241: ELEOTRIDAE (SLEEPERS)
241.7 Hypseleotris dayi
Smith,1950
Golden sleeper
Goue slaper
Hypseleotris dayi Smith, 1950: 707, Fig. 2 (St. Lucia, Zu1uland).
o VI+I,8; A 1,9; P 12-14; LS 24-25; TRB 8; PO 12-14; GR (1-3)+(911). Cheek and operculum scaled; scales on top of head reaching tip of
snout. Possibly identical with H. cyprinoides Valenciennes, 1836 from
Reunion or H. tohizonae Steindachner, 1880 from Madagascar.
Head and body grey to brown; a dark spot on C base ventrally; dark stripe from snout tip through eye; narrow dark
bar across P base. Attains 37 mm. Fresh and brackish water.
St. Lucia and Empangeni, Natal, but probably more widespread.
241.7 Hypseleotris dayi: 3.5 em holotype (Natal).
Genus Ophiocara Gill, 1863
Head width about equal to head depth; top of head flat.
Top of head, interorbital, cheeks and opercles scaled.
Anterior nostril a short tube. Lower end of gill opening
from rear margin of preopercle to below eye. Prays
branched. Head pores above eyes and from eye to above
end of operculum. Preopercle with 4-5 pores. Maxilla
reaches to below middle of eye. Segmented Crays 17. Vertebrae 26. One species found in tropical estuaries and freshwater.
241.8 Ophiocara porocepha/a
(Valenciennes, 1837)
PLATE 127
Flathead sleeper
Platkop-slaper
Eleotris porocephala Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1837: 237 (New Ireland); Smith, 1958: 148*; Akihito & Meguro, 1974: 75. Eleotris limosus
241.8 Ophiocara porocephala: 27 em holotype of Eleotris limosus (Natal).
810
Smith, 1936: 52, PI. 4 (Isipingo Lagoon , Natal). Ophiocara limosus:
Smith, SFSA No. 941*. Ophiocara aporos: Smith, SFSA No. 942.
o VI+I,8-9; A 1,7; P 14-15; LS 33-37; TRB 12-14; PO 18-26; GR
(3-5)+(12-16). Tongue tip with shallow notch.
Head and body dark; second D and C spotted; juveniles
with irregular crossbars. Attains 34 cm. From Durban to
Shimoni and most of western Indian Ocean to western tropical Pacific.
Genus Prionobutis Bleeker, 1874
Head rounded to depressed; bony serrations above each
eye; top of head, cheeks and opercles scaled. No enlarged
interorbital scale. Anterior nostril a short tube. Gill opening reaches to between mid operculum to under eye. Prays
branched. Head pores above eye and operculum and along
rear preopercle margin. Jaws subequal; snout short; segmented Crays 17; D VI+I,8; A 1,7-8; P 19-22; LS 25-33;
vertebrae 26. A tropical estuarine genus. About 4 species, 1
in our area.
241.9 Prionobutis koilomatodon
(Bleeker, 1849)
PLATE 127
Mud sleeper
Modder-slaper
Eleotris koilomatodon Bleeker, 1849: 21 (Indonesia). Eleotris delagoensis Barnard, 1927: 811 (Oelagoa Bay). Butis caperatus: Smith, SFSA No.
939*. Prionobutis koilomatodon: Smith, 1958: 142*; 1961: 570, No. 939*.
o VI+I,8; A 1,8; P 21-22; LS 25-28; TRB 9-10; PO 11-15; GR (4-5)+
(6-8). Mouth oblique, reaching to below front of eye. Membrane connects
anterior Yz of 1st gill arch to operculum; G R moderately long.
Head and body dark brown; body with 4 or 5 broad
oblique bands; scales edged in dark brown. First D dark
anteriorly; 2nd D and C with alternating dark brown and
white spots; A and V dusky to black; P clear. Bands more
distinct and fins lighter in female. Attains 75 mm. Common
in Delagoa Bay; throughout Indian Ocean to China.
241.9 Prionobutis koilomatodon: 5.5 em (Delagoa Bay).
241.7 Hypseleotris dayi
Smith,1950
Golden sleeper
Goue slaper
Hypseleotris dayi Smith, 1950: 707, Fig. 2 (St. Lucia, Zu1uland).
o VI+I,8; A 1,9; P 12-14; LS 24-25; TRB 8; PO 12-14; GR (1-3)+(911). Cheek and operculum scaled; scales on top of head reaching tip of
snout. Possibly identical with H. cyprinoides Valenciennes, 1836 from
Reunion or H. tohizonae Steindachner, 1880 from Madagascar.
Head and body grey to brown; a dark spot on C base ventrally; dark stripe from snout tip through eye; narrow dark
bar across P base. Attains 37 mm. Fresh and brackish water.
St. Lucia and Empangeni, Natal, but probably more widespread.
241.7 Hypseleotris dayi: 3.5 em holotype (Natal).
Genus Ophiocara Gill, 1863
Head width about equal to head depth; top of head flat.
Top of head, interorbital, cheeks and opercles scaled.
Anterior nostril a short tube. Lower end of gill opening
from rear margin of preopercle to below eye. Prays
branched. Head pores above eyes and from eye to above
end of operculum. Preopercle with 4-5 pores. Maxilla
reaches to below middle of eye. Segmented Crays 17. Vertebrae 26. One species found in tropical estuaries and freshwater.
241.8 Ophiocara porocepha/a
(Valenciennes, 1837)
PLATE 127
Flathead sleeper
Platkop-slaper
Eleotris porocephala Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1837: 237 (New Ireland); Smith, 1958: 148*; Akihito & Meguro, 1974: 75. Eleotris limosus
241.8 Ophiocara porocephala: 27 em holotype of Eleotris limosus (Natal).
810
Smith, 1936: 52, PI. 4 (Isipingo Lagoon , Natal). Ophiocara limosus:
Smith, SFSA No. 941*. Ophiocara aporos: Smith, SFSA No. 942.
o VI+I,8-9; A 1,7; P 14-15; LS 33-37; TRB 12-14; PO 18-26; GR
(3-5)+(12-16). Tongue tip with shallow notch.
Head and body dark; second D and C spotted; juveniles
with irregular crossbars. Attains 34 cm. From Durban to
Shimoni and most of western Indian Ocean to western tropical Pacific.
Genus Prionobutis Bleeker, 1874
Head rounded to depressed; bony serrations above each
eye; top of head, cheeks and opercles scaled. No enlarged
interorbital scale. Anterior nostril a short tube. Gill opening reaches to between mid operculum to under eye. Prays
branched. Head pores above eye and operculum and along
rear preopercle margin. Jaws subequal; snout short; segmented Crays 17; D VI+I,8; A 1,7-8; P 19-22; LS 25-33;
vertebrae 26. A tropical estuarine genus. About 4 species, 1
in our area.
241.9 Prionobutis koilomatodon
(Bleeker, 1849)
PLATE 127
Mud sleeper
Modder-slaper
Eleotris koilomatodon Bleeker, 1849: 21 (Indonesia). Eleotris delagoensis Barnard, 1927: 811 (Oelagoa Bay). Butis caperatus: Smith, SFSA No.
939*. Prionobutis koilomatodon: Smith, 1958: 142*; 1961: 570, No. 939*.
o VI+I,8; A 1,8; P 21-22; LS 25-28; TRB 9-10; PO 11-15; GR (4-5)+
(6-8). Mouth oblique, reaching to below front of eye. Membrane connects
anterior Yz of 1st gill arch to operculum; G R moderately long.
Head and body dark brown; body with 4 or 5 broad
oblique bands; scales edged in dark brown. First D dark
anteriorly; 2nd D and C with alternating dark brown and
white spots; A and V dusky to black; P clear. Bands more
distinct and fins lighter in female. Attains 75 mm. Common
in Delagoa Bay; throughout Indian Ocean to China.
241.9 Prionobutis koilomatodon: 5.5 em (Delagoa Bay).