96: OPHIDIIDAE (CUSKEELS)
Genus Penopus Goode & Bean, 1896
Opercle with strong curved spine dorsally; preopercle
with 4 or 5 spines at lower angle. Median basibranchial
tooth plates 2. Two species; 1 in our area.
96.20 Penopus microphthalmus
(Vaillant, 1888)
Sirembo microphthalmus Vaillant , 1888: 275,24, Fig. 4 (Cape Verde).
Penopus microphthalmus: Shcherbachev et aI. , 1978: 189.
D 139; A 109; P 18-19; V 2 (bound togetherfor length offin); GR 8-10.
Depth at vent 10-11 in SL. P falling well short of A origin; LL in the form
of 3 rows of circular organs (sometimes destroyed).
Attains about 35 cm. One specimen from 1350 to 1400 m
off the Cape; also a few specimens from tropical Atlantic.
96.20 Penopus microphthalmus: 27 cm.
Genus Porogadus Goode & Bean, 1886
Single median basibranchial tooth patch; vomer with
V-shaped tooth patch. This genus is much in need of
revision; about 14 species , 1 in our area.
96.21 Porogadus miles
Goode & Bean, 1886
Porogadus miles Goode & Bean , 1886: 602 (northwest Atlantic) ;
Smith, SFSA No. 1022*; Shcherbachev, 1980: 166*.
D 165-174; A l35-140; P 16-20; V 2. Body long and slender. Strongly
developed spines on head . Prominent mucous cavities on head and operculum; 3 LL.
Attains about 30 cm . One specimen from off the Cape .
Relatively common on both sides of Atlantic Ocean; also
recorded from Indian Ocean in 1 000 - 2 000 m.
96.21 Porogadus miles: ca. 19 cm (after Goode & Bean, 1896).
Genus Selachophidium Gilchrist, 1903
Vomer with subtriangular tooth patch; 2 median basibranchial tooth patches. One species, known only off southern Africa.
350
96.22 Selachophidium guentheri
Gilchrist, 1903
Selachophidium guentheri Gilchrist, 1903: 209, PI. 17 (off Cape Peninsula); Smith, SFSA No. 1018*; Nielsen, 1971: 21 *; Karrer, 1973: 237.
D 113-121 ; A 89-97; P 26-29; V 1; developed GR about 20.
Attains about 30 cm. Common in 275 - 1 000 m from
Angola to Mozambique.
96.22 Selachophidium guentheri: 20 cm (off South Africa) . •
Genus Spectrunculus Jordan & Thompson, 1914
Opercular spine strong; 2 median basibranchial tooth
patches. One species found in the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans .
96.23 Spectrunculus grandis
(Gunther, 1877)
Sirembo grandis Giinther, 1877: 437 (Japan). Spectrunculus grandis:
Nielsen & Hureau , 1980: 162*.
D 121-148; A 90-113; P 23-33; V 2; developed GR 5-10. Counts for
South African specimens are D l30-148 ; A 99-112; P 24-30; GR 8-9.
Anterior nostril with a thick, fleshy raised rim. Snout longer than
diameter of eye.
Attains 127 cm . A few specimens from off west coast of
South Africa in 800 to ca . 3200 m; also known from Japan.
96.23 Spectrunculus grandis: 46 cm Sl.
Family No. 97: CARAPIDAE
by J.E. Olney & D . F. Markle
Pearlfishes
Perelvisse
Scaleless, eel-like, compressed or cylindrical body tapering to a long, slender tail. Mouth with fine teeth on jaws and
palate, sometimes with large fang-like teeth. Gill membranes separate or united, always free from isthmus. Anus
located behind , below or anterior to pectoral fin base.
Genus Penopus Goode & Bean, 1896
Opercle with strong curved spine dorsally; preopercle
with 4 or 5 spines at lower angle. Median basibranchial
tooth plates 2. Two species; 1 in our area.
96.20 Penopus microphthalmus
(Vaillant, 1888)
Sirembo microphthalmus Vaillant , 1888: 275,24, Fig. 4 (Cape Verde).
Penopus microphthalmus: Shcherbachev et aI. , 1978: 189.
D 139; A 109; P 18-19; V 2 (bound togetherfor length offin); GR 8-10.
Depth at vent 10-11 in SL. P falling well short of A origin; LL in the form
of 3 rows of circular organs (sometimes destroyed).
Attains about 35 cm. One specimen from 1350 to 1400 m
off the Cape; also a few specimens from tropical Atlantic.
96.20 Penopus microphthalmus: 27 cm.
Genus Porogadus Goode & Bean, 1886
Single median basibranchial tooth patch; vomer with
V-shaped tooth patch. This genus is much in need of
revision; about 14 species , 1 in our area.
96.21 Porogadus miles
Goode & Bean, 1886
Porogadus miles Goode & Bean , 1886: 602 (northwest Atlantic) ;
Smith, SFSA No. 1022*; Shcherbachev, 1980: 166*.
D 165-174; A l35-140; P 16-20; V 2. Body long and slender. Strongly
developed spines on head . Prominent mucous cavities on head and operculum; 3 LL.
Attains about 30 cm . One specimen from off the Cape .
Relatively common on both sides of Atlantic Ocean; also
recorded from Indian Ocean in 1 000 - 2 000 m.
96.21 Porogadus miles: ca. 19 cm (after Goode & Bean, 1896).
Genus Selachophidium Gilchrist, 1903
Vomer with subtriangular tooth patch; 2 median basibranchial tooth patches. One species, known only off southern Africa.
350
96.22 Selachophidium guentheri
Gilchrist, 1903
Selachophidium guentheri Gilchrist, 1903: 209, PI. 17 (off Cape Peninsula); Smith, SFSA No. 1018*; Nielsen, 1971: 21 *; Karrer, 1973: 237.
D 113-121 ; A 89-97; P 26-29; V 1; developed GR about 20.
Attains about 30 cm. Common in 275 - 1 000 m from
Angola to Mozambique.
96.22 Selachophidium guentheri: 20 cm (off South Africa) . •
Genus Spectrunculus Jordan & Thompson, 1914
Opercular spine strong; 2 median basibranchial tooth
patches. One species found in the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans .
96.23 Spectrunculus grandis
(Gunther, 1877)
Sirembo grandis Giinther, 1877: 437 (Japan). Spectrunculus grandis:
Nielsen & Hureau , 1980: 162*.
D 121-148; A 90-113; P 23-33; V 2; developed GR 5-10. Counts for
South African specimens are D l30-148 ; A 99-112; P 24-30; GR 8-9.
Anterior nostril with a thick, fleshy raised rim. Snout longer than
diameter of eye.
Attains 127 cm . A few specimens from off west coast of
South Africa in 800 to ca . 3200 m; also known from Japan.
96.23 Spectrunculus grandis: 46 cm Sl.
Family No. 97: CARAPIDAE
by J.E. Olney & D . F. Markle
Pearlfishes
Perelvisse
Scaleless, eel-like, compressed or cylindrical body tapering to a long, slender tail. Mouth with fine teeth on jaws and
palate, sometimes with large fang-like teeth. Gill membranes separate or united, always free from isthmus. Anus
located behind , below or anterior to pectoral fin base.