Family No. 150: TETRAROGIDAE
byS. Pass
Waspfishes
Wespvisse
Small to moderate-sized benthic fishes, usually covered
with small, deeply embedded scales. Dorsal fin originates
on head. Usually 2 or 3 pairs of upper pharyngeal tooth
plates. Pseudobranch well developed, with 10-25 filaments.
Vertebrae 24-29.
Restricted primarily to the Indo-West Pacific area from
shore to depths of 300 m. About 40 species in 15 genera; all
are extremely venomous and should be considered dangerous. Closely related to the Scorpaenidae and considered
part of that family by many authors. Indian Ocean species
reviewed by Smith (1957). .
KEY TO GENERA
la Body strongly compressed; covered with small
scales; V 1,5; D origin over or before front margin
of eye; D and A rays branched .................................... Ablabys
Ib Body not strongly compressed; naked, except for
LL scales; V 1,3; D origin over rear margin of
eye; D and A rays unbranched .............................. Coccotropsis
Genus Ab/abys Kaup, 1873
Three species; 1 in our area. Amblyapistus Bleeker, 1874
is a synonym.
151: APLOACfINIDAE (VELVETFISHES)
markings. Attains 15 cm. From Xora River mouth to Zanzibar; subtidally in sheltered areas among weeds.
Genus Coccotropsis Barnard, 1927
One species, found only off South Africa.
150.2 Coccotropsis gymnoderma
(Gilchrist, 1906)
PLATE 27
Smoothskin scorpionfish
Gladdevel-skerpioenvis
Tetraroge gymnoderma Gilchrist, 1906: 147, PI. 37 (Cape St. Blaize).
Coccotropsis gymnoderma: Barnard, 1927: 751; Smith, SFSA No. 1031*;
1958: 169*.
D XIV-XVI,5-6; A III,3-6; P 11-12; LL 8-11; GR (1-3)+(5- 9). Depth
2.5-3.0, head 2.3-2.8, predorsaI3.7-4.3 in SL.
Brownish red, with white blotch covering belly and rear
~ of body. Attains 40 mm. Taken from the Cape to Algoa
Bay in 9 - 108 m; common in rotenone collections.
150.1 Ab/abys binotatus
(Peters, 1855)
PLATE 29
150.2 Coeeotropsis gymnoderma: 3 cm (off Cape south coast).
Redskinfish
Rooihuidvis
Apistus binotatus Peters, 1855: 241 (Mozambique). Amblyapistus marleyi Regan, 1919: 202, Fig. 5 (Durban). Amblyapistus binotatus: Smith,
SFSA No. 1032*; 1958: 170'. Amblyapistus taenionotus (non Cuvier):
Smith, SFSA No. 1033.
D XV,8-9; A III,5; P 11-12; LL 22-26; GR (0-2)+(3-6). Depth
2.8-3.2, head 2.7-3.2, predorsaI5.9-8.3 in SL.
Dark brown, with prominent white or silvery blotch on
body above P, and often with irregular yellow or black
150.1 Ab/abys binototus: 12 em (Inhaca Ido).
Family No. 151: APLOACTINIDAE
byS. Pass
Velvetfishes
Ferweelvisse
Small benthic fishes sometimes covered with modified
scales that form spinous points. Fin rays unbranched. A
fleshy papillose extension present on anterior part of
isthmus in all but two genera. Spines on head usually blunt.
A single pair of upper pharyngeal tooth plates. Pseudobranch with 0-15 filaments. Vertebrae 25-33.
Velvetfishes occur in the Indo-West Pacific region; most
species are found from shore to depths of 100 m and are
extremely rare. Fifteen genera, with 38 species, most of
which were recently characterised by Poss & Eschmeyer
(1978).
KEY TO GENERA
la V 1,3; A spines without conspicuous venom gland;
D XII-XIII,9-10 ... 0 • • • • • • • • 0 • • • • • 0 • • 0 • • • Cocotropus
Ib V 1,2; each A spine with a conspicuous venom gland;
D XIV- XVI,7-9 ............. 0 • • • • • 0 • • • • • • • Ptarmus
479
byS. Pass
Waspfishes
Wespvisse
Small to moderate-sized benthic fishes, usually covered
with small, deeply embedded scales. Dorsal fin originates
on head. Usually 2 or 3 pairs of upper pharyngeal tooth
plates. Pseudobranch well developed, with 10-25 filaments.
Vertebrae 24-29.
Restricted primarily to the Indo-West Pacific area from
shore to depths of 300 m. About 40 species in 15 genera; all
are extremely venomous and should be considered dangerous. Closely related to the Scorpaenidae and considered
part of that family by many authors. Indian Ocean species
reviewed by Smith (1957). .
KEY TO GENERA
la Body strongly compressed; covered with small
scales; V 1,5; D origin over or before front margin
of eye; D and A rays branched .................................... Ablabys
Ib Body not strongly compressed; naked, except for
LL scales; V 1,3; D origin over rear margin of
eye; D and A rays unbranched .............................. Coccotropsis
Genus Ab/abys Kaup, 1873
Three species; 1 in our area. Amblyapistus Bleeker, 1874
is a synonym.
151: APLOACfINIDAE (VELVETFISHES)
markings. Attains 15 cm. From Xora River mouth to Zanzibar; subtidally in sheltered areas among weeds.
Genus Coccotropsis Barnard, 1927
One species, found only off South Africa.
150.2 Coccotropsis gymnoderma
(Gilchrist, 1906)
PLATE 27
Smoothskin scorpionfish
Gladdevel-skerpioenvis
Tetraroge gymnoderma Gilchrist, 1906: 147, PI. 37 (Cape St. Blaize).
Coccotropsis gymnoderma: Barnard, 1927: 751; Smith, SFSA No. 1031*;
1958: 169*.
D XIV-XVI,5-6; A III,3-6; P 11-12; LL 8-11; GR (1-3)+(5- 9). Depth
2.5-3.0, head 2.3-2.8, predorsaI3.7-4.3 in SL.
Brownish red, with white blotch covering belly and rear
~ of body. Attains 40 mm. Taken from the Cape to Algoa
Bay in 9 - 108 m; common in rotenone collections.
150.1 Ab/abys binotatus
(Peters, 1855)
PLATE 29
150.2 Coeeotropsis gymnoderma: 3 cm (off Cape south coast).
Redskinfish
Rooihuidvis
Apistus binotatus Peters, 1855: 241 (Mozambique). Amblyapistus marleyi Regan, 1919: 202, Fig. 5 (Durban). Amblyapistus binotatus: Smith,
SFSA No. 1032*; 1958: 170'. Amblyapistus taenionotus (non Cuvier):
Smith, SFSA No. 1033.
D XV,8-9; A III,5; P 11-12; LL 22-26; GR (0-2)+(3-6). Depth
2.8-3.2, head 2.7-3.2, predorsaI5.9-8.3 in SL.
Dark brown, with prominent white or silvery blotch on
body above P, and often with irregular yellow or black
150.1 Ab/abys binototus: 12 em (Inhaca Ido).
Family No. 151: APLOACTINIDAE
byS. Pass
Velvetfishes
Ferweelvisse
Small benthic fishes sometimes covered with modified
scales that form spinous points. Fin rays unbranched. A
fleshy papillose extension present on anterior part of
isthmus in all but two genera. Spines on head usually blunt.
A single pair of upper pharyngeal tooth plates. Pseudobranch with 0-15 filaments. Vertebrae 25-33.
Velvetfishes occur in the Indo-West Pacific region; most
species are found from shore to depths of 100 m and are
extremely rare. Fifteen genera, with 38 species, most of
which were recently characterised by Poss & Eschmeyer
(1978).
KEY TO GENERA
la V 1,3; A spines without conspicuous venom gland;
D XII-XIII,9-10 ... 0 • • • • • • • • 0 • • • • • 0 • • 0 • • • Cocotropus
Ib V 1,2; each A spine with a conspicuous venom gland;
D XIV- XVI,7-9 ............. 0 • • • • • 0 • • • • • • • Ptarmus
479