178: POMATOMIDAE (ELF)
Elf
Family No. 178: POMATOMIDAE
by M.M. & J.L.B. Smith
Elwe
Body oblong, compressed, robust. Small, deciduous,
cycloid scales cover body, cheek and opercles. Mouth large;
maxilla exposed; lower jaw prominent; sharp compressed
teeth in each jaw in single row, an inner series of small
depressible teeth in upper jaw, and villiform teeth on vomer
and palatines. Two dorsal fins, the 1st of 7 or 8 low spines
connected by a membrane and depressible into a groove;
anal fin slightly shorter than soft dorsal fin, both densely
scaled basally.
One genus, Pomatomus Lacepede, 1802, with a single
species in all oceans (except eastern Pacific) between 50°
latitudes.
Elf
178.1 Pomatomus saltatrix
(Linnaeus, 1766)
PLATE 52
Elwe
Gasterosteus Sa/tatrix Linnaeus, 1766: 491 ("Habitat in Carolina").
Temnodon conidens Castelnau, 1861: 141 (Cape of Good Hope, Algoa
Family No. 179: HAEMULIDAE
by M.M. Smith & R.J. McKay
Rubberlips
and grunters
Rubberlippe
en knorders
The Plectorhynchidae (sometimes referred to as
Gaterinidae) have been recognised as a separate family by
some authors, but here they are given subfamily rank in the
oldest family name Haemulidae (often known as Pomadasyidae). Small to moderate-sized fishes with fairly compressed body and moderate or small scales; V 1,5; anal fin short,
2nd spine frequently stout and long, height of fin exceeds
base; feeble teeth in bands in jaws, palate and tongue edentate; preopercle serrate, serrae disappear in very large
fishes. Gill-rakers well developed; branchiostegals 7; lateral line continuous, parallel with dorsal profile; scale
counts sometimes difficult as rows may be irregular and not
all scales in the lateral line bear tubules.
Generally occur around rocks or among weeds (juveniles
in tidal pools or estuaries) and down to about 80 m. The rubberlips (Subfamily Plectorhynchinae) frequent coral reefs
and are good eating, being caught in traps, seine nets and on
lines in deeper water; being omnivorous they take any bait.
Many of the grunters enter estuaries, and the larger species,
particularly Pomadasys commersonnii, are famous angling
and table fish in tropical and temperate waters. The common name "grunter" is due to the fact that when the fish is
564
Bay). Pomatomus sa/tator: Smith, SFSA No. 547*; Smith & Smith, 1966:
53*; van der Elst, 1981: 259*.
D VII-VIII+I,23-28; A 11,23-27 (spines minute, embedded); P 16; LL
90-100; GR 3+(10-13).
Head and body dark bluish green dorsally, silvery below.
Attains 120 cm and 14.4 kg. Known as "tailor" in Australia
and "bluefish" in America; the Natal name "shad" is a misnomer and should not be used, as it is the name of a clupeid
fish, related to our pilchard, in Europe and America.
Known from our whole region as one of the best angling
fishes. Swift and voracious, elf bite viciously and fight well;
large fish often jump repeatedly ("saltatrix" is Latin for a
dancing girl). Elf take almost any moving lure and most
flesh. With a shoal of sardines or other small fishes as their
prey, they will gorge themselves in a veritable feeding
frenzy, regurgitate, and then start all over again. They are,
in turn, preyed upon by larger fishes, such as kob and
sharks. Elf are delicious eating, both fresh and smoked, but
the delicate flesh softens rapidly and does not keep well;
excellent bait, especially for line-boat fishing. Van der Elst
(1976) has published a comprehensive work on the biology
of the elf; spawning takes place off Natal from September to
December, hence to conserve the stock, the closed season
in Natal is from September to November inclusive.
removed from the water, the pharyngeal teeth are rubbed
together to produce a rasping "grunt". The food of most
species consists of small invertebrates (like shrimps, crabs
and marine worms) and sometimes small fish. The Plectorhynchinae (under Gaterinidae) of the western Indian
Ocean were studied by Smith, 1962. Family contains about
17-18 genera and about 120 species of which 3 genera and 19
species are known from our area.
KEY TO GENERA
1a Chin with 4-6 distinct pores; no central pit containing
two slit-like pores; maxilla in adults does not reach eye;
lips thicken with age; 10-18 scales from D origin
obliquely downward to LL; vertebrae 11 + 16
(Subfamily PLECTORHYNCHINAE) ...... ............................ 2
1b Chin with 2 small pores followed by a central
pit containing a slit-like pore on each side;
maxilla reaches below front of eye or almost
that far; lips not very thick; 4-8 scales from D
origin to LL; vertebrae 10 + 16
(Subfamily HAEMULINAE) ................................. Pomadasys
2a D spines 9-10; 2nd longest (subequal to 3rd)
abruptly longer than short 1st; outer teeth
in jaws not enlarged ............................................. Diagramma
2b D spines 11-14, 2nd not longest; outer teeth
in jaws enlarged ............................................... Plectorhinchus
Elf
Family No. 178: POMATOMIDAE
by M.M. & J.L.B. Smith
Elwe
Body oblong, compressed, robust. Small, deciduous,
cycloid scales cover body, cheek and opercles. Mouth large;
maxilla exposed; lower jaw prominent; sharp compressed
teeth in each jaw in single row, an inner series of small
depressible teeth in upper jaw, and villiform teeth on vomer
and palatines. Two dorsal fins, the 1st of 7 or 8 low spines
connected by a membrane and depressible into a groove;
anal fin slightly shorter than soft dorsal fin, both densely
scaled basally.
One genus, Pomatomus Lacepede, 1802, with a single
species in all oceans (except eastern Pacific) between 50°
latitudes.
Elf
178.1 Pomatomus saltatrix
(Linnaeus, 1766)
PLATE 52
Elwe
Gasterosteus Sa/tatrix Linnaeus, 1766: 491 ("Habitat in Carolina").
Temnodon conidens Castelnau, 1861: 141 (Cape of Good Hope, Algoa
Family No. 179: HAEMULIDAE
by M.M. Smith & R.J. McKay
Rubberlips
and grunters
Rubberlippe
en knorders
The Plectorhynchidae (sometimes referred to as
Gaterinidae) have been recognised as a separate family by
some authors, but here they are given subfamily rank in the
oldest family name Haemulidae (often known as Pomadasyidae). Small to moderate-sized fishes with fairly compressed body and moderate or small scales; V 1,5; anal fin short,
2nd spine frequently stout and long, height of fin exceeds
base; feeble teeth in bands in jaws, palate and tongue edentate; preopercle serrate, serrae disappear in very large
fishes. Gill-rakers well developed; branchiostegals 7; lateral line continuous, parallel with dorsal profile; scale
counts sometimes difficult as rows may be irregular and not
all scales in the lateral line bear tubules.
Generally occur around rocks or among weeds (juveniles
in tidal pools or estuaries) and down to about 80 m. The rubberlips (Subfamily Plectorhynchinae) frequent coral reefs
and are good eating, being caught in traps, seine nets and on
lines in deeper water; being omnivorous they take any bait.
Many of the grunters enter estuaries, and the larger species,
particularly Pomadasys commersonnii, are famous angling
and table fish in tropical and temperate waters. The common name "grunter" is due to the fact that when the fish is
564
Bay). Pomatomus sa/tator: Smith, SFSA No. 547*; Smith & Smith, 1966:
53*; van der Elst, 1981: 259*.
D VII-VIII+I,23-28; A 11,23-27 (spines minute, embedded); P 16; LL
90-100; GR 3+(10-13).
Head and body dark bluish green dorsally, silvery below.
Attains 120 cm and 14.4 kg. Known as "tailor" in Australia
and "bluefish" in America; the Natal name "shad" is a misnomer and should not be used, as it is the name of a clupeid
fish, related to our pilchard, in Europe and America.
Known from our whole region as one of the best angling
fishes. Swift and voracious, elf bite viciously and fight well;
large fish often jump repeatedly ("saltatrix" is Latin for a
dancing girl). Elf take almost any moving lure and most
flesh. With a shoal of sardines or other small fishes as their
prey, they will gorge themselves in a veritable feeding
frenzy, regurgitate, and then start all over again. They are,
in turn, preyed upon by larger fishes, such as kob and
sharks. Elf are delicious eating, both fresh and smoked, but
the delicate flesh softens rapidly and does not keep well;
excellent bait, especially for line-boat fishing. Van der Elst
(1976) has published a comprehensive work on the biology
of the elf; spawning takes place off Natal from September to
December, hence to conserve the stock, the closed season
in Natal is from September to November inclusive.
removed from the water, the pharyngeal teeth are rubbed
together to produce a rasping "grunt". The food of most
species consists of small invertebrates (like shrimps, crabs
and marine worms) and sometimes small fish. The Plectorhynchinae (under Gaterinidae) of the western Indian
Ocean were studied by Smith, 1962. Family contains about
17-18 genera and about 120 species of which 3 genera and 19
species are known from our area.
KEY TO GENERA
1a Chin with 4-6 distinct pores; no central pit containing
two slit-like pores; maxilla in adults does not reach eye;
lips thicken with age; 10-18 scales from D origin
obliquely downward to LL; vertebrae 11 + 16
(Subfamily PLECTORHYNCHINAE) ...... ............................ 2
1b Chin with 2 small pores followed by a central
pit containing a slit-like pore on each side;
maxilla reaches below front of eye or almost
that far; lips not very thick; 4-8 scales from D
origin to LL; vertebrae 10 + 16
(Subfamily HAEMULINAE) ................................. Pomadasys
2a D spines 9-10; 2nd longest (subequal to 3rd)
abruptly longer than short 1st; outer teeth
in jaws not enlarged ............................................. Diagramma
2b D spines 11-14, 2nd not longest; outer teeth
in jaws enlarged ............................................... Plectorhinchus