Attains 20 cm. Off Table Bay and east coast of South
Africa in 400 - 1 750 m; also from other parts of Indian
Ocean.
96.6 Diero/ene mu/tifilis: 16 cm (after Alcock, 1894).
96.7 Dierolene pallidus
Hureau & Nielsen, 1981
Dicrolene pal/idus Hureau & Nielsen, 1981: 9, Figs. 8 & 9 (off
Namibia).
D 112-118; A 89-94; P 23-28 (5-6 lower rays free) ; V 2; developed GR
8-12. Distinct pores on head. Rear margin of preoperc\e without spines.
Attains 16 cm. Known from 2 localities off Namibia in
2772 - 2992 m.
96.7 Diero/ene pallidus: 18 cm.
Genus Epetriodus Cohen & Nielsen, 1978
Median basibranchial tooth patches 2; opercular spine
short and sharp. A single species, known only from 4
localities in western Indian Ocean.
96.8 Epetriodus freddyi
Cohen & Nielsen, 1978
Epetriodus freddyi Cohen & Nielsen, 1978: 30, Fig. 45 (off Mozambique); Shcherbachev, 1980: 143.
D 95-98; A 74-77; P24-29; V 2; GR 20-21. Eye about 2 in snout. Maxilla
extends well beyond eye; jaw teeth sharp, slender.
Body pale brown, fins darker. Attains 22 cm. Benthopelagic in 1 000 - 1 750 m between about 18° and 35°S in
western Indian Ocean.
96.8 Epetriodus freddyi: 21.5 em SL holotype.
Genus Genypterus Philippi, 1857
Possibly 5 or more species; 1 in our area.
96: OPHIDIIDAE (CUSKEELS)
Kingklip
96.9 Genypterus eapensis
(Smith, 1847)
PLATE 10
Koningklip
Xiphiurus capensis Smith, 1847: PI. 31 (South Africa) . Hoplophycis
lalandi Kaup, 1858: 92. Genypterus capensis: Barnard, 1927: 887*; Smith,
SFSA No. 1023*. Xiphiurus capensis Smith & Smith, 1966: 81*.
GR4. Depth about 7 in SL; P 2.1-2.9 in head. Maxilla reaches past eye.
No spines on operc\e.
Colour variable, mottled. Attains 160 cm or more.
Known only from Walvis Bay to Algoa Bay in 55 - 500 m.
One of South Africa's most sought after table fish; taken
mainly by trawlers or deep line boats. J.L.B. Smith states
(SFSA, p. 364): "The liver is of a delicacy and flavour unsurpassed by even chicken liver. If it became known ashore, it
would likely command a high price as a delicacy." Smith &
Smith (1966, p. 81) state: "as it is nowhere abundant, far
more fish named 'kingklip' on menus is eaten than is ever
caught."
Genus Glyptophidium Alcock, 1889
Six species; 1 in our area.
96.10 Glyptophidium longipes
Norman, 1939
Glyptophidium longipes Norman, 1939: 77, Fig. 28 (near Zanzibar);
Smith, 1968: 17'; Shcherbachev, 1980: 149.
D 130-135; A ca. 100; P 23-25; V 2; lower GR 25-26. Head bones with
thin crests. Eye diameter larger than length of snout. Opercular spine
weak. Pseudo branchial filaments 8-10.
Attains about 25 cm. Rather common on upper part of
continental slope off East Africa; extends south to Bazaruto
Id., Mozambique.
. ... . . .. _ .. .. . , ~.~ .~~~ ~-.... .. _--96.10 G/yptophidium /ongipes: 24 em (after Norman, 1939).
Genus Holcomycteronus Garman, 1899
Opercular spine strong; 2 median and 1 pair of basibranchial tooth patches. Six species; 2 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Drays 111-113; A rays 88-91 .............. . . H. aequatoris
Ib Drays 127; A rays 100 .. .. ................ . H. digittatus
347
Africa in 400 - 1 750 m; also from other parts of Indian
Ocean.
96.6 Diero/ene mu/tifilis: 16 cm (after Alcock, 1894).
96.7 Dierolene pallidus
Hureau & Nielsen, 1981
Dicrolene pal/idus Hureau & Nielsen, 1981: 9, Figs. 8 & 9 (off
Namibia).
D 112-118; A 89-94; P 23-28 (5-6 lower rays free) ; V 2; developed GR
8-12. Distinct pores on head. Rear margin of preoperc\e without spines.
Attains 16 cm. Known from 2 localities off Namibia in
2772 - 2992 m.
96.7 Diero/ene pallidus: 18 cm.
Genus Epetriodus Cohen & Nielsen, 1978
Median basibranchial tooth patches 2; opercular spine
short and sharp. A single species, known only from 4
localities in western Indian Ocean.
96.8 Epetriodus freddyi
Cohen & Nielsen, 1978
Epetriodus freddyi Cohen & Nielsen, 1978: 30, Fig. 45 (off Mozambique); Shcherbachev, 1980: 143.
D 95-98; A 74-77; P24-29; V 2; GR 20-21. Eye about 2 in snout. Maxilla
extends well beyond eye; jaw teeth sharp, slender.
Body pale brown, fins darker. Attains 22 cm. Benthopelagic in 1 000 - 1 750 m between about 18° and 35°S in
western Indian Ocean.
96.8 Epetriodus freddyi: 21.5 em SL holotype.
Genus Genypterus Philippi, 1857
Possibly 5 or more species; 1 in our area.
96: OPHIDIIDAE (CUSKEELS)
Kingklip
96.9 Genypterus eapensis
(Smith, 1847)
PLATE 10
Koningklip
Xiphiurus capensis Smith, 1847: PI. 31 (South Africa) . Hoplophycis
lalandi Kaup, 1858: 92. Genypterus capensis: Barnard, 1927: 887*; Smith,
SFSA No. 1023*. Xiphiurus capensis Smith & Smith, 1966: 81*.
GR4. Depth about 7 in SL; P 2.1-2.9 in head. Maxilla reaches past eye.
No spines on operc\e.
Colour variable, mottled. Attains 160 cm or more.
Known only from Walvis Bay to Algoa Bay in 55 - 500 m.
One of South Africa's most sought after table fish; taken
mainly by trawlers or deep line boats. J.L.B. Smith states
(SFSA, p. 364): "The liver is of a delicacy and flavour unsurpassed by even chicken liver. If it became known ashore, it
would likely command a high price as a delicacy." Smith &
Smith (1966, p. 81) state: "as it is nowhere abundant, far
more fish named 'kingklip' on menus is eaten than is ever
caught."
Genus Glyptophidium Alcock, 1889
Six species; 1 in our area.
96.10 Glyptophidium longipes
Norman, 1939
Glyptophidium longipes Norman, 1939: 77, Fig. 28 (near Zanzibar);
Smith, 1968: 17'; Shcherbachev, 1980: 149.
D 130-135; A ca. 100; P 23-25; V 2; lower GR 25-26. Head bones with
thin crests. Eye diameter larger than length of snout. Opercular spine
weak. Pseudo branchial filaments 8-10.
Attains about 25 cm. Rather common on upper part of
continental slope off East Africa; extends south to Bazaruto
Id., Mozambique.
. ... . . .. _ .. .. . , ~.~ .~~~ ~-.... .. _--96.10 G/yptophidium /ongipes: 24 em (after Norman, 1939).
Genus Holcomycteronus Garman, 1899
Opercular spine strong; 2 median and 1 pair of basibranchial tooth patches. Six species; 2 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Drays 111-113; A rays 88-91 .............. . . H. aequatoris
Ib Drays 127; A rays 100 .. .. ................ . H. digittatus
347