127: TRACHICHTHYIDAE (SLIMEHEADS)
127.4 Hoplostethus mediterraneus
Cuvier, 1829
PLATE 18
Hoplostethus mediterraneus Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1829: 344, PI. 97
(Nice); Smith, SFSA No. 288*; 1964: 295; Karrer, 1973: 223; Woods &
Sonoda, 1973: 314*; Kotlyar, 1980: 206*.
D VI-VII,12-14; A III,1O; P 14-16; total GR 22-26; LL 25-27; belly
scutes well developed, 8-12. Body scales deciduous; D spines robust,
about twice as thick as soft-rays. Body depth 43-53% SL. Specimens from
southern Africa seem to have a smaller eye than those in the North Atlantic Ocean (10-14% versus 14-16% SL), and they may represent a distinct
subspecies, H. mediterraneus intermedius (Hector, 1875).
Body dusky pink dorsally, silvery below; paired fins pale;
inside of mouth (posterior to vomer, palatines and tip of
tongue), gill cavity and peritoneum black. Attains 30 cm.
Namibia to Natal. Reported from both sides of Atlantic
Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and
off south coast of Australia and New Zealand.
127.4 Hoplostethus mediterraneus: 8 cm (off South Africa) and abdominal
scutes of 24 cm specimen (after Norman, 1939).
. . ftJfi!&"'f.,(,'< '!('~T()":t~ " . ~; 'J>~"J' '{ ntjfjD ~ i~~JffW\
(~.fQVlll-rt~~ . ~Wl~ , .1. "F,' ,J/ r'( -flY
I· . -~~,t<:~. !{''lW ' ~' ~M-: f::rf;~~' ./!...., ...
\;~~~~&; " ~.
127.5 Hoplostethus melanopterus: 11.5 cm SL (off Natal) and abdominal
scutes from 12 cm SL specimen.
412
127.5 Hoplostethus melanopterus
Fowler, 1938
PLATE 18
Hoplostethus melanopterus Fowler, 1938: 36, Fig. 9 (Philippines); Karrer, 1973: 222*.
D IV-VI,13-14; A II-III,9-1O; P 17-20; total GR 19-20; LL 28; belly
scutes 13-15, distinct. Body depth 50-53%, eye 12.3-12.9% SL.
Colour in alcohol: body buff, with blackish colour of
peritoneum showing through; all fins pale; spiny D membrane dusky distally; roof of mouth and inner side of operculum dark brown (RUSI 10548, 113 mm SL). Attains 14
cm. Known from off the Transkei, Somalia and the Philippines.
127.6 Hoplostethus melanopus
(Weber, 1913)
Leiogaster melanopus Weber, 1913: 180, PI. 9, Fig. 7 (Moluccas,
Indonesia). Hoplostethus melanopus: Karrer, 1973: 229*; Kotylar, 1980:
201 *. Hoplostethus natalensis Kotlyar, 1978: 1681, Fig. (off Durban);
1980: 200*.
D IV-V,13-16; A II-III,8-1O; P 18-20; total GR 21-22; LL 28; belly
scutes 15-18, small, indistinct; scales deciduous. Body depth 50-57%, eye
10-12% SL.
Body and head brownish grey; fins dusky to blackish; gill
and mouth cavities dark. Attains 25 cm. Indo-West Pacific
from Indonesia to Natal, also off Namibia and Cape Town
in 400 - 900 m.
~
127.6 Hoplostethus melanopus: 21.5 cm and abdominal scutes (both after
Norman, 1939) .
127.7 Hoplostethus tenebricus
Kotlyar, 1980
Hoplostethus tenebricus Kotlyar, 1980: 203, Fig. 16 (off southern
Mozambique, 26°46'S, 33°44'E, in 825 - 885 m).
D IV,14; A III,9; P 17-20(?); total GR22; LL25; bellyscutes 17, small.
Body depth 47%, eye 9.5% SL.
127.4 Hoplostethus mediterraneus
Cuvier, 1829
PLATE 18
Hoplostethus mediterraneus Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1829: 344, PI. 97
(Nice); Smith, SFSA No. 288*; 1964: 295; Karrer, 1973: 223; Woods &
Sonoda, 1973: 314*; Kotlyar, 1980: 206*.
D VI-VII,12-14; A III,1O; P 14-16; total GR 22-26; LL 25-27; belly
scutes well developed, 8-12. Body scales deciduous; D spines robust,
about twice as thick as soft-rays. Body depth 43-53% SL. Specimens from
southern Africa seem to have a smaller eye than those in the North Atlantic Ocean (10-14% versus 14-16% SL), and they may represent a distinct
subspecies, H. mediterraneus intermedius (Hector, 1875).
Body dusky pink dorsally, silvery below; paired fins pale;
inside of mouth (posterior to vomer, palatines and tip of
tongue), gill cavity and peritoneum black. Attains 30 cm.
Namibia to Natal. Reported from both sides of Atlantic
Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and
off south coast of Australia and New Zealand.
127.4 Hoplostethus mediterraneus: 8 cm (off South Africa) and abdominal
scutes of 24 cm specimen (after Norman, 1939).
. . ftJfi!&"'f.,(,'< '!('~T()":t~ " . ~; 'J>~"J' '{ ntjfjD ~ i~~JffW\
(~.fQVlll-rt~~ . ~Wl~ , .1. "F,' ,J/ r'( -flY
I· . -~~,t<:~. !{''lW ' ~' ~M-: f::rf;~~' ./!...., ...
\;~~~~&; " ~.
127.5 Hoplostethus melanopterus: 11.5 cm SL (off Natal) and abdominal
scutes from 12 cm SL specimen.
412
127.5 Hoplostethus melanopterus
Fowler, 1938
PLATE 18
Hoplostethus melanopterus Fowler, 1938: 36, Fig. 9 (Philippines); Karrer, 1973: 222*.
D IV-VI,13-14; A II-III,9-1O; P 17-20; total GR 19-20; LL 28; belly
scutes 13-15, distinct. Body depth 50-53%, eye 12.3-12.9% SL.
Colour in alcohol: body buff, with blackish colour of
peritoneum showing through; all fins pale; spiny D membrane dusky distally; roof of mouth and inner side of operculum dark brown (RUSI 10548, 113 mm SL). Attains 14
cm. Known from off the Transkei, Somalia and the Philippines.
127.6 Hoplostethus melanopus
(Weber, 1913)
Leiogaster melanopus Weber, 1913: 180, PI. 9, Fig. 7 (Moluccas,
Indonesia). Hoplostethus melanopus: Karrer, 1973: 229*; Kotylar, 1980:
201 *. Hoplostethus natalensis Kotlyar, 1978: 1681, Fig. (off Durban);
1980: 200*.
D IV-V,13-16; A II-III,8-1O; P 18-20; total GR 21-22; LL 28; belly
scutes 15-18, small, indistinct; scales deciduous. Body depth 50-57%, eye
10-12% SL.
Body and head brownish grey; fins dusky to blackish; gill
and mouth cavities dark. Attains 25 cm. Indo-West Pacific
from Indonesia to Natal, also off Namibia and Cape Town
in 400 - 900 m.
~
127.6 Hoplostethus melanopus: 21.5 cm and abdominal scutes (both after
Norman, 1939) .
127.7 Hoplostethus tenebricus
Kotlyar, 1980
Hoplostethus tenebricus Kotlyar, 1980: 203, Fig. 16 (off southern
Mozambique, 26°46'S, 33°44'E, in 825 - 885 m).
D IV,14; A III,9; P 17-20(?); total GR22; LL25; bellyscutes 17, small.
Body depth 47%, eye 9.5% SL.