List of marine fishes of the suborder Percoidei of South Africa
Encyclopedia
This is a sub-list of the List of marine Perciform fishes of South Africa for fishes of the suborder Percoidei
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: Acropomatidae
Family: Ambassidae
Family: Apogonidae
Subfamily: Apogoninae
Subfamily: Pseudaminae
Family: Caesionidae
Family: Carangidae
Family: Centracanthidae
Family: Coryphaenidae
Family: Dinopercidae
Family: Drepaneidae
Family: Emmelichthyidae
Family: Haemulidae
Family: Lethrinidae
Family: Lutjanidae
Family: Monodactylidae
Family: Opistognathidae
Family: Oplegnathidae
Subfamily: Plesiopinae
Family: Priacanthidae
Subfamily: Congrogadinae — Snakelets
Subfamily: Pseudochrominae
Subfamily: Pseudoplesiopinae
Family: Sciaenidae
Family: Serranidae
Subfamily: Anthiniinae
Subfamily: Epinephelinae
Subfamily: Grammistinae — Soapfishes and Podges
Subfamily: Liopropomatinae
Subfamily: Serraninae
Family: Sillaginidae
Family: Sparidae
Family: Terapontidae
Percoidei
Percoidei 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:...
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: Cepolidae — Bandfishes
- Bandfish Acanthocepola indica (Day, 1888) (Occasionally taken by trawl in coastal waters from Natal to Japan)
- Owstonia weberi (Gilchrist, 1922) (Natal to Kenya)
Family: Cheilodactylidae — Fingerfins
- Redfingers Cheilodactylus fasciatus Lacepède, 1803 (Kunene river, Namibia to Durban)
- Barred fingerfin Cheilodactylus pixi Smith, 1980 (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 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:...
)(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:...
) - Twotone fingerfin Chirodactylus brachydactylus (Cuvier, 1830) (Walvis BayWalvis BayWalvis Bay , is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies...
to Delagoa Bay) - Bank steenbras Chirodactylis grandis (Günther, 1860) (Walvis BayWalvis BayWalvis Bay , is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies...
to possibly Natal) - Natal fingerfin Chirodactylus jessicalenorum Smith, 1980 (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:...
Transkei 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...
)
Family: Cirrhitidae — Hawkfishes
- Twospot hawkfish Amblycirrhitus bimacula (Jenkins, 1903) (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...
) - Spotted hawkfish Cirrhitichthys oxycephalusCirrhitichthys oxycephalusCirrhitichthys oxycephalus is a Hawkfish from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 10cm in length....
(Bleeker, 1855) (Indo-Pacific south to East London) - Marbled hawkfish Cirrhitus pinnulatus (Schneider, 1801) (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...
) - Blackspotted hawkfish Cirrhitus punctatus (Cuvier, 1829) (Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozanbique and South Africa south to BizanaMbizana Local MunicipalityMbizana Local Municipality is a local municipality in OR Tambo District in the Wild Coast Region of the Eastern Cape in South Africa. Its name means "little casserole" or "sauce pan" in isiXhosa....
) - Swallowtail hawkfish Cyprinocirrhites polyactis (Bleeker, 1875) (East Africa 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...
) - Horseshoe hawkfish Paracirrhites arcatusParacirrhites arcatusParacirrhites arcatus is a Hawkfish from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 20cm in length....
(Cuvier, 1829) (Indo-Pacific south to the Transkei) - Freckled hawkfish Paracirrhites forsteriParacirrhites forsteriParacirrhites forsteri, commonly called black-sided hawkfish, is a Hawkfish from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 22cm in length....
(Schneider, 1801) (Indo-Pacific south to Northern KwaZulu-Natal)
Family: AcropomatidaeAcropomatidaeAcropomatidae, also known as the lanternbellies or the temperate ocean-basses, is a family of perciform fish consisting of 33 marine species. Members of Acropoma are notable for having light-emitting organs alongside their undersides...
— Lanternbellies
- Lanternbelly Acropoma japonicum Günther, 1859 (off Natal)
- Howella sherborni (Norman, 1930) (off Cape Town to Natal)
- Sombre splitfin Neoscomberops annectens Gilchrist, 1922 (off Natal and southern Mozambique)
- Silver splitfin Neoscomberops cynodon (Regan, 1921) (Known from 2 specimens off Natal)
- Japanese splitfin Synagrops japonicus (Doderlein, 1884) (off Natal)
Family: AmbassidaeAmbassidaeThe Asiatic glassfishes are a family, Ambassidae, of freshwater and marine fishes in the order Perciformes. The species in the family are native to the waters of Asia and Oceania and the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. The family includes eight genera and about fifty species.The family was...
— Glassies
- Glassy or Bald glassy Ambassis gymnocephalus (Lacepède, 1802) (Port Elizabeth to tropical Indian ocean)
- Slender glassy Ambassis natalensis Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908 (Natal south to Umtata River)
- Longspine glassy Ambassis productus Guichenot, 1866 (Madagascar and east African coast south to southern Natal)
Family: ApogonidaeApogonidaeCardinalfishes are a family, Apogonidae, of ray-finned fishes. They are found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans, they are chiefly marine, but some species are found in brackish water...
— Cardinal fishes (see also Epigonidae)
Subfamily: Apogoninae- Broadstriped cardinal Apogon angustatus (Smith and Radcliffe, 1911) (Red Sea to Natal)
- Short tooth cardinal Apogon apogonides (Bleeker, 1856) (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...
) - Bandtail cardinal Apogon aureus (Lacepède, 1802) (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...
) - Ruby cardinal Apogon coccineus Rüppell, 1838 (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...
) - Blackbanded cardinal Apogon cookii Macleay, 1881 (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...
) - Diamond cardinal Apogon enigmaticus (Smith, 1961) (1 specimen 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...
) - Coachwhip cardinal Apogon flagelliferus (Smith, 1961) (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 Mozambique) - Spurcheek cardinal Apogon fraenatus Valenciennes, 1832 (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) - Spinyhead cardinal Apogon kallopterus Bleeker, 1856 (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 Red Sea) - Smallscale cardinal Apogon multitaeniatus Ehrenberg, 1828 (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...
) - Blackfoot cardinal Apogon nigripes Playfair, 1867 (Lake St. LuciaLake St. LuciaLake St. Lucia is an estuarine lake system in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The lake falls within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park . The lake was named Santa Lucia by Manuel Perestrerello on 13 December 1575, the day of the feast of Saint Lucy. It was later renamed to St. Lucia....
northwards, probably to Red Sea) - Spotfin cardinal Apogon queketti Gilchrist, 1903 (Natal coast to southern Red Sea)
- Threeband cardinal Apogon semiornatus Peters, 1876 (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...
) - Ninestripe cardinal Apogon taeniophorus Regan, 1908 (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...
) - Masked cardinal Apogon thermalis Cuvier, 1829 (Indo-West Pacific to southern Natal)
- Sad cardinal Apogon timorensis Bleeker, 1854 (Indo-West Pacific, 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...
) - Ocellated cardinal Apogonichthys ocellatus (Weber, 1913) (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:...
) - Speckled cardinal Apogonichthys Bleeker, 1954 (Indo-West Pacific, 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...
) - Shimmering cardinal Archamia lineolata (Ehrenberg, 1828) (Indo-Pacific, 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...
) - Mozambique cardinal Archamia mozambiquensis Smith, 1961 (Zanzibar 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...
) - Tiger cardinal Cheilodipterus lineatus Lacepède, 1801 (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 Red Sea) - Foa Foa brachygramma (Jenkins, 1903) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
- Crosseyed cardinal Fowleria aurita (Valenciennes, 1831) (Natal to Red Sea)
- Arrow cardinal Rhabdamia gracilis (Bleeker, 1856) (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...
) - Sea urchin cardinal Siphamia mossambica Smith, 1955 (Kenya 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...
)
Subfamily: Pseudaminae
- Jelly cardinal Pseudamia gelatinosa Smith, 1955 (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...
) - Limpid cardinal Pseudamiops pellucidus (Smith, 1954) (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...
)
Family: Bathyclupeidae — Bathyclupeids
- Bathyclupea elongata Trunov, 1975 (Known only from holotype taken off Western Cape)
Family: Bramidae — Pomfrets
- Pomfret Brama brama (Bonnaterre, 1788) (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 Walvis BayWalvis BayWalvis Bay , is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies...
) - Tropical pomfret Brama orcini Cuvier, 1831 (off Natal, Tropical Indo-Pacific)
- Fanfish Pteraclis velifera (Pallas, 1769) (off Mozambique, 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...
, East London, Port Elizabeth and St. Helena Bay) - Prickly fanfish Pterycombus petersii (Hilgendorff, 1878) (Mid Pacific to Africa, south round the Cape of good Hope to 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...
) - Rough pomfret Taractes asper Lowe, 1843 (North Atlantic, North Pacific, Southern Madagascar to Natal and the Cape)
- Sickle pomfret Taractichthys steindachneri (Döderlein, 1883) (Indo-Pacific from California to Zanzibar and 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 :...
)
Family: CaesionidaeCaesionidaeThe fusilier fishes are a family, Caesionidae, of fishes in the order Perciformes. They are related to the snappers, but adapted for feeding on plankton, rather than on larger prey.They are cylindrical, streamlined fishes, of up to in length...
— Fusiliers
- Blue-and-gold fusilier Caesio caerulaurea Lacepède, 1801 (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)
- Lunar fusilier Caesio lunaris Ehrenberg, 1830 (Red Sea south to Natal)
- Beautiful fusilier Caesio teres Seale, 1906 (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 Kenya) - Yellowback fusilier Caesio xanthanota Bleeker, 1853 (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...
) - Dark-banded fusilier Pterocaesio tile Cuvier, 1830 (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...
, juvenile found at Haga Haga just north of East London)
Family: Callanthiidae — Goldies
- Goldie Callanthias legras Smith, 1947 (Dassen Island (Western Cape) to Natal)
Family: CarangidaeCarangidaeCarangidae is a family of fish which includes the jacks, pompanos, jack mackerels, and scads.They are marine fish found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans...
— Kingfishes
- Threadfin mirrorfish or African pompano Alectis ciliaris (Bloch 1787) (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...
northwards, cicumtropical) - Indian mirrorfish or Indian threadfish Alectis indicus (Rüppell, 1830) (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 Indian ocean) - Shrimp scad Alepes djedaba (Forsskål, 1775) (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 to Red Sea) - Longfin kingfish Carangoides armatus (Rüppell, 1830) (East London northwards throughout Indian Ocean to Gulf of Thailand and Japan)
- Longnose kingfish Carangoides chrysophrys (Cuvier, 1833) (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...
northward, and eastward to Japan and Australia) - Coastal kingfish Carangoides coeruleopinnatus (Rüppell, 1830) (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, and eastwards to Japan and Australia) - Shadow kingfish Carangoides dinema Bleeker, 1851 (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...
northward to Tanzania) - Whitefin kingfish Carangoides equula (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844) (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...
northward to Somalia and Gulf of Oman) - Blue kingfish Carangoides ferdau (Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-West Pacific south to Port Elizabeth)
- Yellowspotted kingfish Carangoides fulvoguttatus (Forsskål, 1775) (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...
) - Bludger Carangoides gymnostethus (Cuvier, 1833) (Indo-West Pacific 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...
) - Bumpnose kingfish Carangoides hedlandensis (Whitley, 1934) (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 in coastal waters) - Malabar kingfish Carangoides malabaricus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (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...
) - Coachwhip kingfish Carangoides oblongus (Cuvier, 1833) (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...
) - Barcheek kingfish Carangoides plagiotaenia (Bleeker, 1857) (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...
) - Blacktip kingfish Caranx heberi (Bennett, 1830) (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 Zanzibar)(syn. Caranx sem Cuvier, 1833) - Giant kingfish Caranx ignobilis (Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-West Pacific south to Port Elizabeth)
- Black kingfish Caranx lugubris Poey, 1860 (Circumtropical. Taken off East London)
- Bluefin kingfish Caranx melampygus Cuvier, 1833 (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
- Brassy kingfish Caranx papuensis Alleyne & Macleay, 1877 (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...
north to Zanzibar) - Bigeye kingfish Caranx sexfasciatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1825 (Tropical Ind-Pacific south to Natal)
- Tille kingfish Caranx tille Cuvier, 1833 (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 Zanzibar) - Mackerel scad Decapterus macarellus (Cuvier, 1833) (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...
northward, Circumtropical) - Slender scad Decapterus macrosoma Bleeker, 1851 (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...
) - Indian scad Decapterus russelli (Rüppell, 1830) (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 to Japan and Australia) - Rainbow runner Elagatis bipinnulata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) (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, Circumtropical) - Golden kingfish Gnathanodon speciosus (Forsskål, 1775) (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Northern KwaZulu-Natal)(syn. Gnathodon speciosus)
- Leervis or Garrick Lichia amiaLichia amiaThe Garrick is a species of marine fish in the Carangidae family, and is native to the Mediterranean and the coastal waters of western Africa to the coastal waters of eastern South Africa. These fish can reach 1.5 m in length and 18.8 kg in weight. They inhabit the coastal wave zone where...
(Linnaeus, 1758) (Mediterranean sea south along west coast of Africa and around Cape to Delagoa Bay) - Torpedo scad Megalaspis cordyla (Linnaeus, 1758) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to East London)
- Pilotfish Naucrates ductor (Linnaeus, 1758) (Circumtropical, common throughout Indian Ocean)
- White kingfish Pseudocarymx dentex (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (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...
southwards, anti-tropical on both sides of Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indo-West Pacific) - Talang queenfish Scomberoides commersonnianus Lacepède, 1801 (Indian Ocean south to Port Elizabeth)
- Doublespotted queenfish Scomberoides lysan (Forsskål, 1775) (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...
) - Needlescaled queenfish Scomberoides tol (Cuvier, 1832) (Indian ocean south to Natal)
- Greater yellowtail or Greater amberjack Seriola dumerill Risso, 1810 (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 Persian Gulf) - Giant yellowtail Seriola lalandi Valenciennes, 1833 (Most common on Atlantic Cape waters, but follows the pilchard migration to Transkei and Natal. Circumglobal in subtropical waters)
- Longfin yellowtail Seriola rivoliana Valenciennes, 1833 (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...
northward. Circumtropical entering temperate waters in some places) - Blackbanded kingfish Seriolina nigrofasciata (Rüppell, 1829) (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...
) - Southern pompano Trachinotus africanus Smith, 1967 (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 Delagoa Bay) - Smallspotted pompano Trachinotus baillonii (Lacepède, 1801) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
- Snubnose pompano Trachinotus blochii (Lacepède, 1801) (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...
) - Largespotted pompano Trachinotus botla (Shaw, 1803) (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 Kenya) - African maasbanker Trachurus delagoa Nekrasov, 1970 (Eastern Cape province to Mozambique)
- Maasbanker Trachurus trachurus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Norway south and round the 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 Delagoa Bay - Cottonmouth kingfish Uraspis secunda (Poey, 1860) (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: Caristiidae — Manefishes
- Caristius groenlandicus Jensen, 1942 (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...
) - Caristius sp. (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...
)
Family: CentracanthidaeCentracanthidaeCentracanthidae is a small family of fishes in the order Perciformes, known as picarels. They are found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean. The anal fin has three sharp spines, hence the name, from Greek kentron meaning "sharp point" and akantha meaning "thorn"...
— Picarels
- Picarel Spicara australis (Regan, 1921) (Known only from off Natal)
- Windtoy Spicara axillaris (Boulanger, 1900) (Known only from 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...
to Natal)
Family: Chaetodontidae — Butterflyfishes
- Threadfin butterflyfish Chaetodon auriga Forsskål, 1775 (Tropical Ind-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...
) - Brownburnie Chaetodon blackburnii Desjardins, 1836 (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Bashee River)
- Blackedged butterflyfish Chaetodon dolosusChaetodon dolosusThe African butterflyfish, Chaetodon dolosus, is a butterflyfish of the family Chaetodontidae found in the Western Indian Ocean, at depths from 40-200 metres The African butterflyfish, Chaetodon dolosus, is a butterflyfish of the family Chaetodontidae found in the Western Indian Ocean, at depths...
Ahl, 1923 (East African coast south to Xora River) - Gorgeous gussie Chaetodon guttatissimus Bennett, 1833 (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) - Whitespotted butterflyfish Chaetodon kleinii Bloch, 1790 (Red sea and Indian ocean 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:...
) - Lined butterflyfish Chaetodon lineolatus Quoy and gaimard, 1831 (Red sea and 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...
) - Raccoon butterflyfish or Halfmoon butterflyfish Chaetodon lunula (Lacepède, 1802) (South Africa to Hawaii, Japan and Australia. South to East London)
- Pearly butterflyfish Chaetodon madagaskariensis Ahl, 1923 (Indian ocean south to Port Elizabeth)
- Doublesash butterflyfish Chaetodon marleyii Regan, 1921 (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 Maputo. Endemic) - Blackback butterflyfish Chaetodon melanotus Bloch and Schneider, 1801 (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...
) - Maypole butterflyfish Chaetodon meyeri Bloch & Schneider, 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...
) - Rightangle butterflyfish Chaetodon trifascialis Quoy and Gaimard, 1825 (Red Sea south to Tugela RiverTugela RiverThe Tugela River is the largest river in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The river originates in the Drakensberg Mountains, Mont-aux-Sources, and plunges 947 metres down the Tugela Falls...
) - Purple butterflyfish Chaetodon trifasciatus Mungo Park, 1797 (Indo-Pacific from 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....
to Hawaii) - Limespot butterflyfish Chaetodon unimaculatus Bloch, 1787 (Indian Ocean 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...
) - Vagabond butterflyfish Chaetodon vagabundus Linnaeus, 1758 (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...
) - Yellowhead buttrflyfish Chaetodon xanthocephalus Bennett, 1832 (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...
) - Zanzibar butterflyfish Chaetodon zanzibarensis Playfair, 1867 (Zanzibar 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...
) - Longnose butterflyfish Forcipiger flavissimusForcipiger flavissimusThe Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish is a species of butterflyfish in the genus Forcipiger. It is also known as the Forcepsfish. It is similar in appearance to and found in the same range as the less common Forcipiger longirostris...
Jordan & McGregor, 1898 (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...
) - Brushtooth butterflyfish Hemitaurichthys zoster (Bennett, 1831) (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...
) - Coachman Heniochus acuminatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (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) (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...
) - Schooling coachman Heniochus diphreutes Jordan, 1903 (Red Sea and 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...
)) - Masked coachman Heniochus monoceros Cuvier, 1831 (Indo-West Pacific south to Cape Vidal)
Family: CoryphaenidaeCoryphaenidaeThe Coryphaenidae are a family of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the Order Perciformes. The family contains only one genus, Coryphaena, which contains two species, both of which have compressed heads and single dorsal fins that run the entire length of the fish's bodies...
— Dolphinfish or Dorades
- Dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus,1758 (all tropical and subtropical waters to 35°S)
Family: Dichistiidae — Galjoens
- Galjoen Dichistius capensis (Cuvier, 1831) (Southern Angola 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...
) (syn. Coracinus capensis) - Banded galjoen Dichistius multifasciatus (Pellegrin, 1914) (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) (Still Bay to Madagascar) (syn. Coracinus multifaciatus)
Family: DinopercidaeDinopercidaeDinopercidae, also known as the cavebasses, is a family of marine perciform fish consisting of a single species, Dinoperca petersi, which is native to the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Angola....
- Cavebass Dinoperca petersi (Day, 1875) (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)
Family: DrepaneidaeDrepaneidaeThe sicklefishes are perciform fishes of the genus Drepane, the only genus in the family Drepaneidae. They are found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans, and in the eastern Atlantic near Africa...
— Sicklefishes
- Concertina-fish Drepane longimanus (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to East London)
Family: Echeneidae — Remoras
- Shark remora Echineis naucrates Linnaeus, 1758 (Namibia to Mozambique) (all warm waters except eastern Pacific)
- Slender remora Phtheirichthys lineatus (Menzies, 1791) (Worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters)
- Whale remora Remora australis (Bennett, 1840) (Worldwide, pelagic: found only on cetaceans)
- Spearfish remora Remora brachyptera (Lowe, 1839) (Worldwide, prefers billfishes)
- Remora Remora remora (Linnaeus, 1758) (Worldwide, prefers sharks)
- White remora Remorina albescens (Temminck & Schlegel, 1845) (Worldwide, prefers Manta rays)
Family: EmmelichthyidaeEmmelichthyidaeRovers are a family of small to medium sized marine fish. The family was once much larger, including a wide range of plankton-eating fish, but most of the genera were discovered to be unrelated examples of parallel evolution, and were moved to other families....
— Rovers
- Southern rover Emmelichthys nitidus nitidus Richardson 1845 (occasionally take off western Cape coast)
- Japanese rubyfish Erythrocles schlegelii (Richardson, 1846) (one specimen from 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...
) - Rubyfish Plagiogeneion rubiginosus (Hutton, 1875) (off 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 Vema Seamount)
Family: Epigonidae — Cardinal fishes (see also Apogonidae)
- Pencil cardinal Epigonus denticulatus Dieuzeide, 1950 (Walvis BayWalvis BayWalvis Bay , is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies...
to 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...
) - Epigonus pandionus (Goode & Bean, 1881) (Gulf of Guinea 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....
) - Epigonus robustus (Barnard, 1927) (off west coast of South Africa)
- Telescope cardinal Epigonus telescopus (Risso, 1810) (Walvis BayWalvis BayWalvis Bay , is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies...
to 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...
)
Family: Gerreidae — Pursemouths
- Threadfin pursemouth Gerres filamentosis Cuvier, 1829 (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...
) - Smallscale pursemouth Gerres longirostris (Lacepède, 1801) (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)(syn. Gerres acinaces)
- Oblong pursemouth Gerres oblongus Cuvier, 1830 (Tropical Indo-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....
) - Slenderspine pursemouth Gerres oyena (Forsskål, 1775) (Tropical Indo-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....
) - Evenfin pursemouth Gerres rappi (Barnard, 1927) (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 southern Mozambique)
Family: HaemulidaeHaemulidaeThe grunts are a family, Haemulidae, of fishes in the order Perciformes. They are numerous and widespread, with about 150 species in 19 genera, found in tropical fresh, brackish and salt waters around the world...
— Rubberlips and grunters
- Sailfin rubberlip Diagramma pictum (Thunberg, 1792) (Indo-West Pacific to south Natal)
- Dusky rubberlip Plectorhinchus chubbi (Regan, 1919) (Transkei to Kenya and India)
- Lemonfish Plectorhynchus flavomaculatus ((Ehrenberg, 1830) (Transkei to Red Sea)
- Blackspotted rubberlip Plectorhynchus gaterinus (Forsskål, 1775) (Natal to Red Sea)
- Harry hotlips Plectorhynchus gibbosus (Lacepède, 1802) (Indo-West Pacific, south to Natal)
- Barred rubberlip Plectorhynchus plagiodesmus Fowler, 1935 (Somalia to Madagascar and Natal)
- Whitebarred rubberlip Plectorhinchus playfairi (Pellegrin, 1914) (Western Indian ocean 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...
) - Minstrel Plectorhynchus schotaf (Forsskål, 1775) (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...
) - Redlip rubberlip Plectorhynchus sordidus (Klunzinger, 1870) (Red Sea to Transkei)
- Spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonnii (Lacepède, 1801) (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 India) - Grey grunter Pomadasys furcatum (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) (Madagascar to Natal, rare south of Durban)
- Javelin grunter Pomadasys kaakan (Cuvier, 1830) (Indo-Pacific south to Transkei)
- Saddle grunter Pomadasys maculatum (Bloch, 1797) (Indo-West Pacific south to Transkei)
- Cock grunter Pomadasys multimaculatum (Playfair, 1866) (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 Zanzibar) - Pinky or Piggy Pomadasys olivaceus (Day, 1875) (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...
to Mozambique) - Striped grunter Pomadasys striatus (Gilchrist and Thompson, 1908) (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 BeiraBeira, MozambiqueBeira is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. Beira had a population of 412,588 in 1997, which grew to an estimated 546,000 in 2006...
) - Lined piggy Pomadasys stridens (Forsskål, 1775) (Red Sea to Natal)
Family: Kuhliidae — Flagtails
- Barred flagtail Kuhlia mugilKuhlia mugilKuhlia mugil, known also as Barred flagtail, Ocean Flagfish and Fivebar Flagtail is a species of fish in the Kuhliidae family that can live both in salt and fresh water. It is often associated with coral reefs....
(Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801)(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...
to Indo-Pacific) - Rock flagtail Kuhlia rupestris (Lacepède, 1802) (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...
)
Family: Kyphosidae — Sea chubs
- Grey chub Kyphosus bigibbus Lacepède, 1801 (Red Sea to 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...
) - Blue chub Kyphosus cinerescens (Forsskål, 1775) (Read Sea to East London)
- Brassy chub Kyphosus vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) (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...
) - Stonebream Neoscorpis lithophilus (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 southern Mozambique)
Family: Leiognathidae — Soapies
- Toothed soapy Gazza minuta (Bloch, 1797) (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...
) - Slimy Leiognathus equulus (Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-Pacific south to East London)
- Slender soapy Secutor insidiator (Bloch, 1787) (Indo-West Pacific south to East London)
- Pugnose soapy Secutor ruconius (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Indo-West Pacific south to Transkei)
Family: LethrinidaeLethrinidaeThe emperor breams or simply emperors also known as pigface breams are a family, Lethrinidae, of fishes in the order Perciformes....
— Emperors
- Glowfish Gnathodentex aureolineatus (Lacepède, 1802) (Indo-West 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...
) - Grey barenose Gymnocranius griseus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
- Rippled barenose Gymnocranius robinsoni (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (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...
) - Yellowfin emperor Lethrinus cocineus (Smith, 1959) (Western Indian Ocean south to Natal)
- Longnose emperor Lethrinus elongatus Valenciennes, 1830 (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
- Blackspot emperor Lethrinus harak (Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
- Redspot emperor Lethrinus lentjan (Lacepède, 1802) (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...
) - Sky emperor Lethrinus mahsena (Forsskål, 1775) (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...
) - Snubnose emperor Lethrinus mahsenoides Valenciennes, 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...
) - Blue emperor Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-West Pacific 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 striped emperor Lethrinus ramak (Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-West Pacific to Natal)
- Spotcheek emperor Lethrinus rubriopeculatus Sato, 1978 (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
- Cutthroat emperor Lethrinus sanguineus Smith, 1955 (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...
) - Variegated emperor Lethrinus variegatus Ehrenberg, 1830 (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
- Bigeye barenose Monotaxis grandoculis (Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
Family: Lobotidae — Tripletails
- Tripletail Lobotes surinamensis (Bloch, 1790) (Cape St Francis northwards, all tropical and subtropical oceans)
Family: LutjanidaeLutjanidaeSnappers are a family of perciform fish, mainly marine but with some members inhabiting estuaries, feeding in freshwater. Some are important food fish. One of the best known is the red snapper....
— Snappers
- Blue smalltooth job Aphareus furca (Forsskål, 1775) (Tropical Indo-Pacific 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...
) - Red smalltooth job Aphareus rutilans Cuvier, 1830 (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...
) - Kaakap or Green jobfish Aprion virescensAprion virescensThe green jobfish , is a fish of the Lutjanidae family, and is the only member of the genus Aprion. Other common names for this species are: the blue-green snapper fish, gray snapper, krakap, uku or simply jobfish It can reach a length of up 112 cm....
Valenciennes, 1830 (Central KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique) - Ruby snapper Etelis coruscans Valenciennes, 1862 (Tropical/subtropical Indo-Pacific south to Bashee River)
- River snapper Lutjanus argentimaculatus (Forsskål, 1775) (Red sea and tropical Indo-Pacific south to East London)
- Twinspot snapper Lutjanus boharLutjanus boharThe Two-spot red snapper is a species that belongs to the genus of Lutjanus. It is also known as Twinspot snapper or Bohar snapper. Length up to 80 cm. Juvenile has two white spot on the dorsal fins. Adult snappers often form large schools on the outer reefs or above sandy areas. The main...
(Forsskål, 1775) (Red Sea and 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...
) - Blackspot snapper Lutjanus ehrenbergii (Peters, 1869) (Red Sea and tropical Indo-West pacific south to Natal)
- Dory snapper Lutjanus fulviflamma (Forsskål, 1775) (Red Sea and tropical Indo-West Pacific south to East London)
- Yellow striped snapper Lutjanus fulvus (Schneider, 1801) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Bashee River)
- Humpback snapper Lutjanus gibbus (Forsskål, 1775) (Red Sea and 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...
) - Bluebanded snapper Lutjanus kasmira (Forsskål, 1775) (Red Sea and tropical Indo-West Pacific south to East London)
- Sweetlip snapper Lutjanus lemniscatus (Valenciennes, 1828) (Tropical Indian 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...
) - Bluestriped snapper Lutjanus notatus (Cuvier, 1828) (East African 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...
) - Speckled snapper Lutjanus rivulatus (Cuvier, 1828) (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...
) - Russell's snapper Lutjanus russellii (Bleeker, 1849) (Central KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
- Blood snapper Lutjanus sanguineus (Cuvier, 1828) (Western 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...
) - Emperor snapper Lutjanus sebaeLutjanus sebaeLutjanus sebae, commonly known as the emperor red snapper, bourgeois red snapper, or bourgeois fish, is a snapper from the Indo-West Pacific. It is fished for food and occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 116cm in length....
(Cuvier, 1816) (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...
) - Black beauty Macolor niger (Forsskål, 1775) (Tropical 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...
, 1 juvenile 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...
) - Yellowtail fuselier Paracaesio xanthura (Bleeker, 1869) (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...
) - Rosy jobfish Pristipomoides filamentosusPristipomoides filamentosusPristipomoides filamentosus is a species of snapper that lives throughout the tropical Pacific, and is especially known for being a food source for people in Hawaii...
(Day, 1870) (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to East London)
Family: Malacanthidae — Tilefishes
- Ribbed tilefish Branchiostegus doliatus (Cuvier, 1830) (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 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...
) - Spotted tilefish Branchiostegus sawakinensis Amirthalingam, 1969 (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...
; Red sea) - Forktail tilefish Hoplolatilus fronticinctus (Günther, 1887) (Postlarvae collected off Cape PeninsulaCape PeninsulaThe Cape Peninsula is a generally rocky peninsula that juts out for 75 km into the Atlantic Ocean at the south-western extremity of the African continent. At the southern end of the peninsula are Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope...
; India and Western Pacific) - Stripetail filefish Malacanthus brevirostris Guichenot, 1848 (Tropical 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...
. Postlarvae drift to near 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...
)
Family: Menidae — Moonfish
- Moonfish Mena maculata (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (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...
)
Family: MonodactylidaeMonodactylidaeThe Monodactylidae is a family of fish within the Perciformes commonly referred to as monos, moonyfishes or fingerfishes. All are strongly laterally compressed with an approximately disc-shaped body and tall anal and dorsal fins. Unusually for fish, there are scales on the dorsal fin and sometimes...
— Moonies
- Natal moony Monodactylus argenteus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Red Sea to Cape Infanta)
- Cape moony Monodactylus falciformis Lacepède, 1801 (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: Mullidae — Goatfishes
- Yellowstripe goatfish Mulloidichthys flavolineatus (Lacepède, 1801) (Red Sea 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...
)(syn. Mulloides flavolineatus Lacepède, 1801) - Flame goatfish or Yellowfin goatfish Mulloidichthys vanicolensis (Valenciennes, 1831) (Northern KwaZulu-Natal to Indo-West Pacific)(syn. Mulloides vanicolensis)
- Dash-dot goatfish Parupeneus barberinus (Lacepède, 1801) (Indo-West 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...
) - Two-saddle goatfish Parupeneus bifasciatus (Lacepède, 1801) (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...
) - Redspot goatfish Parupeneus cinnabarinus (Cuvier, 1829) (Red Sea south to Transkei)
- Goldsaddle goatfish Parupeneus cyclostomus (Lacepède, 1801) (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...
) - Indian goatfish Parupeneus indicus Shaw, 1803 (Indo-West Pacific 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...
) - Band dot goatfish Parupeneus macronema (Lacepède, 1801) (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...
) - Blacksaddle goatfish Parupeneus rubescens (Lacepède, 1801) (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...
to Mozambique) - Blackstriped goatfish Upeneus tragula Richardson, 1846 (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...
) - Yellowbanded goatfish Upeneus vittatus (Forsskål, 1775) (Red Sea to East London)
Family: Nemipteridae — Butterfly breams, spinecheeks
- Silverflash spinecheek Scolopsis vosmeri (Bloch, 1792) (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...
)
Family: OpistognathidaeOpistognathidaeOpistognathidae , commonly referred to as jawfishes, are classified within Order Perciformes, Suborder Percoidei. They are found throughout shallow reef areas of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and the Gulf of Mexico.Physically similar to blennies, jawfish are generally smaller-sized fish with an...
— Jawfishes
- Halfscaled jawfish Opistognathus margaretae Smith-Vaniz, 1983 (Natal to Shimoni, Kenya)
- Robust jawfish Opistognathus muscatensis Boulenger, 1887 (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 the Persian gulf) - Bridled jawfish Opistognathus nigromarginatus Rüppell, 1830 (Natal to south China Sea)
Family: OplegnathidaeOplegnathidaeOplegnathidae is a family of marine fish within the Perciformes commonly known as knifejaws; some species are known as beakfish. It contains a single genus, Oplegnathus. The largest, the Cape knifejaw, can reach a maximum length of about 90 cm . Knifejaws have teeth fused into a parrotlike beak...
— Knifejaws
- Cape knifejaw Oplegnathus conwayi Richardson, 1840 (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...
) - Natal knifejaw Oplegnathus robinsoni Regan, 1916 (Central KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
Family: Parascorpididae — Jutjaw
- Jutjaw (Parascorpis typus) Bleeker, 1875 (Known only 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 :...
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...
)
Family: Pempheridae — Sweepers
- Slender sweeper Parapriacanthus ransonneti Steindachner, 1870 (Red Sea south to Transkei)
- Dusky sweeper Pempheris adusta Bleeker, 1877 (Indo-West Pacific south to Transkei)
- Black-stripe sweeper Pempheris schwenkii Bleeker, 1855 (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
Family: Pentacerotidae — Armourheads
- Sailfin armourhead Histiopterus typus Temminck & Schlegel, 1844 (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...
to Natal) - Cape armourhead Pentaceros capensis Cuvier, 1829 (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 Southern Mozambique) - Pelagic armourhead Pseudopentaceros (Smith, 1844) (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...
to Natal)
Family: Plesiopidae — Longfins
Subfamily: Acanthoclininae — Spiny basslets- Scotty Acanthoplesiops indicus (Day, 1888) (Tropical Indian ocean from India 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: Plesiopinae
- Spotted longfin Plesiops multisquamatus Inger, 1955 (Known only from Natal)
Family: Polynemidae — Threadfins
- Indian threadfin Polydactylus indicus (Shaw, 1804) (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...
) - Striped threadfin Polydactylus plebeius (Broussonet, 1782) (Red Sea 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...
) - Sixfinger threadfin Polydactylus sextarius (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (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: Polyprionidae — Wreckfishes
- Wreckfish Polyprion americanus (Schneider, 1801) (Norway to South Africa)
Family: Pomacanthidae — Angelfishes
- Tiger angelfish Apolemichthys kingi Heemstra, 1984 (Only known from off Natal: 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...
, Tongaat and 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...
) - Threespot angelfish Apolemichthys trimaculatus (Lacepède, 1831) (Indo-West Pacific to Natal)
- Jumping bean Centropyge acanthops (Norman, 1922) (Port Elizabeth to Somalia)
- Coral beauty Centropyge bispinosa (Günther, 1860) (Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana)
- Dusky cherub Centropyge multispinisCentropyge multispinisThe dusky angelfish, Centropyge multispinis, is a marine angelfish of the family Pomacanthidae found in tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area.It has some importance in the aquarium trade. Adults grow to a size of 14 cm in length....
(Playfair, 1867) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal) - Goldtail angelfish Pomacanthus chrysuris Cuvier, 1831 (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...
) - Emperor angelfish Pomacanthus imperator (Bloch, 1787) (Indo-West Pacific south to East London)
- Old woman Pomacanthus rhomboides (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Red Sea 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...
) Previously known as Pomacanthus striatus Rüppell, 1836, but Rüppell's species is a synonym of P. maculosus (Forsskål, 1775) - Semicircle angelfish Pomacanthus semicirculatusPomacanthus semicirculatusPomacanthus semicirculatus is a marine angelfish from the Indo-West Pacific ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 40cm in length....
(Cuvier, 1831) (Indo-West Pacific to Port Elizabeth) - Royal angelfish Pygoplites diacanthus (Boddaert, 1772) (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...
)
Family: Pomatomidae — Elf
- Elf or Shad Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus, 1766)(Namibia to Maputo)
Family: PriacanthidaePriacanthidaePriacanthidae is a family of fish, common name bigeye, comprising 18 species of marine fishes. "Catalufa" is an alternate common name for some members of the priacanthidae family. The etymology of the scientific name refers to the family's very rough, spined scales...
— Bigeyes
- Bulleye Cookeolus boops Schneider, 1801 (Algoa Bay to BeiraBeira, MozambiqueBeira is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. Beira had a population of 412,588 in 1997, which grew to an estimated 546,000 in 2006...
) - Glass bigeye Priacanthus cruentatus (Lacepède, 1801) (East coast of 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...
) - Crescent-tail bigeye Priacanthus hamrur (Forsskål, 1775) (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 Mozambique) - Japanese bigeye Pristigenys niphonia (Cuvier, 1829) (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...
)
Family: Pseudochromidae — Dottybacks
Subfamily: AnisochrominaeSubfamily: Congrogadinae — Snakelets
- Snakelet Halidesmus scapularis Günther, 1872 (Cape ColumbineCape ColumbineCape Columbine is well known for its lighthouse, the last manned lighthouse built on the South African coast. . The Cape Columbine Lighthouse was commissioned on October 1, 1936...
to Transkei)(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:...
) - Zulu snakelet Hilimuraena shakai Winterbottom, 1978 (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...
) - Pencil snakelet Natalichthys leptus Winterbottom, 1980 (Natal, off Umhlangankulu River)
- Natal snakelet Natalichthys ori Winterbottom, 1980 (Natal, off Umhlangankulu River)
- Nail snakelet Natalichthys sam Winterbottom, 1980 (Natal, off Port Shepstone)
Subfamily: Pseudochrominae
- Dutoiti Pseudochromis dutoiti Smith, 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...
to Persian gulf) - Dark dottyback Pseudochromis melas Lubbock, 1977 (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...
, 2 from Kenya) - Natal dottyback Pseudochromis natalensis Regan, 1916 (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 Kenya) - Bicoloured dottyback Pseudochromis pesi Lubbock, 1975 (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 Gulf of Aqaba) - Redlip dottyback Pseudochromis sp. (Kenya 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...
) - Lightheaded dottyback Pseudochromis tauberae Lubbock, 1977 (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 Madagascar and Kenya)
Subfamily: Pseudoplesiopinae
- Chlidichthys pembae Smith, 1954 (Tanzania, Ibo (Mozambique), Comoros 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...
)
Family: Rachycentridae — Cobia
- Prodigal son Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus, 1766) (Warm waters of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, occasionally reaching 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: SciaenidaeSciaenidaeSciaenidae is a family of fish commonly called drums, croakers, or hardheads for the repetitive throbbing or drumming sounds they make...
— Kobs
- Kob, Giant Kob or Kabeljou Argyrosomus japonicusArgyrosomus japonicusArgyrosomus japonicus is a silvery to bronze-green colored fish which may grow up to 2 m in length. It is known as mulloway or jewfish in Australia and dusky Kob in South Africa. The name jewfish refers to the large earstones, which are prized as "jewels" by some fishers.A...
(Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) (Namibia to Natal) previously misidentified as Argyrosomus hololepidotus (Lacepède, 1801) - Squaretail kob Argyrosomus thorpei Smith, 1977 (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 Tugela RiverTugela RiverThe Tugela River is the largest river in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The river originates in the Drakensberg Mountains, Mont-aux-Sources, and plunges 947 metres down the Tugela Falls...
) - Geelbek Atractoscion aequidens (Cuvier, 1830) (Angola to northern KwaZulu-Natal)
- Longfin Kob Atrobucca nibe (Jordan and Thompson, 1911) (Natal)
- Bellfish Johnius amblycephalus (Bleeker, 1855) (Indo-West Pacific 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...
) - Small kob Johnius dussumieri (Cuvier, 1830) (East London to Singapore)
- Snapper kob Otolithes ruber (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (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...
) - Baardman or Belman Umbrina canariensis Valenciennes, 1843 (Morocco to the 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...
through to Pakistan) - Slender baardman Umbrina ronchus Valenciennes, 1843 (KwaZulu-Natal)
Family: Scombropidae — Gnomefishes
- Gnomefish Scombrops boops (Houttuyn, 1782) (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 Delagoa Bay)
Family: SerranidaeSerranidaeSerranidae is a large family of fishes, belonging to the order Perciformes. The family contains about 450 species of serranids in 64 genera, including the sea basses and the groupers...
— Rockcods (groupers) and seabasses
Subfamily: Anthiniinae- Harlequin goldie Anthias connelli Heemstra and Randall, 1986 (off Brighton BeachBrighton BeachBrighton Beach is an oceanside neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. As of 2000, it has a population of 75,692 with a total of 31,228 households.-Location:...
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...
Harbour) - Silver streak goldie Anthias cooperi Regan, 1902 (Natal coast and across Indian ocean to Japan and east coast of Australia)
- Checked swallowtail Holanthias borbonius (Valenciennes, 1828) (1 specimen off Durban, Mauritius, Reunion, Comores, Madagascar and Japan)
- Gorgeous swallowtail Holanthias natalensis (Fowler, 1925) (East London to Madagascar and Reunion)
- Threadfin goldie Nemanthias carberryi Smith, 1954 (Western Indian ocean south to Natal)
- Silverspots Plectranthias longimanus (Weber, 1913) (Natal to Kenya)
- Flagfin Plectranthias morgansi (Smith, 1961) (Five specimens off Kenya and 3 off South Africa)
- Redblotch basslet Plectranthias winniensis (Tyler, 1966) Western Indian ocean to Natal)
- Sea goldie Pseudanthias squamipinnis (Peters, 1855) (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique) (syn. Anthias squamipinnis)
Subfamily: Epinephelinae
- Goldribbon soapfish Aulacocephalus temminckii Bleeker, 1854 (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...
) - Peacock rockcod Cephalophalis argus Schneider, 1801 (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) - Golden rockcod Cephalopholis aurantia (Valenciennes, 1828) (Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles, east and southern 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...
) - Coral rockcod Cephalopholis miniata (Forsskål, 1775) (Central KwaZulu-Natal to Red Sea)
- Duskyfin rockcod Cephalopholis nigripinnis (Valenciennes, 1828) (Indian Ocean south to Natal)
- Tomato rockcod Cephalopholis sonnerati (Valenciennes, 1828) (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...
) - Smooth rockcod Dermatolepis striolatus (Playfair 1867) (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 Oman) - White-edged rockcod Epinephelus albomarginatus Boulenger, 1903 (East London to southern Mozambique)
- Catface rockcod Epinephelus andersoni Boulenger, 1903 (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 southern Mozambique) - Squaretail rockcod Epinephelus areolatus (Forsskål, 1775) (Natal to Red Sea)
- Whitespotted rockcod Epinephelus caeruleopunctatus (Bloch,1790) (Indian Ocean south to Natal)
- Moustache rockcod Epinephelus chabaudi Castelnau, 1861 (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 Kenya) - Brownspotted rockcod Epinephelus chlorostigma (Valenciennes. 1828) (Natal to Red Sea)
- Redbarred rockcod Epinephelus fasciatus (Forsskål, 1775) (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 Red Sea) - Bigspot rockcod Epinephelus faveatus (Valenciennes, 1828) (Indian Ocean to Natal)
- Yellowtail rockcod Epinephelus flavocaeruleusEpinephelus flavocaeruleusEpinephelus flavocaeruleus is a grouper from the Indian Ocean that occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It is known commonly as the blue and yellow grouper and grows to a size of 90cm in length....
(Lacepède, 1802) (Port Alfred to Kenya) - Brindlebass Epinephelus lanceolatus (Bloch, 1790) (Tropical 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...
) - Streakyspot rockcod Epinephelus longispinis (Kner, 1865) (Indian ocean, Transkei to Indonesia)
- Yellowbelly rockcod Epinephelus marginatusEpinephelus marginatusThe Dusky Grouper is the best known grouper of the Mediterranean Sea and North Africa coast. It is said to have the best taste of all Mediterranean fishes.- Morphology :...
(Lowe, 1834) (Namibia to Mozambique) Formerly identified as Epinephelus guaza (Linnaeus, 1758) - Speckled rockcod Epinephelus magniscuttis Postel, Fourmanoir & Guézé, 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...
, Mozambique, Mauritius and Reunion) - Malabar rockcod Epinephelus malabaricus (Schneider, 1801) (Transkei to Red Sea)
- One-blotch rockcod Epinephelus melanostigma (Schultz, 1953) (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...
) - Honeycomb rockcod Epinephelus merra Bloch, 1793 (Indo-West Pacific to Transkei)
- Contour rockcod Epinephelus morrhua (Valenciennes, 1833) (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) - Dot-dash rockcod Epinephalus poecilonotus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1842) (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 Somalia) - Tiger rockcod Epinephelus posteli Fourmanoir & Crosnier, 1964 (Natal, Mozambique and Madagascar)
- Oblique banded rockcod Epinephelus radiatus (Day, 1867) (Natal, Mauritius, Reunion, south India, Chagos archipelago, east to southern Japan)
- Halfmoon rockcod Epinephelus rivulatus (Valenciennes, 1830) (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 India) - Foursaddle rockcod Epinephelus spilotoceps Schultz, 1953 (Natal to Kenya)
- Orangespotted rockcod Epinephelus suillus (Valenciennes, 1828) (Natal to Persian Gulf)
- Greasy rockcod Epinephelus tauvina (Forsskål, 1775) (Red Sea to Natal)
- Potato bass Epinephelus tukula Morgans, 1959 (Indo-West Pacific from Central KwaZulu-Natal to Japan and Australia)
- Lyretail or Swallowtail rockcod Variola louti (Forsskål, 1775) (Central KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)
Subfamily: Grammistinae — Soapfishes and Podges
- Blotched podge Aporops bilinearis Schultz, 1943 (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 Kenya) (syn. Aporops allfreei Smith, 1953) - Arrowhead soapfish Belonoperca chabanaudi Fowler & Bean, 1930 (Central Pacific to east Africa, south to Natal)
- Sixstripe soapfish Grammistes sexlineatusGrammistes sexlineatusGrammistes sexlineatus also known as Golden-striped Grouper, or Sixline soapfish is a small grouper from the Indo-Pacific, occurring between the Red Sea and Polynesia, the southern part of Japan and the Great Barrier Reef. It is found in turbid lagoons at depths between 1 and 40...
(Thunberg, 1792) (East London to Red Sea) - Honeycomb podge Pseudogramma polyacantha (Bleeker, 1856) (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...
)
Subfamily: Liopropomatinae
Subfamily: Serraninae
- Koester Acanthistius sebastoides (Castelnau, 1861) (Namibia to Mozambique)
- Comber Serranus cabrilla (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic from English channel to South Africa and round to Natal)
Family: SillaginidaeSillaginidaeThe Sillaginidae, commonly known as the smelt-whitings, whitings, sillaginids, sand borers and sand-smelts, are a family of benthic coastal marine fishes in the order Perciformes. The smelt-whitings inhabit a wide region covering much of the Indo-Pacific, from the west coast of Africa east to Japan...
— Sillagos
- Clubfoot sillago Sillago chondropus Bleeker, 1849 (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...
) - Blotchy sillago Sillago maculatus Quoy and Gaimard, 1824 (China to South Africa)
- Silver smelt or Silver sillagoSillago sihama (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...
)
Family: SparidaeSparidaeThe Sparidae is a family of fish, included in the order Perciformes. The fish of the family are commonly called sea breams and porgies . The sheepshead, scup, and red sea bream are species in this family. They are found in shallow temperate and tropical waters and are bottom-dwelling carnivores....
— Seabreams
- River bream Acanthopagrus berda (Forsskål, 1775) (Tropical 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...
) - Two-bar seabream Acanthopagrus bifasciatus(Forsskål, 1775) (Red Sea to Natal)
- Soldier bream Argyrops filamentosus (Valenciennes, 1830) (Red Sea to Natal)
- King soldierbream Argyrops spiniferArgyrops spiniferKing SoldierBream is also known as Bowen Snapper, Frying-pan snapper, Frypan bream, Long-spinned red bream, Longfin snapper, Longspine seabream and Red bokako. It is a species of fish in the family Sparidae.It is used as seafood and can be found in the Red Sea, Eastern coast of Africa and northern...
(Forsskål, 1775) (Tropical 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...
)) - Carpenter Argyrozona argyrozona (Valenciennes, 1830) (Cape ColumbineCape ColumbineCape Columbine is well known for its lighthouse, the last manned lighthouse built on the South African coast. . The Cape Columbine Lighthouse was commissioned on October 1, 1936...
to central KwaZulu-Natal) - Fransmadam Boopsoidea inornata Castelnau, 1861 (Cape ColumbineCape ColumbineCape Columbine is well known for its lighthouse, the last manned lighthouse built on the South African coast. . The Cape Columbine Lighthouse was commissioned on October 1, 1936...
to central KwaZulu-Natal) - Santer Cheimerius nufar (Valenciennes, 1830) (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 Mozambique) - Englishman Chrysoblephus anglicus (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)
- Dageraad Chrysoblephus cristiceps (Valenciennes, 1830) (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 Durban) - Red stumpnose or Miss Lucy Chrysoblephus gibbicepsChrysoblephus gibbicepsChrysoblephus gibbiceps or Red Stumpnose is a cold water, reef-dwelling species of sea bream, closely related to the Red Roman. It is endemic to the South African south and east coasts, and found from False Bay near Cape Town to Margate on the Natal Southcoast...
(Valenciennes, 1830) (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 East London) - Roman Chrysoblephus laticepsChrysoblephus laticepsChrysoblephus laticeps aka Roman Nose Goby or Red Roman or Roman seabream, is a marine demersal fish growing to a maximum length of 500mm and a recorded mass of 4200g. It is a slow-growing species showing late sexual maturity, and is closely related to the Red Stumpnose...
(Valenciennes, 1830) (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 southern KwaZulu-Natal)(Cape to Mauritius) - False Englishman Chrysoblephus lophus (Fowler, 1925) (Transkei to Northern KwaZulu-Natal)(Natal)
- Slinger Chrysoblephus puniceus (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (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 Mozambique) - White karanteen Crenidens crenidens (Forsskål, 1775) (Red Sea to East London)
- Poenskop or Black musselcrackerCymatoceps nasutusCymatoceps nasutusThe Black musselcracker is a species of marine fish of the family of Sparidae. It is the only species of its genus Cymatoceps....
(Castelnau, 1861) (Cape ColumbineCape ColumbineCape Columbine is well known for its lighthouse, the last manned lighthouse built on the South African coast. . The Cape Columbine Lighthouse was commissioned on October 1, 1936...
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 Diplodus capensis (Smith, 1844) (Angola to Madagascar) (syn. Diplodus sargus capensis)
- Zebra Diplodus cervinus hottentotus (Smith, 1844) (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 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...
) - Janbruin Gymnocrotaphus curvidens Günther, 1859 (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 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...
) - West coast steenbras Lithognathus aureti Smith, 1962 (West coast; 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...
to Angola) - White steenbras Lithognathus lithognathus (Cuvier, 1829) (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...
) - Sand steenbras Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758)(Mediterranean to the 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...
and round to Mozambique) - Blue hottentot Pachymetopon aeneum (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 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...
) - Hottentot Pachymetopon blochii (Valenciennes, 1830) (Angola 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...
) - Bronze bream Pachymetopon grande Günther, 1859 (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 Mozambique)(Cape to Madagascar) - Red tjor-tjor or Sand soldier Pagellus natalensis Steindachner, 1903 (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 Madagascar)(syn. Pagellus bellottii natalensis) - Red steenbras Petrus rupestrisPetrus rupestrisPetrus rupestris is a species of fish in the family Sparidae and the only known member of the genus Petrus. The common name of this species is Red steenbras. The species numbers have been depleted by overfishing in African waters.-References:...
(Valenciennes, 1830) (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 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...
) - German Polyamblyodon germanum (Barnard, 1934) (East London 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...
) - Christie Polyamblodon gibbosum (Pellegrin) (Natal to BeiraBeira, MozambiqueBeira is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. Beira had a population of 412,588 in 1997, which grew to an estimated 546,000 in 2006...
) - Blueskin Polysteganus caeruleopunctatus Klunzinger, 1870 (Red Sea to Natal south coast)
- Scotsman Polysteganus praeorbitalis (Günther, 1859) (Port Elizabeth to BeiraBeira, MozambiqueBeira is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. Beira had a population of 412,588 in 1997, which grew to an estimated 546,000 in 2006...
) - Seventy-four Polysteganus undulosus (Regan, 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...
)(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 Delagoa Bay) - Dane Porcostoma dentata (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Central KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)(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 BeiraBeira, MozambiqueBeira is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. Beira had a population of 412,588 in 1997, which grew to an estimated 546,000 in 2006...
) - Panga Pterogymnus laniarius (Valenciennes, 1830) (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 Transkei)(Cape to Beira) - White stumpnose Rhabdosargus globiceps (Valenciennes, 1830) (Namibia to East London)(Angola to Natal)
- Cape stumpnose Rhabdosargus holubi (Steindachner, 1881) (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...
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...
)(Cape to Natal) - Natal stumpnose Rhabdosargus sarba (Forsskål, 1775) (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique)(Red sea to Knysna)
- Bigeye stumpnose Rhabdosargus thorpei Smith, 1979 (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 southern Mozambique) - Strepie Sarpa salpaSarpa salpaSarpa salpa, also known as the Salema porgy, is a species of bream, recognisable by the golden stripes that run down the length of its body, and which can cause hallucinations when eaten....
(Linnaeus, 1758) (Cape ColumbineCape ColumbineCape Columbine is well known for its lighthouse, the last manned lighthouse built on the South African coast. . The Cape Columbine Lighthouse was commissioned on October 1, 1936...
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...
)(Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic round South Africa to southern Mozambique) - Musselcracker Sparodon durbanensis (Castelnau, 1861) (Cape ColumbineCape ColumbineCape Columbine is well known for its lighthouse, the last manned lighthouse built on the South African coast. . The Cape Columbine Lighthouse was commissioned on October 1, 1936...
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...
) - Steentjie Spondyliosoma emarginatum (Valenciennes, 1830) (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 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...
)Spondyliosoma emarginatum
Family: TerapontidaeTerapontidaeGrunters or tigerperches are fishes in the family Terapontidae . They are found in shallow coastal waters in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific, where they live in saltwater, brackish and freshwater habitats...
— Thornfishes
- Trumpeter Pelates quadrilineatus (Bloch, 1790) (tropical Indo-Pacific south to Transkei)
- Thornfish Terapon jarbuaTerapon jarbuaTerapon jarbua, Target Fish, Crescent Bass, Crescent Perch or Tiger Bass is a Grunter from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade...
(Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-West Pacific 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...
) - Straight lined thornfish Terapon Theraps (Cuvier, 1829) (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...
)