Genus Cataetyx Gunther, 1887
Rather large benthopelagic fishes found around the
world at bathyal to abyssal depths. Ten or more species; 3 in
our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Colour pale; A with about 100 rays ............ C. chthamalorhynchus
1b Colour dark brown; A 69-85 ................................................ 2
2a Head about 4 in SL; interorbital 6 to 7 in head
length .................................................................. C. iaticeps
2b Head nearly 3 in SL; interorbital 3.4-3.6 in head .... ........... C. niki
98.2 Cataetyx chthamalorhynchus
Cohen, 1981
Cataetyx chthamalorhynchus Cohen, 1981: Figs. 4 & 5 (33°04'S,
W43'E; depth 1 000 m).
D 140; A 100; P 28; vertebrae 77. Eyes dorsolateral, 7.3, interorbital 6.8
in head. Snout depressed, length about equal to head width; a sharp spine
behind posterior nostril, another at upper angle of opercle and a third at
upper end of P base.
Known only from the 38 cm holotype taken off Saldanha
Bay.
98.2 Cataetyx chthamalorhynchus: 35.5 em.
98.3 Cataetyx laticeps
Koefoed, 1927
Cataetyx messieri (non Gunther): Gilchrist, 1905: 141; Smith, SFSA No.
1020 (fig. = messieri, not laticeps). Cataetyx laticeps Koefoed, 1927: 137,
PI. 6, Fig. 3 (28°08'N, 13°35'W, 1 365 m); Cohen, 1981: 1095. Cataetyx
memoriabilis Meyer-Rochow, 1970: 39 (33°51'S, 17°14'E, 1350 m).
D 98-107; A 75-83, P 29-30; vertebrae 60-61. Eyes dorsolateral, 7.1-8.9.
Snout depressed, somewhat broader than long; blunt knob buried in skin
behind posterior nostril.
Apparently widely distributed in Atlantic Ocean in
1 000 - 2 000 m.
98.3 Cataetyx laticeps: 29 em holotype (after Koefoed, 1927).
98: BYTHITIDAE (BYTHITIDS)
98.4 Cataetyx niki
Cohen, 1981
Cataetyx niki Cohen, 1981: 1096, Figs. 7 & 8 (35°04'S, 24°20'E, 1000
m).
D 91-95; A 69-77; P 29-30; vertebrae 54-56. Eyes 9.1. Snout depressed,
about twice broader than long. Strong spine at upper angle of opercle; no
spine at rear nostril or P base.
Known only from 2 specimens trawled off the Cape in
1 000 - 1100 m.
98.4 Cataetyx niki: 64 em holotype (diagrammatic, after Cohen, 1981).
Genus Dermatopsoides Smith, 1947
Two species of small, secretive, small-eyed fishes found
only along our south coast in shallow water.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Body with minute, indistinct scales; Prays 24 ............ D. kasougae
1b No scales; Prays 17-18 ............................................. D. talboti
98.5 Dermatopsoides kasougae
(Smith,1943)
Orange brotula
Oranje brotula
Dermatopsis kasougae Smith, 1943: 72, Fig. 3 (Mouth of Kasouga
River, west of Port Alfred). Dermatopsoides kasougae: Smith, 1947: 344;
Smith, SFSA No. 1011*; Cohen, 1966: 198; Smith, 1966: 92.
D 100; A 71. V more than Yz head length, reaching beyond tip of P. Eye
about 10 in head.
Live colour light salmon pink. Attains 65 mm. Found
only from Algoa Bay to Port Alfred.
98.5 Dermatopsoides kasougae: 6.5 em holotype (E. Cape).
355
Rather large benthopelagic fishes found around the
world at bathyal to abyssal depths. Ten or more species; 3 in
our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Colour pale; A with about 100 rays ............ C. chthamalorhynchus
1b Colour dark brown; A 69-85 ................................................ 2
2a Head about 4 in SL; interorbital 6 to 7 in head
length .................................................................. C. iaticeps
2b Head nearly 3 in SL; interorbital 3.4-3.6 in head .... ........... C. niki
98.2 Cataetyx chthamalorhynchus
Cohen, 1981
Cataetyx chthamalorhynchus Cohen, 1981: Figs. 4 & 5 (33°04'S,
W43'E; depth 1 000 m).
D 140; A 100; P 28; vertebrae 77. Eyes dorsolateral, 7.3, interorbital 6.8
in head. Snout depressed, length about equal to head width; a sharp spine
behind posterior nostril, another at upper angle of opercle and a third at
upper end of P base.
Known only from the 38 cm holotype taken off Saldanha
Bay.
98.2 Cataetyx chthamalorhynchus: 35.5 em.
98.3 Cataetyx laticeps
Koefoed, 1927
Cataetyx messieri (non Gunther): Gilchrist, 1905: 141; Smith, SFSA No.
1020 (fig. = messieri, not laticeps). Cataetyx laticeps Koefoed, 1927: 137,
PI. 6, Fig. 3 (28°08'N, 13°35'W, 1 365 m); Cohen, 1981: 1095. Cataetyx
memoriabilis Meyer-Rochow, 1970: 39 (33°51'S, 17°14'E, 1350 m).
D 98-107; A 75-83, P 29-30; vertebrae 60-61. Eyes dorsolateral, 7.1-8.9.
Snout depressed, somewhat broader than long; blunt knob buried in skin
behind posterior nostril.
Apparently widely distributed in Atlantic Ocean in
1 000 - 2 000 m.
98.3 Cataetyx laticeps: 29 em holotype (after Koefoed, 1927).
98: BYTHITIDAE (BYTHITIDS)
98.4 Cataetyx niki
Cohen, 1981
Cataetyx niki Cohen, 1981: 1096, Figs. 7 & 8 (35°04'S, 24°20'E, 1000
m).
D 91-95; A 69-77; P 29-30; vertebrae 54-56. Eyes 9.1. Snout depressed,
about twice broader than long. Strong spine at upper angle of opercle; no
spine at rear nostril or P base.
Known only from 2 specimens trawled off the Cape in
1 000 - 1100 m.
98.4 Cataetyx niki: 64 em holotype (diagrammatic, after Cohen, 1981).
Genus Dermatopsoides Smith, 1947
Two species of small, secretive, small-eyed fishes found
only along our south coast in shallow water.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Body with minute, indistinct scales; Prays 24 ............ D. kasougae
1b No scales; Prays 17-18 ............................................. D. talboti
98.5 Dermatopsoides kasougae
(Smith,1943)
Orange brotula
Oranje brotula
Dermatopsis kasougae Smith, 1943: 72, Fig. 3 (Mouth of Kasouga
River, west of Port Alfred). Dermatopsoides kasougae: Smith, 1947: 344;
Smith, SFSA No. 1011*; Cohen, 1966: 198; Smith, 1966: 92.
D 100; A 71. V more than Yz head length, reaching beyond tip of P. Eye
about 10 in head.
Live colour light salmon pink. Attains 65 mm. Found
only from Algoa Bay to Port Alfred.
98.5 Dermatopsoides kasougae: 6.5 em holotype (E. Cape).
355