those fresh in from the sea can be recognised by the yellow
colour inside the mouth. Takes almost any bait, also spoons
and plugs. Has been observed to taste a bait, spit it out and
then return to swallow it. Flesh esteemed, but some kobs
have worm parasites in their flesh; a heavy infestation looks
unpleasant, but these parasites will not infect humans.
199.1 Argyrosomus hololepidotus: 38 em (Natal).
199.2 Argyrosomus thorpei
Smith,1977
PLATE 71
SquaretaiI kob
Stompstert -kob
Argyrosomus thorpei Smith, 1977: 562, PI. 1, Figs. B & C (just south of
Tugela River, Natal). Afroscion thorpei: Trewavas, 1977: 337; van der
Elst, 1981: 262*.
D X+I,26-28; A II,6-7; P 17; LL 51-52; developed GR (4-5)+(10-11).
Depth 3.2-3.8, head 3.1-3.6 in SL; eye 5-6, interorbital 5 in head. P & V
subequal, 20-22% SL. Longest GR not shorter than longest gill filament.
Body silvery, fins orange-brown or yellowish. Attains
71 cm. Known only from Port Elizabeth to the Tugela river;
often caught in Natal and for many years confused with A.
hololepidotus; apparently does not enter estuaries.
199.2 Argyrosomus thorpei: 37.5 em (Natal).
Genus Atractoscion Gill, 1862
Scales small, 70-90 in LL; swimbladder with a pair of
tapering, unbranched diverticula produced forwards on
right and left sides of anterior end of the bladder and not
extending through transverse septum. Several species in
eastern Pacific and western Atlantic, but only 1 in the IndoPacific region.
Geelbek
199: SCIAENIDAE (KOBS)
199.3 Atractoscion aequidens
(Cuvier, 1830)
PLATE 71
Geelbek
Otolith us aequidens Cuvier, 1830: 66 (Cape of Good Hope). Atractoscion aequidens: Smith, SFSA No. 554*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 44*;
Trewavas, 1977: 283*; van der Elst, 1981: 263*.
D XlI,27-31; A 11,8-9; P 17-18; LL 70-80; GR (3-5)+(7-9) short, becoming rudimentary with age. Depth 3.8-4.3, head 3.1-3.6 in SL; eye 5-7, interorbitaI4.1-4.8 in head. P & V subequal, 16-20% SL.
Body silvery; scaly flap at upper end of P base black;
inside of mouth and gill cavity yellow. Attains 130 cm and
25 kg. All along our coast; common in Angolan waters and
has been reported off northwest Africa and Australia.
Adults usually in deeper water (to 30 m), but sometimes
taken by shore anglers. Flesh highly esteemed, cures easily.
Whole fish are easily distinguished from the more common
kob, but headless fishes are identifiable only by their tails.
Sometimes dishonest vendors will trim the kob's tail to resemble that of the more costly geelbek.
Genus Atrobucca Chu, Lo and Wu, 1963
Swimbladder appendages with distinct dorsal and ventral
limbs, with branches directed respectively posteriorly and
anteriorly, at least some of them enveloping the bladder.
P subequal to head length. Jaws with band of curved conical
teeth, a few much larger than others. Vertebrae 11 + 14.
Three species; 1 in our area.
Longfin kob
199.4 Atrobucca nibe
(Jordan & Thompson, 1911)
Langvin-kob
Pseudotolithus brunneolus Jordan & Richardson, 1909: 191, PI. 71
(Formosa). Sciaena nibe Jordan & Thompson, 1911: 258, Fig. 4
(Wakanoura, Japan). Sciaena marleyi Nornian, 1922: 319 (off Durban in
40 - 50 fms). lohnius sina (non Cuvier): Smith, SFSA No. 550. Atrobucca
nibe: Trewavas, 1977: 340*. Atrobucca marleyi: Trewavas, 1977: 342*.
D XlI,27-31; A 11,7; P 18; LL 50-51; developed GR (5-7)+(9-11).
Depth 3.0-3.7, head 3.0-3.3 in SL; eye 3.8-4.5, interorbital 3.8-4.3 in
199.4 Atrobucca nibe: holotype of Pseudotolithus brunneolis (after Jordan &
Richardson, 1909).
617
colour inside the mouth. Takes almost any bait, also spoons
and plugs. Has been observed to taste a bait, spit it out and
then return to swallow it. Flesh esteemed, but some kobs
have worm parasites in their flesh; a heavy infestation looks
unpleasant, but these parasites will not infect humans.
199.1 Argyrosomus hololepidotus: 38 em (Natal).
199.2 Argyrosomus thorpei
Smith,1977
PLATE 71
SquaretaiI kob
Stompstert -kob
Argyrosomus thorpei Smith, 1977: 562, PI. 1, Figs. B & C (just south of
Tugela River, Natal). Afroscion thorpei: Trewavas, 1977: 337; van der
Elst, 1981: 262*.
D X+I,26-28; A II,6-7; P 17; LL 51-52; developed GR (4-5)+(10-11).
Depth 3.2-3.8, head 3.1-3.6 in SL; eye 5-6, interorbital 5 in head. P & V
subequal, 20-22% SL. Longest GR not shorter than longest gill filament.
Body silvery, fins orange-brown or yellowish. Attains
71 cm. Known only from Port Elizabeth to the Tugela river;
often caught in Natal and for many years confused with A.
hololepidotus; apparently does not enter estuaries.
199.2 Argyrosomus thorpei: 37.5 em (Natal).
Genus Atractoscion Gill, 1862
Scales small, 70-90 in LL; swimbladder with a pair of
tapering, unbranched diverticula produced forwards on
right and left sides of anterior end of the bladder and not
extending through transverse septum. Several species in
eastern Pacific and western Atlantic, but only 1 in the IndoPacific region.
Geelbek
199: SCIAENIDAE (KOBS)
199.3 Atractoscion aequidens
(Cuvier, 1830)
PLATE 71
Geelbek
Otolith us aequidens Cuvier, 1830: 66 (Cape of Good Hope). Atractoscion aequidens: Smith, SFSA No. 554*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 44*;
Trewavas, 1977: 283*; van der Elst, 1981: 263*.
D XlI,27-31; A 11,8-9; P 17-18; LL 70-80; GR (3-5)+(7-9) short, becoming rudimentary with age. Depth 3.8-4.3, head 3.1-3.6 in SL; eye 5-7, interorbitaI4.1-4.8 in head. P & V subequal, 16-20% SL.
Body silvery; scaly flap at upper end of P base black;
inside of mouth and gill cavity yellow. Attains 130 cm and
25 kg. All along our coast; common in Angolan waters and
has been reported off northwest Africa and Australia.
Adults usually in deeper water (to 30 m), but sometimes
taken by shore anglers. Flesh highly esteemed, cures easily.
Whole fish are easily distinguished from the more common
kob, but headless fishes are identifiable only by their tails.
Sometimes dishonest vendors will trim the kob's tail to resemble that of the more costly geelbek.
Genus Atrobucca Chu, Lo and Wu, 1963
Swimbladder appendages with distinct dorsal and ventral
limbs, with branches directed respectively posteriorly and
anteriorly, at least some of them enveloping the bladder.
P subequal to head length. Jaws with band of curved conical
teeth, a few much larger than others. Vertebrae 11 + 14.
Three species; 1 in our area.
Longfin kob
199.4 Atrobucca nibe
(Jordan & Thompson, 1911)
Langvin-kob
Pseudotolithus brunneolus Jordan & Richardson, 1909: 191, PI. 71
(Formosa). Sciaena nibe Jordan & Thompson, 1911: 258, Fig. 4
(Wakanoura, Japan). Sciaena marleyi Nornian, 1922: 319 (off Durban in
40 - 50 fms). lohnius sina (non Cuvier): Smith, SFSA No. 550. Atrobucca
nibe: Trewavas, 1977: 340*. Atrobucca marleyi: Trewavas, 1977: 342*.
D XlI,27-31; A 11,7; P 18; LL 50-51; developed GR (5-7)+(9-11).
Depth 3.0-3.7, head 3.0-3.3 in SL; eye 3.8-4.5, interorbital 3.8-4.3 in
199.4 Atrobucca nibe: holotype of Pseudotolithus brunneolis (after Jordan &
Richardson, 1909).
617