Africa. The type-locality of Dentex smithii is probably
erroneous, as this species has never again been found in our
waters and species of Nemipterus generally occur only in
tropical waters.
Genus Parase%psis Boulenger, 1901
Rao and Rao (1981) recently synonymised this genus
with Sea/apsis, but preliminary examination of specimens
from both genera indicate a number of osteological differences. About 10 species, one in our area.
186.3 Parasea/apsis eriamma
(Jordan & Richardson, 1909)
PLATE6?
Shimmering spinecheek
Glansende stekelwang
Seolopsis eriomma Jordan & Richardson, 1909: 188, PI. 70 (Takao,
Taiwan). Paraseolopsis eriomma: Smith, SFSA No. 686*.
D X,9; A III,7; P 17; GR 6+(11-12); LL 35-36; 3 scale rows between LL
and 1st D spine; 4 or 5 on cheek. Depth 2.7-2.9. Suborbital with feeble
spine, rear margin smooth, depth 4.3 in eye.
Attains 25 cm. Widespread in tropical Indo-West Pacific
and Red Sea, south to Delagoa Bay.
Genus Se%psis Cuvier, 1816
About 20 species; 3 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Body depth 2.1-2.5 in SL; LL 38-41 ........................... S. vosmeri
1b Bodydepth2.6-3.1inSL;LL43-47 ....................................... 2
2a Body greyish, with elongate blackish blotch
extending posteriorly across LL ........................... S. bimaeulatus
2b Body silvery grey, with numerous dark brown
or black spots forming 2 or 3 narrow longitudinal
bands on back; pearly white band from below
eye to upper base of P ............................................ S. ghanam
186.4 Sea/apsis bimaeu/atus
Ruppeil, 1828
PLATE6?
Doubleblotch spinecheek
Dubbelvlek-stekelwang
Sealapsis bimaeulatus Riippell, 1828: 8, PI. 2, Fig. 2 (Massowah, Red
Sea); Smith, SFSA No. 684*.
D X,9; A 1II,6-7; P 18; GR 4+5, rudimentary; LL 43-47; 4 scale rows
between LL and 1st D spine. Depth 2.6-3.0; dorsal profile convex, snout
pointed.
Colour greyish with elongate blackish patch on upper
part of body beginning below 7th or 8th D spine and extending posteriorly through LL. Attains 30 cm. Western Indian
Ocean, Red Sea and Persian Gulf, south to Delagoa Bay.
187: CORACINIDAE (GALJOENS)
186.5 Sea/apsis ghanam
(Forsskal,1775)
PLATE6?
Paleband spinecheek
Bleekband-stekelwang
Sciaena ghanam Forsskal, 1775: 50 (Djedda and Lohaja, Red Sea).
Seolapsis ghanam: Smith, SFSA No. 685*.
D X,9-1O; A III,7; P 16; GRshort, 5+5; LL44-47; 3 scale rows between
LL and 1st D spine. Depth 2.9-3.1.
Body silvery grey, with numerous black or dark brown
spots on sides; spots above LL often forming 2 or 3 longitudinal stripes; pearly white band from below eye to upper
base of P; fins bluish grey. Attains 25 cm. Western Indian
Ocean, Red Sea and Persian Gulf; rarely south to Delagoa
Bay.
186.6 Sea/apsis vasmeri
(Bloch,1?92)
PLATE6?
Silverflash spinecheek
Silwerflits-stekelwang
Anthias vosmeri Bloch, 1792: 120, PC 321 (Japan Sea). Sea/apsis
vosmeri: Smith, SFSA No. 683*.
D X,9; A III,7; P 18; GR 5+6, rudimentary; LL 38-41; 4 scale rows
between LL and 1st D spine. Depth 2.1-2.5.
Body colour variable, usually dark grey or reddishbrown; broad, vertical white bar from nape extending onto
opercle; sometimes a horizontal white band below LL from
gill cover to below middle of D; body scales with dark spots;
upper margin of opercle black-edged, lower margin tinged
blood-red; black spot on upper base of P. Attains 25 cm.
Widespread in tropical Indo-West Pacific and Persian Gulf,
south to Durban.
Family No. 187: CORACINIDAE
by M.M. Smith
Galjoens
Galjoene
Body deep; small, firmly adherent, ctenoid scales covering whole fish including fins; front of snout without scales;
interorbital width greater than eye diameter; lips thick;
jaws with outer row of strong curved incisors and smaller
teeth within; pharyngeal teeth molariform; gill membranes
fused with isthmus.
Galjoens generally shoal in small groups in turbulent
water along rocky shores. One genus, Caraeinus Gronow,
1763; 2 species known only from southern Africa and
Madagascar.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Depth more than 2 in SL; D soft-rays 18-19;
sometimes 7-9 vague broad bars on body
especially underwater ........................................... C. eapensis
Ib Depth less than 2 in SL; D soft-rays 21-23;
body with 7 broad and 7 narrow bars ................. C. multifaseiatus
601
erroneous, as this species has never again been found in our
waters and species of Nemipterus generally occur only in
tropical waters.
Genus Parase%psis Boulenger, 1901
Rao and Rao (1981) recently synonymised this genus
with Sea/apsis, but preliminary examination of specimens
from both genera indicate a number of osteological differences. About 10 species, one in our area.
186.3 Parasea/apsis eriamma
(Jordan & Richardson, 1909)
PLATE6?
Shimmering spinecheek
Glansende stekelwang
Seolopsis eriomma Jordan & Richardson, 1909: 188, PI. 70 (Takao,
Taiwan). Paraseolopsis eriomma: Smith, SFSA No. 686*.
D X,9; A III,7; P 17; GR 6+(11-12); LL 35-36; 3 scale rows between LL
and 1st D spine; 4 or 5 on cheek. Depth 2.7-2.9. Suborbital with feeble
spine, rear margin smooth, depth 4.3 in eye.
Attains 25 cm. Widespread in tropical Indo-West Pacific
and Red Sea, south to Delagoa Bay.
Genus Se%psis Cuvier, 1816
About 20 species; 3 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Body depth 2.1-2.5 in SL; LL 38-41 ........................... S. vosmeri
1b Bodydepth2.6-3.1inSL;LL43-47 ....................................... 2
2a Body greyish, with elongate blackish blotch
extending posteriorly across LL ........................... S. bimaeulatus
2b Body silvery grey, with numerous dark brown
or black spots forming 2 or 3 narrow longitudinal
bands on back; pearly white band from below
eye to upper base of P ............................................ S. ghanam
186.4 Sea/apsis bimaeu/atus
Ruppeil, 1828
PLATE6?
Doubleblotch spinecheek
Dubbelvlek-stekelwang
Sealapsis bimaeulatus Riippell, 1828: 8, PI. 2, Fig. 2 (Massowah, Red
Sea); Smith, SFSA No. 684*.
D X,9; A 1II,6-7; P 18; GR 4+5, rudimentary; LL 43-47; 4 scale rows
between LL and 1st D spine. Depth 2.6-3.0; dorsal profile convex, snout
pointed.
Colour greyish with elongate blackish patch on upper
part of body beginning below 7th or 8th D spine and extending posteriorly through LL. Attains 30 cm. Western Indian
Ocean, Red Sea and Persian Gulf, south to Delagoa Bay.
187: CORACINIDAE (GALJOENS)
186.5 Sea/apsis ghanam
(Forsskal,1775)
PLATE6?
Paleband spinecheek
Bleekband-stekelwang
Sciaena ghanam Forsskal, 1775: 50 (Djedda and Lohaja, Red Sea).
Seolapsis ghanam: Smith, SFSA No. 685*.
D X,9-1O; A III,7; P 16; GRshort, 5+5; LL44-47; 3 scale rows between
LL and 1st D spine. Depth 2.9-3.1.
Body silvery grey, with numerous black or dark brown
spots on sides; spots above LL often forming 2 or 3 longitudinal stripes; pearly white band from below eye to upper
base of P; fins bluish grey. Attains 25 cm. Western Indian
Ocean, Red Sea and Persian Gulf; rarely south to Delagoa
Bay.
186.6 Sea/apsis vasmeri
(Bloch,1?92)
PLATE6?
Silverflash spinecheek
Silwerflits-stekelwang
Anthias vosmeri Bloch, 1792: 120, PC 321 (Japan Sea). Sea/apsis
vosmeri: Smith, SFSA No. 683*.
D X,9; A III,7; P 18; GR 5+6, rudimentary; LL 38-41; 4 scale rows
between LL and 1st D spine. Depth 2.1-2.5.
Body colour variable, usually dark grey or reddishbrown; broad, vertical white bar from nape extending onto
opercle; sometimes a horizontal white band below LL from
gill cover to below middle of D; body scales with dark spots;
upper margin of opercle black-edged, lower margin tinged
blood-red; black spot on upper base of P. Attains 25 cm.
Widespread in tropical Indo-West Pacific and Persian Gulf,
south to Durban.
Family No. 187: CORACINIDAE
by M.M. Smith
Galjoens
Galjoene
Body deep; small, firmly adherent, ctenoid scales covering whole fish including fins; front of snout without scales;
interorbital width greater than eye diameter; lips thick;
jaws with outer row of strong curved incisors and smaller
teeth within; pharyngeal teeth molariform; gill membranes
fused with isthmus.
Galjoens generally shoal in small groups in turbulent
water along rocky shores. One genus, Caraeinus Gronow,
1763; 2 species known only from southern Africa and
Madagascar.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Depth more than 2 in SL; D soft-rays 18-19;
sometimes 7-9 vague broad bars on body
especially underwater ........................................... C. eapensis
Ib Depth less than 2 in SL; D soft-rays 21-23;
body with 7 broad and 7 narrow bars ................. C. multifaseiatus
601