~59.15 Neolaeops microphthalmus: 13.5 em holotype (Natal; after Norman,
1934).
Genus Psettina Hubbs, 1915
Six species; 1 in our area.
259.16 Psettina brevirictis
(Alcock, 1890)
Arnoglossus brevirictis Alcock, 1890: 433 (Ganjam coast, NE India) .
Psettina brevirictis: Norman, 1934: 199*.
D 78-85; A 60-67; P 11-13 on eyed side , 10-11 on blind side; GR (3-5)
+(5-8); LL ca. 47-55 . Depth 2.0-2.3 , head 3.4-3.6 in SL; upper jaw 3.4-4.3
in head. Interorbital area a sharp , narrow ridge. Teeth uniserial in both
jaws, somewhat larger on blind side.
Eyed side brownish; dark blotches along dorsal and ventral edges of body which continue onto D & A; 2 or 3 dark
blotches on LL; dark area on P of eyed side; C with broad
dark band. Attains 8 cm (possibly 10 cm). Record from
southern Africa based on small juvenile (35 mm SL) collected off Port St. Johns, Transkei . India, Celebes and possibly Hong Kong and Taiwan. In 37 - 137 m on sand and
shell bottoms.
259.16 Psettina brevirictis: 10 em (after Norman, 1934).
Genus Pseudorhombus Bleeker, 1862
Numerous species; 3 in our area. The reference to
Pseudorhombus arsius by van der Elst (1981: 110) is doubtful, as it is based in part on P. elevatus.
259: BOTHIDAE (LEFTEYE FLOUNDERS)
KEY TO SPECIES
la Lower GR 15-19 (in southern Africa); D
membrane between 1st D ray and snout high,
flap-like ; 1st interhemal spine usually
projecting through body wall immediately
to right side of 1st A ray .... .......... ...... .. .............. .... . P. elevatus
Blind side of head of (A) P. elevatus, (B) P. natalensis, (C) P. arsius showing
high, flap-like membrane between 1st D ray and snout.
1b Lower GR 9-13; D membrane between 1st Dray
and snout low , not flap-like ; 1st interhemal spine,
when projecting through body wall, immediately
before 1st A ray ............ ..... .... ..... ..... ...... .... ... ......... . .. ..... .. . 2
2a LL 51-63 ; teeth of lower jaw small and closely
spaced, 20-31 on blind side of lower jaw (14-19
in specimens less than 4 cm SL) ; maxilla not
extending to middle of lower eye; supratemporal
branch of LL reaching only ~ - 7J of distance
to Dbase .... ... ...... .. .... .. ... ... ... .. .. .... ... ... ....... ,...... P. natalensis
2b LL 67-80; teeth of lower jaw large and usually
widely spaced , 8-18 on blind side of lower jaw;
maxilla extending to below rear ~ of lower eye;
supratemporal branch of LL reaching or nearly
reaching bases of 8th-11th Drays ... .... ....... ... .... ... ..... ... . P. arsius
259.17 Pseudorhombus arsius
(Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822)
PLATE 133
Largetooth flounder
Groottand-botvis
Pleuronectes arsius Hamilton-Buchanan , 1822: 128 (Calcutta) . Pseudorhombus andersoni Gilchrist , 1904: 8, PI. 26 (Durban Harbour; based on
ambicoloured specimen). Pseudorhombus russelli: Regan, 1920: ~08';
Barnard, 1925: 388 (in part, not PI. 17 , Fig. 2) . Pseudorhombus arsius:
Norman , 1934: 101' ; Smith, SFSA No. 304* (in part).
D 72-78 ; A 54-60; P 11-13 on eyed side, 11-12 on blind side ; GR (4-8)+
(9-13), pointed , longer than broad; LL67-80. Depth 1.7-2.0, head 3.2-3 .8
in SL. Upper jaw 2.2-2.4 in head . Scales on eyed side ctenoid, scales on
blind side cycloid except those on D & A rays. First D ray inserted over
anterior nostril or interspace between nostrils of blind side. Upper-jaw
teeth small and closely spaced posteriorly, becoming widely spaced and
enlarged anteriorly; teeth of lower jaw large and widely spaced; usually
marked difference in size and spacing of posterior teeth in upper and
lower jaws.
Eyed side with various dark spots and rings; usually large
dark spot at j unction of straight and curved parts of LL and
2 smaller ones on LL at posterior ~ of body and near
anterior end of C peduncle; median fins with scattered dark
861
1934).
Genus Psettina Hubbs, 1915
Six species; 1 in our area.
259.16 Psettina brevirictis
(Alcock, 1890)
Arnoglossus brevirictis Alcock, 1890: 433 (Ganjam coast, NE India) .
Psettina brevirictis: Norman, 1934: 199*.
D 78-85; A 60-67; P 11-13 on eyed side , 10-11 on blind side; GR (3-5)
+(5-8); LL ca. 47-55 . Depth 2.0-2.3 , head 3.4-3.6 in SL; upper jaw 3.4-4.3
in head. Interorbital area a sharp , narrow ridge. Teeth uniserial in both
jaws, somewhat larger on blind side.
Eyed side brownish; dark blotches along dorsal and ventral edges of body which continue onto D & A; 2 or 3 dark
blotches on LL; dark area on P of eyed side; C with broad
dark band. Attains 8 cm (possibly 10 cm). Record from
southern Africa based on small juvenile (35 mm SL) collected off Port St. Johns, Transkei . India, Celebes and possibly Hong Kong and Taiwan. In 37 - 137 m on sand and
shell bottoms.
259.16 Psettina brevirictis: 10 em (after Norman, 1934).
Genus Pseudorhombus Bleeker, 1862
Numerous species; 3 in our area. The reference to
Pseudorhombus arsius by van der Elst (1981: 110) is doubtful, as it is based in part on P. elevatus.
259: BOTHIDAE (LEFTEYE FLOUNDERS)
KEY TO SPECIES
la Lower GR 15-19 (in southern Africa); D
membrane between 1st D ray and snout high,
flap-like ; 1st interhemal spine usually
projecting through body wall immediately
to right side of 1st A ray .... .......... ...... .. .............. .... . P. elevatus
Blind side of head of (A) P. elevatus, (B) P. natalensis, (C) P. arsius showing
high, flap-like membrane between 1st D ray and snout.
1b Lower GR 9-13; D membrane between 1st Dray
and snout low , not flap-like ; 1st interhemal spine,
when projecting through body wall, immediately
before 1st A ray ............ ..... .... ..... ..... ...... .... ... ......... . .. ..... .. . 2
2a LL 51-63 ; teeth of lower jaw small and closely
spaced, 20-31 on blind side of lower jaw (14-19
in specimens less than 4 cm SL) ; maxilla not
extending to middle of lower eye; supratemporal
branch of LL reaching only ~ - 7J of distance
to Dbase .... ... ...... .. .... .. ... ... ... .. .. .... ... ... ....... ,...... P. natalensis
2b LL 67-80; teeth of lower jaw large and usually
widely spaced , 8-18 on blind side of lower jaw;
maxilla extending to below rear ~ of lower eye;
supratemporal branch of LL reaching or nearly
reaching bases of 8th-11th Drays ... .... ....... ... .... ... ..... ... . P. arsius
259.17 Pseudorhombus arsius
(Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822)
PLATE 133
Largetooth flounder
Groottand-botvis
Pleuronectes arsius Hamilton-Buchanan , 1822: 128 (Calcutta) . Pseudorhombus andersoni Gilchrist , 1904: 8, PI. 26 (Durban Harbour; based on
ambicoloured specimen). Pseudorhombus russelli: Regan, 1920: ~08';
Barnard, 1925: 388 (in part, not PI. 17 , Fig. 2) . Pseudorhombus arsius:
Norman , 1934: 101' ; Smith, SFSA No. 304* (in part).
D 72-78 ; A 54-60; P 11-13 on eyed side, 11-12 on blind side ; GR (4-8)+
(9-13), pointed , longer than broad; LL67-80. Depth 1.7-2.0, head 3.2-3 .8
in SL. Upper jaw 2.2-2.4 in head . Scales on eyed side ctenoid, scales on
blind side cycloid except those on D & A rays. First D ray inserted over
anterior nostril or interspace between nostrils of blind side. Upper-jaw
teeth small and closely spaced posteriorly, becoming widely spaced and
enlarged anteriorly; teeth of lower jaw large and widely spaced; usually
marked difference in size and spacing of posterior teeth in upper and
lower jaws.
Eyed side with various dark spots and rings; usually large
dark spot at j unction of straight and curved parts of LL and
2 smaller ones on LL at posterior ~ of body and near
anterior end of C peduncle; median fins with scattered dark
861