255: NOMEIDAE (DRIFTFISHES)
1967: 40; 1972: 77*; Ahlstrom et aI., 1976: 339*. Cubiceps gracilis: Smith,
1966: 65*
D XIII,20-24; A III, 19-22; P 21-23; upper procurrent Crays 7-10; LL
52-66; GR (6-10)+(16-18); vertebrae 31. Depth 2.8-3.9, head 2.7-3.4.
Body firm; C peduncle broad; scales adherent. Eye large, equal to or
greater than snout. Teeth on roof of mouth and tongue in single series. P
broad and elongate, usually longer than head.
Dark brown, almost black in large specimens; median
fins dark, P lighter; eye blue. May exceed 100 cm. Atlantic,
Pacific and Indian oceans.
255.3 Cubiceps baxteri: 47.5 em (Algoa Bay).
Blue fathead
255.4 Cubiceps caeruleus
Regan, 1914
Blou vetkop
ClIbiceps caerufeus Regan, 1914: 15 (Tasman Sea, Three Kings Id.);
Trunov, 1975: 395*; Butler, 1979: 231 *. Cubiceps capensis (non Smith):
Haedrich, 1967: 81; 1972: 79*; Karrer, 1975: 75; Ahlstrom et aI., 1976:
343*.
D XIII,23-27; A I1,21-24; P 19-22; LL 50-56; GR (6-9)+(17-20); vertebrae 31. Depth 2.9-4.0; head 2.7-3.8. Body compressed; scales easily lost;
skin thin, subdermal canal on side usually prominent. Teeth on roof of
mouth and tongue in knobby patches. P usually longer than head.
Pale to dark blue-grey, back darker than sides; C dark but
other fins clear. Largest known specimen about 25 cm.
Southern Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
255.4 Cubiceps caeruleus: 29 em SL (after Haedrieh, 1972).
Cape fathead
255.5 Cubiceps capensis
(Smith,1845)
Kaapse vetkop
Atimostoma capensis Smith, 1845: PI. 24 (South Africa). Cubiceps
capensis: Barnard, 1948: 389*; Haedrich, 1967: 81; Butler, 1979: 233*
Cubiceps gracilis: Smith, SFSA No. 856*; 1949: 849. Cubiceps sp. A:
Ahlstrom et al., 1976: 352*
D XIII ,20-23; A III,20-21; P 21-23; upper procurrent Crays 11-12; LL
66-67; GR (7-9)+(16-19); vertebrae 31. Depth 3.5-3.8, head 3.4-3.7.
848
Head short; eye moderate, less than snout; V long; P usually longer than
head. Teeth on roof of mouth and tongue in single series.
Dark brown to deep purple, fins dark. Attains 90 cm.
Probably circumglobal in southern hemisphere.
255.5 Cubiceps capensis: holotype (after Smith, 1845).
255.6 Cubiceps pauciradiatus
Gunther, 1872
Longfin fathead
Langvin vetkop
Cubiceps pauciradiatus Gunther, 1872: 418 (Misol Id.); Haedrich,
1967: 81; 1972: 79*; Ahlstrom et aI., 1976: 346*; Butler, 1979: 236*.
Cubiceps fongimanus Fowler, 1934: 442, Fig. 23 (Durban). Cubiceps
brevimanus: Smith, SFSA No. 857*; 1949: 850.
D X-XIII,15-17; A I1,14-16; P 17-20; LL49-53; GR (7-9)+(16-19); vertebrae 30-31. Depth 3.5-4.9, head 3.0-3.6.Body slender; C peduncle
broad; eye large, equal to snout. Teeth on roof of mouth and tongue in
broad knobby patches. A conspicuous thin bony keel on the breast. P
elongate.
Light tan to brown; C dusky but other fins clear. Attains
20 cm. Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.
255.6 Cubiceps pauciradiatus: top: 10 em; bottom: 10.5 em (after Haedrieh,
1972).
Genus Nomeus Cuvier, 1816
A single species occurs worldwide.
Bluebottle fish
255.7 Nomeus gronovii
Gmelin, 1789
PLATE 133
Bloublasievis
Gobius Gronovii Gmelin, 1789: 1205 (Atlantic Ocean). Nomeus
gronovii Fowler, 1936: 660*; Haedrich, 1967: 83*; Ahlstrom et aI., 1976:
1967: 40; 1972: 77*; Ahlstrom et aI., 1976: 339*. Cubiceps gracilis: Smith,
1966: 65*
D XIII,20-24; A III, 19-22; P 21-23; upper procurrent Crays 7-10; LL
52-66; GR (6-10)+(16-18); vertebrae 31. Depth 2.8-3.9, head 2.7-3.4.
Body firm; C peduncle broad; scales adherent. Eye large, equal to or
greater than snout. Teeth on roof of mouth and tongue in single series. P
broad and elongate, usually longer than head.
Dark brown, almost black in large specimens; median
fins dark, P lighter; eye blue. May exceed 100 cm. Atlantic,
Pacific and Indian oceans.
255.3 Cubiceps baxteri: 47.5 em (Algoa Bay).
Blue fathead
255.4 Cubiceps caeruleus
Regan, 1914
Blou vetkop
ClIbiceps caerufeus Regan, 1914: 15 (Tasman Sea, Three Kings Id.);
Trunov, 1975: 395*; Butler, 1979: 231 *. Cubiceps capensis (non Smith):
Haedrich, 1967: 81; 1972: 79*; Karrer, 1975: 75; Ahlstrom et aI., 1976:
343*.
D XIII,23-27; A I1,21-24; P 19-22; LL 50-56; GR (6-9)+(17-20); vertebrae 31. Depth 2.9-4.0; head 2.7-3.8. Body compressed; scales easily lost;
skin thin, subdermal canal on side usually prominent. Teeth on roof of
mouth and tongue in knobby patches. P usually longer than head.
Pale to dark blue-grey, back darker than sides; C dark but
other fins clear. Largest known specimen about 25 cm.
Southern Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
255.4 Cubiceps caeruleus: 29 em SL (after Haedrieh, 1972).
Cape fathead
255.5 Cubiceps capensis
(Smith,1845)
Kaapse vetkop
Atimostoma capensis Smith, 1845: PI. 24 (South Africa). Cubiceps
capensis: Barnard, 1948: 389*; Haedrich, 1967: 81; Butler, 1979: 233*
Cubiceps gracilis: Smith, SFSA No. 856*; 1949: 849. Cubiceps sp. A:
Ahlstrom et al., 1976: 352*
D XIII ,20-23; A III,20-21; P 21-23; upper procurrent Crays 11-12; LL
66-67; GR (7-9)+(16-19); vertebrae 31. Depth 3.5-3.8, head 3.4-3.7.
848
Head short; eye moderate, less than snout; V long; P usually longer than
head. Teeth on roof of mouth and tongue in single series.
Dark brown to deep purple, fins dark. Attains 90 cm.
Probably circumglobal in southern hemisphere.
255.5 Cubiceps capensis: holotype (after Smith, 1845).
255.6 Cubiceps pauciradiatus
Gunther, 1872
Longfin fathead
Langvin vetkop
Cubiceps pauciradiatus Gunther, 1872: 418 (Misol Id.); Haedrich,
1967: 81; 1972: 79*; Ahlstrom et aI., 1976: 346*; Butler, 1979: 236*.
Cubiceps fongimanus Fowler, 1934: 442, Fig. 23 (Durban). Cubiceps
brevimanus: Smith, SFSA No. 857*; 1949: 850.
D X-XIII,15-17; A I1,14-16; P 17-20; LL49-53; GR (7-9)+(16-19); vertebrae 30-31. Depth 3.5-4.9, head 3.0-3.6.Body slender; C peduncle
broad; eye large, equal to snout. Teeth on roof of mouth and tongue in
broad knobby patches. A conspicuous thin bony keel on the breast. P
elongate.
Light tan to brown; C dusky but other fins clear. Attains
20 cm. Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.
255.6 Cubiceps pauciradiatus: top: 10 em; bottom: 10.5 em (after Haedrieh,
1972).
Genus Nomeus Cuvier, 1816
A single species occurs worldwide.
Bluebottle fish
255.7 Nomeus gronovii
Gmelin, 1789
PLATE 133
Bloublasievis
Gobius Gronovii Gmelin, 1789: 1205 (Atlantic Ocean). Nomeus
gronovii Fowler, 1936: 660*; Haedrich, 1967: 83*; Ahlstrom et aI., 1976: