Ill: ATHERINIDAE (SILVERSIDES)
3a Minute denticles on external surface of jaws and
front of head; 1st D behind vertical at tips
of V; maxillary shelf absent ....................................... Atherion
3b No minute denticles on external surfaces of jaws
or head; 1st D origin on or in front of vertical at
tips of V; maxillary shelf present .................. .. ............. Atherina
A
~
~
Genus Atherina Linnaeus, 1758
Five species, 1 in our area.
111.1 Atherina breviceps
Valenciennes, 1835
PLATE 16
Cape silverside
Kaapse spierinkie
Atherina breviceps Valenciennes, in Cuv. & VaL , 1835: 445 (Cape 01
Good Hope) ; Smith, SFSA No. 893*; Blanc & Hureau, 1971 : 704.
Atherina parvipinnis Valenciennes, in Cuv. & VaL, 1835: 446 (Cape of
Good Hope); Blanc & Hureau, 1971: 708. Hepselia breviceps: Smith,
1965: 626*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 96*.
D V-VIII+I,11-15; A 1,15-18; P 13-16. Midlateral scales 44-50; GR
(5-6)+( 17-20). Depth 4.7-6.3; head 3.7-5.0. Anus near tips of V.
Body translucent, silvery, with brilliant midlateral band;
upper surface dusky, dorsum of head dark. Preserved specimens yellow or brown; scales outlined by fine chromatophores on back. Midlateral band may remain silvery or become dark with time. Abdomen almost devoid of pigment.
Cheeks dark or silvery. Attains 11 cm. Schools in bays and
estuaries, especially in spring. Appears to have a restricted
distribution from Liideritz, Namibia to northern Natal.
Genus Atherinomorus Fowler, 1903
Apart from the presence of scaly fin sheaths and unfused
hypurals 3 and 4 in Atherinomorus stipes, a Caribbean
species, there are no other differences that justify the recognition of Pranesus Whitley (1930) as a separate genus . Eight
species; 2 species relatively common in western Indian
Ocean.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Midlateral scale count 33-37; dentary with small
tubercle at posterior end; midlateral band less
than 1 scale width ......... .. ................................ A. duodecimalis
382
I b Midlateral scale count 39-44 ; dentary flat or
gently sloping upwards towards posterior end;
midlateral band 1-1 Yz scales wide .. .... ............... ...... A . lacunosus
111.2 Atherinomorus duodecimalis
(Valenciennes, 1835)
Tropical silverside
Tropiese spierinkie
Atherina duodecimalis Valenciennes, in Cuv. & VaL, 1835: 458
(Ceylon); Blanc & Hureau, 1971: 70S. Pranesus duodecimalis: Schultz et
aL, 1953: 306. Allanetta duodecimalis: Smith, 1965: 620.
D IV-VI + 1,9-10; A 1,12-13; P 14-17; GR 6+ 1+(21-25).
Preserved specimens yellow-green or brownish; head,
base of fins and midlateral stripe either silvery or dark
brown. Rows of spots frequently present below midlateral
band. Attains 9-10 cm. Recent collections suggest that this
species is common at Aldabra, Comores and Madagascar.
It is likely, therefore, that A. duodecimalis also occurs in
our area.
111.2 Atherinomorus duodecimalis: 6.5 em (drawn by Betty Thorn).
111.3 Atherinomorus lacunosus
(Forster, 1801)
Hardyhead silvers ide
Klipkop-spierinkie
Atherina lacunosa Forster, in Bloch & Schneider, 1801: 112 (New
Caledonia); Blanc & Hureau, 1971: 706; Whitehead & Ivantsoff, 1983:
358*. Atherina pinguis Lacepede, 1803: 372 (Mauritius). Hepsetia pinguis:
Smith, SFSA No. 894*. Pranesus pinguis: Smith, 1965: 616*.
D IV-VII + 1,8-11; A 1,12-17; P 14-17; GR (5-6)+ 1+(18-25).
In life , body blue-green or grey; sides and cheeks silvery
and often iridescent. Midlateral stripe silvery or black.
Upper half of body heavily speckled with chromatophores.
Pectoral blotch usually distinct, but often fading when
preserved. Preserved specimens yellow-brown. Top of
head, snout, cheeks and midlateral band dark. Attains 14
cm. Ubiquitous in Indo-West Pacific; to East London but
rare south of Natal; Red Sea and eastern Mediterranean.
Frequently found in large schools just offshore.
111.3 Atherinomorus lacunosus: 12.5 em (composite).
3a Minute denticles on external surface of jaws and
front of head; 1st D behind vertical at tips
of V; maxillary shelf absent ....................................... Atherion
3b No minute denticles on external surfaces of jaws
or head; 1st D origin on or in front of vertical at
tips of V; maxillary shelf present .................. .. ............. Atherina
A
~
~
Genus Atherina Linnaeus, 1758
Five species, 1 in our area.
111.1 Atherina breviceps
Valenciennes, 1835
PLATE 16
Cape silverside
Kaapse spierinkie
Atherina breviceps Valenciennes, in Cuv. & VaL , 1835: 445 (Cape 01
Good Hope) ; Smith, SFSA No. 893*; Blanc & Hureau, 1971 : 704.
Atherina parvipinnis Valenciennes, in Cuv. & VaL, 1835: 446 (Cape of
Good Hope); Blanc & Hureau, 1971: 708. Hepselia breviceps: Smith,
1965: 626*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 96*.
D V-VIII+I,11-15; A 1,15-18; P 13-16. Midlateral scales 44-50; GR
(5-6)+( 17-20). Depth 4.7-6.3; head 3.7-5.0. Anus near tips of V.
Body translucent, silvery, with brilliant midlateral band;
upper surface dusky, dorsum of head dark. Preserved specimens yellow or brown; scales outlined by fine chromatophores on back. Midlateral band may remain silvery or become dark with time. Abdomen almost devoid of pigment.
Cheeks dark or silvery. Attains 11 cm. Schools in bays and
estuaries, especially in spring. Appears to have a restricted
distribution from Liideritz, Namibia to northern Natal.
Genus Atherinomorus Fowler, 1903
Apart from the presence of scaly fin sheaths and unfused
hypurals 3 and 4 in Atherinomorus stipes, a Caribbean
species, there are no other differences that justify the recognition of Pranesus Whitley (1930) as a separate genus . Eight
species; 2 species relatively common in western Indian
Ocean.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Midlateral scale count 33-37; dentary with small
tubercle at posterior end; midlateral band less
than 1 scale width ......... .. ................................ A. duodecimalis
382
I b Midlateral scale count 39-44 ; dentary flat or
gently sloping upwards towards posterior end;
midlateral band 1-1 Yz scales wide .. .... ............... ...... A . lacunosus
111.2 Atherinomorus duodecimalis
(Valenciennes, 1835)
Tropical silverside
Tropiese spierinkie
Atherina duodecimalis Valenciennes, in Cuv. & VaL, 1835: 458
(Ceylon); Blanc & Hureau, 1971: 70S. Pranesus duodecimalis: Schultz et
aL, 1953: 306. Allanetta duodecimalis: Smith, 1965: 620.
D IV-VI + 1,9-10; A 1,12-13; P 14-17; GR 6+ 1+(21-25).
Preserved specimens yellow-green or brownish; head,
base of fins and midlateral stripe either silvery or dark
brown. Rows of spots frequently present below midlateral
band. Attains 9-10 cm. Recent collections suggest that this
species is common at Aldabra, Comores and Madagascar.
It is likely, therefore, that A. duodecimalis also occurs in
our area.
111.2 Atherinomorus duodecimalis: 6.5 em (drawn by Betty Thorn).
111.3 Atherinomorus lacunosus
(Forster, 1801)
Hardyhead silvers ide
Klipkop-spierinkie
Atherina lacunosa Forster, in Bloch & Schneider, 1801: 112 (New
Caledonia); Blanc & Hureau, 1971: 706; Whitehead & Ivantsoff, 1983:
358*. Atherina pinguis Lacepede, 1803: 372 (Mauritius). Hepsetia pinguis:
Smith, SFSA No. 894*. Pranesus pinguis: Smith, 1965: 616*.
D IV-VII + 1,8-11; A 1,12-17; P 14-17; GR (5-6)+ 1+(18-25).
In life , body blue-green or grey; sides and cheeks silvery
and often iridescent. Midlateral stripe silvery or black.
Upper half of body heavily speckled with chromatophores.
Pectoral blotch usually distinct, but often fading when
preserved. Preserved specimens yellow-brown. Top of
head, snout, cheeks and midlateral band dark. Attains 14
cm. Ubiquitous in Indo-West Pacific; to East London but
rare south of Natal; Red Sea and eastern Mediterranean.
Frequently found in large schools just offshore.
111.3 Atherinomorus lacunosus: 12.5 em (composite).