3a V greatly reduced, shorter than A; P with broad
membranes connecting pedicel to tail ...................... Halieutopsis
3b V longer than A; P distinctly elbowed with little
or no membrane connecting pedicel to tail ................. Dibranchus
Genus Dibranchus Peters, 1876
A worldwide genus with 12 or more species; 1 species in
our area.
104.1 Oibranchus stellulatus
Gilbert, 1905
Dibranchus slel/ulalUs Gilbert, 1905: 698, Fig. 276 (Hawaii); Smith,
SFSA No. 1228*.
D 6; A 4; P 14-15. Spine of front of rostrum notably multifid.
Colour in preservative: dorsal surface dusky tan, the stellate nature of the scales emphasised by pale ridges formed
where 2 sides of a tubercle join. Centres of scales flecked
with black around bases of apical spines. Ventral surface of
body pale. Skin translucent, especially on belly. Attains 8
cm. Off Natal in 476 m, rare; 1 specimen from Hawaii.
104.1 Dibranchus stellulatus: 6.5 em holotype (after Gilbert, 1905).
Genus Halieutaea Valenciennes, 1837
South Africa to Hawaii; about 7 or 8 species, 3 in our
area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Scales of tail and dorsal surface of disc with relatively
large stout spines; ventral surface of disc either lacking
scales, or scales few and scattered ......................................... 2
1 b Scales present over entire body and so minute
that dorsal and ventral surfaces of body appear
granulated ......................................................... H. hancocki
2a Scales absent from ventral surface of disc; spines
of dorsal surface and edges of disc relatively long
and thick; dorsal markings, when present, in the
form of a ring or ocellus on either side of disc .......... H. jilzsimonsi
104: OGCOCEPHALIDAE (SEABA TS)
2b At least a few scales scattered on ventral surface
of disc, sometimes restricted to V bases; spines
of dorsal surface and edges of disc less robust but
more numerous than injilzsimonsi; dorsal markings
in the form of an eccentric T or Y on each side of
disc and a dark band around each gill opening .............. H. spicata
104.2 Halieutaea fitzsimonsi
(Gilchrist & Thompson, 1916)
PLATE 15
Circular seabat
Ronde seekolf
Halieutichthys jitzsimonsi Gilchrist & Thompson, 1916: 58, Fig. (Algoa
Bay). Halieutaea liogaster Regan, 1921: 419 (Natal). Halieutaea
jitzsimonsi: Smith, 1935: 233*; SFSA No. 1226*; Smith & Smith, 1966:
152* .
D 4-5; A 4; P 12-15.
Ventral surface coral red in life, but fades to cream colour
in preservative. Small juveniles resemble a round blob of
jelly. Attains 30 cm. Known only from Plettenberg Bay to
Tugela River, Natal in 20 -120 m.
104.2 Halieutaea fitzsimonsi: 2 em globular juvenile (Port Alfred).
104.3 Halieutaea hancocki
Regan, 1908
Hairy seabat
Harige seekolf
Halieutaea hancocki Regan, 1908: 251, PI. 31, Fig. 6 (Saya de Malha
Bank, Indian Ocean). Halieutaea hirsuta Smith, 1965: 40, PI. 11, B
(Natal).
D 5; A 4; P 11-14.
Attains 13 em. Tropical Indian Ocean; off Natal, generally from depths of 200 m or more.
371
membranes connecting pedicel to tail ...................... Halieutopsis
3b V longer than A; P distinctly elbowed with little
or no membrane connecting pedicel to tail ................. Dibranchus
Genus Dibranchus Peters, 1876
A worldwide genus with 12 or more species; 1 species in
our area.
104.1 Oibranchus stellulatus
Gilbert, 1905
Dibranchus slel/ulalUs Gilbert, 1905: 698, Fig. 276 (Hawaii); Smith,
SFSA No. 1228*.
D 6; A 4; P 14-15. Spine of front of rostrum notably multifid.
Colour in preservative: dorsal surface dusky tan, the stellate nature of the scales emphasised by pale ridges formed
where 2 sides of a tubercle join. Centres of scales flecked
with black around bases of apical spines. Ventral surface of
body pale. Skin translucent, especially on belly. Attains 8
cm. Off Natal in 476 m, rare; 1 specimen from Hawaii.
104.1 Dibranchus stellulatus: 6.5 em holotype (after Gilbert, 1905).
Genus Halieutaea Valenciennes, 1837
South Africa to Hawaii; about 7 or 8 species, 3 in our
area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Scales of tail and dorsal surface of disc with relatively
large stout spines; ventral surface of disc either lacking
scales, or scales few and scattered ......................................... 2
1 b Scales present over entire body and so minute
that dorsal and ventral surfaces of body appear
granulated ......................................................... H. hancocki
2a Scales absent from ventral surface of disc; spines
of dorsal surface and edges of disc relatively long
and thick; dorsal markings, when present, in the
form of a ring or ocellus on either side of disc .......... H. jilzsimonsi
104: OGCOCEPHALIDAE (SEABA TS)
2b At least a few scales scattered on ventral surface
of disc, sometimes restricted to V bases; spines
of dorsal surface and edges of disc less robust but
more numerous than injilzsimonsi; dorsal markings
in the form of an eccentric T or Y on each side of
disc and a dark band around each gill opening .............. H. spicata
104.2 Halieutaea fitzsimonsi
(Gilchrist & Thompson, 1916)
PLATE 15
Circular seabat
Ronde seekolf
Halieutichthys jitzsimonsi Gilchrist & Thompson, 1916: 58, Fig. (Algoa
Bay). Halieutaea liogaster Regan, 1921: 419 (Natal). Halieutaea
jitzsimonsi: Smith, 1935: 233*; SFSA No. 1226*; Smith & Smith, 1966:
152* .
D 4-5; A 4; P 12-15.
Ventral surface coral red in life, but fades to cream colour
in preservative. Small juveniles resemble a round blob of
jelly. Attains 30 cm. Known only from Plettenberg Bay to
Tugela River, Natal in 20 -120 m.
104.2 Halieutaea fitzsimonsi: 2 em globular juvenile (Port Alfred).
104.3 Halieutaea hancocki
Regan, 1908
Hairy seabat
Harige seekolf
Halieutaea hancocki Regan, 1908: 251, PI. 31, Fig. 6 (Saya de Malha
Bank, Indian Ocean). Halieutaea hirsuta Smith, 1965: 40, PI. 11, B
(Natal).
D 5; A 4; P 11-14.
Attains 13 em. Tropical Indian Ocean; off Natal, generally from depths of 200 m or more.
371