Cape sole
262.5 Heteromycteris capensis
Kaup, 1858
PIJ\TE 134
Kaapse tongvis
Heteromycteris capensis Kaup, 1858: 103 (locality not given; Cape Province, by inference); Smith, SFSA No. 321; Stauch, 1965: 8; Smith &
Smith, 1966: 99*; Day, Field & Penrith, 1970: 92; Brownell, 1979: 11*.
D 95-102; A 64-75; V 5; LL 80-85; vertebrae 40-43. Body depth 2.5-2.8
in SL. Lips of right side fringed .
Pale greyish brown, with dark specks; 3 vague dark spots
along LL. Attains 15 cm . Common in shallow water (1 - 25
m); juveniles abundant in sandy estuaries, easily found by
sifting sand under water at low tide. Known only from Walvis Bay to Maputo.
Genus Monochirus Rafinesque, 1814
D and A separate from C; right P well developed, left
smaller or absent. V small, equal, symmetrical, of 4 or 5
rays; all fin rays branched, except for outer C rays. Anterior
nostril tube of right side reaches lower eye. Three species, 2
in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la No white-edged black ocelli on body; D 71-78 ..... .. ... ... .. M.luteus
Ib Body with 4 white-edged black ocelli; D 62-70 ........... M.ocellatus
Yellow sole
262.6 Monochirus luteus
(Risso, 1810)
Geel tongvis
Pleuronectes luteus Risso, 1810: 312 (Nice, France). Buglossidium
luteum: Torchio, 1973: 631; Lioris, 1982: 14.
D 71-78; A 55-63; right P 3-5; C 18; LL 60-70; vertebrae 36-40.
Pale brownish yellow, sometimes speckled with small
grey or brown spots; D and A with every 5th or 6th ray
black; P also blackish. Attains 10 cm. A common sole of the
eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean in depths of 10 - 80 m;
extends south to Namibia.
262.6 Monochirus luteus: (after Rey, 1960).
Foureye sole
262: SOLEIDAE (SOLES)
262.7 Monochirus ocellatus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
PIJ\TE 134
Vieroog-tongvis
Pleuronectes ocellatus Linnaeus, 1758: 269 ("Surinami" (erroneous)).
Solea quadriocellata von Bonde, 1922: 20, PI. 2, Fig. 2 (off Umhloti R.,
Natal; 60 m). Monochirus quadriocellatus: Smith, SFSA No. 330*.
D 62-70; A 48-57; P 7-8; V 5; LL 70-75; vertebrae 37-38. Body depth
2.0-2.2 in SL.
Greyish, median fins darker; 2 pairs of round, whiteedged, black ocelli on rear part of body; white-edged, black
band across peduncle; black blotch on LL behind tip of P
and a few faint dark spots on front part of body. Attains 15
cm. Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean to Gulf of Guinea
in depths of 30 - 300 m; in our area, known only from Natal.
Rare.
262.7 Monchirus ocellatus: (after Rey, 1960).
Genus Parachirus Matsubara & Ochiai, 1963
Anterior nostril tube of right side reaches lower eye.
Body scales ctenoid. P absent; D and A not joined to C; V 5;
all fin rays branched except 1 or 2 upper and lowermost C
rays.
262.8 Parachirus xenicus
Matsubara & Ochiai, 1963
PIJ\TE 135
Dwarf sole
Dwerg-tongvis
Parachirus xenicus Matsubara & Ochiai, 1963: 94, Figs. 6-8 (Amami
Id., Japan); Clark & George, 1979: 107*.
D 67-74; A 45-51; C 18; LL 53-64; vertebrae 33-37. Body depth 2.3-2.5
in SL.
262.8 Parachirus xenicus: 7.5 em (after Oehiai. 1963).
871
262.5 Heteromycteris capensis
Kaup, 1858
PIJ\TE 134
Kaapse tongvis
Heteromycteris capensis Kaup, 1858: 103 (locality not given; Cape Province, by inference); Smith, SFSA No. 321; Stauch, 1965: 8; Smith &
Smith, 1966: 99*; Day, Field & Penrith, 1970: 92; Brownell, 1979: 11*.
D 95-102; A 64-75; V 5; LL 80-85; vertebrae 40-43. Body depth 2.5-2.8
in SL. Lips of right side fringed .
Pale greyish brown, with dark specks; 3 vague dark spots
along LL. Attains 15 cm . Common in shallow water (1 - 25
m); juveniles abundant in sandy estuaries, easily found by
sifting sand under water at low tide. Known only from Walvis Bay to Maputo.
Genus Monochirus Rafinesque, 1814
D and A separate from C; right P well developed, left
smaller or absent. V small, equal, symmetrical, of 4 or 5
rays; all fin rays branched, except for outer C rays. Anterior
nostril tube of right side reaches lower eye. Three species, 2
in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la No white-edged black ocelli on body; D 71-78 ..... .. ... ... .. M.luteus
Ib Body with 4 white-edged black ocelli; D 62-70 ........... M.ocellatus
Yellow sole
262.6 Monochirus luteus
(Risso, 1810)
Geel tongvis
Pleuronectes luteus Risso, 1810: 312 (Nice, France). Buglossidium
luteum: Torchio, 1973: 631; Lioris, 1982: 14.
D 71-78; A 55-63; right P 3-5; C 18; LL 60-70; vertebrae 36-40.
Pale brownish yellow, sometimes speckled with small
grey or brown spots; D and A with every 5th or 6th ray
black; P also blackish. Attains 10 cm. A common sole of the
eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean in depths of 10 - 80 m;
extends south to Namibia.
262.6 Monochirus luteus: (after Rey, 1960).
Foureye sole
262: SOLEIDAE (SOLES)
262.7 Monochirus ocellatus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
PIJ\TE 134
Vieroog-tongvis
Pleuronectes ocellatus Linnaeus, 1758: 269 ("Surinami" (erroneous)).
Solea quadriocellata von Bonde, 1922: 20, PI. 2, Fig. 2 (off Umhloti R.,
Natal; 60 m). Monochirus quadriocellatus: Smith, SFSA No. 330*.
D 62-70; A 48-57; P 7-8; V 5; LL 70-75; vertebrae 37-38. Body depth
2.0-2.2 in SL.
Greyish, median fins darker; 2 pairs of round, whiteedged, black ocelli on rear part of body; white-edged, black
band across peduncle; black blotch on LL behind tip of P
and a few faint dark spots on front part of body. Attains 15
cm. Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean to Gulf of Guinea
in depths of 30 - 300 m; in our area, known only from Natal.
Rare.
262.7 Monchirus ocellatus: (after Rey, 1960).
Genus Parachirus Matsubara & Ochiai, 1963
Anterior nostril tube of right side reaches lower eye.
Body scales ctenoid. P absent; D and A not joined to C; V 5;
all fin rays branched except 1 or 2 upper and lowermost C
rays.
262.8 Parachirus xenicus
Matsubara & Ochiai, 1963
PIJ\TE 135
Dwarf sole
Dwerg-tongvis
Parachirus xenicus Matsubara & Ochiai, 1963: 94, Figs. 6-8 (Amami
Id., Japan); Clark & George, 1979: 107*.
D 67-74; A 45-51; C 18; LL 53-64; vertebrae 33-37. Body depth 2.3-2.5
in SL.
262.8 Parachirus xenicus: 7.5 em (after Oehiai. 1963).
871