5a D origin over P base; anus in about middle of TL . . Histiobranchus
5b D origin over or behind anus; anus in anterior third
of TL ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Synaphobranchus
Genus Diastobranchus Barnard, 1923
Monotypic.
46.1 Oiastobranchus capensis
Barnard, 1923
Diastobranchus capensis Barnard, 1923: 441 (Cape Point); 1925: 185*;
Castle, 1961: 23* .llyophis capensis: Smith, SFSA No. 1091*. Viastobranchus danae Whitley, 1951: 27.
Head 7, depth 14. Body compressed along tail. D origin well behind
anus; anus just behind P tip. Small elongate scales arranged in basketweave fashion. LL pores before anus about 27. Vertebrae ca. 172.
Dark purplish black. Attains 180 cm. Off Cape Point, in
860 m; also Australia and New Zealand.
46.1 Diastobranchus capensis: 112 em.
Genus Dysomma Alcock, 1889
Six species; 1 in our area.
46.2 Oysomma anguillare
Barnard, 1923
Arrowtooth eel
Pyltandpaling
Dysomma anguillaris Barnard, 1923: 443 (off Tugela River, Natal);
1925: 195*; Smith, SFSA No. 1116. Dysomma anguillare: Bohlke, 1949:
36; Robins & Robins, 1970: 313*; 1976: 263.
Head 7, depth 20. D origin over gill opening; anus below P. Snout and
lower jaw covered with small papillae. Teeth on upper jaw small, in a narrow. band; much larger, fewer and uniserial in lower jaw; 3 or 4 large
camnes on vomer. Vertebrae ca. 127.
Greyish white, median fins darker behind. Attains 36 cm.
Known from the holotype from 115 m off Tugela River,
Natal and another specimen from the same area, reported
here; also known from Gulf of Mexico and western Pacific.
46.2 Dysomma anguillare: 22 em.
46: SYNAPHOBRANCHIDAE (CUTIHROAT EELS)
Genus Histiobranchus Gill, 1883
Considered by Robins & Robins (1976) to be a synonym
of Synaphobranchus. Scales present. Two species; 1 in our
area.
46.3 Histiobranchus bathybius
(Gunther, 1877)
Synaphobranchus bathybius Giinther, 1877: 445 (North Pacific); 1887:
254*. Synaphobranchus australis Regan, 1913: 235, PI. 8, Fig. 5 (Indian
Ocean, ca. 46°S, 45°E; 2515 m). Histiobranchus bathybius: Smith, SFSA
No. 1090*; Castle, 1964: 36*.
Head ca. 7, depth 11. D origin over P base. Teeth small, sharp, in bands
on jaws, in a distinct intermaxillary patch and in an irregularly biserial row
on vomer. Vertebrae 126-131.
Plain brown to black. Attains 65 cm. Off Durban, in
2720 m; also in Atlantic and Indo-Pacific.
46.3 Histiobranchus bathybius: 65.5 em.
Genus I/yophis Gilbert, 1892
Gill openings horizontal ventral slits. Two species; 1 in
our area. Ilyophis arx Robins & Robins, 1976 with no scales
and 131-135 vertebrae, is known only from the East Pacific.
46.4 I/yophis brunneus
Gilbert, 1892
llyophis brunneus Gilbert, 1892: 352 (East Pacific); Goode & Bean,
1896: 141*; Smith, SFSA No. 1092*; Castle, 1964: 39*; Robins, 1971: 168.
Head 8.5, depth 21. D origin over P base. Teeth small, sharp, in bands
on jaws, in a distinct intermaxillary patch, and in one row oflarge teeth on
vomer. Vertebrae 144-151.
Dark brown, tinged with violet on snout. Attains 58 cm.
Off the Cape, in 1 500 m; also from central Atlantic and
Pacific.
46.4 I/yophis brunneus: 55.5 em.
189
5b D origin over or behind anus; anus in anterior third
of TL ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Synaphobranchus
Genus Diastobranchus Barnard, 1923
Monotypic.
46.1 Oiastobranchus capensis
Barnard, 1923
Diastobranchus capensis Barnard, 1923: 441 (Cape Point); 1925: 185*;
Castle, 1961: 23* .llyophis capensis: Smith, SFSA No. 1091*. Viastobranchus danae Whitley, 1951: 27.
Head 7, depth 14. Body compressed along tail. D origin well behind
anus; anus just behind P tip. Small elongate scales arranged in basketweave fashion. LL pores before anus about 27. Vertebrae ca. 172.
Dark purplish black. Attains 180 cm. Off Cape Point, in
860 m; also Australia and New Zealand.
46.1 Diastobranchus capensis: 112 em.
Genus Dysomma Alcock, 1889
Six species; 1 in our area.
46.2 Oysomma anguillare
Barnard, 1923
Arrowtooth eel
Pyltandpaling
Dysomma anguillaris Barnard, 1923: 443 (off Tugela River, Natal);
1925: 195*; Smith, SFSA No. 1116. Dysomma anguillare: Bohlke, 1949:
36; Robins & Robins, 1970: 313*; 1976: 263.
Head 7, depth 20. D origin over gill opening; anus below P. Snout and
lower jaw covered with small papillae. Teeth on upper jaw small, in a narrow. band; much larger, fewer and uniserial in lower jaw; 3 or 4 large
camnes on vomer. Vertebrae ca. 127.
Greyish white, median fins darker behind. Attains 36 cm.
Known from the holotype from 115 m off Tugela River,
Natal and another specimen from the same area, reported
here; also known from Gulf of Mexico and western Pacific.
46.2 Dysomma anguillare: 22 em.
46: SYNAPHOBRANCHIDAE (CUTIHROAT EELS)
Genus Histiobranchus Gill, 1883
Considered by Robins & Robins (1976) to be a synonym
of Synaphobranchus. Scales present. Two species; 1 in our
area.
46.3 Histiobranchus bathybius
(Gunther, 1877)
Synaphobranchus bathybius Giinther, 1877: 445 (North Pacific); 1887:
254*. Synaphobranchus australis Regan, 1913: 235, PI. 8, Fig. 5 (Indian
Ocean, ca. 46°S, 45°E; 2515 m). Histiobranchus bathybius: Smith, SFSA
No. 1090*; Castle, 1964: 36*.
Head ca. 7, depth 11. D origin over P base. Teeth small, sharp, in bands
on jaws, in a distinct intermaxillary patch and in an irregularly biserial row
on vomer. Vertebrae 126-131.
Plain brown to black. Attains 65 cm. Off Durban, in
2720 m; also in Atlantic and Indo-Pacific.
46.3 Histiobranchus bathybius: 65.5 em.
Genus I/yophis Gilbert, 1892
Gill openings horizontal ventral slits. Two species; 1 in
our area. Ilyophis arx Robins & Robins, 1976 with no scales
and 131-135 vertebrae, is known only from the East Pacific.
46.4 I/yophis brunneus
Gilbert, 1892
llyophis brunneus Gilbert, 1892: 352 (East Pacific); Goode & Bean,
1896: 141*; Smith, SFSA No. 1092*; Castle, 1964: 39*; Robins, 1971: 168.
Head 8.5, depth 21. D origin over P base. Teeth small, sharp, in bands
on jaws, in a distinct intermaxillary patch, and in one row oflarge teeth on
vomer. Vertebrae 144-151.
Dark brown, tinged with violet on snout. Attains 58 cm.
Off the Cape, in 1 500 m; also from central Atlantic and
Pacific.
46.4 I/yophis brunneus: 55.5 em.
189