381*; Smith & Smith, 1963: 13*; Cantwell, 1964: 261* (in part);
Heemstra, 1984: 5*.
D V,22; A 1,18; P 16-18; LL 79-86; 8-10 scales from 1st D ray to LL;
40-42 scales around C peduncle; GR (3-6)+(10-11); 4-7 canines in outer
row at front of lower jaw; no teeth on palatines; 2-6 stout canines in a
transverse series along anterior edge of vomer; subopercle with several
small serrae; membrane from last D spine joins to base of 1st ray; cheek
scales small, ctenoid, mostly embedded.
Body bluish white with 9 dark brown bars ventrally; belly
white; P base dark brown with 2 curved silver lines, black
blotch at base of upper C rays and a less distinct blotch at
base of lower C rays. Attains 30 cm. Indian Ocean south to
Algoa Bay.
234.5 Parapercis robinsoni: 28 cm holotype (Natal; after Fowler, 1929).
234.6 Parapercis schauinslandi
(Steindachner, 1900)
PLATE 113
Rosy sandsmelt
Rosige sandspiering
Percis schauinslandi Steindachner, 1900: 175 (Hawaii). Parapercis pulchella (non Temminck & Schlegel): Smith, SFSA No. 382*. Parapercis
schauinslandi: Cantwell, 1964: 257*; Schultz, 1968: 15; Heemstra, 1984:
2. Parapercis sp.: Smith, 1975: 32.
D V,21-22; A 1,17-18; P 16-17; LL56-58; 4~scales from 1st D ray to LL;
25-28 scales around C peduncle; GR (3-5)+(7-9); 6 canines in outer row at
front of lower jaw; no teeth on palatines; rear edge of subopercle serrate;
4th D spine distinctly longer than others; cheek scales cycloid, embedded.
Attains 14 cm. Known from Hawaii, Seychelles, Comores and Durban.
234.7 Parapercis somaliensis
Schultz, 1968
Weeping sandsmelt
Huil-sandspiering
Parapercis somaliensis Schultz, 1968: 10, PI. 2 (Gulf of Aden, off Somali
coast); Masuda et a!., 1975: 259*.
D V,21; A 1,17; P 17; LS 51-55; 24-26 scales around C peduncle; 6
canines in outer row at front of lower jaw; no palatine teeth; membrane
from last D spine joins 1st ray opposite spine tip.
Body brownish orange dorsally with 8 faint darker saddle
blotches, the dorsal body colour continued ventrally into
234: MUGILOIDIDAE (SANDSMELTS)
the white lower part as 8 blotches; ventral part of head pale,
with an orange (dusky in alcohol) "tear" mark resembling a
comma below eye. Attains 20(?) cm. Somalia and Japan;
probably occurs in our area. The diagnosis given above is
compiled from the literature, as there are no specimens
available from our area.
234.7 Parapercis somaliensis: 10.5 cm SL holotype (after Schultz, 1968).
234.8 Parapercis xanthozona
(Bleeker, 1849)
PLATE 113
Blotchlip sands melt
Vleklip-sandspiering
? Percis xanthozona Bleeker, 1849: 55 (Indonesia); Playfair & Giinther,
1867: 69*. ? Parapercis xanthozona: Cantwell, 1964: 273*.
D V,21; A 1,17; P 16-17; LL 58; LS 56-60; 6-7 scales from 1st D ray to
LL; 29-31 scales around C peduncle; GR (6-7)+ 12; 6 canines in outer row
at front of lower jaw; palatine teeth present or absent; rear end of subopercle with 2 small, contiguous spines; cheek scales small, cycloid, embedded.
Colour in alcohol: see illustration; note 3 black blotches
on each side of upper lip. Two specimens from Natal in our
collection (RUSI 9430, 150 mm SL and RUSI 15019, 143
mm SL) appear to be the species illustrated as "Percis
xanthozona" by Playfair and Gunther (1867: PI. 8, Fig. 3).
Although the colour pattern of RUSI 9430 is greatly faded,
it is obviously the same as RUSI 15019; and these two specimens surely represent the same species. The presence or
absence of palatine teeth has been used as a key character to
separate species of Parapercis; however, one of these two
specimens of P. xanthozona lacks palatine teeth and the
other specimen (RUSI 9430) has a small but distinct patch
of teeth on each palatine. The colour pattern described and
illustrated by Cantwell (1964: 273, Fig. 9E) for P. xanthozona is rather different from that of our specimens, but this
may be due to sexual dichromatism. Indo-West Pacific.
234.8 Parapercis xanthozona: 15 cm (after Playfair, in Playfair & Gunther, 1867).
741
Heemstra, 1984: 5*.
D V,22; A 1,18; P 16-18; LL 79-86; 8-10 scales from 1st D ray to LL;
40-42 scales around C peduncle; GR (3-6)+(10-11); 4-7 canines in outer
row at front of lower jaw; no teeth on palatines; 2-6 stout canines in a
transverse series along anterior edge of vomer; subopercle with several
small serrae; membrane from last D spine joins to base of 1st ray; cheek
scales small, ctenoid, mostly embedded.
Body bluish white with 9 dark brown bars ventrally; belly
white; P base dark brown with 2 curved silver lines, black
blotch at base of upper C rays and a less distinct blotch at
base of lower C rays. Attains 30 cm. Indian Ocean south to
Algoa Bay.
234.5 Parapercis robinsoni: 28 cm holotype (Natal; after Fowler, 1929).
234.6 Parapercis schauinslandi
(Steindachner, 1900)
PLATE 113
Rosy sandsmelt
Rosige sandspiering
Percis schauinslandi Steindachner, 1900: 175 (Hawaii). Parapercis pulchella (non Temminck & Schlegel): Smith, SFSA No. 382*. Parapercis
schauinslandi: Cantwell, 1964: 257*; Schultz, 1968: 15; Heemstra, 1984:
2. Parapercis sp.: Smith, 1975: 32.
D V,21-22; A 1,17-18; P 16-17; LL56-58; 4~scales from 1st D ray to LL;
25-28 scales around C peduncle; GR (3-5)+(7-9); 6 canines in outer row at
front of lower jaw; no teeth on palatines; rear edge of subopercle serrate;
4th D spine distinctly longer than others; cheek scales cycloid, embedded.
Attains 14 cm. Known from Hawaii, Seychelles, Comores and Durban.
234.7 Parapercis somaliensis
Schultz, 1968
Weeping sandsmelt
Huil-sandspiering
Parapercis somaliensis Schultz, 1968: 10, PI. 2 (Gulf of Aden, off Somali
coast); Masuda et a!., 1975: 259*.
D V,21; A 1,17; P 17; LS 51-55; 24-26 scales around C peduncle; 6
canines in outer row at front of lower jaw; no palatine teeth; membrane
from last D spine joins 1st ray opposite spine tip.
Body brownish orange dorsally with 8 faint darker saddle
blotches, the dorsal body colour continued ventrally into
234: MUGILOIDIDAE (SANDSMELTS)
the white lower part as 8 blotches; ventral part of head pale,
with an orange (dusky in alcohol) "tear" mark resembling a
comma below eye. Attains 20(?) cm. Somalia and Japan;
probably occurs in our area. The diagnosis given above is
compiled from the literature, as there are no specimens
available from our area.
234.7 Parapercis somaliensis: 10.5 cm SL holotype (after Schultz, 1968).
234.8 Parapercis xanthozona
(Bleeker, 1849)
PLATE 113
Blotchlip sands melt
Vleklip-sandspiering
? Percis xanthozona Bleeker, 1849: 55 (Indonesia); Playfair & Giinther,
1867: 69*. ? Parapercis xanthozona: Cantwell, 1964: 273*.
D V,21; A 1,17; P 16-17; LL 58; LS 56-60; 6-7 scales from 1st D ray to
LL; 29-31 scales around C peduncle; GR (6-7)+ 12; 6 canines in outer row
at front of lower jaw; palatine teeth present or absent; rear end of subopercle with 2 small, contiguous spines; cheek scales small, cycloid, embedded.
Colour in alcohol: see illustration; note 3 black blotches
on each side of upper lip. Two specimens from Natal in our
collection (RUSI 9430, 150 mm SL and RUSI 15019, 143
mm SL) appear to be the species illustrated as "Percis
xanthozona" by Playfair and Gunther (1867: PI. 8, Fig. 3).
Although the colour pattern of RUSI 9430 is greatly faded,
it is obviously the same as RUSI 15019; and these two specimens surely represent the same species. The presence or
absence of palatine teeth has been used as a key character to
separate species of Parapercis; however, one of these two
specimens of P. xanthozona lacks palatine teeth and the
other specimen (RUSI 9430) has a small but distinct patch
of teeth on each palatine. The colour pattern described and
illustrated by Cantwell (1964: 273, Fig. 9E) for P. xanthozona is rather different from that of our specimens, but this
may be due to sexual dichromatism. Indo-West Pacific.
234.8 Parapercis xanthozona: 15 cm (after Playfair, in Playfair & Gunther, 1867).
741