KEY TO SPECIES
1a D 93-118; predorsallength 27-31 % SL ................... A. gelatinosus
Ib D 72; predorsallength 44% SL .................... ...... A. brevidorsalis
99.1 Aphyonus brevidorsalis
Nielsen, 1969
Aphyonus brevidorsalis Nielsen, 1969: 20, Fig. 6 (34°09'S, 30 0 45'E;
depth 4 360 m).
D 72; A 58; P 17. Anal origin below 20th D ray. Developed GR on 1st
gill arch 9.
Owing to the transparent skin the general colour derives
from the underlying muscle tissues. Known from a single
specimen (71 mm SL).
99.1 Aphyonus brevidorsalis: 8 em.
99.2 Aphyonus gelatinosus
Gunther, 1878
Aphyonus gelatinosus Gunther, 1878: 22 (between NE Australia and
New Guinea); Gunther, 1887: 120*; Nielsen, 1969: 15*.
D 93-118; A 65-71; P 17-18. Anal origin below Drays 42-47. Developed
GR on 1st gill arch 3-4.
Peritoneum bluish. Attains 15 cm. One specimen from
off Natal in 625 - 900 m; known from relatively few specimens from all oceans.
99.2 Aphyonus gelatinosus: 13.5 em.
99: APHYONIDAE (APHYONIDS)
Genus Barathronus Goode & Bean, 1886
Seven species; 1 or 2 in our area.
99.3 ?Barathronus bicolor
Goode & Bean, 1886
?Barathronus bieolor: Gilchrist, 1906: 158; Smith, SFSA No. 1013*.
Gilchrist (1906) briefly described a 120 mm specimen caught off Cape
Point, referring it to B. bieolor, previously known only from the tropical
West Atlantic. Judging from its locality, Shcherbachev (1976: 165)
suggested that Gilchrist's specimen was probably B. maeulatus. Since Gilchrist noticed both dark patches along the body (as in B. maeulatus) and
dark streaks (as in B. bieolor); and since the specimen now is lost, it is not
possible to make an exact specific identification.
99.3 Barathronus bieolor: 12 em (after Goode & Bean, 1896).
99.4 Barathronus maculatus
Shcherbachev, 1976
Barathronus maeulatus Shcherbachev, 1976: 164 (off Durban; 950 m);
Shcherbachev et aI., 1978: 191.
D 76-78; A 57-66; P24-25. Developed GRon 1st gill arch 30-32. Predorsal length 37-41 % SL. Fangs on vomer and dentaries; palatines edendate.
Peritoneum dark. Several irregular brown pigmented
areas along both sides. Attains 18 cm. Two specimens from
our area, 1 from off northern Madagascar, and 2 from off
Japan (Nielsen & Machida, in press).
99.4 Barathronus maeulatus: 17 em.
357
1a D 93-118; predorsallength 27-31 % SL ................... A. gelatinosus
Ib D 72; predorsallength 44% SL .................... ...... A. brevidorsalis
99.1 Aphyonus brevidorsalis
Nielsen, 1969
Aphyonus brevidorsalis Nielsen, 1969: 20, Fig. 6 (34°09'S, 30 0 45'E;
depth 4 360 m).
D 72; A 58; P 17. Anal origin below 20th D ray. Developed GR on 1st
gill arch 9.
Owing to the transparent skin the general colour derives
from the underlying muscle tissues. Known from a single
specimen (71 mm SL).
99.1 Aphyonus brevidorsalis: 8 em.
99.2 Aphyonus gelatinosus
Gunther, 1878
Aphyonus gelatinosus Gunther, 1878: 22 (between NE Australia and
New Guinea); Gunther, 1887: 120*; Nielsen, 1969: 15*.
D 93-118; A 65-71; P 17-18. Anal origin below Drays 42-47. Developed
GR on 1st gill arch 3-4.
Peritoneum bluish. Attains 15 cm. One specimen from
off Natal in 625 - 900 m; known from relatively few specimens from all oceans.
99.2 Aphyonus gelatinosus: 13.5 em.
99: APHYONIDAE (APHYONIDS)
Genus Barathronus Goode & Bean, 1886
Seven species; 1 or 2 in our area.
99.3 ?Barathronus bicolor
Goode & Bean, 1886
?Barathronus bieolor: Gilchrist, 1906: 158; Smith, SFSA No. 1013*.
Gilchrist (1906) briefly described a 120 mm specimen caught off Cape
Point, referring it to B. bieolor, previously known only from the tropical
West Atlantic. Judging from its locality, Shcherbachev (1976: 165)
suggested that Gilchrist's specimen was probably B. maeulatus. Since Gilchrist noticed both dark patches along the body (as in B. maeulatus) and
dark streaks (as in B. bieolor); and since the specimen now is lost, it is not
possible to make an exact specific identification.
99.3 Barathronus bieolor: 12 em (after Goode & Bean, 1896).
99.4 Barathronus maculatus
Shcherbachev, 1976
Barathronus maeulatus Shcherbachev, 1976: 164 (off Durban; 950 m);
Shcherbachev et aI., 1978: 191.
D 76-78; A 57-66; P24-25. Developed GRon 1st gill arch 30-32. Predorsal length 37-41 % SL. Fangs on vomer and dentaries; palatines edendate.
Peritoneum dark. Several irregular brown pigmented
areas along both sides. Attains 18 cm. Two specimens from
our area, 1 from off northern Madagascar, and 2 from off
Japan (Nielsen & Machida, in press).
99.4 Barathronus maeulatus: 17 em.
357