100.2 Batrichthys albofasciatus
Smith,1934
PLATE 12
White-ribbed toadfish
Witrib-platannavis
Batrichthys albofasciatus Smith, 1934: 99, PI. 5, Fig. B (Great Fish
Point); Smith, SFSA No. 1217*; 1952: 318.
D III + 19; A 14; P20. Gill cover with 4 strong spines. Upper LL with 23
pores.
Known from one 12 cm specimen found at Great Fish
Point.
100.3 Batrichthys apiatus
(Valenciennes, 1837)
PLATE 12
Snakehead toadfish
Siangkop-platannavis
Batrachus apiatus Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1837: 477 (Cape of
Good Hope) . Amphichthys ophiocephalus Smith, 1946: 819. Batrichthys
ophiocephalus: Smith, 1952: 316. Gymnobatrachus ophiocephalus:
Smith, SFSA No. 1216*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 148*. Batrichthys apiatus:
Penrith & Penrith, 1971: 47*.
D III+18-20; A 14-17; P 16-19; vertebrae 8+20. Gill cover with 4
spines; upper LL with 20-25 pores.
Ground colour buff, with prominent, dark brown, irregular crossbars on sides, continued onto soft D and A; in
adults the body bars may be broken into smaller botches.
Attains 10 cm. An intertidal species found only from Saldanha Bay to the Umtata River, Transkei.
100.4 Batrichthys felinus
Smith,1952
PLATE 12
Pleated toadfish
Geplooide platannavis
Gymnobatrachus apiatus (non Cuvier, 1837): Smith, SFSA No. 1215*.
Batrichthys felinus Smith, 1952: 320 (Port Alfred); Penrith & Penrith,
1971: 48; Winterbottom, 1978: 45.
D III + 19-22; A 17-18; P 20-23. Gill cover with 4 spines; upper LL pores
33-39, Network of fine skin ridges on interorbital region.
Ground colour brown with darker blotches forming irregular crossbars on side of body; P and C dusky with indications of crossbars sometimes present. Attains 19 cm.
Found only from the Cape to Port Alfred.
Genus Chatrabus Smith, 1949
Smith's genus Tharbacus, described in 1952, is a synonym
of Chatrabus. The main distinguishing feature thought to
separate these two genera is the presence or absence of
scales on the nape, a character that is too variable to be of
taxonomic value. Two species only.
100: BATRACHOIDIDAE (TOADFISHES)
KEY TO SPECIES
la Soft Drays 20-23; A 16-18; roof of mouth
blackish .............. .... ........................................ C. hendersoni
Ib Soft Drays 18-20; A 14-17; roof of mouth not
blackish ..................................... ............ .......... C. melanurus
100.5 Chatrabus hendersoni
(Smith, 1952)
PLATE 12
Chocolate toadfish
Sjokolade-platannavis
Tharbacus hendersoni Smith, 1952: 336, Fig. 3 (Algoa Bay); Smith,
1953: p. 523, No. 1219b*.
D III + 20-23; A 17-18; P 22-25; vertebrae 10-11 + 22. Gill cover with 4
spines. Upper LL pores 36-42. Small embedded cycloid scales on body
from C base to rear of head, present or absent on nape.
Ground colour brown, with 3 or 4 darker crossbars on
body; dorsal surface of head chocolate brown. P yelloworange, with vague dark bars basally; C light orange-brown,
faintly mottled darker. Attains 22 cm. Known only from
Port Alfred to Storms River mouth.
100.5 Chatrabus hendersoni: 19 em holotype (Algoa Bay).
100.6 Chatrabus melanurus
(Barnard, 1927)
PLATE 12
Humpback toadfish
Boggel-platannavis
Batrachoides melanurus Barnard, 1927: 994 (Cape St. Blaize). Batrachoides damaranus Barnard, 1927: 995 (Walvis Bay) . Chatrabus
melanurus: Smith, SFSA No. 1219*; 1952: 328; Penrith & Penrith, 1971:
50. Chatrabus damaranus: Smith, SFSA No. 1220*; 1952: 331; Penrith &
Penrith, 1971: 51; Raux, 1971 : 637*. Tharbacus vanecki Smith, 1952: 333,
Fig. 2 (Port Alfred); Smith, 1953: 523 , No. 1219a*.
D III + 18-21; A 14-17; P 21-25; vertebrae 10+19-22. Gill cover with 4
(rarely 5) spines; upper LL pores 33-43. Small embedded scales on body
from C base to just behind head; head usually scaleless.
Ground colour buff, with 4 dark bars on body; head and
body covered with dark brown spots; soft D and A with irregular oblique dark bands; P pale, with irregular brown
359
Smith,1934
PLATE 12
White-ribbed toadfish
Witrib-platannavis
Batrichthys albofasciatus Smith, 1934: 99, PI. 5, Fig. B (Great Fish
Point); Smith, SFSA No. 1217*; 1952: 318.
D III + 19; A 14; P20. Gill cover with 4 strong spines. Upper LL with 23
pores.
Known from one 12 cm specimen found at Great Fish
Point.
100.3 Batrichthys apiatus
(Valenciennes, 1837)
PLATE 12
Snakehead toadfish
Siangkop-platannavis
Batrachus apiatus Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1837: 477 (Cape of
Good Hope) . Amphichthys ophiocephalus Smith, 1946: 819. Batrichthys
ophiocephalus: Smith, 1952: 316. Gymnobatrachus ophiocephalus:
Smith, SFSA No. 1216*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 148*. Batrichthys apiatus:
Penrith & Penrith, 1971: 47*.
D III+18-20; A 14-17; P 16-19; vertebrae 8+20. Gill cover with 4
spines; upper LL with 20-25 pores.
Ground colour buff, with prominent, dark brown, irregular crossbars on sides, continued onto soft D and A; in
adults the body bars may be broken into smaller botches.
Attains 10 cm. An intertidal species found only from Saldanha Bay to the Umtata River, Transkei.
100.4 Batrichthys felinus
Smith,1952
PLATE 12
Pleated toadfish
Geplooide platannavis
Gymnobatrachus apiatus (non Cuvier, 1837): Smith, SFSA No. 1215*.
Batrichthys felinus Smith, 1952: 320 (Port Alfred); Penrith & Penrith,
1971: 48; Winterbottom, 1978: 45.
D III + 19-22; A 17-18; P 20-23. Gill cover with 4 spines; upper LL pores
33-39, Network of fine skin ridges on interorbital region.
Ground colour brown with darker blotches forming irregular crossbars on side of body; P and C dusky with indications of crossbars sometimes present. Attains 19 cm.
Found only from the Cape to Port Alfred.
Genus Chatrabus Smith, 1949
Smith's genus Tharbacus, described in 1952, is a synonym
of Chatrabus. The main distinguishing feature thought to
separate these two genera is the presence or absence of
scales on the nape, a character that is too variable to be of
taxonomic value. Two species only.
100: BATRACHOIDIDAE (TOADFISHES)
KEY TO SPECIES
la Soft Drays 20-23; A 16-18; roof of mouth
blackish .............. .... ........................................ C. hendersoni
Ib Soft Drays 18-20; A 14-17; roof of mouth not
blackish ..................................... ............ .......... C. melanurus
100.5 Chatrabus hendersoni
(Smith, 1952)
PLATE 12
Chocolate toadfish
Sjokolade-platannavis
Tharbacus hendersoni Smith, 1952: 336, Fig. 3 (Algoa Bay); Smith,
1953: p. 523, No. 1219b*.
D III + 20-23; A 17-18; P 22-25; vertebrae 10-11 + 22. Gill cover with 4
spines. Upper LL pores 36-42. Small embedded cycloid scales on body
from C base to rear of head, present or absent on nape.
Ground colour brown, with 3 or 4 darker crossbars on
body; dorsal surface of head chocolate brown. P yelloworange, with vague dark bars basally; C light orange-brown,
faintly mottled darker. Attains 22 cm. Known only from
Port Alfred to Storms River mouth.
100.5 Chatrabus hendersoni: 19 em holotype (Algoa Bay).
100.6 Chatrabus melanurus
(Barnard, 1927)
PLATE 12
Humpback toadfish
Boggel-platannavis
Batrachoides melanurus Barnard, 1927: 994 (Cape St. Blaize). Batrachoides damaranus Barnard, 1927: 995 (Walvis Bay) . Chatrabus
melanurus: Smith, SFSA No. 1219*; 1952: 328; Penrith & Penrith, 1971:
50. Chatrabus damaranus: Smith, SFSA No. 1220*; 1952: 331; Penrith &
Penrith, 1971: 51; Raux, 1971 : 637*. Tharbacus vanecki Smith, 1952: 333,
Fig. 2 (Port Alfred); Smith, 1953: 523 , No. 1219a*.
D III + 18-21; A 14-17; P 21-25; vertebrae 10+19-22. Gill cover with 4
(rarely 5) spines; upper LL pores 33-43. Small embedded scales on body
from C base to just behind head; head usually scaleless.
Ground colour buff, with 4 dark bars on body; head and
body covered with dark brown spots; soft D and A with irregular oblique dark bands; P pale, with irregular brown
359