mainly on the revision of the western North Atlantic species
by Cohen (1964). Two genera are known from our area;
Winteria, with one species known from the Atlantic and
Indo-Pacific, may be found in our area and is thus included.
KEY TO GENERA
1a Belly with a broad, flattened, scaly, ventral sole
extending from the head to the anus, which is
located well behind V bases ............................... Opisthoproctus
1b Belly without a flattened scaly sole; anus between
V bases ........................................................................... 2
2a Eyes directed dorsally to dorsolaterally;
V longer than head .......................................... Rhynchohyalus
2b Eyes directed anteriorly; V shorter than head ................. Winteria
Genus Opisthoproctus Vaillant, 1888
Luminescent bacteria are contained in a diverticulum of
the rectum. The light produced by the bacteria i~ spread
over the flattened sole-like reflecting organ along the ventral edge of the belly (Herring, 1977). Body compressed.
Eyes tubular, directed dorsally, covered with transparent
gelatinous tissue. No light organ near the eye. At least two
species; probably both occur in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Anal fin distinct, with 8 or 9 rays; sole not reaching
in front of vertical from nostrils .............................. O. grimaldii
1b Anal fin rudimentary or absent, often not visible
externally; sole reaches in front of vertical from
nostrils ............................................................... O. soleatus
63.1 Opisthoproctus grimaldii
Zugmayer, 1911
Opisthoproctus grimaldii Zugmayer, 1911: 2 (off Portugal); 1911: 13,
PI. 1, Fig. 5; Cohen, 1964: 63*; Trunov, 1972: 397*.
D 14-17; A 8-9; P 11-12; V 10-11; GR 20-25. Head 2.2-2.4, body depth
2.2-2.5 in SL. Jaws and palatines toothless; vomer with 6 or 7 small,
pointed teeth.
Ventral % of body and ventral part of head peppered with
large melanophores; dorsal part of head transparent; ventral surface of rear part of sole with 4 dark blotches. Attains
70 mm SL. One specimen from 500 - 510 m off northern
Namibia. Most specimens have been taken in the North
63.1 Opisthoproctus grimaldii: 5 em SL (after Cohen, 1964).
63: OPHISTHOPROCTIDAE (BARRELEYES)
Atlantic, but there are a few records from the Indo-West
Pacific. According to Cohen (1964), "the stomach of one
specimen was packed with the tentacles and nematocysts of
siphonophores" .
63.2 Opisthoproctus soleatus
Vaillant, 1888
Opisthoproctus soleatus Vaillant, 1888: 105, PI. 13, Figs. 1, 1a (off
Morocco); Cohen, 1964: 65*.
D 11-13; A not visible externally in some specimens, visible in others as
2 or 3 rudimentary rays between anus and C base; P 14; V 9-10; GR about
12. Head 2.5-2.8, body depth 2.4-2.8 in SL. Jaws toothless; numerous
teeth on vomer, and a few on palatines. Anus below C base on a short protuberance.
Sides of body dark; head below and behind eye sprinkled
with large melanophores; snout translucent ventrally, transparent dorsally. Ventral aspect of sole uniformly dark
posteriorly. Attains 10 cm. Not yet reported from our area
but probably occurs here. Known from Atlantic and IndoWest Pacific.
63.2 Opisthoproctus soleatus: drawn from 3 specimens 2 em, 4.5 em and
5.5 em SL (after Cohen, 1964).
Genus Rhynchohyalus Barnard, 1925
Body compressed, elongate, the depth much less than
head length; anus between V. Monotypic.
63.3 Rhynchohyalus natalensis
(Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924)
Hyalorhynchus natalensis Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924: 4, PI. 1, Fig. 1
(off Table Bay, 135 fms., not Natal). Rhynchohyalus natalensis: Smith,
SFSA No. 128; Cohen, 1964: 51*; Bertelsen et al., 1965: 157.
D 10-12; A 7-10; P 14; V 11-12; LL 41. Head 2.6-3.0, body depth 4.0-4.5
in SL. Mouth very small, toothless; vomer with a band of teeth.
Body (in preservative) brown, with scattered melanophores ventrally; V and area around anus black; head trans63.3 Rhynchohyalus natalensis: 9.5 em SL (after Grey, 1952).
217
by Cohen (1964). Two genera are known from our area;
Winteria, with one species known from the Atlantic and
Indo-Pacific, may be found in our area and is thus included.
KEY TO GENERA
1a Belly with a broad, flattened, scaly, ventral sole
extending from the head to the anus, which is
located well behind V bases ............................... Opisthoproctus
1b Belly without a flattened scaly sole; anus between
V bases ........................................................................... 2
2a Eyes directed dorsally to dorsolaterally;
V longer than head .......................................... Rhynchohyalus
2b Eyes directed anteriorly; V shorter than head ................. Winteria
Genus Opisthoproctus Vaillant, 1888
Luminescent bacteria are contained in a diverticulum of
the rectum. The light produced by the bacteria i~ spread
over the flattened sole-like reflecting organ along the ventral edge of the belly (Herring, 1977). Body compressed.
Eyes tubular, directed dorsally, covered with transparent
gelatinous tissue. No light organ near the eye. At least two
species; probably both occur in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Anal fin distinct, with 8 or 9 rays; sole not reaching
in front of vertical from nostrils .............................. O. grimaldii
1b Anal fin rudimentary or absent, often not visible
externally; sole reaches in front of vertical from
nostrils ............................................................... O. soleatus
63.1 Opisthoproctus grimaldii
Zugmayer, 1911
Opisthoproctus grimaldii Zugmayer, 1911: 2 (off Portugal); 1911: 13,
PI. 1, Fig. 5; Cohen, 1964: 63*; Trunov, 1972: 397*.
D 14-17; A 8-9; P 11-12; V 10-11; GR 20-25. Head 2.2-2.4, body depth
2.2-2.5 in SL. Jaws and palatines toothless; vomer with 6 or 7 small,
pointed teeth.
Ventral % of body and ventral part of head peppered with
large melanophores; dorsal part of head transparent; ventral surface of rear part of sole with 4 dark blotches. Attains
70 mm SL. One specimen from 500 - 510 m off northern
Namibia. Most specimens have been taken in the North
63.1 Opisthoproctus grimaldii: 5 em SL (after Cohen, 1964).
63: OPHISTHOPROCTIDAE (BARRELEYES)
Atlantic, but there are a few records from the Indo-West
Pacific. According to Cohen (1964), "the stomach of one
specimen was packed with the tentacles and nematocysts of
siphonophores" .
63.2 Opisthoproctus soleatus
Vaillant, 1888
Opisthoproctus soleatus Vaillant, 1888: 105, PI. 13, Figs. 1, 1a (off
Morocco); Cohen, 1964: 65*.
D 11-13; A not visible externally in some specimens, visible in others as
2 or 3 rudimentary rays between anus and C base; P 14; V 9-10; GR about
12. Head 2.5-2.8, body depth 2.4-2.8 in SL. Jaws toothless; numerous
teeth on vomer, and a few on palatines. Anus below C base on a short protuberance.
Sides of body dark; head below and behind eye sprinkled
with large melanophores; snout translucent ventrally, transparent dorsally. Ventral aspect of sole uniformly dark
posteriorly. Attains 10 cm. Not yet reported from our area
but probably occurs here. Known from Atlantic and IndoWest Pacific.
63.2 Opisthoproctus soleatus: drawn from 3 specimens 2 em, 4.5 em and
5.5 em SL (after Cohen, 1964).
Genus Rhynchohyalus Barnard, 1925
Body compressed, elongate, the depth much less than
head length; anus between V. Monotypic.
63.3 Rhynchohyalus natalensis
(Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924)
Hyalorhynchus natalensis Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924: 4, PI. 1, Fig. 1
(off Table Bay, 135 fms., not Natal). Rhynchohyalus natalensis: Smith,
SFSA No. 128; Cohen, 1964: 51*; Bertelsen et al., 1965: 157.
D 10-12; A 7-10; P 14; V 11-12; LL 41. Head 2.6-3.0, body depth 4.0-4.5
in SL. Mouth very small, toothless; vomer with a band of teeth.
Body (in preservative) brown, with scattered melanophores ventrally; V and area around anus black; head trans63.3 Rhynchohyalus natalensis: 9.5 em SL (after Grey, 1952).
217