Goldie
168.1 Callanthias /egras
Smith,1947
PLATE 46
Goudvis
Callanthias legras Smith, 1947: 335, Fig. 1 (off Algoa Bay, 30 fms);
SFSA No. 460*.
o XI,lO-11; A 111,10; P 19-20; LSS 36-41; LL 28-33; GR (9-11)+
(22-27). Bony interorbital width 1.1-1.4 in bony orbit diameter; bony orbit
diameter 2.6-3.1 in head. C lunate.
Attains 25 cm. Known only from Dassen Id. (off western
Cape Province) to Natal. Rare.
Family No. 169: PSEUDOCHROMIDAE
by M.M. Smith
Dottybacks
SpikkelrOe
Fairly elongate body with moderate to small scales; posterior body scales ctenoid, rest cycloid. Lateral line in 1 or 2
parts: upper from shoulder to below middle of spinous dorsal then parallel to base of dorsal fin ending below soft-rays;
2nd part, if present, along rear midlateral part of body to
base of caudal fin. Dorsal fin with 1-3 weak spines and 21-37
soft-rays. Pelvic fin of a spine and 3-5 rays, 1 of which is
generally produced. Six branchiostegals. Jaws and vomer
with small, sharp conical teeth; dentition of male often
stronger than that of female.
Small, drab to brightly coloured tropical Indo-Pacific
coral reef fishes; bodies soften rapidly after death, and fins
and scales easily damaged. Males of some species guard
their ball of eggs aggressively. Five genera, 3 in our area;
Labracinus Bleeker, 1876 with 4 species and the monotypic
Pseudoplesiops Bleeker, 1858 have been recorded from the
Pacific and Western Australia. Pseudocrenilabrus natalensis Fowler (1934) was originally described as a pseudochromid fish from Durban, but this species is a synonym of
the cichlid Pseudocrenilabrus philander Weber 1897
w~ich is known only from freshwater. Species easil~ distin~
gUlshed by colour when alive, but some preserved specimens are difficult to identify.
KEY TO GENERA
la Head naked; most of lower gill arch smooth;
palatines edentate; vertebrae (10-11)+(22-25);
P 13-15 (generally 14); 0 and A each with 1
small spine ...................................................... Anisochromis
Ib Scales on head; most of lower gill arch with
rakers and knobs; palatines toothed;
vertebrae (10-11)+(16-17); P 15-18; 0 and A
with 2-3 small spines ..................... ..................................... 2
2a Top LL reduced to single tubular scale at
shoulder and a few rudimentary pits; V 1,4 ................ Chlidichthys
2b Top LL with 25 or more tubular scales; V 1,5 ......... Pseudochromis
169: PSEUDOCHROMIDAE (DOTIYBACKS)
Genus Anisochromis Smith, 1954
Gill membranes form a broad fold across isthmus. Two
species, both known only from western Indian Ocean; A.
straussi Springer, Smith & Fraser, 1977 from St. Brandon's
Shoals differs in the terminal phase having no ocellus on
front of D, and higher mean numbers of D and A rays, total
vertebrae and tubed LL scales.
Annie
169.1 Anisochromis kenyae
Smith,1954
PLATE 46
Anna
Anisochromis kenyae Smith, 1954: 300, Fig. 1 (Malindi, Kenya); Smith,
1977: 22*; Springer, Smith & Fraser, 1977: 5.
01,24-26; A 1,16-18 (0 & A spines difficult to see); P 13-15; V 1,4; GR
4+2; LS 41-43; LL32-35 ends below rear 0 rays; fins naked; longest Vray
10-12% SL. One row of small conical teeth on side of jaws; front teeth
enlarged, antrorse and slightly recurved in smaller (female) specimens;
larger and more regular in larger (male) specimens; similar smaller teeth
in 1-3 series behind front teeth.
This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite, the smaller
ocellated form being generally females and the larger terminal phase generally males, although there is some overlapping. Attains about 31 mm; occurs on reefs and in pools
exposed at low tide from 3°S in Kenya to Pinda (14°14'S).
Females distended with about 100 eggs during October and
November. Although not yet found south of 20
0
S, it is likely
to occur here, as its small size makes it difficult to collect.
Genus Chlidichthys Smith, 1957
A few posterior rays of D and A branched; pupil pearshaped; C with basal scales, the rays (5-6)+ 17+(5-6); vertebrae 11+16. Vomer and palatines dentate, tongue
smooth. Upper jaw posteriorly with 1-2 series of irregular
teeth; about 6 series at symphysis, the 4 posterior series
setiform, and 2 front series caniniform with 3-8 large
canines in outer series. Lower jaw similar, but only 1 series
of teeth posteriorly and 2-8 large canines in front series.
About 11 species known, 6 from western Indian Ocean, 2
reach southern Africa.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Anterior 0 rays elevated; snout, interorbital
and chin vermillion, prominent dark bands on
green body; LS 46-48; lower LL pitted scales
15-16 ................................................................... C. bibulus
1b 0 not elevated anteriorly; almost uniform cerise;
o and A dark green near body; LS 50-52;
lower LL pitted scales 5-6 ................................ C. johnvoelckeri
539
168.1 Callanthias /egras
Smith,1947
PLATE 46
Goudvis
Callanthias legras Smith, 1947: 335, Fig. 1 (off Algoa Bay, 30 fms);
SFSA No. 460*.
o XI,lO-11; A 111,10; P 19-20; LSS 36-41; LL 28-33; GR (9-11)+
(22-27). Bony interorbital width 1.1-1.4 in bony orbit diameter; bony orbit
diameter 2.6-3.1 in head. C lunate.
Attains 25 cm. Known only from Dassen Id. (off western
Cape Province) to Natal. Rare.
Family No. 169: PSEUDOCHROMIDAE
by M.M. Smith
Dottybacks
SpikkelrOe
Fairly elongate body with moderate to small scales; posterior body scales ctenoid, rest cycloid. Lateral line in 1 or 2
parts: upper from shoulder to below middle of spinous dorsal then parallel to base of dorsal fin ending below soft-rays;
2nd part, if present, along rear midlateral part of body to
base of caudal fin. Dorsal fin with 1-3 weak spines and 21-37
soft-rays. Pelvic fin of a spine and 3-5 rays, 1 of which is
generally produced. Six branchiostegals. Jaws and vomer
with small, sharp conical teeth; dentition of male often
stronger than that of female.
Small, drab to brightly coloured tropical Indo-Pacific
coral reef fishes; bodies soften rapidly after death, and fins
and scales easily damaged. Males of some species guard
their ball of eggs aggressively. Five genera, 3 in our area;
Labracinus Bleeker, 1876 with 4 species and the monotypic
Pseudoplesiops Bleeker, 1858 have been recorded from the
Pacific and Western Australia. Pseudocrenilabrus natalensis Fowler (1934) was originally described as a pseudochromid fish from Durban, but this species is a synonym of
the cichlid Pseudocrenilabrus philander Weber 1897
w~ich is known only from freshwater. Species easil~ distin~
gUlshed by colour when alive, but some preserved specimens are difficult to identify.
KEY TO GENERA
la Head naked; most of lower gill arch smooth;
palatines edentate; vertebrae (10-11)+(22-25);
P 13-15 (generally 14); 0 and A each with 1
small spine ...................................................... Anisochromis
Ib Scales on head; most of lower gill arch with
rakers and knobs; palatines toothed;
vertebrae (10-11)+(16-17); P 15-18; 0 and A
with 2-3 small spines ..................... ..................................... 2
2a Top LL reduced to single tubular scale at
shoulder and a few rudimentary pits; V 1,4 ................ Chlidichthys
2b Top LL with 25 or more tubular scales; V 1,5 ......... Pseudochromis
169: PSEUDOCHROMIDAE (DOTIYBACKS)
Genus Anisochromis Smith, 1954
Gill membranes form a broad fold across isthmus. Two
species, both known only from western Indian Ocean; A.
straussi Springer, Smith & Fraser, 1977 from St. Brandon's
Shoals differs in the terminal phase having no ocellus on
front of D, and higher mean numbers of D and A rays, total
vertebrae and tubed LL scales.
Annie
169.1 Anisochromis kenyae
Smith,1954
PLATE 46
Anna
Anisochromis kenyae Smith, 1954: 300, Fig. 1 (Malindi, Kenya); Smith,
1977: 22*; Springer, Smith & Fraser, 1977: 5.
01,24-26; A 1,16-18 (0 & A spines difficult to see); P 13-15; V 1,4; GR
4+2; LS 41-43; LL32-35 ends below rear 0 rays; fins naked; longest Vray
10-12% SL. One row of small conical teeth on side of jaws; front teeth
enlarged, antrorse and slightly recurved in smaller (female) specimens;
larger and more regular in larger (male) specimens; similar smaller teeth
in 1-3 series behind front teeth.
This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite, the smaller
ocellated form being generally females and the larger terminal phase generally males, although there is some overlapping. Attains about 31 mm; occurs on reefs and in pools
exposed at low tide from 3°S in Kenya to Pinda (14°14'S).
Females distended with about 100 eggs during October and
November. Although not yet found south of 20
0
S, it is likely
to occur here, as its small size makes it difficult to collect.
Genus Chlidichthys Smith, 1957
A few posterior rays of D and A branched; pupil pearshaped; C with basal scales, the rays (5-6)+ 17+(5-6); vertebrae 11+16. Vomer and palatines dentate, tongue
smooth. Upper jaw posteriorly with 1-2 series of irregular
teeth; about 6 series at symphysis, the 4 posterior series
setiform, and 2 front series caniniform with 3-8 large
canines in outer series. Lower jaw similar, but only 1 series
of teeth posteriorly and 2-8 large canines in front series.
About 11 species known, 6 from western Indian Ocean, 2
reach southern Africa.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Anterior 0 rays elevated; snout, interorbital
and chin vermillion, prominent dark bands on
green body; LS 46-48; lower LL pitted scales
15-16 ................................................................... C. bibulus
1b 0 not elevated anteriorly; almost uniform cerise;
o and A dark green near body; LS 50-52;
lower LL pitted scales 5-6 ................................ C. johnvoelckeri
539