169: PSEUDOCHROMIDAE (DOTIYBACKS)
Nosey
169.2 Chlidichthys bibulus
(Smith, 1954)
PLATE 46
Neusie
Wamizichthys bibulus Smith, 1954: 205, Fig. 3 (Wamizi Id., Mozambique, 12°S). Chlidichthys bibulus: Lubbock, 1977: 14*.
D 11,23-25; A III (1st minute),14-15; P 18; V 1,4; GR (4-5)+(10-12); LS
46-48; LL 1+(19-21)+(15-16); longest V ray 15-24% SL, C feebly convex.
Attains 61 mm. Lives in and round coral; from 3°S in
Kenya to Mozambique Id. and probably further south.
169.3 Chlidichthys johnvoelckeri
Smith,1953
PLATE 46
Cerise dottyback
Kersrooi spikkelrug
Chlidichthys johnvoelckeri Smith, 1953: 518, No. 408a* (Pinda); 1954,
203*; Lubbock, 1977: 13*.
D 11,22-23; A III (1st minute),13-14; P 17; V 1,4; GR (5-6)+(10-12) =
16-17; LS 50-52; LL 1 +(18-23)+(5-6); pn;:dorsal scales 19-23; C rounded;
longest V ray 20-21 % SL.
Only 3 specimens known, 1 from Bazaruto Id. and 2 from
the mouths of the rock -cod Aethaloperca rogaa at Pinda and
Pemba (5 0 S); coral reefs to about 55 - 75 m.
Genus Pseudochromis Ruppell, 1835
Pupil pear-shaped. Upper jaw with 2 series of sharp,
slightly recurved conical teeth at side, outer series larger,
and 6-8 series of setiform teeth at symphysis with 2-7 large
curved canines in front; lower jaw similar, except only 1
series laterally and 2-5 large canines in front; vomer and
palatines dentate, tongue smooth. Most soft-rays branched;
P 18-20, top ray minute and adnate to 2nd; C (6-9)+ 17+
((1-9). Vertebrae (10-11)+(16-17). Numerous species,
many undescribed; 5 species in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Longest V ray 12-16% SL; in life, 2 oblique
blue bands across corners of truncate C; another
along D base to snout, and from tip of lower
jaw under eye to opercle edge .................................... P. dutoiti
1b Longest V ray 16-37% SL; no bands on C or along body ............ 2
2a Dark blue (black when preserved), yellow-edged ocellus
on upper edge of opercle . .. . .. .. .. . .. .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 3
2b No ocellus on opercle (small dark spot at upper margin
of preopercle sometimes present in adult P. natalensis) .............. 4
3a Whole body black; LL (34-35) + (8-10) = 42-45 ............... P. melas
3b Upper part of head and back to end of D black,
remainder pale; LL (29-32)+(4-8) = 34-38 ....................... P. pesi
540
4a D III,25-27; GR 15-16; 16-30 sensory pores
in postorbital and suborbital series .......................... P. natalensis
4b D III,28-30; GR 16-18 (rarely 16); 23-42
sensory pores in postorbital and suborbital
series; in adults head generally paler (yellow
to orange in life) than body .................................... P. tauberae
Dutoiti
169.4 Pseudochromis dutoiti
Smith,1955
PLATE 44
Dutoiti
Pseudochromis dutoiti Smith, 1955: 145, Fig. 1 (Bazaruto Id.); 1961:
567, No. 407bj Lubbock, 1977: 4*.
D III,28-33; A III,16-19; GR (4-5)+(11-12) = 15-17; LS 41-49; LL
(25-34)+(3-7) = 32-41; predorsal scales 20-27.
A beautiful and fearless aquarium fish that lays and then
actively guards its eggs in empty shells or similar objects.
Attains 88 mm. Indian Ocean from Pakistan and Persian
Gulf to Durban, common and easily seen by snorkling from
the shore near rocks and coral at Sodwana Bay; the most
widely distributed of all the pseudochromids.
169.5 Pseudochromis melas
Lubbock,1977
PLATE 44
Dark dottyback
Donker spikkelrug
Pseudochromis me/as Lubbock, 1977: 8, Pis. 1D and 3A (Was in Id.,
Shimoni, Kenya); Smith, 1980: 176.
D 111,26; A 111,15; GR 6+ 13; LS 47-48; LL (34-35)+(8-10) = 42-45;
pre dorsal 18-22; C rounded to truncate; longest V ray 27-28% SL.
Attains 90 mm. Two specimens from Kenya and 1 from
Sodwana Bay in 15 - 20 m.
169.6 Pseudochromis natalensis
Regan, 1916
PLATE 46
Natal dottyback
Natalse spikkelrug
Pseudochromis nata/ensis Regan, 1916: 167 (Durban); Smith, SFSA
No. 408*j Lubbock, 1977: 10*.
D III,25-27; A III,13-18; GR (4-6)+(10-12) = 15-16; LS 41-49; LL
(30-35)+(0-11) = 33-44; predorsal scales 17-26; C truncate, emarginate in
large specimens; longest V ray 16-25% SL.
Juveniles « 4 cm SL) are drab uniform olive; adults with
a blue spot on each body scale and a dark spot on upper
opercle margin. Attains 88 mm; common under and round
large boulders; lies still against greenish weed; from Durban
to Patta Id., Kenya (2°S) and Madagascar, down to 25 m.
Nosey
169.2 Chlidichthys bibulus
(Smith, 1954)
PLATE 46
Neusie
Wamizichthys bibulus Smith, 1954: 205, Fig. 3 (Wamizi Id., Mozambique, 12°S). Chlidichthys bibulus: Lubbock, 1977: 14*.
D 11,23-25; A III (1st minute),14-15; P 18; V 1,4; GR (4-5)+(10-12); LS
46-48; LL 1+(19-21)+(15-16); longest V ray 15-24% SL, C feebly convex.
Attains 61 mm. Lives in and round coral; from 3°S in
Kenya to Mozambique Id. and probably further south.
169.3 Chlidichthys johnvoelckeri
Smith,1953
PLATE 46
Cerise dottyback
Kersrooi spikkelrug
Chlidichthys johnvoelckeri Smith, 1953: 518, No. 408a* (Pinda); 1954,
203*; Lubbock, 1977: 13*.
D 11,22-23; A III (1st minute),13-14; P 17; V 1,4; GR (5-6)+(10-12) =
16-17; LS 50-52; LL 1 +(18-23)+(5-6); pn;:dorsal scales 19-23; C rounded;
longest V ray 20-21 % SL.
Only 3 specimens known, 1 from Bazaruto Id. and 2 from
the mouths of the rock -cod Aethaloperca rogaa at Pinda and
Pemba (5 0 S); coral reefs to about 55 - 75 m.
Genus Pseudochromis Ruppell, 1835
Pupil pear-shaped. Upper jaw with 2 series of sharp,
slightly recurved conical teeth at side, outer series larger,
and 6-8 series of setiform teeth at symphysis with 2-7 large
curved canines in front; lower jaw similar, except only 1
series laterally and 2-5 large canines in front; vomer and
palatines dentate, tongue smooth. Most soft-rays branched;
P 18-20, top ray minute and adnate to 2nd; C (6-9)+ 17+
((1-9). Vertebrae (10-11)+(16-17). Numerous species,
many undescribed; 5 species in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Longest V ray 12-16% SL; in life, 2 oblique
blue bands across corners of truncate C; another
along D base to snout, and from tip of lower
jaw under eye to opercle edge .................................... P. dutoiti
1b Longest V ray 16-37% SL; no bands on C or along body ............ 2
2a Dark blue (black when preserved), yellow-edged ocellus
on upper edge of opercle . .. . .. .. .. . .. .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 3
2b No ocellus on opercle (small dark spot at upper margin
of preopercle sometimes present in adult P. natalensis) .............. 4
3a Whole body black; LL (34-35) + (8-10) = 42-45 ............... P. melas
3b Upper part of head and back to end of D black,
remainder pale; LL (29-32)+(4-8) = 34-38 ....................... P. pesi
540
4a D III,25-27; GR 15-16; 16-30 sensory pores
in postorbital and suborbital series .......................... P. natalensis
4b D III,28-30; GR 16-18 (rarely 16); 23-42
sensory pores in postorbital and suborbital
series; in adults head generally paler (yellow
to orange in life) than body .................................... P. tauberae
Dutoiti
169.4 Pseudochromis dutoiti
Smith,1955
PLATE 44
Dutoiti
Pseudochromis dutoiti Smith, 1955: 145, Fig. 1 (Bazaruto Id.); 1961:
567, No. 407bj Lubbock, 1977: 4*.
D III,28-33; A III,16-19; GR (4-5)+(11-12) = 15-17; LS 41-49; LL
(25-34)+(3-7) = 32-41; predorsal scales 20-27.
A beautiful and fearless aquarium fish that lays and then
actively guards its eggs in empty shells or similar objects.
Attains 88 mm. Indian Ocean from Pakistan and Persian
Gulf to Durban, common and easily seen by snorkling from
the shore near rocks and coral at Sodwana Bay; the most
widely distributed of all the pseudochromids.
169.5 Pseudochromis melas
Lubbock,1977
PLATE 44
Dark dottyback
Donker spikkelrug
Pseudochromis me/as Lubbock, 1977: 8, Pis. 1D and 3A (Was in Id.,
Shimoni, Kenya); Smith, 1980: 176.
D 111,26; A 111,15; GR 6+ 13; LS 47-48; LL (34-35)+(8-10) = 42-45;
pre dorsal 18-22; C rounded to truncate; longest V ray 27-28% SL.
Attains 90 mm. Two specimens from Kenya and 1 from
Sodwana Bay in 15 - 20 m.
169.6 Pseudochromis natalensis
Regan, 1916
PLATE 46
Natal dottyback
Natalse spikkelrug
Pseudochromis nata/ensis Regan, 1916: 167 (Durban); Smith, SFSA
No. 408*j Lubbock, 1977: 10*.
D III,25-27; A III,13-18; GR (4-6)+(10-12) = 15-16; LS 41-49; LL
(30-35)+(0-11) = 33-44; predorsal scales 17-26; C truncate, emarginate in
large specimens; longest V ray 16-25% SL.
Juveniles « 4 cm SL) are drab uniform olive; adults with
a blue spot on each body scale and a dark spot on upper
opercle margin. Attains 88 mm; common under and round
large boulders; lies still against greenish weed; from Durban
to Patta Id., Kenya (2°S) and Madagascar, down to 25 m.