96: OPHIDIIDAE (CUSKEELS)
96.11 Holcomycteronus aequatoris
(Smith & Radcliffe, 1913)
Bassogigas aequatoris Smith & Radcliffe, in Radcliffe, 1913: 153, PI. 10,
Fig. 3 (off Celebes).
D 111-113; A 88-91; P 20-21; V 2; developed GR 8-10. LL indistinct.
Attains 22 cm. Three specimens from off the east coast
differ slightly from Indo-Australian specimens. Known
from 1 510 to 2 980 m.
96.11 Holcomycteronus aequatoris: 19 em Sl.
96.12 Holcomycteronus ? digittatus
Garman, 1899
Ho!comycteronus digittatus Garman, 1899: 163 , PI. 36, Fig. 1 (eastern
Pacific); Hureau & Nielsen, 1981: 16*.
D 127; A 100; P 20; V 2; developed GR 9. Eyes small. LL indistinct.
Attains 30 cm. One 305 mm specimen from 2 953 m off
Namibia; possibly conspecific with H. digittatus from eastern Pacific.
96.12 Holcomycteronus digittatus: 33 em.
Genus Hoplobrotula Gill, 1863
Basibranchial with 1 median and 1 pair of tooth patches.
Two species; 1 in our area.
96.13 Hoplobrotula gnathopus
Regan, 1921
PLATE 10
False kingklip
Vals koningklip
Hop!obrotu!agnathopus Regan, 1921: 417 (off Natal); Smith, SFSA No.
1017*.
D 99-103; A 78-82; P 22-25; V 2; GR 4-5. Depth about 6. Preaching
nearly to anus. Eye larger than snout.
Generally reddish or pinkish. Attains about 45 cm.
Taken occasionally at 180 - 550 m. Known only from Natal
and a few localities somewhat to the north.
348
96.13 Hoplobrotula gnathopus: 48 em (off Algoa Bay).
Genus Lamprogrammus Alcock, 1891
No V in adults. Head cavernous, bones poorly ossified.
Four or more species; 2 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Body pale rose-pink (yellowish in alcohol); total
GR 20-25; basibranchial bone with teeth ........... L. exutus
Ib Body blackish; total GR 17-21; no teeth on
basi branchial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. L. niger
96.14 Lamprogrammus exutus
Nybelin & Poll, 1958
Lamprogrammus exutus Nybelin & Poll, 1958: 4, Fig. 1 (Gulf of
Guinea); Trunov, 1971: 733*; Golovan, 1978: 223.
D 108-119; A 88-96; P 18-21.
Attains about 40 cm. Caught on or above continental
slope in 260 - 650 m. Gulf of Guinea to Walvis Bay.
96.14 Lamprogrammus exutus: 40 em SL holotype (after Nybelin & Poll, 1958).
96.15 Lamprogrammus niger
Alcock, 1891
Lamprogrammus niger Alcock, in Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891: 33,
Fig. 2 (Bay of Bengal); Shcherbachev, 1980: 154.
D 105-115; A 84-91; P 16-19; V rudiments present in 16-cm specimen
from tropical Atlantic. A row of large scales along LL (sometimes lost in
trawl-caught specimens).
Attains 55 cm or more. Probably bathypelagic, but larger
-'IIJO)§)Ul.IJlJ7l1~ . /iJlJljlll~
1::::::::,.
lJ.li/).iJ./iJJI;1J~~lm;;;"'i~"'---~
------96.15 Lamprogrammus niger: 25 em.
96.11 Holcomycteronus aequatoris
(Smith & Radcliffe, 1913)
Bassogigas aequatoris Smith & Radcliffe, in Radcliffe, 1913: 153, PI. 10,
Fig. 3 (off Celebes).
D 111-113; A 88-91; P 20-21; V 2; developed GR 8-10. LL indistinct.
Attains 22 cm. Three specimens from off the east coast
differ slightly from Indo-Australian specimens. Known
from 1 510 to 2 980 m.
96.11 Holcomycteronus aequatoris: 19 em Sl.
96.12 Holcomycteronus ? digittatus
Garman, 1899
Ho!comycteronus digittatus Garman, 1899: 163 , PI. 36, Fig. 1 (eastern
Pacific); Hureau & Nielsen, 1981: 16*.
D 127; A 100; P 20; V 2; developed GR 9. Eyes small. LL indistinct.
Attains 30 cm. One 305 mm specimen from 2 953 m off
Namibia; possibly conspecific with H. digittatus from eastern Pacific.
96.12 Holcomycteronus digittatus: 33 em.
Genus Hoplobrotula Gill, 1863
Basibranchial with 1 median and 1 pair of tooth patches.
Two species; 1 in our area.
96.13 Hoplobrotula gnathopus
Regan, 1921
PLATE 10
False kingklip
Vals koningklip
Hop!obrotu!agnathopus Regan, 1921: 417 (off Natal); Smith, SFSA No.
1017*.
D 99-103; A 78-82; P 22-25; V 2; GR 4-5. Depth about 6. Preaching
nearly to anus. Eye larger than snout.
Generally reddish or pinkish. Attains about 45 cm.
Taken occasionally at 180 - 550 m. Known only from Natal
and a few localities somewhat to the north.
348
96.13 Hoplobrotula gnathopus: 48 em (off Algoa Bay).
Genus Lamprogrammus Alcock, 1891
No V in adults. Head cavernous, bones poorly ossified.
Four or more species; 2 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Body pale rose-pink (yellowish in alcohol); total
GR 20-25; basibranchial bone with teeth ........... L. exutus
Ib Body blackish; total GR 17-21; no teeth on
basi branchial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. L. niger
96.14 Lamprogrammus exutus
Nybelin & Poll, 1958
Lamprogrammus exutus Nybelin & Poll, 1958: 4, Fig. 1 (Gulf of
Guinea); Trunov, 1971: 733*; Golovan, 1978: 223.
D 108-119; A 88-96; P 18-21.
Attains about 40 cm. Caught on or above continental
slope in 260 - 650 m. Gulf of Guinea to Walvis Bay.
96.14 Lamprogrammus exutus: 40 em SL holotype (after Nybelin & Poll, 1958).
96.15 Lamprogrammus niger
Alcock, 1891
Lamprogrammus niger Alcock, in Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891: 33,
Fig. 2 (Bay of Bengal); Shcherbachev, 1980: 154.
D 105-115; A 84-91; P 16-19; V rudiments present in 16-cm specimen
from tropical Atlantic. A row of large scales along LL (sometimes lost in
trawl-caught specimens).
Attains 55 cm or more. Probably bathypelagic, but larger
-'IIJO)§)Ul.IJlJ7l1~ . /iJlJljlll~
1::::::::,.
lJ.li/).iJ./iJJI;1J~~lm;;;"'i~"'---~
------96.15 Lamprogrammus niger: 25 em.