Genus Nettastoma Rafinesque, 1810
Three species; 1 in our area. Revised by Smith, Bohlke &
Castle (1981).
47.1 Nettastoma parviceps
Gunther, 1877
Nettastomaparviceps Gunther, 1877: 446 (Japan); 1887: 253*; Barnard,
1925: 194; Smith, SFSA No. 1119*; Smith, Bohlke & Castle, 1981: 540* .
Head 7.5, depth 25. Vertebrae ca. 250. Snout tip with a small dorsal
protuberance.
Body buff to purplish grey, paler below; median fins
black-edged; snout and lower jaw pinkish grey. Attains 82
cm. Occasionally taken by trawl from southeast coast to
southern Mozambique in up to 750 m; also known from
Japan, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand.
47.1 Nettastoma parviceps: 62 em.
Genus Venefiea Jordan & Davis, 1892
Four poorly known species; 1 in our area.
47.2 Venefica proboscidea
(Vaillant, 1888)
Nettastoma proboscidea Vaillant, 1888: 84, PI. 7, Fig. 3 (off Atlantic
Morocco). Venefica proboscidea: Smith, SFSA No. 1118.
Head 11.5, depth 37. Preanal vertebrae ca. 60. Teeth small, in bands on
jaws and vomer.
Greyish black, darker on snout, throat and belly. Attains
100 cm. Known offthe Cape, in 1500 m; also eastern Atlantic and elsewhere.
47.2 Venefica proboscidea: 63 em.
49: DERICHTHYIDAE (LONGNECK EELS)
Family No. 48: SERRIVOMERIDAE
by P.H.J. Castle
Sawtooth eels
Saagtand-palings
Pectoral fins rudimentary. Dorsal origin behind anus;
median fins continuous around tail. Jaws elongate, narrow,
with rows of minute teeth; vomer with a saw-like row of
enlarged lancet-like teeth. Gill openings lateral, subvertical. Lateral-line pores minute. No scales.
Uniform black, overlaid with silver. Occurs in midwater
down to 4 500 metres, larvae and juveniles nearer surface.
Attain 60 cm. No commercial significance. Three genera;
several species worldwide but all require further study before definitive names can be applied; 1 genus in our area.
Genus SerrivomerGiII & Ryder, 1883
A single species in our area.
48.1 Serrivomer beanii
Gill & Ryder, 1883
Serrivomer beanii Gill & Ryder, 1883: 261 (North Atlantic); Goode &
Bean, 1896: 155*; Smith, SFSA No. 1109*; Grindley & Penrith, 1965: 283;
Hulley, 1972: 232.
Head 7, depth 50. D & A very delicate; D origin behind anus which is
about a head length behind gill opening. Vertebrae 154-165.
Head, abdomen and tail brown to black or silvery, but
skin readily abraded. Attains 78 cm. Known from midwater
depths off the Cape and Natal; also in Indian Ocean and
North Atlantic.
48.1 Serrivomer bean;;: 78 em.
Family No. 49: DERICHTHYIDAE
by P.H.J. Castle
Longneck eels
Langhals-palings
Body long, slender, rather narrow in pectoral region,
laterally compressed. Pectoral fins present. Dorsal origin
behind pectoral; median fins continuous around tail. Snout
either short and broad, or long and slender; jaws long;
anterior nostrils are short tubes on end of snout, directed
191
Three species; 1 in our area. Revised by Smith, Bohlke &
Castle (1981).
47.1 Nettastoma parviceps
Gunther, 1877
Nettastomaparviceps Gunther, 1877: 446 (Japan); 1887: 253*; Barnard,
1925: 194; Smith, SFSA No. 1119*; Smith, Bohlke & Castle, 1981: 540* .
Head 7.5, depth 25. Vertebrae ca. 250. Snout tip with a small dorsal
protuberance.
Body buff to purplish grey, paler below; median fins
black-edged; snout and lower jaw pinkish grey. Attains 82
cm. Occasionally taken by trawl from southeast coast to
southern Mozambique in up to 750 m; also known from
Japan, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand.
47.1 Nettastoma parviceps: 62 em.
Genus Venefiea Jordan & Davis, 1892
Four poorly known species; 1 in our area.
47.2 Venefica proboscidea
(Vaillant, 1888)
Nettastoma proboscidea Vaillant, 1888: 84, PI. 7, Fig. 3 (off Atlantic
Morocco). Venefica proboscidea: Smith, SFSA No. 1118.
Head 11.5, depth 37. Preanal vertebrae ca. 60. Teeth small, in bands on
jaws and vomer.
Greyish black, darker on snout, throat and belly. Attains
100 cm. Known offthe Cape, in 1500 m; also eastern Atlantic and elsewhere.
47.2 Venefica proboscidea: 63 em.
49: DERICHTHYIDAE (LONGNECK EELS)
Family No. 48: SERRIVOMERIDAE
by P.H.J. Castle
Sawtooth eels
Saagtand-palings
Pectoral fins rudimentary. Dorsal origin behind anus;
median fins continuous around tail. Jaws elongate, narrow,
with rows of minute teeth; vomer with a saw-like row of
enlarged lancet-like teeth. Gill openings lateral, subvertical. Lateral-line pores minute. No scales.
Uniform black, overlaid with silver. Occurs in midwater
down to 4 500 metres, larvae and juveniles nearer surface.
Attain 60 cm. No commercial significance. Three genera;
several species worldwide but all require further study before definitive names can be applied; 1 genus in our area.
Genus SerrivomerGiII & Ryder, 1883
A single species in our area.
48.1 Serrivomer beanii
Gill & Ryder, 1883
Serrivomer beanii Gill & Ryder, 1883: 261 (North Atlantic); Goode &
Bean, 1896: 155*; Smith, SFSA No. 1109*; Grindley & Penrith, 1965: 283;
Hulley, 1972: 232.
Head 7, depth 50. D & A very delicate; D origin behind anus which is
about a head length behind gill opening. Vertebrae 154-165.
Head, abdomen and tail brown to black or silvery, but
skin readily abraded. Attains 78 cm. Known from midwater
depths off the Cape and Natal; also in Indian Ocean and
North Atlantic.
48.1 Serrivomer bean;;: 78 em.
Family No. 49: DERICHTHYIDAE
by P.H.J. Castle
Longneck eels
Langhals-palings
Body long, slender, rather narrow in pectoral region,
laterally compressed. Pectoral fins present. Dorsal origin
behind pectoral; median fins continuous around tail. Snout
either short and broad, or long and slender; jaws long;
anterior nostrils are short tubes on end of snout, directed
191