Interactions of fishes with particular reference to coelacanths in the canyons at Sodwana Bay and the St Lucia Marine Protected Area of South Africa
- Authors: Heemstra, Phillip C , Frickle, H , Hissmann, K
- Date: 2006
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:7130 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011771
- Description: The deep demersal fish fauna at depths of 100–400min canyons off the St Lucia Marine Protected Area along the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal is compared with similar fish communities at the Comoro Islands and in the Indo-Pacific region. Fifty-four fish species were seen or photographed from the submersible Jago or by the discovery team of scuba divers in the coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae, habitat of the canyons off Sodwana Bay. An additional 94 fish species known from depths of 100–200 m along the coast of northern KwaZulu-Natal are likely to occur in the canyon habitat. The fish fauna of the Sodwana canyons shares at least 18 species with the deep demersal fish community off tropical coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific region. Thirty-seven of the Sodwana canyon fishes are also known from the coelacanth habitat in the Comoros.
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- Date Issued: 2006
Ichthyofaunal characteristics of a typical temporarily open/closed estuary on the southeast coast of South Africa
- Authors: Cowley, Paul D , Heemstra, Phillip C
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: Estuarine fishes -- Ecology -- Indian Ocean , Estuarine ecology -- South Africa , Fish communities -- South Africa , Fish communities -- Indian Ocean
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:15021 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019862 , ISSN 0073-4381 , Ichthyological Bulletin J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 71
- Description: The present study was undertaken to describe the species composition, size composition and distribution of the fish fauna associated with the temporarily open/closed East Kleinemonde Estuary on the southeast coast of South Africa. Data collected on the estuary mouth condition from March 1993 to August 1997 indicated that this system was predominantly closed, while open mouth conditions were unseasonal and prevailed for only a short duration following periods of high rainfall. Fishes were sampled throughout the estuary between April 1993 and January 1997 using seine and gill nets. A total of 30 species belonging to 17 families were recorded, including the critically endangered estuarine pipefish Syngnathus watermeyeri. Besides the estuarine pipefish, an additional five species capable of completing their life cycle within the estuary were recorded. The ichthyofaunal community was dominated by 18 marine-spawning species with varying degrees of dependence on estuaries as nursery areas. The marine species that are not dependent on estuaries as nursery areas were represented by three species, while the euryhaline freshwater species, obligate catadromous species and facultative catadromous species were each represented by one species. The dominant members of the estuarine-spawning group were well represented by all post-larval life-history stages, whereas the mean size of each marine-spawning species indicated that juvenile size classes dominated this group. Classification and ordination of both the small- and large-mesh seine net fish assemblages revealed a high degree of similarity throughout the estuary, with the exception of a distinct grouping associated with sandy substrata in the lower reaches of the system. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) data provided evidence of spatial segregation by several species as well as within some families (e.g. Gobiidae). , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation)
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- Date Issued: 2001
A contribution to the taxonomy of the marine fish genus Argyrosomus (Perciformes: Sciaenidae), with descriptions of two new species from southern Africa
- Authors: Griffiths, Marc H , Heemstra, Phillip C
- Date: 1995
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:15027 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019891 , ISSN 0073-4381 , Ichthyological Bulletin J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 65
- Description: Study of the biology, anatomy and taxonomy of the sciaenid fishes of the genus Argyrosomus from South Africa and Namibia revealed that three species were confused under the name ‘Argyrosomus hololepidotus (Lacepede, 1801)”. Comparison of morphometric and meristic data, otoliths, swim-bladders, drumming muscles, and other morphological features, of specimens from southern Africa, Madagascar, the Mediterranean Sea, the eastern Atlantic Ocean, Japan and Australia, established that the “A. hololepidotus” of recent authors is a complex of four species: A. japonicus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843), which occurs off southern Africa, Japan and Australia; A. inodorus sp. nov., which is known from Namibia to the Kei River (32°40’S) on the east coast of South Africa; A. coronus sp. nov., which is known from central and northern Namibia and Angola, and A. hololepidotus, which appears to be endemic to Madagascar. These four species are compared with A. regius (Asso, 1801) of the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic, A. thorpei Smith, 1977 from South Africa, Mozambique and the west coast of Madagascar, and A. beccus Sasaki, 1994 known only from Durban harbour. To promote stability in the nomenclature and to resolve the confusion in the taxonomy of Argyrosomus species, neotypes are selected for A. hololepidotus and A. japonicus. The biology, distributions and fisheries of six species are reviewed. Distribution patterns for the southern African species and a key to the seven species known from Africa and Madagascar (A. regius, A. japonicus, A. inodorus, A. coronus, A. thorpei, A. beccus, and A. hololepidotus) are provided. The composition and distinction of the genus Argyrosomus are briefly discussed. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation)
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- Date Issued: 1995
Fishes of the Tristan da Cunha Group and Gough Island, South Atlantic Ocean
- Authors: Andrew, T G , Hecht, Thomas , Heemstra, Phillip C , Lutjeharms, J R E
- Date: 1995
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:15025 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019889 , ISSN 0073-4381 , Ichthyological Bulletin J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 63
- Description: Recent collections of fishes from the South Atlantic islands of the Tristan da Cunha Group (Tristan, Inaccessible and Nightingale) and Gough Island have produced 25 new records. Fifty one species are known to occur in the near-shore waters of the islands (46 of these are documented by specimens and another 5 species are probable). A diagnosis, synonymy and in most cases, an illustration, are provided for each species. For certain species, brief notes on biology, relative abundance and seasonal distribution are included. The neritic ichthyofauna of the Subtropical Convergence (STC) region is characterized, and the importance of this frontal zone as a barrier to dispersal of species in the Southern Ocean is evaluated. Analysis of the zoogeographic affinities of the Tristan/Gough fish fauna resulted in a redefinition of the West Wind Drift Islands Province (WWDI), comprising the Tristan Group and Gough in the South Atlantic and St. Paul and Amsterdam Islands in the southern Indian Ocean. Verna Seamount (west of Cape Town) and Walters Shoal (south of Madagascar) are excluded from the WWDI Province, as the affinities of their poorly-known fish faunas appear to be more with South Africa and the tropical Indian Ocean respectively. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation)
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- Date Issued: 1995
Two new species of clinid fishes (Perciformes: Clinidae) from South Africa
- Authors: Heemstra, Phillip C , Wright, J E , J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology
- Date: 1986-07
- Subjects: Clinidae -- Classification , Perciformes -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/70224 , vital:29635 , Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)) Periodicals Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB))
- Description: Online version of original print edition of the Special Publication of the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 40 , Two new species of clinid fishes, Cancelloxus elongatus and Pavoclinus smalei, are described from specimens collected in 10 — 25 m off the southeastern Cape Province using rotenone and SCUBA. Generic assignment of both species is provisional pending a reassessment of the generic classification of South African clinid fishes.
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- Date Issued: 1986-07
Dinopercidae, a new family for the Percoid marine fish genera Dinoperca Boulenger and Centrarchops Fowler (Pisces: Perciformes)
- Authors: Heemstra, Phillip C , Hecht, Thomas
- Date: 1986
- Subjects: Perciformes -- Classification
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:15010 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019743 , ISSN 0073-4381 , Ichthyological Bulletin J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 51
- Description: The Genus Dinoperca was erected by Boulenger (1895) for the Northern Indian Ocean species Hapalogenys petersi Day and assigned to the Family Serranidae. Boulenger (1903) described a second species, D. queketti, from South Africa. Most subsequent authors have accepted the placement of Dinoperca in the Serranidae, but Johnson (1983) removed it from the Serranidae to the taxonomic limbo of “Incertae sedis’’. Centrarchops Fowler (1923), with a single West African species, was originally assigned to the Serranidae and has been treated by subsequent authors in the Serranidae. The osteology, myology and the otolith (sagitta) of D. petersi reveal no characters that would relate Dinoperca to any particular family of percoids. Furthermore, the presence or absence of certain characters preclude Dinoperca and Centrarchops from the Family Serranidae, and the superfamilies Haemuloidea, Lutjanoidea and Sparoidea. Two features appear to be uniquely derived characters (synapomorphies) justifying a separate family for Dinoperca and Centrarchops: (1) Frontal bones bearing a high median crest that articulates posteriorly with the supraoccipital crest and is cleft dorsally by a narrow median sulcus extending ventrally to the roof of the brain cavity. (2) Large swim-bladder with three pairs of large intrinsic muscles. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation)
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- Date Issued: 1986
A review of the squirrelfishes of the subfamily Holocentrinae from the Western Indian Ocean and Red Sea
- Authors: Randall, John E, 1924- , Heemstra, Phillip C
- Date: 1985
- Subjects: Squirrelfishes -- Indian Ocean , Squirrelfishes -- Red Sea
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:15019 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019798 , ISBN 0-86810-116-8 , Ichthyological Bulletin of the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 49
- Description: Two genera of Squirrelfishes of the subfamily Holocentrinae are found in the Indo-Pacific region: Neoniphon (Flammeo of recent authors) and Sargocentron (Adioryx of most recent authors). A total of 19 species of these two genera occur in the Indian Ocean west of the southern tip of India: Neoniphon argenteus, N. aurolineatus (Flammeo scythrops Jordan & Evermann and Holocentrus anjouanae Fourmanoir are junior synonyms), N. opercularis, N. aurolineatus, Sargocentron caudimaculatum, S. diadema, S. ittodai (first records for the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean), S. macrosquamis (recently described from the Red Sea and Amirante Group, Seychelles, the range here extended to Kenya, Mozambique, Mauritius, and the Chagos Archipelago), S. melanospilos (usually misidentified as cornutum which is known only from the Indo-Malayan region), S. microstoma (known in the region only from Maldive Islands and Astove Island), S. praslin (usually not distinguished by authors from S. rubrum; Holocentrum marginatum Cuvier is a synonym), S. punctatissimum (has priority over lacteoguttatum due to selection by first revisor, Bleeker, 1873), S. rubrum, S. seychellense (an insular western Indian Ocean species), S. spiniferum (Holocentrum melanotopte- rus Bleeker is a junior synonym), S. tiere (Holocentrum elongatum Steindachner is a junior synonym), S. tiereoides (a new western Indian Ocean record), S. violaceum, and a new species, S. inaequalis (closely allied to macrosquamis Go- lani, 1984, differing in variable Spination of preopercle, modally one fewer pectoral ray, fewer average number of lateral-line scales and a more elongate body). S. inaequalis is described from a total of 7 specimens from the Chagos Archipelago, Seychelles and Comoro Islands. S. melanospilos is recorded for the first time from the Red Sea where it appears to be subspecifically distinct from populations elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region (no subspecific name proposed). Holocentrum macropus Gunther, allegedly collected at Mauritius, is a misidentification of the Atlantic Holocentrus ascensionis (Osbeck). A lectotype is selected for S. microstoma. Neotypes are designated for S. praslin and S. rubrum. Colour photographs of fresh specimens of all of the species except S. macrosquamis are presented. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation)
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- Date Issued: 1985
Apolemichthys kingi, a new species of angelfish (Pomacanthidae) from South Africa : with comments on the classification of angelfishes and a checklist of the Pomacanthids of the western Indian Ocean
- Authors: Heemstra, Phillip C , J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology
- Date: 1984-05
- Subjects: Angelfish -- South Africa -- Classification
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/70083 , vital:29612 , Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)) Periodicals Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB))
- Description: Online version of original print edition of the Special Publication of the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 35 , A new species of angelfish is described from three specimens collected in 30 m off Durban, South Africa. The distinction of the genus Apolemichthys is discussed, and an annotated checklist of the pomacanthids of the Western Indian Ocean is presented. The first positive record of Centropyge bispinosus (Gunther, 1860) from southern Africa is reported, based on a specimen collected at Sodwana Bay (27°30’S).
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- Date Issued: 1984-05
Himantura draco, a new species of stingray (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) from South Africa: with a key to the Dasyatidae and the first record of Dasyatis kuhlii (Müller & Henle, 1841) from southern Africa
- Authors: Compagno, Leonard J V , Heemstra, Phillip C , J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology
- Date: 1984-01
- Subjects: Fishes -- South Africa -- Classification , Stingrays -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/70050 , vital:29610 , Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)) Periodicals Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB))
- Description: Online version of original print edition of the Special Publication of the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 33 , Himantura draco sp.n is described from an immature male specimen of 56 cm disc width collected at Durban. Dasyatis kuhlii is reported from southern Africa based on three specimens from Natal. Records of H. fava, H. imbricata and H. jenkinsii from southern Africa appear to be erroneous, the latter two being misidentifications of H. gerrardi, and the first a misidentified specimen of H. uarnak. Records of H. purpurea are apparently based on Dasyatis violacea and Himantura sp. (possibly H. fai). A key to the 13 species of dasyatids known from southern Africa is presented.
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- Date Issued: 1984-01
A new species of the triggerfish genus Xenobalistes matsuura (Tetradontiformes: Balistidae) from South Africa
- Authors: Heemstra, Phillip C , Smith, Margaret Mary , J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology
- Date: 1983-01
- Subjects: Fishes -- South Africa , Fishes -- Classification , Balistidae -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69968 , vital:29603 , Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)) Periodicals Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB))
- Description: Online version of original print edition of the Special Publication of the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 26 , Xenobalistes punctatus, the second species of the peculiar balistid genus Xenobalistes, is described from one specimen found on the beach at the mouth of the Van Stadens River, eastern Cape Province, South Africa. X. punctatus differs significantly from X. tumidipectoris Matsuura, 1981 in the number of body scale rows and spination of the anterolateral surface of the first dorsal-fin spine. The head and body of X. punctatus are dark brown, covered with numerous, small, evenly-spaced, silvery/white spots.
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- Date Issued: 1983-01
A revision of the Zeid fishes (Zeiformes: Zeidae) of South Africa
- Authors: Heemstra, Phillip C
- Date: 1980
- Subjects: Zeidae -- Classification , Fishes -- Classification , Fishes -- South Africa -- Classification
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14994 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019674 , ISBN 0-86810006-4 , Ichthyological Bulletin J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 41
- Description: The zeid fishes of South Africa are revised; five species in four genera are described and illustrated. Paracyttopsis scutatus Gilchrist & von Bonde and Zen itea (Jordan & Fowler) are shown to be junior synonyms of Cyttopsis roseus (Lowe). Zeus japonicus Valenciennes and Zeus australis Richardson are considered synonyms of Zeus faber Linnaeus; there seems to be no basis for recognition of subspecies in this wide-ranging species. Zenopsis ocellatus (Storer) is placed in the synonymy of Zenopsis conchifer (Lowe). A key to the families of zeiform fishes is presented, and diagnosis for those families represented in South African waters are given. Keys to the South African species of Grammicolepididae, Oreosomatidae, and Zeidae are also included. The distributions of zeid fishes are discussed. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation)
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- Date Issued: 1980
Hexatrygonidae, a new family of stingrays (Myliobatiformes: Batoidea) from South Africa, with comments on the classification of Batoid fishes
- Authors: Heemstra, Phillip C , Smith, Margaret Mary
- Date: 1980
- Subjects: Hexatrygonidae , Hexatrygon bickelli , Stingrays -- South Africa -- Classification , Rajiformes -- South Africa -- Classification
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14996 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019701 , ISBN 0-86810-038-2 , Ichthyological Bulletin of the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 43
- Description: A new species of stingray, Hexatrygon bickelli Heemstra and Smith, is described from a specimen washed up on a beach at Port Elizabeth on the south coast of South Africa. This new species differs from all other batoid fishes in having six gill arches and a peculiar hypertrophied snout that appears to be a well-developed electroreceptive organ, and in the configuration of its spiracles. Other characters that separate H. bickelli from previously known rays (myliobatiforms) are its small simple brain (other rays have a very large complex brain) and the absence of supraorbital crests on the cranium. In addition, all myliobatiforms are neritic (with none having been recorded below 200 m), and H. bickelli is.presumed to live in moderately deep water (400 to 1000 m). The classification of batoid fishes is reviewed, and Hexatrygon is placed in a new family and suborder of the Myliobatiformes. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation)
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- Date Issued: 1980
A revision of the anthiine fish genus Sacura (Perciformes: Serranidae) with descriptions of two new species
- Authors: Heemstra, Phillip C , Randall, John E, 1924- , Rhodes University. J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology
- Date: 1979-11
- Subjects: Sacura -- Classification , Sacura speciosa -- Classification , Sacura parva -- Classification , Fishes -- Classification , Fishes -- Timor Sea -- Classification
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69849 , vital:29587 , Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)) Periodicals Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB))
- Description: Online version of original print edition of the Special Publication of the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 20 , The genus Sacura, previously considered monotypic, is shown to comprise four species: S. margaritacea (Hilgendorf) from Japan, S. boulengeri (Heemstra) from the Gulf of Oman, and two new species, S. speciosa from Celebes and S. parva from the Timor Sea. All of the species are illustrated; the two new species and S. margaritacea are shown in colour.
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- Date Issued: 1979-11