List of marine bony fishes of South Africa

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

Map of the Southern African coastline showing some of the landmarks referred to in species range statements

This is a sublist of the List of marine fishes of South Africa for bony fishes recorded from the oceans bordering South Africa. This list comprises locally used common names, scientific names with author citation and recorded ranges. Ranges specified may not be the entire known range for the species, but should include the known range within the waters surrounding the Republic of South Africa.

List ordering and taxonomy complies where possible with the current usage in World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), 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 should be listed where relevant.

Osteichthyes (/ˌɒstiːˈɪkθi.iːz/), commonly referred to as the bony fish but in the 21st century also treated as a clade that includes the tetrapods, is a diverse superclass of vertebrate animals that have skeletons primarily composed of bone tissue. They can be contrasted with the Chondrichthyes, which have skeletons primarily composed of cartilage. The vast majority of extant fish are members of Osteichthyes, an extremely diverse and abundant group consisting of 45 orders, over 435 families and 28,000 species. It is the largest class of vertebrates in existence today. (Full article...)


Parvphylum Osteichthyes – Bony fishes[edit]

All entries in this list are included in this parvphylum of Gnathostomata. There are two gigaclasses represented: Actinopterygii and Sarcopterygii.[1]

Gigaclass Actinopterygii – Ray-finned fishes[edit]

Class Teleostei[edit]

Order: Acanthuriformes[edit]

Family: Acanthuridae – Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes.[2]

Family: Antigoniidae – Boarfishes

Family: Chaetodontidae – Butterflyfishes

Family: Drepaneidae – Sicklefishes

  • Concertina-fish Drepane longimana (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to East London)

Family: Ephippidae – Batfishes[6]

Family: Leiognathidae – Soapies

Family: Lobotidae – Tripletails

Family: Luvaridae – Louvar

Family: Pomacanthidae – Angelfishes

Family: Scatophagidae – Scatties

Family: Siganidae – Rabbitfishes

Family: Zanclidae – Moorish idol

Order Acropomatiformes[edit]

Family: Acropomatidae – Lanternbellies

  • Lanternbelly Acropoma japonicum Günther, 1859 (off Natal)[3]
  • Sombre splitfin, Silver splitfin, Verilus cynodon (Regan, 1921), reported as syn. Neoscombrops annectens Gilchrist, 1922 (off Natal and southern Mozambique)[3] and as syn. Neoscombrops cynodon (Regan, 1921) (Known from 2 specimens off Natal)[3][10]
  • Japanese splitfin Synagrops japonicus (Doderlein, 1884) (off Natal)[3]

Family: Bathyclupeidae – Bathyclupeids

Family: Champsodontidae – Gapers

Family: Creediidae – Sand burrowers

Family: Epigonidae – Cardinal fishes

Family: Howellidae

Family: Pempheridae – Sweepers

Family: Pentacerotidae – Armourheads

Family: Polyprionidae – Wreckfishes

Family: Scombropidae – Gnomefishes

Order Albuliformes – Bonefishes[edit]

Family: Albulidae

Order Anguilliformes – Eels[edit]

Family: Anguillidae – Freshwater eels

Family: Chlopsidae – False morays

Family: Moringuidae – Spaghetti eels

Family: Muraenidae – Moray eels

Family: Congridae – Conger eels

Family: Derichthyidae – Longneck eels

Family: Muraenesocidae – Pike congers

Family: Nettastomatidae – Witch eels

Family: Ophichthidae – Snake-eels and worm-eels

Family: Nemichthyidae – Snipe eels

Family: Serrivomeridae – Sawtooth eels

Family: Synaphobranchidae – Cutthroat eels

Order Alepocephaliformes[edit]

Family: Alepocephalidae – Slickheads

Order Argentiniformes[edit]

Family: Argentinidae – Argentines

Family: Opisthoproctidae – Barreleyes

Family: Microstomatidae

Subfamily: Bathylaginae – Deep sea smelts

  • Melanolagus bericoides (Borodin, 1929), recorded as syn. Bathylagus bericoides (Borodin, 1929) (off Cape Town; Throughout tropical and subtropical seas)[3][19]

Order Ateleopodiformes[edit]

Family: Ateleopodidae – Tadpole fishes

Order: Atheriniformes[edit]

Family: Atherinidae – Silversides

Family: Notocheiridae – Surf sprites

Order Aulopiformes[edit]

Family: Alepisauridae – Lancetfishes

Family: Evermannellidae – Sabretooth fishes

  • Coccorella atlantica (Parr, 1928) (central water areas of all 3 major oceans; off western and south-western Cape coast, 1 specimen from 31°34'S, 30°09'E)[3]
  • Balbo sabretooth, Evermannella balbo (Risso, 1820) (4 specimens from off southern Natal, presumed to be circumglobal in transition region of southern oceans)[3]

Family Omosudidae

  • Hammerjaw, Omosudis lowii Günther, 1887 (1 specimen from not far off east coast at about 25°S; otherwise known from all oceans between 40°S and 40°N)[3][20]

Family: Paralepididae – Barracudinas (incl. Anotopteridae – Daggertooths)

Family: Scopelarchidae – Pearleyes

Family: Ipnopidae

Family: Chlorophthalmidae – Greeneyes

Family: Ipnopidae

Family: Notosudidae – Notosudids

Family: Bathysauridae

Family: Giganturidae – Telescopefish

  • Gigantura indica Brauer, 1901, recorded as syn. Rosaura indica (Brauer, 1901) (Tropical/subtropical in all 3 major oceans; Indian Ocean from 35°49'S, 23°09'E northwards)[3][24]

Family: Synodontidae – Lizardfishes

Order Batrachoidiformes[edit]

Family: Batrachoididae – Toadfishes

Order Beloniformes[edit]

Family: Belonidae – Needlefishes

Family: Exocoetidae – Flyingfishes

Family: Hemiramphidae – Halfbeaks

Family: Scomberesocidae – Sauries

  • Dwarf saury Nanichthys simulans Hubbs and Wisner, 1980 (Warm temperate waters of the Atlantic and southern Indian oceans; Off the Cape up the west coast)[3]

Order Beryciformes[edit]

Family: Barbourisiidae – Red whalefish

Family: Berycidae – Berycids

Family: Cetomimidae – Whalefishes

Family: Melamphaidae – Bigscale fishes

Family: Rondeletiidae – Redmouth whalefish

Family: Stephanoberycidae – Pricklefishes

Order: Blenniiformes[edit]

Family: Blenniidae – Blennies

Family: Clinidae – Klipfishes

Family: Tripterygiidae – Threefin blennies or Triplefins

Order: Callionymiformes[edit]

Family: Callionymidae – Dragonets

Order Carangaria incertae sedis[edit]

Family: Menidae – Moonfish

Family: Polynemidae – Threadfins

Family: Sphyraenidae – Barracudas

Order Carangiformes[edit]

Family: Carangidae – Kingfishes

Family: Coryphaenidae – Dolphinfish or Dorades

Family: Echeneidae – Remoras

Family: Istiophoridae – Sailfish, spearfishes and marlins

Family: Rachycentridae – Cobia

Family: Xiphiidae – Swordfishes

Order Centrarchiformes[edit]

Family: Cheilodactylidae – Fingerfins[44]

Family: Cirrhitidae – Hawkfishes[46]

Family: Dichistiidae – Galjoens

Family: Kuhliidae – Flagtails

Family: Kyphosidae – Sea chubs

Family: Oplegnathidae – Knifejaws

Family: Parascorpididae – Jutjaw

Family: Terapontidae – Thornfishes

Order Cichliformes[edit]

Family: Cichlidae – Cichlids

Order Clupeiformes[edit]

Family: Alosidae

Family: Chirocentridae – Wolfherrings

Family: Dorosomatidae

Family: Dussumieriidae – Round herrings

Family: Ehiravidae

  • Estuarine round herring, Gilchrist's round-herring, Gilchristella aestuaria (Gilchrist, 1913) (Knysna to Kosi bay, Saldanha Bay and possibly north to Orange River mouth)[3][4][54]

Family: Engraulidae – Anchovies

Family: Spratelloididae

Order Dactylopteriformes[edit]

Family: Dactylopteridae – Helmet gurnards

Family: Pegasidae – Seamoths

Order Elopiformes[edit]

Family: Elopidae – Ladyfishes

Family: Megalopidae – Tarpons

Order Eupercaria incertae sedis[edit]

Family: Callanthiidae – Goldies

Family: Caesionidae – Fusiliers

Family: Cepolidae – Bandfishes

Family: Dinopercidae

Family: Emmelichthyidae – Rovers

Family: Gerreidae – Pursemouths

Family: Haemulidae – Rubberlips and grunters

Family: Labridae – Wrasses

Family: Lethrinidae – Emperors

Family: Lutjanidae – Snappers

Family: Malacanthidae – Tilefishes

Family: Monodactylidae – Moonies

Family: Nemipteridae – Butterfly breams, spinecheeks

Family: Priacanthidae – Bigeyes

Family: Scaridae – Parrotfishes

Family: Sciaenidae – Kobs

Family: Sillaginidae – Sillagos

Family: Sparidae – Seabreams

Order Gadiformes[edit]

Family: Bregmacerotidae – Codlets

Family: Lotidae – Lings and rocklings

Family: Macrouridae – Grenadiers

Family: Melanonidae – Melanonids

Family: Merlucciidae – Hakes

Family: Moridae – Deepsea cods

Order: Gobiesociformes[edit]

Family: Gobiesocidae – Clingfishes

Order: Gobiiformes[edit]

Family: Eleotridae – Sleepers

Family: Gobiidae – Gobies

Subfamily: Amblyopinae

Subfamily: Gobiinae

Subfamily: Gobionellinae

Subfamily: Oxudercinae

Family: Microdesmidae – Gobies

Subfamily: Ptereleotrinae

Family: Trichonotidae – Sand divers

Order Gonorynchiformes[edit]

Family: Chanidae

Family: Gonorynchidae – Beaked sandfish

Order: Holocentriformes[edit]

Family: Holocentridae – Squirrelfishes and Soldierfishes

Subfamily: Holocentrinae – Squirrelfishes

Subfamily: Myripristinae – Soldierfishes

Order Kurtiformes[edit]

Family: Apogonidae – Cardinal fishes (see also Epigonidae)

Subfamily: Apogoninae

Subfamily: Pseudaminae

Order Lampriformes[edit]

Family: Lamprididae – Opahs (Lampridae in Smiths)

  • Spotted opah Lampris guttatus (Brünnich, 1788) (all oceans but not in polar waters, occurs throughout South African waters, usually well offshore)[3]
  • Southern opah Lampris immaculatus Gilchrist, 1904 (Circumglobal south of 30°S)[3]

Family: Lophotidae – Crestfishes

  • Unicorn crestfish Eumecichthys fiski (Günther, 1890) (1 specimen, Kalk Bay in False Bay)[3]
  • Crestfish Lophotus lacepede Giorna, 1809 (Cape to Plettenberg Bay, rare but widely distributed in all oceans)[3]

Family: Radiicephalidae – Tapertail

Family: Regalecidae – Oarfishes

Family: Trachipteridae – Ribbonfishes

  • Polka-dot ribbonfish Desmodema polystictum (Ogilby, 1898) (1 juvenile washed ashore at Xora river and 1 found at Simon's Town, False Bay)[3]
  • Blacktail ribbonfish Trachipterus jacksonensis (Ramsay, 1881) (East London and off Cape Town)[3]
  • Peregrine ribbonfish Trachipterus trachypterus (Gmelin, 1789) (off Table Bay)[3]
  • Scalloped ribbonfish Zu cristatus (Bonelli, 1819), (prejuveniles collected at Luderitz, Algoa bay and Durban)[3]
  • Taper tail ribbonfish Zu elongatus (Heemstra and Kannemeyer, 1984) (4 specimens trawled off the western Cape coast)[3]

Order Lophiiformes – Anglerfishes[edit]

Family: Antennariidae – Anglers

Family: Ceratiidae – Seadevils

  • Ceratias holboelli Krøyer, 1845 (single specimen off Cape Town at 34°12'S, 16°35'E; Nearly cosmopolitan in the world's oceans)[3]
  • Ceratias tentaculatus (Norman, 1930) (Specimens from off Dealagoa bay, off southern Natal, off Saldanha bay. Throughout southern oceans)[3]
  • Cryptopsaras couesii Gill, 1883 (off Cape of Good Hope, all major oceans)[3]

Family: Chaunacidae – Coffinfishes

Family: Himantolophidae – Footballfish

Family: Linophrynidae – Dwarf anglers

Family: Lophiidae – Monks

  • Natal monk Lophiodes insidiator (Regan, 1921) (Natal to northern Madagascar)[3]
  • Lophiodes mutilus (Alcock, 1893) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)[3]
  • Lophiomus setigerus (Vahl, 1797) (Indo-West Pacific south to False Bay)[3]
  • Monk, Lophius vomerinus (Valenciennes, 1837), also recorded as syn. Lophius upsicephalus Smith, 1841 [121](off Cape of Good Hope; Eastern South Atlantic and South western Indian Ocean off South Africa; Bay of Bengal off Burma)[3]

Family: Melanocetidae – Devil-anglers

Family: Ogcocephalidae – Seabats

Order Mugiliformes[edit]

Family: Mugilidae – Mullets

Order Mulliformes[edit]

Family: Mullidae – Goatfishes

Order Myctophiformes[edit]

Family: Myctophidae – Lanternfishes

  • Benthosema fibulatum (Gilbert and Cramer, 1897) (Indian Ocean (18°N - 20°S), to 42°S in Agulhas current)[3]
  • Benthosema suborbitale (Gilbert, 1913) (tropical distribution in 3 major oceans, extensions to 50°S and 50°N in western boundary currents)[3]
  • Bolinichthys indicus (Nafpaktitis and Nafpaktitis, 1969) (Indian Ocean (20° - 45°S); Atlantic (20° - 50°N and 20° - 40°S))[3]
  • Stubby lanternfish, Bolinichthys supralateralis (Parr, 1928) (off Cape Peninsula and in Agulgas current; Atlantic (40°N - 02°S and 32° to 40°S); Indian Ocean (21° - 30°S); west coast of Australia and near Hawaii)[3]
  • Roundnose lanternfish, Centrobranchus nigroocellatus (Günther, 1873) (Atlantic (40°N - 36°S); Indian Ocean (08° - 34°S) and off Chile and New Zealand)[3]
  • Warming's lantern fish, Ceratoscopelus warmingii (Lütken, 1892) (Atlantic(42°N - 40°S); Indian Ocean (20°N - 45°S);tropical/subtropical Pacific)[3]
  • Bright lanternfish, Ctenoscopelus phengodes (Lütken, 1892), recorded as syn. Myctophum phengodes (Lütken, 1892) (Off all South African coasts)[3][138]
  • Dasyscopelus asper, (Richardson, 1845), recorded as syn. Myctophum asperum Richardson, 1845, (off east coast and in Agulhas water pockets off west coast.)[3][139]
  • Dasyscopelus obtusirostris (Tåning, 1928), recorded as syn. Myctophum obtusirostre Tåning, 1928 (In Agulhas current and off west coast in pockets of Agulhas water)[3][140]
  • Wisner's lanternfish, Dasyscopelus selenops (Tåning, 1928), recorded as syn. Myctophum selenops Tåning, 1928 (West of Cape Peninsula in Agulhas water pockets)[3][141]
  • Spiny lanternfish, Dasyscopelus spinosus (Steindachner, 1867), recorded as syn. Myctophum spinosum (Steindachner, 1867) (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets)[3][142]
  • Short-headed lantern fish, Diaphus brachycephalus Tåning, 1928 (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets; broadly tropical in Atlantic and Indo-Pacific)[3]
  • Crown lanternfish. Diaphus diadematus Tåning, 1928 (in Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets and warmed upwelled central water northwards to 18°S; Indian Ocean (02°N - 38°S, and in Mozambique channel, but absent in central sector)[3]
  • Dumeril's lanternfish, Diaphus dumerilii (Bleeker, 1856) (off west coast as pseudoceanic pelagic species southward to 23°S)[3]
  • Headlight fish, Diaphus effulgens (Goode and Bean, 1896) (off all SA coasts)[3]
  • Garman's lanternfish, Diaphus garmani (Gilbert, 1906)(east coast continental shelf/slope southwards to about 26°S)[3]
  • Hudson's lanternfish, Diaphus hudsoni (Zubrigg and Scott, 1976) (From 18°S off west coast to 27°S off east coast)[3]
  • Jensen's lanternfish, Diaphus jenseni Tåning, 1932 (one record at 33°49'S, 27°48'E; Indo-Pacific)[3]
  • Spotlight lanternfish, Diaphus lucidus (Goode and Bean, 1896) (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets. Atlantic(40°N - 38°S, but absent in Benguela upwelling region); also Indo-Pacific)[3]
  • Luetken's lanternfish, Diaphus luetkeni (Brauer, 1904) (In Agulhas current to 37°S. Atlantic (42°N - 11°S) also Indo-Pacific)[3]
  • Mead's lanternfish, Diaphus meadi Nafpaktitis, 1978 (In upwelled waters off west coast northwards to at least 21°S. Circumglobal convergence species (32° - 41°S))[3]
  • Spothead lantern fish, Diaphus metopoclampus Cocco, 1829 South of 29°S off west coast and 27°S off east coast. Mediterranean, Atlantic, Indo-West Pacific)[3]
  • Soft lanternfish, Diaphus mollis Tåning, 1928 (off all SA coasts, Broadly tropical distribution in all major oceans)[3]
  • Diaphus nielseni Nafpaktitis, 1978 (taken once from Agulhas current (30°17'S, 31°25'E); off east coast of Madagascar, in Mozambique channel, and from southeast Asian seas to southern Japan)[3]
  • Ostenfeld's lanternfish, Diaphus ostenfeldi Tåning, 1932 (off west coast northwards to about 23°S; Circumglobal convergence species (35° - 45°S))[3]
  • Parr's lanternfish, Diaphus parri Tåning, 1932 (in Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets, Indian Ocean (10°N - 12°S with extension to 25°S in Mozambique channel), southeast Asian seas and Pacific (tropical waters west of 95°W))[3]
  • Transparent lanternfish, Diaphus perspicillatus (Ogilby,1898) (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets. Broadly tropical species in Atlantic (45°N - 36°S, but absent in southeastern sector); Indo-Pacific)[3]
  • Problematic lanternfish, Diaphus problematicus Parr, 1928 (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets. Atlantic(40°N - 39°S but absent south of 13°S in eastern sector); tropical Indo-Pacific with extensions into higher latitudes in western boundary currents)[3]
  • Diaphus richardsoni Tåning, 1932 (Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets)[3]
  • Horned lanternfish, Diaphus splendidus (Brauer, 1904) (in Agulhas current southward to 31°S; Atlantic (40°N to 28°S, but absent south of 10°S in eastern sector); Indo-Pacific)[3]
  • Slopewater lanternfish, Diaphus taaningi Norman, 1930 (over west coast continental shelf/slope southward to 24°S. Amphitropical species in Atlantic(western sector; tropical waters to 42°N; eastern sector: southward from Mauretanian upwelling region to South African region)[3]
  • Watases lanternfish, Diaphus watasei Jordan and Starks, 1904 (Over east coast continental shelf/slope southwards to about 30°S)[3]
  • Longfin lanternfish, Diogenichthys atlanticus (Tåning, 1928) (Atlantic (50°N - 48°S), Indian Ocean (22° - 45°S) and Pacific (35°N - 35°S, but absent in equatorial waters west of 130°W and near Hawaii)[3]
  • Diogenichthys panurgus Bolin, 1946 (In Agulhas current to about 38°S and in Indian Ocean (19°N - 05°S))[3]
  • Risso's lanternfish,Electrona risso (Cocco, 1829) (off east and west coasts of South Africa. Widespread in Atlantic (55°N - 40°S), Mediterranean, Indian Ocean (0° - 40°S), Tasman sea and Cook Strait, and eastern Pacific (42°N - 20°S))[3]
  • Barne's lanternfish, Gonichthys barnesi Whitley, 1943 (Off east and west coasts, south of 30°S. Convergence species in all 3 oceans (30° - 40°S))[3]
  • Gymnoscopelus braueri (Lönnberg, 1905) (Circumglobal between Subtropical convergence and Antarctica)[3]
  • Southern blacktip lanternfish, Gymnoscopelus piabilis (Whitley, 1931) (off west coast in Benguela upwelling region)[3]
  • Hansen's lanternfish, Hygophum hanseni (Tåning, 1932) (From 30°S on west coast to 33°S on east coast. Convergence species (30° to 43°S) in all 3 oceans)[3]
  • Bermuda lanternfish, Hygophum hygomii (Lütken, 1892) (West of Cape Peninsula and off east coast (25° - 37°S))[3]
  • Hygophum proximum Bekker, 1965) (South to about 37°S in Agulhas current; Indian Ocean (25°N - 10°S))[3]
  • Luminous lanternfish, Lampadena luminosa (Garman, 1899) (In Agulhas current. In all 3 oceans (20°N - 20°S) with extensions into higher latitudes in western boundary currents)[3]
  • Lampadena notialis Nafpaktitis and Paxton, 1968 (Off east coast and cape peninsula; convergence species in all 3 oceans)[3]
  • Mirror lanternfish, Lampadena speculigera Goode and Bean, 1896 (Off west and southeast coasts. Atlantic (66° - 35°N and 35° - 45°S), Indian Ocean (30° to 45°S) and Pacific Ocean (30° - 45°S))[3]
  • Onderbaadjie, Hector's lanternfish, Lampanyctodes hectoris (Common in Benguela uprising region)[3]
  • Lampanyctus achirus Andriashev, 1962 (Southern Benguela upwelling region, off south and east coasts, north to about 31°S)[3]
  • Lampanyctus alatus Goode and Bean, 1896 (Off all South African coasts; Atlantic (46°N - 38°S), Indian Ocean (0° - 39°S)[3]
  • Lampanyctus ater Tåning, 1928 (Off all South African coasts; Atlantic (58° - 17°N and 15° - 40°S) and Indian Ocean (12° - 44°S))[3]
  • Southern lanternfish, Lampanyctus australis Tåning, 1932 (Off all South African coasts; Circumglobal convergence species(33° - 43°S with northern extension to about 27°S in eastern boundary currents))[3]
  • Lampanyctus festivus Tåning, 1928 (off all South African coasts. Atlantic(53° - 18°N and 28° - 40°S with northern extension to 12°S in Benguela current and Indo-West Pacific.)[3]
  • Lampanyctus intricarius Tåning, 1928 (In southern Benguela upwelling region. Atlantic (65° - 32°N and region of subtropical convergence) and Indo-Pacific (region of subtropical convergence, with northern extension to 18°S in eastern boundary currents)[3]
  • Lampanyctus lepidolychnus Bekker, 1967 (off all South African coasts, circumglobal convergence species (23° - 48°S))[3]
  • Lampanyctus lineatus Tåning, 1928 (Taken once at 34°12'S, 16°35'E)[3]
  • Lampanyctus macdonaldi (Goode and Bean, 1896) (West of Cape Peninsula, Circumglobal between subtropical convergence and Antarctic polar front)[3]
  • Lampanyctus nobilis Tåning, 1928 (In agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets. Atlantic (40°N - 21°S), Indo-Pacific)[3]
  • Lampanyctus pusillus (Johnson, 1890) (Off all South African coasts. Bisubtropical species in all major oceans)[3]
  • Lampanyctus turneri (Fowler, 1934) (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets. Tropical and subtropical waters between south China sea and western Indian Ocean)[3]
  • Lampichthys procerus (Brauer, 1904) (Off Cape Peninsula, circumglobal convergence species (32° - 48°S) with extensions into lower latitudes in eastern boundary currents)[3]
  • Lobianchia dofleini (Zugmayer, 1911) (Off all South African coasts. Mediterranean, Atlantic (50°N - 40°S), Indian Ocean (23° - 38°S), Tasman sea and south Pacific(region of subtropical convergence))[3]
  • Cocco's lantern fish, Lobianchia gemellarii (Cocco, 1838) (off all South African coasts. Worldwide in tropical/subtropical waters.)[3]
  • Flaccid lanternfish, Metelectrona ventralis (Bekker, 1063) (West of Cape Peninsula in Southern Benguela upwelling region; Curcumglobal subantarctic species (36°-51°S))[3]
  • Myctophum aurolaternatum Garman, 1899 (in Agulhas current south to about 31°S)[3]
  • Myctophum nitidulum Garman, 1809 (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets)[3]
  • Notolychnus valdiviae (Brauer, 1904) (off all South African coasts)[3]
  • Notoscopelus caudispinosus (Johnson, 1863) (in Agulhas current south to 34°S. Broadly tropical in Atlantic (42°N - 37°S) and Indian oceans)[3]
  • Notoscopelus resplendens (Richardson, 1845) (off all South African coasts)[3]
  • Protomyctophum subparallelum Tåning, 1932 (off west coast at Vema seamount, Circumglobal in region of subtropical convergence with northern extension to 30°S in eastern boundary currents)[3]
  • Protomyctophum normani Tåning, 1932 (once west of Slangkop lighthouse; Circumglobal convergence species (36° - 43°S))[3]
  • Scopelopsis multipunctatus Brauer, 1906 (off all South African coasts)[3]
  • Symbolophorus barnardi (Tåning, 1932) (occurs off all South African coasts)[3]
  • Symbolophorus boops (Richardson, 1845) (Southern Benguela upwelling region north to 25°S; circumglobal in and south of subtropical convergence)[3]
  • Symbolophorus evermanni (Gilbert, 1905) (Agilhas current south to about 33°S; tropical Indo-Pacific)[3]
  • Taaningichthys bathyphilus (Tåning, 1928) (off east coast (30° - 33°S); widespread in all three oceans)[3]
  • Taaningichthys minimus (Tåning, 1928) (taken at 34°15'S, 16°00'E; Atlantic (40° - 20°N and 08° - 38°S), Indian Ocean (20° - 30°S); central and eastern North Pacific)[3]
  • Triphoturus nigrescens (Brauer, 1904) (In Agulhas current south to about 40°S; Indian Ocean (08°N - 15°S) and Pacific Ocean (30°N - 30°S))[3]

Family: Neoscopelidae – Blackchins

Order Notacanthiformes[edit]

Family: Halosauridae – Halosaurs

Family: Notacanthidae – Spiny eels

Order Ophidiiformes[edit]

Family: Aphyonidae – Aphyonids

Family: Bythitidae – Bythitids or Brotulas

Family: Carapidae – Pearlfishes

Family: Ophidiidae – Cuskeels

Family: Parabrotulidae – False brotulas

Order Osmeriformes[edit]

Family Leptochilichthyidae

Order Ovalentaria incertae sedis[edit]

Family: Ambassidae – Glassies

Family: Opistognathidae – Jawfishes

Family: Plesiopidae – Longfins Subfamily: Acanthoclininae – Spiny basslets

Subfamily: Plesiopinae

Family: Pomacentridae – Damselfishes

Family: Pseudochromidae – Dottybacks

Subfamily: Congrogadinae – Snakelets

Subfamily: Pseudochrominae

Subfamily: Pseudoplesiopinae

Order Perciformes[edit]

Main article: List of marine Perciform fishes of South Africa

6 suborders and 20 families are represented:

Order Pleuronectiformes – Flatfishes[edit]

Family: Achiropsettidae

  • Neoachiropsetta milfordi (Penrith, 1965) (off Cape Town, Argentina, Falkland Islands and New Zealand)[3](syn. Mancopsetta milfordi Penrith, 1965)

Family: Bothidae – Lefteye flounders

Family: Citharidae – Largescale flounders

Family: Paralichthyidae

Family: Pleuronectidae – Righteye flounders

Family: Cynoglossidae – Tonguefishes

Family: Soleidae – Soles

Order Polymixiiformes[edit]

Family: Polymixiidae – Beardfishes

  • Pacific beardfish Polymixia berndti Gilbert, 1905 (Off Natal, Kenya, Philippines, Japan and Hawaii)[3]

Order Saccopharyngiformes[edit]

Family: Cyematidae – Arrow eels

Order: Scombriformes[edit]

Family: Ariommatidae

Family: Centrolophidae – Ruffs

  • Black ruff Centrolophus niger (Gmelin, 1789) (Temperate waters of Australia, New Zealand, South America and South Africa, also North Atlantic and Mediterranean)[3]
  • Antarctic butterfish Hyperoglyphe antarctica (Carmichael, 1818) (Temperate waters; islands of south Atlantic and southern Indian oceans; New Zealand, southern Australia and South Africa)[3]
  • New Zealand ruffe, Schedophilus huttoni (Waite, 1910) (Circumglobal in southern ocean, taken off Cape Town, common off Namibia)[3]
  • Black butterfish or Peregrine driftfish, Schedophilus velaini (Sauvage, 1879) (Gulf of Guinea, to South Africa)[3](syn. Hyperoglypha moselii (Cunningham, 1910))
  • Flabby driftfish, Tasmanian ruffe, Tubbia tasmanica Whitley, 1943 (Temperate waters of Southern Ocean; New Zealand, Tasmania and South Africa off Natal)[3]

Family: Chiasmodontidae – Swallowers

Family: Gempylidae – Snake mackerels

Family: Nomeidae – Driftfishes

Family: Pomatomidae – Elf

Family: Scombridae – Tunas, mackerels and bonitos

Subfamily: Gasterochismatinae

Subfamily: Scombrinae

Family: Stromateidae

Family: Tetragonuridae – Squaretails

Family: Trichiuridae – Frostfishes

Order Siluriformes – Catfishes[edit]

Family: Ariidae – Sea catfishes

Family: Plotosidae – Eel catfishes

Order Stomiiformes[edit]

Family: Gonostomatidae – Bristlemouths