93: MACROURIDAE (GRENADIERS)
Genus Trachonurus Gunther, 1887
One species currently recognised (Marshall, 1973) but
others probably present.
93.28 Trachonurus villosus
(Gunther, 1877)
Coryphaenoides villosus Gunther, 1877: 441 (Japan). Trachonurus villosus: Shcherbachev et aI., 1979: 23.
D II,9-1O + ca. 160; P 15-17; V 7; medial GR 2+ 11. D spines smooth.
Dark brown to blackish. Spinules on scales erect , bristly. Broad patch of
scales on gular membrane.
Attains 60 cm. Mozambique, 850 - 960 m (CAS 50153).
Midwaters of Indian Ocean, and off South Australia; other
records mainly from bottom trawls in Atlantic and Pacific
oceans.
93.28 Trachonurus villosus: ca. 45 em (after Okamura, 1970).
Genus Trachyrincus Giorna, 1809
Five nominal species, 1 in our area.
93.29 Trachyrincus scabrus
(Rafinesque, 1810)
Trachyrincus anonyme Giorna, 1809: 179 (nomen obUtum; Nice).
Oxycephas scabrus Rafinesque, 1810: 13, PI. 1, Fig. 2 (Sicily). Lepidoleprus trachyrincus Risso, 1810 (Nice). Trachyrincus trachyrincus:
Trunov, 1972: 398*; Karrer, 1973: 217.
D 9 + ?; P 18; V 6-7; 4 scale rows below 2nd D origin; about 32 dorsal
scutes behind 1st D origin, 3 or 4 scutes before anus, about 59 ventral
scutes behind anus. Eye 4, snout 2.5 in head. (Counts and proportions
from HUMZ 73908.)
93.29 Trachyrincus scabrus: ca. 40 em (after Gunther, 1887).
340
Attains at least 60 cm. Namibia, west coast of South
Africa; eastern North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea.
Genus Ventrifossa Gilbert & Hubbs, 1920
Species primarily tropical in 200 - 700 m; some records to
slightly below 900 m. About 25 species, 3 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la V 8-9; 1st D shorter than head; leading edge of snout blackish. 2
Ib V 15-18; 1st D longer than head; snout without
blackish margins .................... ..... .. .. .... .............. ... .. ..... V. ori
2a V 8; 1st D uniformly dusky; chin barbel much shorter
than eye diameter ................................................... V. nasuta
2b V 9; 1st D clear at base and tip, rest of fin
dusky to blackish; chin barbel subequal to
or longer than eye ...... .. ........................... .. ..... V. aff. divergens
93.30 Ventrifossa aff. divergens
Gilbert & Hubbs, 1920
Ventrifossa divergens Gilbert & Hubbs, 1920: 549, Fig. 37 (Philippines);
Barnard, 1925: 346; Smith, SFSA No. 245; 1964: 293. Macruroplus
polylepis: Smith , 1968: 4*.
D II ,lO-11 + ?; P 18-24; V 9; lateral GR 0+(8-13), medial (2-3)+
(13-15) . Short, conical spinules in quincunx arrangement on body scales.
No scales on branchiostegal membranes. This species appears to differ
from V. divergens in the shape of its suborbital shelf and supranasal ridge.
It may be undescribed, but the inadequate study material does not justify
a description at this time.
Attains at least 30 cm. Found off East London, Durban,
Natal and southern Mozambique, in 421 - 740 m.
93.30 Ventrifossa aft. divergens: 23 em (oft Mozambique).
93.31 Ventrifossa nasuta
(Smith, 1935)
Lionurus nasutus Smith, 1935 : 176, Fig. 3 (South Africa). Macruroplus
nasutus: Smith , SFSA No. 241*; Smith, 1964: 294.
D II,8-1O + ca. 140; P 17-21; V 8; lateral GR 0+(10-11) , medial
(1-3)+(11-14). Numerous fine conical spinules arranged in quincunx pattern on body scales; 5-6Yz scale rows below middleofD . No scales on branchiostegal membranes.
Attains 30 cm . Durban to Mozambique in 405 - 740 m.
Genus Trachonurus Gunther, 1887
One species currently recognised (Marshall, 1973) but
others probably present.
93.28 Trachonurus villosus
(Gunther, 1877)
Coryphaenoides villosus Gunther, 1877: 441 (Japan). Trachonurus villosus: Shcherbachev et aI., 1979: 23.
D II,9-1O + ca. 160; P 15-17; V 7; medial GR 2+ 11. D spines smooth.
Dark brown to blackish. Spinules on scales erect , bristly. Broad patch of
scales on gular membrane.
Attains 60 cm. Mozambique, 850 - 960 m (CAS 50153).
Midwaters of Indian Ocean, and off South Australia; other
records mainly from bottom trawls in Atlantic and Pacific
oceans.
93.28 Trachonurus villosus: ca. 45 em (after Okamura, 1970).
Genus Trachyrincus Giorna, 1809
Five nominal species, 1 in our area.
93.29 Trachyrincus scabrus
(Rafinesque, 1810)
Trachyrincus anonyme Giorna, 1809: 179 (nomen obUtum; Nice).
Oxycephas scabrus Rafinesque, 1810: 13, PI. 1, Fig. 2 (Sicily). Lepidoleprus trachyrincus Risso, 1810 (Nice). Trachyrincus trachyrincus:
Trunov, 1972: 398*; Karrer, 1973: 217.
D 9 + ?; P 18; V 6-7; 4 scale rows below 2nd D origin; about 32 dorsal
scutes behind 1st D origin, 3 or 4 scutes before anus, about 59 ventral
scutes behind anus. Eye 4, snout 2.5 in head. (Counts and proportions
from HUMZ 73908.)
93.29 Trachyrincus scabrus: ca. 40 em (after Gunther, 1887).
340
Attains at least 60 cm. Namibia, west coast of South
Africa; eastern North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea.
Genus Ventrifossa Gilbert & Hubbs, 1920
Species primarily tropical in 200 - 700 m; some records to
slightly below 900 m. About 25 species, 3 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la V 8-9; 1st D shorter than head; leading edge of snout blackish. 2
Ib V 15-18; 1st D longer than head; snout without
blackish margins .................... ..... .. .. .... .............. ... .. ..... V. ori
2a V 8; 1st D uniformly dusky; chin barbel much shorter
than eye diameter ................................................... V. nasuta
2b V 9; 1st D clear at base and tip, rest of fin
dusky to blackish; chin barbel subequal to
or longer than eye ...... .. ........................... .. ..... V. aff. divergens
93.30 Ventrifossa aff. divergens
Gilbert & Hubbs, 1920
Ventrifossa divergens Gilbert & Hubbs, 1920: 549, Fig. 37 (Philippines);
Barnard, 1925: 346; Smith, SFSA No. 245; 1964: 293. Macruroplus
polylepis: Smith , 1968: 4*.
D II ,lO-11 + ?; P 18-24; V 9; lateral GR 0+(8-13), medial (2-3)+
(13-15) . Short, conical spinules in quincunx arrangement on body scales.
No scales on branchiostegal membranes. This species appears to differ
from V. divergens in the shape of its suborbital shelf and supranasal ridge.
It may be undescribed, but the inadequate study material does not justify
a description at this time.
Attains at least 30 cm. Found off East London, Durban,
Natal and southern Mozambique, in 421 - 740 m.
93.30 Ventrifossa aft. divergens: 23 em (oft Mozambique).
93.31 Ventrifossa nasuta
(Smith, 1935)
Lionurus nasutus Smith, 1935 : 176, Fig. 3 (South Africa). Macruroplus
nasutus: Smith , SFSA No. 241*; Smith, 1964: 294.
D II,8-1O + ca. 140; P 17-21; V 8; lateral GR 0+(10-11) , medial
(1-3)+(11-14). Numerous fine conical spinules arranged in quincunx pattern on body scales; 5-6Yz scale rows below middleofD . No scales on branchiostegal membranes.
Attains 30 cm . Durban to Mozambique in 405 - 740 m.