)[2]
  • (Broussonet, 1782)[2]

Superorder Cyclosquamata[]

Order Aulopiformes[]

Suborder:

Family: Alepisauridae – Lancetfishes

  • Omosudis lowei 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)[1]
  • Shortsnout lancetfish Alepisaurus brevirostris Gibbs, 1960 (one specimen from off Algoa Bay; in all major oceans)[1]
  • Longsnout lancetfish Alepisaurus ferox Lowe, 1833 (Walvis Bay to Sodwana Bay; in all major oceans)[1]

Family: Evermannellidae – Sabretooth fishes

  • (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)[1]
  • (Risso, 1820) (4 specimens from off southern Natal, presumed to be circumglobal in transition region of southern oceans)[1]

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

  • Zugmeyer, 1911 (off west coast; south of Cape Agulhas; off Transkei and in Mozambique channel; worldwide between 25°N and 65°S)[1]
  • (Boulenger, 1889) (worldwide in tropical to temperate waters)[1]
  • (Ege, 1933) (Tropical and temperate Atlantic between 45°N and 45°S)[1]
  • (Borodin, 1928) (Tropical to subtropical all oceans)[1]
  • Lestrolepis intermedia (Poey, 1868) (Tropical in all oceans; off South Africa only in Agulhas current)[1]
  • Macroparalepis affinis Ege, 1933 (anti-tropical in Atlantic Ocean)[1]
  • Post, 1973 (South Atlantic sub-tropical convergence area from South Africa to continental slope off South America)[1]
  • (Rofen, 1963) (Circumglobal in southern oceans from 20°S to Antarctic)[1]
  • (Bonaparte, 1840) (worldwide in temperate and tropical waters)[1]
  • (Brauer, 1906) (One specimen from Natal, now missing)[1]
  • Stemonosudis elegans (Ege, 1933) (tropical Indo-Pacific, off South Africa only in Agulhas current)[1]
  • (Ege, 1933) (Tropical waters of Indian and Pacific oceans; Off South Africa only in Agulhas current)[1]
  • Sudis hyalina Rafinesque, 1810 (Atlantic Ocean from 50°N to South Africa)[1]

Family: Scopelarchidae — Pearleyes

  • Zugmayer, 1911 (off south-western Cape; tropical/subtropical in all 3 major oceans)[1]
  • Bussing and Bussing, 1966 (off south-western Cape coast; circumpolar in subantarctic and Antarctic waters)[1]
  • (Brauer, 1902) (Common off southern Africa; tropical/subtropical all oceans)[1]
  • Alcock, 1896 (off Durban; mainly tropical in the Atlantic, tropical/subtropical in Indian and Pacific oceans)[1]
  • Koefoed, 1955 (South-east of Durban;tropical/subtropical in all oceans)[1]

Suborder:

Family: Bathysauropsidae

  • Bathysauropsis gracilis (Günther, 1878) (off Cape Point; circumglobal in southern oceans)[1]

Family: Chlorophthalmidae — Greeneyes

  • Gilchrist, 1904 (both coasts of South Africa)[1] (possibly a synonym of C.agassizii Bonaparte, 1840)

Family: Ipnopidae

  • Bathymicrops regis Hjort and Koefoed, 1912 (once off Port Elizabeth in Agulhas basin)[1]
  • Gilchrist, 1906 (off Cape Point)[1]
  • Alcock, 1889 (off east coast between 22° - 33°S)[1]
  • Parr, 1928 (off Cape Point)[1]
  • Mead, 1959 (off Beira, Durban and Agulhas bank)[1]
  • Garman, 1899 (off Cape Point)[1]

Family: Notosudidae — Notosudids

  • Scopelosaurus ahlstromi Bertelsen, Krefft and Marshall, 1976 (all 3 oceans from about 32° to 45°S)[1]
  • (Waite, 1916) (Southern oceans from about 30° to 60°S)[1]
  • Bertelson, Krefft and Marshall, 1976 (slope areas of Southern Africa)[1]
  • Bertelson, Krefft and Marshall, 1976 (from about 19° to 43°S)[1]
  • Bean, 1925 (mainly tropical, larger juveniles and adults also subtropical in all 3 oceans)[1]

Suborder:

Family: Bathysauridae

  • Bathysaurus ferox Günther, 1878 (off Cape Province; Both sides of Atlantic; off New Zealand)[1]

Family: Giganturidae — Telescopefish

  • (Brauer, 1901) (Tropical/subtropical in all 3 major oceans; Indian Ocean from 35°49'S, 23°09'E northwards)[1]

Suborder:

Family: Synodontidae — Lizardfishes

  • Blotchy lizardfish Saurida gracilis (Quoy and Gaimard, 1824) (Indo-West Pacific to Algoa Bay)[1]
  • Largescale lizardfish Saurida undosquamis (Richardson, 1848) (Indo-West Pacific to Knysna)[1]
  • Spotnose lizardfish Synodus binotatus Schultz, 1953 (Indo-West Pacific, south to Natal)[1]
  • Variegated lizardfish Synodus dermatogenys Fowler, 1912 (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa Bay)[1]
  • Indian lizardfish Synodus indicus (Day, 1873) (Mossel Bay to Red Sea and Sri Lanka)[1]
  • Blacktail lizardfish Russell and Cressey, 1979 (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)[1]
  • Redband lizardfish Synodus variegatus (Lacepède, 1803) (Central KwaZulu-Natal to Red Sea)[1][2]
  • Painted lizardfish Trachinocephalus myops (Forster, 1801) (Tropical and warm temperate waters of all oceans, east coast south to Knysna)[1]

Superorder Elopomorpha[]

Order Albuliformes — Bonefishes[]

Family: Albulidae

  • Bonefish Albula vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) (Algoa Bay to tropics)[1]
Order Anguilliformes — Eels[]

Suborder: Anguilloidei

Family: Anguillidae — Freshwater eels

  • African mottled eel Anguilla bengalensis labiata (Peters, 1852) (Knysna to Kenya)[1]
  • Shortfin eel Anguilla bicolor bicolor McClelland, 1844 (Knysna to Kenya)[1]
  • Madagascar mottled eel Anguilla marmorata Qoy and Gaimard, 1824 (Western Cape to Kenya)[1]
  • Longfin eel Anguilla mossambica (Peters, 1852) (Most waters of the Cape northwards)[1]

Family: Moringuidae — Spaghetti eels

  • Spaghetti eel Moringua microchir (Bleeker, 1853) (Natal to Indo-West Pacific)[1]

Family: Chlopsidae — False morays

Family: Muraenidae — Moray eels

  • Anarchias seychellensis Smith, 1962 (Sodwana Bay)[1]
  • Whiteface moray Echidna leucotaenia Schultz, 1943 (Natal northwards and east to central Pacific)[1]
  • Floral moray Echidna nebulosa (Ahl, 1789) (Port Alfred to Mozambique)[1][2]
  • Barred moray Echidna polyzona (Richardson, 1945) (Natal northwards, Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Blackcheek moray Gymnothorax breedeni McCosker and Randall, 1977 (Sodwana Bay))[1]
  • Lattice-tail moray Gymnothorax buroensis (Bleeker, 1857) (Natal northwards, Indo-Pacific))[1]
  • Tiger moray McCosker and Randall, 1882 (Natal, Indo-Pacific))[1]
  • Salt and pepper moray Gymnothorax eurostus (Abbott, 1861) (Transkei to Bazaruto))[1]
  • Honeycomb moray Gymnothorax favagineus Bloch & Schneider, 1801 (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique))[1][2]
  • Yellow-edged moray Gymnothorax flavimarginatus (Rüppell, 1830) (Transkei northwards, Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Freckled moray Gymnothorax fuscomaculatus (Schultz, 1953) (Natal; Central Pacific)[1]
  • Geometric moray Gymnothorax griseus (Lacepède, 1803) (transkei to Red Sea)[1](syn. Sideria grisea)
  • Whitespotted moray Gymnothorax johnsoni (Smith, 1962) (Algoa Bay to Sodwana Bay)[1]
  • Trunk-eyed moray Gymnothorax margaritophorus (Bleeker, 1865) (Transkei to Bazaruto, Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Blackspot moray Gymnothorax melatremus (Schultz, 1953) (Sodwana Bay)[1]
  • Guineafowl moray Gymnothorax meleagris (Shaw and Nodder, 1795) (Algoa Bay to southern Mozambique; Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Starry moray Gymnothorax nudivomer (Günther, 1867)(Transkei to Zanzibar)[1]
  • Reticulated moray (Smith, 1962) (Transkei to Delagoa Bay)[1]
  • Paintspotted moray Gymnothorax pictus (Ahl, 1789) (Natal to Indo-Pacific)[1](syn. Siderea picta)
  • Leopard moray Gymnothorax undulatus (Lacepède, 1803) (Port Alfred to southern Mozambique; Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Bar-tail moray Gymnothorax zonipectis Seale, 1906 (Sodwana Bay, central Pacific)[1]
  • Zebra moray Gymnomuraena zebra (Shaw, 1797) (Transkei to Mozambique))[1][2](syn. Echidna zebra)
  • Tiger reef-eel Scuticaria tigrina (Lesson, 1828) (Natal to Southern Mozambique; Indo-Pacific)[1](syn. Uropterygius tigrinus(Lesson, 1829))
  • Slender giant moray Strophidon sathete (Hamilton, 1822) (Bashee River to tropical Indo-Pacific)[1](syn. Thyrsoidea macrura (Bleeker, 1854))
  • Uniform reef-eel Uropterygius concolor Rüppell, 1838 (Durban to Red Sea)[1]
  • Barlip reef eel Uropterygius kamar McCosker and Randall, 1977 (Sodwana Bay; Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Shortfinned reef eel Uropterygius micropterus (Bleeker, 1852) (Durban northwards; Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Freckleface reef eel Uropterygius xanthopterus Bleeker, 1859 (Sodwana Bay to southern Mozambique: Indo-Pacific)[1]

Suborder: Congroidei

Family: Congridae — Conger eels

  • Blunt-tooth conger Ariosoma mauritianum (Pappenheim, 1914) (Natal to Indo-West Pacific)[1]
  • Tropical conger Ariosoma scheelei (Stromman, 1896) (Natal to Mozambique and Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Hairy conger Bassanago albescens (Barnard, 1923) (Cape Point)[1]
  • Bathyuroconger vicinus (Vaillant, 1888) (off Cape Point)[1]
  • Coloconger scholesi Chan, 1967 (Natal to southern Mozambique)[1]
  • Blackedged conger Conger cinereus Rüppell, 1830 (Mossel Bay to Mozambique)[1][2]
  • Cape conger Conger wilsoni (Bloch and Schneider 1801) (Cape to southern Mozambique)[1]
  • Southern conger Gnathophis capensis (Kaup, 1856) (False Bay to Plettenberg Bay)[1]
  • Strap conger Gnathophis habenatus (Richardson, 1848) (Southern Cape to East London)[1]
  • Rhechias wallacei (Castle, 1968) (Natal to southern Mozambique)
  • Longtail conger Uroconger lepturus (Richardson, 1854) (Natal to Red Sea and Indo-Pacific)[1]

Family: Derichthyidae — Longneck eels

  • Derichthys serpentinus Gill, 1884 (west of Cape Town; worldwide)[1]
  • Nessorhamphus ingolfianus (Schmidt, 1912) (off the Cape, also worldwide)[1]

Family: Muraenesocidae — Pike congers

  • Pike conger Muraenesox bagio (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Knysna to Indo-Pacific)[1]

Family: Nettastomatidae — Witch eels

  • Venefica proboscidea (Vaillant, 1888) (off the Cape)[1]

Family: Ophichthidae — Snake-eels and worm-eels

  • Snake eel Apterichtus klazingai (Weber. 1913) (off Durban; Indonesia and western Pacific)[1]
  • Longtailed sand-eel Bascanichthys kirkii (Günther, 1870) (Natal to Aden)[1]

Crocodile snake-eel Brachysomophis crocodilinus (Bennett, 1833) (Natal, Tanzania, Seychelles, Mauritius and Indo-Pacific)[1]

  • Marbled snake-eel Callechelys marmorata (Bleeker, 1853) (Natal to central Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Fringelip snake-eel Cirrhimuraena playfairii (Günther, 1870) (Kosi Bay to Zanzibar)[1]
  • Sharpnose sand-eel Ichthyapus acuticeps (Barnard, 1923) (Durban to Zululand)[1]
  • Finny sand-eel Lamnostoma orientalis (McClelland, 1844) (Natal)[1]
  • Halfbanded snake-eel Leiuranus semicinctus (Lay and Bennett, 1839) (Knysna to Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Ocellated snake-eel Myrichthys maculosus (Cuvier, 1816) (Port Alfred to Kenya, Indo-Pacific and eastern PacificM)[1][2]
  • Bluntnose snake-eel Ophichthus apicalis (Bennett, 1830) (St Francis Bay to Kenya, Madagascar and Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Slender snake-eel Ophichthus bennettai McCosker, 1986 (Cape Province west coast)[1]
  • Saddled snake-eel Ophichthus erabo (Jordan and Snyder, 1901) (off Durban; Indo-Pacific to Hawaii)[1]
  • Shorthead snake-eel Ophichthus marginatus (Peters, 1855) (Knysna; Aldabra to Inhaca)[1]
  • Plain snake-eel Ophichthus unicolor Regan, 1908 (Algoa Bay)[1]
  • Sand snake-eel Ophisurus serpens (Linnaeus 1766) (Angola to southern Mozambique)[1]
  • Estuary snake-eel Pisodonophis boro (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Knysna to Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Longfin snake-eel Pisodonophis cancrivorus (Richardson, 1844) (Algoa Bay to Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Slender worm-eel Scolecenchelys gymnota (Bleeker, 1857) (Bredasdorp to Zululand, east Africa to central Pacific)[1](syn. Muraenichthys gymnotus Bleeker, 1864)
  • Redfin worm-eel Scolecenchelys laticaudata (Ogilby, 1897) (East London to Indo-Pacific)[1](syn. Muraenichthys laticaudata (Ogilby, 1897)
  • Orangehead worm-eel Scolecenchelys xorae (Smith, 1958) (Algoa Bay to Natal)[1](syn. Muraenichthys xorae Smith, 1958)
  • Earthworm snake-eel (Bleeker 1853) (off Durban; Northern Australia and Indo Pacific)[1]
  • Thin sand-eel Yirrkala tenuis (Günther, 1870)(Natal to southern Mozambique, Red Sea and possibly Mauritius)[1]

Suborder: Nemichthyoidei

Family: Nemichthyidae — Snipe eels

Family: Serrivomeridae — Sawtooth eels

  • Serrivomer beanii Gill and Ryder, 1883 (off Cape and Natal)[1]

Suborder: Synaphobranchoidei

Family: Synaphobranchidae — Cutthroat eels

  • Diastobranchus capensis Barnard, 1923 (off Cape Point)[1]
  • Arrowtooth eel Dysomma anguillare Barnard, 1923 (Off Tugela river, Natal)[1]
  • Histiobranchus bathybius (Günther, 1877) (off Durban)[1]
  • Ilyophis brunneus Gilbert, 1892 (Off the Cape)[1]
  • Simenchelys parasitica Gill, 1879 (off the Cape)[1]
  • Synaphobranchus affinis Günther, 1877 (off Durban)[1]
  • Synaphobranchus kaupii Johnson, 1862 (off the Cape)[1]
Order Elopiformes[]

Family: Elopidae — Ladyfishes

  • Atlantic ladyfish Elops lacerta Valenciennes, 1846 (Atlantic coast to 23°S)[1]
  • Ladyfish or Springer Elops machnata (Forsskål, 1775) (Mossel Bay to Mozambique)[1][2]

Family: Megalopidae — Tarpons

  • Oxeye tarpon Megalops cyprinoides (Broussonet, 1782) (Port Alfred to Mozambique)[1][2]
Order Notacanthiformes[]

Family: Halosauridae — Halosaurs

  • (Günther, 1877) (Both coasts of SA; cicumglobal tropical and temperate)[1]
  • Aldrovandia phalacra (Vaillant, 1888) (off Cape Point)[1]
  • Halosauropsis macrochir (Günther, 1878) (off Cape Point)[1]
  • Halosaurus ovenii Johnson, 1863 (off Cape Point to Walvis Bay)[1]

Family: Notacanthidae — Spiny eels

  • Notacanthus sexspinis Richardson, 1846 (Walvis Bay to Durban)[1]
  • (Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924) (off Cape Point)[1]
  • Polyacanthonotus rissoanus (De Filippi & Verany, 1857) (off Cape Point to Table Bay)[1]
Order Saccopharyngiformes[]

Familia: Cyematidae — Arrow eels

  • Cyema atrum Günther, 1878 (Off southwest coast)[1]
  • Neocyema erythrosoma Castle, 1978 (west of Cape Town)[1]

Superorder Lampridiomorpha[]

Order Lampridiformes[]

Family: Lamprididae — Opahs (Lampridae in Smiths)

  • Spotted opah Lampris guttatus (Brünnich, 1788) (all oceans but not in polar waters, occurs throughout Soath African waters, usually well offshore)[1]
  • Southern opah Lampris immaculatus Gilchrist, 1904 (Circumglobal south of 30°S)[1]

Family: Lophotidae — Crestfishes

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

Family: Radiicephalidae — Tapertail

Family: Regalecidae — Oarfishes

  • Streamer fish Agrostichthys parkeri Giorna, 1809 (Southeast Atlantic, New Zealand and Tasmania)[1]
  • Oarfish Ascanius, 1772 (worldwide distribution)[1]

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)[1]

Family: Trachipteridae — Ribbonfishes

  • Polka-dot ribbonfish (Ogilby, 1897) (1 juvenile washed ashore at Xora river and 1 found at Simon's Town, False Bay)[1]
  • Blacktail ribbonfish (Ramsay, 1881) (East London and off Cape Town)[1]
  • Peregrine ribbonfish Trachipterus trachypterus (Gmelin, 1789) (off Table Bay)[1]
  • Scalloped ribbonfish Zu cristatus (prejuveniles collected at Luderitz, Algoa bay and Durban)[1]
  • Taper tail ribbonfish (Heemstra and Kannemeyer, 1984) (4 specimens trawled off the western Cape coast)[1]

Superorder Ostariophysi[]

Order Gonorynchiformes[]

Family: Chanidae

  • Milkfish Chanos chanos (Forsskål, 1775) (Krom river to tropical Indo-West Pacific)[1][2]

Family: Gonorynchidae — Beaked sandfish

  • Beaked sandfish Gonorynchus gonorynchus (Linnaeus 1766) (Cape of Good Hope)[1][3]
Order Siluriformes — Catfishes[]

Family: Ariidae – Sea catfishes

  • Black seacatfish Galeichthys ater Castelnau, 1861 (South coast to Port Alfred)[1][2]
  • White seacatfish Galeichthys feliceps Valenciennes, 1840 (Walvis Bay to Natal)[1][2]
  • Natal Seacatfish (Transkei to Mozambique)[2]

Family: Plotosidae — Eel catfishes

  • Striped eel-catfish Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg, 1787) (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)[1][2]
  • Eel-catfish Gomon & Taylor, 1982 (Knysna to Kosi Bay)[1][2]

Superorder Paracanthopterygii[]

Order Batrachoidiformes[]

Family: Batrachoididae — Toadfishes

  • Puzzled toadfish Austrobatrachus foedus (Smith, 1947) (Algoa Bay to Coffee Bay, Transkei)[1]
  • White-ribbed toadfish Smith, 1934 (1 specimen, Great Fish Point)[1]
  • Snakehead toadfish (Valenciennes, 1837) (Saldanha Bay to Umtata River, Transkei)[2]
  • Pleated toadfish Smith, 1952 (Cape to Port Alfred)[1]
  • Chocolate toadfish Smith, 1952 (Port Alfred to Storms River Mouth)[1]
  • Broadbodied toadfish Riekertia ellisi Smith, 1952 (Durban to Port St. Johns)[1]
Order Gadiformes[]

Family: Bregmacerotidae — Codlets

  • Bregmaceros atlanticus Goode and Bean, 1886 (Off south Cape and Natal coasts; Circumtropical)[1]
  • Thompson, 1840 (from Cape eastwards; circumtropical but not known from east Pacific)[1]
  • Whitley, 1941 (Cape eastwards to tropical Indo-West Pacific; Tropical eastern Atlantic)[1]

Family: Gadidae — Cods

  • Cape rockling (Kaup, 1858) (Cape Town to East London)[1]
  • Comb rockling Sivertsen, 1945 (Cape Peninsula and West coast)[1]

Family: Macrouridae — Grenadiers

  • Goode and Bean, 1886 (off Cape Town)[1]
  • Vaillant, 1888 (Table Bay and Natal coast. Unverified, specimens missing)[1]
  • (cf. favosus Goode and Bean) (Mozambique and Agulhas Bank)[1]
  • Barnard, 1925 (off Namibia to Cape Point)[1]
  • Barnard, 1925 (Saldanha and Table Bay, Cape Point, East London; Angola to Mozambique)[1]
  • Regan, 1921 (Natal coast to Tanzania)[1]
  • (Günther, 1878) (off south coast)[1]
  • (Alcock, 1894) (Indian Ocean. specimens from southern Africa differ somewhat from those off India an may be a different species)[1]
  • Coelorinchus matamua (McCann & McKnight, 1980) (apparently abundant off South Africa, also found off New Zealand and southern Australia)[1] (syn. Mahia matamua McCann and McKnight, 1980)
  • Coryphaenoides armatus (Hector, 1875) (abyssal, all oceans except Arctic. One Atlantic record off South Africa)[1]
  • Barnard, 1925 (off Cape Point)[1]
  • Coryphaenoides subserrulatus Makushok, 1976 (Agulhas bank)[1]
  • (Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924) (Table Bay to Mozambique)[1]
  • Günther, 1878 (Cape Point and Prince Edward Island; also off New Zealand and southwestern Australia)[1]
  • Malacocephalus laevis (Lowe, 1843) (off South Africa; widespread in Atlantic and Indian oceans)[1]
  • Hubbs and Iwamoto, 1977 (off south coast of SA; New Zealand, eastern Indian Ocean and Madagascar plateau)[1]
  • (Barnard, 1925) (Cape Point; Known only off the Cape, where it is common)[1]
  • (Barnard, 1925) (off Cape Point); Namibia; southwestern Atlantic)[1]
  • Trachyrincus scabrus (Rafinesque, 1810) (Namibia, west coast of South Africa; eastern North Atlantic and Mediterranean sea)[1]
  • Gilbert and Hubbs, 1920 (off East London, Durban, Natal and southern Mozambique)[1]
  • (Smith, 1935) (Durban to Mozambique)[1]
  • (Smith, 1968) (off Agulhas bank, Durban and East London)[1]

Family: Melanonidae — Melanonids

  • Melanonus gracilis Günther, 1878 (Circum-Antarctic south of Subtropical convergence; off Cape Peninsula)[1]

Family: Merlucciidae — Hakes

  • Lyconodes argenteus (Gilchrist, 1922) (west of Cape of Good Hope)[1]
  • Straptail Davies, 1950 (off Algoa Bay)[1]
  • Shallow water hake Merluccius capensis Castelnau, 1861 (Namibia to East London)[2]
  • Deep water hake Merluccius paradoxus Franca, 1960 (Cape Frio to East London)[2]

Family: Moridae — Deepsea cods

  • Antimora rostrata (Günther, 1878) (Locally abundant, found in most oceans)[2]
  • (Gilchrist, 1904) (2 small specimens off Transkei)[2]
  • Gilchrist, 1906 (off south-western Cape coast)[2]
  • Gilchrist, 1922 (Cape to East London)[2]
  • Gilchrist, 1922 (continental slope off Natal)[2]
  • Gilchrist, 1922 (Cape Peninsula to East London)[2]
  • Gilchrist, 1922 (upper slope off Natal)[2]
  • Tripterophycis gilchristi Boulenger, 1902 (upper slope off the Cape and Durban)[2]
Order Lophiiformes — Anglerfishes[]

Suborder:

Family: Antennariidae — Anglers

  • Freckled angler 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)[1]
  • Big angler (Latreille, 1804) (Natal, Red Sea and tropical Indo-West Pacific to Hawaiian islands)[1]
  • Shaggy angler Antennarius hispidus (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) (Indo-West Pacific, south to Knysna)[1]
  • Painted angler Antennarius pictus (Shaw and Nodder, 1794) (Durban to Zanzibar and tropical Indo-West Pacific to Hawaii)[1][2]
  • Striped angler Antennarius striatus (Shaw and Nodder, 1794) (Algoa Bay through Indo-West Pacific to Hawaiian islands)[1]
  • Pygmy angler (Cuvier, 1817) (Natal, Maputo, Madagascar, Aldabra islands, and throughout Indo-West Pacific including Hawaiian and Line islands, and Taumotu Archipelago to Pitcairn island)[1][2]
  • Sargassum fish Histrio histrio (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cape Point to Mozambique)[1][2]

Suborder: Lophioidei

Family: Lophiidae — Monks

  • Natal monk (Regan, 1921) (Natal to northern Madagascar)[1]
  • (Alcock, 1893) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)[1]
  • Lophiomus setigerus (Vahl, 1797) (Indo-West Pacific south to False Bay)[1]
  • Monk Smith, 1841 (off Cape of Good Hope; Eastern South Atlantic and South western Indian Ocean off South Africa)[1]
  • (Valenciennes, 1837) (off Cape of Good Hope; Bay of Bengal off Burma)[1]

Suborder:

Superfamily: Ceratioidea

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)[1]
  • Ceratias tentaculatus (Norman, 1930) (Specimens from off Dealagoa bay, off southern Natal, off Saldanha bay. Throughout southern oceans)[1]
  • Cryptopsaras couesii Gill, 1883 (off Cape of Good Hope, all major oceans)[1]

Family: Himantolophidae — Footballfish

  • Himantolophus groenlandicus Reinhardt, 1837 (all major oceans)[1]

Family: Linophrynidae — Dwarf anglers

  • Bertelsen, 1980 (1 specimen off Port Alfred)[1]
  • Balushkin and Trunov, 1988 (1 specimen off Hondeklipbaai on west coast)[1]

Family: Melanocetidae — Devil-anglers

  • Melanocetus johnsonii Günther, 1864 (off all coasts of South Africa; all major oceans)[1]

Superfamily: Chaunacioidea

Family: Chaunacidae — Coffinfishes

  • McCulloch, 1915 (Natal and Southern Mozambique)[1]
  • Chaunax pictus Lowe, 1846 (Knysna to Natal)[1]

Superfamily: Ogcocephalioidea

Family: Ogcocephalidae — Seabats

  • Gilbert, 1905 (Off Natal; Hawaii)[1]
  • Circular seabat (Gilchrist and Thompson, 1916) (Plettenberg bay to Tugela river, Natal)[1]
  • Hairy seabat Regan, 1908 (Tropical Indian Ocean; off Natal)[1]
  • Spiny seabat Smith, 1965 (1 specimen, Isipingo, Natal)[1]
  • Halieutopsis micropus (Alcock, 1891) (off Durban; South Africa to Philippines)[1]
  • Longnose seabat Alcock, 1891 (off Knysna; Eastern Indian Ocean and Japan)[1]
  • Gilbert and Cramer, 1897 (Natal to the Philippines, Japan and Hawaii)[1]
  • Spearnose seabat Jordan, 1902 (Natal and Japan)[1]
Order Ophidiiformes[]

Family: Aphyonidae — Aphyonids

  • Nielsen, 1969 (1 specimen 34°09'S, 30°45'E)[1]
  • Aphyonus gelatinosus Günther, 1878 (1 specimen off Natal, all oceans)[1]
  • Goode and Bean, 1886 (off Cape Point, specimen lost, identification dubious)[1]
  • Shcherbachev, 1976 (off Durban, northern Madagascar and Japan)[1]

Family: Bythitidae — Bythitids or Brotulas

  • Freetail brotula Bidenichthys capensis Barnard, 1934 ((East London to the Cape)[1]
  • Cohen, 1981 (1 specimen off Saldanha Bay)[1]
  • Cohen, 1981 (2 specimens from off the Cape)[1]
  • Orange brotula (Smith, 1943) (Algoa bay to Port Alfred)[1]
  • Lesser orange brotula Cohen, 1966 (Saldanha Bay to Algoa Bay)[1]
  • Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924 (Off Natal)[1]
  • Bighead brotula (Smith, 1934) (Port Alfred and off Storms River Mouth)

Family: Carapidae — Pearlfishes

  • Star pearlfish Carapus mourlani (Petit, 1934) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)[1]
  • Giant pearlfish Encheliophis boraborensis (Kaup 1856) (Indo-West Pacific to Natal)[1]
  • Speckled pearlfish (Bleeker, 1856) (Indo-West Pacific to Natal)[1]
  • Eel pearlfish (Matsubara, 1953) (Japan, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, southeastern Pacific, Mozambique and South Africa)[1]
  • Pearlfish Onuxodon fowleri (Smith, 1955) (Indo-West Pacific from Durban to Hawaii)[1]
  • Oyster pearlfish (Fowler, 1927) (Indo-West Pacific south to Durban)[1]
  • Dogtooth pearlfish (Regan, 1914) (New Zealand, Australia and South Africa (one adult from off East London))[1]

Family: Ophidiidae — Cuskeels

  • Goode and Bean, 1896 (1 specimen off Agulhas Bank)[1]
  • Bassozetus robustus Smith and Radcliffe, 1913 (One specimen off Natal)[1]
  • Brotula multibarbata Temminck and Schlegel, 1846 (Red Sea to Port Alfred and east to central Pacific)[1]
  • Parr, 1934 (Tropical Atlantic off South Africa and southwest Indian Ocean)[1]
  • (Alcock, 1889) (Off Table Bay and east coast of South Africa)[1]
  • Epetriodus freddyi Cohen and Nielsen, 1978 (between about 18° and 35°S in western Indian Ocean)
  • Kingklip Genypterus capensis (Smith, 1847) (Walvis Bay to Algoa Bay)[1][2]
  • (Smith and Radcliffe, 1913) (3 specimens from off east coast)[1]
  • False Kingklip Regan, 1921 (Natal)[1]
  • Lamprogrammus niger Alcock, 1891 (off Natal, probably circumtropical)[1]
  • Luciobrotula bartschi (Smith and Radcliffe, 1913) (one specimen trawled off Natal; known from Hawaii, Philippines and western Indian Ocean))[1]
  • (Alcock, 1889) (Eleven specimens from off Natal; several localities in Indian Ocean)[1]
  • Black-edged cuskeel Barnard, 1927 (Algoa Bay to Natal coast)[1]
  • (Fowler, 1934) (Red Sea to Natal)[1]
  • (Vaillant, 1888) (one specimen off the Cape)[1]
  • Goode and bean, 1886 (One specimen off the Cape; relatively common both sides of the Atlantic; also recorded from Indian Ocean)[1]
  • Selachophidium guentheri Gilchrist, 1903 (Angola to Mozambique)[1]
  • Spectrunculus grandis (Günther, 1877) (a few specimens off west coast of South Africa; also known from Japan)

Family: Parabrotulidae — False brotulas

  • Zugmayer, 1811 (off East London; Both sides North Atlantic)[1]

Superorder Polymixiomorpha[]

Order Polymixiiformes[]

Family: Polymixiidae — Beardfishes

  • Pacific beardfish Polymixia berndti Gilbert, 1905 (Off Natal, Kenya, Philippines, Japan and Hawaii)[1]

Superorder Protacanthopterygii[]

Order Argentiniformes[]

Suborder: Alepocephaloidei

Family: Alepocephalidae — Slickheads

  • Barnard 1923 (Off Cape Point; apparently widely distributed in temperate waters of southern hemisphere)[1]
  • Rouleina maderensis Maul, 1948 (3 specimens from off South Africa)[1]
  • Sazonov & Ivanov, 1980 (One specimen from 24°55'S, 35°40'E)[1]
  • Xenodermichthys copei (Gill, 1884) (common off South Africa)[1]

Family: Leptochilichthyidae

  • (Vaillant, 1886) (one specimen from off South Africa 36°40'S, 20°10E)[1]

Suborder: Argentinoidei

Family: Argentinidae — Argentines

  • Cohen, 1961 (Natal to Kenya)[1]

Family: Opisthoproctidae — Barreleyes

  • Rhynchohyalus natalensis (Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924) (off Cape Town to Bermuda)[1]

Family: Microstomatidae

  • (Gilchrist, 1922) (off Natal; West of Cape Peninsula)[1]

Subfamily: — Deep sea smelts

  • (Borodin, 1929) (off Cape Town; Throughout tropical and subtropical seas)[1]

Superorder Scopelomorpha — Lanternfishes[]

Order Myctophiformes[]

Family: Myctophidae — Lanternfishes

  • Benthosema fibulatum (Gilbert and Cramer, 1897) (Indian Ocean (18°N - 20°S), to 42°S in Agulhas current)[1]
  • Benthosema suborbitale (Gilbert, 1913) (tropical distribution in 3 major oceans, extensions to 50°S and 50°N in western boundary currents)[1]
  • (Nafpaktitis and Nafpaktitis, 1969) (Indian Ocean (20° - 45°S); Atlantic (20° - 50°N and 20° - 40°S))[1]
  • (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)[1]
  • (Günther, 1873) (Atlantic (40°N - 36°S); Indian Ocean (08° - 34°S) and off Chile and New Zealand)[1]
  • Ceratoscopelus warmingii (Lütken, 1892) (Atlantic(42°N - 40°S); Indian Ocean (20°N - 45°S);tropical/subtropical Pacific)[1]
  • Tåning, 1928 (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets; broadly tropical in Atlantic and Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Tåning, 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)[1]
  • (Bleeker, 1856) (off west coast as pseudoceanic pelagic species southward to 23°S)[1]
  • Diaphus effulgens (Goode and Bean, 1896) (off all SA coasts)[1]
  • (Gilbert, 1906)(east coast continental shelf/slope southwards to about 26°S)[1]
  • (Zubrigg and Scott, 1976) (From 18°S off west coast to 27°S off east coast)[1]
  • Tåning, 1932 (one record at 33°49'S, 27°48'E; Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • (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)[1]
  • (Brauer, 1904) (In Agulhas current to 37°S. Atlantic (42°N - 11°S) also Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Nafpaktitis, 1978 (In upwelled waters off west coast northwards to at least 21°S. Circumglobal convergence species (32° - 41°S))[1]
  • Cocco, 1829 South of 29°S off west coast and 27°S off east coast. Mediterranean, Atlantic, Indo-West Pacific)[1]
  • Tåning, 1928 (off all SA coasts, Broadly tropical distribution in all major oceans)[1]
  • 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)[1]
  • Tåning, 1932 (off west coast northwards to about 23°S; Circumglobal convergence species (35° - 45°S))[1]
  • Tåning, 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))[1]
  • (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)[1]
  • 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)[1]
  • Tåning, 1932 (Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets)[1]
  • (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)[1]
  • 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)[1]
  • Jordan and Starks, 1904 (Over east coast continental shelf/slope southwards to about 30°S)[1]
  • Diogenichthys atlanticus (Tåning, 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)[1]
  • Bolin, 1946 (In Agulhas current to about 38°S and in Indian Ocean (19°N - 05°S))[1]
  • 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))[1]
  • Whitley, 1943 (Off east and west coasts, south of 30°S. Convergence species in all 3 oceans (30° - 40°S))[1]
  • (Lönnberg, 1905) (Circumglobal between Subtropical convergence and Antarctica)[1]
  • Gymnoscopelus piabilis (Whitley, 1931) (off west coast in Benguela upwelling region)[1]
  • (Tåning, 1932) (From 30°S on west coast to 33°S on east coast. Convergence species (30° to 43°S) in all 3 oceans)[1]
  • (Lütken, 1892) (West of Cape Peninsula and off east coast (25° - 37°S))[1]
  • Bekker, 1965) (South to about 37°S in Agulhas current; Indian Ocean (25°N - 10°S))[1]
  • (Garman, 1899) (In Agulhas current. In all 3 oceans (20°N - 20°S) with extensions into higher latitudes in western boundary currents)[1]
  • Nafpaktitis and Paxton, 1968 (Off east coast and cape peninsula; convergence species in all 3 oceans)[1]
  • 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))[1]
  • Onderbaadjie Lampanyctodes hectoris (Common in Benguela uprising region)[1]
  • Andriashev, 1962 (Southern Benguela upwelling region, off south and east coasts, north to about 31°S)[1]
  • Lampanyctus alatus Goode and Bean, 1896 (Off all South African coasts; Atlantic (46°N - 38°S), Indian Ocean (0° - 39°S)[1]
  • Tåning, 1928 (Off all South African coasts; Atlantic (58° - 17°N and 15° - 40°S) and Indian Ocean (12° - 44°S))[1]
  • Lampanyctus australis Tåning, 1932 (Off all South African coasts; Circumglobal convergence species(33° - 43°S with northern extension to about 27°S in eastern boundary currents))[1]
  • Lampanyctus festivus Tåning, 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.)[1]
  • Lampanyctus intricarius Tåning, 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)[1]
  • Lampanyctus lepidolychnus Bekker, 1967 (off all South African coasts, circumglobal convergence species (23° - 48°S))[1]
  • Tåning, 1928 (Taken once at 34°12'S, 16°35'E)[1]
  • Lampanyctus macdonaldi (Goode and Bean, 1896) (West of Cape Peninsula, Circumglobal between subtropical convergence and Antarctic polar front)[1]
  • Lampanyctus nobilis Tåning, 1928 (In agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets. Atlantic (40°N - 21°S), Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Lampanyctus pusillus (Johnson, 1890) (Off all South African coasts. Bisubtropical species in all major oceans)[1]
  • 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)[1]
  • Lampichthys procerus (Brauer, 1904) (Off Cape Peninsula, circumglobal convergence species (32° - 48°S) with extensions into lower latitudes in eastern boundary currents)[1]
  • (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))[1]
  • Lobianchia gemellarii (Cocco, 1838) (off all South African coasts. Worldwide in tropical/subtropical waters.)[1]
  • Metelectrona ventralis (Bekker, 1063) (West of Cape Peninsula in Southern Benguela upwelling region; Curcumglobal subantarctic species (36°-51°S))[1]
  • Myctophum asperum Richardson, 1845 (off east coast and in Agulhas water pockets off west coast.)[1]
  • Myctophum aurolaternatum Garman, 1899 (in Agulhas current south to about 31°S)[1]
  • Myctophum nitidulum Garman, 1809 (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets)[1]
  • Myctophum obtusirostre Tåning, 1928 (In Agulhas current and off west coast in pockets of Agulhas water)[1]
  • Myctophum phengodes (Lütken, 1892) (Off all South African coasts)[1]
  • Myctophum selenops Tåning, 1928 (West of Cape Peninsula in Agulhas water pockets)[1]
  • Myctophum spinosum (Steindachner, 1867) (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets)[1]
  • Notolychnus valdiviae (Brauer, 1904) (off all South African coasts)[1]
  • Notoscopelus caudispinosus (Johnson, 1863) (in Agulhas current south to 34°S. Broadly tropical in Atlantic (42°N - 37°S) and Indian oceans)[1]
  • Notoscopelus resplendens (Richardson, 1845) (off all South African coasts)[1]
  • Protomyctophum subparallelum Tåning, 1932 (off west coast at Vema seamount, Circumglobal in region of subtropical convergence with northern extension to 30°S in eastern boundary currents)[1]
  • Protomyctophum normani Tåning, 1932 (once west of Slangkop lighthouse; Circumglobal convergence species (36° - 43°S))[1]
  • Scopelopsis multipunctatus Brauer, 1906 (off all South African coasts)[1]
  • Symbolophorus barnardi (Tåning, 1932) (occurs off all South African coasts)[1]
  • Symbolophorus boops (Richardson, 1845) (Southern Benguela upwelling region north to 25°S; circumglobal in and south of subtropical convergence)[1]
  • Symbolophorus evermanni (Gilbert, 1905) (Agilhas current south to about 33°S; tropical Indo-Pacific)[1]
  • Taaningichthys bathyphilus (Tåning, 1928) (off east coast (30° - 33°S); widespread in all three oceans)[1]
  • Taaningichthys minimus (Tåning, 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)[1]
  • (Brauer, 1904) (In Agulhas current south to about 40°S; Indian Ocean (08°N - 15°S) and Pacific Ocean (30°N - 30°S))[1]

Family: Neoscopelidae — Blackchins

  • Neoscopelus macrolepidotus Johnson, 1863 (off Natal between 27° and 30°S)[1]
  • Matsubara, 1943 (one record off Natal (27°45'S, 32°44'E), both sides of the Atlantic and western Pacific)[1]
  • Alcock, 1890 (one record at 33°25'S, 27°54'E; also all 3 major oceans)[1]

Superorder Stenopterygii[]

Order Ateleopodiformes[]

Family: Ateleopodidae — Tadpole fishes

  • Regan, 1921 (Cape to Red sea)[1]
  • Osorio, 1917 (West coast of Africa from Cabo Blanco to the Cape)[1]
  • Roule, 1922 (Morocco to Cape Peninsula)[1]
Order Stomiiformes[]

Suborder:

Family: Gonostomatidae — Bristlemouths

  • Cyclothone acclinidens Garman, 1899 (off Cape Point; tropical/subtropical in all three major oceans)[1]
  • Cyclothone alba Brauer, 1906 (off Saldanha; all three major oceans)[1]
  • Cyclothone microdon (Günther, 1878) (inshore from Saldanha to Mossel Bay; All 3 major oceans)[1]
  • Cyclothone pallida Brauer, 1902 (all three major oceans)[1]
  • Cyclothone pseudopallida Mukhacheva, 1964 (Off Cape Agulhas; all three major oceans)[1]
  • Diplophos rebainsi Krefft and Parin, 1972 (off south western Cape coast; Southern Atlantic and south-eastern Pacific Oceans)[1]
  • Günther, 1873 (all three major oceans; all around SA coast)[1]
  • Norman, 1930 ( 25°26'S, 38°11'E and 39°01'S, 20°04'E; tropical/subtropical all oceans)[1]
  • Gonostoma bathyphilum (Vaillant, 1886) (off Cape Point; temperate/subtropical Atlantic and Pacific oceans)[1]
  • Rafinesque, 1810 (Temperate/subtropical Atlantic; off Southern Africa to ca. 37°S)[1]
  • Günther, 1878 (off Saldanha; all three major oceans)[1]
  • Margrethia obtusirostra Jespersen & Tåning, 1919 (off Cape Agulhas and 25°26'S, 38°11'E; all three major oceans)[1]
  • Parin, 1982 (off South Africa (c. 37°S, 20°;E -20°W; probably part of fauna)[1]

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)[1]
  • Phosichthys argenteus Hutton, 1873 (South-east Atlantic, south-east of Cape Agulhas and off Natal coast)[1]
  • Polymetme corythaeola (Alcock, 1898) (off Natal; all three major oceans)[1]
  • Vinciguerria attenuata (Cocco, 1838) (off Cape Point; all three major oceans)[1]
  • Vinciguerria nimbaria (Jordan and Williams, 1896) (tropical/subtropical waters in all three major oceans; East London to Delagoa Bay)[1]

Family: Sternoptychidae — Hatchetfishes

Subfamily:

  • Maurolicus muelleri (Gmelin, 1788) (all oceans, more common in colder regions)[1]
  • (Esmark, 1871) (all oceans, tropical, subtropical and temperate waters)[1]

Subfamily: Sternoptychinae

  • Argyropelecus aculeatus Valenciennes, 1849 (worldwide in tropical and temperate seas)[1]
  • Argyropelecus gigas Norman, 1930 (Southeast of Cape of Good Hope; Indian Ocean to 40°S and south Atlantic to 38°S)[1]
  • Argyropelecus hemigymnus Cocco, 1829 (worldwide distribution, common on SA waters to 35°S)[1]
  • Polyipnus indicus Schultz, 1961 (east coast from 30°S to 5°N)[1]
  • Sternoptyx diaphana Hermann, 1981 (worldwide in tropical and temperate seas)[1]
  • Borodulina, 1977 (Indian Ocean south of 35°S; circumglobal in Southern Ocean; Benguela current)[1]

Family: Stomiidae

Subfamily: — Snaggletooths

  • Gilchrist, 1902 (southeast of Cape Point, Circumpolar between 30° and 40°S)[1]
  • Brauer, 1902 (Circumglobal in tropical waters, Taken between 33° and 35°S on Atlantic side)[1]
  • Klunzinger, 1871 (Indonesia to Red Sea and south to Durban)[1]
  • (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)[1]
  • Neonesthes capensis (Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924) (off South Africa, Subtropical/temperate waters of all oceans)[1]

Subfamily: — Sawtail-fishes

  • Idiacanthus atlanticus Brauer, 1906 (Circumglobal between about 26°S and Subtropical convergence[1]
  • Peters, 1877 (off east coast and in Agulhas water pockets in eastern south Atlantic. 24°-26°S)[1]

Subfamily: — Loosejaws

  • Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (Taken once on Atlantic side, once on Indian Ocean side of the area, occurs in all three major oceans)[1]
  • Malacosteus niger Ayres, 1848 (Tropical and subtropical in all three major oceans)[1]

Subfamily: — Scaleless dragonfishes

  • (Welsh, 1923) (single specimen from off Cape Town; North Atlantic, Indian and pacific oceans)[1]
  • (Pappenheim, 1914) (off Cape Town; occurs widely in all three major oceans)[1]
  • Giglioli, 1884 (Off Cape Town and off Port Elizabeth to Mozambique channel)[1]
  • Echiostoma barbatum Lowe, 1843 (Southeast of Algoa Bay and off Cape Town; widespread in tropical/subtropical waters of all oceans)[1]
  • Gibbs, 1960 (south and west of Cape of Good Hope; Tropical Indian and Pacific oceans)[1]
  • (Gilchrist, 1906) (off Cape Point; tropical and subtropical Atlantic)[1]
  • Gibbs, Clarke and Gomon, 1983 (off Cape Town)[1]
  • Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (2 specimens from south west of Cape of Good Hope; Tropical/subtropical Atlantic)[1]
  • Eustomias schmidti Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (off Cape Town; occurs widely in all three major oceans)[1]
  • Eustomias trewavasae Norman, 1930 (circumglobal between about 33° and 40°S)[1]
  • Leptostomias gladiator (Zugmayer, 1911) (Tropical, subtropical and temperate Atlantic, also Indian and Pacific oceans)[1]
  • Parr, 1927 (once off Cape Columbine; widespread in Atlantic and southern Indian oceans)[1]
  • Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924 (widespread in Atlantic between 20° and 50°S)[1]
  • Brauer, 1902 (off Cape Town and northeast of Durban; all three major oceans)[1]
  • (Günther, 1878) (northwest of Cape Town; occurs across the Atlantic, Pacific and possibly Indian Ocean south of about 33°S)[1] (syn. Opostomias gibsonpacei Barnard, 1948)
  • Pachystomias microdon (Günther, 1878) (off Western Cape coast; widespread in all three major oceans)(Günther, 1878)[1]
  • (Zugmayer, 1913) (off Cape Town; Atlantic and western Indian Ocean)[1]
  • Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (off west coast; north Atlantic and central Pacific)[1]
  • Trigonolampa miriceps Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (off west coast; apparently circumglobal in Southern Ocean south of 30°S)[1]

Subfamily: — Scaly dragonfishes

  • Brauer, 1902 (Taken once off Cape of Good Hope, Widespread in subtropical and tropical Atlantic and tropical Indian and Pacific oceans)[1]
  • Stomias boa boa (Risso, 1810) (Taken offshore throughout the area)[1]
  • Chauliodus sloani Schneider, 1801 (Taken offshore throughout the area)[1]

Class Sarcopterygii — Lobefin fishes[]

Subclass Actinistia[]

Order Coelacanthiformes — Coelacanths[]

Family: Latimeriidae

  • Coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae Smith, 1939 (northern KwaZulu-Natal)[1][4]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd fe ff fg fh fi fj fk fl fm fn fo fp fq fr fs ft fu fv fw fx fy fz ga gb gc gd ge gf gg gh gi gj gk gl gm gn go gp gq gr gs gt gu gv gw gx gy gz ha hb hc hd he hf hg hh hi hj hk hl hm hn ho hp hq hr hs ht hu hv hw hx hy hz ia ib ic id ie if ig ih ii ij ik il im in io ip iq ir is it iu iv iw ix iy iz ja jb jc jd je jf jg jh ji jj jk jl jm jn jo jp jq jr js jt ju jv jw jx jy jz ka kb kc kd ke kf kg kh ki kj kk kl km kn ko kp kq kr ks kt ku kv kw kx ky kz la lb lc ld le lf lg lh li lj lk ll lm ln lo lp lq lr ls lt lu lv lw lx ly lz ma mb mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr ns nt nu nv nw nx ny nz oa ob oc od oe of og oh oi oj ok ol om on oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd pe pf pg ph pi Ed. Smith, Margaret M, and Heemstra, P. Smith's sea fishes. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown. Struik publishers, Cape Town, 2003.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al 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. ^ Ribbink, A.J. and Roberts, M. "African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme: An overview of the conference contributions" in South African Journal of Science September/October 2006 - Volume 102 No. 9/10, Academy of Science of South Africa, ISSN 0038-2353
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