227: CONGROGADIDAE (SNAKELETS)
D 1,47-49; A 36-38; P 9; LL 7-22; GR (2-3)+(7-8). Depth 7.6-9.6; head
14.9-17.7.
Colour ranging from uniform light brown to a body
covered with dark, unevenly rounded, eye-sized blotches.
Attains 6 cm. Relatively common at 12 - 15 m. Known only
from limestone/coral reefs off Sodwana Bay, Natal and 1
specimen from Mauritius.
Genus Natalichthys Winterbottom, 1980
V 1,2; gill membranes united, but free from isthmus.
Three species, all endemic to Natal.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Cheek scaled; 1 dorsal procurrent C ray ............ .. ......... N. leptus
Ib Cheek not scaled; 2 dorsal procurrent Crays ........................... 2
2a D 1,52-53; 2 ventral procurrent Crays ...................... .. ...... N. ori
2b D 1,42; 1 ventral procurrent C ray .................................. N. sam
227.3 Natalichthys leptus
Winterbottom, 1980
Pencil snakelet
Potlood-slangetjie
Halidesmus scapularis (non Giinther): Barnard, 1927: 870 (part,
Natal). Natalichthys leptus Winterbottom, 1980: 8, Fig. 3 (Umhlangankulu River, Natal).
D 1,48; A 39; P 9; LL 20-24; GR (2-3)+(6-7). Depth 8.6-9.2; head
16.9-17.5.
Colour when preserved light brown, a dark blotch on
shoulder above opercIe. Attains 7 cm. Known from 2 speci227.3 Nataliehthys leptus: 6.5 em holotype (Natal).
227.4 Nataliehthys ori: 6 em SL holotype (Natal).
227.5 Nataliehthys sam: 4 em SL holotype (Natal).
730
mens from Natal, probably from 90 m off the Umhlangankulu River.
227.4 Natalichthys ori
Winterbottom, 1980
Natal snakelet
Natalse slangetjie
Halidesmus scapularis (non Giinther): Barnard, 1927: 870 (part,
Natal). Natalichthys ori Winterbottom, 1980: 3 Fig. 1 (Umhlangankulu
River, Natal).
D 1,52-53; A 42-43; P 9; LL22-23; GR (2-3)+(8-9). Depth 7.5-8.0; head
15.0-15.6.
Colour when preserved light brown, a dark blotch on
shoulder above opercle. Attains 7 cm. Known from 2 specimens from Natal, probably from 90 m off the Umhlangankulu River.
Nail snakelet
227.5 Natalichthys sam
Winterbottom, 1980
Spyker-slangetjie
Natalichthys sam Winterbottom, 1980: 6, Fig. 2 (off Port Shepstone,
Natal).
D 1,42; A 32; P 10; LL 22-27; GR 2+6. Depth 10.5-11.2; head
18.3-18.9.
Colour when preserved light brown, a dark brown blotch
on shoulder above opercle. Attains 5 cm. Known from 2
specimens from 44 m off Port Shepstone, Natal.
D 1,47-49; A 36-38; P 9; LL 7-22; GR (2-3)+(7-8). Depth 7.6-9.6; head
14.9-17.7.
Colour ranging from uniform light brown to a body
covered with dark, unevenly rounded, eye-sized blotches.
Attains 6 cm. Relatively common at 12 - 15 m. Known only
from limestone/coral reefs off Sodwana Bay, Natal and 1
specimen from Mauritius.
Genus Natalichthys Winterbottom, 1980
V 1,2; gill membranes united, but free from isthmus.
Three species, all endemic to Natal.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Cheek scaled; 1 dorsal procurrent C ray ............ .. ......... N. leptus
Ib Cheek not scaled; 2 dorsal procurrent Crays ........................... 2
2a D 1,52-53; 2 ventral procurrent Crays ...................... .. ...... N. ori
2b D 1,42; 1 ventral procurrent C ray .................................. N. sam
227.3 Natalichthys leptus
Winterbottom, 1980
Pencil snakelet
Potlood-slangetjie
Halidesmus scapularis (non Giinther): Barnard, 1927: 870 (part,
Natal). Natalichthys leptus Winterbottom, 1980: 8, Fig. 3 (Umhlangankulu River, Natal).
D 1,48; A 39; P 9; LL 20-24; GR (2-3)+(6-7). Depth 8.6-9.2; head
16.9-17.5.
Colour when preserved light brown, a dark blotch on
shoulder above opercIe. Attains 7 cm. Known from 2 speci227.3 Nataliehthys leptus: 6.5 em holotype (Natal).
227.4 Nataliehthys ori: 6 em SL holotype (Natal).
227.5 Nataliehthys sam: 4 em SL holotype (Natal).
730
mens from Natal, probably from 90 m off the Umhlangankulu River.
227.4 Natalichthys ori
Winterbottom, 1980
Natal snakelet
Natalse slangetjie
Halidesmus scapularis (non Giinther): Barnard, 1927: 870 (part,
Natal). Natalichthys ori Winterbottom, 1980: 3 Fig. 1 (Umhlangankulu
River, Natal).
D 1,52-53; A 42-43; P 9; LL22-23; GR (2-3)+(8-9). Depth 7.5-8.0; head
15.0-15.6.
Colour when preserved light brown, a dark blotch on
shoulder above opercle. Attains 7 cm. Known from 2 specimens from Natal, probably from 90 m off the Umhlangankulu River.
Nail snakelet
227.5 Natalichthys sam
Winterbottom, 1980
Spyker-slangetjie
Natalichthys sam Winterbottom, 1980: 6, Fig. 2 (off Port Shepstone,
Natal).
D 1,42; A 32; P 10; LL 22-27; GR 2+6. Depth 10.5-11.2; head
18.3-18.9.
Colour when preserved light brown, a dark brown blotch
on shoulder above opercle. Attains 5 cm. Known from 2
specimens from 44 m off Port Shepstone, Natal.