176: ACROPOMATIDAE (LANTERNBELLIES)
176.1 Acropoma japonicum
Gunther, 1859
Lantern belly
Lanternpens
Acropoma japonicum Giinther, 1859: 250 (based on Acropoma Temminck & Schlegel, 1843: 31, PI. 12, Figs. 2 & 3; Japan); Smith , SFSA
No.499*. Synagrops splendens Lloyd , 1909: 159, PI. 47, Fig. 5 (Gulf of
Oman) .
o VIII-IX+I,lO; A 111,7; P 15-16; LL43-45 ; GR (5- 8)+(15-18) . Light
reflector a white, opalescent, opaque membrane extending from isthmus
to C base . Scales ctenoid, more or less deciduous. Two large canines at
front of upper jaw, between which fits a pair of smaller canines at front of
lower jaw; sides of lower jaw with 6 or 7 small , spaced canines, preceded
by a row of tiny slender teeth ; vomer and palatines with villiform teeth.
Body pink; ventral surface abruptly silver and thickly
covered with small dark spots. Attains 20 cm. Off Natal in
200 - 500 m; also northern Indian Ocean , Philippines and
Japan.
176.1 Acropoma japonicum: 9.5 em SL (off Natal).
Genus Howella Ogilby, 1898
Opercle with 1 spine at top and a cluster of spines lower
down; subopercle and interopercle with sharp spines;
preopercle finely serrate. Two small spines on upper edge
of orbit. P reaching past A origin. Fedoryako (1976) recognises 5 species in this genus; 1 species in our area.
176.2 Howella sherborni
(Norman, 1930)
Rhectogramma sherborni Norman, 1930: 348, Fig. 3 (west of Cape
Town). Howella sherborni: Smith, SFSA No. 498*; Grindley & Penrith,
1965: 284; Fedoryako, 1976: 168* . Howella brodiei (non Ogilby): Hulley,
1972:229; 1972:242.
o VIII +I ,9-10; A III ,7-8; P 14-16; LL35-40 (interrupted below 0) ; GR
(7-8)+(22-23) .
176.2 Howe/la sherboni: 8 em holotype (after Norman, 1935).
562
Head and body dark brown, with silvery reflections.
Attains 8 cm. Off Cape Town to Natal in 850 -950 m; widely
distributed in all 3 major oceans.
Genus Neoscombrops Gilchrist, 1922
Opercle with 2 flat points posteriorly; preopercle weakly
serrate. Anus close to A. Two or 3 species; 1 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Body depth 3.0-3.6 in SL; head, body and fins
dark brownish ......... .... ..... ....... .. ..... .......... .. ....... N. annectens
Ib Body depth 3.7-3.8 in SL; head and body
silvery .... ........... .. ....... .. ..... .... ...... ... .... ....... .. ...... N. cynodon
176.3 Neoscombrops annectens
Gilchrist, 1922
Sombre splitfin
Danker spleetvin
Neoscombrops annectens Gilchrist, 1922: 68, PI. 9, Fig. 2 (off Natal in
62-260 fms) ; Smith, SFSA No. 497*; Mochizuki, 1979: 250, Fig. lB .
D IX-X+I ,9-1O; A III,7 ; P 15-17; LL 36-41; GR (5-6)+(15-16). Broad
band of granular teeth in upper jaw and 2 widely-spaced canines at symphysis ; lower jaw with a row of small canines laterally, preceded by a short
band of granular teeth and 2 or 3 canines at symphysis.
Attains 25 cm. Common off Natal and southern Mozambique in 100 - 550 m.
176.3 Neoscombrops annectens: 21 em SL (off Durban).
176.4 Neoscombrops cynodon
(Regan, 1921)
Silver splitfin
Silwer spleetvin
Acropoma cynodon Regan , 1921: 415 (off Umvoti River Natal ; 120-130
fms) .
o IX + I, 10; A III,7; P 16; LL about 40; lower GR 16. Upper jaw with a
band of villiform teeth and 2 widely-spaced canines at symphysis; a row of
small canines in lower jaw with a pair of enlarged teeth at symphysis.
Attains 20 cm? Known from 2 specimens from off Natal
(both in British Museum); possibly a synonym of N. annectens.
Genus Synagrops Gunther, 1887
Opercle with 2 flat points posteriorly; preopercle with
strong serrae . Five or 6 species; 2 in our area.
176.1 Acropoma japonicum
Gunther, 1859
Lantern belly
Lanternpens
Acropoma japonicum Giinther, 1859: 250 (based on Acropoma Temminck & Schlegel, 1843: 31, PI. 12, Figs. 2 & 3; Japan); Smith , SFSA
No.499*. Synagrops splendens Lloyd , 1909: 159, PI. 47, Fig. 5 (Gulf of
Oman) .
o VIII-IX+I,lO; A 111,7; P 15-16; LL43-45 ; GR (5- 8)+(15-18) . Light
reflector a white, opalescent, opaque membrane extending from isthmus
to C base . Scales ctenoid, more or less deciduous. Two large canines at
front of upper jaw, between which fits a pair of smaller canines at front of
lower jaw; sides of lower jaw with 6 or 7 small , spaced canines, preceded
by a row of tiny slender teeth ; vomer and palatines with villiform teeth.
Body pink; ventral surface abruptly silver and thickly
covered with small dark spots. Attains 20 cm. Off Natal in
200 - 500 m; also northern Indian Ocean , Philippines and
Japan.
176.1 Acropoma japonicum: 9.5 em SL (off Natal).
Genus Howella Ogilby, 1898
Opercle with 1 spine at top and a cluster of spines lower
down; subopercle and interopercle with sharp spines;
preopercle finely serrate. Two small spines on upper edge
of orbit. P reaching past A origin. Fedoryako (1976) recognises 5 species in this genus; 1 species in our area.
176.2 Howella sherborni
(Norman, 1930)
Rhectogramma sherborni Norman, 1930: 348, Fig. 3 (west of Cape
Town). Howella sherborni: Smith, SFSA No. 498*; Grindley & Penrith,
1965: 284; Fedoryako, 1976: 168* . Howella brodiei (non Ogilby): Hulley,
1972:229; 1972:242.
o VIII +I ,9-10; A III ,7-8; P 14-16; LL35-40 (interrupted below 0) ; GR
(7-8)+(22-23) .
176.2 Howe/la sherboni: 8 em holotype (after Norman, 1935).
562
Head and body dark brown, with silvery reflections.
Attains 8 cm. Off Cape Town to Natal in 850 -950 m; widely
distributed in all 3 major oceans.
Genus Neoscombrops Gilchrist, 1922
Opercle with 2 flat points posteriorly; preopercle weakly
serrate. Anus close to A. Two or 3 species; 1 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Body depth 3.0-3.6 in SL; head, body and fins
dark brownish ......... .... ..... ....... .. ..... .......... .. ....... N. annectens
Ib Body depth 3.7-3.8 in SL; head and body
silvery .... ........... .. ....... .. ..... .... ...... ... .... ....... .. ...... N. cynodon
176.3 Neoscombrops annectens
Gilchrist, 1922
Sombre splitfin
Danker spleetvin
Neoscombrops annectens Gilchrist, 1922: 68, PI. 9, Fig. 2 (off Natal in
62-260 fms) ; Smith, SFSA No. 497*; Mochizuki, 1979: 250, Fig. lB .
D IX-X+I ,9-1O; A III,7 ; P 15-17; LL 36-41; GR (5-6)+(15-16). Broad
band of granular teeth in upper jaw and 2 widely-spaced canines at symphysis ; lower jaw with a row of small canines laterally, preceded by a short
band of granular teeth and 2 or 3 canines at symphysis.
Attains 25 cm. Common off Natal and southern Mozambique in 100 - 550 m.
176.3 Neoscombrops annectens: 21 em SL (off Durban).
176.4 Neoscombrops cynodon
(Regan, 1921)
Silver splitfin
Silwer spleetvin
Acropoma cynodon Regan , 1921: 415 (off Umvoti River Natal ; 120-130
fms) .
o IX + I, 10; A III,7; P 16; LL about 40; lower GR 16. Upper jaw with a
band of villiform teeth and 2 widely-spaced canines at symphysis; a row of
small canines in lower jaw with a pair of enlarged teeth at symphysis.
Attains 20 cm? Known from 2 specimens from off Natal
(both in British Museum); possibly a synonym of N. annectens.
Genus Synagrops Gunther, 1887
Opercle with 2 flat points posteriorly; preopercle with
strong serrae . Five or 6 species; 2 in our area.