183: SPARIDAE (SEABREAMS)
12. Soft D and A not scaly, but with scaly basal sheath. One
species, found only in southern Africa.
Panga
183.34 Pterogymnus /aniarius
(Cuvier. 1830)
PLATE 61
Panga
Pagrus laniarius Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1830: 163 (Cape of Good
Hope). ?Pagellus ater Pappe, 1853: 204 (Cape of Good Hope). Chrysophrys laniarius: Gilchrist, 1902: 112. Pterogymnus laniarius: Smith, 1938:
258*; SFSA No. 718*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 59*; van der Elst, 1981: 330*.
D XII,lO; A III,8; P 15-16; LL56-59; GR (7-9)+(11-13); depth 2.3-2.5.
In upper jaw 4, in lower 6 canines, the outer pair in each jaw flaring outwards, 2 series of molars within. Lips of adults villose, almost furry.
Attains 40 cm. Probably the most plentiful sparid fish in
South Africa, occurring from the Cape abundantly to East
London; reaches Beira, but rare there. Normally inhabits
deepish water, 20 - 140 m, taken by trawl and line-boats
on any flesh bait. Does not rank as an angling fish. Too
small to be a first-rate food-fish, but flesh good. Easily
recognised by the furry lips, flaring canines and the cavernous mandibles. Spawns from late spring to early autumn. At
times, for about a month, mostly in midwinter, this fish congregates in certain restricted areas in vast numbers. In one
place about 40 kilometres from the Tsitsikama shore in 80 -
120 m a trawler took 20 tons in less than an hour of trawling.
Genus Rhabdosargus Fowler, 1933
Austrosparus Smith, 19~8 is a synonym. More than 50
scales in LL. Jaws with 4-8 enlarged, subequal incisiform
teeth at front, followed by 3 or more rows of molars. Interorbital and soft D and A naked. Preopercle flange naked or
with a few scales. Four species, 3 endemic to South Africa.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Body with 6-7 narrow, dusky crossbars; P 1.1-1.2
times head length; Prays 16-17 ............................... R. globiceps
1b Body with no crossbars or at most very faint;
P 1.2-1.3 times head length; Prays 14-15 ................................ 2
2a Golden mid-lateral stripe along body; a few
scales on preopercle flange; anterior teeth in
juveniles tricuspid ................................................... R. holubi
2b Golden marks mainly on lower surface; preopercle
flange entirely naked, anterior teeth in juveniles
not tricuspid .................................................................... 3
3a A III,l1; lower GR 7-9; bright yellow flare first
up from V then backwards to end before or above
A origin ................................................................. R. sarba
3b A m,12; lower GR 10-12; whole ventral area
including V and A bright yellow ................................ R. thorpei
592
183.35 Rhabdosargus g/obiceps
(Cuvier. 1830)
PLATE 61
White stumpnose
Witstompneus
Chrysophrys globiceps Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1830: 100 (Cape of
Good Hope). Sargus natalensis Steindachner, 1861: 180 (Durban). Sargus
nigrotasciatus Regan, 1908: 253, PI. 41 (Natal). Austrosparus globiceps:
Smith, 1938: 243*. Rhabdosargus globiceps: Smith, SFSA No. 708*; Smith
& Smith, 1966: 47*; Smith, 1979: 704*; van der Elst, 1981: 332*.
D XI,11-13; A III,lO-11; P 16-17; LL 57-61; GR (5-6)+(8-10); depth
2.2-2.4. Preopercle flange naked. Four to 6 compressed teeth in front of
upper jaw, 4-8 in lower; 3-5 rows of rounded molars and 2 huge oval
molars at the back in each jaw.
Mainly silvery with darker markings, crossbars usually
distinct. Attains over 50 cm. Found only from Angola to
Natal down to 100 m; prefers sandy areas; spawns close inshore during spring and summer; juveniles use estuaries as
nurseries. Economically important, taken in large numbers
by nets and lines at the Cape close inshore at night. A sporting fish on light tackle, taking almost any bait. At Plettenberg Bay some anglers believe that when this fish is caught
nothing else is about.
183.36 Rhabdosargus ho/ubi
(Steindachner.1881)
PLATE 62
Cape stumpnose
Kaapse stompneus
Sargus holubi Steindachner, 1881: 208, PI. 3 (Algoa Bay). Austrosparus
auriventris (non Peters): Smith, 1938: 247*. Austrosparus tricuspidens
Smith, 1942: 280 (Knysna). Rhabdosargus tricuspidens: SFSA No. 709*;
Smith & Smith, 1966: 48*. Rhabdosargus holubi: Smith, 1979: 707*; van
der Elst, 1981: 333*.
D XI,12-13; A m,lO-11; P 14-15; LL 55-57; GR (5-6)(8-9); depth
2.2-2.4. A few concealed scales on preopercle flange. Six compressed
teeth (tricuspid in small juveniles) in front of upper jaw, 6-8 in lower;
rounded to oval molars behind in each jaw.
Head and body silvery, with a golden mid-lateral band
from head to C peduncle; 5-6 dusky crossbars may show as
a nocturnal colour phase. A beautiful, shapely fish, found
only from the Cape in shallow water to Natal in deeper
water, especially over reefs; most plentiful between Mossel
Bay and East London. Spawns in the sea during winter and
early spring; uses estuaries as nurseries. Adults also about
in estuaries. Average 15 cm, largest 35 cm. Fights well on
light tackle, takes almost any bait, preferring marine worms
or shrimps. Flesh excellent. Often confused with Rhabdosargus sarba, when anglers on the south Cape coast get
very excited thinking they have caught a record R. holubi,
but the latter is always recognisable by the golden band
along the middle of the side.
12. Soft D and A not scaly, but with scaly basal sheath. One
species, found only in southern Africa.
Panga
183.34 Pterogymnus /aniarius
(Cuvier. 1830)
PLATE 61
Panga
Pagrus laniarius Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1830: 163 (Cape of Good
Hope). ?Pagellus ater Pappe, 1853: 204 (Cape of Good Hope). Chrysophrys laniarius: Gilchrist, 1902: 112. Pterogymnus laniarius: Smith, 1938:
258*; SFSA No. 718*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 59*; van der Elst, 1981: 330*.
D XII,lO; A III,8; P 15-16; LL56-59; GR (7-9)+(11-13); depth 2.3-2.5.
In upper jaw 4, in lower 6 canines, the outer pair in each jaw flaring outwards, 2 series of molars within. Lips of adults villose, almost furry.
Attains 40 cm. Probably the most plentiful sparid fish in
South Africa, occurring from the Cape abundantly to East
London; reaches Beira, but rare there. Normally inhabits
deepish water, 20 - 140 m, taken by trawl and line-boats
on any flesh bait. Does not rank as an angling fish. Too
small to be a first-rate food-fish, but flesh good. Easily
recognised by the furry lips, flaring canines and the cavernous mandibles. Spawns from late spring to early autumn. At
times, for about a month, mostly in midwinter, this fish congregates in certain restricted areas in vast numbers. In one
place about 40 kilometres from the Tsitsikama shore in 80 -
120 m a trawler took 20 tons in less than an hour of trawling.
Genus Rhabdosargus Fowler, 1933
Austrosparus Smith, 19~8 is a synonym. More than 50
scales in LL. Jaws with 4-8 enlarged, subequal incisiform
teeth at front, followed by 3 or more rows of molars. Interorbital and soft D and A naked. Preopercle flange naked or
with a few scales. Four species, 3 endemic to South Africa.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Body with 6-7 narrow, dusky crossbars; P 1.1-1.2
times head length; Prays 16-17 ............................... R. globiceps
1b Body with no crossbars or at most very faint;
P 1.2-1.3 times head length; Prays 14-15 ................................ 2
2a Golden mid-lateral stripe along body; a few
scales on preopercle flange; anterior teeth in
juveniles tricuspid ................................................... R. holubi
2b Golden marks mainly on lower surface; preopercle
flange entirely naked, anterior teeth in juveniles
not tricuspid .................................................................... 3
3a A III,l1; lower GR 7-9; bright yellow flare first
up from V then backwards to end before or above
A origin ................................................................. R. sarba
3b A m,12; lower GR 10-12; whole ventral area
including V and A bright yellow ................................ R. thorpei
592
183.35 Rhabdosargus g/obiceps
(Cuvier. 1830)
PLATE 61
White stumpnose
Witstompneus
Chrysophrys globiceps Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1830: 100 (Cape of
Good Hope). Sargus natalensis Steindachner, 1861: 180 (Durban). Sargus
nigrotasciatus Regan, 1908: 253, PI. 41 (Natal). Austrosparus globiceps:
Smith, 1938: 243*. Rhabdosargus globiceps: Smith, SFSA No. 708*; Smith
& Smith, 1966: 47*; Smith, 1979: 704*; van der Elst, 1981: 332*.
D XI,11-13; A III,lO-11; P 16-17; LL 57-61; GR (5-6)+(8-10); depth
2.2-2.4. Preopercle flange naked. Four to 6 compressed teeth in front of
upper jaw, 4-8 in lower; 3-5 rows of rounded molars and 2 huge oval
molars at the back in each jaw.
Mainly silvery with darker markings, crossbars usually
distinct. Attains over 50 cm. Found only from Angola to
Natal down to 100 m; prefers sandy areas; spawns close inshore during spring and summer; juveniles use estuaries as
nurseries. Economically important, taken in large numbers
by nets and lines at the Cape close inshore at night. A sporting fish on light tackle, taking almost any bait. At Plettenberg Bay some anglers believe that when this fish is caught
nothing else is about.
183.36 Rhabdosargus ho/ubi
(Steindachner.1881)
PLATE 62
Cape stumpnose
Kaapse stompneus
Sargus holubi Steindachner, 1881: 208, PI. 3 (Algoa Bay). Austrosparus
auriventris (non Peters): Smith, 1938: 247*. Austrosparus tricuspidens
Smith, 1942: 280 (Knysna). Rhabdosargus tricuspidens: SFSA No. 709*;
Smith & Smith, 1966: 48*. Rhabdosargus holubi: Smith, 1979: 707*; van
der Elst, 1981: 333*.
D XI,12-13; A m,lO-11; P 14-15; LL 55-57; GR (5-6)(8-9); depth
2.2-2.4. A few concealed scales on preopercle flange. Six compressed
teeth (tricuspid in small juveniles) in front of upper jaw, 6-8 in lower;
rounded to oval molars behind in each jaw.
Head and body silvery, with a golden mid-lateral band
from head to C peduncle; 5-6 dusky crossbars may show as
a nocturnal colour phase. A beautiful, shapely fish, found
only from the Cape in shallow water to Natal in deeper
water, especially over reefs; most plentiful between Mossel
Bay and East London. Spawns in the sea during winter and
early spring; uses estuaries as nurseries. Adults also about
in estuaries. Average 15 cm, largest 35 cm. Fights well on
light tackle, takes almost any bait, preferring marine worms
or shrimps. Flesh excellent. Often confused with Rhabdosargus sarba, when anglers on the south Cape coast get
very excited thinking they have caught a record R. holubi,
but the latter is always recognisable by the golden band
along the middle of the side.