specimens are sometimes taken in bottom trawls in
800 - 2 000 m. Caught off Natal; probably circumtropical.
Genus Luciobrotula Smith & Radcliffe, 1913
Teeth granular; single median basibranchial tooth patch.
Four or 5 species; 1 in our area.
96.16 Luciobrotula bartschi
Smith & Radcliffe, 1913
Luciobrotula bartschi Smith & Radcliffe, in Radcliffe , 1913: 171, PI. 16,
Fig. 2 (Palawan Passage , Philippines) ; Cohen, 1981: Tab. 1,3.
D 87-93; A 68-75; V 2; GR 3. Snout depressed , naked , with fleshy flaps
and ridges. P falling far short of A origin. Maxilla reaches well beyond
eye.
Body usually pale, lighter than fins, head colour variable.
Attains about 45 cm . Trawled in 500 - 800 m. One specimen
trawled off Natal; known from Hawaii, Philippines, and
several localities in western Indian Ocean.
96.16 Lueiobrotu/a bartsehi: 26 em.
Genus Monomitopus Alcock, 1889
Single median basibranchial tooth patch. Thirteen
species, 1 in our area.
96.17 Monomitopus nigripinnis
(Alcock, 1889)
Sirembo nigripinnis Alcock, 1889: 384 (And am an Sea). Monomitopus
nigripinne: Alcock, 1890: 297; Norman, 1939: 76; Shcherbachev, 1980:
156.
D 99-104; A 79-86; P 29-33; V 1 (short and thin) ; developed GR 13-19.
Eye diameter equals snout length. Strong opercular spine.
Fins black. Attains 35 cm. Eleven specimens from off
Natal in 700 - 1 200 m. Known from several localities in
Indian Ocean.
96.17 Monomitopus nigripinnis: 20 em SL.
96: OPHIDIIDAE (CUSKEELS)
Genus Neobythites Goode & Bean, 1886
Opercular spine strong; 2 median basibranchial tooth
patches. Cohen & Nielsen (1978) tentatively recognise 14
species in this genus; 1 species in our area.
96.18 Neobythites analis
Barnard,1927
Black-edged cuskeel
Swartrand-kuskpaling
Neobythites macrops (non Gunther): Gilchrist & Thompson , 1914: 89;
1917: 416; Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924: 19; Smith, SFSA No. 1019*;
Hulley, 1972: 230. Neobythites analis Barnard, 1927: 879 (Algoa Bay and
Natal coast); Shcherbachev , 1980: 159.
D 103-106; A 83-86; P 24-28; V 2. Head 4.5-5 , depth at vent 6.0-6.4 in
SL.
Head and body brownish; 0 pale , C dusky , A pale with a
black margin. Attains 17 cm. If this species is not identical
with N. macrops, then it appears to be endemic to South
Africa. Trawled in 85 - 1 280 m from Algoa Bay to Natal
coast.
96.18 Neobythites analis: 12.5 em (off South Africa).
Genus Ophidion Linnaeus, 1758
This genus needs revision. About 18 valid species; 1 in
our area.
96.19 Ophidion smithi
(Fowler, 1934)
Otophidium smithi Fowler, 1934: 508, Fig. 52 (Umgui, Natal); Smith,
SFSA No. 1024*.
D 98; A 95; P 22; V 2; developed GR 4-7. Scales absent from top and
sides of head. V below eyes.
One specimen (14 cm) from shallow water in Natal;
known from Red Sea to Natal. Very rare; more specimens
wanted.
96.19 Ophidion smithi: 15 em holotype (after Fowler, 1934).
349
800 - 2 000 m. Caught off Natal; probably circumtropical.
Genus Luciobrotula Smith & Radcliffe, 1913
Teeth granular; single median basibranchial tooth patch.
Four or 5 species; 1 in our area.
96.16 Luciobrotula bartschi
Smith & Radcliffe, 1913
Luciobrotula bartschi Smith & Radcliffe, in Radcliffe , 1913: 171, PI. 16,
Fig. 2 (Palawan Passage , Philippines) ; Cohen, 1981: Tab. 1,3.
D 87-93; A 68-75; V 2; GR 3. Snout depressed , naked , with fleshy flaps
and ridges. P falling far short of A origin. Maxilla reaches well beyond
eye.
Body usually pale, lighter than fins, head colour variable.
Attains about 45 cm . Trawled in 500 - 800 m. One specimen
trawled off Natal; known from Hawaii, Philippines, and
several localities in western Indian Ocean.
96.16 Lueiobrotu/a bartsehi: 26 em.
Genus Monomitopus Alcock, 1889
Single median basibranchial tooth patch. Thirteen
species, 1 in our area.
96.17 Monomitopus nigripinnis
(Alcock, 1889)
Sirembo nigripinnis Alcock, 1889: 384 (And am an Sea). Monomitopus
nigripinne: Alcock, 1890: 297; Norman, 1939: 76; Shcherbachev, 1980:
156.
D 99-104; A 79-86; P 29-33; V 1 (short and thin) ; developed GR 13-19.
Eye diameter equals snout length. Strong opercular spine.
Fins black. Attains 35 cm. Eleven specimens from off
Natal in 700 - 1 200 m. Known from several localities in
Indian Ocean.
96.17 Monomitopus nigripinnis: 20 em SL.
96: OPHIDIIDAE (CUSKEELS)
Genus Neobythites Goode & Bean, 1886
Opercular spine strong; 2 median basibranchial tooth
patches. Cohen & Nielsen (1978) tentatively recognise 14
species in this genus; 1 species in our area.
96.18 Neobythites analis
Barnard,1927
Black-edged cuskeel
Swartrand-kuskpaling
Neobythites macrops (non Gunther): Gilchrist & Thompson , 1914: 89;
1917: 416; Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924: 19; Smith, SFSA No. 1019*;
Hulley, 1972: 230. Neobythites analis Barnard, 1927: 879 (Algoa Bay and
Natal coast); Shcherbachev , 1980: 159.
D 103-106; A 83-86; P 24-28; V 2. Head 4.5-5 , depth at vent 6.0-6.4 in
SL.
Head and body brownish; 0 pale , C dusky , A pale with a
black margin. Attains 17 cm. If this species is not identical
with N. macrops, then it appears to be endemic to South
Africa. Trawled in 85 - 1 280 m from Algoa Bay to Natal
coast.
96.18 Neobythites analis: 12.5 em (off South Africa).
Genus Ophidion Linnaeus, 1758
This genus needs revision. About 18 valid species; 1 in
our area.
96.19 Ophidion smithi
(Fowler, 1934)
Otophidium smithi Fowler, 1934: 508, Fig. 52 (Umgui, Natal); Smith,
SFSA No. 1024*.
D 98; A 95; P 22; V 2; developed GR 4-7. Scales absent from top and
sides of head. V below eyes.
One specimen (14 cm) from shallow water in Natal;
known from Red Sea to Natal. Very rare; more specimens
wanted.
96.19 Ophidion smithi: 15 em holotype (after Fowler, 1934).
349