147: MACRORAMPHOSIDAE (SNIPEFISHES)
stripes. Attains 21 cm. Originally described from a specimen in the Dominion Museum in Wellington. Also reported from Australia and Argentina; has been found in our
waters from Cape Colombine to False Bay.
Genus Macroramphosus Lacepede, 1803
Body relatively elongate; depth (vertical at origin of pelvics) less than snout length. Scales imbricate (no skin visible
between the scales) . Length of D2 base Yz or less that of A
base . Ehrich (1976) has claimed that the 2 supposed species
of Macroramphosus are .examples of ecophenotypes, the
slender "gracilis" form comprising mainly mesopelagic
juveniles, and the deeper-bodied "scolopax" form being
mainly epibenthic adults, but Clarke (1984) has questioned
this interpretation.
147.2 Macroramphosus scolopax
(Linnaeus, 1758)
PLATE 24
Slender snipefish
Siank snipvis
Balistes scolopax Linnaeus, 1758: 329 (Mediterranean Sea). Centriscus
gracilis Lowe, 1839: 86 (Madeira) . Macroramphosus gracilis: Mohr, 1937:
33*; Smith, SFSA No. 363*. Macrorhamphosus scolopax: Mohr, 1937: 36* ;
Smith, SFSA No. 364; Ehrich & John, 1973: 87; Ehrich, 1976: 253 ; 1977:
12. Macrorhamphosus gracilis: Ehrich & John, 1973: 87.
D VI-VIII + 11-13; A 18-20; P 15-17. Body depth 3.8-5 .9 in TL.
Reddish pink, silvery below. Attains 19 cm. Feeds on
zooplankton (copepods and ostracods) and benthic invertebrates. Worldwide in tropical/subtropical waters; our
records from Table Bay to Durban in 50 - 350 m.
147.2 Macroramphosus scolopax: 10 em (off Cape Point).
Genus Notopogon Regan, 1914
Body depth (vertical at origin ofpelvics) more than snout
length . Scales lanceolate, very small and erect, giving the
body a velvety feel . Length of D2 base more than Yz that of A
base. Peritoneum black. Five species (3 in our area), all restricted to the southern oceans.
460
KEY TO SPECIES
la Distance from eye to origin of 2nd D spine distinctly less
than distance from eye to C base; distance from base of
2nd D spine to 1st D soft-ray not more than base of soft D ........ .. 2
1 b Distance from eye to origin of 2nd D spine greater
than or subequal to distance from eye to C base;
distance from base of 2nd D spine to 1st D soft-ray
more than soft Dbase ... ... .......... ...... ....... ... .... ..... N. xenosoma
2a Eye diameter 4.2-5.2 in snout length ; snout
length 1.3-1.5 in body length (from rear edge of
gill cavity to C base) ................ ........... .... ........ .. N. macrosolen
2b Eye 2.7-4.0 in snout; snout 1.6-1.9 in body
length ... ........ ...... ...... ....... ..... .. ... .... .... ... ... .. .... ....... .. N. lilliei
147.3 Notopogon lilliei
Regan, 1914
Round bellowsfish
Ronde blaasbalkvis
Notopogon lilliei Regan, 1914: 14 (New Zealand); 1914: 15*; Mohr,
1937: 50*; Smith, SFSA No. 368.
D VIIII4-15; A 17-19; P 16-17. Body depth 1.6-1.9 in distance from eye
to end of C; dorsal profile evenly convex , with a patch of short bristles
above operculum ; 2nd D spine length greater than A base , 1.5-2.0 in body
depth .
Attains at least 23 cm . Known in our area from a single
specimen caught off Natal; also reported from New Zealand and South Australia.
147.3 Notopogon lilliei: (after Mohr, 1937).
147.4 Notopogon macrosolen
Barnard, 1925
PLATE 24
Longsnout bellowsfish
Langsnoet-blaasbalkvis
Notopogon macrosolen Barnard, 1925: 498 (off Cape Town in 200 fms);
1925: 279* ; Mohr, 1937: 52*; Smith, SFSA No. 366*; Penrith, 1967: 528.
D VIIII5 ; A 17-19; P 15-16. Body depth 1.9-2.2 in distance from eye to
end of C; dorsal profile straight (or nearly so) from eye to 1st D spine, with
a patch of short bristles on nape of adult males >20cm; 2nd D spine longer
than A base, 1.7- 2.5 in body depth. Possibly a synonym of N. lilliei.
stripes. Attains 21 cm. Originally described from a specimen in the Dominion Museum in Wellington. Also reported from Australia and Argentina; has been found in our
waters from Cape Colombine to False Bay.
Genus Macroramphosus Lacepede, 1803
Body relatively elongate; depth (vertical at origin of pelvics) less than snout length. Scales imbricate (no skin visible
between the scales) . Length of D2 base Yz or less that of A
base . Ehrich (1976) has claimed that the 2 supposed species
of Macroramphosus are .examples of ecophenotypes, the
slender "gracilis" form comprising mainly mesopelagic
juveniles, and the deeper-bodied "scolopax" form being
mainly epibenthic adults, but Clarke (1984) has questioned
this interpretation.
147.2 Macroramphosus scolopax
(Linnaeus, 1758)
PLATE 24
Slender snipefish
Siank snipvis
Balistes scolopax Linnaeus, 1758: 329 (Mediterranean Sea). Centriscus
gracilis Lowe, 1839: 86 (Madeira) . Macroramphosus gracilis: Mohr, 1937:
33*; Smith, SFSA No. 363*. Macrorhamphosus scolopax: Mohr, 1937: 36* ;
Smith, SFSA No. 364; Ehrich & John, 1973: 87; Ehrich, 1976: 253 ; 1977:
12. Macrorhamphosus gracilis: Ehrich & John, 1973: 87.
D VI-VIII + 11-13; A 18-20; P 15-17. Body depth 3.8-5 .9 in TL.
Reddish pink, silvery below. Attains 19 cm. Feeds on
zooplankton (copepods and ostracods) and benthic invertebrates. Worldwide in tropical/subtropical waters; our
records from Table Bay to Durban in 50 - 350 m.
147.2 Macroramphosus scolopax: 10 em (off Cape Point).
Genus Notopogon Regan, 1914
Body depth (vertical at origin ofpelvics) more than snout
length . Scales lanceolate, very small and erect, giving the
body a velvety feel . Length of D2 base more than Yz that of A
base. Peritoneum black. Five species (3 in our area), all restricted to the southern oceans.
460
KEY TO SPECIES
la Distance from eye to origin of 2nd D spine distinctly less
than distance from eye to C base; distance from base of
2nd D spine to 1st D soft-ray not more than base of soft D ........ .. 2
1 b Distance from eye to origin of 2nd D spine greater
than or subequal to distance from eye to C base;
distance from base of 2nd D spine to 1st D soft-ray
more than soft Dbase ... ... .......... ...... ....... ... .... ..... N. xenosoma
2a Eye diameter 4.2-5.2 in snout length ; snout
length 1.3-1.5 in body length (from rear edge of
gill cavity to C base) ................ ........... .... ........ .. N. macrosolen
2b Eye 2.7-4.0 in snout; snout 1.6-1.9 in body
length ... ........ ...... ...... ....... ..... .. ... .... .... ... ... .. .... ....... .. N. lilliei
147.3 Notopogon lilliei
Regan, 1914
Round bellowsfish
Ronde blaasbalkvis
Notopogon lilliei Regan, 1914: 14 (New Zealand); 1914: 15*; Mohr,
1937: 50*; Smith, SFSA No. 368.
D VIIII4-15; A 17-19; P 16-17. Body depth 1.6-1.9 in distance from eye
to end of C; dorsal profile evenly convex , with a patch of short bristles
above operculum ; 2nd D spine length greater than A base , 1.5-2.0 in body
depth .
Attains at least 23 cm . Known in our area from a single
specimen caught off Natal; also reported from New Zealand and South Australia.
147.3 Notopogon lilliei: (after Mohr, 1937).
147.4 Notopogon macrosolen
Barnard, 1925
PLATE 24
Longsnout bellowsfish
Langsnoet-blaasbalkvis
Notopogon macrosolen Barnard, 1925: 498 (off Cape Town in 200 fms);
1925: 279* ; Mohr, 1937: 52*; Smith, SFSA No. 366*; Penrith, 1967: 528.
D VIIII5 ; A 17-19; P 15-16. Body depth 1.9-2.2 in distance from eye to
end of C; dorsal profile straight (or nearly so) from eye to 1st D spine, with
a patch of short bristles on nape of adult males >20cm; 2nd D spine longer
than A base, 1.7- 2.5 in body depth. Possibly a synonym of N. lilliei.