List of marine Perciform fishes of South Africa
Encyclopedia
This is a sub-list of the List of marine spiny-finned fishes of South Africa for perch-like fishes
recorded from the oceans bordering South Africa.
This list comprises locally used common names, scientific names
with author citation
and recorded ranges
. Ranges specified may not be the entire known range for the species, but should include the known range within the waters surrounding the Republic of South Africa.
List ordering and taxonomy
complies where possible with the current usage in Wikispecies
, and may differ from the cited source, as listed citations are primarily for range or existence of records for the region.
Sub-taxa within any given taxon
are arranged alphabetically as a general rule.
Details of each species may be available through the relevant internal links. Synonyms
may be listed where useful.
Family: Acanthuridae
Subfamily: Acanthurinae — Surgeonfishes
Subfamily: Nasinae — Unicornfishes
Family: Ephippidae
Family: Scatophagidae
Family: Gobiesocidae
Family: Eleotridae
Subfamily Gobiinae
Subfamily Gobionellinae
Subfamily Oxudercinae
Family: Pomacentridae
Suborder: Percoidei
See article List of marine fishes of the suborder Percoidei of South Africa
Family: Scombridae
Subfamily: Gasterochismatinae
Subfamily: Scombrinae
Family: Ariommatidae
Family: Stromateidae
Family: Chiasmodontidae
Family: Percophidae
Perciformes
The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, is one of the largest orders of vertebrates, containing about 40% of all bony fish. Perciformes means perch-like. They belong to the class of ray-finned fish and comprise over 7,000 species found in almost all aquatic environments...
recorded from the oceans bordering South Africa.
This list comprises locally used common names, scientific names
Binomial nomenclature
Binomial nomenclature is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, although they can be based on words from other languages...
with author citation
Author citation (zoology)
In zoological nomenclature, author citation refers to listing the person who first makes a scientific name of a taxon available. This is done in a scientific publication while fulfilling the formal requirements under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, hereinafter termed "the Code"...
and recorded ranges
Range (biology)
In biology, the range or distribution of a species is the geographical area within which that species can be found. Within that range, dispersion is variation in local density.The term is often qualified:...
. Ranges specified may not be the entire known range for the species, but should include the known range within the waters surrounding the Republic of South Africa.
List ordering and taxonomy
Biological classification
Biological classification, or scientific classification in biology, is a method to group and categorize organisms by biological type, such as genus or species. Biological classification is part of scientific taxonomy....
complies where possible with the current usage in Wikispecies
Wikispecies
Wikispecies is a wiki-based online project supported by the Wikimedia Foundation. Its aim is to create a comprehensive free content catalogue of all species and is directed at scientists, rather than at the general public...
, and may differ from the cited source, as listed citations are primarily for range or existence of records for the region.
Sub-taxa within any given taxon
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
are arranged alphabetically as a general rule.
Details of each species may be available through the relevant internal links. Synonyms
Synonym (taxonomy)
In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
may be listed where useful.
Family: AcanthuridaeAcanthuridaeAcanthuridae is the family of surgeonfishes, tangs, and unicornfishes. The family includes about 80 species in six genera, all of which are marine fish living in tropical seas, usually around coral reefs...
— Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes
Subfamily: Acanthurinae — Surgeonfishes
- Tailring surgeon Acanthurus blochiiAcanthurus blochiiThe Ringtail surgeonfish is a marine reef tang in the fish family Acanthuridae. The fish grow to a maximum length of 45 cm ....
ValenciennesAchille ValenciennesAchille Valenciennes was a French zoologist.Valenciennes was born in Paris, and studied under Georges Cuvier. Valenciennes' study of parasitic worms in humans made an important contribution to the study of parasitology...
, 1835 (Indo-Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Pencilled surgeon Acanthurus dussumieriAcanthurus dussumieriAcanthurus dussumieri is a Tang from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 54 cm in length....
Valenciennes, 1835 (Port AlfredPort AlfredPort Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
to Mozambique)(Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
to western Pacific) - Powder-blue surgeonfish Acanthurus leucosternonAcanthurus leucosternonAcanthurus leucosternon is a tropical fish with the common names powder blue tang and powderblue surgeonfish.-Appearance:The powder blue tang is light blue with yellow and white highlighted fins. Its face is a uniform black with a white outline. The fish does not undergo color changes as it...
Bennett, 1832 (Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
to Indonesia) - Bluebanded surgeon Acanthurus lineatusAcanthurus lineatusAcanthurus lineatus also known as a Striped Surgeon is a Tang from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 38 cm in length. Like all tangs it is laterally compressed. It is light colored on the underside with blue and yellow stripes on...
(Linnaeus, 1758) (Indo-Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Elongate surgeon Acanthurus mata (Cuvier, 1829) (Indo-Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Epaulette surgeon Acanthurus nigricaudaAcanthurus nigricaudaAcanthurus nigricauda is a tropical fish with the common name epaulette surgeonfish....
Duncker and Mohr, 1929 (Indo-Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Brown surgeon Acanthurus nigrofuscusAcanthurus nigrofuscusAcanthurus nigrofuscus or the Brown surgeonfish is a tang from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 21 cm in length....
(Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-Pacific south to Coffee BayCoffee BayCoffee Bay is a small community of interest in Wild Coast, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It is about 250 kilometres south of the city of Durban. It has a population of approximately 600 people.-References:...
) - Lieutenant surgeonfish Acanthurus tennanti Günther, 1861 (Western Indian ocean from Natal to Sri Lanka)
- Chocolate surgeon Acanthurus thompsoniAcanthurus thompsoniAcanthurus thompsoni is a tropical fish found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It was first named by Fowler in 1923, and is commonly known as the Thompson's surgeonfish. It is commercial in aquarium use....
(Fowler, 1923) (Indo-Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Convict surgeon Acanthurus triostegusAcanthurus triostegusThe manini is a small surgeonfish in family Acanthuridae of order Perciformes. Its about long. It is whitish-yellow with zebra-like black stripes on its side. Its resemblance to a prisoner’s uniform gave it the nicknames of convict surgeonfish and convict tang. Manini is a favorite food fish...
(Linnaeus, 1758) (Indo-Pacific south to Bashee River, with postlarvae as far as Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
)) - Yellowfin surgeon Acanthurus xanthopterus Valenciennes, 1835 (DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
to eastern Pacific) - Twospot bristletooth Ctenochaetus binotatusCtenochaetus binotatusCtenochaetus binotatus, commonly known as the twospot surgeonfish, is a tang fish native to the Indo-Pacific. It is a reef fish occurring at depths from 10–50 m and can grow to 22 cm in length. It is a brownish color with green tinged stripes along the body and similarly colored spots on the...
Randall, 1955 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal) - Striped bristletooth Ctenochaetus striatusCtenochaetus striatusCtenochaetus striatus is a Tang from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 26 cm in length....
(Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal) - Spotted bristletooth Ctenochaetus strigosusCtenochaetus strigosusThe Kole Tang or Spotted surgeonfish, Ctenochaetus strigosus, is a marine reef tang in the fish family Acanthuridae. Which is endemic to Oceana. It grows to 5.7 inches in the wild. Its a brown color with light blue to yellow horizontal stripes over its body which change into spots towards...
(Bennett, 1828) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal) - Palette surgeon Paracanthurus hepatus (Natal to central Pacific)
- Spotted tang Zebrasoma gemmatumZebrasoma gemmatumThe gem tang, spotted tang or mauritian tang is a marine reef tang in the fish family Acanthuridae. They may live at water depths of 10 - 61 m or more. The fish grow to a maximum length of 22 cm...
(Valenciennes, 1835) (Mauritius, Madagascar, Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
and 3 specimens from DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Twotone tang Zebrasoma scopasZebrasoma scopasThe scopas tang or twotone tang is a marine reef tang in the fish family Acanthuridae. They may live at water depths of 1 - 60 m or more. The fish grow to a maximum length of 40 cm . Zebrasoma scopas is found in throughout Oceania. Zebrasoma scopas is a highly popular fish in the aquarium trade...
(Cuvier, 1829) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal) - Sailfin tang Zebrasoma veliferumZebrasoma veliferumThe sailfin tang is a marine reef tang in the fish family Acanthuridae. They may live at water depths of 1 - 60 m or more. The fish grow to a maximum length of 40 cm . Zebrasoma veliferum has an extensive range throughout Oceania, the Indian Ocean, and the South Pacific. Zebrasoma veliferum is a...
(Bloch, 1797) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
Subfamily: Nasinae — Unicornfishes
- Whitemargin unicorn Naso annulatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)
- Humpback unicorn Naso brachycentron (Valenciennes, 1835) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
- Spotted unicorn Naso brevirostris (Valenciennes, 1835) (Indo-Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, with juveniles drifting to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Orange-spine unicorn Naso lituratusNaso lituratusNaso lituratus or the Orangespine unicornfish or Naso tang is a tang from the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 46 cm in length....
(Forster, 1801) (Indo-Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Humpnose unicorn Naso tuberosusNaso tuberosusNaso tuberosus is a tropical fish found in coral reefs in the central Pacific and Indian Oceans. It was first named by Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1801, and is commonly known as the Humpnose unicornfish. It feeds primarily on Caulerpa....
Lacepède 1802 (Natal to Gilbert Islands) - Bluespine unicorn Naso unicornis (Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
- Bignose unicorn Naso vlamingiiNaso vlamingiiNaso vlamingii is a tropical fish with common names Vlamingii tang and bignose unicornfish.-Appearance:They are relatively large fish in comparison to other fish in the Acanthuridae family easily reaching 60.0 cm. As a juvenile the fish's coloration is a dingy green with blue spots and lips later...
(Valenciennes, 1835) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
Family: EphippidaeEphippidaeEphippidae is the fish family containing the spadefishes. There are about eight genera, with a total of 20 species, mostly marine. The most well-known species are probably those in the reef-dwelling genus Platax, the batfishes, which are kept as aquarium fish. They are spade-shaped, laterally...
— Batfishes
- Orbicular batfish Platax orbicularis (Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-West Pacific south to KnysnaKnysnaKnysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
) - Dusky batfis Platax pinnatusPlatax pinnatusPlatax pinnatus, also known as dusky batfish or red-faced batfish is a fish from the western Pacific that occasionally is kept in marine aquariums.-Anatomy and morphology:...
(Linnaeus. 1758) (Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
, possibly DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Longfin batfish Platax teiraPlatax teiraPlatax teira is a fish from the Indo-West Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 70cm in length....
(Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Spadefish Tripterodon orbis Playfair, 1867 (Port Elizabeth to Kenya)
Family: Luvaridae — Louvar
- Louvar Luvarus imperialis Rafinesque, 1810 (All oceans and Mediterranean sea, Not reported in polar seas or near equator)
Family: ScatophagidaeScatophagidaeThe scats are a small family, Scatophagidae, of fishes in the order Perciformes.They are small fish native to the Indian and western Pacific Ocean that have been popular in the aquarium trade in the last 30 years...
— Scatties
- Scatty Scatophagus tetracanthus (Lacepède, 1802) (Indo-West Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
)
Family: Siganidae — Rabbitfishes
- Starspotted rabbitfish Siganus stellatus (Forsskål, 1775) (Kosi BayKosi BayKosi Bay is a series of four interlinked lakes in the Maputuland area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The lakes form part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site....
north to Red Sea) - Whitespotted rabbitfish Siganus sutor (Valenciennes, 1835) (Western Indian ocean, stragglers as far south as KnysnaKnysnaKnysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
)
Family: Zanclidae — Moorish idol
- Moorish idol Zanclus cornutus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Africa to Mexico south to Mossel BayMossel BayMossel Bay is a harbour town of about 130,000 people on the Southern Cape of South Africa. It is an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province...
) (syn. Zanclus canescens)
Family: Blenniidae — Blennies
- Dwarf blenny Alloblennius parvusAlloblennius parvusAlloblennius parvus is a species of combtooth blenny found in the western Indian Ocean. It was first named by Springer and Spreitzer in 1978, and is commonly known as the Dwarf blenny....
Springer & Spreitzar, 1978 (Comores and 1 specimen from Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Moustached rockskipper Antennablennius australisAntennablennius australisAntennablennius australis is a species of combtooth blenny found in the western Indian Ocean. It was first named by Fraser-Brunner in 1951, and is commonly known as the Moustached rockstripper....
Fraser-Brunner, 1951 (Port Elizabeth to Red Sea) - Horned rockskipper Antennablennius bifilumAntennablennius bifilumAntennablennius bifilum is a species of combtooth blenny found in the western Indian ocean. It was first named by Günther in 1861, and is commonly known as the Horned Rockstripper....
(Günther, 1861) (Port AlfredPort AlfredPort Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
to the Persian Gulf) - Floating blenny Aspidontus dussumieriAspidontus dussumieriAspidontus dussumieri is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian oceans. It was first named by Valenciennes in 1836, and is commonly known as the Lance blenny, Floating blenny, or the Dussumier's blenny....
(Valenciennes, 1836) (Red Sea south to KnysnaKnysnaKnysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
) - Mimic blenny Aspidontis taeniatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1834 (Red Sea south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) (syn. Aspidontus taeniatus tractusFowler, 1903) - Looseskin blenny Chalaroderma capitoChalaroderma capitoChalaroderma capito is a species of combtooth blenny found in the south Atlantic ocean. It was first named by Valenciennes in 1836, and is commonly known as the Looseskin blenny It is found from Saldanha Bay to East London in South Africa....
(Valenciennes, 1836) (Saldanha BaySaldanha BaySaldanha Bay is a natural harbour on the south-western coast of South Africa, north west of Cape Town. The town that developed on the northern shore of the bay, also called Saldanha, was incorporated with five other towns into the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality in 2000. The current population of...
to East London) - Two-eyed blenny Chalaroderma ocellataChalaroderma ocellataChalaroderma ocellata is a species of combtooth blenny found in the southeast Atlantic ocean. It was first named by Gilchrist and Thompson in 1908, and is commonly known as the Two-eyed blenny. It is known only from Saldanha Bay to Port Elizabeth in South Africa.It can reach a length of up to 7 cm....
(Gilchrist and Thompson, 1908) ((Saldanha BaySaldanha BaySaldanha Bay is a natural harbour on the south-western coast of South Africa, north west of Cape Town. The town that developed on the northern shore of the bay, also called Saldanha, was incorporated with five other towns into the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality in 2000. The current population of...
to Port Elizabeth) - Blackflap blenny Cirripectes auritusCirripectes auritusCirripectes auritus is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the west Pacific and Indian oceans. It was first named by Carlson in 1981, and is commonly known as the Backflap blenny, Black-spot eye-lash blenny, or the Eared blenny....
(Carlson, 1981) (Line islands, Philippines, Grand Comoro, Kenya and Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Muzzled rockskipper Cirripectes castaneusCirripectes castaneusCirripectes castaneus is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the western Pacific and Indian oceans. It was first named by...
(Valenciennes, 1836) (Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Golden blenny Ecsenius midasEcsenius midasEcsenius midas is a blenny from the Indo-Pacific, living between coral reefs from the Red Sea to Polynesia.It grows to a size of 13 cm in length. Its normal color is golden orange but it can adapt its color to match the colors of the fishes it mixes with. It shows a black spot near the anus...
(Starck, 1969) (Red Sea to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Nalolo Ecsenius naloloEcsenius naloloEcsenius nalolo, known commonly as the Nalolo in South Africa or the Nalolo blenny in Micronesia, is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus Ecsenius. It is found in coral reefs in the western Indian ocean. It was named by James Smith in 1959, and can reach a maximum length of 6.5 centimetres...
Smith, 1959 (Red Sea to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Fringelip rockskipper Entomacrodus epalzeocheilus (Bleeker, 1859) (Indo-Pacific, 1 specimen from Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Pearly rockskipper Entomacrodus striatus Quoy and Gaimard, 1836 (Western Indian ocean to 30°S)
- Leopard rockskipper Exilias brevis (Kner, 1868) (Red Sea to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Highbrow rockskipper Hirculops corniferHirculops corniferHirculops cornifer is a species of combtooth blenny found in the western Indian ocean. It belongs to the monotypic genus Hirculops. It was first described by Rüppell in 1830, and is commonly known as the highbrow rockskipper....
(Rüppell, 1830) (Red Sea to Pondoland) - Streaky rockskipper Istiblennius dussumieriIstiblennius dussumieriIstiblennius dussumieri is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the western Pacific and Indian oceans. It was first named by Valenciennes in 1836, and is commonly known as the Streaky rockskipper, Dussumier's rockskipper, Streaky dussumier, or the Dussumier's blenny. It can reach a...
(Valenciennes, 1836) (Indo-Pacific south to Bashee River) - Rippled rockskipper Istiblennius edentulusIstiblennius edentulusIstiblennius edentulus is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian oceans. It was first named by Forster and Schneider in 1801, and is commonly known as the Rippled rockskipper, Rippled blenny, Smooth-lipped blenny, Toothless blenny, or the Coral blenny...
(Forster & Schneider, 1801) (Indo-Pacific south to East London) - Picture rockskipper Istiblennius gibbifrons (Quoy & Gaimard, 1836) (Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Impspringer Istiblennius impudens Smith, 1959 (Western Indian ocean south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Bullethead rockskipper Istiblennius periophthalmus (Valenciennes, 1836) (Indo-Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Rusi blenny Mimoblennius rusiMimoblennius rusiMimoblennius rusi is a species of combtooth blenny found in the western Indian ocean. It was first named by Springer and Spreitzer in 1978, and is commonly known as the Rusi blenny. It can reach a maximum length of 4 centimetres....
Springer & Spreitzer, 1978 (Known only from Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
area) - Bandit blenny Omobranchus banditusOmobranchus banditusOmobranchus banditus is a species of combtooth blenny found in the western Indian ocean. It was first named by Smith in 1959, and is commonly known as the Bandit blenny. It can reach a maximum length of 6 centimetres....
Smith, 1959 (BazarutoBazaruto IslandBazaruto is a sandy island located approximately southeast of the mouth of the Save River, Mozambique . It is the largest island in the Bazaruto Archipelago and in the Bazaruto National Park....
to Port AlfredPort AlfredPort Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
) - Kappie blenny Omobranchus woodiOmobranchus woodiOmobranchus woodi, known commonly as the Kappie blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in the southeast Atlantic and western Indian ocean....
(Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Eastern Cape estuaries, East London to KnysnaKnysnaKnysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
) - Horned blenny Parablennius cornutusParablennius cornutusThis fish could be confused with the other fish, called Horned blenny, Parablennius intermediusParablennius cornutus, known commonly as the Horned blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in the southeast Atlantic ocean: northern Namibia to Sodwana Bay, South Africa. Marine subtropical...
(Linnaeus, 1758) (Northern Namibia to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
, Endemic) - Ringneck blenny Parablennius pilicornisParablennius pilicornisParablennius pilicornis, known commonly as the Ringneck blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny. Widespread in coastal waters of Eastern Atlantic from Spain and Portugal to Möwe Bay, Namibia, in the Mediterranean Sea from Morocco, Algeria, Spain. In the Southwest Atlantic it is found near Brazil...
(Cuvier, 1829) (KnysnaKnysnaKnysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Kosi rockskipper Pereulixia kosiensisPereulixia kosiensisPereulixia kosiensis, known commonly as the Kosi rockskipper, is a species of combtooth blenny found in the western Indian ocean....
(Regan, 1908) (DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
north to Pakistan) - Sabretooth blenny Petroscirtes brevicepsPetroscirtes brevicepsPetroscirtes breviceps, known commonly as the Striped poison-fang blenny mimic, Striped fangblenny mimic, Short-head sabretooth blenny, Short-headed blenny, Sabretooth blenny, or the Black-banded blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the western Pacific and Indian ocean....
(Valenciennes, 1836) (Natal to Japan and New Guinea) - Twostripe blenny Plagiotremus rhinorhynchosPlagiotremus rhinorhynchosPlagiotremus rhinorhynchos, known commonly as the Bluestriped fangblenny, Bluestriped blenny, Bluestriped sabretooth blenny, Blunt-nose blenny, Cleaner mimic, Tube-worm blenny, or the Two-stripe blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian ocean...
(Bleeker, 1853) (Indo-Pacific south to KnysnaKnysnaKnysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
) - Piano blenny Plagiotremus tapeinosoma (Bleeker, 1857) (Indo-Pacific south to False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
) - Maned blenny Scartella emarginataScartella emarginataScartella emarginata, known commonly as the Maned blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in the Indian ocean....
(Günther, 1861) (Southern Angola to India) - Japanese snakeblenny Xiphasia matsubaraiXiphasia matsubaraiXiphasia matsubarai, known commonly as the Japanese snake blenny in Guam, Micronesia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus Xiphasia. It is found in the Pacific and Indian oceans. It was named by Y. Okada and K. Suzuki in 1952, and can reach a maximum...
Okada & Suzuki, 1952 (Western Indian Ocean south to False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
) - Snakeblenny Xiphasia setiferXiphasia setiferXiphasia setifer, known commonly as the Hairtail blenny in Australia, Indonesia, and Vietnam, Hair-tail blenny in Papua New Guinea, Hair-tailed blenny in the Philippines, or the Snake blenny in Mauritius, the Philippines, Micronesia, and South Africa, is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus...
Swainson, 1839 (Red Sea to False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
)
Family: Clinidae — Klipfishes
- Lace klipfish Blennioclinus brachycephalusBlennioclinus brachycephalusBlennioclinus brachycephalus, known commonly as the Lace Klipfish in South Africa and the United Kingdom, is a species of clinid in the genus Blennioclinus. It is a subtropical blenny found around South Africa, in the southeast Atlantic ocean. It was named by Achille Valenciennes in 1836, and can...
(Valenciennes, 1836) (Melkboschstrand to Kei River) - Silverbubble klipfish Blennioclinus stellaBlennioclinus stellaBlennioclinus stella, known commonly as the Silverbubble klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Blennioclinus. It is a subtropical blenny found in the southeastern Atlantic and western Indian Ocean. It was named by J.L.B. Smith in 1946, and can reach a maximum length of 5...
Smith, 1946 (Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
to north of DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Snaky klipfish Blenniophis anguillaris (Valenciennes, 1836) (Lüderitzbucht to East London)
- Striped klipfish Blenniophis striatus (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Saldanha BaySaldanha BaySaldanha Bay is a natural harbour on the south-western coast of South Africa, north west of Cape Town. The town that developed on the northern shore of the bay, also called Saldanha, was incorporated with five other towns into the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality in 2000. The current population of...
to East London) - Slender platanna-klipfish Cancelloxus burrelliCancelloxus burrelliCancelloxus burrelli, known commonly as the Slender platanna-klipfish in South Africa and the United Kingdom, is a species of clinid in the genus Cancelloxus. It is a subtropical blenny found from the Orange River to Algoa Bay in South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It was named by...
Smith, 1961 (Orange RiverOrange RiverThe Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean...
to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Whiteblotched klipfish Cancelloxus elongatusCancelloxus elongatusCancelloxus elongatus, known commonly as the whiteblotched klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Cancelloxus. It is a subtropical blenny found around South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It was named by P.C. Heemstra and J.E. Wright in 1986, and can reach a...
Heemstra and Wright, 1986 (Storms RiverStorms RiverStorms River is a river in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located in the Tsitsikamma National Park.- See also :* Tsitsikamma National Park* Paul Sauer Bridge* List of rivers of South Africa...
mouth to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Barbelled klipfish Cirrhibarbus capensis Valenciennes, 1836 (Lamberts BayLamberts BayLamberts Bay is a small fishing town in the Western Cape province of South Africa situated 280 kilometres north of Cape Town. It is part of the Cederberg Municipality....
to East London) - Fleet klipfish Climacoporus navalisClimacoporus navalisClimacoporus navalis, known commonly as the Fleet klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid, and the only species in the genus Climacoporus. It is found in the southeast Atlantic ocean. It was named by K.H. Barnard in 1935, and can reach a maximum length of 7 centimetres....
Barnard, 1935 (Still Bay to Port St, Johns. Once from False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
) - Ladder klipfish Clinoporus biporosusClinoporus biporosusClinoporus biporosus, known commonly as the Ladder klipfish in South Africa and the United Kingdom, is a species of clinid, and the only species in the genus Clinoporus. It is found around South Africa, in the southeast Atlantic ocean. It was named by J.D.F. Gilchrist and W.W. Thompson in 1908, and...
(Gilchrist and Thompson, 1908) (Saldanha BaySaldanha BaySaldanha Bay is a natural harbour on the south-western coast of South Africa, north west of Cape Town. The town that developed on the northern shore of the bay, also called Saldanha, was incorporated with five other towns into the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality in 2000. The current population of...
to False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
) - Sad klipfish Clinus acuminatusClinus acuminatusClinus acuminatus, known commonly as the Sad klipfish in South Africa and the United Kingdom, is a species of clinid in the genus Clinus. It is a subtropical blenny found from Namibia to the west of Algoa Bay in South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It was named by M.E. Bloch and J.G....
(Schneider, 1801) (Lüderitzbucht to west of Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Agile klipfish Clinus agilisClinus agilisClinus agilis, known commonly as the Agile klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Clinus. It is a subtropical blenny found from Namibia to South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It was named by J.L.B. Smith in 1931, and can reach a maximum length of 10 centimetres....
Smith, 1931 (Namibia (20°49'S) to Port AlfredPort AlfredPort Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
) - Onrust klipfish Clinus berrisfordiClinus berrisfordiClinus berrisfordi, known commonly as the Onrust klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Clinus. It is a subtropical blenny found from False Bay to Shoemakerskop, South Africa, in the...
Penrith, 1967 (Weedy areas of False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
to Skoenmakerskop, just west of Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Cape klipfish Clinus brevicristatusClinus brevicristatusClinus brevicristatus, known commonly as the Cape klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Clinus. It is a subtropical blenny found around South Africa in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It was named by J.D.F. Gilchrist and W.W. Thompson in 1908, and can reach a maximum length...
Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908 (Lamberts BayLamberts BayLamberts Bay is a small fishing town in the Western Cape province of South Africa situated 280 kilometres north of Cape Town. It is part of the Cederberg Municipality....
to False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
) - Bluntnose klipfish Clinus cottoidesClinus cottoidesClinus cottoides, known commonly as the Bluntnose klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Clinus. It is a subtropical blenny found around South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It was named by Achille Valenciennes in 1836, and can reach a maximum length of 15...
Valenciennes, 1836 ( (Namaqualand) to Kei River) - Helen's klipfish Clinus helenaeClinus helenaeClinus helenae, known commonly as the Helen's klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Clinus. It is a subtropical blenny found around South Africa in the southeast Atlantic ocean. It was named by J.L.B. Smith in 1946, and can reach a maximum length of 10 centimetres....
(Smith, 1946) (Boknes (west of Port AlfredPort AlfredPort Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
) to Bashee River) - West coast klipfish Clinus heterodonClinus heterodonClinus heterodon, known commonly as the Westcoast klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Clinus. It is a subtropical blenny found from Namibia to South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It was named by Achille Valenciennes in 1836, and can reach a maximum length of...
Valenciennes, 1836 (Orange RiverOrange RiverThe Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean...
to Cape AgulhasCape AgulhasCape Agulhas is a rocky headland in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is the geographic southern tip of Africa and the official dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
)(SwakopmundSwakopmundSwakopmund is a city on the coast of northwestern Namibia, west of Windhoek, Namibia's capital. It is the capital of the Erongo administrative district. As a seaside resort, the weather is cooler here in December to January so the territorial administration moves to Swakopmund for these months...
to False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
) - False Bay klipfish Clinus latipinnis Valenciennes, 1836 (Table BayTable BayTable Bay is a natural bay on the Atlantic Ocean overlooked by Cape Town and is at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula, which stretches south to the Cape of Good Hope. It was named because it is dominated by the flat-topped Table Mountain.Bartolomeu Dias was the first European to explore this...
to Cape AgulhasCape AgulhasCape Agulhas is a rocky headland in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is the geographic southern tip of Africa and the official dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
) - Chinese klipfish Clinus nemopterus Günther, 1861 (False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
and Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Robust klipfish Clinus robustusClinus robustusClinus robustus, known commonly as the Robust klipfish in the United Kingdom, is a species of clinid in the genus Clinus. It is a subtropical blenny found around South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It was named by J.D.F. Gilchrist and W.W. Thompson in 1908, and can reach a maximum...
Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908 (Cape of Good HopeCape of Good HopeThe Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
to East London) - Kelp klipfish Clinus rotundifronsClinus rotundifronsClinus rotundifrons, known commonly as the Kelp klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Clinus. It is a subtropical blenny found from Namibia to South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It was named by K.H. Barnard in 1937, and can reach a maximum length of 5...
Barnard, 1937 (Lüderitzbucht to Cape of Good HopeCape of Good HopeThe Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
) - Bot river klipfish Clinus spatulatus Bennett, 1983 (Bot riverBot RiverBot River is a river in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located at Fischerhaven. Its tributaries include the Swart River. It falls within the Drainage system G.- See also :* List of rivers of South Africa...
and KleinmondKleinmondKleinmond is a small coastal town in the Overberg region of the Western Cape province, South Africa. It is situated inside a UNESCO-declared Biosphere about 90 km east of Cape Town between Betty's Bay and Hermanus....
estuary) - Super klipfish or Highfin klipfish Clinus superciliosusClinus superciliosusClinus superciliosus, known commonly as the Super klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Clinus. It is a subtropical blenny found from northern Namibia to the Kei River in South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It was named by Carolus Linnaeus in 1758, and can...
(Linnaeus, 1758) (Namibia (18°59'S) to Kei River) - Bull klipfish Clinus taurusClinus taurusClinus taurus, known commonly as the Bull klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Clinus. It is a subtropical blenny found from Namibia to South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic ocean. It was named by J.D.F. Gilchrist and W.W. Thompson in 1908, and can reach a maximum...
Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908 (Möwe Point (Namibia) to Port AlfredPort AlfredPort Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
) - Speckled klipfish Clinus venustrisClinus venustrisClinus venustris, known commonly as the Speckled klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Clinus. It is a common subtropical blenny found from Namibia to South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It was named by J.D.F. Gilchrist and W.W. Thompson in 1908, and can reach...
Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908 (Orange RiverOrange RiverThe Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean...
to East London)(Lüderitzbucht to Port AlfredPort AlfredPort Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
) - Oldman klipfish Clinus woodiClinus woodiClinus woodi, known commonly as the Oldman klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Clinus. It is a subtropical blenny found from Mozambique to South Africa, in the western Indian Ocean. It was named by J.L.B. Smith in 1946, and can reach a maximum length of 16 centimetres....
Smith, 1946 (Kei River to InhambaneInhambaneInhambane, Terra de Boa Gente is a city located in southern Mozambique, lying on Inhambane Bay, 470 km northeast of Maputo. It is the capital of the Inhambane Province and according to the 2008 census has a population of 65,837, growing from the 1997 census of 54,157...
) - Mousey klipfish Fuscomimus mus (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
to Coffee BayCoffee BayCoffee Bay is a small community of interest in Wild Coast, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It is about 250 kilometres south of the city of Durban. It has a population of approximately 600 people.-References:...
) - Nosestripe klipfish Muraenoclinus dorsalisMuraenoclinus dorsalisMuraenoclinus dorsalis, known commonly as the Nosestripe klipfish in South Africa and the United Kingdom, is a species of clinid, and the only species in the genus Muraenoclinus. It is found from Namibia to Natal, South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic ocean. It was named by Pieter Bleeker in...
(Bleeker, 1860) (Orange RiverOrange RiverThe Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean...
to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
)(Lüderitzbucht to southern Natal) - Grass klipfish Pavoclinus graminisPavoclinus graminisPavoclinus graminis, known commonly as the Grass klipfish in South Africa and the United Kingdom, is a species of clinid in the genus Pavoclinus. It is a subtropical blenny found from Mozambique to South Africa, in the western Indian Ocean. It was named by J.D.F. Gilchrist and W.W...
(Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
to InhambaneInhambaneInhambane, Terra de Boa Gente is a city located in southern Mozambique, lying on Inhambane Bay, 470 km northeast of Maputo. It is the capital of the Inhambane Province and according to the 2008 census has a population of 65,837, growing from the 1997 census of 54,157...
) - Rippled klipfish Pavoclinus laurentiiPavoclinus laurentiiPavoclinus laurentii, known commonly as the Rippled klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Pavoclinus. It is a subtropical blenny found from Mozambique to South Africa, in the western Indian Ocean. It was named by J.D.F. Gilchrist and W.W...
(Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Port Elizabeth to MaputoMaputoMaputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
) (Port AlfredPort AlfredPort Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
to InhambaneInhambaneInhambane, Terra de Boa Gente is a city located in southern Mozambique, lying on Inhambane Bay, 470 km northeast of Maputo. It is the capital of the Inhambane Province and according to the 2008 census has a population of 65,837, growing from the 1997 census of 54,157...
) - Slinky klipfish Pavoclinus litorafontisPavoclinus litorafontisPavoclinus litorafontis, known commonly as the Slinky klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Pavoclinus. It is a subtropical blenny found around False Bay, South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic ocean. It was named by M.L. Penrith in 1965, and can reach a maximum length...
Penrith, 1965 (False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
; Strandfontein intertidal caulerpa beds, and Onrust river mouth) - Bearded klipfish Pavoclinus mentalisPavoclinus mentalisPavoclinus mentalis, known commonly as the Bearded klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Pavoclinus. It is a subtropical blenny found from Mozambique to South Africa, in the western Indian Ocean. It was named by J.D.F. Gilchrist and W.W...
(Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
to St. Lucia) - Mya's Klipfish Pavoclinus myaePavoclinus myaePavoclinus myae, known commonly as the Mya's klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Pavoclinus. It is a subtropical blenny found from East London to Algoa Bay in South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It was named by M.S. Christensen in 1978, and can reach a...
Christensen, 1978 (East London to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Peacock klipfish Pavoclinus pavoPavoclinus pavoPavoclinus pavo, known commonly as the Peacock klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Pavoclinus. It is a subtropical blenny found from Namibia to South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It was named by J.D.F. Gilchrist and W.W. Thompson in 1908, originally under...
(Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Lüderitzbucht to Kei River) - Deepwater klipfish Pavoclinus profundusPavoclinus profundusPavoclinus profundus, known commonly as the Deepwater klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Pavoclinus. It is a subtropical blenny found from Knysna to Algoa Bay in South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It was named by J.L.B. Smith in 1961, and can reach a...
Smith, 1961 (Off KnysnaKnysnaKnysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Deep reef klipfish Pavoclinus smaleiPavoclinus smaleiPavoclinus smalei, known commonly as the Deep-reef klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Pavoclinus. It is a subtropical blenny known from the Storms River in South Africa. It was named by P.C. Heemstra and J.E. Wright in 1986, Blennies in this species feed primarily off of...
Heemstra & Wright, 1986 (off Storm's River mouth) - Leafy klipfish Smithichthys fucorumSmithichthys fucorumSmithichthys fucorum, known commonly as the Leafy klipfish in South Africa and the United Kingdom, is a species of clinid, and the only species in the genus Smithichthys. It is found around South Africa, in the southeast Atlantic Ocean. It was named by J.D.F. Gilchrist and W.W. Thompson in 1908,...
(Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Cape PointCape PointCape Point is a promontory at the southeast corner of the Cape Peninsula, which is a mountainous and scenic landform that runs north-south for about thirty kilometres at the extreme southwestern tip of the African continent in the Republic of South Africa. Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town...
to Bashee River) - Platanna klipfish Xenopoclinus kochiXenopoclinus kochiXenopoclinus kochi, known commonly as the Platanna klipfish in South Africa and the United Kingdom, is a species of clinid in the genus Xenopoclinus. It is a subtropical blenny found around South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It was named by J.L.B. Smith in 1948, and can reach a...
Smith, 1948 (Lamberts BayLamberts BayLamberts Bay is a small fishing town in the Western Cape province of South Africa situated 280 kilometres north of Cape Town. It is part of the Cederberg Municipality....
to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Leprous platanna klipfish Xenopoclinus leprosusXenopoclinus leprosusXenopoclinus leprosus, known commonly as the Leprous platanna-klipfish in South Africa, is a species of clinid in the genus Xenopoclinus. It is a subtropical blenny found around South Africa, in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It was named by J.L.B. Smith in 1960, and can reach a maximum length of...
Smith, 1961 {Orange RiverOrange RiverThe Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean...
mouth to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
)
Family: Tripterygiidae — Threefin blennies or Triplefins
- Cape triplefin Cremnochorites capensis (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
to Port AlfredPort AlfredPort Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
) - Yellow triplefin Enneapterygius abeli (Klausewitz, 1960) (Red Sea to northern Natal)
- Barred triplefin Enneapterygius clarckae (Holleman, 1982) (Red Sea to Natal)
- Highcrest triplefin Enneapterygius pusillus Rüppell, 1835 (Red Sea to northern Natal)
- Blotched triplefin Enneapterygius ventermaculus Holleman, 1982 (Natal to Pakistan)
- Blackfin triplefin Helcogramma fuscopinna Holleman, 1982 (Indian Ocean south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Hotlips triplefin Helcogramma obtusirostre (Klunzinger, 1871) (Red Sea to Coffee BayCoffee BayCoffee Bay is a small community of interest in Wild Coast, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It is about 250 kilometres south of the city of Durban. It has a population of approximately 600 people.-References:...
) - Rough-head triplefin Norfolkia springeri Clark, 1979 (Natal to Red Sea)
Family: Callionymidae — Dragonets
- Longtail dragonet Callionymus gardineri Regan, 1908 (Indian Ocean south to Natal)
- Sand dragonet Callionymus marleyi Regan, 1919 (Cape of Good HopeCape of Good HopeThe Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
eastward to Persian Gulf) - Dainty dragonet Draculo celetus (Smith, 1963) (Known only fron Eastern Cape, DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
and Inhaca island) - Ladder dragonet Paracallionymus costatus (Boulenger, 1898) (Lüderitz Bay to InhacaInhacaInhaca is a settlement in Mozambique, on the subtropical Inhaca Island off the East African coast. Inhaca settlement is centered on a missionary station located about 32km east of Maputo.-Geography and administration:...
) - Deep-water dragonet Synchiropus monacanthus Smith, 1935 (Port AlfredPort AlfredPort Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
to Zanzibar) - Dwarf dragonet Synchiropus postulus Smith, 1963 (Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
to Tanzania) - Starry dragonet Synchiropus stellatusSynchiropus stellatusSynchiropus stellatus is a Dragonet from the Indian Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 7.5 cm in length....
Smith, 1963 (Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
to northern Mozambique)
Family: GobiesocidaeGobiesocidaeClingfishes are fishes of the family Gobiesocidae. Most species are marine, being found in shallow waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are bottom-dwelling fishes; some species shelter in sea urchins or crinoids.-Description:...
— Clingfishes
- Chubby clingfish Apletodon pellegrini (Chabanaud, 1925) (Senegal (west Africa) to Port AlfredPort AlfredPort Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
) - Rocksucker Chorisochismus dentex (Pallas, 1769) (Port NollothPort NollothPort Nolloth is a town and domestic seaport in the Namaqualand region on the northwestern coast of South Africa, 89 miles northwest of Springbok....
to northern KwaZulu-Natal) - Bigeye clingfish Diplecogaster megalops Briggs, 1955 (False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Weedsucker Eckloniaichthys scylliorhiniceps Smith, 1943 (LüderitzLüderitzLüderitz is a harbour town in south-west Namibia, lying on one of the least hospitable coasts in Africa. It is a port developed around Robert Harbour and Shark Island.- Overview :...
to Kei River mouth) - Pale clingfish Lepadichthys caritus Briggs, 1969 (Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
to Seychelles) - Eyestripe clingfish Lepadichthys coccinotaenia Regan, 1921 (Southern KwaZulu-Natal (31°S) to Tanzania)
- Doubleline clingfish Lepadichthys lineatus Briggs, 1966 (Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
and Red sea) - Mini-clingfish Pherallodus smithi Briggs, 1955 (DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
)
Family: EleotridaeEleotridaeSleeper gobies are members of the Eleotridae fish family, found predominantly in the tropical Indo-Pacific. There are approximately 35 genera and 150 species. While many eleotrids pass through a planktonic stage in the sea and some spend their entire lives in the sea, as adults the majority live in...
— Sleepers
- Duckbill sleeper Butis butis (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1922) (Tropical Indo-West pacific south to Mgeni Beachwood estuary)
- Blackspot sleeper Butis melanostigma (Bleeker, 1849) (Port St Johns. Also tropical western Pacific)
- Dusky sleeper Eleotris fusca (Schneider, 1801) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Coffee BayCoffee BayCoffee Bay is a small community of interest in Wild Coast, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It is about 250 kilometres south of the city of Durban. It has a population of approximately 600 people.-References:...
) - Widehead sleeper Eleotris mauritianus (Bennett, 1831) (Umtata River to Mozambique)
- Broadhead sleeper Eleotris melanosoma Bleeker, 1852 (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Qora River)
- Golden sleeper Hypseleotris dayi Smith, 1950 (Fresh and brackish water, St. Lucia and Empangeni, Natal)
- Flathead sleeper Ophiocara porocephala (Valenciennes, 1837) (DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
to ShimoniShimoniShimoni is a port in south eastern Kenya near to the border with Tanzania.This small town is known for its Swahili ruins and slave caves which are the focus of attraction for a community based project which sustains teachers salaries and health causes. In the 1890s it was once the centre of the...
)
Family: Gobiidae — Gobies
Subfamily Amblyopinae- Bulldog eelgoby Taenioides esquivel Smith, 1946 (Delagoa Bay to Transkei)
- Bearded eelgoby Taenioides jacksoni Smith, 1943 (Estuaries of Natal)
- Comb goby Trypauchen microcephalus Bleeker, 1860 (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
Subfamily Gobiinae
Gobiinae
Gobiinae, the true gobies, are a subfamily of the goby family . They are found in all oceans and a few rivers and lakes, but most live in warm waters...
- Mangrove goby Acentrogobius audax Smith, 1959 (Natal)
- Pinkbar goby Amblyeleotris aurora (Polunin & Lubbock, 1977) (Islands of western Indian ocean from Maldives southwards and northern Natal)
- Gorgeous goby Amblyeleotris wheeleriAmblyeleotris wheeleriGorgeous prawn goby is a goby from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 10 cm in length....
(Polunin & Lubbock, 1977) (Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Buttrfly goby Amblygobius albimaculatus (Rüppell, 1830) (Read sea south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Starryfin goby Asterropteryx semipunctatus Rüppell, 1830 (Ind-Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Bearded goby Barbuligobius boehlkei Lachler & McKinney, 1974 (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Whitespotted goby Bathygobius albopunctataus(Valenciennes, 1837) (InhacaInhacaInhaca is a settlement in Mozambique, on the subtropical Inhaca Island off the East African coast. Inhaca settlement is centered on a missionary station located about 32km east of Maputo.-Geography and administration:...
south to Transkei) - Cocos frillgoby Bathygobius cocosensis (Bleeker, 1854) (Indo-Pacific south to Transkei)
- Cheekscaled frillgoby Bathygobius cotticeps (Steindachner, 1880) (Indo-Pacific south to Coffee BayCoffee BayCoffee Bay is a small community of interest in Wild Coast, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It is about 250 kilometres south of the city of Durban. It has a population of approximately 600 people.-References:...
) - Spotted frillgoby Bathygobius cyclopterus (Valenciennes, 1837) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Transkei)
- Brownboy goby Bathygobius laddi (Fowler, 1931) (Inhaca to Coffee BayCoffee BayCoffee Bay is a small community of interest in Wild Coast, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It is about 250 kilometres south of the city of Durban. It has a population of approximately 600 people.-References:...
) - Black minigoby Bathygobius niger (Smith, 1960) (Transkei to Natal, also India and Sri-Lanka)
- Brownlined goby Bathygobius sp. (Indo-West Pacific south to Xora River)
- Agulhas goby Caffrogobius agulhensis (Barnard, 1927) (False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
to East London) - Banded goby Caffrogobius caffer (Günther, 1874) (Natal to False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
) - Prison goby Caffrogobius gilchristi (Boulenger, 1898) (Table BayTable BayTable Bay is a natural bay on the Atlantic Ocean overlooked by Cape Town and is at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula, which stretches south to the Cape of Good Hope. It was named because it is dominated by the flat-topped Table Mountain.Bartolomeu Dias was the first European to explore this...
to Mozambique Island)(syn. Caffrogobius multifasciatus) - Baldy Caffrogobius natalensis (Günther, 1874) (KnysnaKnysnaKnysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
to Natal) - Barehead goby Caffrogobius nudiceps (Valenciennes, 1827) (Walvis BayWalvis BayWalvis Bay , is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies...
to East London) - Commafin goby Caffrogobius saldanha (Barnard, 1927) (Saldanha BaySaldanha BaySaldanha Bay is a natural harbour on the south-western coast of South Africa, north west of Cape Town. The town that developed on the northern shore of the bay, also called Saldanha, was incorporated with five other towns into the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality in 2000. The current population of...
to southern Transkei) - Pacific goby Callogobius sclateri (Steindachner, 1880) (Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
and tropical Pacific)) - Kaalpens goby Coryogalops william (Smith, 1948) (InhacaInhacaInhaca is a settlement in Mozambique, on the subtropical Inhaca Island off the East African coast. Inhaca settlement is centered on a missionary station located about 32km east of Maputo.-Geography and administration:...
to Still Bay)(syn. Monishia william (Smith, 1947)) - Naked goby Croilia mossambica Smith, 1955 (Southern Mozambique to south of DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Sailfin goby Cryptocentrus pretoriusi Smith, 1958 (Known only from Pondoland)
- Blackthroat goby Favonigobius melanobranchus (Fowler, 1934) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
- Tropical sand goby Favonigobius reichei Bleeker, 1953 (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
- Barenape goby Fusigobius duospilus Hoese & Reader, 1985 (Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Longspine goby Fusigobius longispinus Goren, 1978 (Kenya to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Sleepy goby Glossogobius biocellatus (Valenciennes, 1837) (Indo-Pacific south to East London)
- River goby Glossogobius callidus (Smith, 1937) (Aldabra, Mozambique, south to Port Elizabeth)
- Tank goby Glossogobius giurisGlossogobius giurisGlossogobius giuris is a goby of the Gobiidae family, available in the Bay of Bengal. It is said to be the largest of the Gobiinae species.- Appearance, Size and Colouration :...
(Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Indo-West Pacific south to Port St. JohnsPort St. JohnsPort St. Johns is a town situated at the mouth of the Umzimvubu River in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is thought to have been named after a Portuguese ship , which was actually wrecked at Port Edward. Later seafarers mistakenly identified the mouth of the Umzimvubu River as the site of this...
) - Rippled coralgoby Gobiodon rivulatus (Rüppell) (Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Poreless goby Hetereleotris apora (Hoese and Winterbottom, 1979) (Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Locusthead Hetereleotris tentaculata (Seychelles and Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Goggles Hetereleotris zonata (Fowler, 1934) (Natal to Port AlfredPort AlfredPort Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
) - Smoothscale goby Hetereleotris margaretae Hoese, 1986 (Known only from Sodwana Bay)
- Decorated goby Istigobius decoratus (Herre, 1927) (Indo-West Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Pearl goby Istigobius spence (Smith, 1946) (Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Taileyed goby Parachaeturichthyus polynema (Bleeker, 1953) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
- Redhead goby Paragobiodon echinocephalus (Rüppell, 1830) (Indo-West Pacific, associated with StylophoraStylophoraThe stylophorans are an extinct, possibly polyphyletic group allied to the echinoderms, comprising the cornutes and mitrates. It is synonymous with the subphylum Calcichordata....
coral) - Backfin goby Paragobiodon lacunicolis (Kendall & Goldsborough, 1911) (Indo-Pacific)
- Emerald goby Paragobiodon xanthosomus (Bleeker, 1852) (Indo-West Pacific, associated with the coral Seriatopora hystrix)
- Scalynape goby Pleurosicya annandalei (Hornell & Fowler, 1922) (Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Toothy goby Pleurosicya mossambica (Smith, 1959) (Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
, Mozambique, Seychelles and tropical Indo-West Pacific) - Pleurosicya sp. 1 (Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
, Seychelles, Chagos archipelago, tropical Indian ocean and western tropical Pacific) - Convict goby Priolepis cincta (Regan, 1908) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
- Sodwana goby Priolepis sp. (Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Knysna sandgoby Psammogobius knysnaensis Smith, 1935 (Port NollothPort NollothPort Nolloth is a town and domestic seaport in the Namaqualand region on the northwestern coast of South Africa, 89 miles northwest of Springbok....
to northern KwaZulu-Natal) - Barebreast goby Silhouettia sibayi Farquharson, 1970 (Known only from Lake Sibayi and Kosi BayKosi BayKosi Bay is a series of four interlinked lakes in the Maputuland area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The lakes form part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site....
) - Pelagic goby Sufflogobius bibarbatusSufflogobius bibarbatusThe Bearded Goby or Pelagic Goby The Bearded Goby or Pelagic Goby The Bearded Goby or Pelagic Goby (Sufflogobius bibarbatus is a fish in the family Gobiidae. Its genus Sufflogobius is monotypic.-Description:...
(von Bonde, 1923) (Port NollothPort NollothPort Nolloth is a town and domestic seaport in the Namaqualand region on the northwestern coast of South Africa, 89 miles northwest of Springbok....
to Saldanha BaySaldanha BaySaldanha Bay is a natural harbour on the south-western coast of South Africa, north west of Cape Town. The town that developed on the northern shore of the bay, also called Saldanha, was incorporated with five other towns into the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality in 2000. The current population of...
) - Polkadot goby Trimma corallina (Smith, 1969) (Pinda to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Flame goby Trimma macrophthalma (Tomiyama, 1936) (Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Pennant glider Valencienna strigata (Broussonet, 1787) (Indo-Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
- Shadow goby Yongeichthys nebulosus (Forsskål, 1775) (Western tropical Pacific and Indian oceans south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
)
Subfamily Gobionellinae
Gobionellinae
Gobionellinae is a subfamily of the family Gobiidae.- Sourses :*****...
- Freshwater goby Awaous aeneofuscus (Peters, 1852) (Estuaries and freshwaters from Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
to ZambeziZambeziThe Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa, and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. The area of its basin is , slightly less than half that of the Nile...
) - WeeperWeeperThe Weeper is the name of two fictitious comic book supervillains, originally published by Fawcett Comics and today owned by DC Comics. The original Weeper first appeared in Master Comics #23 in February 1942....
Gnatholepis sp. 1 (Western Indian Ocean south to TranskeiTranskeiThe Transkei , officially the Republic of Transkei , was a Bantustan—an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity—and nominal parliamentary democracy in the southeastern region of South Africa...
) - Slender weeper Gnatholepis sp. 2 (Indo-Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Durban goby Mugilogobius durbanensis (Barnard, 1927) (Southern Mozambique to Coffee BayCoffee BayCoffee Bay is a small community of interest in Wild Coast, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It is about 250 kilometres south of the city of Durban. It has a population of approximately 600 people.-References:...
) - Meander goby Mugilogobius inhacae (Smith, 1959) (Southern Mozambique to Natal)
- Sharptail goby Oligolepis acutipennis(Valenciennes, 1837) (Indo-West Pacific south to Great Fish RiverGreat Fish RiverThe Great Fish River is a river running through the South African province of the Eastern Cape, it originates east of Graaff-Reinet and runs through Cradock, just south of this the Tarka River joins it...
) - Kei goby Oligolepis keiensis (Smith, 1938) (Seychelles, Madagascar and InhacaInhacaInhaca is a settlement in Mozambique, on the subtropical Inhaca Island off the East African coast. Inhaca settlement is centered on a missionary station located about 32km east of Maputo.-Geography and administration:...
to Fish River Mouth) - Maned goby Oxyurichthys microlepis (Bleeker, 1849) (Indo-West Pacific south to Xora River mouth)
- Eyebrow goby Oxyurichthys ophthalmonema (Bleeker, 1857) (Indo-West Pacific south to Xora River mouth)
- Dwarfgoby Pandaka silvana (Barnard, 1943) (Northern Mozambique to KnysnaKnysnaKnysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
) - Bigmouth goby Redigobius bikolanus (Herre, 1927) (Indo-Pacific south to Coffee BayCoffee BayCoffee Bay is a small community of interest in Wild Coast, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It is about 250 kilometres south of the city of Durban. It has a population of approximately 600 people.-References:...
) - Checked goby Redigobius dewaali (Weber, 1897) (Freshwater and estuarine, Southern Mozambique to KnysnaKnysnaKnysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
)
Subfamily Oxudercinae
- African mudhopper Periophthalmus kalolo Lesson, 1831 (Seychelles, Kenya to Transkei)(syn. Periophthalmus koelreuteri)
- Bigfin mudhopper Periophthalmus argentilineatus Valenciennes, 1837(Port Alfred to Red Sea)(syn. Periophthalmus sobrinus Eggert, 1935)
Family: Microdesmidae — Gobies
Subfamilia: Ptereleotrinae- Fire goby Nemateleotris magnificaNemateleotris magnificaThe Fire Goby, Fire Fish, Fire Dartfish, or Red Fire Goby is a marine dartfish.This fish is most commonly found near the substrate of the upper reef in tropical marine waters. These waters include the Indo-Pacific, Central Pacific, east African waters, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, New Caledonia, and...
Fowler, 1938 (Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
and Comores to Marquesas islands) - Scissortail Ptereleotris evidesPtereleotris evidesPtereleotris evides is a Dartfish from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 14cm in length....
(Jordan & Hubbs, 1925) (Red Sea south to Natal) - Blacktail goby Ptereleotris heteroptera (Bleeker, 1855) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
- Sad glider Ptereleotris lineopinnis (Fowler, 1935) (Umzumbi, Natal, 1 specimen)
Family: Cichlidae — Cichlids
- Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicusOreochromis mossambicusThe Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, is a tilapiine cichlid fish native to southern Africa. It is a popular fish for aquaculture...
(Peters, 1852) (Estuaries and rivers from Bushmans River north)
Family: Labridae — Wrasses
- Bluespotted tamarin Anampses caeruleopunctatus Rüppell, 1829 (Red Sea to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Lined tamarin Anampses lineatus Randall, 1972 (Red Sea south to Natal)
- Yellowtail tamarin Anampses meleagrides Valenciennes, 1840 (Red Sea south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Natal wrasse Anchichoerops natalensis (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Known only from Natal and Transkei)
- Lyretail hogfish Bodianus anthioides (Bennett, 1830) (Red Sea south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Turncoat hogfish Bodianus axillaris (Bennett, 1831) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
- Saddleback hogfish Bodianus bilunulatusBodianus bilunulatusBodianus bilunulatus, or tarry hogfish, is a member of the Hogfish family that is endemic to the Hawaiian islands. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a length of ....
(Lacepède, 1801) (Indo-Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Diana's hogfish Bodianus dianaBodianus dianaBodianus diana, or Diana's hogfish, is a Hogfish from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 25 cm in length....
(Lacepède, 1801) (Port Elizabeth northwards)(Indo-Pacific south to Transkei) - Lined hogfish Bodianus leucostictus (Bennett, 1831) (Somalia south to Natal)
- Goldsaddle hogfish Bodianus perditio (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834) (Northern Mozambique to Natal)
- Two-spot wrasse Cheilinus bimaculatus Valenciennes, 1840 (Indo-Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Floral wrasse Cheilinus chlorourus (Bloch, 1791) (Indo-Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Cheeklined wrasse Cheilinus digrammus (Lacepède, 1801) (Red Sea south to Natal)
- Snooty wrasse Cheilinus oxycephalus (Bleeker, 1853) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
- Tripletail wrasse Cheilinus trilobatus Lacepéde, 1801 (Indo-Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Cigar wrasse Cheilio inermisCheilio inermisCheilio inermis, commonly called the cigar wrasse is a species of fish belonging to the family Labridae.It grows to an average length of but can reach up to . It is mainly found in tropical reefs at depths of up to . Young individuals are usually a mottled brown or green, sometimes with a broad...
(Forsskål, 1775) (Red sea south to Transkei) - Exquisite wrasse Cirrhilabrus exquisitusCirrhilabrus exquisitusCirrhilabrus exquisitus is a Wrasse from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 12 cm in length....
Smith, 1957 (East Africa south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Clown coris Coris aygula Lacepéde, 1801 (Indo-Pacific south to Transkei)
- Spottail coris Coris caudimacula (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834) (Red Sea south to East London)
- Queen coris Coris formosaCoris formosaCoris formosa is a Wrasse from the Western Indian Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 60 cm in length....
(Bennett, 1830) (Indian Ocean south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - African coris Coris gaimard africana Smith, 1957 (Western Indian Ocean to 30°S)
- Knife wrasse Cymolutes praetextatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
- Birdfish Gomphosus caeruleus Lacepède, 1801 (Port AlfredPort AlfredPort Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
northwards)(Indian ocean south to southern Natal) - Adorned wrasse Halichoeres cosmetus Randall and Smith, 1982 (Western Indian Ocean south to Aliwal ShoalAliwal ShoalThe Aliwal Shoal is a rocky reef which is the remains of an ancient sand dune approximately 5 km off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The reef plays host to many kinds of hard and soft corals and a variety of tropical and subtropical fish species. Aliwal Shoal was named after the...
) - Bubblefin wrasse Halichoerus dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1839) (Indo-West Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Checkerboard wrasse Halichoeres hortulanus (Lacepède, 1801) (Indo-Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Rainbow wrasse Halichoeres iridis Randall & Smith 1982 (East African coast to Natal (30°S))
- Jewelled wrasse Halichoeres lapillus Smith, 1947 (Mauritius, Madagascar and southern Mozambique to Natal)
- Picture wrasse Halichoeres nebulosus (Valenciennes, 1839) (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Zigzag sand wrasse Halichoeres scapularis(Bennett, 1831) (Red Sea to Natal)
- Ringed wrasse Hologymnosus doliatus (Lacepéde, 1801) (Central Pacific to East Africa and south to southern Natal)
- Bicoloured cleaner wrasse Labroides bicolor Fowler and Bean, 1928 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
- Bluestreak cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus (Valenciennes, 1839) (Ondo-Pacific south to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Divided wrasse Macropharyngodon bipartitus Smith, 1957 (Western Indian Ocean south to Natal)
- Bluespotted wrasse Macropharyngodon cyanoguttatus Randall, 1978 (Known only from Mauritius, Reunion and north coast of Natal)
- Madagascar wrasse Macropharyngodon vivienae Randall, 1978 (Known only from Madagascar and Natal coast south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Seagrass wrasse Novaculichthys macrolepidotus (Bloch 1791) (Red Sea south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Rockmover wrasse Novaculichthys taeniourusNovaculichthys taeniourusNovaculichthys taeniourus is a wrasse that is mainly found in coral reefs and lagoons in the Indo-Pacific region. These include those of the Gulf of California to Panama; tropical Pacific Ocean islands including Hawaii; the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia; and the Indian Ocean to the east...
(Lacepéde, 1801) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal) - Striated wrasse Pseudocheilinus evanidusPseudocheilinus evanidusPseudocheilinus evanidus is a Wrasse from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 8 cm in length....
(Jenkins, 1901) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal) - Sixstripe wrasse Pseudocheilinus hexataeniaPseudocheilinus hexataeniaPseudocheilinus hexataenia, commonly known as six line wrasse, is a Wrasse from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 10 cm in length....
(Bleeker, 1857) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal) - Eightstripe wrasse Pseudocheilinus octotaeniaPseudocheilinus octotaeniaPseudocheilinus octotaenia is a Wrasse from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 14 cm in length....
Jenkins, 1900 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal) - Chiseltooth wrasse Pseudodax moluccanus (Valenciennes, 1839) (Indo-Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Smalltail wrasse Pseudojuloides cerasinus (Snyder, 1904) (Indo-Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Cocktail wrasse Pteragogus flagellifera (Valenciennes, 1839) (Indian Ocean south to Natal)
- Sideburn wrasse Pteragogus pelycus Randall, 1981 (Western Indian Ocean south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Bluelined wrasse Stethojulis albovittata Bonnaterre, 1788 (Red Sea to Natal)
- Cutribbon wrasse Stethojulis interrupta (Bleeker, 1851) (Western Pacific to East Africa and south to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Three-ribbon wrasse Stethojulis strigiventer (Bennett, 1832) (Central Pacific to east Africa and south to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Twotone wrasse Thalassoma amblycephalumThalassoma amblycephalumThalassoma amblycephalum, or the Blunt-headed wrasse, is a species of fish in the Labridae family....
(Bleeker, 1856) (Indo-Pacific south to Transkei) - Redcheek wrasse Thalassoma genivittatumThalassoma genivittatumThalassoma genivittatum, or the Red-cheek wrasse , is a species of fish in the Labridae family....
(Valenciennes, 1839) (Mauritius and Natal, where it is known from Aliwal ShoalAliwal ShoalThe Aliwal Shoal is a rocky reef which is the remains of an ancient sand dune approximately 5 km off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The reef plays host to many kinds of hard and soft corals and a variety of tropical and subtropical fish species. Aliwal Shoal was named after the...
) - Sixbar wrasse Thalassoma hardwickeThalassoma hardwickeThalassoma hardwicke, or the Six-bar wrasse, is a species of fish in the Labridae family....
(Bennett, 1828) (Indo-Pacific south to Bashee River) - Goldbar wrasse Thalassoma hebraicumThalassoma hebraicumThalassoma hebraicum is a Wrasse from the Western Indian Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 23 cm in length....
(Lacepède, 1801) (Indian Ocean south to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Crescent-tail wrasse Thalassoma lunare (Linnaeus, 1758) Indo-Pacific south to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Rainbow wrasse or Surge wrasseThalassoma purpureumThalassoma purpureumThalassoma purpureum, or the Surge wrasse, is a species of fish in the Labridae family....
(Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-Pacific south to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Fivestripe wrasse Thalassoma quinquevittatumThalassoma quinquevittatumThalassoma quinquevittatum is a Wrasse from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 17 cm in length....
(Lay and Bennett, 1839) (Indo-Pacific south to Transkei (32°S)) - Ladder wrasse Thalassoma trilobatumThalassoma trilobatumThalassoma trilobatum is a type of tropical fish. Females have a shorter head than the males.-External links:*...
(Lacepéde, 1801) (Indo-Pacific south to Transkei) - Pearly razorfish Xyrichtys novacula (Linnaeus, 1758) (Both sides of the Atlantic, 1 doubtful record from Cape of Good HopeCape of Good HopeThe Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
) - Peacock wrasse Xyrichtys pavo Valenciennes, 1840 (Red sea to Natal)
- Fivefinger wrasse Xyrichtys pentadactylus (Linnaeus 1758) (Red Sea to Natal)
Family: PomacentridaePomacentridaePomacentridae are a family of perciform fish, comprising the damselfishes and clownfishes. They are primarily marine, while a few species inhabit freshwater and brackish environments . They are noted for their hardy constitutions and territoriality...
— Damselfishes
- Fourbar damsel Abudefduf natalensis Hensley & Randall, 1983 (Transkei to Kosi BayKosi BayKosi Bay is a series of four interlinked lakes in the Maputuland area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The lakes form part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site....
) - Dusky damsel Abudefduf notatus (Day, 1869) (Indo-West Pacific south to Kosi BayKosi BayKosi Bay is a series of four interlinked lakes in the Maputuland area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The lakes form part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site....
) - Sevenbar damsel Abudefduf septemfasciatus (Cuvier, 1830) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Stripetail damsel Abudefduf sexfasciatus (Lacepède, 1801)
- Spot damsel Abudefduf sordidus (Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-Pacific south to Port AlfredPort AlfredPort Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
) - False-eye damsel Abudefduf sparoides (Cuvier, 1830) (Kenya to Transkei)
- Sergeant major Abudefduf vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) (Indo-West Pacific south to Port AlfredPort AlfredPort Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
) - Nosestripe clownfish Amphiprion akallopisosAmphiprion akallopisosThe skunk clownfish or nosestripe anemonefish, Amphiprion akallopisos, is an anemonefish that lives in association with sea anemones. A. akallopisos, like A. percula, is nearly always associated with Heteractis magnifica and Stichodactyla gigantea, and is found in the Indo-Pacific...
Bleeker, 1853 (Tropical Indian ocean south to Aliwal ShoalAliwal ShoalThe Aliwal Shoal is a rocky reef which is the remains of an ancient sand dune approximately 5 km off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The reef plays host to many kinds of hard and soft corals and a variety of tropical and subtropical fish species. Aliwal Shoal was named after the...
) - Twobar clownfish Amphiprion allardi Klausewitz, 1970 (East Africa south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Bluespotted chromis Chromis dasygenys (Fowler, 1935) (Delagoa Bay to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Chocolate dip Chromis dimidiata (Klunzinger, 1871) (Tropical Indo-Pacific to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Brown chromis Chromis lepidolepis Bleeker, 1877 (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Blacktail chromis Chromis nigrura (Smith, 1960) (Tropical western Indian ocean south to Transkei)
- Doublebar chromis Chromis opercularis (Günther, 1867) (Tropical Indian ocean south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Darkbar chromis Chromis weberi Fowler and Bean, 1928 (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Aliwal ShoalAliwal ShoalThe Aliwal Shoal is a rocky reef which is the remains of an ancient sand dune approximately 5 km off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The reef plays host to many kinds of hard and soft corals and a variety of tropical and subtropical fish species. Aliwal Shoal was named after the...
) - Footballer Chrysiptera annulata (Peters, 1855) (Red Sea to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Blue damsel Chrysiptera glauca (Cuvier, 1830) ((Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Onespot damsel Chrysiptera unimaculata (Cuvier, 1830) (Indian Ocean south to Transkei)
- Zebra humbug Dascyllus aruanus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Two-bar humbug Dascyllus carneusDascyllus carneusDascyllus carneus is a Damselfish from the Indian Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 7cm in length....
Fischer, 1885 (Tropical Indian ocean south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Domino Dascyllus trimaculatus (Rüppell, 1829) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Great Fish Point))
- Redwing coral damsel Lepidozygus tapeinosoma (Bleeker, 1856) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Crescent damsel Neopomacentrus cyanomos (Bleeker, 1856) (Tropical Indian ocean south to Kosi BayKosi BayKosi Bay is a series of four interlinked lakes in the Maputuland area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The lakes form part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site....
) - Narrowbar damsel Plectroglyphidodon dickii (Lienard, 1839) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Stop-start damsel Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis (Vaillant and Sauvage, 1875) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Widebar damsel Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus Fowler and Ball, 1924 (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Jewel damsel Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Sash damsel Plectroglyphidodon leucozonus (Bleeker, 1859) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific to Transkei)
- Phoenix damsel Plectroglyphidodon phoenixensis (Schultz, 1943) (Scattered localities in tropical Indo-West Pacific; Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Blue Pete Pomacentrus caeruleusPomacentrus caeruleusPomacentrus caeruleus is a Damselfish from the Western Indian Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 10cm in length....
Quoy & Gaimard, 1825 (Western Indian Ocean south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Sapphire damsel Pomocentrus pavo (Bloch, 1787) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Yellowtail damsel Pomacentrus trichourus (Günther, 1867) (Red Sea south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Dark damsel Stegastes fasciolatus (Ogilby, 1889) (Kenya to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
)
Family: Scaridae — Parrotfishes
- Christmas parrotfish Calotomus carolinus (Valenciennes, 1840) (Eastern Pacific to Natal)
- Blue humphead parrotfish Chlorurus cyanescens (Valenciennes, 1840) (Mauritius, Madagascar, Zanzibar and Natal to 30°S)(syn. Scarus cyanescens)
- Marbled parrotfish Leptoscarus vaigiensis (Quoy and Gaimard, 1824) (East Africa south to Transkei)
- Blue moon parrotfish Scarus atrilunula Randall and Bruce, 1983 (Kenya to Natal)
- Redbarred parrotfish Scarus caudofasciatus (Günther, 1862) (Western Indian ocean to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Lunate parrotfish Scarus festivus Valenciennes, 1840 (French Polynesia to east Africa; observed off Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Bluebarred parrotfish Scarus ghobban Forsskål, 1775 (Red sea to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Roundhead parrotfish Scarus globiceps Valenciennes, 1840 (Indo-Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Dusky parrotfish Scarus niger Forsskål, 1775 (Indo-Pacific south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Palenose parrotfish Scarus psittacus Forsskål, 1775 (Red Sea south to Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Ember parrotfish Scarus rubroviolaceus Bleeker, 1847 (Eastern Pacific to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Eclipse parrotfish Scarus russelii (Tropical and subtropical Indian ocean from India westwards but not Persian Gulf or Red Sea. One specimen from Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
) - Fivesaddle parrotfish Scarus scaber Valenciennes, 1840 (East Africa south to Natal)
- Bullethead parrotfish Scarus sordidus Forsskål, 1775 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
- Tricolour parrotfish Scarus tricolor Bleeker, 1847 (East Africa south to Natal)
Suborder: PercoideiPercoideiPercoidei is one of eighteen suborders of bony fish in the order Perciformes. Many commercially harvested fish species are contained in this suborder, including the snappers, jacks, whitings, groupers, bass, perches and porgies.-Divisions:...
See article List of marine fishes of the suborder Percoidei of South AfricaFamily: Gempylidae — Snake mackerels
- Snake mackerel Gempylus serpens Cuvier, 1829 (Worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters, sometimes in temperate latitudes)
- Escolar Lepidocybium flavobrunneum (Smith, 1849) (Tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans)
- Sackfish Neoepinnula orientalis (Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924) (All oceans near edge of continental shelf and islands)
- Oilfish Ruvettus pretiosus Cocco, 1879 (Tropical and temperate parts of all oceans)
- Snoek Thyrsites atunThyrsites atunThyrsites atun, the "snoek" or "Cape snoek", is a long, thin, perch-like commercial food fish belonging to the Gempylidae family. It is found in the seas of the Southern Hemisphere. It is also known in Australasia as barracouta though it is not related to the barracuda.It can grow up to long and...
(Euphrasen, 1791) (Namibia to Port Elizabeth) - Black snoek Thyrsitoides marleyi Fowler, 1929 (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
)
Family: Istiophoridae — Sailfish, spearfishes and marlins
- Sailfish Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw, 1792) (Mossel Bay to Mozambique)
- Black marlin Makaira indica (Cuvier, 1832) (Primarily Indo-Pacific to off Cape of Good HopeCape of Good HopeThe Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
) - Blue marlin Makaira nigricans (Lacepèede, 1802) (Worldwide in all oceans)
- White marlin Tetrapturus albidus Poey, 1861 (Atlantic ocean)
- Shortbill spearfish Tetrapturus angustirostris Tanaka, 1914 (Off Cape PointCape PointCape Point is a promontory at the southeast corner of the Cape Peninsula, which is a mountainous and scenic landform that runs north-south for about thirty kilometres at the extreme southwestern tip of the African continent in the Republic of South Africa. Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town...
and DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
northwards throughout Indo-Pacific) - Striped marlin Tetrapturus audax (Philippi, 1887) (Primarily Indo-Pacific, but have been caught off Cape TownCape TownCape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
) - Longbill spearfish Tetrapturus pfluegeri Robins & de Sylva, 1963 (Apparently restricted to the Atlantic ocean)
Family: ScombridaeScombridaeScombridae is the family of the mackerels, tunas, and bonitos, and thus includes many of the most important and familiar food fishes. The family consists of about 55 species in 15 genera and two subfamilies...
— Tunas, mackerels and bonitos
Subfamily: Gasterochismatinae- Bigscale mackerel Gasterochisma melampus Richardson, 1845 (Worldwide in southern ocean, mostly between 35° and 50° S, recorded from Table BayTable BayTable Bay is a natural bay on the Atlantic Ocean overlooked by Cape Town and is at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula, which stretches south to the Cape of Good Hope. It was named because it is dominated by the flat-topped Table Mountain.Bartolomeu Dias was the first European to explore this...
)
Subfamily: Scombrinae
- Wahoo Acanthocybium solandri (Cuvier, 1831) (Worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters. From South Africa: Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
, off DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, and Sodwana BaySodwana BaySodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
. one record west of Cape PointCape PointCape Point is a promontory at the southeast corner of the Cape Peninsula, which is a mountainous and scenic landform that runs north-south for about thirty kilometres at the extreme southwestern tip of the African continent in the Republic of South Africa. Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town...
) - Slender Tuna Allothunnus fallai Serventy, 1948 (Worldwide between 20° and 50° S. From South Africa: Miller's PointMiller's Point, Western CapeMiller's Point is a headland and stretch of protected coastline in South Africa. It is located about south of Simon's Town on the road to Cape Point.-History:...
and Rooikrans in False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
) - Bullet tuna Auxis rochei Risso, 1810 (Cosmopolitan in warm waters. From South Africa: Hout BayHout BayHout Bay is the name of a coastal suburb of Cape Town, South Africa with a mix of neighbourhoods from the very rich to the very poor. It lies in a valley on the Atlantic Seaboard of the Cape Peninsula and is twenty kilometres south of the Central Business District of Cape Town...
, Mossel BayMossel BayMossel Bay is a harbour town of about 130,000 people on the Southern Cape of South Africa. It is an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province...
and Natal) - Frigate tuna Auxis thazard (Lacepède, 1800)
- Eastern little tuna Euthynnus affinisEuthynnus affinisEuthynnus affinis, the kawakawa, little or mackerel tuna or false albacore, is a fish species.-See also:* List of fish in India* List of fishes of the Red Sea* List of fish of Hawaii...
(Cantor, 1849) (Mossel BayMossel BayMossel Bay is a harbour town of about 130,000 people on the Southern Cape of South Africa. It is an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province...
to Delagoa Bay) - Dogtooth tuna Gymnosarda unicolor (Rüppell, 1836) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific. Redorded from off St. Lucia)
- Skipjack tuna Katsuwonis pelamis (Linnaeus, 1758) (False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
, Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
to Delagoa Bay) - Indian mackerel Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1816) (DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
to Red Sea) - Striped bonito Sarda orientalis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844) (Cape St. FrancisCape St. FrancisCape St. Francis is a town in South Africa, situated on a headland in the Eastern Cape Province. It is popular for its clean beaches and as a surfing location.The town is home to a Penguin Rescue and Rehabilitation Center as well as the Seal Point Lighthouse....
to Natal coast, Indo-Pacific) - Atlantic bonito Sarda sarda (Bloch, 1793) (Angola to Mossel BayMossel BayMossel Bay is a harbour town of about 130,000 people on the Southern Cape of South Africa. It is an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province...
, perhaps as far as DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Mackerel Scomber japonicus Houttuyn, 1782 (Namibia to Maputo)(Cape to Natal, cosmopolitan in warm waters)
- King mackerel Scomberomorus commerson (Lacepède, 1800) (Indo-West Pacific to Mossel Bay. Once recorded from False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
) - Queen mackerel Scomberomorus plurilineatus Fourmanoir, 1966 (Tsitsikamma to Kenya)
- Albacore or Longfin tunnyThunnus alalunga (Bonnaterre, 1788) (Off Western Cape, Cosmopolitan between 45°-50°N and 30°-40°S)
- Yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788) (Angola to Natal)
- Southern bluefin tuna Thunnus maccoyi (Castelnau, 1872) (Off Cape region in winter, probably throughout southern oceans south of 30°S)
- Bigeye tuna Thummus obesus (Lowe, 1839) (Off Cape region, Worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters)
- Bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Agulhas BankAgulhas BankThe Agulhas Bank is a broad, shallow part of the southern African continental shelf which extends south of Cape Agulhas before falling away steeply away to the abyssal plain....
and False BayFalse BayFalse Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
)
Family: Sphyraenidae — Barracudas
- Sharp-fin barracuda Sphyraena acutipinnis Day, 1876 (Indo-Pacific south to Mossel BayMossel BayMossel Bay is a harbour town of about 130,000 people on the Southern Cape of South Africa. It is an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province...
) - Great barracuda Sphyraena barracuda (Edwards, 1771) (Natal and all tropical seas except eastern Pacific)
- Yellowstripe barracuda Sphyraena chrysotaenia Klunzinger, 1884 (Indo-Pacific south to East London)
- Yellowtail barracuda Sphyraena flavicauda Rüppell, 1838 (Indo-Pacific south to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Pickhandle barracuda Sphyraena jello Cuvier, 1829 (Western Indian ocean south to KnysnaKnysnaKnysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
) - Sawtooth barracuda Sphyraena putnamiae Jordan & Seale, 1905 (Red Sea to Natal)
- Blackfin barracuda Sphyraena qenie Klunzinger, 1870 (Indo-Pacific, reported from Natal)
Family: Trichiuridae — Frostfishes
- Aphanopus mikhailini Parin, 1983 (Walters shoal)
- Slender frostfish Benthodesmus elongatus elongatus (Clarke, 1879) (New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, once found off Natal)
- Buttersnoek Lepidopus caudatus (Euphrasen, 1788) (Mediterranean, eastern Atlantic from Norway to South Africa, Australia and new Zealand)
- Cutlass fish Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus, 1758 (Cosmopolitan in tropical and temperate waters)
Family: Xiphiidae — Swordfishes
- Swordfish Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758 (Namibia to Natal)
Family: Centrolophidae — Ruffs
- Black ruff Centrolophus niger (Gmelin, 1789) (Temperate waters of Australia, New Zealand, South America and South Africa, also North Atlantic and Mediterranean)
- Antarctic butterfish Hyperoglypha antarctica (Carmichael, 1818) (Temperate waters; islands of south Atlantic and southern Indian oceans; New Zealand, southern Australia and South Africa)
- Schedophilus huttoni (Waite, 1910) (Circumglobal in southern ocean, taken off Cape TownCape TownCape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, common off Namibia) - Black butterfish or Peregrine driftfishSchedophilus velaini (Sauvage, 1879) (Gulf of Guinea, to South Africa)(syn. Hyperoglypha moselii (Cunningham, 1910))
- Flabby driftfish Tubbia tasmanica Whitley, 1943 (Temperate waters of Southern Ocean; New Zealand, Tasmania and South Africa off Natal)
Family: Nomeidae — Driftfishes
- Black fathead Cubiceps baxteri McCulloch, 1923 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans)
- Blue fathead Cubiceps caeruleus Regan, 1914 (Southern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans)
- Cape fathead Cubiceps capensis (Smith, 1845) (Probably circumglobal in southern hemisphere)
- Longfin fathead Cubiceps pauciradiatus Günther, 1872 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans)
- Bluebottle fish Nomeus gronovi Gmelin, 1789 (Circumglobal in warm waters)
- Banded driftfish Psenes arafurensis Günther, 1889 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean)
- Freckled driftfish Psenes cyanophrys Valenciennes, 1883 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans)
- Silver driftfish Psenes maculatus Lütken, 1880 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans)
- Blackrag Psenes pellucidus Lütken, 1880 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans)
- Shadow driftfish Psenes whiteleggi Waite, 1894 (Indian Ocean and Australia)
Family: AriommatidaeAriommatidaeAriommatidae is a family of perciform fishes. The family contains a single genus Ariomma.- Species :There are 10 species in a single genus:* Genus Ariomma** Ariomma bondi Fowler, 1930.** Ariomma brevimanus ....
- Indian driftfish Ariomma indica (Day, 1870) (Mossel BayMossel BayMossel Bay is a harbour town of about 130,000 people on the Southern Cape of South Africa. It is an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province...
eastwards to Southern Japan)
Family: Tetragonuridae — Squaretails
- Bigeye squaretail Tetragonuris atlanticus Lowe, 1839 (Atlantic Pacific and Indian oceans)
- Smalleye squaretail Tetragonuris cuvieri Risso, 1810 (off Natal)
Family: StromateidaeStromateidaeThe family Stromateidae of butterfishes contains 17 species of fish in 3 genera. Butterfishes live in coastal waters off the Americas, western Africa and in the Indo-Pacific.-Species:* Genus Pampus...
- Blue butterfish Stromateus fiatola Linnaeus, 1758 (Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean round the Cape to Natal)
Family: Ammodytidae — Sandlances
- Scaly sandlance Bleekeria renniei Smith, 1857 (Known only from East London to Port AlfredPort AlfredPort Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
and the Seychelles) - Cape sandlance Gymnammodytes capensis (Barnard, 1927) (Angola to Delagoa Bay)
Family: Champsodontidae — Gapers
- Gaper Champsodon capensis (Regan, 1908) (Cape of Good HopeCape of Good HopeThe Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
)
Family: ChiasmodontidaeChiasmodontidaeChiasmodontidae, the snaketooth fishes, is a family of deep-sea fishes in the order Perciformes.-Species:There are 22 species in four genera:* Genus Chiasmodon Johnson, 1864 ** Chiasmodon bolangeri Osório, 1909....
— Swallowers
- Chiasmodon niger Johnson, 1863 (Tropical/subtropical in the three major oceans)
- Kali macrodon (Norman, 1929) (Tropical/subtropical in the three major oceans, taken off Cape TownCape TownCape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
and Natal)
Family: Creediidae — Sand burrowers
- longfin burrower Apodocreedia vanderhorsti de Beaufort, 1948 (DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
to Delagoa Bay) - Sand submarine Limnichthys nitidus Smith 1958 (Red Sea south to Chaka's Rock Natal)
Family: PercophidaePercophidaeDuckbills are a family, Percophidae, of perciform fishes.They are found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and in the southwestern and southeastern Pacific....
— Duckbills
- Bembrops platyrhynchus (Alcock, 1893) (off Natal)
- Osopseron natalensis Nelson, 1982 (3 specimens off Kosi BayKosi BayKosi Bay is a series of four interlinked lakes in the Maputuland area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The lakes form part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site....
) - Pteropsaron heemstrai Nelson, 1982 (2 specimens off southern Natal)
Family: Pinguipedidae — Sandsmelts
- Blacktail sandsmelt Parapercis hexopthalma (Ehrenberg, 1829) (Red Sea to DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Deepwater sandsmelt Parapercis maritzi Anderson, 1992 (Natal and Transkei)
- Spotted sandsmelt Parapercis punctulata (Cuvier, 1829) (Northern Natal)
- Smallscale sandsmelt Parapercis robinsoni Fowler, 1929 (Persian Gulf to Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Rosy sandsmelt Parapercis schauinslandi (Steindachner, 1900) (Hawaii, Seychelles, Comores, and DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
) - Blotchlip sandsmelt Parapercis xanthozona Bleeker, 1849 (Indo-West Pacific, 2 specimens from Natal)
Family: Trichonotidae — Sand divers
- Sand diver Trichonotus marleyi (Smith, 1936) (Known only from DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
to Delagoa Bay)
Family: Uranoscopidae — Stargazers
- Spotted stargazer Pleuroscopus pseudodorsalis Barnard, 1927 (off Table BayTable BayTable Bay is a natural bay on the Atlantic Ocean overlooked by Cape Town and is at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula, which stretches south to the Cape of Good Hope. It was named because it is dominated by the flat-topped Table Mountain.Bartolomeu Dias was the first European to explore this...
and Algoa BayAlgoa BayAlgoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
) - Stargazer Uranoscopus archionema Regan, 1921 (Mossel BayMossel BayMossel Bay is a harbour town of about 130,000 people on the Southern Cape of South Africa. It is an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province...
to Kenya)
Family: Zoarcidae — Eelpouts
- Lycodes agulhensis Andriashev, 1959 (Cap Blanc, Mauretania to Agulhas BankAgulhas BankThe Agulhas Bank is a broad, shallow part of the southern African continental shelf which extends south of Cape Agulhas before falling away steeply away to the abyssal plain....
) - Lycodonus vermiformis Barnard, 1927 (off Cape PointCape PointCape Point is a promontory at the southeast corner of the Cape Peninsula, which is a mountainous and scenic landform that runs north-south for about thirty kilometres at the extreme southwestern tip of the African continent in the Republic of South Africa. Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town...
) - Melanostigma gelatinosum Günther, 1881 (off Cape TownCape TownCape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
)