4a Snout normal, not projecting; back gently convex;
lateral and pelvic ridges rounded ............................... Ostracion
o
Ostracion: body shape.
4b Snout bulbous, projects beyond mouth;
back flat or slightly concave; lateral and pelvic
ridges sharp ................................................. Rhynchostracion
5a Carapace 5-angled in adults ........... ............................. Lactoria
o
Lactoria: body shape.
5b Carapace 3-angled in adults (5-angled in small juveniles) ........... 6
6a Large spine projects forward from each eye ......... Acanthostracion
6b No large spines project forward before eyes ............... Tetrosomus
Tetrosomus: body shape.
Genus Acanthostracion Bleeker, 1865
An Atlantic genus with 4 species; 1 has been found at
Algoa Bay.
266.1 Acanthostracion quadricornis
(Linnaeus, 1758)
PLATE 141
Scrawled cowfish
Bekrapte koeivis
Ostracion quadricornis Linnaeus, 1758: 331 ("India", i.e. West Indies).
Acanthostracion tricornis: Smith, SFSA No. 1173*. Acanthostracion quadricornis: Tyler, 1965: 2*.
o 10; A 10; P 11; C 10. Carapace with raised crest on back, ventral surface flat, isolated scale plates on C peduncle.
Sometimes some of the dark markings including the
parallel bands on cheek are bright blue. Attains 45 cm.
Tropical Atlantic; found once at Algoa Bay.
Genus Kentrocapros Kaup, 1855
Three species (Matsuura & Yamakawa, 1982), 1 in our
area.
266: OSTRACIIDAE (BOXFISHES)
266.2 Kentrocapros rosapinto
(Smith, 1949)
Basketfish
Mandjievis
Aracanostracion rosapinto Smith, 1949: 355, Fig. I (Oelagoa Bay);
1953; SFSA No. 1172a*. Kentrocapros rosapinto: Matsuura & Yamakawa,
1982: 35*.
o 10-11; A 10-11; P 12-13; C II. Carapace flat between top 2 ridges and
between bottom 2 ridges; a slight but distinct horizontal ridge along
midlateral part of body. Ridges sharp but without spines; 2 full plates
obliquely between upper and midlateral ridges, 4 between midlateral and
lower ridges; gill opening almost vertical; lips thickly papillose; single row
of 8 thick blunt incisiform teeth in each jaw.
Body brownish grey with numerous dark brown round
spots on dorsal part of carapace and C peduncle; a broad
silver band joins mate over snout in front of nostrils and
reaching mouth, passes below eye, above lateral ridge to C
base; a second silver band from corner of mouth to P base.
Fins yellow, C with dark posterior margin; lips dark brown,
teeth reddish brown. Female differs in body colour; yellowish grey, dark spots on lateral part of carapace above
lower P base and no dark margin to C (Matsuura &
Yamakawa, 1982). The holotype, 143 mm, from "Delagoa
Bay" in the old Louren<;o Marques Museum; also known
from the Mascarene Ridge between Mauritius and the
Seychelles.
266.2 Kentrocapros rosapinto: 14.5 em holotype (S. Mozambique).
Genus Lactoria Jordan & Fowler, 1903
Three species, all in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la No spine on back; "horns" long and C large ... .. ........... L. carnuta
Ib Spine on back; "horns" short and C normal ............................. 2
2a Ridge on back feeble ................................ .. ......... L. diaphana
2b Ridge on back strong ............................................ L. /ornasini
266.3 Lactoria cornuta
(Linnaeus, 1758)
PLATE 141
Longhorn cowfish
Langhoring-koeivis
Ostracion cornutus Linnaeus, 1758: 331 (India). LaCloria cOrt/lIIl1S:
Smith, SFSA No. 1178*; Sanches. 1963: 185*. Lactoria cornllta: Smith &
Smith, 1966: 147*.
891
lateral and pelvic ridges rounded ............................... Ostracion
o
Ostracion: body shape.
4b Snout bulbous, projects beyond mouth;
back flat or slightly concave; lateral and pelvic
ridges sharp ................................................. Rhynchostracion
5a Carapace 5-angled in adults ........... ............................. Lactoria
o
Lactoria: body shape.
5b Carapace 3-angled in adults (5-angled in small juveniles) ........... 6
6a Large spine projects forward from each eye ......... Acanthostracion
6b No large spines project forward before eyes ............... Tetrosomus
Tetrosomus: body shape.
Genus Acanthostracion Bleeker, 1865
An Atlantic genus with 4 species; 1 has been found at
Algoa Bay.
266.1 Acanthostracion quadricornis
(Linnaeus, 1758)
PLATE 141
Scrawled cowfish
Bekrapte koeivis
Ostracion quadricornis Linnaeus, 1758: 331 ("India", i.e. West Indies).
Acanthostracion tricornis: Smith, SFSA No. 1173*. Acanthostracion quadricornis: Tyler, 1965: 2*.
o 10; A 10; P 11; C 10. Carapace with raised crest on back, ventral surface flat, isolated scale plates on C peduncle.
Sometimes some of the dark markings including the
parallel bands on cheek are bright blue. Attains 45 cm.
Tropical Atlantic; found once at Algoa Bay.
Genus Kentrocapros Kaup, 1855
Three species (Matsuura & Yamakawa, 1982), 1 in our
area.
266: OSTRACIIDAE (BOXFISHES)
266.2 Kentrocapros rosapinto
(Smith, 1949)
Basketfish
Mandjievis
Aracanostracion rosapinto Smith, 1949: 355, Fig. I (Oelagoa Bay);
1953; SFSA No. 1172a*. Kentrocapros rosapinto: Matsuura & Yamakawa,
1982: 35*.
o 10-11; A 10-11; P 12-13; C II. Carapace flat between top 2 ridges and
between bottom 2 ridges; a slight but distinct horizontal ridge along
midlateral part of body. Ridges sharp but without spines; 2 full plates
obliquely between upper and midlateral ridges, 4 between midlateral and
lower ridges; gill opening almost vertical; lips thickly papillose; single row
of 8 thick blunt incisiform teeth in each jaw.
Body brownish grey with numerous dark brown round
spots on dorsal part of carapace and C peduncle; a broad
silver band joins mate over snout in front of nostrils and
reaching mouth, passes below eye, above lateral ridge to C
base; a second silver band from corner of mouth to P base.
Fins yellow, C with dark posterior margin; lips dark brown,
teeth reddish brown. Female differs in body colour; yellowish grey, dark spots on lateral part of carapace above
lower P base and no dark margin to C (Matsuura &
Yamakawa, 1982). The holotype, 143 mm, from "Delagoa
Bay" in the old Louren<;o Marques Museum; also known
from the Mascarene Ridge between Mauritius and the
Seychelles.
266.2 Kentrocapros rosapinto: 14.5 em holotype (S. Mozambique).
Genus Lactoria Jordan & Fowler, 1903
Three species, all in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la No spine on back; "horns" long and C large ... .. ........... L. carnuta
Ib Spine on back; "horns" short and C normal ............................. 2
2a Ridge on back feeble ................................ .. ......... L. diaphana
2b Ridge on back strong ............................................ L. /ornasini
266.3 Lactoria cornuta
(Linnaeus, 1758)
PLATE 141
Longhorn cowfish
Langhoring-koeivis
Ostracion cornutus Linnaeus, 1758: 331 (India). LaCloria cOrt/lIIl1S:
Smith, SFSA No. 1178*; Sanches. 1963: 185*. Lactoria cornllta: Smith &
Smith, 1966: 147*.
891