264: MONACANTHIDAE (FILEFISHES)
Genus PervagorWhitley, 1930
Four species; 1 in our area.
264.11 Pervagor melanocephalus
(Bleeker, 1853)
PLATE 138
Redtail filefish
Rooistert-vylvis
Monacanthus melanocephalus Bleeker, 1853: 95 (Solor, Indonesia).
Pervagor melanocephalus: Smith, 1957: 399; SFSA No. 1137*.
l'ervagor scanleni Smith, 1957: 221, Fig. 3 (Port Alfred); 1961: 572, No.
1137a* .
o II + 29-33; A 26-30; P 11-13. First 0 spine origin over centre or front
Y2 of eye; a row of large laterally-directed barbs along each lateral edge;
shallow groove for receiving 1st 0 spine.
Ground colour greenish, brownish or dark yellowish
brown; generally many series of narrow dark irregular lines
along side; usually a blackish blotch surrounds gill opening,
extending dorsally to behind eye; bright blue lines and spots
on ventral flap. Soft D and A with longitudinal rows of
irregular orange and blue lines; C orange to red with rows of
small yellow spots on membranes, the rear margin with
irregular rows of blue spots and lines. Attains 16 cm. Tropical Indo-West Pacific; juveniles reach Algoa Bay.
I
264.11 Pervagor me/anocepha/us: 5 em juvenile, holotype of P. scan/eni (Port
Alfred).
Genus Pseudalutarius Bleeker, 1865
Only 1 known species.
264.12 Pseudalutarius nasicornis
(T emminck & Schlegel, 1850)
Rhino leatherjacket
Renoster-Ieerbaadjie
Ailitera nasicornis Temminck & Schlegel, 1850: 293, PI. 131, Fig. 2
(Japan). Pselidailitarilis nasicornis: Smith, 1947: 818; SFSA No. IlS4*.
011 +43-50; A 41-46; P II. First 0 spine very slender, origin anterior to
eye. V rudiment absent. Body slender in juveniles, deep in adults.
Ground colour pale brown to grey; 2 brown stripes on
body, I st from base of 1st D spine to rear of soft D, 2nd from
886
mouth through eye to peduncle; adults with closely-set yellow spots on head and body. Soft D and A pale yellow; C
dark brown. Attains 18 cm. Tropical/subtropical Indo-West
Pacific; has been found at Port Alfred, East London and
Bazaruto.
264.12 Pseuda/utarius nasicornis: 4.5 em (Natal).
Genus Stephanolepis Gill, 1861
Eight species; 1 in our area.
Porky
264.13 Stephanolepis auratus
(Castelnau, 1861)
PLATES 138 & 140
Otjie
Monacanthus aura/us Castelnau, 1861: 77 (South Africa). Stephanolepis rectifrons Fraser-Brunner, 1940: 53l, Fig. 6 (Delagoa Bay); Barnard,
1948: 400; Smith, SFSA No. 1141 *. S/ephanolepis aura/LIs: Fraser-Brunner,
1940: 532; Barnard, 1948: 400; Smith, SFSA No. 1140*.
011+28-34; A 30-34; P 13-14. First 0 spine origin over rear ~ of eye,
with a row of moderate-sized, posteriorly directed barbs along each posterolateral edge; no groove for receiving 1st 0 spine.
Ground colour greenish grey, with scattered irregular
dark blotches on side of body; broad dark band joins front
margins of eyes across interorbital; a 2nd narrower band
crosses interorbital at base of 1st D spine. Soft D, A and P
pale; C with 2 dark curved cross bars. Attains 28 cm. Known
only from Knysna to Zanzibar.
Genus Thamnaconus Smith, 1949
First D spine with a row of laterally-directed barbs along
each lateral edge; its origin over centre or front ~ of eye;
shallow groove for receiving D spine when depressed. Ten
species; 3 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Soft 0 rays 36-38; A rays 35-36; body uniform pale
greyish brown to purplish brown ......................... T. modes/aides
Ib Soft 0 rays 31-34; A rays 30-33; body spotted .......................... 2
2a Head and body covered with moderate-sized dark
brown spots, those on body tending to form
longitudinal rows along sides (upper 2 series
generally represented by elongate blotches);
anus contained in a large brown blotch; head
length 2.9-3.1 in SL ............................................... T. fajardoi
2b Head and body covered with closely-set small
brown spots; dark brown ring around anus;
head length 3.2-3.4 in SL ............................. ... ...... T. arel/(/CfllS
Genus PervagorWhitley, 1930
Four species; 1 in our area.
264.11 Pervagor melanocephalus
(Bleeker, 1853)
PLATE 138
Redtail filefish
Rooistert-vylvis
Monacanthus melanocephalus Bleeker, 1853: 95 (Solor, Indonesia).
Pervagor melanocephalus: Smith, 1957: 399; SFSA No. 1137*.
l'ervagor scanleni Smith, 1957: 221, Fig. 3 (Port Alfred); 1961: 572, No.
1137a* .
o II + 29-33; A 26-30; P 11-13. First 0 spine origin over centre or front
Y2 of eye; a row of large laterally-directed barbs along each lateral edge;
shallow groove for receiving 1st 0 spine.
Ground colour greenish, brownish or dark yellowish
brown; generally many series of narrow dark irregular lines
along side; usually a blackish blotch surrounds gill opening,
extending dorsally to behind eye; bright blue lines and spots
on ventral flap. Soft D and A with longitudinal rows of
irregular orange and blue lines; C orange to red with rows of
small yellow spots on membranes, the rear margin with
irregular rows of blue spots and lines. Attains 16 cm. Tropical Indo-West Pacific; juveniles reach Algoa Bay.
I
264.11 Pervagor me/anocepha/us: 5 em juvenile, holotype of P. scan/eni (Port
Alfred).
Genus Pseudalutarius Bleeker, 1865
Only 1 known species.
264.12 Pseudalutarius nasicornis
(T emminck & Schlegel, 1850)
Rhino leatherjacket
Renoster-Ieerbaadjie
Ailitera nasicornis Temminck & Schlegel, 1850: 293, PI. 131, Fig. 2
(Japan). Pselidailitarilis nasicornis: Smith, 1947: 818; SFSA No. IlS4*.
011 +43-50; A 41-46; P II. First 0 spine very slender, origin anterior to
eye. V rudiment absent. Body slender in juveniles, deep in adults.
Ground colour pale brown to grey; 2 brown stripes on
body, I st from base of 1st D spine to rear of soft D, 2nd from
886
mouth through eye to peduncle; adults with closely-set yellow spots on head and body. Soft D and A pale yellow; C
dark brown. Attains 18 cm. Tropical/subtropical Indo-West
Pacific; has been found at Port Alfred, East London and
Bazaruto.
264.12 Pseuda/utarius nasicornis: 4.5 em (Natal).
Genus Stephanolepis Gill, 1861
Eight species; 1 in our area.
Porky
264.13 Stephanolepis auratus
(Castelnau, 1861)
PLATES 138 & 140
Otjie
Monacanthus aura/us Castelnau, 1861: 77 (South Africa). Stephanolepis rectifrons Fraser-Brunner, 1940: 53l, Fig. 6 (Delagoa Bay); Barnard,
1948: 400; Smith, SFSA No. 1141 *. S/ephanolepis aura/LIs: Fraser-Brunner,
1940: 532; Barnard, 1948: 400; Smith, SFSA No. 1140*.
011+28-34; A 30-34; P 13-14. First 0 spine origin over rear ~ of eye,
with a row of moderate-sized, posteriorly directed barbs along each posterolateral edge; no groove for receiving 1st 0 spine.
Ground colour greenish grey, with scattered irregular
dark blotches on side of body; broad dark band joins front
margins of eyes across interorbital; a 2nd narrower band
crosses interorbital at base of 1st D spine. Soft D, A and P
pale; C with 2 dark curved cross bars. Attains 28 cm. Known
only from Knysna to Zanzibar.
Genus Thamnaconus Smith, 1949
First D spine with a row of laterally-directed barbs along
each lateral edge; its origin over centre or front ~ of eye;
shallow groove for receiving D spine when depressed. Ten
species; 3 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Soft 0 rays 36-38; A rays 35-36; body uniform pale
greyish brown to purplish brown ......................... T. modes/aides
Ib Soft 0 rays 31-34; A rays 30-33; body spotted .......................... 2
2a Head and body covered with moderate-sized dark
brown spots, those on body tending to form
longitudinal rows along sides (upper 2 series
generally represented by elongate blotches);
anus contained in a large brown blotch; head
length 2.9-3.1 in SL ............................................... T. fajardoi
2b Head and body covered with closely-set small
brown spots; dark brown ring around anus;
head length 3.2-3.4 in SL ............................. ... ...... T. arel/(/CfllS