D VII-VIII,13-14; A lII,ll-12; P 13-1S; scutes 10-13; LL 26-31; GR
(4-6)+(13-1S). Body depth 1.9-2.2, head 2.2-2.8 in SL; eye 4.0-S.0 in
head.
Head and body dusky pink. Attains 60 cm. Known all
round our coast; both sides of Atlantic and Indian oceans,
Australia and the Philippines.
127.1 Gephyroberyx darwini: top: 11.5 cm (off Algoa Bay); bottom: 18 cm
(off South Africa).
Genus Hop/ostethus Cuvier, 1829
Ventral scutes well developed in some species; LL scales
enlarged. About 16 species; represented in all 3 major
oceans.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a D IV-VI,16-19; A 1II,1O-12; ventral scutes
present or absent (not well developed) ..................... H. atlanticus
1b D IV-VII,12-16; A III,8-10 ................................................. 2
2a P 14-16; 8-12 well-developed scutes on belly ........ H. mediterraneus
2b P 16-20; 13-18 scutes on belly............................................... 3
3a Body depth 1.7-2.0 in SL; (P 17-20; eye diameter
10-13% SL) .................................................... ................. 4
3b Body depth 1.9-2.3 in SL ........................................... ......... S
4a Abdominal scutes IS-18, inconspicuous, with
numerous minute spinules on their surface; eye
3.4-3.9 in head .................................................. H. melanopus
4b Abdominal scutes 13-1S, distinct, with lateral
ridge and/or 1 or 2 small auxiliary spines; eye
3.2-3.4 in head.............................................. H. melanopterus
Sa P 16-17; length of longest GR 19% head length;
eye 10.0- 12.6% . SL ............................................. H. cadenati
Sb P 17-20; longest GR 10% head length; eye
9.S% SL .......................................................... H. tenebricus
127: TRACHICHTHYIDAE (SLIME HEADS)
127.2 Hop/ostethus at/anticus
Collett, 1896
Hoplostethus atlanticus Collett, 1889: 306 (Azores); 1896: 17*; Smith,
SFSA No. 290; Karrer, 1973: 223*; Kotylar, 1980: 19S*. Hoplostethus gilchristi Smith, 1935: 182, PI. 22, Fig. E (off Durban, 300 fms); SFSA No.
289.
D IV-VI,16-19; A III,1O-12; P 18-20; GR (6-7)+(13-1S) = 19-22; LL
28-32; scutes along belly feeble, barely discernible. D spines not much
thicker than D rays. Body depth 33-47% SL; eye 8.8-11.6% SL.
Generally bright brick-red, mouth and gill cavity bluish
black. Attains 69 cm. Appears to be anti-tropical in distribution; on both sides of Atlantic Ocean (from Iceland to
Morocco and Walvis Bay to off Durban); also reported
from south-central Indian Ocean and New Zealand. Taken
off our coast in 500 - 1 090 m.
127.2 Hoplostethus at/anticus: 14.5 cm SL holotype of H. gilchristi (off Durban).
127.3 Hop/ostethus cadenati
Quero, 1974
Black slimehead
Swart slymkop
Hoplostethussp. Karrer, 1973: 227. HoplostethuscadenatiQuero, 1974:
103, Fig. (off Cape Blanc, Mauritania).
D IV-VI,12-13; A II-III,8-1O; P 16-17; total GR 21-23; LL 26-28; scutes
along belly distinct, 13-16. Body scales strongly adherent. D spines
slender, not much thicker than soft-rays. Body depth 43-S3%; eye 9.012.6% SL.
Body, head and fins dark grey. Attains 30 cm. West coast
of Africa from 36°N to 26°S in 200 - 700 m; also taken off
Transkei in 90 m.
127.3 Hoplostethus cadenati: 20? cm (after Quero. 1974).
411
(4-6)+(13-1S). Body depth 1.9-2.2, head 2.2-2.8 in SL; eye 4.0-S.0 in
head.
Head and body dusky pink. Attains 60 cm. Known all
round our coast; both sides of Atlantic and Indian oceans,
Australia and the Philippines.
127.1 Gephyroberyx darwini: top: 11.5 cm (off Algoa Bay); bottom: 18 cm
(off South Africa).
Genus Hop/ostethus Cuvier, 1829
Ventral scutes well developed in some species; LL scales
enlarged. About 16 species; represented in all 3 major
oceans.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a D IV-VI,16-19; A 1II,1O-12; ventral scutes
present or absent (not well developed) ..................... H. atlanticus
1b D IV-VII,12-16; A III,8-10 ................................................. 2
2a P 14-16; 8-12 well-developed scutes on belly ........ H. mediterraneus
2b P 16-20; 13-18 scutes on belly............................................... 3
3a Body depth 1.7-2.0 in SL; (P 17-20; eye diameter
10-13% SL) .................................................... ................. 4
3b Body depth 1.9-2.3 in SL ........................................... ......... S
4a Abdominal scutes IS-18, inconspicuous, with
numerous minute spinules on their surface; eye
3.4-3.9 in head .................................................. H. melanopus
4b Abdominal scutes 13-1S, distinct, with lateral
ridge and/or 1 or 2 small auxiliary spines; eye
3.2-3.4 in head.............................................. H. melanopterus
Sa P 16-17; length of longest GR 19% head length;
eye 10.0- 12.6% . SL ............................................. H. cadenati
Sb P 17-20; longest GR 10% head length; eye
9.S% SL .......................................................... H. tenebricus
127: TRACHICHTHYIDAE (SLIME HEADS)
127.2 Hop/ostethus at/anticus
Collett, 1896
Hoplostethus atlanticus Collett, 1889: 306 (Azores); 1896: 17*; Smith,
SFSA No. 290; Karrer, 1973: 223*; Kotylar, 1980: 19S*. Hoplostethus gilchristi Smith, 1935: 182, PI. 22, Fig. E (off Durban, 300 fms); SFSA No.
289.
D IV-VI,16-19; A III,1O-12; P 18-20; GR (6-7)+(13-1S) = 19-22; LL
28-32; scutes along belly feeble, barely discernible. D spines not much
thicker than D rays. Body depth 33-47% SL; eye 8.8-11.6% SL.
Generally bright brick-red, mouth and gill cavity bluish
black. Attains 69 cm. Appears to be anti-tropical in distribution; on both sides of Atlantic Ocean (from Iceland to
Morocco and Walvis Bay to off Durban); also reported
from south-central Indian Ocean and New Zealand. Taken
off our coast in 500 - 1 090 m.
127.2 Hoplostethus at/anticus: 14.5 cm SL holotype of H. gilchristi (off Durban).
127.3 Hop/ostethus cadenati
Quero, 1974
Black slimehead
Swart slymkop
Hoplostethussp. Karrer, 1973: 227. HoplostethuscadenatiQuero, 1974:
103, Fig. (off Cape Blanc, Mauritania).
D IV-VI,12-13; A II-III,8-1O; P 16-17; total GR 21-23; LL 26-28; scutes
along belly distinct, 13-16. Body scales strongly adherent. D spines
slender, not much thicker than soft-rays. Body depth 43-S3%; eye 9.012.6% SL.
Body, head and fins dark grey. Attains 30 cm. West coast
of Africa from 36°N to 26°S in 200 - 700 m; also taken off
Transkei in 90 m.
127.3 Hoplostethus cadenati: 20? cm (after Quero. 1974).
411