Hairy conger
40.3· Bassanago albescens
(Barnard, 1923)
Harige seepaling
Congermuraena albescens Barnard , 1923: 442 (off Cape Point) ; Barnard , 1925: 189* . Ariosoma balearica (non De la Roche) : Smith , SFSA
No. 1113*. Ariosoma albeseens: Penrith, 1967: 538*. Pseudoxenomystax
albeseens: Castle, 1968: 704*.
A heavy-bodied eel with a rather fleshy snout and skin covered with
epidermal papillae which give a distinctive "hairy" appearance to the
body; head 6.4-7.1, depth 12-17. Teeth small , in several rows on jaws, in
an oval patch on "inter-maxillary", exposed outside the mouth. LL pores
subtubular. Vertebrae 168-172.
Creamish white, commonly purplish brown after preservation. Attains almost 100 cm . Common off Cape Point; a
closely similar, possibly identical species B. hirsutus Castle,
1960 and a third B. buibiceps Whitley, 1948 occur in Australasia; others are known from South America.
r.r
.;,... .. ' ....... -... ... .
10..
.,.,..:. ~.
40.3 8assanago albescens: 85 em (after Castle, 1968) and head (after Cervigon
et ai. , 1980).
Genus Bathymyrus Alcock, 1889
Three species; 1 in our area. B. echinorhynchus Alcock,
1889 from the northern Indian Ocean and B. simus Smith,
1965 from Vietnam, both with more prominent rostral
teeth, are the only other species.
40.4 8athymyrus smithi: 51 em holotype.
40: CONGRIDAE (CONGER EELS)
40.4 Bathymyrus smithi
Castle, 1968
Bathymyrus smithi Castle , 1968: 2, Figs. 1 & 2 (Mozambique); Castle,
1968: 689* .
Head 7, depth 13.5-16.4. Snout short and blunt. Teeth small, uniserial
in jaws, a few on front of vomer; "intermaxillary" (rostral) teeth sharp, in
a narrow patch that curves up somewhat on front of snout. Vertebrae
150-155.
Greyish brown, lighter below, tips of fins black. Attains
58 cm. Taken by trawl off Limpopo River in 470 -490 m, but
probably more widespread.
Genus Bathyuroconger Fowler, 1934
Two species; 1 in our area.
40.5 Bathyuroconger vicinus
(Vaillant, 1888)
Uroeonger vicinus Vaillant, 1888: 86, P1.6, Figs. 1-lb (East Atlantic);
Smith, SFSA No. 1114; Castle, 1968: 713*.
Head 8, depth 16. D origin over P tip. Teeth large and sharp, biserial on
jaws, those in outer row larger; vomerine teeth few , large, in an anterior
group; "intermaxillary" teeth few. Vertebrae 181-182 .
Dark brownish black, median fins black. Attains 65 cm.
Off Cape Point in 630 m; also from eastern tropical Atlantic.
40.5 8athyuroconger vicinus: 32.5 em .
Genus Coloconger Alcock, 1889
The position of Coioconger requires some clarification.
Although it undoubtedly has congrid affinities, separate
subfamily or even family status will probably be accorded to
it. Four species, 1 in our area, but all require further study
and detailed comparison . C. raniceps Alcock, 1889 from the
northern Indian Ocean, with fewer vertebrae, is the only
other Indo-Pacific species.
40.6 Coloconger scholesi
Chan, 1967
Coloeonger seholesi Chan, 1967: 99, Figs. 1-14 (South China Sea) ;
Castle, 1969: 6.
A drab, flabby-bodied eel with a large, rounded head; short, blunt
snout; anus placed well behind mid-length. Head about 5; depth about 8.
Teeth minute, more or less uniserial on jaws, only a few on "intermaxillary" . LL pores tubular. Vertebrae 142-157.
163
40.3· Bassanago albescens
(Barnard, 1923)
Harige seepaling
Congermuraena albescens Barnard , 1923: 442 (off Cape Point) ; Barnard , 1925: 189* . Ariosoma balearica (non De la Roche) : Smith , SFSA
No. 1113*. Ariosoma albeseens: Penrith, 1967: 538*. Pseudoxenomystax
albeseens: Castle, 1968: 704*.
A heavy-bodied eel with a rather fleshy snout and skin covered with
epidermal papillae which give a distinctive "hairy" appearance to the
body; head 6.4-7.1, depth 12-17. Teeth small , in several rows on jaws, in
an oval patch on "inter-maxillary", exposed outside the mouth. LL pores
subtubular. Vertebrae 168-172.
Creamish white, commonly purplish brown after preservation. Attains almost 100 cm . Common off Cape Point; a
closely similar, possibly identical species B. hirsutus Castle,
1960 and a third B. buibiceps Whitley, 1948 occur in Australasia; others are known from South America.
r.r
.;,... .. ' ....... -... ... .
10..
.,.,..:. ~.
40.3 8assanago albescens: 85 em (after Castle, 1968) and head (after Cervigon
et ai. , 1980).
Genus Bathymyrus Alcock, 1889
Three species; 1 in our area. B. echinorhynchus Alcock,
1889 from the northern Indian Ocean and B. simus Smith,
1965 from Vietnam, both with more prominent rostral
teeth, are the only other species.
40.4 8athymyrus smithi: 51 em holotype.
40: CONGRIDAE (CONGER EELS)
40.4 Bathymyrus smithi
Castle, 1968
Bathymyrus smithi Castle , 1968: 2, Figs. 1 & 2 (Mozambique); Castle,
1968: 689* .
Head 7, depth 13.5-16.4. Snout short and blunt. Teeth small, uniserial
in jaws, a few on front of vomer; "intermaxillary" (rostral) teeth sharp, in
a narrow patch that curves up somewhat on front of snout. Vertebrae
150-155.
Greyish brown, lighter below, tips of fins black. Attains
58 cm. Taken by trawl off Limpopo River in 470 -490 m, but
probably more widespread.
Genus Bathyuroconger Fowler, 1934
Two species; 1 in our area.
40.5 Bathyuroconger vicinus
(Vaillant, 1888)
Uroeonger vicinus Vaillant, 1888: 86, P1.6, Figs. 1-lb (East Atlantic);
Smith, SFSA No. 1114; Castle, 1968: 713*.
Head 8, depth 16. D origin over P tip. Teeth large and sharp, biserial on
jaws, those in outer row larger; vomerine teeth few , large, in an anterior
group; "intermaxillary" teeth few. Vertebrae 181-182 .
Dark brownish black, median fins black. Attains 65 cm.
Off Cape Point in 630 m; also from eastern tropical Atlantic.
40.5 8athyuroconger vicinus: 32.5 em .
Genus Coloconger Alcock, 1889
The position of Coioconger requires some clarification.
Although it undoubtedly has congrid affinities, separate
subfamily or even family status will probably be accorded to
it. Four species, 1 in our area, but all require further study
and detailed comparison . C. raniceps Alcock, 1889 from the
northern Indian Ocean, with fewer vertebrae, is the only
other Indo-Pacific species.
40.6 Coloconger scholesi
Chan, 1967
Coloeonger seholesi Chan, 1967: 99, Figs. 1-14 (South China Sea) ;
Castle, 1969: 6.
A drab, flabby-bodied eel with a large, rounded head; short, blunt
snout; anus placed well behind mid-length. Head about 5; depth about 8.
Teeth minute, more or less uniserial on jaws, only a few on "intermaxillary" . LL pores tubular. Vertebrae 142-157.
163