Olive brown above, silvery on head, lighter below;
median fins with a dusky margin. Attains 37 cm. False Bay
to Plettenberg Bay in about 100 m; also at Tristan da
Cunha.
40.9 Gnathophis capensis: 29 em.
40.10 Gnathophis habenatus
(Richardson, 1848)
Strap conger
Platriem-seepaling
Congrus habenatus Richardson, 1848: 109, PI. 50, Figs. 1-5 (New
Zealand). Gnathophis habenatus: Castle, 1968: 703; 1969: 1*.
Head 5.2-6.8, depth 14-18. Front nostril with a scroll-like margin. Teeth
small, in several rows on jaws and roof of mouth, those on vomer blunt.
Vertebrae 119-126.
Olive above, silvery on head, lighter below, median fins
with dusky margin. Attains 43 cm. Southern Cape coast to
East London in 80 - 100 m; also southern Indian Ocean and
Australasia.
--~-~ ----------~r- . ~~==============~
- - <
40.10 Gnathophis habenatus: 43 em (Wellington harbour; after Castle, 1963).
Arrows indicate D origin, anus and A origin.
Genus Rhechias Jordan, 1921
Several species worldwide, 1 in our area.
40.11 Rhechias wallacei: 52 em holotype.
41: MURAENIDAE (MORAY EELS)
40.11 Rhechias wallacei
(Castle, 1968)
Congrina wallacei Castle, 1968: 709, PI. 107B; Fig. la-b (Mozambique).
Head 6.0-6.4, depth 15-17. Teeth triserial on jaws; outer teeth large,
especially anteriorly; vomerine teeth few, in a small patch; "intermaxillary" teeth in a distinct patch in front. Vertebrae ca. 168.
Grey above, lighter below; median fins black posteriorly.
Attains 55 cm. Natal to southern Mozambique in 500 m, but
probably more widespread.
Genus Uroconger Kaup, 1856
Two species; 1 in our area.
40.12 Uroconger lepturus
(Richardson, 1845)
Longtail conger
Langstert-seepaling
Congrus lepturus Richardson, 1845: 106, PI. 56, Figs. 1-6 (Canton,
China). Uroconger lepturus: Smith, SFSA No. 1115*; Castle, 1968: 711*.
Head 7.4-8.3, depth 20-25. Teeth generally prominent and sharp, biserial on jaws, the inner row larger; about 20 small teeth in one row on
vomer; "intermaxillary" teeth in a small patch, the anterior ones forming a
transverse row outside of mouth when closed. Vertebrae ca. 210.
Light grey-brown, lighter below, fins darker, LL pores
pale. Attains 45 cm. Natal and Mozambique Channel in
about 20 m; to Red Sea and Indo-Pacific.
40.12 Uroconger lepturus: 32 em.
Family No. 41: MURAENIDAE
by P.H.J. Castle & J.E. McCosker
Moray eels, morays
Bontpalings
Body robust in most species, scaleless, tail compressed.
Pectoral fins absent. Dorsal fin origin usually before gill
opening; median fins continuous around tail. Mouth moderate, incapable of closing completely in some large species.
Posterior nostrils either a slit or tube before or above eye.
Teeth variable: small, conical and pointed, or molariform
pavement, or long depressible fangs; teeth on jaws and
usually on vomer, often multiserial. Lateral line of 1-3 pores
before gill opening; head pores obvious. Gill opening a midlateral hole.
165
median fins with a dusky margin. Attains 37 cm. False Bay
to Plettenberg Bay in about 100 m; also at Tristan da
Cunha.
40.9 Gnathophis capensis: 29 em.
40.10 Gnathophis habenatus
(Richardson, 1848)
Strap conger
Platriem-seepaling
Congrus habenatus Richardson, 1848: 109, PI. 50, Figs. 1-5 (New
Zealand). Gnathophis habenatus: Castle, 1968: 703; 1969: 1*.
Head 5.2-6.8, depth 14-18. Front nostril with a scroll-like margin. Teeth
small, in several rows on jaws and roof of mouth, those on vomer blunt.
Vertebrae 119-126.
Olive above, silvery on head, lighter below, median fins
with dusky margin. Attains 43 cm. Southern Cape coast to
East London in 80 - 100 m; also southern Indian Ocean and
Australasia.
--~-~ ----------~r- . ~~==============~
- - <
40.10 Gnathophis habenatus: 43 em (Wellington harbour; after Castle, 1963).
Arrows indicate D origin, anus and A origin.
Genus Rhechias Jordan, 1921
Several species worldwide, 1 in our area.
40.11 Rhechias wallacei: 52 em holotype.
41: MURAENIDAE (MORAY EELS)
40.11 Rhechias wallacei
(Castle, 1968)
Congrina wallacei Castle, 1968: 709, PI. 107B; Fig. la-b (Mozambique).
Head 6.0-6.4, depth 15-17. Teeth triserial on jaws; outer teeth large,
especially anteriorly; vomerine teeth few, in a small patch; "intermaxillary" teeth in a distinct patch in front. Vertebrae ca. 168.
Grey above, lighter below; median fins black posteriorly.
Attains 55 cm. Natal to southern Mozambique in 500 m, but
probably more widespread.
Genus Uroconger Kaup, 1856
Two species; 1 in our area.
40.12 Uroconger lepturus
(Richardson, 1845)
Longtail conger
Langstert-seepaling
Congrus lepturus Richardson, 1845: 106, PI. 56, Figs. 1-6 (Canton,
China). Uroconger lepturus: Smith, SFSA No. 1115*; Castle, 1968: 711*.
Head 7.4-8.3, depth 20-25. Teeth generally prominent and sharp, biserial on jaws, the inner row larger; about 20 small teeth in one row on
vomer; "intermaxillary" teeth in a small patch, the anterior ones forming a
transverse row outside of mouth when closed. Vertebrae ca. 210.
Light grey-brown, lighter below, fins darker, LL pores
pale. Attains 45 cm. Natal and Mozambique Channel in
about 20 m; to Red Sea and Indo-Pacific.
40.12 Uroconger lepturus: 32 em.
Family No. 41: MURAENIDAE
by P.H.J. Castle & J.E. McCosker
Moray eels, morays
Bontpalings
Body robust in most species, scaleless, tail compressed.
Pectoral fins absent. Dorsal fin origin usually before gill
opening; median fins continuous around tail. Mouth moderate, incapable of closing completely in some large species.
Posterior nostrils either a slit or tube before or above eye.
Teeth variable: small, conical and pointed, or molariform
pavement, or long depressible fangs; teeth on jaws and
usually on vomer, often multiserial. Lateral line of 1-3 pores
before gill opening; head pores obvious. Gill opening a midlateral hole.
165