264.14 Thamnaconus arenaceus
(Barnard, 1927)
Sandy filefish
Sand-vylvis
Cantherhines arenaceus Barnard, 1927: 78 (South African seas, probably Natal). Thamnaconus arenaceus: Smith, SFSA No. 1146*.
011+31-32; A 30-31; P 13. First 0 spine with a row of small laterallydirected barbs along each lateral edge.
Life colours unknown; after preservation, head and body
brown, covered with closely-set darker spots; dark brown
ring around anus; soft D, A and P pale ; C dusky. Attains 23
cm. Known only from 3 specimens, 1 possibly from Natal
and 2 from Madagascar.
264.14 Thamnaconus arenaceus: 22.5 em (Natal).
264.14 Thamnaconus fajardoi
Smith,1953
PLATE 140
Spotted filefish
Gekolde vylvis
Thamnaconus fajardoi Smith, 1953: 19, Fig. 2 (southern part of
Mozambique Channel); 1953: 522, No. 1147a*.
011+32-34; A 31-33; P 12-13. First 0 spine with a row of moderate to
large laterally-directed barbs along each lateral edge, and distal half of
spine with 2 rows of slightly smaller spines along front of spine.
Ground colour pale brown , 2 dark bars across forehead,
the 1st V-shaped, its apex pointing down the mid-line of
snout, the other V-shaped. Attains 22 cm. Known from
Mauritius, Madagascar and southern Mozambique channel
at depths from 130 to 150 m.
264.15 Thamnaconus fajardoi: 15 em holotype (Mozambique channel).
265: TRIACANTHODIDAE (SPIKEFISHES)
264.16 Thamnaconus modestoides
(Barnard, 1927)
PLATE 139
Modest filefish
Skaam vylvis
Cantherhines modestoides Barnard, 1927: 78 (Algoa Bay) . Thamnaconus modestoides: Smith , SFSA No. 1147*. Navodon modestus (non
Gunther): Fowler, 1934: 510; Smith , SFSA No. 1149 (not figure) .
o II + 36-38; A 35-36; (specimens from other Indian Ocean localities
generally with fewer 0 & A rays); P 12-14. First 0 spine with a row of
small to moderate laterally-directed barbs along each lateral edge.
Head and body plain greyish brown to purplish brown;
spinous D membrane lemon yellow in males, greyish in
females, membranes of other fins pale blue and rays brownish. Attains 30 cm. Indian Ocean south to Algoa Bay; also
northwestern Australia and Japan. Prefers depths of 100 -
170m.
264.16 Thamnaconus modestoides: 21.5 em (Algoa Bay).
Family No. 265: TRIACANTHODIDAE
by J.e. Tyler
Spikefishes
Spykervisse
Body deep and laterally compressed; snout short to
elongate and tubular. Scales small with upright spiny processes giving a rough or shagreen-like quality to the skin.
Six dorsal fin spines, decreasing in size posteriorly, the first
2 well developed but posterior spines sometimes rudimentary and barely visible (especially in long-snouted genera).
Dorsal fin rays 12-18. Anal fin without spines, 11-16 rays.
Pelvic fin with a prominent spine and 1 or 2 smaller rays.
Dorsal and pelvic spines with locking mechanisms, often
erected at right angles to body and difficult to fold down .
Caudal fin rounded to truncate, 12 rays. Mouth small, with
relatively few conical to truncate teeth, sometimes inconspicuous or absent altogether in one jaw. Gill opening a
short slit in front of pectoral fin base. Two small nostrils in a
scaleless area in front of eye. Lateral line inconspicuous.
Moderate-sized fishes (less than 25 cm) found near the
bottom in depths of 46 - 600 m or greater; one Indian Ocean
species bathypelagic as juveniles and young adults before
becoming benthic. Twenty species in 11 genera in all 3
major oceans; 12 species of 8 genera in western Indian
Ocean; only 4 species in 4 genera recorded from our area.
887
(Barnard, 1927)
Sandy filefish
Sand-vylvis
Cantherhines arenaceus Barnard, 1927: 78 (South African seas, probably Natal). Thamnaconus arenaceus: Smith, SFSA No. 1146*.
011+31-32; A 30-31; P 13. First 0 spine with a row of small laterallydirected barbs along each lateral edge.
Life colours unknown; after preservation, head and body
brown, covered with closely-set darker spots; dark brown
ring around anus; soft D, A and P pale ; C dusky. Attains 23
cm. Known only from 3 specimens, 1 possibly from Natal
and 2 from Madagascar.
264.14 Thamnaconus arenaceus: 22.5 em (Natal).
264.14 Thamnaconus fajardoi
Smith,1953
PLATE 140
Spotted filefish
Gekolde vylvis
Thamnaconus fajardoi Smith, 1953: 19, Fig. 2 (southern part of
Mozambique Channel); 1953: 522, No. 1147a*.
011+32-34; A 31-33; P 12-13. First 0 spine with a row of moderate to
large laterally-directed barbs along each lateral edge, and distal half of
spine with 2 rows of slightly smaller spines along front of spine.
Ground colour pale brown , 2 dark bars across forehead,
the 1st V-shaped, its apex pointing down the mid-line of
snout, the other V-shaped. Attains 22 cm. Known from
Mauritius, Madagascar and southern Mozambique channel
at depths from 130 to 150 m.
264.15 Thamnaconus fajardoi: 15 em holotype (Mozambique channel).
265: TRIACANTHODIDAE (SPIKEFISHES)
264.16 Thamnaconus modestoides
(Barnard, 1927)
PLATE 139
Modest filefish
Skaam vylvis
Cantherhines modestoides Barnard, 1927: 78 (Algoa Bay) . Thamnaconus modestoides: Smith , SFSA No. 1147*. Navodon modestus (non
Gunther): Fowler, 1934: 510; Smith , SFSA No. 1149 (not figure) .
o II + 36-38; A 35-36; (specimens from other Indian Ocean localities
generally with fewer 0 & A rays); P 12-14. First 0 spine with a row of
small to moderate laterally-directed barbs along each lateral edge.
Head and body plain greyish brown to purplish brown;
spinous D membrane lemon yellow in males, greyish in
females, membranes of other fins pale blue and rays brownish. Attains 30 cm. Indian Ocean south to Algoa Bay; also
northwestern Australia and Japan. Prefers depths of 100 -
170m.
264.16 Thamnaconus modestoides: 21.5 em (Algoa Bay).
Family No. 265: TRIACANTHODIDAE
by J.e. Tyler
Spikefishes
Spykervisse
Body deep and laterally compressed; snout short to
elongate and tubular. Scales small with upright spiny processes giving a rough or shagreen-like quality to the skin.
Six dorsal fin spines, decreasing in size posteriorly, the first
2 well developed but posterior spines sometimes rudimentary and barely visible (especially in long-snouted genera).
Dorsal fin rays 12-18. Anal fin without spines, 11-16 rays.
Pelvic fin with a prominent spine and 1 or 2 smaller rays.
Dorsal and pelvic spines with locking mechanisms, often
erected at right angles to body and difficult to fold down .
Caudal fin rounded to truncate, 12 rays. Mouth small, with
relatively few conical to truncate teeth, sometimes inconspicuous or absent altogether in one jaw. Gill opening a
short slit in front of pectoral fin base. Two small nostrils in a
scaleless area in front of eye. Lateral line inconspicuous.
Moderate-sized fishes (less than 25 cm) found near the
bottom in depths of 46 - 600 m or greater; one Indian Ocean
species bathypelagic as juveniles and young adults before
becoming benthic. Twenty species in 11 genera in all 3
major oceans; 12 species of 8 genera in western Indian
Ocean; only 4 species in 4 genera recorded from our area.
887