260: PLEURONECTIDAE (RIGHTEYE FLOUNDERS)
260.2 Paralichthodes algoensis
Gilchrist, 1902
PLATE 133
Measles flounder
Masels-botvis
Paralichthodes algoensis Gilchrist, 1902: 108 , PI. 8 (Algoa Bay); Norman, 1934: 398* ; Smith, SFSA No. 302*.
D 67-74; A 47-54; P 12-13 on eyed side , 11 on blind side; V 6; GR
(8-9)+(19-21); LL 110-125; vertebrae 10+ 21. Depth 2.3-2.5, head 3.8-4.5
in SL. Large opening between left and right gill chambers. Scales cycloid
on both sides of body.
Eyed side brownish grey with small dark spots; blind side
white. Attains 50 cm. Known only from Mossel Bay to
Delagoa Bay in 1 - 100 m.
260.2 Paralichthodes algoensis: 19 em SL; head of same specimen (Natal).
Genus Poecilopsetta Gunther, 1880
Several species, 1 in our area.
260.3 Poeci/opsetta natalensis
Norman, 1931
Poecilopsetta natalensis Norman , 1931 : 426 (off Natal, 188 fms); Norman, 1934: 393*; Smith, SFSA No. 301*; Chen & Weng, 1965: 16* .
D 60-62; A 51-54; P 10 (9 on blind side); LL about 70; GR 7+ 11. Depth
260.3 Poecilopsetta natalensis: 14.5 em holotype (Natal; after Norman, 1934).
864
2.5-2.6 in SL; eye 2.3-2.5 in head. Scales deciduous , weakly ctenoid on
ocular side , cycloid on blind side. Teeth in narrow bands.
Prejuvenile stage with dorsal and ventral Y3 of body transparent and prominent black spots on both sides of body.
Metamorphosis to adult stage at 7-8 cm SL; ocular side of
body greyish brown; D, A and P dusky to black; 2 dark
blotches on C; blind side of body pale with dusky spots.
Attains 15 cm. Natal to Kenya in 250 - 450 m; also reported
from Taiwan.
Genus Samaris Gray, 1831
Five species, 1 in our area.
260.4 Samaris cristatus
Gray, 1831
PLATE 133
Crested flounder
Kuif-botvis
Samaris cristatus Gray , 1831: 5 (China); Norman, 1934: 403* ; Smith,
SFSA No. 303*. Samaris ornatus von Bonde , 1922: 13 , PI. 6 (Natal , 33
fms) ; Norman , 1934: 404*. Samaris delagoensis von Bonde , 1925: 289
(Delagoa Bay).
D 80-86; A 54-57; LL 80-94; P 4; GR rudimentary. LL and P of blind
side rudimentary or absent. Depth 2.5-2.9 in SL; eye 3.0-4.4 in head;
upper-jaw length 2.7-3.4 in head. Fold of skin from base of 1st Dray
across blind side of head to rear end of lower jaw. No nasal organ on blind
side. Prominent indentation in head profile before upper eye. Last 4 or 5
D and A rays smaller and closer together than preceding rays and covered
by a fold of skin on ocular side .
Body brownish with 5 dark blotches along upper and 4
along lower edge; D and A dusky; P blackish. Attains 17 cm.
From Natal to the Red Sea to China and Taiwan . Specimens
from southern Africa have slightly more D and A rays and
LL scales than reported for specimens from eastern Indian
Ocean and western Pacific region.
./J)~
260.4 Samaris cristatus: 12 em SL; head of same specimen (S. Mozambique).
260.2 Paralichthodes algoensis
Gilchrist, 1902
PLATE 133
Measles flounder
Masels-botvis
Paralichthodes algoensis Gilchrist, 1902: 108 , PI. 8 (Algoa Bay); Norman, 1934: 398* ; Smith, SFSA No. 302*.
D 67-74; A 47-54; P 12-13 on eyed side , 11 on blind side; V 6; GR
(8-9)+(19-21); LL 110-125; vertebrae 10+ 21. Depth 2.3-2.5, head 3.8-4.5
in SL. Large opening between left and right gill chambers. Scales cycloid
on both sides of body.
Eyed side brownish grey with small dark spots; blind side
white. Attains 50 cm. Known only from Mossel Bay to
Delagoa Bay in 1 - 100 m.
260.2 Paralichthodes algoensis: 19 em SL; head of same specimen (Natal).
Genus Poecilopsetta Gunther, 1880
Several species, 1 in our area.
260.3 Poeci/opsetta natalensis
Norman, 1931
Poecilopsetta natalensis Norman , 1931 : 426 (off Natal, 188 fms); Norman, 1934: 393*; Smith, SFSA No. 301*; Chen & Weng, 1965: 16* .
D 60-62; A 51-54; P 10 (9 on blind side); LL about 70; GR 7+ 11. Depth
260.3 Poecilopsetta natalensis: 14.5 em holotype (Natal; after Norman, 1934).
864
2.5-2.6 in SL; eye 2.3-2.5 in head. Scales deciduous , weakly ctenoid on
ocular side , cycloid on blind side. Teeth in narrow bands.
Prejuvenile stage with dorsal and ventral Y3 of body transparent and prominent black spots on both sides of body.
Metamorphosis to adult stage at 7-8 cm SL; ocular side of
body greyish brown; D, A and P dusky to black; 2 dark
blotches on C; blind side of body pale with dusky spots.
Attains 15 cm. Natal to Kenya in 250 - 450 m; also reported
from Taiwan.
Genus Samaris Gray, 1831
Five species, 1 in our area.
260.4 Samaris cristatus
Gray, 1831
PLATE 133
Crested flounder
Kuif-botvis
Samaris cristatus Gray , 1831: 5 (China); Norman, 1934: 403* ; Smith,
SFSA No. 303*. Samaris ornatus von Bonde , 1922: 13 , PI. 6 (Natal , 33
fms) ; Norman , 1934: 404*. Samaris delagoensis von Bonde , 1925: 289
(Delagoa Bay).
D 80-86; A 54-57; LL 80-94; P 4; GR rudimentary. LL and P of blind
side rudimentary or absent. Depth 2.5-2.9 in SL; eye 3.0-4.4 in head;
upper-jaw length 2.7-3.4 in head. Fold of skin from base of 1st Dray
across blind side of head to rear end of lower jaw. No nasal organ on blind
side. Prominent indentation in head profile before upper eye. Last 4 or 5
D and A rays smaller and closer together than preceding rays and covered
by a fold of skin on ocular side .
Body brownish with 5 dark blotches along upper and 4
along lower edge; D and A dusky; P blackish. Attains 17 cm.
From Natal to the Red Sea to China and Taiwan . Specimens
from southern Africa have slightly more D and A rays and
LL scales than reported for specimens from eastern Indian
Ocean and western Pacific region.
./J)~
260.4 Samaris cristatus: 12 em SL; head of same specimen (S. Mozambique).