255: NOMEIDAE (DRIITFISHES)
255.9 Psenes cyanophrys: top: 12.5 em (after Cuvier, 1833); bottom: ea. 1 em
early juvenile (after Ahlstrom et aI., 1976).
Silver driftfish
255.10 Psenes macu/atus
LOtken, 1880
Silwer dryfvis
Psenes maculatus Liitken, 1880: 518, PI. 5, Fig. 2 (central Atlantic
Ocean); Fowler, 1936: 664 (Fig. 298 not this species); Haedrich, 1967: 88;
Ahlstrom et aI., 1976: 377*.
D IX-XIII,22-24; A III,21-23; P 20-22; LL 70-80; GR about 8+(16-19);
vertebrae 34-38. Depth 2.4-3.4; head 2.4-2.9. Body somewhat elongate
and thick; musculature firm; eye large, greater than snout. Teeth in lower
jaw at least twice length of those in upper.
Brown, with darker brown vertical bands. Only immature specimens less than 10 cm known. Atlantic, Pacific and
Indian oceans.
255.10 Psenes maeulatus: 2.2 em early juvenile (after Ahlstrom et aI., 1976).
Blackrag
255.11 Psenes pellucidus
LOtken, 1880
Swartlap
Psenes pellucidus Liitken, 1880: 516, Fig. 601 (Java); Haedrich, 1967:
88*; 1972: 81; Ahlstrom et aI., 1976: 381 *. Clibiceps niger: Niimann, in da
Franca, 1957: 10, PI. 1, Figs. 1 & 2 (off Luanda, Angola). Papyrichthys
pellucidus: Smith, 1934: 90*; SFSA No. 851*; 1949: 846.
850
D IX-XIIII-II,27-31; A III,26-31; P 18-20; LL 115-125; GR8+(14-16);
vertebrae 40-44. Depth 1.6-5.9, head 2.8-3.6. Body limp and flabby; musculature very soft but skin tough; eye moderate, less than snout. P short
and rounded. Teeth in lower jaw flattened and knifelike, 3 times length of
small pointed teeth in upper jaw.
Translucent young with brown spotted colour pattern
and dark first D; adults dark brown to deep purple; eye dark
blue. Attains 80 cm. Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.
255.11 Psenes pellucidus: 11 em (off Durban).
255.12 Psenes white/eggii
Waite, 1894
PLATE 133
Shadow driftfish
Skaduwee-dryfvis
Psenes whiteleggii Waite, 1894: 218, PI. 17 (Maroubra Bay, N.S.W.);
Smith, SFSA No. 853*; 1949: 846; Smith & Smith, 1966: 131 *; Haedrich,
1967: 88; Nellen, 1975: 53*. Cubiceps natalensis Gilchrist & von Bonde,
1923: 7, PI. 17, Fig. 2 (Natal); Smith, SFSA No. 858*; Winterbottom,
1974: 7. Psenes guttatus Fowler, 1934: 442, Fig. 24, (Natal). Clibiceps
squamiceps: Smith, 1949: 850; 1958: 319*; 1961: 507, No. 858; Butler,
1979: 237*.
D X-XIIII,17-21; A II-III, 17-20; P 18-20; upper procurrent Crays 8-9;
LL 56-66; GR about (6-9)+(16-19); vertebrae 31-32. Depth 2.2-3.4, head
2.4-3.3. Body musculature somewhat soft; head large; eye equal to snout;
peduncle short. Teeth in lower jaw slightly flattened and knifelike; teeth
on tongue pointed and in a single row; only a few teeth on roof of mouth. P
winglike, about equal to head; base of fin almost horizontal.
Colour uniform light to dark brown, fins dark; eye blue;
young may have a dark band near base of tail. Attains 20
cm. Indian Ocean and Australia.
255.12 Psenes whiteleggii: 5 em (Natal).
255.9 Psenes cyanophrys: top: 12.5 em (after Cuvier, 1833); bottom: ea. 1 em
early juvenile (after Ahlstrom et aI., 1976).
Silver driftfish
255.10 Psenes macu/atus
LOtken, 1880
Silwer dryfvis
Psenes maculatus Liitken, 1880: 518, PI. 5, Fig. 2 (central Atlantic
Ocean); Fowler, 1936: 664 (Fig. 298 not this species); Haedrich, 1967: 88;
Ahlstrom et aI., 1976: 377*.
D IX-XIII,22-24; A III,21-23; P 20-22; LL 70-80; GR about 8+(16-19);
vertebrae 34-38. Depth 2.4-3.4; head 2.4-2.9. Body somewhat elongate
and thick; musculature firm; eye large, greater than snout. Teeth in lower
jaw at least twice length of those in upper.
Brown, with darker brown vertical bands. Only immature specimens less than 10 cm known. Atlantic, Pacific and
Indian oceans.
255.10 Psenes maeulatus: 2.2 em early juvenile (after Ahlstrom et aI., 1976).
Blackrag
255.11 Psenes pellucidus
LOtken, 1880
Swartlap
Psenes pellucidus Liitken, 1880: 516, Fig. 601 (Java); Haedrich, 1967:
88*; 1972: 81; Ahlstrom et aI., 1976: 381 *. Clibiceps niger: Niimann, in da
Franca, 1957: 10, PI. 1, Figs. 1 & 2 (off Luanda, Angola). Papyrichthys
pellucidus: Smith, 1934: 90*; SFSA No. 851*; 1949: 846.
850
D IX-XIIII-II,27-31; A III,26-31; P 18-20; LL 115-125; GR8+(14-16);
vertebrae 40-44. Depth 1.6-5.9, head 2.8-3.6. Body limp and flabby; musculature very soft but skin tough; eye moderate, less than snout. P short
and rounded. Teeth in lower jaw flattened and knifelike, 3 times length of
small pointed teeth in upper jaw.
Translucent young with brown spotted colour pattern
and dark first D; adults dark brown to deep purple; eye dark
blue. Attains 80 cm. Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.
255.11 Psenes pellucidus: 11 em (off Durban).
255.12 Psenes white/eggii
Waite, 1894
PLATE 133
Shadow driftfish
Skaduwee-dryfvis
Psenes whiteleggii Waite, 1894: 218, PI. 17 (Maroubra Bay, N.S.W.);
Smith, SFSA No. 853*; 1949: 846; Smith & Smith, 1966: 131 *; Haedrich,
1967: 88; Nellen, 1975: 53*. Cubiceps natalensis Gilchrist & von Bonde,
1923: 7, PI. 17, Fig. 2 (Natal); Smith, SFSA No. 858*; Winterbottom,
1974: 7. Psenes guttatus Fowler, 1934: 442, Fig. 24, (Natal). Clibiceps
squamiceps: Smith, 1949: 850; 1958: 319*; 1961: 507, No. 858; Butler,
1979: 237*.
D X-XIIII,17-21; A II-III, 17-20; P 18-20; upper procurrent Crays 8-9;
LL 56-66; GR about (6-9)+(16-19); vertebrae 31-32. Depth 2.2-3.4, head
2.4-3.3. Body musculature somewhat soft; head large; eye equal to snout;
peduncle short. Teeth in lower jaw slightly flattened and knifelike; teeth
on tongue pointed and in a single row; only a few teeth on roof of mouth. P
winglike, about equal to head; base of fin almost horizontal.
Colour uniform light to dark brown, fins dark; eye blue;
young may have a dark band near base of tail. Attains 20
cm. Indian Ocean and Australia.
255.12 Psenes whiteleggii: 5 em (Natal).