42.18 Ophichthus bonaparti
(Kaup, 1856)
Saddled snake-eel
Saal slang paling
Poecilocephalus bonaparti Kaup, 1856: 5, Fig. 3 (Indonesia).
Ophichthus bonaparti: Smith, 1962: 459*.
Head 12-13; depth 33-38; tail 1.9. P small; D origin over P tip. Teeth
stout, conical, sharp; uniserial on jaws and vomer, a few larger ones on intermaxillary. Vertebrae 157-163.
Golden yellow to cream along body with 18-27 prominent
black saddles, a few meeting below; margin ofD and A with
irregular spots; conspicuous golden marbling and spots on
snout and head. Attains 75 cm. Off Durban in 20 m (new record for South Africa); also known from Mauritius to Indonesia.
42.18 Ophichthus bonaparti: 55 cm.
42.19 Ophichthus erabo
(Jordan & Snyder, 1901)
PLATE 8
Blotched snake-eel
Gevlekte slangpaling
Microdonophis erabo Jordan & Snyder, 1901: 870, Fig. 17 (Misaki,
Japan). Ophichthus erabo: McCosker & Randall, 1982: 23*. Ophichthus
retifer Fowler, 1935: 368, Fig. 9 (Durban); Smith, 1962: 459*. Ophichthus
triserialis (non Kaup): Smith, SFSA No. 110t *.
Head 12; depth 23; tail 2.2. Teeth stout, conical; uniserial on jaws and
vomer; a few on intermaxillary. Vertebrae 143-155.
Pale yellow, boldly marked with rich brown subcircular
spots, smaller and more numerous on head. Attains 72 cm.
Off Durban; Indo-Pacific to Hawaii.
42.19 Ophichthus erabo: 72 cm (Durban; after Fowler, 1935).
42: OPHICHTHIDAE (SNAKE EELS & WORM EELS)
42.20 Ophichthus marginatus
(Peters, 1855)
Shorthead snake-eel
Kortkop-slangpaling
Ophisurus marginatus Peters, 1855: 272 (Mozambique). Ophichthus
marginatus: Smith, SFSA No. 1104; 1962: 459*.
Head 14-18, depth 43-48, tail 1.6-1.8. Mouth cleft to behind eye; teeth
in 2 or 3 rows on jaws and vomer; D origin behind P tip. Vertebrae 174,
186 (2 specimens).
Uniform olive-green dorsally, paler below. Attains at
least 47 cm. Aldabra to Inhaca; once reported from Knysna
(Smith, SFSA), but this specimen has been lost.
42.20 Ophichthus marginatus: 43 cm (Seychelles). Arrow indicates anus.
42.21 Ophichthus polyophthalmus
Bleeker, 1864
PLATE?
Many-eyed snake-eel
Veeloog-slangpaling
Ophichthys polyophthalmus Bleeker, 1864: 43 (Indonesia). Ophichthus
polyophthalmus: Smith, SFSA No. 110ta*; 1962: 459*.
Head 10.5; depth 22; tail 2.2. D origin slightly before middle ofP. Teeth
stout, conical; uniserial on jaws and vomer; a few on intermaxillary. Vertebrae 141-148.
Pale salmon red, yellow spots on head, yellowish ocelli
with dark margins on body. Attains 50 cm. Off Delagoa
Bay; Indo-Pacific to Hawaii.
42.22 Ophichthus unicolor
Regan, 1908
Plain snake-eel
Effekleurige slang paling
Ophichthys unicolor Regan, 1908: 250, Fig. 1 (16 mi. NE of Bird Id.,
Algoa Bay). Ophichthys algoensis Barnard, 1925: 498 (Algoa Bay).
Ophichthus unicolor: Smith, SFSA No. 1102*; 1962: 458*.
Head 9.4, depth 30, tail 1.6. D origin above endofP. Teeth sharp, in 2-3
series on jaws and biserial on vomer.
Uniform brownish in preservative. Attains 30 cm.
Known only from Algoa Bay. Said by Smith (1962) to be
"remarkably close to celebicus Bleeker, 1856" from Indonesia.
183
(Kaup, 1856)
Saddled snake-eel
Saal slang paling
Poecilocephalus bonaparti Kaup, 1856: 5, Fig. 3 (Indonesia).
Ophichthus bonaparti: Smith, 1962: 459*.
Head 12-13; depth 33-38; tail 1.9. P small; D origin over P tip. Teeth
stout, conical, sharp; uniserial on jaws and vomer, a few larger ones on intermaxillary. Vertebrae 157-163.
Golden yellow to cream along body with 18-27 prominent
black saddles, a few meeting below; margin ofD and A with
irregular spots; conspicuous golden marbling and spots on
snout and head. Attains 75 cm. Off Durban in 20 m (new record for South Africa); also known from Mauritius to Indonesia.
42.18 Ophichthus bonaparti: 55 cm.
42.19 Ophichthus erabo
(Jordan & Snyder, 1901)
PLATE 8
Blotched snake-eel
Gevlekte slangpaling
Microdonophis erabo Jordan & Snyder, 1901: 870, Fig. 17 (Misaki,
Japan). Ophichthus erabo: McCosker & Randall, 1982: 23*. Ophichthus
retifer Fowler, 1935: 368, Fig. 9 (Durban); Smith, 1962: 459*. Ophichthus
triserialis (non Kaup): Smith, SFSA No. 110t *.
Head 12; depth 23; tail 2.2. Teeth stout, conical; uniserial on jaws and
vomer; a few on intermaxillary. Vertebrae 143-155.
Pale yellow, boldly marked with rich brown subcircular
spots, smaller and more numerous on head. Attains 72 cm.
Off Durban; Indo-Pacific to Hawaii.
42.19 Ophichthus erabo: 72 cm (Durban; after Fowler, 1935).
42: OPHICHTHIDAE (SNAKE EELS & WORM EELS)
42.20 Ophichthus marginatus
(Peters, 1855)
Shorthead snake-eel
Kortkop-slangpaling
Ophisurus marginatus Peters, 1855: 272 (Mozambique). Ophichthus
marginatus: Smith, SFSA No. 1104; 1962: 459*.
Head 14-18, depth 43-48, tail 1.6-1.8. Mouth cleft to behind eye; teeth
in 2 or 3 rows on jaws and vomer; D origin behind P tip. Vertebrae 174,
186 (2 specimens).
Uniform olive-green dorsally, paler below. Attains at
least 47 cm. Aldabra to Inhaca; once reported from Knysna
(Smith, SFSA), but this specimen has been lost.
42.20 Ophichthus marginatus: 43 cm (Seychelles). Arrow indicates anus.
42.21 Ophichthus polyophthalmus
Bleeker, 1864
PLATE?
Many-eyed snake-eel
Veeloog-slangpaling
Ophichthys polyophthalmus Bleeker, 1864: 43 (Indonesia). Ophichthus
polyophthalmus: Smith, SFSA No. 110ta*; 1962: 459*.
Head 10.5; depth 22; tail 2.2. D origin slightly before middle ofP. Teeth
stout, conical; uniserial on jaws and vomer; a few on intermaxillary. Vertebrae 141-148.
Pale salmon red, yellow spots on head, yellowish ocelli
with dark margins on body. Attains 50 cm. Off Delagoa
Bay; Indo-Pacific to Hawaii.
42.22 Ophichthus unicolor
Regan, 1908
Plain snake-eel
Effekleurige slang paling
Ophichthys unicolor Regan, 1908: 250, Fig. 1 (16 mi. NE of Bird Id.,
Algoa Bay). Ophichthys algoensis Barnard, 1925: 498 (Algoa Bay).
Ophichthus unicolor: Smith, SFSA No. 1102*; 1962: 458*.
Head 9.4, depth 30, tail 1.6. D origin above endofP. Teeth sharp, in 2-3
series on jaws and biserial on vomer.
Uniform brownish in preservative. Attains 30 cm.
Known only from Algoa Bay. Said by Smith (1962) to be
"remarkably close to celebicus Bleeker, 1856" from Indonesia.
183