90: MORIDAE (DEEPSEA COOS)
Genus Phys;cu!us Kaup, 1858
No teeth on vomer. About 20 named species; 2 endemic
species in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Upper jaw teeth in rows, outer teeth somewhat
larger; Dl 10-11; D2 53-55 ....................................... P. capensis
Ib Upper jaw teeth closely spaced, evenly sized;
Dl 8-9; D2 62-68 ............................................. ..... P. natalensis
90.7 Physiculus capensis
Gilchrist, 1922
Physiculus capensis Gilchrist, 1922: 62 (Cape); Barnard, 1925: 326;
Smith, SFSA No. 260*; Winterbottom, 1974: 6; Brownell, 1979: 8.
D (10-11)+(53-55); A 61-62; P 25-26; V 7; GR (2-3)+ 10; vertebrae
49-50. Ventral light organ about midway between V and A.
Body grey, belly darker. Dl tip dark; D2 and A with dark
margin. Attains 18 cm. Benthopelagic over continental
shelf and upper slope. Known only from the Cape Peninsula
to East London; common.
90.7 Physiculus capensis: 18 em (off Cape south coast).
90.8 Physiculus natalensis
Gilchrist, 1922
Physiculus natalensis Gilchrist, 1922: 63 (Natal); Barnard, 1925: 327;
Smith, SFSA No. 259; Winterbottom, 1974: 6.
D (8-9)+(62-68); A 65-70; P 23-24; V 7; GR 4+11; vertebrae 53-54.
Ventral light organ close to V.
Body generally iridescent. Attains 24 cm. Benthopelagic
on upper slope off Natal; rare.
90.8 Physiculus natalensis: 25 em syntype (off Natal).
328
Genus Tr;pterophyc;s Boulenger, 1902
Jaws with a series of close-set incisors. Two species; T.
intermedia Whitley, 1948 is known from the eastern Indian
Ocean, Australia and New Zealand.
90.9 Tripterophycis gilchristi
Boulenger, 1902
Tripterophycis gilchristi Boulenger, ~902: 335* (offthe Cape); Barnard,
1925: 329; Smith, SFSA No. 250*; Pfaff, 1953: 147.
D (4-5)+(12-14)+(36-39); A 103-110; V 5. Snout rounded, shorter than
eye. Chin barbel present. No teeth on vomer. Light organ immediately
before anus.
Body pale; belly dusky. Attains 20 cm. Known only from
upper slope region off the Cape and Durban; rare.
90.9 Tripterophycis gilchristi: 18 em (off Cape Point).
Family No. 91: MELANONIDAE
by D.M. Cohen
Melanonids
Melanoniede
Body slender to deep anteriorly, tapering to a narrow
caudal peduncle and small tail. A long, continuous dorsal
fin (sometimes appearing as two); anal fin also very long.
No fin spines. Pectoral fins midlateral; ventral fins beneath
pectorals. Scales small, cycloid. Head with numerous small,
dark, parallel fleshy ridges. No V-shaped crest on top of
head. Last vertebra supporting 2 or more hypural bones.
Swimbladder not attached to rear of skull.
Mesopelagic to bathypelagic. Found in oceanic waters
around the world, but nowhere very common. A single
genus, Melanonus Gunther, 1878; Melanosoma Gilchrist,
1904 is a junior synonym. Both of the 2 valid species have
been caught in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Jaw teeth uniformly short; P 11-13 ............................ M. gracilis
1b Jaw teeth of uneven size, some long and needle-like;
P 14-16 ........................................................... M. zugmayeri
Genus Phys;cu!us Kaup, 1858
No teeth on vomer. About 20 named species; 2 endemic
species in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Upper jaw teeth in rows, outer teeth somewhat
larger; Dl 10-11; D2 53-55 ....................................... P. capensis
Ib Upper jaw teeth closely spaced, evenly sized;
Dl 8-9; D2 62-68 ............................................. ..... P. natalensis
90.7 Physiculus capensis
Gilchrist, 1922
Physiculus capensis Gilchrist, 1922: 62 (Cape); Barnard, 1925: 326;
Smith, SFSA No. 260*; Winterbottom, 1974: 6; Brownell, 1979: 8.
D (10-11)+(53-55); A 61-62; P 25-26; V 7; GR (2-3)+ 10; vertebrae
49-50. Ventral light organ about midway between V and A.
Body grey, belly darker. Dl tip dark; D2 and A with dark
margin. Attains 18 cm. Benthopelagic over continental
shelf and upper slope. Known only from the Cape Peninsula
to East London; common.
90.7 Physiculus capensis: 18 em (off Cape south coast).
90.8 Physiculus natalensis
Gilchrist, 1922
Physiculus natalensis Gilchrist, 1922: 63 (Natal); Barnard, 1925: 327;
Smith, SFSA No. 259; Winterbottom, 1974: 6.
D (8-9)+(62-68); A 65-70; P 23-24; V 7; GR 4+11; vertebrae 53-54.
Ventral light organ close to V.
Body generally iridescent. Attains 24 cm. Benthopelagic
on upper slope off Natal; rare.
90.8 Physiculus natalensis: 25 em syntype (off Natal).
328
Genus Tr;pterophyc;s Boulenger, 1902
Jaws with a series of close-set incisors. Two species; T.
intermedia Whitley, 1948 is known from the eastern Indian
Ocean, Australia and New Zealand.
90.9 Tripterophycis gilchristi
Boulenger, 1902
Tripterophycis gilchristi Boulenger, ~902: 335* (offthe Cape); Barnard,
1925: 329; Smith, SFSA No. 250*; Pfaff, 1953: 147.
D (4-5)+(12-14)+(36-39); A 103-110; V 5. Snout rounded, shorter than
eye. Chin barbel present. No teeth on vomer. Light organ immediately
before anus.
Body pale; belly dusky. Attains 20 cm. Known only from
upper slope region off the Cape and Durban; rare.
90.9 Tripterophycis gilchristi: 18 em (off Cape Point).
Family No. 91: MELANONIDAE
by D.M. Cohen
Melanonids
Melanoniede
Body slender to deep anteriorly, tapering to a narrow
caudal peduncle and small tail. A long, continuous dorsal
fin (sometimes appearing as two); anal fin also very long.
No fin spines. Pectoral fins midlateral; ventral fins beneath
pectorals. Scales small, cycloid. Head with numerous small,
dark, parallel fleshy ridges. No V-shaped crest on top of
head. Last vertebra supporting 2 or more hypural bones.
Swimbladder not attached to rear of skull.
Mesopelagic to bathypelagic. Found in oceanic waters
around the world, but nowhere very common. A single
genus, Melanonus Gunther, 1878; Melanosoma Gilchrist,
1904 is a junior synonym. Both of the 2 valid species have
been caught in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Jaw teeth uniformly short; P 11-13 ............................ M. gracilis
1b Jaw teeth of uneven size, some long and needle-like;
P 14-16 ........................................................... M. zugmayeri