Genus Kaupichthys Schultz, 1943
Three species; 1 in our area.
43.2 Kaupichthys hyoproroides
(Stromman, 1896)
Plain false moray
Eenkleurige vals bontpaling
Leptocephalus hyoproroides Stromman, 1896: 39, PI. 4, Fig. 5-6 (larva,
North Atlantic). Kaupichthys diodontus: Smith, 1965: 48* . Kaupichthys
hyoproroides: Bohlke & Smith, 1968: 28; Winterbottom , 1978: 42.
Head about 7, depth 22. Teeth small, triserial in jaws, 2 diverging rows
on vomer. Vertebrae 98-123 (114-115 in two South African specimens) .
Greenish brown above, lighter below. Attains 30 cm.
Natal only; also western Indian Ocean , central and North
Pacific and Caribbean.
43.2 Kaupichthys hyoproroides: 12.5 cm .
Family No. 44: MORINGUIDAE
by P.H.J. Castle
Spaghetti eels
Spaghetti-paling!
)3ody, very long, slender. Pectoral absent or markedly
reduced, but well developed in mature males. Dorsal and
anal fins well behind anus; continuous around tail, vestigial
in immature males and females, entirely absent along their
mid-portions in mature males. Mouth small; lower jaw projecting. Teeth small , sharp, more or less uniserial on jaws
and vomer. Eye enlarged in mature males. Lateral-line
pores obvious. No scales.
Olive, yellow to orange, bluish below; males longitudinally bicoloured . Some species attain 90 cm. Immature
fishes and females usually on shallow, soft bottom shores, in
estuaries or in coral sand; mature males pelagic; larvae distinctive, in open ocean. Tropical seas only; of no commercial significance. Two genera, 1 in our area; about 12
species. Reviewed by Castle (1968) .
Genus Moringua Gray, 1831
About 10 species; 3 in our area.
44: MORINGUIDAE (SPAGHETII EELS)
KEY TO SPECIES
la P absent; head 16-19, depth 75-105 in TL; about
100 LL pores before anus; vertebrae 153-160 . .. .... M. javanica
Ib P present though reduced to a minute flap; head 10-15,
depth 36-63 in TL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2a Depth 36-51 in TL; about 63 LL pores before anus;
vertebrae 105-113 . . . . . .. ... .. .. .... ..... M. microchir
2b Depth 49-63 in TL; about 73 LL pores before anus;
vertebrae 115-125 .... .. .. ... ........... . M. ferruginea
44.1 Moringua ferruginea
Bliss, 1883
PLATE 8
Rusty spaghetti eel
Roosrooi spaghetti-paling
Moringua ferruginea Bliss, 1883: 57 (Mauritius); Castle, 1968: 25.
Moringua javanica (non Kaup): Smith, SFSA Fig. 1094a only; 1962: 463*
(in part).
Head 13-15 in TL.
Attains about 40 cm. Southern Mozambique, common
northwards; also throughout Indo-Pacific to Easter Island.
44.1 Moringua ferruginea: 120.5 cm (Inhaca Id.). Arrow indicates anus.
44.2 Moringua javanica
(Kaup, 1856)
Java spaghetti eel
Javaanse spaghetti-paling
Aphthalmichthys javanicus Kaup, 1856: 105, PI. 14, Fig. 71 (Java).
Moringua javanica: Smith, SFSA No. 1094a (in part, not figure); 1962:
463* (in part); Castle, 1968: 25.
Head 16-19 in TL.
Attains 90 cm. Southern Mozambique northwards; also
throughout Indo-West Pacific to Japan.
e;;::::::J • ....... ~Off>.;,r~.
. -.- .' .... -
44.2 Moringuajavanica: 56 cm.
187
Three species; 1 in our area.
43.2 Kaupichthys hyoproroides
(Stromman, 1896)
Plain false moray
Eenkleurige vals bontpaling
Leptocephalus hyoproroides Stromman, 1896: 39, PI. 4, Fig. 5-6 (larva,
North Atlantic). Kaupichthys diodontus: Smith, 1965: 48* . Kaupichthys
hyoproroides: Bohlke & Smith, 1968: 28; Winterbottom , 1978: 42.
Head about 7, depth 22. Teeth small, triserial in jaws, 2 diverging rows
on vomer. Vertebrae 98-123 (114-115 in two South African specimens) .
Greenish brown above, lighter below. Attains 30 cm.
Natal only; also western Indian Ocean , central and North
Pacific and Caribbean.
43.2 Kaupichthys hyoproroides: 12.5 cm .
Family No. 44: MORINGUIDAE
by P.H.J. Castle
Spaghetti eels
Spaghetti-paling!
)3ody, very long, slender. Pectoral absent or markedly
reduced, but well developed in mature males. Dorsal and
anal fins well behind anus; continuous around tail, vestigial
in immature males and females, entirely absent along their
mid-portions in mature males. Mouth small; lower jaw projecting. Teeth small , sharp, more or less uniserial on jaws
and vomer. Eye enlarged in mature males. Lateral-line
pores obvious. No scales.
Olive, yellow to orange, bluish below; males longitudinally bicoloured . Some species attain 90 cm. Immature
fishes and females usually on shallow, soft bottom shores, in
estuaries or in coral sand; mature males pelagic; larvae distinctive, in open ocean. Tropical seas only; of no commercial significance. Two genera, 1 in our area; about 12
species. Reviewed by Castle (1968) .
Genus Moringua Gray, 1831
About 10 species; 3 in our area.
44: MORINGUIDAE (SPAGHETII EELS)
KEY TO SPECIES
la P absent; head 16-19, depth 75-105 in TL; about
100 LL pores before anus; vertebrae 153-160 . .. .... M. javanica
Ib P present though reduced to a minute flap; head 10-15,
depth 36-63 in TL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2a Depth 36-51 in TL; about 63 LL pores before anus;
vertebrae 105-113 . . . . . .. ... .. .. .... ..... M. microchir
2b Depth 49-63 in TL; about 73 LL pores before anus;
vertebrae 115-125 .... .. .. ... ........... . M. ferruginea
44.1 Moringua ferruginea
Bliss, 1883
PLATE 8
Rusty spaghetti eel
Roosrooi spaghetti-paling
Moringua ferruginea Bliss, 1883: 57 (Mauritius); Castle, 1968: 25.
Moringua javanica (non Kaup): Smith, SFSA Fig. 1094a only; 1962: 463*
(in part).
Head 13-15 in TL.
Attains about 40 cm. Southern Mozambique, common
northwards; also throughout Indo-Pacific to Easter Island.
44.1 Moringua ferruginea: 120.5 cm (Inhaca Id.). Arrow indicates anus.
44.2 Moringua javanica
(Kaup, 1856)
Java spaghetti eel
Javaanse spaghetti-paling
Aphthalmichthys javanicus Kaup, 1856: 105, PI. 14, Fig. 71 (Java).
Moringua javanica: Smith, SFSA No. 1094a (in part, not figure); 1962:
463* (in part); Castle, 1968: 25.
Head 16-19 in TL.
Attains 90 cm. Southern Mozambique northwards; also
throughout Indo-West Pacific to Japan.
e;;::::::J • ....... ~Off>.;,r~.
. -.- .' .... -
44.2 Moringuajavanica: 56 cm.
187