262: SOLEIDAE (SOLES)
Common in estuaries; juveniles abundant on shallow sand
banks.
( -
262.13 Solea fulvomarginata
862.11 Pegusa lascaris: 12 cm; blind side of head of 9.5 cm specimen (Gulf of
Guinea).
Genus So/ea Quensel, 1806
D and A mostly separate from C; P small but distinct,
subequal; V subequal, symmetrical, of 5 rays; all fin rays
branched except 2-4 upper and lower rays of C. Anterior
nostril of blind side not enlarged. Body scales ctenoid.
About 6 (?) species, 2 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Body and especially fins yellow; rear nostril
between eyes; A 60-69 .................................. S. Julvomarginata
Ib Body and fins brownish, with darker specks
and spots; rear nostril at front edge of lower
eye; A 46-59 ........................................................ S. bleekeri
Blackhand sole
262.12 Solea bleekeri
Boulenger, 1898
PLATE 134
Swarthand-tongvis
Pegusa impar (non Bennett): Bleeker, 1863: 458. Solea bleekeri
Boulenger, 1898: 2 (Cape of Good Hope; on Pegusa impar of Bleeker,
1863); Smith, SFSA No. 328*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 97*; Wallace, 1975:
14. Solea turbynei Gilchrist, 1904: 10, PI. 28 (Mossel Bay). Solea simonensis von Bonde, 1922: 19, PI. 5, Fig. 1 (Simonstown, False Bay).
D 61-74; A 46-59; P 7-8; C 20; LL 95-105; vertebrae 32-37. Body depth
1.9-2.7 in SL. Anterior right nostril tube reaches rear nostril. Snout
slightly hooked, mouth inferior. Basal ~ of last D and A rays joined by
membrane to C base.
Brown, with darker spots and specks; right P usually
blackish. Attains 17 cm. False Bay to Maputo in 1 - 60 m.
Gilchrist, 1904
PLATE 135
Lemon sole
Suurlemoen-tongvis
Solea Julvomarginata Gilchrist, 1904: 13, PI. 33 (False Bay); Smith,
SFSA No. 329*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 98*.
D 75-81; A 60-69; P 5; C 20; LL 105-110; vertebrae 41-43. Body depth
2.3-2.5 in SL. Mouth almost terminal. Anterior right nostril tube reaches
lower eye. Basal ~ of last D and A rays joined to C base.
Brownish yellow, the yellow more intense on median
fins; body with cloudy dark patches extending more or less
onto bases of D and A. Attains 26 cm. False Bay to Transkei.
Genus Synaptura Cantor, 1849
D and A continuous with C; P well developed; V small,
symmetrical, of 3 or 4 rays. Nostrils of right side fleshy
papillose tubes; rear nostril between front edges of eyes;
anterior nostril of blind side a small thin tube, rear nostril
hidden under edge of fringed flap and opening from side of
papillose stalk. Lower lip of right side with 8 or 9 fingerlike, villose papillae. Body scales on right side markedly
ctenoid, those on left side smooth. About 3 or 4 species, 1 in
our area.
262.14 Synaptura marginata
Boulenger, 1900
PLATE 135
Shallow-water sole
Vlakwater-tongvis
Synaptura marginata Boulenger, 1900: 11, Pis. 2 & 3 (Algoa Bay);
Smith , SFSA No. 324*; Smith & Smith, 1963: 97*. Synaptura ciliata Gilchrist, 1904: 14, PI. 34 (Durban Harbour). Synaptura barnardi Smith,
1931: 148, PI. 16 (Great Fish Point).
D 70-76; A 54-63; P 7-8; C 18; LL 100-124; vertebrae 46.
Dark brown, uniform or with darker specks; edges of D
and A pale; right P blackish. Attains 50 cm. Knysna to
Delagoa Bay, often in quite shallow water; also known from
Japan. During the summer; many of these soles are speared
by people wading in the sea and estuaries.
Genus Synapturichthys Chabanaud, 1927
Anterior nostril of blind side as described in key; that
of right side tubular, almost reaching lower eye; rear nostril
of right side at front edge of lower eye. Last D and A rays
joined by membrane to C base for more than Yz the length of
the rays; P distinct, equally well developed; V equal, symmetrical, of 5 rays; fin rays branched, except upper and lowermost C rays. One (?) species.
873
Common in estuaries; juveniles abundant on shallow sand
banks.
( -
262.13 Solea fulvomarginata
862.11 Pegusa lascaris: 12 cm; blind side of head of 9.5 cm specimen (Gulf of
Guinea).
Genus So/ea Quensel, 1806
D and A mostly separate from C; P small but distinct,
subequal; V subequal, symmetrical, of 5 rays; all fin rays
branched except 2-4 upper and lower rays of C. Anterior
nostril of blind side not enlarged. Body scales ctenoid.
About 6 (?) species, 2 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Body and especially fins yellow; rear nostril
between eyes; A 60-69 .................................. S. Julvomarginata
Ib Body and fins brownish, with darker specks
and spots; rear nostril at front edge of lower
eye; A 46-59 ........................................................ S. bleekeri
Blackhand sole
262.12 Solea bleekeri
Boulenger, 1898
PLATE 134
Swarthand-tongvis
Pegusa impar (non Bennett): Bleeker, 1863: 458. Solea bleekeri
Boulenger, 1898: 2 (Cape of Good Hope; on Pegusa impar of Bleeker,
1863); Smith, SFSA No. 328*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 97*; Wallace, 1975:
14. Solea turbynei Gilchrist, 1904: 10, PI. 28 (Mossel Bay). Solea simonensis von Bonde, 1922: 19, PI. 5, Fig. 1 (Simonstown, False Bay).
D 61-74; A 46-59; P 7-8; C 20; LL 95-105; vertebrae 32-37. Body depth
1.9-2.7 in SL. Anterior right nostril tube reaches rear nostril. Snout
slightly hooked, mouth inferior. Basal ~ of last D and A rays joined by
membrane to C base.
Brown, with darker spots and specks; right P usually
blackish. Attains 17 cm. False Bay to Maputo in 1 - 60 m.
Gilchrist, 1904
PLATE 135
Lemon sole
Suurlemoen-tongvis
Solea Julvomarginata Gilchrist, 1904: 13, PI. 33 (False Bay); Smith,
SFSA No. 329*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 98*.
D 75-81; A 60-69; P 5; C 20; LL 105-110; vertebrae 41-43. Body depth
2.3-2.5 in SL. Mouth almost terminal. Anterior right nostril tube reaches
lower eye. Basal ~ of last D and A rays joined to C base.
Brownish yellow, the yellow more intense on median
fins; body with cloudy dark patches extending more or less
onto bases of D and A. Attains 26 cm. False Bay to Transkei.
Genus Synaptura Cantor, 1849
D and A continuous with C; P well developed; V small,
symmetrical, of 3 or 4 rays. Nostrils of right side fleshy
papillose tubes; rear nostril between front edges of eyes;
anterior nostril of blind side a small thin tube, rear nostril
hidden under edge of fringed flap and opening from side of
papillose stalk. Lower lip of right side with 8 or 9 fingerlike, villose papillae. Body scales on right side markedly
ctenoid, those on left side smooth. About 3 or 4 species, 1 in
our area.
262.14 Synaptura marginata
Boulenger, 1900
PLATE 135
Shallow-water sole
Vlakwater-tongvis
Synaptura marginata Boulenger, 1900: 11, Pis. 2 & 3 (Algoa Bay);
Smith , SFSA No. 324*; Smith & Smith, 1963: 97*. Synaptura ciliata Gilchrist, 1904: 14, PI. 34 (Durban Harbour). Synaptura barnardi Smith,
1931: 148, PI. 16 (Great Fish Point).
D 70-76; A 54-63; P 7-8; C 18; LL 100-124; vertebrae 46.
Dark brown, uniform or with darker specks; edges of D
and A pale; right P blackish. Attains 50 cm. Knysna to
Delagoa Bay, often in quite shallow water; also known from
Japan. During the summer; many of these soles are speared
by people wading in the sea and estuaries.
Genus Synapturichthys Chabanaud, 1927
Anterior nostril of blind side as described in key; that
of right side tubular, almost reaching lower eye; rear nostril
of right side at front edge of lower eye. Last D and A rays
joined by membrane to C base for more than Yz the length of
the rays; P distinct, equally well developed; V equal, symmetrical, of 5 rays; fin rays branched, except upper and lowermost C rays. One (?) species.
873