264: MONACANTHIDAE (FILEFISHES)
Genus Cantherhines Swainson, 1839
First D spine origin over front ~ of eye, received into a
deep groove when depressed. Nine species; 3 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Prays 15 (rarely 14); 2 pairs of spines on each
side of C peduncle, small and difficult to detect
in juvenile and adult female, enlarged and recurved
in adult male ...................................................... C. dumerilii
Ib Prays 12-13 (rarely 14); no spines on peduncle ........................ 2
2a C 1.6-2.0 times longer than least depth of peduncle;
no prominent dark bars joining eyes across
in adult male ...................................................... C. dumerilli
2b C 2.2-2.4 times longer than least depth of peduncle;
2 dark bars join eyes across interorbital region ....... C. jronticinctus
264.4 Cantherhines dumerilii
(Hollard, 1854)
PUl.TE 138
White-spotted filefish
Witkolle-vylvis
Monacanthlls dllmerilii Hollard, 1854: 361 (Mauritius). Cantherhines
dllmerili: Randall, 1964: 339*; Smith, 1975: 8l.
011+34-39; A 28-35; P 15 (rarely 14).
Greyish brown to yellowish brown in colour, with about
12 faint vertical dark brown bars on rear )J of body; lips
whitish. Peduncle spines of adult male orange; soft D, A
and P pale yellowish; C orange with dusky rays. Juveniles
and subadults with white spots on head and body. Attains
35 cm. Tropical Indo-Pacific, south to Algoa Bay.
264.4 Cantherhines dumerilii: 19.5 em SL (Algoa Bay).
264.5 Cantherhines fronticinctus
(Gunther, 1867)
PUl.TE 138
Spectacled filefish
Bril-vylvis
Monacanthus jronticinctus Gunther, in Playfair & Gunther, 1867: 136,
PI. 19, Fig. 2 (Zanzibar). Amanses jronticinctus: Smith, SFSA No. 1145*.
Cantherhines jronticinctlls: Randall, 1964: 348*; Hutchins & Randall.
1982: l76*.
011+33-35; A 31-32; P 12-14.
884
Colour yellowish brown with 5 longitudinal darker bands
on side of body, each band enclosing an obscure row of dark
brown spots; usually a thin blue line surrounds eye; broad
white to yellowish band encircles anterior )J of peduncle.
Soft D, A and P rays pale brown; C yellowish brown, with
broad dark brown band along rear margin. Attains 23 cm.
Tropical Indo-West Pacific, south to Durban.
264.6 Cantherhines pardalis
(Ruppell, 1837)
PUl.TE 138
Honeycomb filefish
Heuningkoek-vylvis
Manacanthus pardalis Ruppell, 1837: 57, PI. 15, Fig. 3 (Red Sea).
Monacanthus natalensis Gilchrist & Thompson. 1911: 48 (Natal).
Hanomanctus bovinus Smith, SFSA No. 1143* (East London, South
Africa). Amanses sandwichiensis (non Ouoy & Gaimard): Smith, SFSA
No. 1144*. Cantherines pardalis: Randall, 1964: 355*. Amanses pardalis:
Smith, 1975: 14.
011+32-36; A 29-32; P 12-14.
Usually pale green to blue reticulations on side producing
a wire-netting or honeycomb appearance; alternating blue
(or green) and brown lines running from eye and gill slit to
mouth; usually a blue ring encircles eye. Silver patch usually
present at rear base of soft D and A. Attains 20 cm. Tropical/subtropical Indo-West Pacific, south to Mossel Bay.
264.6 Cantherhines pardalis: 5 em juvenile (Transkei).
Genus Oxymonacanthus Bleeker, 1866
Two species; 1 in our area.
264.7 Oxymonacanthus /ongirostris
(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
PUl.TE 138
Harlequin filefish
Harlekyn-vylvis
Batistes longirostris Bloch & Schneider, 1801: 464 (East Indies).
Oxymonacanthus /ongirostris: Smith, 1957: 399; 1961: 572, No. 1145b.
011+32-35; A 29-32; P 11-12; V rudiment absent; ventral flap small.
Genus Cantherhines Swainson, 1839
First D spine origin over front ~ of eye, received into a
deep groove when depressed. Nine species; 3 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Prays 15 (rarely 14); 2 pairs of spines on each
side of C peduncle, small and difficult to detect
in juvenile and adult female, enlarged and recurved
in adult male ...................................................... C. dumerilii
Ib Prays 12-13 (rarely 14); no spines on peduncle ........................ 2
2a C 1.6-2.0 times longer than least depth of peduncle;
no prominent dark bars joining eyes across
in adult male ...................................................... C. dumerilli
2b C 2.2-2.4 times longer than least depth of peduncle;
2 dark bars join eyes across interorbital region ....... C. jronticinctus
264.4 Cantherhines dumerilii
(Hollard, 1854)
PUl.TE 138
White-spotted filefish
Witkolle-vylvis
Monacanthlls dllmerilii Hollard, 1854: 361 (Mauritius). Cantherhines
dllmerili: Randall, 1964: 339*; Smith, 1975: 8l.
011+34-39; A 28-35; P 15 (rarely 14).
Greyish brown to yellowish brown in colour, with about
12 faint vertical dark brown bars on rear )J of body; lips
whitish. Peduncle spines of adult male orange; soft D, A
and P pale yellowish; C orange with dusky rays. Juveniles
and subadults with white spots on head and body. Attains
35 cm. Tropical Indo-Pacific, south to Algoa Bay.
264.4 Cantherhines dumerilii: 19.5 em SL (Algoa Bay).
264.5 Cantherhines fronticinctus
(Gunther, 1867)
PUl.TE 138
Spectacled filefish
Bril-vylvis
Monacanthus jronticinctus Gunther, in Playfair & Gunther, 1867: 136,
PI. 19, Fig. 2 (Zanzibar). Amanses jronticinctus: Smith, SFSA No. 1145*.
Cantherhines jronticinctlls: Randall, 1964: 348*; Hutchins & Randall.
1982: l76*.
011+33-35; A 31-32; P 12-14.
884
Colour yellowish brown with 5 longitudinal darker bands
on side of body, each band enclosing an obscure row of dark
brown spots; usually a thin blue line surrounds eye; broad
white to yellowish band encircles anterior )J of peduncle.
Soft D, A and P rays pale brown; C yellowish brown, with
broad dark brown band along rear margin. Attains 23 cm.
Tropical Indo-West Pacific, south to Durban.
264.6 Cantherhines pardalis
(Ruppell, 1837)
PUl.TE 138
Honeycomb filefish
Heuningkoek-vylvis
Manacanthus pardalis Ruppell, 1837: 57, PI. 15, Fig. 3 (Red Sea).
Monacanthus natalensis Gilchrist & Thompson. 1911: 48 (Natal).
Hanomanctus bovinus Smith, SFSA No. 1143* (East London, South
Africa). Amanses sandwichiensis (non Ouoy & Gaimard): Smith, SFSA
No. 1144*. Cantherines pardalis: Randall, 1964: 355*. Amanses pardalis:
Smith, 1975: 14.
011+32-36; A 29-32; P 12-14.
Usually pale green to blue reticulations on side producing
a wire-netting or honeycomb appearance; alternating blue
(or green) and brown lines running from eye and gill slit to
mouth; usually a blue ring encircles eye. Silver patch usually
present at rear base of soft D and A. Attains 20 cm. Tropical/subtropical Indo-West Pacific, south to Mossel Bay.
264.6 Cantherhines pardalis: 5 em juvenile (Transkei).
Genus Oxymonacanthus Bleeker, 1866
Two species; 1 in our area.
264.7 Oxymonacanthus /ongirostris
(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
PUl.TE 138
Harlequin filefish
Harlekyn-vylvis
Batistes longirostris Bloch & Schneider, 1801: 464 (East Indies).
Oxymonacanthus /ongirostris: Smith, 1957: 399; 1961: 572, No. 1145b.
011+32-35; A 29-32; P 11-12; V rudiment absent; ventral flap small.