183: SPARIDAE (SEABREAMS)
German
183.27 Polyamblyodon germanum
(Barnard, 1934)
Duitser
Pachymetopon germanum Barnard, 1934: 230, Fig. 2 (locality
unknown, probably Natal) . Polyamblyodon germanum: Smith, 1938: 288;
SFSA No. 735*.
o XI ,1l-12; A III,lO-l1 ; P 17; LL 67-71 ; GR (7-8)+(14-16); depth
2.2-2.5. Nape not sharp . No scales on preopercle flange .
Grey-blue to bronzy, lighter below, forehead, cheeks and
fins darker. Easily confused with Pachymetopon grande,
but the teeth are distinctive (see Key to Genera) . Attains 45
cm. Caught in deeper water from East London to Delagoa
Bay; not uncommon on reefs off Transkei. Flesh excellent.
183.27 Polyamblyodon germanum: 29 em (off East London).
Cristie
183.28 Polyamblyodon gibbosum
(Pellegrin, 1914)
Kristie
Pachymetopon gibbosus Pellegrin, 1914: 264 (Madagascar) . Polyamblyodon (Leptometopon) cristiceps Smith , 1940: 178, Figs. 1, 2
(Oelagoa Bay). Polyamblyodon cristiceps: Smith, SFSA No. 734*.
Polyamblyodon gibbosum: Smith, SFSA No. 733*.
o XI,13; A III,lO-l1; P 15; LL 72-78; GR (6-8)+(15-18); depth 2.0-2.3.
Nape sharpens with age. A small patch of embedded scales on preopercle
flange , sometimes difficult to see.
Grey-blue. Attains 50 cm; Natal to Beira and Madagascar.
183.28 Polyamblyodon gibbosum: change in profile shape with grow1h; semidiagrammatic dentition in lower jaw of 51 em type specimen of P. cristiceps; inset (centre) a posterior molariform tooth (after Smith, 1940).
590
183.28 Polyamblyodon gibbosum: 26 em (photo); 32 em holotype of P.
cristiceps, rows of dots show number and disposition of scale rows,
arrow indicates anterior margin of scaling on head (both S. Mozambique).
Genus Polysteganus Klunzinger, 1870
D spines 11 or 12; Interorbital and preopercle flange
scaly; D & A not scaly. Front canines not very strong; 4 in
upper and 6 (10 smaller in P. macrophthalmus and 4 in P.
baissaci) in lower jaw. Four species in South Africa, 2 found
nowhere else. P. baissaci Smith, 1978 from Mauritius was
for many years confused with P. undulosus, but lacks the
black blotch on the side, has only 4 enlarged canines in
lower jaw and 11 G R on lower arch. The genus Polysteganus
is considered by some to be a subgenus of Dentex.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Eye diameter greater than snout; lower
GR 17-20 (west coast) ...... ..... .................... .. P. macrophthalmus
Ib Eye diameter less than snout; lower
GR 11-16 (east coast) ....... ....... ........ ... .. .......... .... .. ... ........... 2
2a Large dark blotch on side below 6th 0 spine;
lower GR 14-16 ... ... .. ........ .......... .. ...... ............... P. undulosus
2b No dark blotch on side ..... .............. ...... ..... ......... ......... ... ... . 3
3a Eye diameter less than preorbital depth; scales
above LL much smaller than those below ; lower
GR 15-16 ........ ... .. ......................... ....... ......... P. praeorbitalis
3b Eye diameter not less than preorbital depth;
scales on body all about same size; lower
GR 11-13 ..... .. .... ........... ... ...... .. ...... ........ P. coeruleopunctatus
183.29 Polysteganus coeruleopunctatus
Klunzinger, 1870
PLATE 61
Blueskin
Blouvel
Polysteganus coeruleopuncta/us Klunzinger, 1870: 763 (Red Sea);
Smith, 1938: 296; SFSA No. 744*; van der Elst, 1981: 326*. Den/ex
German
183.27 Polyamblyodon germanum
(Barnard, 1934)
Duitser
Pachymetopon germanum Barnard, 1934: 230, Fig. 2 (locality
unknown, probably Natal) . Polyamblyodon germanum: Smith, 1938: 288;
SFSA No. 735*.
o XI ,1l-12; A III,lO-l1 ; P 17; LL 67-71 ; GR (7-8)+(14-16); depth
2.2-2.5. Nape not sharp . No scales on preopercle flange .
Grey-blue to bronzy, lighter below, forehead, cheeks and
fins darker. Easily confused with Pachymetopon grande,
but the teeth are distinctive (see Key to Genera) . Attains 45
cm. Caught in deeper water from East London to Delagoa
Bay; not uncommon on reefs off Transkei. Flesh excellent.
183.27 Polyamblyodon germanum: 29 em (off East London).
Cristie
183.28 Polyamblyodon gibbosum
(Pellegrin, 1914)
Kristie
Pachymetopon gibbosus Pellegrin, 1914: 264 (Madagascar) . Polyamblyodon (Leptometopon) cristiceps Smith , 1940: 178, Figs. 1, 2
(Oelagoa Bay). Polyamblyodon cristiceps: Smith, SFSA No. 734*.
Polyamblyodon gibbosum: Smith, SFSA No. 733*.
o XI,13; A III,lO-l1; P 15; LL 72-78; GR (6-8)+(15-18); depth 2.0-2.3.
Nape sharpens with age. A small patch of embedded scales on preopercle
flange , sometimes difficult to see.
Grey-blue. Attains 50 cm; Natal to Beira and Madagascar.
183.28 Polyamblyodon gibbosum: change in profile shape with grow1h; semidiagrammatic dentition in lower jaw of 51 em type specimen of P. cristiceps; inset (centre) a posterior molariform tooth (after Smith, 1940).
590
183.28 Polyamblyodon gibbosum: 26 em (photo); 32 em holotype of P.
cristiceps, rows of dots show number and disposition of scale rows,
arrow indicates anterior margin of scaling on head (both S. Mozambique).
Genus Polysteganus Klunzinger, 1870
D spines 11 or 12; Interorbital and preopercle flange
scaly; D & A not scaly. Front canines not very strong; 4 in
upper and 6 (10 smaller in P. macrophthalmus and 4 in P.
baissaci) in lower jaw. Four species in South Africa, 2 found
nowhere else. P. baissaci Smith, 1978 from Mauritius was
for many years confused with P. undulosus, but lacks the
black blotch on the side, has only 4 enlarged canines in
lower jaw and 11 G R on lower arch. The genus Polysteganus
is considered by some to be a subgenus of Dentex.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Eye diameter greater than snout; lower
GR 17-20 (west coast) ...... ..... .................... .. P. macrophthalmus
Ib Eye diameter less than snout; lower
GR 11-16 (east coast) ....... ....... ........ ... .. .......... .... .. ... ........... 2
2a Large dark blotch on side below 6th 0 spine;
lower GR 14-16 ... ... .. ........ .......... .. ...... ............... P. undulosus
2b No dark blotch on side ..... .............. ...... ..... ......... ......... ... ... . 3
3a Eye diameter less than preorbital depth; scales
above LL much smaller than those below ; lower
GR 15-16 ........ ... .. ......................... ....... ......... P. praeorbitalis
3b Eye diameter not less than preorbital depth;
scales on body all about same size; lower
GR 11-13 ..... .. .... ........... ... ...... .. ...... ........ P. coeruleopunctatus
183.29 Polysteganus coeruleopunctatus
Klunzinger, 1870
PLATE 61
Blueskin
Blouvel
Polysteganus coeruleopuncta/us Klunzinger, 1870: 763 (Red Sea);
Smith, 1938: 296; SFSA No. 744*; van der Elst, 1981: 326*. Den/ex