169.7 Pseudochromis pesi
Lubbock,1975
PLATE 46
Bicoloured dottyback
Tweekleur-spikkelrug
Pseudochromis pesi Lubbock, 1975: 136 PI. 1d (Gulf of Aqaba); Smith,
1980: 176.
D III,26·28; A III,14-15; GR 6+(11·13); LS 41-48; LL (29·32)+(4·8) =
34·38; predorsal scales 19-22; C truncate; longest V ray 19-37% SL.
Faint, slightly oblique body lines in life disappear with
preservation. Attains nearly 100 mm. Occurring singly or in
pairs around isolated rocks or coral on sand from 10 - 45 m
in Gulf of Aqaba and Sodwana Bay.
169.8 Pseudochromis tauberae
Lubbock,1977
PLATE 46
Lightheaded dottyback
Ligkop-spikkelrug
Pseudochromis taub.erae Lubbock, 1977: 9, Pis. 2A, 3C and 3D
(Shanzu, Kenya); Smith, 1980: 176.
D III,28-30; A III,15-17; GR (4-6)+(11-13) = 16-18; LS 42-47; LL
(28-35)+(5-11) = 33-45; predorsal scales 15-26; C truncate; longest V ray
17-21 % SL.
Similar to P. natalensis; small fishes are olive with rows of
orange-red spots. Attains 80 mm. Not uncommon in shallow water down to 6 m, inside fringing reefs where P.
natalensis is apparently absent; Madagascar and Kenya to
Sodwana Bay.
Family No. 170: ACANTHOCLINIDAE
by M.M. Smith
Spiny basslets
Stekelbaarsies
Small compact fishes, similar to the Pseudochromidae;
subocular shelf absent, and dorsal and anal fins have
numerous spines and few rays; pelvic fins with 1 spine and 1
or 2 soft-rays.
About 5 species in 3 genera, 1 in our area. The New Zealand Acanthoclinus Jenyns, 1841 with 2 species and the
monotypic Belonepterygion McCulloch, 1915 from the
Pacific have 3 lateral lines.
Genus Acanthoplesiops Regan, 1912
Two species, 1 in our area. The minute A. hiatti Schultz,
1953 is from the Pacific.
171: PSEUDOGRAMMIDAE (PODGES)
Scottie
170.1 Acanthoplesiops indicus
(Day, 1888)
PLATE 46
Skottie
Acanthoclinus indicus Day, 1888: 264 (Madras, India); 1888: 798, Fig.
Acanthop/esiops indicus: Barnard, 1948: 370*; Smith, SFSA No. 409*.
D XVIII-XX,3-5; A VIII-X,3-5; P 16-17; V 1,2, 1st ray branched; GR
1 +4; LS about 33; LL single, rudimentary, 8-10 pores; scales all cycloid,
those on rear part of body with free lobes behind.
Attains 50 mm. An agile, neat and attractive small fish of
the tropical Indian Ocean; found in quiet, weedy water in
Delagoa Bay, Mombasa and along the northern Mozambique coast opposite Ibo Island.
Family No. 171: PSEUDOGRAMMIDAE
by M.M. Smith
Podges
Vetsakke
Body elongate-oval, slightly compressed; 1 or 2 incomplete lateral lines; cheeks and operculum scaly. Maxilla
exposed, reaching past eye. Dorsal fin with 6-8 pungent
spines and 19-25 soft-rays; anal fin with 3 pungent spines
and 15-24 soft-rays; pelvic fins 1,5. Branchiostegals 7; 2
large pyloric caeca.
Small, cryptic fishes, usually on coral reefs. Three
genera, with about 6 species. Two genera represented in
our area.
KEY TO GENERA
1a A rays 20-21; 2 LL; LS 80; preopercle spine
points upwards, a few minute pores about head .............. Aporops
1b A rays 15-18; 1 LL; LS about 50; preopercle
spine points downwards; large pores about eye,
on postorbital and chin ..................................... Pseudogramma
Genus Aporops Schultz, 1945
Scales cover vertical fins and most of interorbital.
Palatines nearly touch in front and diverge behind. Two
species; A. bilinearis Schultz, 1943 from Phoenix Island, has
GR (5-7)+(9-12) and LS 59-61.
Blotched podge
171.1 Aporops allfreei
Smith, 1953
Gevlekte vetsak
Aporops allfreei Smith, 1953: 553, Fig. 2 (Kisiti Id., Kenya); Winterbottom, 1978: 46.
D VI-VII,23-25; A III,20-21; PIS; GR 5, knob-like; vertebrae 9+19;
LS 80; LL interrupted 38+(27-30) = 65-68; predorsal scales 40, 25 series
across cheek.
541
Lubbock,1975
PLATE 46
Bicoloured dottyback
Tweekleur-spikkelrug
Pseudochromis pesi Lubbock, 1975: 136 PI. 1d (Gulf of Aqaba); Smith,
1980: 176.
D III,26·28; A III,14-15; GR 6+(11·13); LS 41-48; LL (29·32)+(4·8) =
34·38; predorsal scales 19-22; C truncate; longest V ray 19-37% SL.
Faint, slightly oblique body lines in life disappear with
preservation. Attains nearly 100 mm. Occurring singly or in
pairs around isolated rocks or coral on sand from 10 - 45 m
in Gulf of Aqaba and Sodwana Bay.
169.8 Pseudochromis tauberae
Lubbock,1977
PLATE 46
Lightheaded dottyback
Ligkop-spikkelrug
Pseudochromis taub.erae Lubbock, 1977: 9, Pis. 2A, 3C and 3D
(Shanzu, Kenya); Smith, 1980: 176.
D III,28-30; A III,15-17; GR (4-6)+(11-13) = 16-18; LS 42-47; LL
(28-35)+(5-11) = 33-45; predorsal scales 15-26; C truncate; longest V ray
17-21 % SL.
Similar to P. natalensis; small fishes are olive with rows of
orange-red spots. Attains 80 mm. Not uncommon in shallow water down to 6 m, inside fringing reefs where P.
natalensis is apparently absent; Madagascar and Kenya to
Sodwana Bay.
Family No. 170: ACANTHOCLINIDAE
by M.M. Smith
Spiny basslets
Stekelbaarsies
Small compact fishes, similar to the Pseudochromidae;
subocular shelf absent, and dorsal and anal fins have
numerous spines and few rays; pelvic fins with 1 spine and 1
or 2 soft-rays.
About 5 species in 3 genera, 1 in our area. The New Zealand Acanthoclinus Jenyns, 1841 with 2 species and the
monotypic Belonepterygion McCulloch, 1915 from the
Pacific have 3 lateral lines.
Genus Acanthoplesiops Regan, 1912
Two species, 1 in our area. The minute A. hiatti Schultz,
1953 is from the Pacific.
171: PSEUDOGRAMMIDAE (PODGES)
Scottie
170.1 Acanthoplesiops indicus
(Day, 1888)
PLATE 46
Skottie
Acanthoclinus indicus Day, 1888: 264 (Madras, India); 1888: 798, Fig.
Acanthop/esiops indicus: Barnard, 1948: 370*; Smith, SFSA No. 409*.
D XVIII-XX,3-5; A VIII-X,3-5; P 16-17; V 1,2, 1st ray branched; GR
1 +4; LS about 33; LL single, rudimentary, 8-10 pores; scales all cycloid,
those on rear part of body with free lobes behind.
Attains 50 mm. An agile, neat and attractive small fish of
the tropical Indian Ocean; found in quiet, weedy water in
Delagoa Bay, Mombasa and along the northern Mozambique coast opposite Ibo Island.
Family No. 171: PSEUDOGRAMMIDAE
by M.M. Smith
Podges
Vetsakke
Body elongate-oval, slightly compressed; 1 or 2 incomplete lateral lines; cheeks and operculum scaly. Maxilla
exposed, reaching past eye. Dorsal fin with 6-8 pungent
spines and 19-25 soft-rays; anal fin with 3 pungent spines
and 15-24 soft-rays; pelvic fins 1,5. Branchiostegals 7; 2
large pyloric caeca.
Small, cryptic fishes, usually on coral reefs. Three
genera, with about 6 species. Two genera represented in
our area.
KEY TO GENERA
1a A rays 20-21; 2 LL; LS 80; preopercle spine
points upwards, a few minute pores about head .............. Aporops
1b A rays 15-18; 1 LL; LS about 50; preopercle
spine points downwards; large pores about eye,
on postorbital and chin ..................................... Pseudogramma
Genus Aporops Schultz, 1945
Scales cover vertical fins and most of interorbital.
Palatines nearly touch in front and diverge behind. Two
species; A. bilinearis Schultz, 1943 from Phoenix Island, has
GR (5-7)+(9-12) and LS 59-61.
Blotched podge
171.1 Aporops allfreei
Smith, 1953
Gevlekte vetsak
Aporops allfreei Smith, 1953: 553, Fig. 2 (Kisiti Id., Kenya); Winterbottom, 1978: 46.
D VI-VII,23-25; A III,20-21; PIS; GR 5, knob-like; vertebrae 9+19;
LS 80; LL interrupted 38+(27-30) = 65-68; predorsal scales 40, 25 series
across cheek.
541