Genus Atherion Jordan & Starks, 1901
Three species; 1 in our area. The Pacific species, A.
elymus Jordan & Starks, 1901, has A 1,12-15.
111.4 Atherion africanus
Smith,1965
Pricklenose silverside
Stekelneus-spierinkie
Atherion alricanus Smith, 1965: 607, Fig. 2 (Inhaca Id., Mozambique);
Blanc & Hureau, 1971: 714.
D IV-V + 1,10-12; A 1,16-17; P 10-13; LL 41-44; OR (2- 3)+ 1 +(\0-11).
Depth 6.2-6.6; head 4.3-5 .0. Eye in head 2.9- 3.1. Head with numerous
denticles.
Live fish blue-green and translucent. Preserved: yellowbrown or brown-green; midlateral stripe silvery or brown.
Top of head dark. Upper part of body dusky, with scales
well outlined by chromatophores. Abdomen may be brown
if peritoneum shows through. Pigmentation on body and
head variable, ranging from spots on chin, cheeks and lower
half of body to little or no pigmentation in those areas.
Attains 55 mm. Natal to India.
111.4 Atherion africanus: 5 em holotype (Inhaea Id.).
Genus Hypoatherina Schultz, 1948
A number of species referred to the genus Allanetta by
Schultz (1948), Schultz et al., (1953), Smith (1965) and
others are considered to belong to genus Hypoatherina.
Allanetta Whitley, 1943, is a monotypic genus closely
related to Craterocephalus McCulloch (Taylor, 1964). The
type-species of Allanetta has no preopercular notch, a
character which has been used as a diagnostic feature for the
genus by Schultz (1948) and subsequent workers. Seven
species, 2 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la P 12-15; lower OR 15-19; palatines edentate ..... .. ........ H. barnesi
Ib P 14-18; lower GR 21-25; palatines dentate .... ........ H. temminckii
111.5 Hypoatherina barnesi
Schultz, 1953
Slender silverside
Siank spierinkie
Hypoatherina barnesi Schultz, in Schultz et aI., 1953: 304, Fig. 47
(Marshall Ids .). Atherina alra (non Peters) : Smith, SFSA No. 892*.
111: ATHERINIDAE (SILVERSIDES)
Allanetta klunzingeri Smith, 1965: 623, Fig. 6, PI. 100, Fig. D (Inhaca Id.,
Mozambique).
D V-VII + 1,8-11; A 1,12-17. Depth 5.7-7.8; midlateral band width 2.33.3 in body depth.
Live fish translucent; midlateral stripe and abdomen silvery. Preserved specimens milky yellow, green-brown or
brown. Top of head, snout and cheek dark. Midlateral band
dark, often becoming wider towards A origin. Scales on
upper half of body outlined by chromatophores. Mid-dorsal
band may be well developed. Bases of fins may also be pigmented. Apparently not exceeding 75 mm. Specimens from
Natal to Comores are not distinguishable from western
Pacific populations. Occurs in large schools during the day,
but apparently dispersing at night.
111.5 Hypoatherina barnesi: 3.5 em (drawn by Betty Thorn).
Whitebait
111.6 Hypoatherina temminckii
(Bleeker, 1853)
Witaas
Atherina temminckii Bleeker, 1853: 506 (Java); Blanc & Hureau, 1971:
711. Atherina alra Peters, 1855: 244 (Mozambique). Allanetta alra: Smith,
1965: 621* .
D V-VII+I,8-1O; A 1,11-14. Depth 5.6-6.9; midlateral band width in
body depth 2.8-4.7.
Live fish translucent, blue-green , with silvery midlateral
stripe and abdomen. Preserved specimens brown, greenyellow or pale yellow. Midlateral band, dorsum of head,
snout usually dark brown or black . Upper half of body with
many more pigment spots than lower half; 2 rows of pigment spots may be present below lateral band. Bases of fins
usually dark and P may be blotched. Attains 12 cm. Common in South Pacific, northern Australia, Indian Ocean and
Red Sea; south to Delagoa Bay.
111.6 Hypoatherina temminckii: 5 em.
383
Three species; 1 in our area. The Pacific species, A.
elymus Jordan & Starks, 1901, has A 1,12-15.
111.4 Atherion africanus
Smith,1965
Pricklenose silverside
Stekelneus-spierinkie
Atherion alricanus Smith, 1965: 607, Fig. 2 (Inhaca Id., Mozambique);
Blanc & Hureau, 1971: 714.
D IV-V + 1,10-12; A 1,16-17; P 10-13; LL 41-44; OR (2- 3)+ 1 +(\0-11).
Depth 6.2-6.6; head 4.3-5 .0. Eye in head 2.9- 3.1. Head with numerous
denticles.
Live fish blue-green and translucent. Preserved: yellowbrown or brown-green; midlateral stripe silvery or brown.
Top of head dark. Upper part of body dusky, with scales
well outlined by chromatophores. Abdomen may be brown
if peritoneum shows through. Pigmentation on body and
head variable, ranging from spots on chin, cheeks and lower
half of body to little or no pigmentation in those areas.
Attains 55 mm. Natal to India.
111.4 Atherion africanus: 5 em holotype (Inhaea Id.).
Genus Hypoatherina Schultz, 1948
A number of species referred to the genus Allanetta by
Schultz (1948), Schultz et al., (1953), Smith (1965) and
others are considered to belong to genus Hypoatherina.
Allanetta Whitley, 1943, is a monotypic genus closely
related to Craterocephalus McCulloch (Taylor, 1964). The
type-species of Allanetta has no preopercular notch, a
character which has been used as a diagnostic feature for the
genus by Schultz (1948) and subsequent workers. Seven
species, 2 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la P 12-15; lower OR 15-19; palatines edentate ..... .. ........ H. barnesi
Ib P 14-18; lower GR 21-25; palatines dentate .... ........ H. temminckii
111.5 Hypoatherina barnesi
Schultz, 1953
Slender silverside
Siank spierinkie
Hypoatherina barnesi Schultz, in Schultz et aI., 1953: 304, Fig. 47
(Marshall Ids .). Atherina alra (non Peters) : Smith, SFSA No. 892*.
111: ATHERINIDAE (SILVERSIDES)
Allanetta klunzingeri Smith, 1965: 623, Fig. 6, PI. 100, Fig. D (Inhaca Id.,
Mozambique).
D V-VII + 1,8-11; A 1,12-17. Depth 5.7-7.8; midlateral band width 2.33.3 in body depth.
Live fish translucent; midlateral stripe and abdomen silvery. Preserved specimens milky yellow, green-brown or
brown. Top of head, snout and cheek dark. Midlateral band
dark, often becoming wider towards A origin. Scales on
upper half of body outlined by chromatophores. Mid-dorsal
band may be well developed. Bases of fins may also be pigmented. Apparently not exceeding 75 mm. Specimens from
Natal to Comores are not distinguishable from western
Pacific populations. Occurs in large schools during the day,
but apparently dispersing at night.
111.5 Hypoatherina barnesi: 3.5 em (drawn by Betty Thorn).
Whitebait
111.6 Hypoatherina temminckii
(Bleeker, 1853)
Witaas
Atherina temminckii Bleeker, 1853: 506 (Java); Blanc & Hureau, 1971:
711. Atherina alra Peters, 1855: 244 (Mozambique). Allanetta alra: Smith,
1965: 621* .
D V-VII+I,8-1O; A 1,11-14. Depth 5.6-6.9; midlateral band width in
body depth 2.8-4.7.
Live fish translucent, blue-green , with silvery midlateral
stripe and abdomen. Preserved specimens brown, greenyellow or pale yellow. Midlateral band, dorsum of head,
snout usually dark brown or black . Upper half of body with
many more pigment spots than lower half; 2 rows of pigment spots may be present below lateral band. Bases of fins
usually dark and P may be blotched. Attains 12 cm. Common in South Pacific, northern Australia, Indian Ocean and
Red Sea; south to Delagoa Bay.
111.6 Hypoatherina temminckii: 5 em.
383