TRUSTEES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM.

Prof. R. S. Apamson, F.RB.S.S.Afr.

FERDINAND Bosman, M.P.C.

Prof. D. L. ScHoutrz, D.Sc.

C. J. Srppetr, J.P.

Dr. S. H. Skatre, Ph.D., F.R.S.S.Afr., J.P.

SCIENTIFIC STAFF OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN

MUSEUM.

KEPPEL Harcourt Barnarp, M.A., D.Sc., F.L.S., Director; in Charge of Fish

and Marine Invertebrates.

ALBERT JOHN Huss, B.Sc., Ph.D., Assistant in Charge of the Entomological

Department.

LizruwE Dirk Boonsrra, D.Sc., Assistant in Charge of the Paleontological

Department.

Miss G. Joyce Lewis, B.A., Assistant in Charge of the Botanical Department.

A. J. H. Goopwtn, M.A., Honorary Keeper of the Ethnological and Archeological

Collections.

Miss KE. Marcaret SHAW, B.A., Assistant in Charge of the Ethnological Collections.

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

K. H. Barnarp.

Revision of the Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of the S.W. Cape Region

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes . ; :

Report on a Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River, with Notes

on Zambesi Fishes

P. R. Kimsy.

Andrew Smith, M.D., Founder of the first South African Museum.

J. M. RATTRAY.

Observations on the Food-Cycle of the South African Stockfish, Mer-

luccius capensis Cast. off the West Coast of South Africa; with a

note on the Food of the King-Klip Genypterus capensis (Smith)

G. C. SHORTRIDGE.

Field Notes on the First and Second Expeditions of the Cape Museums’

Mammal Survey of the Cape Province; and Descriptions of some

New Subgenera and Subspecies .

R. H. N. Smiruers.

Contributions to our Knowledge of the Genus Latrodectus (Araneae) in

South Africa

J. R. te B. Tomiin.

Reports on the Marine Mollusca in the Collections of the South African

Museum. XI. Family Buccinidae

LIST OF NEW SUBGENERIC NAMES INTRODUCED

IN THIS VOLUME.

Gerbillurus subg. n. of Gerbillus (Mammalia, Cricetidae), Shortridge 1942

Myomyscus subg. n. of Myomys (Mammalia, Muridae), Shortridge 1942

315

263

333

PLATES

. Andrew Smith, M.D.

. Facsimile of title-page of Smith’s Catalogue of S.A. Museum.

LIST OF PLATES.

. Facsimile of page 1 of Smith’s Catalogue.

. Facsimile of Smith’s Instructions.

. Facsimile of letter from Smith to the Rev. R. Moffat.

. Nest of Field Mouse (Myotomys).

. Skulls of Papio.

. Nest of Latrodectus indistinctus.

. Xenolepidichthys americanus N. & F.

. Taractes longipinnis (Lowe).

. Histiopterus spinifer Gilch., juv.

Neothunnus albacora (Lowe).

. Mola mola (Linn.), juv.

XIII.

Mola mola (Linn.).

DATE OF ISSUE OF THE PARTS.

Part 1 September 1942.

Part 2 July 1943.

Part 3 May 1944.

Part 4 June 1947.

Part 5 May 1948.

Vii

ae ; rt ha aaa

ee) tie Pa

; Ne a i

ANN ALS

OF THE

SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM

VOLUME XXXVI.

1. Andrew Smith, M.D., Founder of the first South African Museum.

—By Prercivan R. Kirey, M.A., D.Litt., F.R.C.M., F.R.A.L,

University of the Witwatersrand.

(With Plates I-V.)

THE origin of this paper is due to a series of “‘happy accidents.”’

Some years ago, while engaged in research upon the Expedition for

Exploring Central Africa, initiated and led by Dr.. Andrew Smith

in 1834-1836, I read, among other works, Henry Hall’s Manual of

South African Geography.* In the “Table of Chronological Events

relating to the History of South Africa generally, physical and

political,” which appears in the Appendix, I noticed, under the year

1825, the statement: “First museum established—June 10.’ This

statement surprised me, since hitherto I had not met with any

authority who had suggested such an early date for the foundation

of the South African Museum. In fact Hall’s next entry concerning

the Museum, under the year 1855, was “‘Trustees of South African

Museum elected—July 7.” T

As I was not at the time particularly interested in following up

the suggestion contained in the first of these statements, I contented

myself with simply filing the reference for future use. But a second

discovery, made only a few years ago, again aroused my interest in

the matter. My friend Mrs. H. M. McKay, who has been working

on various aspects of the life and scientific activities of William John

Burchell, had arranged to visit England with a view to obtaining

first-hand information upon many points connected with her research.

* Second edition, Cape Town, 1866.

+ See Editor’s note on p. 26.

WOis KROME) PART. 1: 1

pec 10

2 Annals of the South African Museum.

Accordingly I asked her if she would try to trace for me the where-

abouts of the nephew of Dr. Andrew Smith, or any of his descendants.

It was this nephew, Mr. Andrew Michie, who inherited Smith’s

autograph manuscripts, and who generously donated them to the

South African Museum in 1913. Mrs. McKay found him, hale and

hearty although ninety-three years of age, and he lent her a large

scrap-book which had belonged to Smith, and which contained

many invaluable biographical documents, including a Diploma

presented to the Doctor by the Mineralogical Society of Jena in

1826, in recognition of his scientific work as “‘ Director of the Museum

of the Cape of Good Hope.” This document I shall discuss more

fully later on. Mr. Michie also gave Mrs. McKay a photograph of

a drawing of Smith made by Charles Bell, one of the artists who

accompanied the Expedition of 1834-1836, and this photograph is

reproduced here on Plate I. The drawing appears to have been made

at the time of the Expedition.

Here, then, was conclusive evidence that the South African

Museum was in existence at the time suggested by Hall in his Manual,

and this information I also filed for future use.

But during December 1938, while searching the South African

Public Library for traces of a volume, stated by Dr. George McCall

Theal to have been published at Cape Town in the year 1836, and

which, he alleged, contained an enlarged account of the famous

expedition, I came across a number of pamphlets, bound together,

which included several by Dr. Andrew Smith. Two of these, a

catalogue of the South African Museum, printed and published in

1826, and a paper also emanating from the Museum, which con-

sisted of instructions for preparing and preserving the different

objects of the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms, undated,

but obviously of the same year as the catalogue, caused me to reflect

anew upon the date of the founding of South Africa’s first public

Museum.

In order, therefore, to secure authoritative information as to what

was known about the inception of the South Aftican Museum, I

visited that institution and questioned the Director, Dr. E. L. Gill,

and also the Assistant Director, Dr. K. H. Barnard. The latter

supplied me with several documents which contained the history

of the Museum so far as it was known. Two of these were:

(1) An undated typescript “compiled by Dr. Péringuey with a

view to obtaining an increased grant from the Corporation”

(of Cape Town).

Andrew Smith, M.D., Founder of South African Museum. 3

(2) The typescript of a broadcast talk given by Dr. K. H. Barnard

from the Cape Town Broadcasting Station on 16th October

1924.

The first of these begins as follows :—

“The history of the South African Museum may be said to date

from 1829.

“At that time there was founded in Cape Town, by private

subscription, the Scientific and Literary Society for, inter alia, the

support of the Cape Town Public Library, which, for reasons of

penury in the Revenue of the Colony, ceased to receive the unaided

help from the Government of the Country [sic].

“The Scientific and Literary Society continued until 1855. It

brought together collections of scientific interest in natural history

especially, helped considerably the famous expedition of Sir Andrew

Smith, who visited the then nearly unknown parts of the Transvaal

and what is now the Delagoa Bay Province [sic]. In turn the

Society was rewarded for its pecuniary help by the famous traveller

and naturalist. No less than 150 members of the Society sub-

scribed a heavy sum indeed (£5 a head, I believe) for the publication

of Smith’s monumental work on the Zoology of South Africa,

which shall [sec] never be surpassed, even if equalled... .”

The second document commences thus:

“The history of the South African Museum may be said to date

trot LO290 1/00”

This statement was, of course, as Dr. Barnard admits, derived

from Péringuey; and Dr. Barnard repeated Péringuey’s statements

regarding the Scientific and Literary Society, and also about Smith’s

Expedition to the Transvaal and Delagoa Bay. Dr. Barnard,

however, continued:

“In 1855 this Society ceased to be, and a movement was set on

foot amongst the citizens of Cape Town to inaugurate a public

Museum supported by Government... .

““Objects were donated, and about 300 subscribers at a guinea

per annum each were enrolled.

“These collections were temporarily housed in the old Slave

Lodge, Government Gardens. In 1856 they were transferred to

the upper story of a bookseller’s shop in St. George’s Street, the

owner charging a nominal rent of £10 per annum... .”

It is obvious from these quotations that Dr. Péringuey was

a Annals of the South African Museum. |

unaware that the South African Museum was founded fully four years

earlier than the date which he suggested, and he is hardly to be

blamed for such lack of knowledge, although one might have expected

him to be familiar with Dr. Andrew Smith’s Report of the Expedition

for Exploring Central Africa, published in Cape Town in 1836. Had

he known this report, he would not have made the mis-statement

that the Expedition penetrated to the “Delagoa Bay Province,”

which it certainly did not.

Accordingly I determined to investigate all possible official docu-

ments, in order that I might find out the precise date of the founding

of the South African Museum, the reason for its inception, and the

individual or individuals who were responsible for initiating the idea.

Hitherto I have been unable to discover any autograph manu-

scripts dealing with the foundation of the Museum, though I have no

doubt that, in time, some at any rate will come to light.* But an

intensive search through the early files of the Cape Town Gazette and

African Advertiser yielded most of the facts which were necessary

for the solution of the problem which I had set myself.

In the issue of this journal (a Government publication) for Monday,

11th June 1825 (No. 1013, p. 1, col. 1), there appeared the following

notice :—

GOVERNMENT ADVERTISEMENT.

His Excellency the Governor being convinced, from various

sources, of the endless diversity and novelty of the natural products

of this colony, is most desirous to make them in future a subject of

particular attention. His Excellency has therefore directed an

Establishment to be formed in Cape Town, under the title of “‘The

South African Museum,” for the reception and classification of the

various objects of the Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral Kingdoms

which are found in South Africa, whereby an opportunity will be

opened to the colonists of becoming acquainted with the general and

local resources of the Colony. His Excellency trusts, therefore, that

the Inhabitants will aid him with their exertions, in contributing

whatever it is in their power to collect, to promote an Institution

so interesting and useful.

His Excellency has been pleased to nominate Dr. ANDREW SMITH,

M.D., to be Superintendant [sic] of this Institution, to whom all

communications are to be made, addressed to him, at the South

African Museum.

His Excellency has selected an apartment in the Public Library, to

* Since this paper was in proof I have been given by Dr. R. U. Moffat,

grandson of the Rev. Robert Moffat, an original letter sent by Dr. Smith to the

missionary. A portion of this letter is reproduced on Plate V, and the complete

letter is printed as an Appendix, facing p. 26.

Andrew Smith, M.D., Founder of South African Museum. 5

place the collections in for the present, and it is his intention that

the Museum should be open to the Inspection of the Public, at

stipulated hours to be hereafter fixed.

Care oF Goop Hops, 10th June 1825.

By His Excellency’s Command,

(Signed) R. PLAsKET,

Secretary to Government.

This notice also appeared in Dutch in the Dutch issue of the same

date.

Here, then, was conclusive evidence that Henry Hall’s statement

was correct, and that Péringuey had overlooked a very important

source of information. So I determined to read on.

In the issue of the Gazette for Saturday, 25th June 1825, the new

Director issued his first appeal.

Pusiic Notice.

THE SoutH Arrican Museum being now open for the reception of

objects belonging to all the branches of Natural History, such

individuals therefore as may feel an interest in forwarding, by Dona-

tions, the intentions of the said Establishment, are requested to make

them whenever they may find it convenient. Those persons who

reside near or in Cape Town will be pleased to forward them directly

to the Museum, whilst those in the Country can send them to the

Landdrost nearest to their place of abode.

Lists of the presents which may be so made, together with the name

of the donor, will be published monthly in the Government Gazette;

and in each succeeding publication a reference will be made to the

number of specimens previously furnished by the different individuals,

which plan will show, as well as record the degree of zeal and interest

which have been taken by the respective inhabitants towards for-

warding such a necessary and laudable undertaking. Besides those

Public Acknowledgments, the Sources from whence the various

articles have been derived will be mentioned on the labels attached

to each in the Museum.

As not only absolute Instruction, but also considerable Experience,

are necessary to enable individuals to prepare and preserve Objects

of the Animal Kingdom, in such a manner as to be useful for exhibition,

it is therefore particularly desirable that as many living Specimens be

obtained as is possible. |

Individuals whose circumstances or inclinations do not incline

them to make donations of such articles as they may at present

possess, or hereafter acquire, are informed, that they may personally,

or by letter, state the terms upon which they will part with them,

to the Superintendant of the Museum.

All persons having Objects of Curiosity for sale, are most earnestly

requested to allow the Museum to have the refusal of them.

6 Annals of the South African Museum.-

Printed Instructions, for the guidance of those who may feel

inclined to assist in obtaining animals, etc., for the Museum, will be

circulated.

ANDREW SmitsH, M.D.,

Superintendant, etc.

This notice also appeared in Dutch in the Dutch issue of the same

date.

Who was this Andrew Smith who was appointed by the Governor

of the Cape to the position of “‘Superintendant”’ of the newly founded

Museum? A brief outline of his biography will make this quite clear,

and will explain his absorbing interest in Natural History.

Andrew Smith was born on 3rd December 1797, at Heronhall, in

the parish of Kirkton, Roxburghshire, Scotland. He was at first

educated at the parish school at Stobs; but on the family moving to

Hassendean in 1809, he went to the parish school of Minto, and later

to Lilliesleaf. Still later, having chosen to follow the practice of

medicine, he was placed under the care of Mr. Walter Graham of

Hawick, who was a surgeon.

In 1812, or thereabouts, Smith went to Edinburgh, and qualified

in 1813. In 1815 he went to London to undergo the preliminary

examination for entrance to the Medical Department of the Army.

This he passed with ease, his treatise on the eye attracting the atten-

tion of no less a person than the Director General, Sir James McGrigor,

who apparently never forgot him. On 15th August 1815 he was

accordingly gazetted Hospital Assistant; and he was supposed to

be the youngest officer ever admitted to the Department. He was

just eighteen years of age.

It is important at this point to stress the fact that Sir James

McGrigor, the Director General, was determined that the men under

him should not only be well qualified from a medical point of view,

but should also possess a wide general education.

One of the candidates for an Army Medical Post, who later became

Surgeon-General Munro, M.D., C.B., tells us in his Records of Service

and Campaigning in Many Lands * that “‘He insisted upon a know-

ledge of Latin in all cases; preferred candidates who possessed degrees

in arts and in medicine; and advised the study of botany, natural

history, geology, and mineralogy, subjects which I do not think are

included in the requirements and examinations for the medical service

of the present day.”

* London, 1887, vol. i. p. 6.

Andrew Smith, M.D., Founder of South African Museum. 7

This, then, was the man whom young Smith had to face at the

age of eighteen, and whose attention he attracted not only because of

his brilliant paper, but also because of his intimate knowledge of the

_ habits of birds and animals, for the study of natural history had

been his principal interest from his earliest youth.

In the year 1818 we find Smith quartered in Edinburgh, and using

his spare time to attend the lectures and demonstrations given at

the University and at Surgeons’ Hall. We are therefore not sur-

prised to find that on the 2nd August 1819 he graduated M.D., his

dissertation, which was written in Latin, being entitled “‘De Variolis

Secondariis.”’ He was only twenty-two years of age; nevertheless

he occasionally contributed to the Edinburgh Medical Journal.

In 1821 he was ordered to the Cape, where he remained until 1837,

being attached to the 49th and 98th Regiments and the Cape Mounted

Rifle Corps “‘for short periods.” This statement, which appears in

the Dictionary of National Biography, seems to me to be an amazing

one. That a professional medical man, and an army one at that,

should have been permitted to pursue many and various occupations

other than those for which he was officially appointed, seems to me

to require some explanation, and this I shall endeavour to give. For

it is a fact that Smith was, again and again, released from his official

duties in order to carry out scientific investigations or to act as the

agent of the Governors of the Cape in confidential missions to native

tribes. Undoubtedly one feels that the hand of Sir James McGrigor

was behind all this; although Smith’s own powerful personality had

unquestionably a great deal to do with it.

But to continue with Smith’s biography. In 1824 he was sent

by Lord Charles Somerset on a mission to Kafferland, to interview

the Xhosa chief, Gaika; and this expedition kept him from his official

duties until 1825.

In June 1825 there appeared, as we have seen, the Governor’s order

for the establishment of a South African Museum, with Smith as the

first Director. There can be no doubt that Smith was one of the

‘“‘various sources’? who convinced the Governor of the necessity for

founding such a Museum. There is no question whatever but that

Smith used his opportunities on this and other expeditions to further

his knowledge of natural history; his published and unpublished

writings afford conclusive evidence on this point.

In 1828 he was sent by Sir R. Bourke to visit the Bushmen on the

Orange River. The principal result of this was his paper on the

Origin and History of the Bushmen.

8 Annals of the South African Museum.

In 1830 Sir Lowry Cole sent him to Port Natal to treat with

Dingaan. On this trip he was accompanied by his friend Lieutenant

Edie, two German scientists, named Drége, and several others. I

have succeeded in discovering his whereabouts at several points

during this trek, although I have not yet traced the diary of the

expedition, except for a few isolated sentences. But Dr. Austin

Roberts has dealt with some ornithological notes made by Smith

during these journeys, and they go far to prove my point that Smith

had a double purpose in going into the wilds.*

In 1833 the Association for the Exploration of Central South Africa

was formed, mainly owing to the persistence of Smith, who, having

heard from traders and others of the marvels of the interior, had,

from at least 1829, if not earlier, made up his mind to explore it at

any cost.

He seems to have galvanised the Capetonians into unusual enthu-

siasm, with the result that within a year they had collected sufficient

funds to send a well-equipped and fully-manned scientific expedition

from the Cape to Graaff Reinet, thence to Kuruman, and beyond that

to as far as the Tropic of Capricorn.

Smith carried out the objects of the expedition with astounding

energy, and the only pity is that the vast collections which he made

have been dispersed, and are, in most cases, no longer identifiable.

But the expedition resulted in his great zoological work, and that

alone justified it, whatever historians who were unaware of the true

facts may have said about it.

The expedition returned to the Cape in 1836, and in the following

year Smith was recalled to England, being promoted to the rank of

Surgeon, and being stationed at Fort Pitt, Chatham. He succeeded

in persuading Lord Glenelg and the Earl of Minto to petition the

Lords of the Treasury for a grant in aid for the publications of his

Illustrations of South African Zoology, and a sum of £1800 was ear-

marked for that purpose. But his projected “Travels” were not

subsidised, and accordingly did not appear.

In 1841 Smith was again promoted, this time to the position of

Staff Surgeon of the first class, and principal Medical Officer at

Chatham.

In 1845 he was transferred to London as professional assistant to

Sir James McGrigor, the Director General; and when, in 1851, Sir

James retired, the Duke of Wellington selected Smith to succeed him

as Superintendent Inspector General.

* Ann. Transv. Mus., xviii, p. 271, 1936.

Andrew Smuth, M.D., Founder of South African Museum. 9

In 1853 he was appointed Director General, the highest position

that-any medical man could attain to in the British Army; and in

1854 came the Crimean campaign. Everybody knows the story of

Florence Nightingale, and how she denounced the Army Medical

Department. Smith was the man who had to bear the brunt of her

attack, and he emerged from it with flying colours. He was loaded

with honours by many learned societies, and later was made a K.C.B.

He had previously been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.

In 1858 he resigned his post on account of ill-health, and devoted

himself to his African studies. I have examined the fruits of these

in the prodigious manuscript volumes which he left behind him un-

published, and I can testify not only to his industry, but to his

open-mindedness and wide scientific outlook.

In 1864 he lost his wife, and in the following year his sister. The

remainder of his life seems to have been given up to the study of the

Holy Scriptures. He died in his London house, in Alexander Square,

Brompton, on 12th August 1872, aged 75 years.

This, then, was the forceful personality to whose vision and energy

the inception of our first South African Museum was due.

Lord Charles Somerset, having officially sanctioned the foundation

of the Museum, wrote to Karl Bathurst on 18th July 1825, informing

him of what he had done, and also asking for authority to pay a small

salary to the new superintendent. The letter, which with the reply

is quoted by G. M. Theal in his Records of the Cape Colony,* is as

follows :—

My Lorp,

It has long been a subject of Regret that, in a British Colony

whose natural products are capable of contributing more largely

perhaps than any other portion of the Globe to promote the

objects of natural history, no Establishment should be made for

collecting and arranging the various objects of the Animal,

Vegetable and Mineral Kingdoms which it contains. I have

hitherto been prevented from suggesting for your Lordship’s

sanction and approbation the forming of a Museum, from not

having it in my power to submit at the same time the name of

any gentleman competent to conduct the undertaking, but there

being a gentleman here at present, Dr. Andrew Smith, M.D.,

whose Science and enthusiastic ardor in the pursuit of natural

history fully qualify him for it, I have issued the enclosed notice

(as a Government Advertisement in the Cape Town Gazette).

* London, 1904, vol. xii, pp. 227-8 and 275.

10 Annals of the South African Museum:

Dr. Andrew Smith has been for some time employed on the

Frontier of the Settlement in the Military Medical Department

and has lately been removed to Cape Town, and has for the

present undertaken the superintendance of this Establishment

without any compensation; but should he be ordered to Europe

(which he expects) he will be compelled to retire on the half pay,

if he continues to conduct it. I trust therefore that your

Lordship will authorise my giving him a salary of Two Hundred

pounds sterling per annum.

As I have appropriated two apartments in the Public Library

for the Museum, the expense of house rent will be saved. I do

not anticipate therefore any further disbursement on this account

except that which may be necessary to remunerate persons for

collecting and procuring objects of curiosity and some occasional

assistance in preparing them: these expenses may be estimated

to fluctuate from One Thousand to Two Thousand Rix Dollars

per annum, or from Seventy-five Pounds to One Hundred and

Fifty Pounds Sterling.

I have, etc.,

(Signed) CHarRLES Henry SOMERSET.

To this letter Earl Bathurst replied, on 14th October 1825, in the

following strain :—

My Lorp,

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excel-

lency’s dispatch of the 18th of July last.

Although under other circumstances, I should be disposed to

sanction the establishment of a Museum of Natural History at

the Cape, yet in the present state of the finances of the Colony,

I should not feel myself at liberty to authorize the payment of

the salary which you propose to assign to Dr. A. Smith.

I have, etce.,

(Signed) BarHurRst.

Smith, however, was not recalled to England at this time, and the

necessity for a salary as Superintendent of the Museum fell away.

Accordingly he continued to act without remuneration.

We have already seen how Smith, a fortnight after the Government

order establishing the Museum, issued his first public appeal in the

official Gazette. From that time onwards we meet with a regular

series of notices which the new Director published, and which give us

considerable insight into his methods.

Andrew Smth, M.D., Founder of South African Museum. 11

In the issue of the Gazette of Friday, 8th July 1825, there appeared

the first list of donations to the Museum. This notice I reproduce in

full, since it contains several names of great interest.

SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM.

INowo tl:

List or ARTICLES, which have been presented to the MusEum,

with the names of the respective Donors.

QUADRUPEDS.

1 Specimen . Mis Excellency the Governor.

ls Beha . Mr. Ludwig, 6 Berg-street.

1 ds . Mr. Villet, 71 Long-street.

1 Ks ; . Mr. Kiener, 7 Kortemarkt-street.

BIRbs.

1 Specimen : . Mr. Bestandig, 22 Grave-street.

12 Bp : : Doctor Smith:

10 ay Lae a Sa

REPTILES.

2Specimens . . Rev. Mr. Fallows.

2 s |, Mr. Villet.

3 . Hvar. Jiandine.

3 Lt . Mr. J. J. Brink, C.S., Cape Town.

FISHES.

1 Specimen . Mr. Jardine.

y; ; : . Mr. Villet.

1 Hp : eat WB

SHELLS.

3 Specimens. . ‘Mr. Villet.

288 . . : . Mr. Ludwig.

30 es P 4») WWiewtsrtanal

INSECTS.

231 Specimens. . Mr. Ludwig.

1 re : . Rev. Dr. Thom, Caledon.

87 és . Dep. Ass. Commissary Gen. Watt.

MINERALS.

30 Specimens. . Rev. Mr. Fallows.

67 3 : . Rev. Dr. Thom, Caledon.

87 i . Mr. Perry, Surgeon, Graaff-Reinet.

3 <i : : . Mr. Jardine.

3 a : . Mr. Gill, Surgeon.

33 ie ; . Mr. Robertson, Graaff-Reinet.

25 of . Mr. Ludwig.

12 Annals of the South African Museum.

VARIOUS.

4 Specimens. ; . His Excellency the Governor.

3 a . Miss Cloete, Heeregracht.

4 si . Mr. Jardine.

10 2 .) SDE. Smith:

3 Me ; ; . Mr. Josias Hoffman, Stellenbosch.

20 4 : . Ass. Surgeon Kemlo, 59th Regt.

(To be continued.)

ANDREW SmitH, M.D.,

Superintendant, ete.

This notice did not appear in Dutch in the Dutch issue of Friday,

15th July.

Smith’s first appeal, then, resulted in the acquisition of over eight

hundred specimens of various kinds.

In the Gazette for Friday, 22nd July 1825, the following advertise-

ment appeared :—

SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM.

Specimens of the DAS-ADDER, are particularly desired for the

Museum; and all persons who may have seen the reptile that goes

by that name, are informed, that information as to its nature,

appearance, haunts, food, etc., will be thankfully received, either

through the medium of written or verbal communications.

It is also particularly desired to know, in what parts of this Colony

CAVES or FISSURES exist, and therefore information on those

subjects will be received with much pleasure, according to either of

the modes above stated.

ANDREW SmitH, M.D.,

Superintendant, ete.

This notice likewise appeared in Dutch in the Dutch issue of the

same date, and subsequent notices were similarly treated.

In the Gazette of Friday, 5th August 1825, another official announce-

ment was made.

CIVIL APPOINTMENTS.

His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint the

Rev. F. Fattows and Dr. A. SmitH, M.D., to be additional members

of the Committee of the South African Library.

Care oF Goop Hops, 4th August 1825.

By Command of His Excellency the Governor.

(Signed) Ry PLASKET,

Secretary to Government.

This notice is of importance because the newly founded Museum

was, 1t will be remembered, housed in the Public Library building.

Andrew Smith, M.D., Founder of South African Museum. 13

The Gazette of Friday, 12th August 1825, contained a second list of

donations, together with the names of the donors. I give an abstract

of the number of donations of each type, and shall so do in the case

of subsequent lists.

Quadrupeds . . 93 specimens.

Birds . ; 28 a

Reptiles 4 : Pah ml

Fishes . ; aN 7? iy

Shells. Ng hD 3

Minerals : : Meamc 5)

Various. ; : Malls: i

110 Total

It is worth noting, in connection with this particular list, that two

of the mineral specimens were contributed by Andrew Geddes Bain

of Graaff- Reinet.

In the Gazette of Friday, 9th September 1825, there appeared a long

communication by Smith on the subject of the Das-Adder, concerning

information which he had received in reply to his “‘ Advertisement”’

of Friday, 22nd July.

It is interesting to see how Smith quickly acknowledged the

assistance he had received, thus paving the way for more.

SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM.

Mr. RoBERtTsoN, of Graafi-Reynet, who has already, in various ways

evinced his anxiety to forward the objests [sic] of this Institution,

has furnished an Extract relative to the Das-Adder, from a Letter,

addressed to him, which is as follows: “‘I have made the strictest

inquiry concerning the Das-Adder and am informed that it is similar

to those large lizards (the guanas) but of a different colour, viz., a

fine yellow, with black spots, similar to a Puff Adder. It remains in

the crevices of rocks, and the Das or Coney inhabiting those crevices

become its easy prey. It has four short legs, and a very large mouth,

and can easily swallow a Das. Iam also informed it is very venomous.

A certain farmer went ahunting one day with his dogs, and on the

way they attacked this said Adder, and so powerful was its venom,

that the moment the dogs were bitten they fell down dead.”’

The latter circumstance, if a fact, forms quite an anomaly in the

History of the Lizard Tribe, as none have yet been found possessing

beyond doubt the power of destroying life by poison. It is, therefore,

a matter of great interest, nay, even of particular consequence, to

ascertain if such a quality is inherent in the reptile in question, and

consequently any information, directly or indirectly connected with

14 Annals of the South African Museum.

the point yet in doubt will be particularly acceptable. Should an

opportunity occur to any individual of procuring alive the animal

under consideration, it would be well to institute a series of experi-

ments on some of the lower animals, as on such occasions the sites

and severity of the bites can generally be regulated, and thereby

such information be obtained as would prove whether death (if it

occurred) was the result of a single injury, or the consequence of a

specific poison.

As nothing but the description forwarded by Mr. RoBEertson has

yet reached the MUSEUM, the public are again informed that specimens

of the Das-Adder are most anxiously wished for, as well as additional

information relative to its history in general.

ANDREW SmitH, M.D.,

Superintendant, etc.

A third list of the donations with the names of the donors, appeared

in the Gazette of Friday, 23rd September 1825.

Quadrupeds . : . v3 Specimens.

Birds . oO) es

Reptiles : F . 26 -

Fishes . : i re i

Minerals ! 7 .

Plantisoe ; : “000 «

424 Total

The most noteworthy donation in this list was the large collection

of botanical specimens, which were all given by Mr. Ecklon.

A fourth list of donations was printed in the Gazette of Friday.

4th November 1825.

Quadrupeds . . 12 specimens.

iBirdce ae f f of (eat ,

Fishes . : 5 pee

Insects . nO a

Reptiles aul) -

Shells. nee) i

Minerals a SACI 0) $

Various. Ra A. Hf

Paintings : : 1 Bi

525.” Total

This list is of particular interest. Of the sixty-four birds pre-

sented to the Museum, no fewer than forty-seven were donated by

Mr. Krebs, who is described as “‘ Naturalist to His Prussian Majesty.”

Andrew Smith, M.D., Founder of South African Museum. 15

The large collection of insects was the gift of a Mr. Roschie.

But the appearance in the list of a solitary painting brings us face

to face with a point of considerable importance. The artist was

Mr. Ford, Junior, and a footnote added by Smith shows how the

young man’s gift impressed him. “This drawing evinces great talent

and execution for so young an artist, and strongly claims for him

the support and patronage of every individual disposed to encourage

merit.”’

The actual drawing would appear to have survived, for in the first

of two volumes of original drawings of animals and birds by Ford,

most of which were executed on the Expedition of 1834-1836, and

which are now housed in the Library of the University of Witwaters-

rand, the second and third items are coloured drawings of Anas

madagascariensis Linn., the one being an exact copy of the other.

Both drawings are unsigned, and the style is immature compared

with Ford’s later works.

On the back of the first of these is written, in the hand of the late

Dr. Albert Giinther, of Oxford, who formerly owned this collection

of pictures: “‘One of Ford’s first drawings; not from Expedition.”

But on the back of the second appears, also in Dr. Giinther’s hand:

“The first drawing done by Ford for Dr. Smith—-A. G.”’

There is no doubt of the authenticity of these pictures, even those

which are unsigned, for they bear the unmistakeable stamp of the

artist’s individuality. Moreover, they were all in Smith’s possession

until the time of his death, many of them bearing notes in his hand-

writing. On Smith’s decease in 1872 they were returned to Ford,

who, on Christmas of that year, presented them to his friend Dr.

Albert Giinther, who inserted a signed statement to this effect in

each of the two volumes. From Dr. Albert Giinther they passed to

his son, from whom they were purchased by the University of the

Witwatersrand in 1936.

Smith did not lose touch with young Ford, for nine years later he

chose him as one of the artists to accompany the Expedition for

Exploring Central Africa, and it is the work of Ford that is the

crowning glory of Smith’s Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa.

The Gazette of Friday, 2nd December 1825, contained another

appeal.

SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM.

Wanted, living specimens of the BROWN and YELLOW CAPELS.

They will either be received as presents or purchased, according to

the wishes of the possessor.

16 Annals of the South African Museum.

The best instrument for catching snakes alive, is a noose fixed on

the extremity of a long stick, such as a wagon whip, etc. It must

first be carried over the head of the reptile, and then drawn tight by

a slight jerk, after which, a removal into a box, the best place for

confinement, may be easily and safely effected.

When brought to the box, the lid of which has been previousely

[sic] raised, the animal must be placed inside, and the extremity of

the stick, to which the noose is fastened, kept without. The cover

must then be shut down on the noose and a division effected at the

point where it is connected to the stick, which may be done without

any danger, as that part will be outside when the snake is closely

shut up within.

ANDREW Smit, M.D.,

Superintendant, etc.

Apparently Smith met with some response to his various appeals,

for in the Gazette of Friday, 23rd December 1825, we meet with what

I imagine is the first extensive scientific questionnaire ever issued

in South Africa. I reprint it in full, since it clearly shows Smith’s

thoroughness, and his insatiable desire for detailed information of

every kind.

SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM.

In order to obtain a thorough knowledge of the Natural Pro-

ductions of this Colony, the conjoint exertions of its Inhabitants are

at least in the first instance particularly necessary; for the local

knowledge they possesses will enable them to furnish information

that must lead to results that all the zeal and activity of a Traveller,

or temporary Resident, could never effect. Such of them as may

feel an interest in forwarding the object in view, are earnestly re-

quested to furnish, from time to time, whatever they may consider

likely to answer the purpose.

Their attention is particularly requested at first to the four-footed

animals; and after that division has been completed, then others will

follow. In regard to each animal, as much information as possible

is desirable relative to the following points :—

Its colonial name or names;

The meaning of such name or names;

Its local or provincial name or names;

The meaning of such.

Its general size, viz. height, lene circumference, ete.

Its usual weight.

Its general appearance; that is, whether clumsy or well shaped.

Its colours;

Whether these are the same in both sexes and at all ages;

If not, even the most trifling differences must be stated.

If furnished with horns or anything resembling them;

If these exist in both sexes, or only in the male;

Andrew Smith, M.D., Founder of South African Museum. 17

If they are permanent, or shed at particular periods of the animal’s

existence ;

Their form direction and colour.

Its feet, whether solid, cloven or with toes and claws.

The number, arrangement and form of teeth.

Its gait and speed.

Its food; that is, whether animal or vegetable, or partly both;

If vegetable, the particular sort;

If animal, whether it requires to destroy its own prey, or is satisfied

with carrion;

If requiring the first, how does it generally procure it.

Its disposition, whether ferocious or timid, dull or lively, stupid or

intelligent.

Does it search for its food during the day or in the night.

Does it chew its cud.

Does it inhabit mountains or flat country.

Does it sleep and generally live under ground or on the surface, or

on trees.

Is it solitary, gregarious, or generally found in pairs.

What is the supposed length of its life.

Is there any method practised for ascertaining its age, and if so

what is it.

The covering, whether hair, wool, fur, bristles, scales or what.

Is its skin applied to any useful purposes;

If so, how manufactured.

Is its flesh eatable;

Are any part or parts more relished for food than others;

Is any part or parts of it supposed to possess any medicinal virtues.

Is it tamed, and if so, with ease or difficulty.

Is its natural disposition much modified or changed by taming.

Is it on any occasions apt to evince marks of its natural disposition ;

such as traits of cunning, example of ferocity, instance of malice,

etc.

Is it easy killed, or very tenacious of life.

In what particular parts of the country is it generally found.

Is it subject to any evident diseases, and if so, what are they;

Does instinct appear to point out to it any natural cures.

How long does it go with young;

What number has it generally at a birth;

At what time of the year are the young generally observed;

Do they immediately search for food or are they supplied with it

for a time by their parents.

If the latter, in what way is that done.

Does it live, if not particularly disturbed, always nearly in the

same part, or does it migrate.

‘Does [sic] any superstitious notions exist relative to it.

ANDREW SmitH, M.D.,

Superintendant, etc.

VOL. XXXVI, PART l. 2

18 Annals of the South African Museum.

The Gazette of Friday, 20th January 1826, contained a list of

questions in which Smith sought information on

(1) the habits of Swallows, particularly as regards migration,

(2) the habits of bats, and

(3) the habits of the night hawk.

A fifth list of donations to the Museum, wrongly described as No. 6,

appeared in the Gazette of Friday, 17th February 1826.

Quadrupeds . . 6 specimens.

Birds . ; ‘ Pes 8) a

Fishes . , ‘ : 4 a

Reptiles ; ea se

Insects . . : sadly 2

Minerals : 5 By yess, "

69 Total

Among the quadrupeds were three specimens presented by Mr.

Krebs.

Appended to this list 1s a note acknowledging the receipt of

information, showing that Smith did not circulate his questionnaire

in vain.

“Interesting communications on subjects of Natural History”

had been received by him from various individuals residing in

Gnadenthal, Clan William, Uitenhage, Tokai, and Slangekop. As an

illustration of the interest which had been aroused, I quote the

following extract :—

‘““As it would be highly inconvenient, if not quite impossible,

to reply by separate letters to the numerous inquiries which are

almost daily making by curious individuals, relative to what

Natural Productions of the Colony are already known, short

descriptions will therefore be given in successive Numbers of

this Paper, of all the objects of the Animal Kingdom which have

yet been found in Southern Africa... .”

Smith added that, in order to adapt these descriptions as much as

possible to the general reader, scientific terms would be avoided

wherever practicable.

A sixth list of donations, wrongly described as No. 7, was printed

in the Gazette of Friday, 24th March 1826.

Andrew Smith, M.D., Founder of South African Museum. 19

Quadrupeds . . 4 specimens.

Birds . 4 : eG re

Fishes . ; : Bd a Ne

Insects . ; : Tie of

Shells, etc. . : tay i

Snakes, etc. . { mut 25 og

Minerals : ; 1738 o

Various. ; t A, Bae at bs

ZO ea hoOtal

Of the minerals presented, one hundred and seventy-two were

donated by Rev. Dr. Thom of Tulbagh.

Appended to this list of gifts are interesting communications from

Wynberg, Albany, Clan William, and Camdebo.

The seventh, and last, list that appeared in the Gazette was printed

in the issue of Friday, 2nd June 1826.

Quadrupeds . : ad) specimens.

Birdse : : Lineae A

Fishes . ; : ye 2) iy

Snakes, etc. . ‘ AG B

Shells. , : . 66 3

Minerals : : a pS

Various. : : ican 5A

Drawings ; iy te 2 cf

127 =Total

Sixty of the shells were donated by Miss Paton of Strand Street.

Beneath the list is printed the following note :—-

“Seventy-five snakes have been received from Ceylon, which

were sent in consequence of a request from his Excellency Lord

Charles Somerset.

Smith’s own private research was obviously flourishing as a result

of the foundation of the Museum, which now housed two thousand

four hundred specimens of varying value.

The Gazette of Friday, 9th June 1826 (No. 1065, p. 1, col. 2), con-

tained inquiries by Smith regarding the Cape Wolf (Tyger Wolf) and

its habits, and this is the last entry in the Cape Town Gazette and

African Advertiser, for that Journal hecame The Cape of Good Hope

Government Gazette on Friday, 7th July 1826.

20 Annals of the South African Museum.

Two more entries remain. The issues of the new Gazette of Friday,

14th July and that of Friday, 21st July 1826, contain further queries

concerning the Cape Wolf, and after this the referencesin this periodical

cease.

Smith’s promise to publish in the Gazette particulars of the animals

of South Africa, couched in simple language, was redeemed in another

way. In 1826 he issued the first part of a Descriptive Catalogue of the

South African Museum, dealing with Mammalia. The title page and

the first page of the descriptions are reproduced here on Plates II

and III. The work was dedicated to the Governor, Lord Charles

Henry Somerset.

The Introduction to this catalogue, the first independent publication

of the South African Museum, is so characteristic of its author, that

it merits being reprinted in full, more especially since the catalogue

is a rarity.

“Tf there is one spot on the surface of the globe better adapted

than another for furnishing interesting objects of Natural History

to a Public Museum, doubtless that spot is Southern Africa.

Nature to it has been liberal beyond all description; and if her

favors had hitherto been duly appreciated, either by England

or by this Colony, it would ere this have been found, that that

profusion and variety of vegetable productions which occur at

the Cape, and which have been so long the wonder of the world,

were not out of proportion to what existed in the other kingdoms

of nature. Everywhere, both land and water, team [sc] with

beauty and novelty, and call out loudly to the Naturalist, to

extend human knowledge, by adding to the catalogue of objects

already known, those which both of them so abundantly offer.

“Such, one would almost say, irresistible inducements, which

for a long time only called forth the industry of foreigners, were

lately destined to produce a more pleasing effect, by leading to

the formation of a Government Establishment in Cape Town,

for the one purpose of exploring the natural history of one of the

hitherto so grossly neglected parts of the world. That, under

the designation of the “South African Museum,” was instituted

in June, 1825, by an order from His Excellency Lord CHarLEs

Henry SOMERSET, to serve as a depository for private dona-

tions, as well as such objects as could be purchased out of the

trifling fund, recommended at the same time for the support of

the establishment.

Andrew Smith, M.D., Founder of South African Museum. 21

“Under such circumstances the Museum commenced, and

under such it now proceeds and flourishes. Scarcely has twelve

months elapsed, since the Government Notice * which announced

its formation, appeared; and yet, already, several thousand

objects are contained within its walls, many of which are at this

moment, quite unknown in Europe. Such nearly unexampled

success must be attributed to a variety of circumstances, but

particularly to the public spirit of the inhabitants, to the facilities

that everywhere abound, and to the aid and support of the

Colonial Government, which, there is satisfaction in saying, has

always evinced a degree of readiness and anxiety to forward

every object connected with the infant institution.

“Curiosity, which at first was satisfied with a simple survey

of the outward appearance of different objects thus collected,

is now prompting many to more interesting and useful employ-

ment, and inducing them to inquire regarding the name and

nature of whatever is presented to their observation. Such

rapid and laudable advancement marks the benefit of example,

and such desire for improvement and information, furnishes a

just claim for every assistance. These therefore, in conjunction

with the want of any work relative to the natural history of

Africa, which is adapted to the general reader, has led thus early

to the commencement of a Descriptive Catalogue, that will be

continued in periodical numbers: and which, though it will

only notice what is actually contained in the establishment,

must, in time, handle most of the interesting productions of

those parts of the world, to which it will principally relate.

Throughout the language employed will be suited, as much as

possible, to the general reader; and scientific arrangements,

both from the plan in which the details will appear, and also

from choice, will in a great measure be disregarded, and left to

productions, which will appear hereafter of a strictly scientific

nature. Notwithstanding such intentions it will occasionally

be absolutely necessary to employ terms and expressions par-

taking of a technical nature, but those will invariably be explained

at the ends of the numbers in which they occur.

“In the course of such an undertaking, many deficiencies will

necessarily be evinced, yet most of them will probably be re-

ferable to the limited and imperfect sources of information which

* See the Cape Town Gazette and African Advertiser, Saturday, 11th June 1825.

Annals of the South African Museum.

here exist, touching the late discoveries in science. If, however,

the substitution of new names, or the mistaking of old species

for new ones, can occur in Europe, where every kind of informa-

tion is attainable, and be there passed over without censure,

how much more reason have those for expecting, at least, an

equal consideration, who by the interposition of many thousand

miles are precluded from any such advantages. Without saying

more, let it then be understood, that names or other instructions

which may be employed in the course of the proposed work, to

designate and distinguish supposed novelties, will readily give

way to.a priority of claim, when such is established and that, till

then, any name or character which is followed by the letter S.

rests solely upon the Author’s own responsibility.”

This introduction shows that the catalogue was printed about the

month of July 1826.

Of particular interest is Smith’s explanation of the difficulty of

establishing priority of claim with regard to new species of animals,

and of the still greater difficulties caused by his being separated from

European scientists by so many thousands of miles.

I reprint here a complete list of the mammals described in Smith’s

Catalogue, with all the names given by him. A copy of this printed

catalogue is in the South African Public Library, Cape Town.*

PAGE

A. No. 1. Baboon of the English : : : : 1

Bavian of the Dutch.

Cynocephalus Ursinus of Naturalists.

A. No. 2. Dwarf Baboon of the Cape . : 3

Cynocephalus Capensis. S.

A. No. 38. Monkey of the English 3 ; : 3 4

_ Blauwe Aap of the Dutch.

Cercopithecus Faunus of Naturalists.

A. No. 4. Macauco . : ; ; 6

Lemur Catta of Naturalists.

A. No. 5. Macauco . : : : 6

Lemur Macaco of Naturalists.

A. No. 6. Leopard of the English. : : 7

Tyger of the Dutch.

Felis Leopardus of Naturalists.

* 575.E.904 (15).

Andrew Smith, M.D., Founder of South African Museum. 28

. No.

AOE

be list

5 2:

e13,

. 14,

ALG:

SLT.

» lic.

19:

20.

Hunting Leopard of the English .

Tyger Kat of the Dutch.

Felis Jubata of Naturalists.

Cape Cat of the English . :

Tyger Bosch Kat of the Dutch.

Felis Capensis of Naturalists.

Wild Cat of the English

Wilde Kat of the Dutch.

Felis Caffra of Naturalists.

Jackal of the English .

Jackals of the Dutch.

Canis Misomelas of Naturalists.

Wolf of the English

Tyger Wolf of the Dutch.

Hyaena Croacuta of Naturalists. _

Striped Hyaena of the English

Strand Wolf of the Dutch.

Hyaena Striata of Naturalists.

Ratel of the Dutch

Gulo Mellivora of Naturalists.

Muskegaat Kat of the Dutch

Viverra Genetta of Naturalists.

Gestreepte Muishond of the Dutch

Comat CUE BC NR Mr Mune mT

Gryze Muishond of the Dutch

Mepites Capensis. S.

Herpestes Caffra of Naturalists.

Ourebi of the Dutch .

Antelope a of Naturalists.

Gryzebok of the Dutch

Antelope Melanotus of Naturalists.

Blauw Bok of the Dutch [corrected to Blauwe Bokje

on slip] . , ;

Antelope Pygmea of Naturalists.

Steenbok of the Dutch

Antelope Rupestris of Naturalists.

PAGE

24 Annals of the South African Museum.

PAGE

A. No. 21. Duiker Bok of the Dutch . bs:

Antelope Mergeus of Naturalists.

A. No. 22. Klipspringer of the Dutch . : ae

Antelope Oreotragus of Naturalists.

A. No. 23. Spotted Deer of the English : he

Cervus Axis of Naturalists.

A. No. 24. Vlak Haas of the Dutch . i 8G

Lepus Timidus of Naturalists.

A. No. 25. Spring Hare of the English . : ; ae

Spring Haas of the Dutch.

Pedetes Caffer of Naturalists.

A. No. 26. Rock Rabbit of the English : : ee |

Klip Das of the Dutch.

Hyrax Capensis of Naturalists.

A. No. 27. Sand Mole of the English . eS

Zand Mol of the Dutch.

Georychus Maritimus of Naturalists.

A. No. 28. Bles Mol of the Dutch . - (eee

White-faced Mole of the English.

Georychus Capensis of Naturalists.

A. No. 29. Blinde Mol of the Dutch . : : : : 30

Chrysochloris Capensis of Naturalists.

A. No. 30. Roodekat of the Dutch . ees!

Relis Caracal of Naturalists.*

A. No. 31. Meerkat of the Dutch E : ‘ : ‘ 32

Ryzaena Suraktta [sec] of Naturalists.t

A second publication appeared about the same time. This was

the Instructions for preparing and preserving the different objects of the

animal, vegetable and mineral Kingdoms. The first page of this

pamphlet is reproduced here on Plate IV. This Publication is also

in the South African Public Library, Cape Town.t

At the beginning of this study I referred to a Diploma presented to

Andrew Smith by the Mineralogical Society of Jena in Germany, in

* The English name “‘Caracal”’ is given in the text.

+ Altered in margin (ink) to Surikatta. In Index it appears as Surekatta (under

both Klapper Muis and Meerkat). N.6.—Klapper Muis (the name) does not

appear in the text. [Surikatta corrected in errata slip.] t 575.E.904 (16).

Andrew Smith, M.D., Founder of South African Museum. 25

recognition of his Scientific work and in particular of his founding

the Museum at the Cape.

The Diploma was no doubt awarded to Smith as the result of re-

presentations made by his German scientific friends at the Cape, of

whom Krebs and Ludwig were probably the chief. The text of the

Diploma, which is dated 22nd June 1826, the thirty-seventh year of

the Society’s existence, is as follows:—

The Society of General Mineralogy in Jena,

Sponsored by His Serene Royal Highness the Grand Duke

Carl August,

Grand Duke of Saxony, Weimar and HEjisenach, Landgrave of

Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen, Grave of Hanneberg, Lord of

Blankenheim, Neustadt and Tautenberg, etc., desires to show, by the

present Diploma, how it counts it an honour to include among its

foreign and corresponding members, Doctor Smith, Director of the

Museum of the Cape of Good Hope, and member of many Societies.

It will be seen that the President of the Society at that time was

Johann Wolfgang Freyherr von Goéthe, who had since 1775 resided

at Weimar, on the invitation of his friend Duke Carl August. From

the year 1786 the great German philosopher-poet had, in addition

to his literary work, devoted much time to scientific investigations,

and by 1826 had published several works on scientific subjects.

During the absence of Dr. Smith while he was leading the Expedi-

tion of 1834-1836, a substitute Curator of the Museum had to be

found. The choice apparently fell upon Mr. Jules Verreaux, himself

a naturalist, and what is more, an expert taxidermist.* When he

took over the work I am not able to determine precisely, but in The

Cape Calendar and Directory for the Leap Year, 1836, there is a list

of Office-Bearers of the South African Literary and Scientific In-

stitution which includes Mr. Verreaux, naturalist, keeper of the

Museum. The Museum had been attached to the Institution since

1833, as the Almanac for that year shows, and in the issue for 1835

we are told that strangers were charged a shilling for admission.

Verreaux appears to have entered into a business arrangement with

the Institution, for in The South African Quarterly Journal £ we read

that Mr. Verreaux was to have the “‘takings”’ of the Museum, in return

for which he should add specimens to the collections.

* Smith had trained his own military servant, John Mintern, to be a taxidermist.

t+ Cape Town, 1835, p. 127.

BE Second series, No. 4, July-September, 1834, part 3, Cape Town, 1834. The

date on the cover is 1834; it should be 1835.

26 Annals of the South African Museum.

Smith himself continued to enrich the collections in the Museum

which he had established until his departure from the Cape in 1837.

But the lack of adequate facilities for housing the specimens, together

with the perpetual shortage of financial resources, must have been a

serious handicap to him and to the institution that he had initiated.

As we have seen, the collections were frequently moved to new

quarters; not until 1897 was anything like permanence achieved,

when the new Museum building was completed.

Henry Methuen has painted a gloomy picture of the Museum as he

found it in 1843, six years after Smith had returned to England. In

his Life in the Wilderness * he wrote of Cape Town: “There are many

good buildings in the place and the streets are mostly clean and airy.

Attached to the South African College is a Museum, where I have

now and then whiled away a few hours in copying some of the best

specimens. This valuable institution, whether from want of interest,

funds or other causes, is in a lamentable state of wreck, excepting

the Geological, or imperishable part of it. Birds moth-eaten, and

often almost featherless, rare quadrupeds begrimed with dust, lacking

both eyes, or reduced to a Cyclopian state, distress the gaze of a

naturalist. It is true that some of the specimens are such miserably

stuffed and shrivelled mummies, that they are not worth preserving,

but this is far from being the case with all.

“Considering the opportunities afforded in Cape Town of making a

_ valuable zoological collection, as well as the information, amusement

and profit derivable from such sources, it is really discreditable to the

Colony, and all influential persons connected with its interests, to

allow this Museum to die a natural death.”

But the moving spirit had departed, and it was not until many

years had elapsed that the present worthy institution arose, pheenix-

like, from the ashes of its ancestor. The spirit that now sustains it

is, however, the same as that which promoted the initiation of its

old-time progenitor, the spirit of Andrew Smith, Doctor of Medicine.

* Second edition, London, 1848, p. 14.

Epitor’s Note.

Hall’s entry is not quite correct. The Governor appointed two Trustees:

the Hon. Rawson W. Rawson (Colonial Secretary) and Dr. L. Pappe (Colonial

Botanist), on 25th June 1855, the date when the present Museum was officially

instituted by Proclamation. The third Trustee required by the constitution of

the Museum was elected at a meeting of the Subscribers held on 7th July 1855.

The subscribers elected Thomas Maclear, Astronomer Royal [7.e. H.M. Astronomer

at the Cape], as their representative on the Board of Trustees.

APPENDIX.

[The letter referred to in footnote on p. 4. The date 1825 should

be 1826. Latakoo = Kuruman.—P. R. K.]

SourH Arrican Musrum,

Care Town.

9 January, 1825.

Sir,

T have long had it in contemplation to write you and beg your consideration

for the South African Museum lately established here by Government.

The situation of a Missionary, the superior minds which they generally possess,

and the influence which their useful labours naturally ensure them, tend to render

them characters which can very materially forward the objects of an institution

framed for the purpose of receiving everything, the produce either of nature

or art.

I hope therefore my delay in mentioning the establishment to you will not

make you the less inclined to forward its interests, and I hope and trust your

labours will in time add to our knowledge of the wonders of this world and of

the magnitude and boundless wisdom of their author. Everything that can

tend to increase human knowledge and thereby reflect credit on the works of

the author of Nature becomes in a double manner an object of interest with a

Christian, and under that connecticn I cannot but anticipate something from you.

The institution is intended to receive everything that can be found in the

Colony or in Southern Africa, and will no doubt eventually be extended to the

productions of other parts of the globe.

I feel particular interest about the Snakes of this country, and will be much

obliged by your taking care of what may come in your way.

I send you some printed instructions for your guidance and also some points

desirable to be ascertained in the Natural History of Quadrupeds. I should feel

very thankful if you could give me at your leisure some account of the Quadrupeds

found in your neighbourhood, as I am satisfied many are there which have at

least left the more civilised parts of this Colony.

I have heard a great deal about a very large frog that is found near you and

whose noise can be heard to a very considerable distance; pray give me some

account of it and send a specimen if you have an opportunity. I will also thank

you to give me all the information you can relative to a large snake said to be

found in the interior.

I send you some Arsenical Soap which you will see is required to preserve

animal skins, and you can use instead of tow very dry grass or the down of thistles

or anything of the kind.

I have heard of an animal near Latakoo somewhat like an Armadillo covered

with scales; will you notice that, and by writing me as soon as possible you will

confer a great favor on

Your Obedient Servant,

Revd. Mr. Moffat. ANDREW SmitH, M.D.,

Superintendent of the South African Musewm.

If I can do anything for you here I shall feel happy.

m6 Leics ie

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Ann. S. Afr. Mus., Vol. XX XVI. Plate I

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ANDREW SMITH, M.D.

Percival R. Kirby. Neill & Co., Lid.

Ann. S. Afr. Mus., Vol. XX XVI. Plate IT.

DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE

OF THE

SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM:

ANDREW SMITH, M.D. M.W.S.

SUPERINTENDENT.

PART I.

VL GARVE OVE CARL PE CATS

Cape Town:

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY W. BRIDEKIRK,

AT THE CHRONICLE OFFICE,

No. 3], HEEREGRACHT.

1826.

Percival R, Kirby. Neill & Co., Lid.

Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., Vol. XXXVI. Plate IIT.

MAMMALIA;

OR,

ANIMALS WHICH SUCKLE THEIR YOUNG.

A. No. 1.

Baboon of the English.

Bavian of the Dutch.

Cynocephalus Ursinus of Naturalists.*

The colour of this Baboon, though it varies a little in

different individuals, will generally be found to approxi-

mate towards a dirty black or blackish brown, tinged,

however, here and there, more or less deeply, with a shade

of dusky yellow or.yellowish green.t The face is black,

the eyes are brown, the eyebrows extremely prominent,

and the hair on most parts of the body long and shaggy.

It is an animal that in all its proceedings evinces marks

of great sagacity ; and so highly is it capable of receiving

and benefiting by instruction, that it has thereby, in many

instances, been rendered useful to man: as a proof of

which, the following circumstances, out of many, that

* Characters of the genus Cynocephalus.—Front teeth, four in each jaw,

approximate, erect, and formed for cutting. Canine teeth, or tusks. ove on

each side, both above and below, considerably longer than the last, of a conical

or pyramidical form, and with their inner sides sharp edged. Grinders, five ia

each side of both jaws, the anterior of which is in general considerably longer

than the others, and the posterior is often larger. Nose elongated, facial angle

between thirty and nities degrees, face bare, vostrils approximate, and se-

parated from each other only by a narrow partition, ears sometimes entire, seme-

times notched, cheek pouches, tail long and bushy, or short, or entirely want-

ing ; teats, two situated on the chest; feet, all with five toes; nails, either flat

or slightly rounded, and the hinder legs each, with a bare spot of greater or

Jess extent near the root of the tail. :

-- ‘Three examples have lately been met with in this colony, in which the

colour was nearly a pure white.

Percival R. Kirby. Neill & Co., Lid.

aa? Ree

Pape)

e. all oor ee ‘a

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Ann. S. Afr. Mus., Vol. XXXVI. Plate IV.

SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM,

@ape of Good Hope,

INSTRUCTIONS

FOR PREPARING AND PRESERVING THE DIFFERENT OBJECTS

OF THE ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, AND MINERAI.

KINGDOMS.

QUADRUPEDS.

Pvace the animal, from whence the skin is to he removed,

on its back, and then with a sharp knife make a cut of a

proper depth (that is, just through the skin) from the top

of the breast.to the vent. That being finished, commence

separating the hide, which ought to be done, as much as

possible, without the use of cutting instruments, employing,

whenever it can be done with effect, either the hand or

handle ofthe knife. When the thighs hegin to be exposed,

the skin must be well loosened all round them, and then

they must be drawn out till the last joints of the legs are

brought into view, at which parts separations must be

made ; and these joints, together with the feet, allowed to

continue attached to the skin. The tail is next to be cut

off at its root, and the carcase afterwards suspended, or

turned on its belly, to admit of the easy removal of the

skin from its back.

On reaching the fore legs, the same plan must be pur-

sued as was practised with the hinder ones, and then the

Percival R. Kirby. Neill & Co., Lid.

Ann. S. Afr. Mus., Vol. XXXVI. Plate V.

First page, and conclusion, of a letter written by Dr. Smith to the

Rev. Robert Moffat. The date 1825 should be 1826.

Percival R. Kirby. Neill & Co., Lid.

2. Field Notes on the First and Second Expeditions of the Cape Museums’

Mammal Survey of the Cape Province ; and Descriptions of

some New Subgenera and Subspecies.—By G. C. SHORTRIDGE,

Director, Kaffrarian Museum, King William’s Town.

(With Plates VI and VII.)

ExprepitTion No. I: Littte NaMAaQuaLAND

(OcToBER 1936-FEBRUARY 1937).

On a Collection of approximately 2500 Mammals from Little Namaqua-

land, including Records of Species collected between Upington and

the Aughrahies Falls in 1921.

LittLE NAMAQUALAND is here regarded as comprising the region

lying between the Orange River in the north, latitude 31° in the

south, longitude 19° in the east, and the Atlantic Ocean on the west.

It is the most arid part of the Cape Province. The yearly rainfall at

Springbok averages 7 inches, and at Port Nolloth 24 inches.

Except on the Kamiesberg there is practically no surface water.

The mountains and plateaux known as the Kamiesbergen, which

rise to over 5000 feet (Welkom Kop, 5589 feet; Eselkop, 5456 feet),

attract a much more adequate rainfall and have a contrastingly

temperate climate. In consequence the vegetation on the higher

slopes and plateaux is relatively luxuriant.

The Kamiesberg, frequently under cloud, forms:a fertile oasis, and

the mountain scenery between Garies and Leliefontein is very

beautiful. Elsewhere the general aspect of Little Namaqualand

during the greater part of the year is barren in the extreme: the

sandy plains are sparsely clothed with dwarf desert plants, many of

which are succulents. Apart from a narrow fringe along the Orange

River, there are no trees of any description.

Between September and October, however, after the first light

spring rains, Namaqualand changes, almost overnight, into one of the

world’s most magic gardens; the plains and hillsides for the short

period of about six weeks become brilliantly carpeted with wild

flowers, innumerable in variety and colours. On the Kamiesberg

28 Annals of the South African Museum.

the flowering season continues until about the middle of December.

Except in the extreme south, along the eastern border, and close to

the coast, there are almost everywhere masses of outcrop, stony

kopjes and rocky mountain ranges. Camps were made at the fol-

lowing places :—

1. Witwater: altitude 3500-3800 feet, a plateau high up in the

Kamiesberg almost entirely surrounded by stony hills. There are a

few farms, and small plots under cultivation.

2. KEselfontein: altitude 4300-4350 feet, close to Leliefontein

Hottentot Mission, the highest plateau on the Kamiesberg.

These plateaux are watered by small perennial mountain streams

which disappear underground before reaching the plains. The

vegetation on the higher slopes is heathy and not unlike that on the

mountains of the south-western Cape. Light crops of wheat are

grown; goats and a few cattle and sheep are kept.

3. Platbakkies: altitude 3460 feet, about 20 miles east of the

Kamiesberg. Arid high-karooveld with occasional rocky ridges and

rough stony tracts. Country quite typical of “ Bushmanland.”

4. Goodhouse: altitude 300 feet approx., on the south bank of the

lower Orange River at Raman’s Drift. At this point the Orange

River flows between almost unbroken chains of highly mineralized

hills which rise from 500-1200 feet. All level country consists of

heavy white sand. For the greater part of the year hardly a trace of

vegetation is visible, except along the river’s edge where there is a

thin fringe of tree growth. In contrast to these desert surroundings

is the intensely green Citrus Estate of Goodhouse, irrigated by a

system of canals which lead off from the river (owner, Mr. C. Weidner).

5. Eenriet: altitude 3300 feet approx., 7 miles north of Steinkopf.

A waterhole close to rocky hills which rise between 500 and 800 feet

above the surrounding level. Beyond the hills there are wide

stretches of sandveld scantily clothed with low karoo scrub and

intersected here and there by dry watercourses.

6. Port Nolloth: A camp (altitude 50 feet approx.) was made about

15 miles inland where the white coastal sand-dune belt meets the

firmer reddish-sandy country, and near the first broken line of

wind-swept hills which rise to about 600 feet.

7. Kameelboom : altitude 800 feet approx., in the bed of the dry

Spoeg River, about half-way between Garies and Hondeklip Bay.

Surrounding hills rise to about 1000 feet. Red and white sandy

country much broken up by rocky outcrop. Vegetation largely

succulent; shrubby bushes amongst the rocks and between the hills.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 29

During the British and Kaffrarian Museums’ Expedition to the

middle Orange River in 1921, collections were made close to Upington,

Swartkop, Lowsvale, and the Aughrabies Falls. The Upington and

Aughrabies camps were on the north bank of the Orange River,

those near Swartkop and Louisvale on the south bank.

Out of 106 species recorded, 78 were collected; 20 are extinct, or

nearly so; 4 are of doubtful occurrence. Names of species in brackets

indicate that specimens were not obtained.

Contributors towards the Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey include

The Museum of Comparative Zoology (at Harvard University,

United States of America), The South African Museum (Cape Town),

The Natal Museum (Pietermaritzburg), The Albany Museum

(Grahamstown), The McGregor Museum (Kimberley), The Port

Elizabeth Museum, The East London Museum, The Kaffrarian

Museum (King William’s Town), The National Research Council, and

Dr. H. Merensky.

Famity MACROSCELIDAE.

1. Elephantulus rupestris rupestris (A. Smith).

Hottentot: /UI/A“*GUI DURUB (Kenriet); /KHU#GUIB

(Goodhouse); HA: NG DURUB (Kamiesberg).

Specimens from Witwater, Platbakkies, Henriet, and from Louis-

vale. The series from Henriet may be taken as topotypical of E.

rupestris, which was described from “Mountains towards mouth of °

Orange River.” Plentifulin rocky situations. In the south replaced

coastally and to some extent subcoastally by Elephantulus capensis.

In cool weather Elephant Shrews may often be seen jumping from

rock to rock or running from one patch of cover to another at all

hours of the day. I have occasionally observed them on warm

moonlight evenings. Pregnant females contained 1-2 foetuses.

Newly born young are relatively large, being the size of full-grown

House Mice and clothed with short hair.

2. Elephantulus capensis Roberts.

Specimens from Witwater, Eselfontein, Kameelboom, Paddagat.

Elephantulus capensis and rupestris are similar in habits, both

favouring rocky and hilly situations. They overlap at Witwater

in the southern Kamiesberg. At Hselfontein (about 1000 feet

higher up than Witwater), and at Kameelboom (between the Kamies-

berg and Hondeklip Bay), only EH. capensis was collected. At Plat-

30 Annals of the South African Museum.

bakkies (19 miles east of the Kamiesberg) only E. rupestris was

found.

Latitude 30-5 approx. appears to be the meeting ground of (northern

and eastern) rupestris and (southern and south-western) capensis.

3. Macroscelides proboscideus melanotis Ogilby.

Hottentot: /HEI/A+GUI : DURUB (Eenriet).

Specimens from Witwater, Platbakkies, Eenriet, Port Nolloth,

Kameelboom.

An Elephant Shrew, presumably a Macroscelides, was reported from

the plains on the north bank of the Orange River near Upington in

1921.

This Little Namaqualand series matches closely examples of

E. p. melanotis from Berseba, Great Namaqualand.*

Widely distributed in Little Namaqualand and plentiful in level

Karooveld. Macroscelides was not found on the Kamiesberg above

the altitude of Witwater. These Elephant Shrews often take shelter

in the warrens of karoo Otomyinae. When handled they will

occasionally bite feebly, but their small teeth cannot pen>trate the

skin.

4. Macroscelides proboscideus isabellinus Shortridge.

One specimen from Port Nolloth (near Township).

A pale desert race of M. proboscideus, only known as yet from the

type. It is possible that M. p. tsabellinus may be an individually

pallid individual of M. p. melanotis, since the latter occurs in the

same region.

Famity CHRYSOCHLORIDAE.

5. Chrysochloris namaquensis Broom.

Hottentot: XARIMU DURUB (Kamiesberg); /AM*#ARE

HABA TSURU (Eenriet).

Specimens from Witwater and Eselfontein.

Only known previously from the type from Garies (a skull from an

owl casting—in the South African Museum).

* The type of M. p. melanotis is supposed to have come from ‘“‘ Damaraland”’

in 1838. No form of Macroscelides has otherwise been recorded from as far

north as Damaraland proper—as defined to-day, and I do not believe the genus

occurs anywhere north of the Tropic of Capricorn. I now propose to fix Berseba

in central Great Namaqualand as the type locality for Macroscelides proboscideus

melanotis because specimens from Berseba were compared with the type by

Oldfield Thomas and considered to agree with it.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 31

A little smaller than C. asiatica: colour above light seal-colour

strongly washed, in the majority of specimens, with iridescent

greenish or violet. One or two specimens are paler, resembling

C. concolor, but with pale greenish reflections. Whitish-buff cheek

markings, as in C. asiatica and concolor. Underparts greyish-buff

with a satiny sheen; throat creamy-white. The skull of C. nama-

quensis (Kamiesberg) differs from that of C. concolor in having

smaller, less raised temporal bullae, and in the interorbital con-

striction being slightly less inflated. Skulls of the Kamiesberg

series referred to namaquensis are longer, broader, and more massive

than the type, which may not be quite adult.

At Eselfontein the shallow tunnels of Golden Moles were often

observed perforating the large mounds of Bathyergus. In the

Kamiesberg they were found both in cultivated and uncultivated

land.*

Measurement Table of the Skins and Skulls of 9 Kamiesberg Specimens

and of the Type Skull of Chrysochloris namaquensis.

from ‘‘ Damaraland.”’

Original number 562. | 966. | 988. | 1010.| 654. | 719. | 745. | 957. | 1016.) Type.

Sex 3 3 3 3 % 2 2 2 2

Head and body 114 | 105 | 115 | 111 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 112

Hindfoot 12 IPA Tis letsys iis) 74 1l 12) NOsai)) 12

Skull:

Total length. 22 | 22-5 | 22 | 22-5 | 22-5 | 23 | 21-5 | 23 22 20

Basal length . 17:5 | 18-5 | 18-5 | 17-5 | 17-5 | 18 eon ediiefotsyalk “a Ur/ 16:5

Greatest breadth ./| 18 18 18 V7 17 17 17 iL?/ 17 15-5

Greatest height PES, 12 12 12 | 11-5) 11-5 | 11-5 | 11-5] 11 11

Interorbital breadth . | 6-5 7 6-5 7 6:5 7 rh a a 6-5

Palate across pos-

terior molars 8-5 9 8-5 9 8-5 | 85 | 8-5 9 8-5 8-5

| Dental series: front

of incisors to back

of posterior molar. | 9-5 | 9-5 | 10 10 10,| 975 |, 9-5) 9-5 | 9-5 |9°5 mm.

* Chrysochloris damarensis, as its name indicates, is supposed to have come

When in South West Africa I carried about the skin of

a Golden Mole to show local natives, but it was never recognised. The type

and only known specimen of C. damarensis, in the British Museum, was at one time

32 Annals of the South African Museum.

6. Chrysochloris tenuis Broom.

A single specimen from Port Nolloth district (15 miles inland) is

tentatively referred to this species, the type of which is an incomplete

skull without lower jaw or teeth from an owl casting (from Garies,

in the South African Museum).

Colour above pale drabby seal-colour with a faint iridescent

purplish wash: cheek markings buffy-white. Underparts pale

drabby-buff; throat also buffy, not buff-white as in Kamiesberg

specimens referred to namaquensis—some of which it otherwise

closely resembles in colour.

The teeth of the Port Nolloth skull (No. 1860, in the Kaffrarian

Museum) are much worn down, but, so far as can be judged, are

considerably smaller than in the Kamiesberg series of namaquensis.

There are 40 teeth in all, whereas the type skull of C. tenwis, a

smaller specimen without teeth, has sockets for only 36.

Golden Moles (excluding the essentially coastal Hremitalpa) occur

inland from Port Nolloth in red sandveld clothed with scanty karoo

scrub, but they are local if not actually scarce. A few Chrysochloris

runways were also observed between EKenriet and Klipfontein.

Fresh workings may be traced by the cracked ground surface above

the shallow tunnels. Golden Moles (in Namaqualand) often seem to

travel above ground by night and to make short overland journeys.

Presumably on such occasions they are preyed upon by owls.

Measurement Table of the Type Skull of Chrysochloris tenuis and of

a Specimen collected near Port Nolloth (8th February 1937),

provisionally referred to that Species.

Original number . : . | Type (Garies) | 1860 (Port Nolloth)

Bex). ‘ : we Q

Head and body . : ; ee 95

Hindfoot . x 11-25 mm.

Skull:

Greatest length : 20-5 20

Basal length . 16 16

Greatest breadth . . | 14-5 (approx. ¢) 16:5

Greatest height : 10-5 10-5

Interorbital breadth . 6-5 6:5

Palate across posterior molars 7:3 8-5

Dental series: front of incisors

to back of posterior molar 9-6 9-5 mm.

regarded as identical with C. asiatica (cf. W. L. Sclater, Mamm. S. Africa, ii,

p. 172); but that was before the discovery of allied species in Little Namaqualand.

It is possible that damarensis and namaquensis (e.g.) May on comparison prove

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 33

(7. Chrysochloris wintont Broom.)

Range: Garies—Port Nolloth?. Habitat: coastal sandveld.

The type from Port Nolloth (a skull and a skin in alc. No. 1917) is

in the South African Museum. A second specimen (skin and skull),

also from Port Nolloth, is in the Transvaal Museum.

Colour above pale sandy-drab, almost as pale as in Eremitalpa,

but with pinkish-lilac iridescent reflections and shorter fur. (In the

spirit specimen the iridescent reflections are a very brilliant green

shot with violet.) The head is pale drabby-buff with no defined

cheek markings.

Length of head and body (type), 80-90 mm.

At Kameelboom, between Garies and Hondeklip Bay, some

Golden Mole runways were observed in soft whitish sand: these were

often close to the base of comparatively large bushes and may have

been the workings of C. wintonr. No very recent activity was

observed (February).

8. EHremitalpa grant: (Broom).

Hottentot: ESA TSURU; ESA DURUB (Port Nolloth).

Specimens from Port Nolloth.

The type, one of four skulls from owl castings (in the South African

Museum), came from near Garies, but the individuals to which these

skulls belonged were quite probably captured by owls within the

coastal sand-dune belt and carried farther inland.

The genus is perhaps the most specialized of the smaller Chryso-

chloridae: Erenitalpa, like Cryptochloris, is flattened and roundly

to be synonymous. Early collectors, before the importance of recording exact

type localities was recognised, as often as not attached indefinite and misleading

data to specimens—such as “‘Southern Africa,” ““Cape Colony,” etc. ‘“‘The Cape

of Good Hope”’ on an old label might have stood for any part of what is now the

Cape Province.

“ Kaffraria,” which to-day is a localized name for the territory between the Kei

and Great Fish Rivers in the Eastern Cape Province, might have stood for any

part of eastern or central South Africa, its original interpretation having been

“Habitat of the Kaffirs.”” ‘Damaraland,’ again, might have been almost any

part of South West Africa north of the Orange River.

The type of Thallomys nigricauda is labelled ‘‘Hountop River, Damaraland,”

but that river is in central Great Namaqualand.

The northern boundary of Great Namaqualand, as defined to-day, is approxi-

mately the Tropic of Capricorn.

VOL. KXXVI, PART 1. ao

34 Annals of the South African Museum.

oval in shape, which may be an adaptation for progress through very

loose sand.

Fur unusually long and silky. In subadult specimens the colour

above is a beautiful aluminium-grey, changing to sandy-buff with age.

The tips of the hairs, especially on the hindquarters, shine like spun

glass, but there is no coloured iridescence. In immature specimens

there are indications of pale cheek markings: in adult examples

the entire face is whitish. The underparts vary from buffy-whitish

to pale rufous.

Dimensions of an adult male: H. & b. 88, Hf. 10-5 mm.

In Little Namaqualand Eremitalpa granti appears to be restricted

in range to the coastal strip of white shifting sand which extends from

the mouth of the Orange River southwards. It may possibly

cross the Orange River into the south-western littoral of Great

Namaqualand.

This “‘Silver”’ Mole is very plentiful around Port Nolloth from near

the coast to about twelve miles inland. It does not seem to extend

farther inland where the sandveld becomes level and relatively firm.

Eremitalpa makes runways in the wind-swept, undulating sand-

dunes which resemble lightly buried hose-pipes: these twist about

and can often be traced for fifty yards or more. The shallow tunnels

presumably fall in shortly after they have been traversed. I do not

think that the animals make a practice of going back on their tracks.

The very slightly raised tunnels are quite smooth above and do not

show up conspicuously against the glaringly white surroundings;

but they are easily identified and quite a feature where they occur.

The surface runways communicate with deeper excavations which -

descend several feet below ground: in this more solid stratum the

animals lie up and presumably breed. They throw up no mounds.

Specimens were obtained by trenching along the furrows until the

deeper excavations were discovered. Several were kept alive for

short periods, and it was noted that they have the power of blowing

themselves up like tiny balloons: when below ground they may, by

this means, be able to conserve air until the surface can be reached

on occasions when the fine sand falls in and blocks the tunnels.

There are occasional surface openings (which I think may be

blow-holes) at irregular intervals wherever recent excavations occur.

During the frequent high winds surface indications of all tunnels

may be obliterated in a few minutes, the powdery sand being without

cohesion.

Innumerable tracks of cats, genets, and foxes were observed in the

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 35

vicinity and along the lines of the runways, a possible indication

that these moles frequently come to the surface and wander above

ground: on such occasions they would fall an easy prey to four-footed

and winged carnivores. When handled they do not attempt to bite,

although in their struggles they show muscular strength.

It was of interest to discover that Hremitalpa granti is a car-

nivorous mole, its food consisting largely of various sand-burrowing

species of anguine skinks. These small snake-like lizards, either

legless or nearly so, slip through the loose sand like eels through

water, and to capture them indicates corresponding agility on the

part of the moles. No pregnant females were obtained (January—

February).

Famity SORICIDAE.

9. Crocidura martensi Dobson.

Hottentot: XUU DURUB (Kamiesberg).

Specimens from Witwater, Eselfontein, Platbakkies.

A Platbakkies specimen is more suffused with rufous than the

others; otherwise the series is very uniform.

Habitat: rocky and stony situations.

10. Myosorex varius varius (Smuts).

Specimens from EHselfontein and Port Nolloth.

A specimen collected by C. H. B. Grant in 1903 from near Port

Nolloth was noted by Oldfield Thomas at the time to be quite similar

in colour to a series from the slopes of Table Mountain.*

Habitat (Hselfontein): fairly high grass near swamp vegetation.

Port Nolloth is an entirely waterless region, but perhaps the

frequent damp mists and cool atmosphere occasioned by the Antarctic

current render conditions suitable for the existence of Myosorex

varius, an animal which normally favours damp situations.

Famity PTEROPIDAE.

(11. Kidolon heluum helvum (Kerr).)

There are two records of Fruit Bats from the barren coast of Little

Namaqualand. Such obviously accidental visitors might either have

been carried on ships or blown southwards by high winds.

* The type locality is Algoa Bay. The type, formerly in the Port Elizabeth

Museum, has disappeared, but topotypes have since been procured, one of which

is in the Kaffrarian Museum.

36 Annals of the South African Museum.

(1) “Captured at sea off Hondeklip Bay” (cf. W. L. Sclater, Mamm.

S. Africa, 11, p. 109, 1901 = Rousettus stramineus). This specimen is

still preserved in the South African Museum.

(2) From Port Nolloth: a Fruit Bat “with a wing span of 32

inches’ (Hast London Dispatch, 19th May 1936).

A Fruit Bat reported to occur as a rarity near Upington may also

be referable to this species.*

According to Mr. Weidner, “Fruit Bats’ do not visit Goodhouse

Citrus Estate.

Famity NYCTERIDAE.

12. Nycteris capensis damarensis Peters.

Hottentot (all insectivorous bats): SORE: TSI//GUBES (Kamies-

berg); SERTSE//GUBES (Goodhouse); //OETSI//OEBES

(Eenriet); //GUBES (Port Nolloth).

Specimens from Garies, Goodhouse, Port Nolloth, and from

Louisvale. Provisionally referred to damarensis; agreeing in colour

and dimensions with series from South West Africa.

Famity RHINOLOPHIDAE.

13. Rhinolophus capensis Lichtenstein.

Specimens from Orrelgat Cave (25 miles east of Witwater), Paddagat,

Leliefontein, Goodhouse.

14. Rhinolophus denti dent: Thomas.

One specimen from Louisvale, about 20 miles west of Upington.

Apparently the only record from the western Cape Province (south of

the Orange River).

15. Rhinolophus geoffroyr geoffroys A. Smith.

Two specimens from Leliefontein.

These specimens, matching R. capensis in colour, and in body,

hind-foot and ear measurements, but with longer forearms and

hindlegs, are tentatively referred to R. geoffroyi; they do not altogether

agree with a series, referred to R. auger by Oldfield Thomas, from

Karibib in South West Africa.

* There are very few other records of this tropical bat from the Cape Province:

a specimen in the McGregor Museum came from Koegas on the Orange River

(Griqualand West); another in the Port Elizabeth Museum is labelled “‘ Bedford”’;

FitzSimons records ‘“‘Steynsburg.”” [Editor: Durbanville, near Cape Town, 1941.]

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 37

(16. Rhinolophus aethiops Peters.)

Two specimens, referred by Thomas to this species, were collected

by C. H. B. Grant at Klipfontein in 1903.

Famity VESPERTILIONIDARE.

17. Cistugo seabrae Thomas.

Specimens from Goodhouse.

The most plentiful bat around Goodhouse Citrus Estate.

The wing glands are easily seen in fresh specimens; their shape

varies to some extent. In several instances there are two glands

close together on either side.

Cistugo seabrae and Platymops haagneri come out at the same time,

soon after sundown. Although otherwise very similar on the wing,

C. seabrae is neither so strong nor erratic a flyer as E'ptesicus capensis.

It perhaps resembles more closely a small Prpistrellus. On first

appearing its flight is comparatively steady and direct, but with

approaching dusk it descends and circles low around trees and

bushes. At Goodhouse Cistugo and Platymops have the same habit

of fluttering in the deep shadow of orange trees and snapping small

insects from the leaves.

New to the Cape Province.*

(18. Miniopterus natalensis subsp.)

A Long-winged Bat, referred at the time to MW. schreibersi, was

collected by C. H. B. Grant in 1903.

19. Eptesicus capensis capensis (A. Smith).

Specimens from Eselfontein and from Louisvale.

In Little Namaqualand only observed on the Kamiesberg where

a few specimens were shot whilst circling over a small pool of water.

20. Eptesicus megalurus pallidior subsp. n.

Specimens from Goodhouse.

A relatively large buff-coloured bat with cranial characters as in

Eptesicus; agreeing with the type of Eptesicus megalurus in skull and

skin dimensions, but not altogether in colour.

* The only examples of this bat previously known were the type from Mossa-

medes, and two specimens from Berseba (British and Kaffrarian Museums’

Expedition to Great Namaqualand).

38 Annals of the South African Museum.

General colour above and on sides of neck pale rufous-buff: under

parts drabby buff-white: all hairs above and below ashy-slate

at base. Ears dusky brown: membranes horn-brown, rather

translucent.

These Goodhouse specimens agree with Temminck’s description of .

megalurus in that the hair is long, smooth, silky, and bicoloured

throughout; but in typical melanurus the hair in front of the neck

and abdomen is described as “‘cedar-brown”’ as far as the tip; on the

flanks ‘“‘dove-coloured,” and on the pubic region quite white from

base to tip.

Type: an adult female (Coll. No. 1157): H.& b. 74, Tl. 48, Hf.

(s.u.) 11, Kar 19 mm.

A weak flyer, coming out at late dusk, about half an hour after

Cistugo and Platymops. Apparently not plentiful around Goodhouse,

about half a dozen observed in all.

The specimens collected were shot whilst “planing” very slowly

in wide circles around a cattle kraal, to which they were attracted by

swarms of flies.

These bats have a wide and broad wing span and, owing to similarity

in size, were at first mistaken in flight for Scotophilus.

Famity MOLOSSIDAE.

21. Platymops * haagnert haagneri Roberts.

Specimens from Goodhouse.

This series shows the following range of measurements: H. &b.

54-60, Tl. 36-41, Hf. 7-5-8-5, Har 15-5-16 mm.

Plentiful around Goodhouse; a few individuals (identified in flight)

were afterwards observed at Kenriet, about 40 miles south of Good-

house. On first appearing these bats fly rather high, sometimes out

of gunshot; later, they descend and circle around orange and other

shade trees.

Genus new to the Cape Province.

* Miss St. Leger informs me that on a re-examination of the type skull of

Platymops macmillani, the genotype of Platymops, a minute premolar 2 was found

to be present on one side. In consequence it would seem that the subgenus

Sauromys (of which haagneri is the genotype), previously thought to be dis-

tinguishable from Platymops by the presence of a minute premolar 2, is hardly

necessary. Platymops haagneri was only known previously from the type (in alc.)

from Keetmanshoop (Transvaal Museum); a second specimen (practically topo-

typical, now in the British Museum) from Brukaros Mountain (British and

Kaffrarian Museums’ Great Namaqualand Expedition); and a third recently

collected by Dr. Karl Jordan at Otjosongombe (Waterberg, S.W. Africa).

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 39

22. Nyctinomus bocager Seabra.

Specimens from Louisvale (near Upington).

Found roosting inside. hollow trees.

Famity CERCOPITHECIDAK.

23. Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus (F. Cuvier).

Hottentot: //OREGE: B (Goodhouse, Henriet); //ORE/NE: RAB

: (Kamiesberg).

Two specimens from Goodhouse; others from Louisvale.

Vervets from the lower Orange River and from the Eastern Cape

Province appear to me to be indistinguishable. These western

examples from Goodhouse, and from Louisvale, about 200 miles

farther east, are probably referable to C. aethiops marjoriae Bradfield

(Description of New Races of Kalahari Birds and Mammals, p. 2,

26th September 1935), typically from Zoetvlei near Kuruman, and

stated to differ from C. aethiops pygerythrus in being “‘a shade paler.”’

In my opinion marjoriae must be regarded as a synonym of

pygerythrus. |

In Little Namaqualand Vervet Monkeys are restricted in range to

the banks of the Orange River; they are not very plentiful near

Goodhouse, which is probably due to the narrowness there of the

river tree belt. They undoubtedly wander considerable distances

along the banks of the Orange River.

Vervets feed largely upon insects, and also to some extent upon the

nestlings and eggs of small birds. Mr. Weidner (Goodhouse Estate)

believes that their insectivorous diet more than compensates the

citrus farmer for the relatively small amount of fruit taken.

24. Papio comatus comatus EK. Geoffroy.

Hottentot: /NE : RAB (Goodhouse, Port Nolloth, Kamiesberg);

/E.: RAB (Eenriet).

Specimens from Witwater, Hselfontein, Eenriet.

In 1921 baboons were observed close to the Aughrabies Falls of the

Orange River. _

Little Namaqua baboons are intermediate in coloration between

paler specimens from the Hastern Cape Province and darker specimens

from Damaraland and the Kaokoveld.

40 Annals of the South African Museum.

Famity MUSTELIDAE.

25. Ictonyx orangiae orangiae Roberts.

Hottentot: /GA : MIROB (Goodhouse); /A : MIROB (EHenriet);

!O/E : B (Kamiesberg).

Specimens from Witwater, Platbakkies, Eselfontein, EKenriet, Port

Nolloth, Kameelboom, and from Louisvale and Upington.

A very uniform series; Little Namaqualand specimens are pre-

sumably referable to I. organiae arenarius.

Generally plentiful throughout Little Namaqualand.

26. Mellivora capensis capensis (Schreber).

Hottentot: /HAREBA, /HEIDOS (Goodhouse); /A/HOAS (Eenriet);

/HAREB (Kamiesberg).

Specimens from Witwater, Eenriet, and from near Upington.

Famity LUTRIDAE.

27. Aonyx capensis capensis (Schinz).

In 1921 a few tracks of Aonyx capensis were observed along the

banks of the Orange River near Louisvale. I believe, however, that

Lutra maculicollis is the more common Otter in the west-flowing

rivers of the Cape Province.

28. Lutra maculicollis maculicollis * Lichtenstein.

Hottentot: //GAM/HA/HEI : DOB (Goodhouse).

Specimens from Louisvale.

According to Hottentots at Goodhouse, Otters are scarce in the

lower Orange River. No tracks of either species were observed below

the Aughrabies Falls.

Famity CANIDAE.

(29. Lycaon pictus venaticus (Burchell).)

Hottentot: ARIB (Eenriet).T

Extinct in Little Namaqualand.

* An examination of material in the Kaffrarian Museum from the Zambesi,

Okavango, and various parts of the Union has convinced me that Lutra m.

chobiensis is inseparable from typical maculicollis.

t+ ARIB correctly refers to the Domestic Dog; Nama Hottentot names for the

Wild Dog in South West Africa are: /GAUB, /GOUB, or ~HOU ARIB. Wild

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 41

30. Otocyon megalotis megalotis (Desmarest).

AHottentot: /AMA/ATERA (Eenriet); //AB/KIRAB (Kamiesberg);

//AB (Goodhouse); /HOAS, /NOAS (H. J. Wikaz).

A single specimen from Port Nolloth: representative of the typical

Cape race. *

Generally scarce; presumably most plentiful along the coastal

sandplains. Food: insects (including, largely, White Ants), small

rodents, lizards, etc. A harmless and useful animal, much persecuted

by kaross traders in Bechuanaland. ~

31. Canis (Thos) mesomelas mesomelas (Schreber).

Hottentot: /KIRAB (Goodhouse, Kamiesberg); /AIERA (Eenriet).

Specimens from Hselfontein, Platbakkies, and from the Aughrabies

Falls. Generally distributed: comparatively plentiful in the Kamies-

berg. Owing to much trapping, Jackals are as wary as elsewhere in

the Cape Province. LHselfontein specimens (Kamiesberg cloud

region) are as richly coloured as average examples from the Hastern

Cape Province; skins from the arid plains farther east (Platbakkies),

although a shade paler, are not so pallid as C. mesomelas arenarum

from South West Africa.

32. Vulpes chama (A. Smith).

Hottentot: /KAMAB (Goodhouse, Kamiesberg); /AMA (EKenriet).

Specimens from Port Nolloth, near Kamieskroon (?), and from

near Upington.

Vulpes chama was described from “Little Namaqualand”: I

propose to fix Port Nolloth as the type locality.

Widely distributed throughout the plains of Little Namaqualand:

said to be plentiful inland from Port Nolloth and elsewhere along the

coast. Apparently not occurring on the Kamiesberg.

Dogs are no longer resident in any part of the Cape Province, although on extremely

rare occasions small hunting parties still wander down from the north. The most

recent record for the Cape Province appears to be that of two specimens, now in

the Kaffrarian Museum, which were shot out of a troop of four or five at Gray’s ~

Halt, Amabele, near Kei Road, on 16th July 1925, by Newey Bros.

* Other specimens of Otocyon in the Kaffrarian Museum from South West

Africa are referable to O. megalotis steinhardtt.

42 Annals of the South African Museum.

Famity VIVERRIDAE.

33. Genetta genetta felina (Thunberg).

Hottentot: //AROB (Goodhouse); /GARUB//AROB (Kamiesberg);

//KAROB (Eenriet).

Specimens from Witwater, Goodhouse, Kameelboom, and from

Louisvale, Upington, and the Aughrabies Falls.

Generally distributed throughout Little Namaqualand. Not

uncommon; extending to the coast (Port Nolloth).

34. Atilax paludinosus paludinosus (G. Cuvier).

Hottentot: GEI~NU E: B (Goodhouse).

One specimen from Louisvale.

Occurs along the lower Orange River, but apparently scarce.

30. Cynictis penicillata pallidior Thomas and Schwann. \

Hottentot: /EI/AI#A (Henriet); /AWA/E : B (Kamiesberg,

Port Nolloth); XARU (Goodhouse).

Specimens from Eenriet, and from Louisvale.

Eenriet is 6 miles from Klipfontein, the type locality for C. p.

pallidior. Much more local than Suricata in Little Namaqualand,

but not uncommon where it occurs. Not found on the Kamiesberg.

36. Myonaz ratlamuchi upingtoni Shortridge.

Hottentot: /AWA/GA : MIROB (Goodhouse).

Specimens from Louisvale and Upington.

Said to occur sparsely along the lower Orange River, but apparently

much less plentiful than above the Aughrabies Falls.*

37. Myonax pulverulentus ruddi (Thomas).

Hottentot: ~NU/E: B (Goodhouse); /E: B (Kamiesberg);

~+HU/E : B (Eenriet).

Specimens from Witwater, Eselfontein, Eenriet, Port Nolloth,

Kameelboom, Steinkopf, Goodhouse.t

* “A beautiful orange-coloured Martin,’ undoubtedly referable to Myonazx

ratlamuchi, was recorded by Alexander (c. 1838) from the lower Fish River in

Great Namaqualand.

+ Austin Roberts informs me that he has recently obtained a specimen of this

mongoose from the north of Aus in 8.W. Great Namaqualand.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 43

M. pulverulentus (subsp. inc.) was observed on several occasions

near Louisvale (south bank of the Orange River) in 1921.

Eenriet is 6 miles from Klipfontein, the type locality for M. p. ruddi.

A characteristic of this subspecies is its extreme seasonal change of

coloration, which is without parallel among South African mammals.

All specimens in Grant’s original series (April-June 1903) are in full

winter coat: in these the lower part of the back, feet, and tail-tip are

black; the remainder of the tail hairs tipped with bright russet,

contrasting with the general greyish grizzling of the body.

A coloured plate in the P.Z.S. (1904, vol. i, pl. vi) gives a rather

misleading idea of the coloration of the typical set which I have

examined at the British Museum; in this plate the body-colour is too

olivaceous, the tail too yellow, and the black markings are not

sufficiently pronounced.

The present large and much more variable series, collected between

October and February (summer months), are for the most part less

richly coloured; the feet and extreme tail-tip are black as in the

typical set, but, in the majority of the skins, the dark dorsal patch is

either indistinct or absent. There are, however, several still in

partial winter coat, as indicated by the black dorsal patch being well-

defined. In one example only is the tail as bushy and brightly

coloured as in Grant’s winter series.

Plentiful in rocky situations throughout Little Namaqualand;

extending as far west as the coastal hills 15 miles inland from Port

Nolloth.

38. Suricata suricatta namaquensis Thomas and Schwann.

Hottentot: //KA-NI/AI#A (Eenriet); XARAB (Goodhouse).

(Grant’s “Hottentot”’ name “HCRYKY for Suricata and Cynictis is

presumably a modification of GRAAITJIE, a local Afrikaans name.)

Specimens from Witwater, Hselfontein, Eenriet, Port Nolloth,

Steinkopf.

In 1921 a “‘Suricat” colony existed near Upington (south bank of

the Orange River).*

Klipfontein, the type locality for S. swricatta namaquensis, is 6 miles

from Eenriet.

Fairly widely distributed in Little Namaqualand; warrens usually

large but not very numerous. Occurring on the highest plateaux of

the Kamiesberg, and (at Port Nolloth) within a mile or two of the

* Reported also from Kenhardt District.

44 Annals of the South African Museum.

coast. Kamiesberg specimens are slightly more suffused with

rufous than examples from the arid plains of Little Namaqualand.

Famity PROTELIDAE.

39. Proteles cristatus canescens Shortridge.

Hottentot: #AM+ERA (Eenriet); /GI:B (Goodhouse); /GI

(Kamiesberg); NU/HAB, NUAAP (H. J. Wikar).

"Tkaboek Bushmen: ’NAAS, /HAS (H. J. Wikar).

Afrikaans: ERDWOLF or MAANHAAR JAKKALS.

High Dutch: AARDWOLF.

Specimens from Witwater, Eselfontein, Eenriet, Port Nolloth.

Fairly plentiful in Little Namaqualand, both on the plains and among

the mountains. Aardwolves scoop out small hollows in the sides of

white-ant hills, but do not tear down the mounds in the same

manner as Aardvarks. They are mainly nocturnal, but sometimes

wander about by day.

An Aardwolf at bay erects its dorsal crest like a Civet.

The stomachs of all specimens were packed with white ants and

coarse grit in about equal proportions; the grit being presumably

licked up with the ants. Newspaper controversy as to whether or

no the Aardwolf habitually attacks sheep and lambs is something of

a “hardy annual” in South Africa. Whilst the canines and incisors

are normal in shape and size, the widely separated and almost

rudimentary molars indicate their unsuitability for masticating

flesh. There is no reason, however, why occasional individuals

should not become ‘‘rogues.”? Abnormal habits in many animals

happen sporadically, and as such should be dealt with: but it would

be an error of judgment to advocate the destruction of all Aardwolves

in the face of existing evidence of their normally insectivorous diet.

A short “baculum.” The tongue is covered with slightly raised

fleshy discs.

Famity HYAENIDAE.

(40. Crocuta crocuta maculata (Thunberg).)

Hottentot: ~NUBE+HIRAS (Goodhouse).

Extinct in Little Namaqualand. Alexander records having met

with “‘Hyaenas” in this region: Hottentot names indicate the former

existence of both species.*

* There is a mounted Spotted Hyaena in the Kaffrarian Museum, referable to

H. c. maculata, with “‘Cape Colony” on the original label.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 45

(41. Hyaena brunnea brunnea Thunberg.)

Hottentot: #~HIRAS (Goodhouse).

Extinct in Little Namaqualand. The Brown Hyaena probably

survived longer in Little Namaqualand than the Spotted species.*

Famity FELIDAE.

(42. Acinonyx jubatus jubatus (Schreber).)

Hottentot: /ARUB (Kamiesberg, Goodhouse); /ARU (Eenriet).

A few Cheetah are said still to occur in Bushmanland and Kenhardt

District: according to Hottentots around Goodhouse they are very

nearly extinct; Mr. Weidner (1937) believes that there may be one

or two in the Richtersveld and along the Orange River opposite

Goodhouse. These are without doubt the only regions south of or

near the Orange River in which these animals survive, and even

there they have almost disappeared. Formerly Cheetah were said

to have preyed upon Ostriches in the plains east of the Kamiesberg.

43. Caracal caracal caracal (Schreber).

Hottentot: /ABA/HOAB (Goodhouse, Kamiesberg);

/GAWA/HOAB (Eenriet).

One specimen from near Springbok.

Generally distributed throughout Little Namaqualand: rare in the

Kamiesberg.

44. Felis lybica cafra Desmarest.

Hottentot: /HOAB (Kamiesberg, Goodhouse); /HAB (Port Nolloth);

/HO/HOUB (Eenriet).

Specimens from Witwater, Eselfontein, Goodhouse, Henriet, and

from Louisvale and near Upington.

Plentiful throughout Little Namaqualand; extending to the coast

(Port Nolloth).

45. Felis lybica namaquana Thomas.

One specimen from Platbakkies.

Matching pallid examples from Great Namaqualand and elsewhere

in the southern parts of South West Africa. This specimen from

* Migrants are still recorded from the Eastern Cape Province at rare intervals:

there is an old mounted Brown Hyaena in the Kaffrarian Museum labelled “ Pirie

Forest.”

46 Annals of the South African Museum.

the Bushmanland border has only dusky indications of leg-bars, thus

contrasting with F. 1. cafra from the Kamiesberg and other parts of

Little Namaqualand.

(46. Panthera leo melanochaitus (Hamilton Smith).)

Hottentot: XAMI (Kamiesberg); XAM (Goodhouse).

There are Hottentot traditions of the former occurrence of the

Cape Lion in Little Namaqualand. The English translation of

‘“Kamiesberg”’ is “Lion Mountain.” J. E. Alexander (c. 1835) shot

a lion on the south bank of the lower Orange River near Karahas

Ford, and wrote: “Jt is not altogether safe to traverse along the banks of

the Ganep ; Lions are to be met with.” On his map, “Plains with

Zebra and Lions,” is inscribed on the north bank of the Orange

(Gariep) River about opposite to where Goodhouse now stands

(An Expedition of Discovery into the Interior of Africa).

47. Panthera pardus melanotica Gunther.

Hottentot: /GARUB (Kamiesberg, Goodhouse); /ARUB (Henriet).

Two specimens, (a) from Norap (Rooifontein, north of Leliefontein

in the Kamiesberg), and (>) from about 60 miles north of Upington.*

The Norap specimen, a flat skin, presented by W. M. Crampton,

was shot in 1912: a second Kamiesberg specimen, the skin of a half-

grown animal, shot about 1926, was examined at Leliefontein

Hottentot Mission.

Leopards are no longer resident on the Kamiesberg, but they still

occur sparsely among the mountains along the lower Orange River

Valley.

Famity OTARIIDAE.

(48. Arctocephalus pusillus (Schreber).

Hottentot: HOERI XAM (Eenriet); /AIK (Port Nolloth).+

The Cape Sea Lion breeds on small islands off the coast of Little

Namaqualand. Alexander mentions a “Seal Island” between the

mouths of the Gariep (Orange) and Kowsie (Buffels) Rivers.

* The Upington (Gordonia) specimen was referred by Oldfield Thomas to

Panthera pardus shortridget.

+ /KHOAP is a Hottentot name for a whale.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 47

Famity MANIDAKE.

(49. Smutsva temmincki (Smuts).)

The skin of a Pangolin from near Upington was examined in 1921.*

Unknown in Little Namaqualand.

Famity ORYCTEROPODIDAH.

50. Orycteropus afer afer (Pallas).

Hottentot: /KUBUS (Goodhouse); /OA/KUBUB (Kamiesberg).

Afrikaans: ERDVARK. High Dutch: AARDVARK.

One specimen from Henriet.

This subadult specimen differs from an immature Kaffrarian skin

in its generally darker body colour and in the rump and dorsal part

of the back being further darkened by a profuse admixture of slaty-

black hairs, these parts, however, not being so dark as the normally

blackish thighs and shoulders. The tail is creamy-white (washed

with rufous below), contrasting with the dark rump. The tail of the

Kaffrarian specimen is pale greyish isabelline, not markedly paler

than the general body colour. The Henriet specimen approaches to

some extent O. afer albicaudus; but the tail is not “almost pure

white” terminally, as in a typical specimen of that race from Sand-

fontein (Gobabis District) in South West Africa.

Sparsely but widely distributed in Little Namaqualand. Said not

to occur actually on the Kamiesberg, but a few burrows were observed

around Platbakkies, about 20 miles east of those mountains.

Famity LEPORIDAHE.

51. Lepus capensis grantt Thomas and Schwann.

Hottentot: /OAS (Eenriet); /KARAR (Goodhouse).

Specimens from Hselfontein, Henriet, Port Nolloth. Port Nolloth

specimens are topotypical.

Widely distributed throughout Little Namaqualand; ascending

to the highest plateaux of the Kamiesberg, being fairly plentiful

around Leliefontein, although outnumbered there by L. sazatilis

megalotis. Most numerous in the coastal sand plains and in open

karooveld.

* There is a second Cape Province record from Prieska, farther east along the

Orange River; and a third from Colesberg—the only record I know of from the

south of the Orange River.

48 Annals of the South African Museum.

As long ago as 1835 Alexander wrote: “There are plenty of hares

at the Gariep (Orange) River Mouth.” |

Lepus capensis is a more wary animal than L. sazatilis, but it may

be coursed successfully with dogs. It is less attracted by cultivation

than Lepus saxatilis and avoids populated areas.

The white frontal spot (Afrikaans, KOHL) is frequently present,

but is seldom so conspicuous asin L. sazatilis.

52. Lepus saxatilis megalotis Thomas and Schwann.

Hottentot: /KHAERAB (Goodhouse); /KHAIRA (Eenriet);

XAXARIT (Kamiesberg).

Afrikaans: RIBBOKHAAS, KOHLHAAS.

Specimens from Witwater, Hselfontein. Klipfontein, near Eenriet,

is the type locality.

Generally distributed in rocky country; particularly plentiful on

the Kamiesberg. Seldom penetrating far into the plains. Attracted

by cultivation, cattle kraals, and Hottentot villages.

53. Lepus saxatilis aurantw Thomas and Hinton.

Specimens (type and co-types) from Louisvale.*

Locally plentiful; attracted by cultivation (lucerne fields, etc.).

54. Pronolagus crassicaudatus rupestris (A. Smith).

One specimen from Platbakkies; others from Swartkop (near

Upington), south bank of Orange River.

On receipt of a “summer” series of Pronolagus from Swartkop,

Oldfield Thomas noted that the specimens were more suffused with

rufous than Grant’s “winter” examples from Little Namaqualand,

but, believing this to be due to season, he concluded melanurus,

previously assigned by himself and Schwann to Little Namaqualand

specimens, to be synonymous with rupestris. A “summer”’ series

from Little Namaqualand now shows that there is no such seasonal

change, and, in consequence, I believe that rupestris and melanurus

should be regarded as distinct races.

Pronolagus crassicaudatus rupestris (from Swartkop): general

colour above sandy-rufous, individual hairs mostly tipped with

buffy white, the general effect being grizzled rufous and white—

* Austin Roberts has recently recorded L. s. aurantii from the south-west of

Rehoboth (Great Namaqualand). Specimens from Griqualand West appear also

to be referable to this subspecies.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 49

except on the lower part of the back where there is a slightly darker

shade, due to an admixture of hairs blackish at their extreme tips;

base of hairs uniformly pale rufous to the roots (as opposed to bluish-

slate in melanurus). Fore and hind feet pale rufous, the hairs

markedly tipped with whitish.

The specimen from Platbakkies (20 miles east of the Kamiesberg,

on the western edge of the Bushmanland Highveld) intergrades to

some extent with both races; in external coloration it almost exactly

matches rupestris from Swartkop, but the base of the hairs is bluish-

slate as in melanurus.*

55. Pronolagus crassicaudatus melanurus (Ruppell).

Hottentot: /UE/OAS (Eenriet); TSOARUS (Goodhouse);

*TWIGI (Kamiesberg).

Specimens from Witwater, Hselfontein, Platbakkies, Henriet.

Pronolagus crassicaudatus melanurus: general colour above drabby-

brown, markedly washed with rufous on the neck, rump, and limbs

only. Hairs on back and sides buffy-white subterminally, tipped with

black; the general effect being grizzled drabby and black; fore and

hind feet rufous-buff without defined whitish tips to the hairs. Base

of hairs bluish-slate on rump, shading to whitish on shoulders.

With regard to Pronolagus material from Little Namaqualand and

the middle Orange River, I propose to fix Henriet (inland from Good-

house, lower Orange River, below the Aughrabies Falls), Little

Namaqualand, as the type locality for Pronolagus crassicaudatus

melanurus; and Swartkop (near Upington, middle Orange River

(south bank), above the Aughrabies Falls) as the type locality for

Pronolagus crassicaudatus rupestris.

Series in the Kaffrarian Museum from these regions represent two

well-defined colour forms, and I consider that the status of the darker

(coastal and subcoastal) melanurus and the paler (inland highveld)

rupestris might thus be recognised.

The two races appear to meet or intergrade on the western edge of

the Bushmanland Highveld (e.g. Platbakkies).

“Red Hares” are plentiful in rocky situations throughout Little

Namaqualand. On the Kamiesberg they are extremely abundant

at all altitudes and seem to be less shy than in most other regions.

* Specimens from Great Brukaros Mountain (Great Namaqualand) resemble

closely Swartkop examples, except for having a somewhat more profuse admixture

of black-tipped hairs on the back; these were not distinguished from Swartkop

material by Oldfield Thomas.

VOU, XXXVI, PART |. 4

50 Annals of the South African Museum.

Although for the most part nocturnal, in cool, cloudy weather they

sometimes come out to feed by day, and in the early mornings and

late afternoons may be found on almost any patch of outcrop. Flat

ledges of rock and level patches of short grass on hillsides are often

covered with accumulated droppings. These hares are not attracted

by cultivation; they are essentially rock-dwellers, and feed upon

mountain grasses and herbs. The meat has a slight aromatic flavour.

The normally dark foot-pads in EHenriet specimens were invariably

whitened by powdered mica.

Famity SCIURIDAE.

56. Geoscourus inauris namaquensis (Lichtenstein).

Hottentot: /KAES+NAB (Goodhouse); /AI DURUB (Eenriet).

Specimens from Swartkop, Louisvale, Aughrabies Falls.

No record was obtained of the occurrence of Geosciurus within the

borders of Little Namaqualand, but in the north it may extend as

far west as Pella. Well known to Hottentots around Goodhouse,

but said not to occur so far west along the south bank of the Orange

River.

The type locality for G. inauris namaquensis is Great Namaqua-

land west of the Fish River.*

Famity MUSCARDINIDAE.

57. Gliriscus rupicola australis Shortridge.

Hottentot: DANU : DURUB (Eenriet); /ONIS (Goodhouse).

Specimens from EKenriet and Port Nolloth.

Nocturnal; a rock dweller; apparently not plentiful.

The latitude of Kenriet may be approximately the southern limit

of the range of Gliriscus. The genus overlaps there with Graphiurus

(collected by Grant at Klipfontein, 6 miles from Eenriet) which itself

may not extend farther north. The specimen from Port Nolloth,

where there are no rocks, was caught in a timber yard close to the

harbour and might have been carried there by goods train from

* A specimen with worn fur from Berseba (Great Namaqualand) was at first

referred by Oldfield Thomas to Geosciurus princeps on skull characters; but the

writer afterwards stated that there must have been an accidental interchange of

skull labels between this and a Karabib specimen. I am convinced that Thomas

was correct and therefore suggest that Berseba, in central Great Namaqualand,

about 10 miles west of the Fish River—a locality in which Geosciurus is known to

occur——be fixed as a definite type locality for G. inauris namaquensis.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 51

up-country. Dormice are said also to occur in the Orange River

Valley (around Goodhouse, etc.).

Genus new to the Cape Province.

58. Graphiurus ocularis ocularis (A. Smith).

Hottentot: NAMTAP (Kenriet) *; /ON : DURUB (Kamiesberg).

Specimens from Witwater, Hselfontein.

Grant collected two specimens at Klipfontein in 1903, a locality

close to Henriet where Gliriscus occurs.

The present Kamiesberg series has been compared with Eastern

Cape Province material; there is not much difference, except that

in the Namaqualand examples the.black ocular markings are perhaps

somewhat wider, and in its forward extension the ocular streak

entirely surrounds the roots of the mystacial vibrissae; forming a

band which averages 7-8 mm. in width, extending from the upper

lip to the lower margin of the ear—the forearm being also to some

extent suffused with black above. Namaqualand specimens of

Graphurus can be regarded as typical of G. ocularis elegans; and

the Kamiesberg (Hselfontein), visited by Alexander, may be fixed

as its type locality (cf. Mamm. 8.W. Africa, Shortridge, vol. i, p. 216,

footnote by Oldfield Thomas). In my opinion, however, elegans is

hardly separable from typical ocularis, although it is quite as good

a race as plenty of other named subspecies of South African mammals.

The nicotine-coloured stains on the face, throat, and shoulders,

so characteristic of South African Dormice, are as a rule particularly

manifest in adults of Graphiurus. The skull is flattened, almost as

much as in Gliriscus, which suggests similar crevice-dwelling habits.

There is a short “baculum.” Plentiful in the Kamiesberg.

Although doubtless to some extent arboreal where there are trees,

Graphiurus ocularis is essentially a rock-dweller in Little Namaqualand

and throughout the greater part of its range, where it is similar to

Gloriscus in choice of habitat. It is strictly nocturnal.

At Eselfontein two specimens were trapped in an old stone wall;

others were found in rocky cliffs containing horizontal fissures and

amongst natural pylons of large boulders.

A local Afrikaans name for Graphiurus is ““HUENINGMUIS,”’

owing to the fact that it is fond of honey and, like Huropean Dormice,

said to enter bees’ nests in search of it. It is also carnivorous when

* This name is used by Afrikaans-speaking farmers in the Cedarberg, Clan-

william, district.—[Ep.] See p. 88.

52 Annals of the South African Museum.

opportunity offers, and, like the Fiscal Shrike in respect of smaller

birds, will prey upon rodents and other smaller vertebrates less

powerful than itself. In the Kamiesberg, small mammals caught

in traps were often found with the heads partly eaten off and brains

extracted, presumably by these Dormice. In captivity, other small

rodents placed in the same cage are at once savagely attacked.

Graphiurus is said to find its way occasionally into houses and to

drink milk.

Famity CRICETIDAE.

59. Desmodillus auricularis auricularis (A. Smith).

Hottentot: /GAWA : DURUB (Eenriet); /AWA : DURUB

(Goodhouse).

Specimens from Witwater, Platbakkies, Goodhouse, Eenriet, Port

Nolloth, Kameelboom, and from Louisvale and Aughrabies Falls.

Two specimens from Witwater are topotypical, the type, discovered

and described by Sir Andrew Smith, having come from the Kamiesberg.

There is considerable individual colour variation in the Namaqualand

and Louisvale series: the four most vividly orange-chestnut Namaqua

specimens come from four separate localities—(1) Witwater (dg),

(2) Kenriet (3), (3) Platbakkies (3), (4) Goodhouse (2).*

Habitat: level plains sparsely clothed with low karoo scrub.

The Short-eared Gerbil ascends the Kamiesberg to Witwater

Plateau, but was not found as high up as Hselfontein.

Desmodillus (as opposed to Taterona and Gerbillus) is not communal:

it is quarrelsome in captivity, and the adults soon start killing and

partly devouring the weaker of their own species and other small

rodents.

60. Gerbillus (Gerbillus) paeba broomi Thomas.

Specimens from Witwater, Platbakkies, Goodhouse, Henriet, Port

Nolloth, Kameelboom.

The type locality is Port Nolloth.

* There is so much individual colour variation that I do not think Desmodillus

auricularis pudicus is distinguishable from the typical subspecies.

+ Gerbillurus: subgen. n.

I have long been of opinion that the Dipodillus-like Gerbillus vallinus should be

distinguished from true Gerbillus (as represented by paeba, swalius, etc.).

Gerbillurus difters from Gerbillus in its long and relatively heavily tufted tail,

which in some examples is half as long again as the head and body. The partially

bare soles, and the triangular skull with inflated bullae (very much as in Desmodillus)

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 53

This series is extremely variable in size and colour; some being

clear orange-chestnut above from nose to tail-tip: others are grizzled

drabby brown ,with tails darkened above by a profuse admixture of

black hairs. The majority show intermediate coloration. Range

of colour matching almost exactly that of Desmodillus. Several

specimens from Goodhouse had markedly incrassated tails, although

this is not very apparent in the dry skins. Widely distributed,

especially in the open plains: perhaps most plentiful in the coastal

sandveld. Occurs in the Kamiesberg around Witwater, but not

met with on the higher Eselfontein Plateau.

61. Taterona brantsu namaquensis Shortridge.

Specimens from Goodhouse.

Trapped in high grass along the edges of water-furrows bordering

irrigated land on Goodhouse Estate.

Apparently not plentiful: no burrows observed.

Genus new to Little Namaqualand.

Oldfield Thomas (P.Z.8., 1927, pt. 2, p. 386) wrote: “If we are

to try to get our taxonomic arrangement and nomenclature to give some

sort of idea as to the course of evolution in the different animals, . . .,

we must I believe take the bold step of recognising animals as distinct

uf of obviously separate and independent origin, even uf to our eyes they

look quite the same. We should thus be recognising the locahty as an

essential part of the animals’ individuality.”

A difficulty in distinguishing animals subspecifically on a purely

geographical basis without close personal knowledge of the country,

on the supposition that they are of independent origin, is that it is

not often possible to determine from the study of an ordinary map

whether two presumed faunal regions are not in reality connected

by a strip of similar country not indicated on the map. At the

same time, when two races from distant localities, known to be dis-

connected, resemble one another closely, slight. but consistent

differences are of greater interest than more readily distinguishable

but intergrading characteristics in races inhabiting adjoining areas.

For this reason I had no hesitation in describing Taterona brantsi

namaquensis from the south bank of the lower Orange River on

have already been remarked upon by Thomas and Hinton (P.Z.S8., pt. 1, p. 235,

1925).

Genotype (in the Kaffrarian Museum): Gerbillus (Gerbillurus) vallinus; No. 578,

adult 3, H. & b. 110, Tl. 154, Hf. 30, Ear 13-5 mm., from Berseba, Great Namaqua-

land, 6th September 1923.

54 Annals of the South African Museum.

account of the distance of its habitat from that of any other known

race of brantsii. From my knowledge of south-western Africa

I am satisfied that vast tracts of country, uninhabited by any species

of Taterona, separate T. brantsii namaquensis from T. brantsiu

perpallida,* the Bechuana race which namaquensis most closely

resembles. Northwards from Goodhouse, on the inland (hardveld)

plateaux of Great Namaqualand, the genus appears to be un-

represented: eastwards, along the Orange River (above the Aughrabies

Falls) T. miliaria, a member of the lobengulae group, occurs.

62. Taterona miliarva niliaria (Wroughton).

Specimens from Swartkop and Louisvale (south bank of Orange

River).

This series was originally referred incorrectly by Thomas and

Hinton (P.Z.8., 1923) to T. miliarca stellae (=T. lobengulae griquae?).

T. miliaria belongs to the lobengulae group; there being two pairs

of pectoral mammae.

Plentiful; not found in large warrens in this region. Attracted

by cultivation, but also occurring along the beds of dry water-courses.

The relatively large and easily seen burrows are often excavated

close to the thick scrubby bushes which fringe these water-courses.

63. Myotomys unisulcatus broom (Thomas).

Hottentot: #HU : DURUB (Eenriet); ~NU : DURUB

(Goodhouse).

Specimens from Witwater, Eselfontein, EHenriet, Port Nolloth,

Kameelboom. Port Nolloth is the type locality.

Widely distributed in Little Namaqualand and as a rule extremely

plentiful; ranging from the highest peaks of the Kamiesberg (near

the summit of Eselkop) to the sea coast (hardly above tide level at

* In 1927 (P.Z.S.) Oldfield Thomas provisionally referred a large series of

Taterona from Gobabis District to 7’. schinzi, but mentioned (in litt.) at the time

that the South West African Gerbil material had not been carefully examined.

Since then about half of them have been referred by St. Leger (28th November

1935—in litt.) to 7’. brantsii perpallida. Owing to this delay the occurrence of

T. b. perpallida in the eastern and north-eastern parts of S.W. Africa was not

recorded by me in The Mammals of South West Africa. 7. schinzi and T. b.

perpallida are now known to occur side by side in Gobabis District, and they both

extend northwards, although in the extreme north perpallida (a few collected at

Ssannukannu village, about 10 miles south of the Okavango) is far outnumbered

by schinzi, from which I do not think lobengulae is specifically separable.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 55

Port Nolloth). Not observed around Goodhouse in the valley of

the Orange River. Myotomys colonies construct dome-shaped nests

of small sticks and twigs, above ground, from two to three feet in

height in the centre of bushes—both in sandy and rocky country.

Under these nests are underground tunnels; within a few yards

radius there are a dozen or so escape exits, most of which are under

bushes or partly hidden by slight superstructures of small sticks.

The burrows of Myotomys (as opposed to those of Parotomys) are

not very deep, nor do they extend any great distance. They are

shallower as a rule than those of Liotomys, although the overhead

nest-mounds of the two may resemble one another closely. Bushes

containing nests of Myotomys and Liotomys have a tendency to die

after a time owing to root disturbance; when this happens the

animals move to a fresh site. Diurnal. (Cf. Plate VI.)

64. Otomys irroratus irroratus (Brants).

Specimens from Kselfontein.

A swamp-dweller, consequently local in this region, even on the

Kamiesberg; not likely to occur elsewhere in Little Namaqualand.

Trapped among reeds in small patches of marshy ground at the

headwaters of mountain streams at LHselfontein and near the

upper slopes of Hselkop. The runways through swamp vegetation

are easy to find. Otomys irroratus makes no regular burrows and

lives normally above ground. Both diurnal and nocturnal: one

individual was captured by hand whilst sunning itself during the

heat of the day. It feeds largely upon the young shoots and lower

stems of reeds and rushes.

Genus new to Little Namaqualand.

65. Parotomys brantsi brantsi (A. Smith).

Hottentot: #AB : DURUB (Eenriet).

Specimens from Platbakkies, Eenriet, Port Nolloth.

The type locality of P. brantsii is “towards the mouth of the

Orange River,” so that the series from Port Nolloth and EHenriet

are practically topotypical.

Brants’ Otomys abounds throughout the sandy plains of Little

Namaqualand, to within a mile or so of the coast. Warrens were

met with about ten miles south of Goodhouse, but not actually in

the valley of the Orange River, where Liotomys was the only member

of the group collected. It extends to the foot of the Kamiesberg,

56 Annals of the South African Museum.

but not on to the mountain plateaux. Farther north, aneiane

Springbok, etc., it occurs everywhere on the high karooveld. Many

parts of Little Namaqualand are riddled by the excavations of

Parotomys, the sand-plains being often honeycombed, to some extent

in patches, for miles in every direction. The innumerable warrens com-

pare with those of Taterona in other regions, the burrows being very

similar, except that much frequented Parotomys entrances approach

those of mierkats in diameter. The communities are much larger

than the more circumscribed colonies of Myotomys and Liotomys.

It was found impracticable to dig out Parotomys in large numbers;

individual warrens are often several hundred yards in circumference;

many of the tunnels descend three or four feet below the surface,

and connecting passages intercommunicate everywhere. There are

also numbers of bolt-holes which doubtless serve as a means of escape

from snakes and muishonds. The warrens are taken advantage of

to some extent by other small animals—Macroscelides, Elephantulus,

Rhabdomys, Desmodillus, Gerbillus, etc., and a variety of lizards.

These essentially communal rodents have (more perhaps than other

Otomyinae) the marmot-like habit of sitting up on their haunches

motionless at the entrances of their burrows, disappearing like a

flash at the slightest sound, movement, or shadow. This extreme

alertness may be partly attributable to the Harrier Hawks so

frequently seen hovering above the warrens, obviously on the look

out for unwary individuals.

Parotomys is not as a rule attracted by dry bait (mealies, oatmeal,

etc.), and the easiest way to obtain specimens is to wait quietly near

a warren and shoot them as they appear. They are exclusively

diurnal, coming out to feed in the morning before the heat of the

day (from 7-10 a.m.) and in the afternoon (from about 4 p.m. until

just before sundown). On cool or cloudy days a few may be seen

at any hour, but in windy weather they seldom venture above ground.

Owing to their pale yellowish colour, which closely matches the sand,

they are not at all conspicuous. Although apparently less migratory

than Laterona, Parotomys communities move about from one agerega-

tion of warrens to another: in consequence some warrens may be

temporarily deserted, others partly or fully occupied. They feed

here principally upon the leaves and flower-heads of fleshly leaved

annual mesembryanthemums, and when a near-by supply fails move

on to another group of burrows. As their food supply is practically

inexhaustible they seldom have to wander far afield in search of it.

On coming out to feed they creep cautiously to the nearest plant,

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 57

bite off a shoot or a flower-head and dart back with it. Sometimes

an entire plant is bitten off just above the root and dragged to the

entrance of a burrow. The droppings, bright green in colour when

fresh, are scuffled out of the tunnels and may be seen in small heaps

outside the entrances of certain burrows which are chosen primarily

for these ejections. The warrens are invariably situated in open

sandy karooveld where the scattered vegetation is not more than a

foot or two in height. Parotomys, Liotomys, and Myotomys are:

gentle in captivity, and even when recently caught a hand can be

moved freely among them; in a short time they will allow themselves

to be picked up, only attempting to bite if handled roughly. The

young of all members of the group are born in an advanced state,

well clothed with short hair; when newly born they cling tightly

to the mammae of the female until able to run quite actively. The

female moves about, even above ground, with the young so attached.

Parotomys seems to breed throughout the year, but perhaps more

regularly during the warmer months. The number of young averages

2-3; more rarely 4. Parotomys differs from other subgenera of the

Otomyinae in having large jerboa-lke eyes and relatively short

ears.

66. Parotomys brantsw pallida (Wagner).

Specimens from Kameelboom (8.W. Little Namaqualand).

I have referred this series to P. brantsi pallida, for which I propose

to fix Kameelboom (about half-way between Garies and Hondeklip

Bay) as the type locality.

This very uniform series differs markedly from the relatively

variable typical subspecies from northern and eastern Little Nama-

qualand in being much less brightly coloured. General colour

drabby grizzled grey with a slight wash of cinnamon above; in typical

brantsic the general colour is sandy-buff washed with varying shades

of orange-rufous.

67. Liotomys littledaler littledalec Thomas.

Hottentot: /HAEB (Goodhouse).

Specimens from Kenriet, Port Nolloth, Goodhouse, and from

Louisvale.

The relatively long-eared Liotomys should not be associated too

closely with Parotomys. In some respects it constitutes a link

between Parotomys and Myotomys, and in habits more nearly resembles

the latter.

58 Annals of the South African Museum.

Widely distributed in the north of Little Namaqualand and very

plentiful where it occurs. The discovery of Liotomys in this region

has extended considerably its known range; south of the Orange

River it had been recorded previously only from Kenhardt (Tuin—

type locality) and from Louisvale. Around Eenriet and Port Nolloth

Inotomys inhabits karooveld where bushes, averaging 2-3 feet in

height, grow close together—as at the bases of hills or along the

edges of dry water-courses.

At Goodhouse, however (as around Berseba in Great Namaqua-

land), a few were found in burrows in the open sandveld unprotected

by overhead shelters. At Eenriet and inland from Port Nolloth

the more typical warrens with their nest-like superstructures were

not easily distinguishable from those of Myotomys; they are similarly

constructed of small sticks and situated in the middle of compara-

tively large bushes. Trails of loosely woven twigs line the surface

runways close to the nests and partly surround the exits, many of

which extend to adjacent bushes. The burrows under the nests

penetrate deeper into the ground than those of Myotomys.

At Eenriet, Liotomys, Myotomys, and Parotomys were found in

close association; although Parotomys always favoured the more

open ground away from thick bushes. Liotomys comes out at the

same hours of the day as Parotomys and Myotomys. Liotomys and

Myotomys feed largely upon the leaves of shrubby “salt-bushes”

(perennial mesembryanthemums).

I once kept females of Liotomys and Myotomys together: when

caught they had young attached to their mammae: I interchanged

the young ones, and, in spite of close contact, no subsequent inter-

change took place. They were eventually released, each with its

adopted offspring.

Genus new to Little Namaqualand.

68. Poemys melanotis insignis Shortridge.

Specimens from Hselfontein.

Trapped in high grass close to swampy country.

Genus new to Little Namaqualand, where it may be restricted to

the Kamiesberg.

69. Saccostomus anderssona hildae Schwann.

Specimens from Goodhouse, and from Louisvale.

Also doubtfully recorded from a farm between the Kamiesberg

and Platbakkies.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 59

Goodhouse specimens match the Louisvale series which was

referred to S. a. hildae by Thomas and Hinton.

At Goodhouse, trapped along the edges of water-furrows close to

irrigated land: apparently not very plentiful in this region. The

cheek-pouches contained castor-oil seeds.

Saccostomus is not gregarious: like Steatomys and Desmodillus, it

is quarrelsome in captivity and will attack and often partly devour

other small rodents. It is slow in its movements, and when above

ground may easily be caught by hand. In life, Saccostomus bears

some resemblance to gregarious Steatomys, but I doubt if this indicates

near relationship.

Genus new to Little Namaqualand.

70. Petromyscus barbourt Shortridge.

Specimens from Witwater, Platbakkies, Eselfontein, Henriet.

Widely distributed in Little Namaqualand wherever there are

rocks and hills. The occurrence of this species at Platbakkies,

20 miles east of the Kamiesberg, indicates that it may extend some

distance into Bushmanland. .

P. barbourt is fairly plentiful in the Kamiesberg and was trapped

in about the same numbers as Graphiurus ocularis.

Nocturnal, hiding by day in horizontal rock crevices.

One specimen from Witwater was a partial albino.

Scrotum small and concealed by fur, somewhat as in the

Muscardinidae.*

Genus new to the Cape Province.

71. Petromyscus collinus capensis Shortridge.

Two specimens from Goodhouse.

Replacing P. barbouri in the Orange River Valley.

Habitat: rocky hills along the valley of the lower Orange River.

A second representative of a genus new to the Cape Province.

* T am not sure that St. Leger is correct in associating Petromyscus and Sacco-

stomus with the Dendromyinae. Petromyscus, in life, has the appearance of a

diminutive Myomys, and the dark smoky coloration of very young individuals

resembles that of juvenile examples of Myomys and Mastomys. The group would

seem to have no close associates. It may be noted that Petromyscus and Petromus

coincide in range, from south-western Angola in the north, through South West

Africa, to Little Namaqualand in the south. Consequently, where one genus is

found to occur the other should be looked for.

60 Annals of the South African Museum.

Famity MURIDAE.

72. Aethomys namaquensis namaquensis (A. Smith).

Specimens from Witwater, Platbakkies, Eselfontein, Goodhouse,

Eenriet, Kameelboom, and from Swartkop, Louisvale, Aughrabies

Falls.

Aethomys namaquensis was described from “‘ Little Namaqualand,”

and as Sir Andrew Smith obtained specimens from the Kamiesberg

I propose fixing Witwater as the type locality. Extremely plentiful;

occurring in rocky situations throughout Little Namaqualand.

Ascending the highest peaks of the Kamiesberg and extending to

the coastal hills 15 miles inland from Port Nolloth.

73. Leggada minutoides minutoides (A. Smith).

Specimens from Hselfontein, Goodhouse.

Apparently very local.

Genus new to Little Namaqualand.

74. Mastomys coucha coucha (A. Smith).

Specimens from Louisvale. Attracted there by cultivation.

Louisvale examples appear to constitute the most western record

of the occurrence of Mastomys in the Orange River region.

Notwithstanding W. L. Sclater’s note that the South African

Museum possessed specimens of Mastomys coucha from “‘ Namaqua-

land” (Mamm. 8. Africa, vol. ii, p. 49, 1901), its occurrence in any

part of the north-western Cape Province (or even in Great Nama-

qualand proper),* requires confirmation. There have been no

subsequent records, and I do not believe that it occurs in those

regions.

75. Mus musculus musculus Linnaeus.

Hottentot: CHUHU : DURUB (Kamiesberg).

Specimens from Witwater, Eselfontein, and from Louisvale.

Of the Kamiesberg (Witwater, Eselfontein) series about a third

of the specimens are buffy-white below and may be of North African

or Asiatic origin; in others there are varying degrees of intergradation

with typical dark-bellied musculus.

The House Mouse is plentiful at Garies and in farms and Hottentot

huts in the Kamiesberg. It doubtless occurs in all of the larger

* To the east of Great Namaqualand, in Gobabis District, Gordonia, and in

Griqualand West, etc., Mastomys coucha becomes plentiful and widely distributed.

Along the middle Orange River it doubtless occurs as far west as the cultivated

region around Kakamas.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 61

settlements in Little Namaqualand, but has not yet established itself

at Goodhouse.

(76. Rattus rattus alecandrinus (KE. Geoffroy and Audouin).)

A few imported House Rats are said to occur in stores and goods-

sheds at Port Nolloth. They have not yet established themselves

inland in this region.

17. Rhabdomys pumilio cinereus (Thomas and Schwann).

Hottentot: /HOGE/GAHEB (Goodhouse); DURUB (Eenriet).

Specimens from Witwater, Eselfontein, Goodhouse, Eenriet, Port

Nolloth, Kameelboom.

Type locality Klipfontein, six miles from Eenriet.

Striped Mice from different parts of Little Namaqualand vary

somewhat in size and colour, Goodhouse and Port Nolloth specimens

averaging larger and paler than the others: there is also a certain

amount of seasonal colour change. Widely distributed: often very

numerous along the beds of dry water-courses where scrub and low

bushes form thickets.

Attracted by cultivation at Goodhouse. At Port Nolloth found

in company with Myotomys in low salt-bush within a few yards of

high-tide mark.

Extremely plentiful on the Kamiesberg at all altitudes.

In cool weather these diurnal mice come out at all hours of the

day; but when it is hot they seldom appear until late in the afternoon.

On one or two occasions I have observed them on moonlight nights.

They are active animals and, in the open, cover the ground by a

series of gerbil-like jumps. Im the Kamiesberg they were sometimes

found hiding in the nests of Myotomys.

78. Rhabdomys pumilio griquae * (Wroughton).

Specimens from Louisvale.

Plentiful in cultivated lands. Apparently local in this region.

79. Thallomys shortridgei Thomas and Hinton.

Hottentot: XAIS : DURUB (Goodhouse).

Specimens from Goodhouse, and from Swartkop and Louisvale.

Goodhouse specimens match the typical set from Louisvale.

* Although subsequently amended to R. p. griquae, Louisvale specimens of

Rhabdomys were at first referred provisionally by Thomas and Hinton to &. p.

bechuanae.

62 Annals of the South African Museum.

T. shortridger differs from other known members of the genus in

the apparently consistent absence of pectoral mammae.* The

obsolete ocular rings, much paler ears, less blackened tail and slightly

larger “‘bicolored” feet (dusky patches on metapodials) also dis-

tinguish 7. shortridgec from T. nigricauda, and I am now of opinion

that they are specifically distinct.

Apparently not very plentiful around Goodhouse, but found along

the banks of the Orange River wherever sufficiently large acacias

occur. There are no trees with hollow trunks for them to hide in,

as around Louisvale, but untidy shelters of sticks and twigs, like

large crows’ nests, are built amongst the thin topmost branches.

One of these was inhabited by about a dozen individuals, adult and

immature. At Goodhouse these normally nocturnal Tree Rats

occasionally come out by day: several were shot whilst running along

branches close to the nests between 3 and 4 in the afternoon. Asa

rule members of the genus do not leave their hiding places before

dusk.

Genus new to Little Namaqualand.

Famity BATHYERGIDAE.

80. Bathyergus janetta janetta Thomas and Schwann.

Hottentot: /GEI/HABA TSURU (Eenriet, Port Nolloth).

Specimens from Port Nolloth.

Plentiful in the coastal sandveld, but only in areas where there is

soft white sand. Extending in isolated patches inland from Port

Nolloth to as far as Anenous; and from Hondeklip Bay to 20-30

miles or more from the sea.

Bathyergus janetta extends along the coast at least as far north as

the mouth of the Orange River 7: Alexander, in 1835, recorded that

‘<The numerous mole-hills near the mouth of the Orange River render

riding dangerous.” The southern limit of its range is apparently

about latitude 31°.

B. janetta is very plentiful around Port Nolloth, but farther inland

its distribution becomes disconnected and patchy.

* A parallel instance of mammary variation occurs in species of Petromyscus:

in P. barbouri the pectoral mammae appear to be consistently absent; in P. short-

ridgei they are usually, but not invariably, absent.

+ Berseba Hottentot reports indicate that Hathyergus janetta may extend

across the Orange River into the south-western littoral of Great Namaqualand,

between the mouth of that river and Luderitz.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 63

At Port Nolloth (January and February—windy season) these

mole-rats appeared to be partially dormant: owing to sand-storms

the mounds had disappeared and no recent activity was observed.

Their presence, however, was soon detected by the collapse of the

surface tunnels in the soft sand when trodden upon. When these

tunnels were opened up the occupants, half an hour or so afterwards,

pushed their heads out for a few moments prior to re-closing them.

81. Bathyergus janetta inselbergensis Shortridge.

Hottentot: URI : DURUB (Kamiesberg).

Specimens from Hselfontein.

A mountain or southern race of B. janetta.

An isolated aggregation of mounds was first discovered at Hsel-

fontein (near Leliefontein, altitude 4000-5000 feet); others were

subsequently observed between Leliefontein and Kamieskroon, and

between Kamieskroon and Garies; the last locality, although near

the base of the Kamiesberg, is well within the restricted cloud and

rainfall area. Some of the excavations were in soft sand; others

in hight sandy loam.

At Hselfontein mounds extended through narrow strips of sand

between patches of outcrop; some were in cultivated corn land.

In the Kamiesberg mounds of Cryptomys and Bathyergus occur

in close association; the latter being easily distinguishable by their

large size and by the circumference of the rolls of compressed sand

thrown up. The diameter of the tunnels averages 24-34 inches.

Many of the tunnels are so near the surface that they collapse when

trodden upon; others penetrate far into the ground.

Stomach contents: half-digested bulbs, some fibrous matter, and

the hard parts of a few large underground crickets.

No foetuses were obtained; one female (4th December) had en-

larged mammae. Mammae 6 (2 pect., 2 abd., 2 ing.).

(82. Georychus capensis capensis (Pallas).)

Occurrence doubtful, although possibly extending as far north as

the southern border of Little Namaqualand.

W. L. Sclater (Mamm. S. Africa, vol. ii, p. 76, 1901) records Georychus

capensis from ‘‘Namaqualand”; but I suggest that the mounds of

Bathyergus janetta (an unknown species at the time), so numerous

and conspicuous in that region, had been mistaken for those of

64 Annals of the South African Museum.

Georychus. The size and markings of the two animals are also

somewhat similar.*

83. Cryptomys hottentotus hottentotus (Lesson).

Hottentot: /HABA TSURU (Eenriet); XOU : DURUB

(Kamiesberg).

Specimens from Witwater, Hselfontein, Kenriet.

The Witwater-Eselfontein series (irrespective of sex) are somewhat

variable in size and colour. Cryptomys hottentotus has a wide dis-

tribution in Little Namaqualand, but does not occur in the most

arid type of karooveld which extends everywhere east of the Kamies-

berg towards Bushmanland and in a wide belt along the south bank

of the Orange River.t

Innumerable mounds were observed, sometimes covering acres of

land, between Garies in the south and about half-way between

Concordia and Goodhouse in the north—the northern limit being

where hills and rocky outcrop merge into the desert sand-plains

which lie between the interior highlands and the Orange River Valley.

Cryptomys does not occur close to the coast in Little Namaqualand,

but, inland from Port Nolloth, mounds were observed about 3 miles

west of Anenous; and about 18 miles inland from Hondeklip Bay.

On the Kamiesberg Cryptomys mounds are ubiquitous, the Lelie-

fontein and other plateaux being riddled by their tunnels. There

were mounds in a narrow strip of black soil between rocks along the

steep sides of a small mountain stream within a few hundred feet of

the summit of Eselkop (5456 feet).

When caught alive these mole-rats snap savagely and give vent

to angry squeaks. Many females (November—January) contained

foetuses, five being a frequent number. Mammae 6 (2 pect., 2 abd.,

2ing.). In one specimen there were 7 mammae (3 ing.).

Famity CTENODACTYLIDAE.

84. Petromus typicus typicus A. Smith.

Hottentot: /K’NOKI, or ‘UE: DURUB (Eenriet); //HARUGES

(Goodhouse); /K’NOKI : DURUB (Kamiesberg).

Afrikaans: DASSIEROT (Aughrabies Falls).

Specimens from Witwater, Platbakkies, Goodhouse, EHenriet,

Kameelboom, and from the Aughrabies Falls.

* Sclater’s Kimberley record for Georychus capensis was almost certainly

based upon incorrect information.

+ Nor does it appear to cross the Orange River into Great Namaqualand.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 65

The type came from “ Mountains towards the mouth of the Orange

River.”

The series from Goodhouse, rather more bleached-looking on the

whole than Kamiesberg specimens, may be regarded as topotypical.

Specimens from the Aughrabies Falls (about 200 miles farther

inland) are to some extent intermediate between the typical sub-

species and P. typicus tropicalis.

P. typicus is plentiful in rocky localities throughout Little Nama-

qualand: the extreme southern limit of its range is approximately

latitude 31°, south of which the coastal hills disappear and level

_Salt-plains extend as far as the Olifants River mouth. In the

Kamiesberg Petromus occurs as high up as Witwater (3500-4000 feet),

but does not ascend to the cloudy Hselfontein plateau nor to the

summits of the higher peaks. Its inland range, beyond Platbakkies,

was not ascertained; in the Orange River Valley it does not occur

east of Kakamas, but in South West Africa it extends as far inland

as the Karas Mountains. )

Whilst springing from one rock to another this diurnal rodent

spreads its flattened body somewhat after the manner of a flying-

squirrel; but when running along ledges or inside crevices it might

easily be mistaken at a distance for a newly born Rock Dassie. The

flat head and body enable it to squeeze inside the narrow horizontal

rock fissures which are an essential characteristic of the hills it

frequents. The “Dassie Rat” is attracted to some extent by

dry bait (mealies, etc.), but its usual diet, judging by the colour

of fresh droppings, is green food. The animal has a pleasant aromatic

smell. After several have been trapped in one area the Seu ae

seem to become wary and suspicious.

The tails are curiously brittle, and, with careless handling, often

snap off in a lizard-like manner. Approximately 10 per cent. of the

specimens collected, both in Little Namaqualand and elsewhere,

were without tails, the fracture having most frequently occurred at

the base.*

* Although, as with many lizards, this brittleness may be a protective aid in

escape from enemies, it is suggested, as a matter of speculation, that it may be of

peculiar evolutionary significance; the tail, for some reason having become

redundant, being in actual process of disappearing—somewhat after the manner

in which flying-ants shed their wings. (It may be noted with regard to its not very

distant ally the Cane Rat that the tail also breaks off very easily.) The

Chrysochloris-like iridescence at the base of the tail in P. typicus tropicalis (which

disappears shortly after death) is peculiar to that subspecies. There is no trace of

it in P. typicus typicus nor in P. cunealis.

VOLS xxxvi, PART 1. 5

66 Annals of the South African Museum.

Petromus does not breed throughout the year, but appears to have

a well-defined breeding season. A female (5th November) contained

a late foetus; a young specimen, hardly a fortnight old, was trapped

on the same day. The female gives birth to a single young one, less

frequently two; the young are born in an advanced state, clothed

with short hair, and relatively very large.

Mammae 6 (normally)—lateral: the pectoral pair is sometimes

absent. A short “baculum.”

Famity PEDETIDAE.

85. Pedetes cafer cafer (Pallas).

Hottentot: +HOB (Eenriet); +GOB (Goodhouse).

Specimens from Louisvale.

Spring Hares occur somewhat sparsely in the sandy desert between

Concordia and Goodhouse; a few burrows were observed within a

mile or two of Goodhouse itself. According to local Hottentots

they become more numerous farther east towards the northern

Bushmanland Border. They do not occur in the coastal regions,

on the Kamiesberg, nor, I believe, anywhere in southern Little

Namaqualand.

Famity HYSTRICIDAE.

86. Hystrix africaeaustralis africaeaustralis Peters.

Hottentot: /HOAB (Henriet); /NOAB) (Goodhouse).

’'Tkaboek Bushmen: N/NOAB (H. J. Wikaz).

Specimens from Witwater, Eselfontein, Eenriet, and from near

Upington.

Widely distributed and comparatively plentiful.

Males average slightly larger than females.

A “baculum” (g), and a “baubellum”’ (9).

Famity PROCAVIIDAE.

87. Procavia capensis capensis (Pallas).

Hottentot: /OUS (Eenriet); /AU (Goodhouse); /AUB

(Kamiesberg).

Specimens from Witwater, Eselfontein, Henriet, Kameelboom, and

from Upington, Swartkop, Aughrabies Falls.

Everywhere plentiful in rocky localities.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 67

Famity HLEPHANTIDAE.

(88. Loxodonta africana africana (Blumenbach).)

Hottentot: #OAS (Eenriet); /OAS (Kamiesberg).

In 1760 Jacobus Coetse Jansz (Journals) shot two Elephants

between the Coperbergen and Groene Rivers in Little Namaqualand.

On 21st September 1779, Hendrick Jacob Wikar shot two out of a

herd, some with calves, near Caboopfontein, about 10 miles east of

Pella on the south bank of the lower Orange River, and observed

places where Elephant and Rhinoceros had been digging for water.

On a later expedition he met with still larger herds in the same

region (Wikar’s Journals).

Famity HIPPOPOTAMIDAE.

89. Hippopotamus amphibsus capensis Desmoulins.

Hottentot: /HAUS (EKenriet); /KHAOS (Goodhouse); /KHAO

(Kamiesberg).

A Hippo tusk was picked up in the bed of the Orange River near

Upington in 1921 and is now in the Kaffrarian Museum.

Extinct in the Orange River since 1925 (cf. Shortridge, Mamm.

S.W. Africa, vol. i, pp. 646-647, 1934).*

“A cow Hippo and a young one were shot in about 1925 at Dabaras,

close to the junction of the Orange and Fish Rivers, which were in flood

at the time. In 1920-21 a big bull Hippo was shot by Louw at

Grootderm, between 17 and 18 miles from the mouth of the Orange River.

In 1913 there are said to have been two Hippo farther up the river between

Pella and the Aughrabies Falls.’’—C. Weidner (1937).

“Hippo in the upper parts of the Gariep remain during the day wn

deep parts of the river, commonly known as ‘Sea-cow Holes,’ and issue

out to feed at night.” —J. HE. Alexander (1838).

(According to Wikar: “A wounded Hippo will leave the water as it

cannot endure the nibbling of the fish !’’)

Famity SUIDAE.

(90. Phacochoerus aethiopicus aethiopicus (Pallas).)

Hottentot: DIRIB (Goodhouse); /KU : PU-IS (Eenriet);

/PHARKIT (Port Nolloth).

Wart-hog have been extinct in Little Namaqualand for many

years; there are few traditions of their former existence.

* See Editor’s note on p. 99.

t Alexander afterwards observed similar ‘‘Holes” in the Fish River (Great

Namaqualand),

68 Annals of the South African Museum.

‘“Wild-pig” are said at one time to have existed on bush-covered |

islands in the Orange River between Upington and the Aughrabies

Falls; but it is uncertain whether these were Wart-hog or Bush-pig.

Famity GIRAFFIDAE.

(91. Giraffa camelopardalis capensis (Lesson).)

Hottentot: /HAIB (Eenriet); /NEIB (Goodhouse).

H. J. Wikar (Journals, 1779) saw the fresh spoor of Giraffe near

Caboopfontein, about 10 miles east of Pella (south bank of the lower

Orange River), and, later, observed about twenty in the same region.*

Famity BOVIDAE.

(92. Alcelaphus caama caama (G. Cuvier).)

Hottentot: //KHAMA (Henriet); //KAMAB (Goodhouse).

Extinct in Little Namaqualand.

According to W. L. Sclater (Mamm. 8. Africa, vol. i, p. 133), there

were still a few Hartebeest surviving in the deserts of Little Nama-

qualand and Kenhardt in 1900.7

“There were no Hartebeest left in Little Namaqualand in 1903.”—

C. Weidner.

There is a ‘‘Hartebeest River” in Little Namaqualand, a tributary

of the Groene River; and another of the same name in Kenhardt

District.

(93. Connochaetes gnou (Zimmermann).)

Hottentot (Old Cape): ’GNOU.

There appear to be no definite traditions of the former occurrence

of Black Wildebeest in Little Namaqualand, but they doubtless

extended at least as far west as Bushmanland.f

* There are not many authentic records of the former occurrence of Giraffe

south of the Orange River, but traditions and Bushman paintings indicate their

past existence in several parts of the northern Cape Province (cf. Shortridge,

Mamm. S.W. Africa, vol. ii, pp. 622-623, 1934).

+ The Cape Hartebeest was apparently exterminated south of tHe Orange

River very early in the present century. There is a weathered skull in the

Kaffrarian Museum which was discovered on the Cape Flats by Dr. J. I. Brownlee

over thirty years ago.

t North of the Orange River Black Wildebeest used to extend at least as far

west as Gordonia. Although Black and Blue Wildebeest are commonly known to

overseas zoologists as “White-tailed Gnus’”’ and “Brindled Gnus”’ respectively,

the name GNU (or ’GNOU) of Cape Hottentot origin, adopted by some of the early

hunters, Cornwallis Harris, etc., is seldom used colloquially in South Africa.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 69

94. Sylvicapra grimmia grimmia (Zimmermann).

Hottentot: /HOUS (Eenriet); /HAOS (Goodhouse),

One specimen from Platbakkies (a horned female).

Occurring in most parts of Little Namaqualand, but restricted to

suitable localities, such as hill-slopes and level country near hills,

where there is a sufficient density of bush and scrub.

Duiker are not uncommon on the Kamiesberg in the more sheltered

valleys and ravines.

95. Oreotragus oreotragus oreotragus (Zimmermann).

Hottentot: //KHEISIS (Eenriet); //KHAISIS (Goodhouse,

Kamiesberg).

Specimens from Witwater, Eselfontein, Goodhouse, and from the

Aughrabies Falls.

Khpspringer are generally distributed in rocky mountainous

country: fairly plentiful on the Kamiesberg.

96. Raphicerus campestris campestris (Thunberg).

Hottentot: /ARIS (EKenriet); /ARIS (Goodhouse, Kamiesberg).

Specimens from Henriet.

Not everywhere plentiful, but widely distributed over the open

plains and coastal sand-dunes. Steenbok do not occur on the

plateaux of the Kamiesberg.

(97. Pelea capreolus (Bechstein).)

Hottentot: /KHORIP, SAMP, /AMI (Eenriet); SAS (Goodhouse).

The Vaal Rhebok is extremely rare in Little Namaqualand and

very little is known about it. A few are believed to exist in the

Richtersveld and on other mountain ranges near the mouth of the

Orange River, west of its junction with the Fish River. I received

rather indefinite reports of one or two small troops on hill ranges

south-west of the Kamiesberg. Extinct to-day on the Kamiesberg

itself, except for a party of three on one of J. Studer’s farms (1936).

98. Antidorcas marsupialis hofmeyri Thomas.

Hottentot: //HU (Eenriet); //GUS (Goodhouse); //GUB

(Kamiesberg).

One specimen (skull and horns) from Upington District (subsp. inc.).

Towards the end of the last century Scully shot a Springbok in

70 Annals of the South African Museum.

the Richtersveld which astonished him on account of its size, and

was informed that all in that region were about as large. He recalled

having read that Francis Galton had shot a specimen near Walvis

Bay weighing 160 1b. Scully was also informed that the Richtersveld

Springbok did not trek, and suggested that they might be referable

to a distinct west coast race.

Antidorcas m. hofmeyri from South West Africa is believed to

average heavier than the typical subspecies; its range, therefore,

presumably extends coastally across the lower Orange River into

Little Namaqualand.*

Springbok are almost extinct in Little Namaqualand: there are

some still in the Richtersveld, possibly reinforced now and again by

occasional migrants from South West Africa, and a few scattered

troops in the north-west towards the Bushmanland Border.

“Springbok were plentiful near Goodhouse up to about 1925: scattered

herds of from 10-20 still occur. They used to cross the Orange River

from the north at Sendlings Drift in herds of 100 at a time during the

winter months when the water was low. They still cross over periodically

in small numbers.’ —C. Weidner (1937).

(99. Oryx gazella gazella (Linnaeus).)

Hottentot: /HAIB (Eenriet); /GAEB (Kamiesberg);

/GAES (Goodhouse).

A few Gemsbok still survive in the Richtersveld, near the mouth

of the Orange River, where they are protected so far as possible.

In January 1937 (Port Nolloth) a poacher was fined for shooting one.

(In 1835-6, Alexander recorded Gemsbok from Komekas, near the

Orange River mouth.)

They are extinct elsewhere in Little Namaqualand, except for

occasional individuals or small parties that cross the Orange River

at low water from South West Africa between its junction with the

Fish River and Pella.

“There are very few Gemsbok south of the Orange River to-day ; on

the north bank they were plentiful up to about 1930, where, from Sperling-

sputs westwards, herds of from 30 and 40 to 60 were seen together. They

* Tf this is correct, the typical race (A. m. marsupialis) from ‘“‘Southern Cape

Colony’? may be extinct in a feral state everywhere south of the Orange River

and only represented there to-day inside fenced farms. I doubt the validity of

A. m. centralis, typically from Deelfontein; the Kaffrarian Museum possesses a

mounted head from Middleburg, only 20 miles from Deelfontein, which does not

differ from Cradock and Bedford specimens.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 71

have been scarce since the great drought of 1932 and have been much

shot out.’’—C. Weidner (1937).

(100. Strepsiceros strepsiceros strepsiceros (Pallas).)

Hottentot: XEIB (Henriet, Kamiesberg); XYB (Goodhouse).

Kudu are practically extinct in Little Namaqualand: there may

be a few in the Richtersveld; and occasional stragglers from South

West Africa have been recorded within recent years from mountains

close to the Orange River between the Fish River mouth and Pella.

In 1921 I saw Kudu tracks on the north bank of the Orange River

near the Aughrabies Falls.

In 1779, H. J. Wikar (Journals) observed ‘‘a large herd of Kudu”

in Little Namaqualand.

“The last Kudu shot in the Kamiesberg was between thirty and forty

years ago. ’—J. Studer (1936).

“The last four Kudu observed near Goodhouse were at Haakiesdoorn

Farm (Sperlingsputs) in about 1921: one of them was watched coming

down to drink. In about 1933 a single individual was seen close to

Pella Drift.”’—C. Weidner (1937).

(101. Taurotragus oryx oryx (Pallas).)

Hottentot: /HANS (Kenriet); /KHAN (Goodhouse).

In 1835-36, Alexander found Eland in Little Namaqualand near

the mouth of the Orange River (presumably in the Richtersveld).

(102. Syncerus caffer caffer (Sparrman).)

Hottentot: /GAUB (Goodhouse).

In 1779, H. J. Wikar (Journals) saw skulls of Buffalo, which had

been killed by natives, before crossing the Orange River, and, later,

observed big herds along the banks of that river.

There is a “‘Buffels River” in Little Namaqualand.

Famity RHINOCEROTIDAE.

(103. Ceratotherium simum simum (Burchell).)

Hottentot: /HABA (EHenriet).

Although the Black Rhinoceros (D. bicornis) was always, pre-

sumably, more plentiful than Ceratothervwum simum south of the

Orange River, /HABA, the Hottentot name, still locally surviving,

72 Annals of the South African Museum.

refers correctly to the White species, an indication of its former

occurrence in Little Namaqualand.*

(104. Diceros bicornis bicornis (Linnaeus).)

Nama Hottentot (Great Namaqualand): /KI:S.

H. J. Wikar (Journals, 1779) met with Rhinoceros at Caboopfontein,

Kaykoop (many of these early name-places have been lost sight of),

and elsewhere in Little Namaqualand.t

Famity EQUIDAE.

(105. Equus (Quagga) quagga quagga Gmelin.)

Hottentot: /HEI/NOREB (Eenriet); +~NU/GOREB (Goodhouse).

' Hottentot names for two kinds of Zebra still survive in Little

Namaqualand; it is presumed that the Zebra of the plains was the

“Cape” Quagga. In 1779, Wikar (Journals) noted the occurrence

of “‘ Wild Horses,” as opposed to “Zebras”’ in Little Namaqualand.t

(106. Equus (Hippotigris) hartmannae hartmannae Matschie.)

Hottentot: /UE/NOREB (Eenriet); /GOREB (Goodhouse,

Kamiesberg).

It seems almost certain that the Mountain Zebra which formerly

existed in Little Namaqualand was the South West African Equus

hartmannae. Within the last ten years or so there have been one

or two accounts of stray Zebra seen between Klipfontein and the

Richtersveld; these may have been temporary migrants from the

north bank of the Orange River which, in the dry season, is fordable

in several places.§

* In the Port Elizabeth Museum there is a weathered pair of White Rhinoceros

horns (oswella type), discovered at Seeheim (Great Namaqualand) by G. Wicham

in 1919.

+ In 1895-96, Alexander recorded both species of Rhinoceros from the Fish

River Valley in Great Namaqualand.

t In Alexander’s Map (1835-36) “Plains with Zebra”’ is inscribed on the north

bank of the Orange River about opposite to where Goodhouse now stands; but

the Zebras recorded by Alexander from Great Namaqualand, ‘with striped neck

and body and unstriped white legs,’ were perhaps referable to the Griqualand

West subspecies, H. quagga burchelli, now, like the Cape Quagga, extinct.

§ E. hartmannae, which has a wide but disconnected and sparse distribution in

the coastal mountains of South West Africa, is said still to occur in southern Great

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 73

There are traditions of the past existence of Mountain Zebra on

the Kamiesberg, supported by name places, such as Eselkop, Esel-

fontein, “‘ Wilde Paard Hoek” (Alexander), etc.

Expepition No. 2: THe Norta-West Carr PROVINCE

(NovEMBER 1937—-FEBRuUARY 1938).

On a Collection of over 1500 Mammals from the Olufants

River Basin and surrounding country.

Five main collecting camps were made at the following places:—

1. Nreuwoudtiville: 42 miles west of Calvinia; altitude 3500 feet

approx. Situated on the western edge of the Bokkeveld Mountains

near the summit of Van Rhynsdorp Pass. Heathy high-veld with

numerous small springs; and fairly open, level, and undulating

sandy bush-veld; a few patches of limestone outcrop. One or two

farms and a small amount of cultivation.

2. Travellers Rest: 18 miles north-east of Clanwilliam; altitude

600 feet approx. A sheltered valley, partly under cultivation,

between rocky hills and ridges of outcrop. A belt of swamp vegeta-

tion along the banks of the Boontjes Stream, an affluent of the Doorn

River—itself a tributary of the Olifants River.

3. Kliphuis (Pakhuis Pass): about 11 miles east of Clanwilliam,

on a northern spur of the Cedarberg Mountains; altitude 2500-

3000 feet. A narrow defile between precipitous cliffs; rather thick

bush and much rocky outcrop; several mountain streams.

4. Hex River Estate*: low-lying country close to the Olifants

River, partly surrounded by steep rocky hills; flats under cultivation,

orange orchards, etc.; altitude 300 feet approx. 10 miles north of

Citrusdal.

5. Compagnies Drift : 10 miles inland from Lamberts Bay; altitude

100 feet approx. Undulating soft sandy country with an even

peppering of comparatively low bush. Occasional narrow stretches

Namaqualand between the Fish River mouth and Kanus Railway Station (near

Luderitz).

In 1895, C. Weidner met with many Mountain Zebra in the Tiras Mountains in

Great Namaqualand, and, as recently as 1921, saw a few on some hills about

10 miles north of the Orange River opposite Goodhouse.

* This Hex River is a small tributary of the Olifants River, and must not be

confused with the better-known river of the same name which rises in the Hex

River Mountains.

74 Annals of the South African Museum.

or pools of surface water in the bed of the “Jakkals” River. A few

scattered farms and patches of corn land.

Short visits were paid to Clanwilliam, Lamberts Bay, Klaver,

Citrusdal, Het Kruis, The Cold Bokkeveld (S.E. of Citrusdal), etc.:

specimens from these and other named localities were also collected

and contributed by local residents.

59 out of 73 recorded species were collected: of the remaining 14,

3 are extinct, and 7 of the others widely distributed or locally scarce

forms previously obtained in Little Namaqualand.

Famity MACROSCELIDAE.

1. Macroscelides proboscideus subsp.

One specimen from Compagnies Drift, near Lamberts Bay.

M. proboscideus langi was described from Vlermuisklip, Van

Rhynsdorp District, about 25 miles distant, but I am unable to form

an opinion as to the subspecific status of this single specimen; it

matches very closely Little Namaqualand material, which, following

Thomas, who compared Grant’s Namaqualand series with the type,

I referred previously to M. proboscideus melanotis.*

2. Elephantulus capensis Roberts.T

Specimens from Travellers Rest, Kliphuis, Citrusdal, Hex River

Estate, Het Kruis.

Tail gland slightly ridged; length 4-1 inch; width about 1 mm.

Famity CHRYSOCHLORIDAE.

3. Chrysochloris asiatica (Linnaeus).

Four specimens from Citrusdal.

These examples, with greenish reflections, match typical specimens

of C. asiatica from Cape Town.

* The typical subspecies was described from “The Cape” (Beaufort West ?).

+ Elephantulus edwardsii was described by Sir Andrew Smith from “‘near the

Olifants River, Cape Colony”’; but since capensis is the only species of Elephantulus

known to occur in the North-Western Cape Province (south of Little Namaqualand),

the greater part of which comprises the basin and watershed of the Great Olifants

River, I suspect the Olifants River referred to by Smith to be another of the same

name which flows past Oudtshoorn, through a region in which he collected. This

second Olifants River is a main tributary of the Gouritz River, which enters the

sea near Mossel Bay. Hlephantulus vandamt, typically from Cradock, may prove

i ee

at meng len

i Pesos

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 15

4. Chrysochloris minor Roberts.

Hottentot: “TSANGGAS (Lamberts Bay).

Specimens from Compagnies Drift and Graaffwater (both inland

from Lamberts Bay), Travellers Rest, Kliphuis.

Lamberts Bay is about 25 miles from Klaver, the type locality

for C. minor. The majority of the above specimens are distinguish-

able externally from C. asvatica by the metallic reflections on the

back being violet or indigo without a trace of greenish, and by their

definitely smaller average size, although the dimensions of some

examples in the present large series (up to 115 mm. in length) exceed

considerably those of the type.

In the Lamberts Bay material there are two colour forms: (a)

darker (typical), and (b) paler (without decided metallic lustre);

they appear to intergrade, but, pending further examination, I am

not altogether satisfied that they are all referable to the same species.

Many bear some resemblance to Kamiesberg specimens (referred to

C. namaquensis) in their smaller size and brownish general coloration;

darker and larger specimens correspond more closely with C. asvatica.

Although occurring in the same region (the Lamberts Bay hinterland),

Chrysochloris minor and Cryptochloris zyli differ altogether in choice

of habitat. Chrysochloris, which is plentiful, inhabits alluvial soil

near the banks of streams, cultivated lands, etc.; whereas Crypto-

chloris, relatively scarce, is restricted in range to the white coastal

sand-dunes and occurs side by side with Hremitalpa granti; the two

making similar runways and appearing to be almost identical in

habits.

5. Chrysochloris concolor Shortridge.

Two specimens from Nieuwoudtville (42 miles west of Calvinia),*

and Travellers Rest. |

A study of colour variations in a large series of Chrysochloridae from

around Lamberts Bay, one of which is almost as pallid as C. concolor,

indicates that both C. minor and concolor are closely allied to C.

to be synonymous with H. edwardsii when accepted topotypes of the latter become

available for comparison. There are specimens of Hlephantulus in the Kaftfrarian

Museum from Bedford, between Cradock and the ‘“‘Oudtshoorn”’ Olifants River.

(There is a third Olifants or Olifants Vlei River in the Cape Province, in Kenhardt

District.)

* In the South African Museum there is a specimen of Chrysochloris from

Calvinia, labelled C. calviniae (Lang)—‘“‘type”’; but no description was ever

published. The skin (without skull), made up from an old spirit specimen, is

bleached beyond recognition and quite useless for diagnostic purposes. ~

76 Annals of the South African Museum.

asiatica. For geographical reasons, however, the (apparently) inland

high-veld range (Nieuwoudtville-Calvinia) of concolor is in favour of

its specific rank being provisionally retained.

Around Nieuwoudtville Chrysochloris runways were sometimes

found to radiate from the base of bushes: they are also relatively

numerous in cultivated and open grass lands. When the shallow

tunnels occur in thick turf their course can be traced by disturbed

grass roots, in addition to the usual surface cracks. Golden Moles

burrow and move about below ground at all hours; most if not all

of them, however, appear to be more active during the night, when

they often travel overland.

6. Hremitalpa granti (Broom).

Three specimens from Compagnies Drift.

These appear to match exactly the large Port Nolloth series

previously collected. Hremitalpa does not seem to be so plentiful

around Lamberts Bay (where it occurs side by side with Cryptochloris)

as at Port Nolloth. It is possible that both genera extend as far

south along the coast as the Berg River mouth.

7. Cryptochloris zyli Shortridge.*

Specimens from Compagnies Drift.

Except for being a shade paler, Cryptochloris zyli much resembles

average specimens of Chrysochloris minor in colour; but the fur is

shorter (more plush-like) and the silvery-violet reflections are re-

stricted to a profuse peppering of metallic hairs which are very

shghtly coarser than the smoky underfur: this gives the back an

obscurely spangled appearance. In Cryptochloris the hindclaws are

larger and longer than in Chrysochloris minor. The three long

foreclaws are subequal, to the extent that they meet almost in a

point; in the type the foreclaw measurements are as follows: Ist,

6-5; 2nd, 8; 3rd, 10; 4th,2 mm. The 2nd claw protrudes slightly

beyond the Ist and 3rd, the Ist being much longer and stouter than

in Chrysochloris.

Cryptochloris would seem to form a link between Chrysochloris and

Hremitalpa.

* In the original description of Cryptochloris zyli I suggested the possibility of

Chrysochloris wintont being allied to it, owing to some cranial similarity; but skins

of wintoni indicate that it has the cylindrical shape of a Chrysochloris; whereas

Cryptochloris and Eremitalpa, in life, differ from all other members of the family

in being lozenge-shaped and flattened, like small tortoises.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 77

When handled C. zyli gives vent to a fairly sharp squeak; it shams

dead when first picked up or even when turned over with a spade.

The surface runways are quite like those of Hremitalpa, except that,

owing to the extremely powdery nature of the sand in which it

burrows, the roofs of the tunnels fall in almost at once and form

shallow furrows. After rain, when there is a slight crust on the

sand, fresh workings are indicated by minute surface cracks which

disappear as soon as the ground becomes dry. The deeper tunnels

were usually found to lead to the base of bushes; this tendency for

the “lying up” chambers to be situated under and protected by the

tangled roots of desert vegetation was not noticed in the case of

Eremitalpa. After unsuccessful attempts to dig them out, they

almost invariably desert the disturbed ground and escape overland

the following night, often to a distance of several hundred yards.

Judging by the number of surface tracks visible in the early mornings

these tiny sand moles travel considerably above ground by night.*

Range: the coastal sand-dune belt within about 10 miles of the

sea south of the Olifants River mouth, and perhaps some distance

northwards.

~ Famity SORICIDAE.

8. Suncus warreni Roberts.

Specimens from Compagnies Drift, Redlinghuis.

These Pigmy Shrews agree well with the description of S. warrenz,

typically from Doorn River, Van Rhyndorps District, a region not

far from Compagnies Drift.

A very uniform series at once distinguishable from S. varilla by

the far more pallid dorsal coloration, whitish underparts and feet,

bicolored tail and longer fur.

9. Suncus gracilis (Blainville).

One specimen from Compagnies Drift (Coll. No. 3652).

A few shades darker above than S. warrena and without rusty tips

to the hairs; underparts slate, hardly paler than above; hands and

feet dusky and markedly larger than in warrenz; tail dark slate above

and below. Resembling warren in its relatively long fur.

Pending further comparative material this Pigmy Shrew is referred

provisionally to S. gracilis, typically from ‘‘ The Cape of Good Hope.”

* More so, perhaps, than do any of the other small Chrysochloridae, but the

Giant Forest Golden Mole (Chrysospalax trevelyani), during the summer months,

spends a very great deal of its time above ground amongst dead leaves and wander-

ing about in thick undergrowth.

78 Annals of the South African Museum.

10. Crocidura cyanea (Duvernoy).

One specimen from Citrusdal (Coll. No. 221).

A medium-sized pale smoky-grey Shrew, quite certainly referable

to and consequently topotypical of C. cyanea, which was originally

described in 1838 from “La riviére des Eléphants, au sud de |’ Afrique.”

Citrusdal, which is situated centrally on the Olifants River, may

now be fixed as a definite type locality for Crocidura cyanea.*

11. Crocidura martensizi Dobson.t

Specimens from Citrusdal, Het Kruis, Redlinghuis, Hex River

Estate, Vredendal, Travellers Rest, Kliphuis, Compagnies Drift,

Elands Bay.

This very uniform series agrees in all respects with Little Namaqua-

land specimens.

Comparatively plentiful and widely distributed over the North-

Western Cape Province. Habitat: sandy, grass or rocky country;

attracted by irrigated gardens at Travellers Rest.

12. Myosorex varius varius (Smuts).

Specimens from Kliphuis, Redlinghuis, Het Kruis, Citrusdal,

Hex River Estate, Compagnies Drift

A series matching closely specimens previously collected in Little

Namaqualand; some of the Namaqualand specimens are perhaps a

shade paler.

Famity NYCTERIDAE.

13. Nycteris capensis capensis A. Smith.

Specimens from Compagnies Drift.

Famity RHINOLOPHIDAE.

14. Rhinolophus capensis Lichtenstein.

Specimens from Compagnies Drift, Het Kruis. One specimen

(Het Kruis) illustrates the bright orange phase.

* Crocidura argentata (Sundeval), apparently a similar, if not still paler silver-

grey species, typically from Roodeval (near Cookhouse), about half-way between

Cradock and Grahamstown, Eastern Cape Province, was described in 1860, over

twenty years after C. cyanea.

+ It may be that Crocidura martensii is a synonym of C. capensoides.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 79

Famity VESPERTILIONIDAE.

15. Cistugo lesueurt Roberts.

Two specimens from Hex River Estate. Also identified in flight

at Clanwilliam.

Wing glands are present, but in an entirely different position to

those in C. seabrae. In C. lesueurt the glands are less thickened,

narrower, and situated in the wing membrane a short distance from

the centre of the radius. In dry skins these glands become absorbed

and lost to sight. Larger and darker in colour than Cistugo seabrae,

but similar in flight. Appearing on the wing as early in the evening

as Hptesicus, and favouring the close neighbourhood of orange groves

and other shade trees.

16. EHptesicus capensis capensis (A. Smith).

Specimens from Travellers Rest, Compagnies Drift.

Compagnies Drift specimens were much infested with parasites

(Cimez sp.).

17. Scotophilus angusticeps Shortridge.

Two specimens from Hex River Estate; also identified on the wing

at Citrusdal.

Similar in flight to other members of the genus; appearing to

favour the neighbourhood of shade trees.

Famity MOLOSSIDAE.

18. Nyctinomus bocager Seabra.

One specimen from Compagnies Drift.

Agreeing in measurements with specimens from the Orange River

(Upington District) referred by Oldfield Thomas to N. bocagei.*

* In the Kaffrarian Museum large series of Nyctinomus from the Eastern Cape

Province and elsewhere have variable forearm measurements, but they intergrade

and extremes often occur side by side in the same colonies: (a) larger, with a fore-

arm averaging 52 mm., perhaps referable to NV. africanus; and (6) smaller, with a

forearm averaging 48-49 mm., provisionally referred to NV. bocaget. Glover Allen

(in litt., 15th June 1939) believes that the names Nyctinomus condylurus and

N. dubius of A. Smith, 1833, should prove identifiable if one knew all of the South

African species, and may perhaps replace other names now in current use.

In his recent Check List of African Mammals (p. iii), Allen notes that NV. condy-

lurus is probably valid for the larger Nyctinomus of South Africa (=. africanus?) ;

and that, although its status is uncertain, N. dubius is probably applicable to some

one of the South African species of Chaerephon or Nyctinomus.

80 Annals of the South African Museum.

19. Platymops haagneri umbratus Shortridge.

One specimen from Kliphuis.

Shot whilst flying high amongst pine trees shortly after sundown.

About three others were observed.

A second representative of a genus new to the Cape Province.

Famity CERCOPITHECIDAE.

20. Papio comatus comatus E. Geoffroy.*

(Plate VII.)

Specimens (skulls) from Hex River Estate.

* The Eastern Cape Baboon, which appears to have an almost consistently

longer skull than typical comatus from the Western Cape (type locality “The Cape

of Good Hope’’) and the darker form from South West Africa, has been separated

under the name P. c. orientalis Goldblatt. In P. c. comatus the general coloration is

browner (approaching rufescent in an old Kamiesberg male) than in P. c. orientalis.

P. c. orientalis is paler (greyish-buff in an old male from Grahamstown) and more

heavily grizzled.

I agree with Hewitt in objecting to Schwarz’s choice of a Queenstown specimen

as lectotype of orientalis, in view of the fact that over fifty Albany examples

(including some females and young) were examined by Goldblatt, and only two

males from Queenstown. Moreover, Queenstown was not even mentioned amongst

the list of specimens that possess the characteristic rostro-cranial angle of orientalis

(cf. Goldblatt, S. Afr. Journ. Sci., xxiii, p. 772, December 1926). Schwarz clearly

should have chosen an Albany specimen (especially since comparative material is

so easily obtainable from that region), and I therefore designate as a substitute

lectotype of orientalis an Albany specimen in the Kaffrarian Museum (K.M.,

No. 1686 d, a very large adult male from Atherstone, near Grahamstown, collected

12th April 1933).

A further reason for rejecting the Queenstown lectotype is because there is an

adult male (mounted) in the Kaffrarian Museum from the Pirie Forest, near

King William’s Town (about 70 miles south-east of Queenstown), which differs

from the Albany series in the hind feet being without a trace of blackish, and the

hands and lower forearms only slightly darkened. Without further Pirie and

Queenstown material it is impossible to tell whether dark or grey feet are in any way

locally constant characters in the North-Eastern Cape Province. The skull of a

male from Kubusie (within 25 miles of King William’s Town) is shorter than in

Albany and Bedford specimens, and approaches typical comatus in this respect.

Papio comatus ruacana subsp. n.

I propose the above name for the race from Damaraland, the Kaokoveld, and

S.W. Angola—Baboons were observed on the Angola side of the Rua Cana Falls

of the Cunene River. General coloration in rwacana more ochraceous than in

either of the southern races and very much darker dorsally, a broad and well-

defined area extending along the centre of the back. In both comatus and ruacana

there is a heavier suffusion of black on the feet, hands, and forearms than in

orientalis.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 81

Famity MUSTELIDAE.

21. Ictonyx orangiae orangiae Roberts.

Specimens from Compagnies Drift, Het Kruis.

The specimens from Compagnies Drift (Lamberts Bay) are topo-

typical of I. orangiae arenarius, but I can see no distinguishing

characters.

Type (in the Kaffrarian Museum): No. 3646, adult male, collected 23rd June

1927, at Otjiwau (10 miles north of Kaoko-Otavi), Kaokoveld. Dimensions of

type: H. &b. 850, Tl. 540, Hf. 210, Ear 57 mm.

P. c. ruacana is a relatively short-skulled race, like typical comatus, but with

~ somewhat broader nasals. Greatest skull length (of No. 3993, a large male,

topotype, also from the Kaokoveld) 215 mm. Breadth across nasals 52-5 mm.

Eight adult uniformly coloured specimens (4 ¢¢ from the Kaokoveld; 1 ¢ from

Karibib, S. Damaraland; also 3 unmeasured skins and | skull, $g, from Gobabis

District.

Of other accredited races of Papio comatus from Southern Africa, P. c. rhodesiae

Haagner from Southern Rhodesia, P. c. transvaalensis Zukowsky from near Messina,

northern Transvaal, and P. c. jubilaeus Schwarz from Misale, close to the Northern

Rhodesia-Nyasaland Border, are regarded by Schwarz as synonyms of P. ec.

griserpes Pocock, described from a captive specimen that was supposed to have come

from Potchefstroom, southern Transvaal. I agree with Schwarz in suspecting

that the type of griseipes originated from the northern Transvaal or Southern

Rhodesia, rather than so far south as Potchefstroom. (There is a grey-footed

Baboon, ‘adult male, mounted,” in the McGregor Museum from Southern

Rhodesia.)

P. c. jubilaeus (cf. E. Schwarz, Ann. Mag. N.H., ser. 10, vol. xiv, p. 260, 1934)

from east-central Northern Rhodesia is now regarded by its describer as a synonym

of griserpes; it should therefore be compared with P. c. chobiensis Roberts, in view

of the fact that a specimen in the Kaffrarian Museum from the middle Kafue River

in central Northern Rhodesia, collected by Gordon Lancaster, is indistinguishable

from topotypes of P. c. chobiensis, males of which approach P. c. orientalis in skull

length. In a series, 3 from the Chobi River, Caprivi, and 3 from the north bank

of the Zambesi, Sesheke District, west of Livingstone, colour variation would seem

to indicate that chobiensis and ngamiensis are inseparable. Even before the

bridge was built, the ‘‘Rain Forest’? Baboons were able to cross the Zambesi, via

the Victoria Falls, at low water; and occur there, as elsewhere east of the Gonye

Falls, on both sides of the river. Haagner (S. Afr. Mamm., p. 17, 1920) records

P. c. rhodesiae (=griseipes) from the Kafue Flats; and Schwarz refers specimens

from Kabulabula, west of Livingstone, and from various parts of Southern

Rhodesia and Portuguese East Africa, to as far south as Lourenco Marques, to

griseipes. Baboons referable to chobiensis (or perhaps the earlier described

jubilaeus) are essentially tree-dwellers and inhabit regions where there are often

neither rocks nor hills; and I incline to the belief that the Forest Baboons of the

Caprivi and Northern Rhodesia will prove distinguishable from grisezpes from the

more open and frequently rocky regions of Southern Rhodesia.

VOL. XXXVI, PART 1. 6

82 Annals of the South African Museum.

22. Ictonyx striatus striatus (Perry).

Specimens from Citrusdal, Travellers Rest, Clanwilliam.

An external distinction (in this region) between J. orangiae and

I. striatus appears to be the more slender and relatively longer

foreclaws in orangiae.*

(23. Mellivora capensis capensis (Schreber).)

Sparsely but apparently widely distributed.

Van Zyl (Compagnies Drift) records an instance of a Ratel attacking

and killing a Caracal.

Famity LUTRIDAE.

(24. Anonyx capensis capensis (Schinz).)

Said to occur in the Olifants and Berg Rivers, and occasionally

along the coast.

(25. Lutra maculicollis maculicollis Lichtenstein.)

Probably more numerous than Aonyx capensis in the North-

Western Cape Province. One (at least) of the two species of Otter

is plentiful in the Olifants River.

Comatus, orientalis and ruacana favour rocky, often entirely treeless, hill country.

If there should prove to be a distinguishable southern Transvaal form of comatus,

the name occidentalis Goldblatt might perhaps be revived for it, since the lectotype

(a skull in the Witwatersrand University) came from Rustenburg, west-central

Transvaal, of which P. c. nigripes Roberts from the Magalakuin River, north-

western Transvaal, may be a synonym.

Notwithstanding very much smaller skulls and more slender limbs, body

dimensions of specimens in the Kaffrarian Museum referred to Papio cynocephalus

are not appreciably less than of Papio comatus. The foreshortened, almost

vervet-like skull of the former would seem to signify more than a specific difference

between P. (Chaeropithecus) cynocephalus and P. comatus.

The skin of a newly born specimen of P. cynocephalus is clothed with pure

white woolly fur, except on the crown where the hairs are dusky slate basally. An

equally young example of P. comatus is sparsely clothed with lanky blackish hairs.

P. cynocephalus, as its long limbs indicate, is extremely agile. It is probably

one of the swiftest of all the Primates, and will run like a Jackal when hunted;

only taking to trees in a last emergency.

It may be accepted that P. cynocephalus does not occur in Southern Rhodesia,

nor anywhere in Portuguese East Africa south of the Zambesi.

* The occurrence side by side of (apparently) closely allied forms, although

unusual, is not unique; and there may be structural differences (e.g. in the

“bacula”’) to accounf for the presumed stability of Ictonyx striatus, orangiae, and

kalaharicus.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 83

Famity CANIDAE.

(26. Otocyon megalotis megalotis (Desmarest).)

Occurs in the coastal sand-plains, but apparently not plentiful.

Cubs resemble adults in colour, being smoky grey with blackish on

limbs and tail; owing to the absence of rufous coloration anywhere,

Delalande’s Fox cubs cannot be mistaken for those of Jackals

(C. mesomelas) or Silver Foxes (V. chama).

27. Canis (Thos) mesomelas mesomelas (Schreber).

Specimens from around Clanwilliam.*

28. Vulpes chama (A. Smith).

Specimens from Compagnies Drift and around Clanwilliam

Plentiful in the coastal sand-veld. I found Silver Foxes parti-

cularly numerous around Lamberts Bay, and Mr. van Zyl, at Com-

pagnies Drift, informed me that he regarded them as innocuous and

was satisfied that they did not, habitually at any rate, attack lambs.

There is, of course, no knowing what a hungry animal might do under

exceptional circumstances. Stomach contents indicate that they

feed mainly upon small rodents, insects (locusts, beetles, etc.),

lizards, small ground-nesting birds, and, more occasionally, the

young of hares (and of Suricats—C. H. B. Grant). These tiny foxes

must account for countless numbers of gerbils and other plague-

carrying rodents, and should, like Delalande’s Fox, be protected by

legislation.

Apart from difference in size, there is some similarity between the

cubs of Black-backed Jackal (C. mesomelas) and Silver Fox (V. chama).

In quite young cubs of approximately the same age, the Jackal is

woolly throughout, and dull rufous-brown in general coloration with

* “Habitat modification” is well exemplified in C. mesomelas. In arid regions

these Jackals become bleached-looking. C.mesomelas arenarum from South West

Africa is markedly paler than typical mesomelas, but individuals from Little

Namaqualand and other intervening regions show gradation between saturate

and desert coloration extremes. C. mesomelas achrotes from Rooibank (Walvis

Bay hinterland) may prove to be inseparable from arenarum; the Namib Desert

is a coastal strip of particularly arid country, averaging only 30 miles in width,

although climatically and physically quite unlike the interior highlands. The type

of achrotes is certainly considerably paler than any specimens of arenarum collected,

but it may be an unusually light coloured individual, since a topotype recently

received by the Kaffrarian Museum from Walvis Bay is not much paler than

average inland specimens.

WOE. XXXVI, PART |. of

84 Annals of the South African Museum.

a smoky tinge due to a scattering of slightly longer fine black hairs;

the head is less contrastingly rufous than in the Fox; but the legs

and feet are uniformly rufous; the tail relatively short-haired and

tapering, as in the puppies of dogs.

In Silver Fox cubs the general coloration is buffy (much more

pallid); the greyish grizzling on the back and forehead, due to an

admixture of white-tipped hairs, being already manifest; and,

except on the head which is contrastingly rufous, the fur is much

less woolly. The legs are pale buffy, shading to rufous on the upper

forearms and thighs only. Tail, at least a third longer than in

the young Jackals, cylindrical and starting to become bushy at an

early age.

Famity VIVERRIDAE.

29. Genetta genetta felina (Thunberg).

Specimens from Travellers Rest, Compagnies Drift, and around

Clanwilliam.

Little Namaqualand specimens and the present series match

Hastern Cape Province material.

30. Atilax paludinosus paludinosus (G. Cuvier).

Specimens from Compagnies Drift.

The Water Mongoose extends to the coast around Lamberts Bay.

I believe it to be quite plentiful along the banks of the Olifants River.

31. Cynictis penicillata penicillata (G. Cuvier).

Specimens from Compagnies Drift, Klaver, Het Kruis.

As may be expected, there is gradual intergradation between

C. p. penicillata and C. p. pallidior; the extremes, however, are very

distinct.

32. Myonax pulverulentus pulverulentus (Wagner).

Specimens from Travellers Rest, Klaver, Kliphuis, Redlinghuis,

Compagnies Drift.

The Lamberts Bay (Compagnies Drift) series is topotypical of

Myonax p. maritumus, and the specimens in this collection form in

every respect a connecting link between what has hitherto been

regarded as typical pulverulentus and ruddi:. In one Lamberts Bay

specimen there are traces of a dark dorsal patch which renders it

indistinguishable from typical summer specimens of M. p. ruddi

from northern Little Namaqualand and the Kamiesberg. On the

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 85

other hand, over half a dozen of the Namaqualand specimens match

exactly average specimens from the Olifants River basin. The feet,

and the lower parts of forearms and hindlegs of all in the present

series are darker than in average specimens from the Eastern Cape

Province (to at least as far south as Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown),

and the tail tip, to the extent of a few dozen hairs only in some

instances, is blackish.* In juvenile specimens, however, both from

Little Namaqualand and from Lamberts Bay, the black tail tip

appears to be consistently well defined.

33. Suricata suricatta namaquensis Thomas and Schwann.

Specimens from Compagnies Drift.

The present series matches exactly Little Namaqualand material.

According to Mr. van Zyl (Compagnies Drift), the Suricat only

* But there is an Eastern Cape specimen in the Kaffrarian Museum (labelled

“Kaffraria’’) with the feet every bit as dark as in any of the Western Cape series,

and with a small but well-defined black tail tip. ‘‘South” Eastern Cape specimens

from Albany and Bedford Districts have slightly more darkly speckled feet and toes

than average Kaffrarian examples. (‘‘/Herpestes” punctatissiumus, described by

Temminck from Algoa Bay in 1853, is presumably a synonym of Myonax pulveru-

lentus; an Algoa Bay specimen of pulverulentus, lent for examination by the Port

Elizabeth Museum, is indistinguishable from Albany and Bedford material.)

Since the type of pulverulentus came from the Western Cape Province (“Cape

of Good Hope’’), I shall not be surprised if material from the Cape Peninsula and

other adjacent regions indicates that the dusky-footed maritimus is a synonym of

typical pulverulentus (Redlinghuis is approximately half-way between Lamberts

Bay and Cape Town), and the uniformly grey and more distant form, from

Kaffraria and the interior high-veld, northwards to Basutoland, synonymous with

or not very distinct from the geographically adjacent M. p. basuticus.

Large series of Myonax pulverulentus in the Kaffrarian Museum, numbering over

60 specimens, show gradual colour intergradation between the variably semi-

melanistic ruddi in the north-west and the uniformly grey form, which I refer to

basuticus, in the north-east; typical pulverulentus being the connecting link between

them.

R. I. Pocock (Fauna of British India, vol. i, p. vii, Preface, 1939) writes: ‘‘ Where

a complete series of examples of a species spread over a wide diversified area is available,

ut 1s the custom to select for scientific denomination the best differentiated local races,

leaving the equally interesting intermediate forms without the trinominal symbol. . .

large numbers of names, although without real significance, have to be reckoned with

and investigated by the serious student, thus leading to waste of time and making his

task, difficult enough already, still more exacting and arduous.”

+ The two most distinct and geographically distant known forms of Swuricata

are S. s. hahni from the western Kalahari and 8. s. lophurus from the Eastern

Cape Province. When the Windhuk Zoo was in existence a number of specimens

of hahni were kept; as a result of captivity, the hair had grown profusely and they

had become almost indistinguishable from lophurus.

86 Annals of the South African Museum.

crossed the Olifants River from the north and established itself

around Lamberts Bay in 1925 after the large Olifants River dam

was completed. Previously a wide permanently flowing river, the

lower reaches are now almost entirely diverted for irrigation purposes.

In consequence it no longer forms a barrier against the migrations

of small mammals. The Suricat is to-day extremely plentiful in

soft sandy country around Lamberts Bay, to as far inland as Graaff-

water. It excavates warrens in soft sand, whereas in Namaqualand

it usually selects hard patches of ground even where the surroundings

are sandy. It has not, as yet, extended farther south along the

basin of the Olifants River. Around Lamberts Bay, as elsewhere

where both occur, Suricata and Cynictis live in close association.

Famity PROTELIDAE.

34. Proteles cristatus canescens Shortridge.

Specimens from Kliphuis, Clanwilliam, Klaver.

Famity FELIDAE.

35. Felis lybica cafra Desmarest.

Specimens from Clanwilliam, Compagnies Drift.

The young of F. |. cafra from the North-West Cape Province are

sometimes almost as strongly striped and spotted as Felis mgripes;

and the markings are somewhat similar.*

(36. Felis (Panthera) pardus melanotica Gunther.)

Leopards occur in the Cedarberg and in other sparsely populated

mountainous regions in the North-West Cape Province.

37. Caracal caracal caracal (Schreber).t

Specimens from around Clanwilliam.

* A very young kitten from Kovares, S. Kaokoveld, referable to F. 1. namaquana

or xanthella, is pale rufous narrowly and indistinctly banded with deeper rufous,

the leg-bars only being dusky.

+ Cape Province material (34 specimens) indicates that C. caracal coloniae is

inseparable from the typical race. Among considerable series in the Kaffrarian

Museum there is some amount of individual colour variation: Caracals from South

West Africa average, as may be expected, slightly paler and more brightly rufous

(less grizzled); on the other hand, specimens from the Caprivi and Northern

Rhodesia are hardly distinguishable from the Cape series.

It is easy, when unaccompanied by more positive characteristics, to overestimate

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 87

Famity OTARIIDAE.

(38. Arctocephalus pusillus (Schreber).)

The Cape Sea-lion is said to breed on Elephants Rock off the

mouth of the Olifants River.

Famity ORYCTEROPODIDAE.

(39. Orycteropus afer afer (Pallas).)

The Aardvark occurs very sparsely inland from Lamberts Bay,

and elsewhere in the coastal and subcoastal sand-veld.

Famity LEPORIDAE.

40. Lepus capensis capensis Linnaeus.

Specimens from Compagnies Drift.

Underparts more strongly suffused with yellowish rufous than in

L. capensis grant from Little Namaqualand.

Plentiful in the coastal sand-veld belt around Lamberts Bay.

Some specimens were much infested with ticks.

41. Lepus saxatilis saxatilis F. Cuvier.

Specimens from Travellers Rest, Kliphuis, Compagnies Drift.

Plentiful in rocky and mountainous country; scarce in the coastal

sand-veld (around Compagnies Drift, etc.).

Although normally rather sluggish, these large hares show con-

siderable speed when coursed by dogs: they can double and turn

with great agility; I have seen them outpace greyhounds in rocky

country. When running, the long legs give them the appearance

of small antelopes; hence the Afrikaans name “ RIBBOKHAAS.”’

the significance of saturate and desert coloration, when due to climatic (altitudinal

or rainfall) conditions over unsatisfactorily small, patchy, and overlapping regions

which can have little geographical bearing. Widely distributed mammals,

especially large and medium-sized forms, cannot very often be sufficiently isolated

within ill-defined and extremely restricted areas to justify multiplicity in sub-

specific denomination. A colour change definitely due to environment is not

necessarily a slow evolutionary process. Caracals from most, if not all, supposedly

different faunal regions in Southern Africa, in captivity, would without much

doubt become indistinguishable in a year or two. Iam of opinion that the wander-

ing habits of the larger carnivora are not taken into consideration sufficiently.

(There are, for instance, no less than 36 described subspecies of Lycaon pictus,

perhaps the most migratory of all African mammals, 15 from East Africa alone.)

88 Annals of the South African Museum.

42. Pronolagus crassicaudatus australis Roberts.

Specimens from Travellers Rest, Kliphuis.

Kliphuis is 11 miles from Clanwilliam, the type locality of P.

crassicaudatus australis; Travellers Rest (7 miles from Kliphuis) is

within sight of Klaver, the type locality of P. crassicaudatus muller.

Klaver and Clanwilliam are 30 miles apart and are both situated on

the banks of the Olifants River. P. c. mulleri, in my opinion, cannot

be distinguished from P. c. australis. In the present series from

Travellers Rest and Kliphuis (which are inseparable) the amount of

smoky blackish suffusion at the end of the tails is variable, some

having hardly any trace of it.

“Red Hares” often come out in the early mornings and early

evenings as well as by night.

Famity MUSCARDINIDAH.

43. Graphiurus ocularis ocularis (A. Smith).

Afrikaans (Hottentot extraction): NAMTAP.

One specimen from Clanwilliam.

There are no more savage small rodents than African Dormice;

in captivity any other small mammal placed in the same cage with

G. ocularis is at once attacked furiously; it will kill and feed upon

species considerably larger than itself.

Famity CRICETIDAE.

44, Desmodillus auricularis auricularis (A. Smith).

Specimens from Citrusdal, Het Kruis, Compagnies Drift.

There is individual colour variation, but less than in Little Nama-

qualand material.

45. Gerbillus (Gerbillus) paeba broom: Thomas.

Specimens from Nieuwoudtville, Het Kruis, Citrusdal, Compagnies

Drift.

As in Desmodillus, there is some amount of individual colour varia-

tion, but less so than in the Little Namaqualand series.

46. Taterona afra afra (Grey).

Specimens from Nieuwoudtville, Travellers Rest, Kliphuis, Het

Kruis, Compagnies Drift.

The Compagnies Drift (Lamberts Bay) series is topotypical of

T. afra gill.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 89

Plentiful on the coastal plains and in cultivated sandy country

farther inland; also ascending to the mountain plateaux and on to

the western edge of the interior highveld. Relatively scarce around

Nieuwoudtville, which may approximate to the farthest inland

extension of itsrange. Gregarious; the warrens being often scattered

over large tracts of country. A white forehead spot is not unusual.

47. Otomys irroratus irroratus (Brants).

Specimens from Travellers Rest, Kliphuis, Hex River Estate,

Citrusdal, Clanwiliam, Compagnies Drift, Elands Bay.

There are three jet black melanistic specimens from Elands Bay.

This “Vlei” Otomys extends close to the coast at Lamberts Bay

along the banks of the Jakkals River, in the bed of which there are

small disconnected pools of surface water. To some extent nocturnal

here (hot season).

48. Otomys karoensis Roberts.*

Specimens from the “Cold Bokkeveld” Mountains (S.E. of

Citrusdal).

A mountain species: diurnal; inhabiting belts of dry rushes in

heathy country on high mountain slopes. Apparently local.

49. Myotomys unisulcatus wnsulcatus (¥. Cuvier).

Specimens from Travellers Rest, Het Kruis, Enderskuil, Compagnies.

Drift.

The series from Compagnies Drift (Lamberts Bay) is topotypical

of M. unisulcatus bergensis, with which specimens from southern

Little Namaqualand (Kameelboom, Kamiesberg, etc.) may also be

compared.

(50. Parotomys brantsi subsp.)

Colonies of Parotomys were observed on the highveld between

Nieuwoudtville and Travellers Rest. North of the Olifants River.

it is said to occur in the lowveld, near the coast.

The race in this region may be referable to P. brantsw pallida, the

southern Little Namaqualand subspecies.

When alarmed Parotomys (and Liotomys) dart back into their

burrows with little squeaks of alarm.

* I can find no appreciable difference, cranial or otherwise, between these

specimens and some “‘dryveld”’ Otomys from near King William’s Town which have

been compared and seem to correspond with the type of Otomys tugelensis

saundersiae.

90 Annals of the South African Museum.

51. Dendromus mesomelas pumilio (Wagner).

Specimens from Redlinghuis and Tulbagh.

In a Tulbagh specimen (3) there is no trace of a dorsal stripe.

In two out of five Redlinghuis specimens (3g, 2 imm.) the dorsal

stripe is only just discernible. In the other three (33, 9) the stripe

is relatively well defined.

Underparts: hairs dark slate basally, tipped with buffy white.*

52. Poemys melanotis capensis Roberts.

Specimens from Het Kruis, Redlinghuis, Citrusdal. '

Habitat: more or less open sandy grass country; living in small

burrows and locally plentiful.

The presence or absence of a dark frontal patch in southern forms

of Poemys would seem to be an individually variable characteristic.

In three out of twelve specimens from Het Kruis dark frontal markings

are present but ill defined; in one out of two from Redlinghuis this

forehead mark is relatively well defined. The type (from Wolseley),

as in the remainder of the present series, is without a frontal patch.

Faint dusky ocular rings are present.T

* The type of Dendromus pumilio (a specimen without a dorsal stripe) was

described from ‘“‘The Cape of Good Hope” (presumably the Cape Peninsula, which

may be fixed as the type locality).

Typical Dendromus mesomelas was described from the Zondags (Sundays)

River, Eastern Cape Province, which enters the sea about 25 miles N.E. of Port

Elizabeth. Eastern Cape Province specimens in the Kaffrarian Museum (from the

Pirie Forest and East London), which I refer to typical mesomelas, although very

similar dorsally to Western Cape Province material, differ markedly in having

pure white underparts without slaty bases to the hairs; and are on an average

somewhat smaller in size, the hind feet being definitely smaller.

+ With regard to Cape material of Poemys melanotis and its described subspecies,

the two extremes are clearly the typical race from Natal and the North-East Cape

Province, and P. m. insignis (without ocular rings) from Little Namaqualand

(N.W. Cape).

P.m. capensis may be accepted as an intermediate form from the extreme south.

But, in my opinion, P. m. thorntoni, without consistent distinguishing characters,

and matching examples from the N.E. Cape (Kaffraria, etc.), is redundant.

In seven topotypes of P. m. thorntoni (from Port Elizabeth) four are strongly

washed with rusty brown; the other three agree with the type in their grey

coloration. In one specimen the frontal patch is well defined; in three specimens

it is less strongly defined; in the other three it is absent.

Large series of Poemys in the Kafirarian Museum (over 150 specimens from widely

distant regions) show every gradation of colour (both in P. melanotis and P.

nigrifrons) between ash-grey and rusty-rufous, indicating that this is individual

variation, and therefore without diagnostic value.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 91

The following external characters and differences in habits dis-

tinguish Poemys from Dendromus :—

(a) Poemys :

Fifth hind toe with nail.

Kars large, angular and “‘bat-like’; naked and bicoloured

—greyish and blackish (as in Malacothriz).

Hair relatively silky, colour grey to rusty.

Tail, as a rule, only slightly longer than head and body.

Kyes larger, usually surrounded by a dark ocular ring.

Occurs both in forest and in treeless grass country; lives

in small burrows in the ground.

Although more closely allied to Dendromus, Poemys is in

some respects intermediate between Dendromus and

Malacothrix.*

(b) Dendromus :

Fifth hind toe with claw.

Ears relatively small and oval (as in Steatomys); clothed

above with short chestnut coloured hairs.

Hair woolly, colour chestnut.

Tail considerably longer than head and body.

Eyes smaller, no ocular ring.

More arboral than Poemys; usually occurring close to trees

or fairly high bushes: makes a grass nest (similar to that

of an English Dormouse) in bushes, hollow tree stumps, etc.

53. Steatomys pentonyx (W. L. Sclater).

Specimens from Citrusdal, Het Kruis.

Locally plentiful in more or less open subcoastal grass and bush-

veld.

If kept in captivity with Elephant Shrews, or other small rodents

of its own size, Steatomys, which is a savage animal, will soon start

killing and partly devouring them.

S. pentonyx was originally referred by Sclater to the genus Mala-

cothriz. If this species is ever found to occur in the Hastern Cape

Province it may have to be regarded as a synonym of S. krebsi.t

* As opposed to Poemys and Malacothrix, Dendromus, when handled, will often

attempt to bite, although, unlike Steatomys, it is not aggressively savage.

+ I am not satisfied about the status of Steatomys krebsi, which is presumed to

have come from the Eastern Cape Province for no apparent reason except that

Krebs was known to have collected thereabouts during his travels. There is no

authentic record of the occurrence of any species of Steatomys from the Eastern

92 Annals of the South African Museum.

Famity MURIDAE.

54. Acomys subspinosus (Waterhouse).

Specimens from Kliphuis, Hex River Estate, Cold Bokkeveld

(S.E. of Citrusdal).

Habitat: accumulations of loose rocks or boulders on heathy

slopes and plateaux, especially in the vicinity of small mountain

streams. Most plentiful at rather high altitudes; one specimen,

however, was trapped at the base of a hill (Hex River Estate) in

low-lying rocky country. Nocturnal: more local and much less

plentiful than Myomys verroxi.*

When handled in the flesh the spines render Acomys slippery and

lizard-like; skin fragile, asin Petromus. Head (ear to snout) markedly

longer than in Mus.

55. Aethomys namaquensis namaquensis (A. Smith).

Specimens from Travellers Rest, Kliphuis, Citrusdal, Hex River

Estate, Het Kruis.

Series (from Travellers Rest and Kliphuis) doubtless referable to

A. namaquensis klaverensis.

Everywhere plentiful where rocky hills occur.

56. Myomys (Myomyscus) verroxii (A. Smith).T

Specimens from Kliphuis, Citrusdal, Hex River Estate.

Habitat: coastal and subcoastal hill and mountain ranges of the

Southern Cape Province. Range approximating to that of Acomys

Cape Province. The recorded locality for krebsi in 1852, “The Interior of

Caffraria,’’ might equally have stood for Natal, The Orange Free State, or, in fact,

anywhere in Southern Africa. [See Editor’s note on p. 99.]

Various assumed races of krebsi have since been described, although the type

locality for the original subspecies is entirely conjectural.

* The range of Acomys subspinosus coincides almost exactly with that of Myomys

verroxii. They both inhabit the coastal and subcoastal mountains of the Southern

Cape Province, from the Pakhuis Pass (Kliphuis), a northern spur of the Cedarberg

Mountains which extends as far north as the Olifants-Doorn River junction in the

west, to as far as Knysna (Grant) in the east.

+ The genotype of Wyomys is M. colonus; some years ago three female specimens

were trapped near King William’s Town in “vlei” country, which, although

otherwise apparently resembling Mastomys coucha, had a mammary formula

agreeing with that recorded for Myomys colonus (10: 6 pect., 4 ing.), with a short

hiatus between the pectoral and inguinal mammae. They were sent to the British

Museum and were stated at the time to correspond with the type of colonus.

No further examples with a similar mammary formula have since been collected,

and it is suggested that these specimens (including the type, and a small series in

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 93

subspinosus (extending from the northern spurs of the Cedarberg

Mountains in the west, around the Cape of Good Hope, to Knysna

(Grant) in the east).

Myomys verroxw hides by day in crevices in the more sheltered

sides of rocky hills where there is plenty of bush and scrub in pre-

ference to the more arid slopes, which are equally favoured by the

less conservative Aethomys namaquensis. This long-tailed Rock

Rat is apparently local even within its range. At Kliphuis it was

often trapped in long grass and tangled undergrowth in the higher

valleys under precipitous cliffs or piled up rocks. Although also

occurring at the base of hills in comparatively low-lying country, it

does not extend on to the plains.

According to W. L. Sclater, the English vernacular for Mastomys

coucha is “‘The White-nosed Rat,’ but that name would be more

the British Museum from Zululand and elsewhere) may be ordinary Multimammate

Mice with a subnormal number of mammae.

But, since the type of colonus and only other material supposed to agree with it

appear to be in the British Museum, it remains for someone in that institution to

investigate and clear up the matter. It may be that more helpful material will be

forthcoming when further systematic collecting has been done in the Eastern

Cape Province. If Mastomys coucha proves to be inseparable from the earlier

described Myomys colonus, the genus Mastomys will become a synonym of Myomys

(which was described higher up on the same page), and Myomys colonus would also

replace Mastomys coucha for the typical Multimammate Mouse; the subspecific

name coucha being perhaps available for the Griqualand West race. Myomys

shortridgei (a distinct and well-defined species possessing 10 mammae, recorded in

error by myself as a subspecies of colonus), which occurs in association with the

Multimammate Mouse close to the Okavango, is a definitely local swamp rat;

whereas the Multimammate Mouse is plentiful and widely distributed in that

region both in damp and dry country. I have recently examined a small series of

Multimammate Mice from Algoa Bay (the type locality of Myomys colonus), and a

subadult female possesses at least 16 mammae. But these Algoa Bay specimens

(lent by the Port Elizabeth Museum) cannot be regarded with certainty as topo-

typical of colonus, since colonus may be restricted to swampy country, and, like

shortridgei, occur in suitable situations side by side with the more ubiquitous

coucha.

Myomyscus subgen. n.

In the meanwhile I do not think the long-tailed (Aethomys-like) Myomys verroxi

and allied rock-dwelling forms should remain in the same subgenus as relatively

short-tailed swamp rodents, which, except for a different mammary formula,

closely resemble Multimammate Mice (e.g. Myomys shoriridgei); and I propose the

above name for the Myomys verroxii-M. granti group.

Genotype: (in the Kaffrarian Museum) Myomys (Myomyscus) verroxii; No. 2935,

adult g; H. & b. 122, Tl. 165, Hf. 25-5, Ear 19 mm.; from Kliphuis, 11 miles N.E.

of Clanwilliam, N.W. Cape Province; 14th December 1937.

94 Annals of the South African Museum.

applicable to Myomys verroxit which has a markedly silvery-white

nose.

As in Mastomys coucha (and Petromyscus), the young are smoky-

slate in colour. Mammae 10 (6 pect., 4 ing.).

57. Leggada minutoides minutoides (A. Smith).

Specimens from Travellers Rest, Clanwilliam, Kliphuis, Citrusdal,

Hex River Estate, Compagnies Drift.

58. Mus musculus musculus Linnaeus.

Specimens from Nieuwoudtville, Travellers Rest, Hex River

Estate, Compagnies Drift.

There are no examples in this series with whitish underparts

corresponding with a percentage of the Kamiesberg (Little Nama-

qualand) material.

59. Rattus rattus alecandrinus (E. Geoffroy and Audouin).

One specimen from Hex River Estate.

This imported House Rat is not as yet widely distributed along

the basin of the Olifants River; but it occurs in some of the towns,

villages, and farms—Clanwilliam, Citrusdal, Hex River Estate, etc.,

along the main lines of communication. Apparently unknown

around Lamberts Bay.

60. Rhabdomys pumilio pumilio (Sparrman).*

Specimens from Nieuwoudtville, Travellers Rest, Kliphuis,

Citrusdal, Hex River Estate, Clanwilliam, Compagnies Drift.

Famity BATHYERGIDAE.

61. Bathyergus suillus suillus (Schreber).

Hottentot: “KNOGAS (Lamberts Bay).

Specimens from Travellers Rest, Klaver, Het Kruis, Compagnies

Drift.

The above large series is referable to B. suillus ontermedius, typically

from Klaver; but adult specimens are equal in size and otherwise

* If Rhabdomys from the Western Cape Province proves to be distinguishable

from typical pumilio from Tsitzikama Forest (Snake River), Knysna, it would seem

that one of the two names, donovani (Lesson) or major (Brants), both described

in 1827 from ‘‘The Cape of Good Hope,” will have to be revived. &. pumilio

meridionalis (Wroughton), also from the Cape of Good Hope (Tokai), was described

many years later.

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 95

similar to Cape Peninsula material. The white forehead spot is

variable in size and as often as not absent; it is sometimes accom-

panied by less noticeable throat patches. This forehead spot occurs

quite frequently in specimens from the Cape Flats, so it is not a

geographical variation. There is no connecting link between B. s.

suillus and the considerably smaller B. 7. janetta; the two being

entirely distinct species.*

This Giant Mole-rat is extremely plentiful in the North-West Cape

Province. It is subcoastal as well as coastal in the sandy low-veld

and extends inland along the valley of the Olifants River to beyond

Citrusdal. Although Bathyergus swillus ascends the slopes of fairly

high sand-dunes, on the higher mountain plateaux only Georychus

occurs.

Mound concentrations were observed chiefly in cultivated or

recently ploughed lands and in stretches of soft sand, or alluvial

grass flats close to the banks of rivers and streams. In some places

along the valleys of the Olifants and Doorn Rivers the large white

““mole-hills” occur in such numbers as to form a conspicuous feature

of the landscape; in fact, large areas are often so honeycombed by

the mounds and their inter-communicating tunnels that one sinks

two feet or more into the sand at almost every step if an attempt be

-made to walk across the warrens.

Unlike Georychus and Cryptomys, Bathyergus is seldom turned

out of the ground during the ploughing season, owing to the greater

depth of the main burrows. In addition to wild bulbs, grass roots,

and other indigenous tubers, Bathyergus suillus feeds upon most

kinds of root crops, especially potatoes, and it ranks among the most

serious of agricultural pests in the Western Cape Province. As

opposed to Georychus and Cryptomys, it does not store up food below

ground.

A specimen kept alive for a short period made a chattering noise

whilst burrowing and would turn and snap savagely if interfered

with. It did not attempt to progress more than a yard or two above

ground, but started to dig with its fore feet almost at once, scuffling

the loose sand back with its hind feet. The short tail with hori-

* There is a belt of low-lying country to the north of the Olifants River mouth,

approximately 20 miles in width (between Van Rhynsdorp District and southern

Little Namaqualand), known as “The Hardeveld,” intersected by small flowing

salt rivers, which appears to form a barrier separating B. janetta in the north from

B. suillus in the south. (Neither Petromus nor Petromyscus extend south of this

barrier.)

96 Annals of the South African Museum.

zontally flat rows of bristles on either side is an aid in throwing back

the sand. If caught in a trap it will often break its incisor teeth

against the iron. The halves of the lower jaw, although not alto-

gether ankylosed, do not enable the lower incisors to separate widely

as in Georychus and Cryptomys. The cheek and other cranial muscles

are enormously developed. Even newly born animals, like young

parrots, can bite severely.

Bathyergus, 11 common with other South African Mole-rats,

appears to be able to see indistinctly for a short distance; and if

the head be touched it will close the eyelids. The small circle of

bare skin around the ear orifice protrudes slightly, the opening itself

being directed backwards and downwards.

One specimen (No. 2726) was a buff-white, pink-eyed albino.

62. Georychus capensis capensis (Pallas).

Afrikaans: KOHLMOL (also individuals of Bathyergus with

a white forehead spot).

Specimens from Nieuwoudtville, Kliphuis, Citrusdal.

The Nieuwoudtville examples (alt. 3500 feet) appear to be the

first authentic high-veld record for typical G. capensis; I believe

them to be also the north-western record.

Although coastal around Cape Town, in the North-West Cape

Province Georychus appears to favour more inland districts and

extends from the middle Olifants River Valley on to the mountain

plateaux, as at Kliphuis and Nieuwoudtville. Around Nieuwoudt-

ville, where it is local and not very plentiful, mounds were observed

mostly in ploughed land. In the low-veld Georychus seems to be

very much scarcer than Bathyergus, but, since, where the two occur

together, it is not always easy to distinguish between the mounds of

Georychus and Bathyergus, it may be more widely distributed than

appeared to be the case.

Georychus is unknown to residents around Lamberts Bay, and I

did not hear of its occurrence anywhere along the coast in this region.

The mounds are often nearly as large as those of Bathyergus; and the

burrows approximate in diameter to those of Bathyergus, rather

than of Cryptomys hottentotus. Accumulated stores of bulbs, iris

corms, etc., all smaller than hazel-nuts, were found in excavated

burrows.

Georychus apparently does not differ in size sexually so much as

do Bathyergus and Cryptomys; the largest specimen in the present °

The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 97

series is a female. The white forehead spot (occasionally almost

absent) and other white head markings vary individually in North-

West Cape material, which otherwise matches closely Cape Town

specimens.*

63. Cryptomys hottentotus hottentotus (Lesson).

Specimens from Nieuwoudtville, Travellers Rest, Kliphuis,

Citrusdal, Hex River Estate, Compagnies Drift.

Widely distributed throughout the North-West Cape Province and

plentiful both on mountain plateaux and in the low-veld. Plentiful

around Nieuwoudtville (high-veld), and extending (sparsely) as far

inland as Calvinia.t

Where all occur together, the mounds of Cryptomys, Georychus,

and Bathyergus may often be found in close association, the different

size of the tunnels presumably eliminating actual contact.

Famity HYSTRICIDAE.

(64. Hystrix africaeaustralis africaeaustralis Peters.)

Widely distributed; apparently plentiful in the mountains;

numerous shed quills observed around Hex River Estate.

Famity PROCAVIIDAE.

65. Procavia capensis capensis (Pallas).

Specimens from Travellers Rest, Kliphuis, Clanwilliam, Compagnies

Drift.

Famity ELEPHANTIDAE.

(66. Loxodonta africana africana (Blumenbach).)

Elephant have been extinct in the North-West Cape Province for

at least 150 years: I can find no record since Jacobus Coetse Jansz

crossed the Olifants River in 1760 “for the purpose of shooting

Elephant.” All other big game has long since disappeared from

this region.

* There is an albino specimen of Georychus c. canescens in the Port Elizabeth

Museum.

+ Albinism in Cryptomys hottentotus is not infrequent.

98 Annals of the South African Museum.

Famity HIPPOPOTAMIDAE.

(67. Hippopotamus amphibius capensis Desmoulins.)

There are local traditions of the past occurrence of Hippo in the

lower Olifants River. The type of H. amphibius capensis, from the

Berg River, is still preserved in the Paris Museum.

Famity SUIDAE.

(68. Phacochoerus aethiopicus aethiopicus (Pallas).)

I was informed by Mr. Visser (Hex River Estate) that skeletal

remains, including tushes, of Wart-hog were discovered a few years

ago in a Bushman cave not far from his estate, and sent to Stellen-

bosch University. This is the only record, so far as I am aware, of

the former existence of Wart-hog in the North-West Cape Province.

Famity BOVIDAE.

69. Sylvicapra grimmia grimmia (Linnaeus).

Two specimens from Lamberts Bay.

There are plenty of Duiker in the Lamberts Bay Game Reserve;

farther inland they seem to be restricted mostly to the Cedarberg

and other mountainous regions.

70. Oreotragus oreotragus oreotragus (Zimmermann).

Specimens from Kliphuis. |

Klipspringer are still fairly numerous among the mountains of the

North-West Cape Province.

71. Raphicerus campestris campestris (Thunberg).

Specimens from Lamberts Bay Game Reserve and Compagnies

Drift.

Plentiful in the Game Reserve; more sparsely distributed elsewhere

along the coastal sand-plains.

(72. Raphicerus (Nototragus) melanotis (Thunberg).)

Hottentot: “TSAUGHAT.

In the Western Cape Province the Grysbok extends as far north

as the northern spurs of the Cedarberg. It is well known around

Kliphuis, but believed not to be found anywhere north of the junction

~The Cape Museums’ Mammal Survey of the Cape Province. 99

of the Olifants and Doorn Rivers.* Besides inhabiting the mountains,

it is said to concentrate in thickets which fringe at intervals the banks

of the middle and upper reaches of the Olifants River.

(73. Pelea capreolus (Bechstein).)

Hottentot: “KNARIES.

Sparsely distributed among the mountains; one or two small

troops of Vaal Rhebok are protected privately on farms near

Clanwilliam.

* The Grysbok is coastal and subcoastal throughout its range, and extends,

around the Cape, to as far north-east as Pondoland. In common with the Bontebok,

it does not occur outside the Cape Province.

Epiror’s Note to Pace 67.

Sub-Inspector 8. V. Bowden (Cape Mounted Police, Ramans

Drift) reported to the South African Museum in 1907 that there

were about two dozen Hippo in the river [Orange River], chiefly in

the 80-mile stretch between Viols Drift and the Fish River mouth,

but that he had no definite information from localities east of Pella

(S.A. Mus. files).

Epiror’s Notre to Footnote on PAGE 92.

In the Krebs collection in the Berlin Museum is the type of Barbus

serra, a freshwater fish peculiar to the Olifants River, Clanwilliam

Division. This may indicate that Krebs travelled also to the

N.W. Cape, possibly in company with Dr. Andrew Smith.

100

Annals of the South African Museum.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE VII.

Upper Photograph.

No. 1 (K.M. No. 3762d), Papio comatus orientalis, g, Bedford, Eastern Cape

2 (K.M. No. 459),

3 (K.M. No. 3993),

4 (K.M. No. 719d),

5 (K.M. No. 2014),

Lower Photograph.

No.

. 1 (K.M. No. 42c),

2 (K.M. No. 605),

3 (K.M. No. 8311),

. 4 (K.M. No. 2669),

5 (K.M. No. 2672),

. 6 (K.M. No. 718),

Province.

Papio comatus comatus, 3, Kamiesberg, Little Namaqua-

land.

Papio comatus ruacana, 3, Kaokoveld, South West Africa.

Papio comatus chobiensis, $, Caprivi Strip, Zambesia.

Papio cynocephalus, 3, Balovale, Upper Zambesi.

Papio comatus orientalis, 2, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape

Province.

Papio comatus comatus, 2, Kamiesberg, Little Namaqua-

land.

Papio comatus chobiensis, 2, Sesheke, Zambesi (north

bank, opp. Caprivi).

Papio cynocephalus, 2, Balovale, Upper Zambesi.

Papio cynocephalus, 3 (juv.), Balovale (Young of No. 4).

Papio comatus comatus, 3 (juv.), Kamiesberg (Young of

No. 2).

Nos. 5 and 6 (newly born) were approximately the same age.

Ann. S. Afr. Mus., Vol. XXXVI.

Plate VI.

iver Valley

sulcatus subsp., from the Fish R

ably of Myotomys une:

near Halesowen, Eastern Cape P

s’’? nest, presum

e “Otomy

fo)

An unusually lar

rovince.

Neill &: Co., Ltd.

y of the Albany Museum, Grahamstown.)

ourtesy

(By ¢

CO. Shortridge.

Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., Vol. XX XVI. Plate VII

G. C. Shortridge. Neill & Co., Lid.

[aig Ra eres es ie SK ee

De: Revision

oy ee

Me an I Menus Freshwater Fishes of the 8S. W. tine:

Lee K. H. Barnarp, D.S8c., F.L. 8., Assistant

RIE,

- Director. (With 33 Text-figures.)

3, Revision of the Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of the S.W. Cape

4 RegionBy K. H. Barnarp, D.Sc., F.L.S., Assistant

Director.

(With 33 Text-figures.)

_ Tuis constitutes the twelfth report in connection with my researches

on the fauna of the mountainous areas of the S.W. Cape, aided

by grants from the Royal Society of South Africa (1917) and the

Research Grant Board (1928-1941), to both of which bodies my

_ thanks are tendered.*

_ The introduction of Trout many years ago, and the recent establish-

ing of the Black Bass in the rivers of the Cape, necessitate a prompt

survey of the indigenous fish-fauna. This survey is essential for

scientific purposes, and for any discussion of the former relationships

and possible changes in the river-systems. There are admittedly

many difficulties in the way, but it is sincerely hoped that such a

survey will be undertaken.

With a view to putting the nomenclature of the fishes of this region

on a more satisfactory basis, I have re-examined the material of the

relevant species on which Gilchrist and Thompson worked (Ann. 8.

Afr. Mus., xi, pts. 5 and 6, 1913 and 1917), together with considerable

new material either supplied by Mr. A. C. Harrison, Hon. Sec. of the

Cape Piscatorial Society, and other correspondents, or collected by

myself and other members of the Museum staff.

In the course of this study several unexpected queries and interest-

| ____ ing facts have cropped up, necessitating some changes in the nomen-

__ clature and synonymy of the Cape species. I have not attempted to

. a deal with any species found outside the somewhat arbitrary limits

here adopted for the “S.W. Cape” region, or to express any definite

an * Previous reports: 1. “‘ Freshwater Crustacea,” Trans. Roy. Soe. S. Afr., vol.

xiv, 1927. 2. “Colophon (Coleoptera),” ibid., vol. xviii, 1929. 3. “ Alder-flies,”’

_ tbid., vol. xix, 1931. 4. “May-flies,” ibid., vol. xx, 1932. 5. “Terrestrial Isopoda

_ (Woodlice),” Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xxx, 1932. 6. “Further New Species of

Colophon,” Stylops, vol. i, pt. 8, 1932. 7. ‘““A New Corduline Dragonfly,” ibid.,

: vol. ii, pt. 7, 1933. 8. “Caddis-flies,” Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr., vol. xxi, 1934.

a 9. “Stone-flies,” Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xxx, 1934. 10. ‘‘Dragon-flies,” ibid.,

paviol. XXxii, 1937. 11. “Additions to Alder-flies, May-flies, Caddis-flies, etc.,”’ 2bid.,

vol. xxxii, 1940.

VOL. XXXVI, PART 2, 7

102 Annals of the South African Museum.

opinion on the identity or otherwise of the extra-territorial specimens

assigned (erroneously in my opinion) to Cape species. My endeavour

has been to find out what well-defined species can be recognized in

the Cape, and to characterize them specifically in all stages of growth

as far as possible. Comparisons with other species have been

necessary, and where the results appear to shed light on the nomen-

clature of the species, they have been included.

“The advancement of systematic Zoology is best served, in the present

state of the science, not so much by the description of new species, as by

the revision and putting in order of the species that are supposed to be

already known” (Calman, Nature, cxli, no. 3567, p. 452, 1938).

This study is merely a beginning, for there are many gaps in our

knowledge of some of the species, and many rivers whose fish-fauna

has not been investigated.* The results, so far obtained, show that

the whole life-history of the species in each river or river-system

should be studied, preferably by someone who is on the spot and does

the collecting himself, or who can rely on a good collector and the

accuracy of his data. |

Only in this manner can one appreciate the true nature of certain

abnormalities and variations, which is not apparent except in

conjunction with long series of normal specimens. Some of these,

which I have been able'to examine, would probably become the types

of nominal or “Museum species,” if they got into the hands of a

systematist without full data and extensive material for comparison.

The description of “‘n. spp.” based on single specimens, especially by

overseas) specialists, however eminent, without knowledge of the

local geography, is liable to lead to confusion, and is to be deprecated.

Cf. Pappenheim’s remarks on the difficulty of identifying single

specimens from different localities (Schultze, Reise . . . Siidafr., iv,

pe 207, LITO):

The monographs of Boulenger (Catalogue of Freshwater Fishes of

Africa, vols. i-iv, 1911-1916) and Gilchrist and Thompson (l.c.) are

of great value, in spite of their authors having had no field acquaint-

ance with the species. Boulenger, as is shown below, failed to

examine certain type specimens, and thereby came to adopt entirely

wrong conceptions of at least two species. These misconceptions

were followed, quite unsuspectingly, by Gilchrist and Thompson,

whose work contains in addition several misprints and errors; and

* T have not been able to extend my investigations to, e.g., the Sundays River,

owing to War conditions and Museum administrative duties thrown upon me by

the Director’s retirement (Jan. 1942).

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 103

also more recently by J. L. B. Smith (Guide to Vertebrate Fauna of

Eastern Province, Albany Museum, Grahamstown, pt. 2, Fishes,

1937). Several papers on South African freshwater fishes have been

published since 1917, but only three contain any new matter concern-

ing the fauna of the area here discussed (J. L. B. Smith, 1936, and

K. H. Barnard, 1937 and 1938).

Measurement and Colour.—As regards the length of specimens,

Mr. W. W. Thompson (who did most of the practical work for the

joint monograph) was not always consistent in his measuring,

sometimes including the caudal rays, sometimes not. In the present

paper the total length is measured as from the tip of the snout to the

end of the middle caudal rays; but for the ratio of head to length,

the body length is reckoned only to the end of the scales on the caudal

peduncle (7.e. the “‘standard length’’).

The depth of the body may vary so much according to the con-

dition of the specimen, its sex and maturity, and the method of

preservation, that it is of minor taxonomic importance. Among the

species herein dealt with, it is useful as a diagnostic character only

in the case of Barbus asper and tenuis.

Colours, when given, are taken from the living fish. After preserva-

tion the coloration is rarely a reliable guide, as 1t may vary according

to the method of preservation, and fades in course of time; dark

lateral stripes are usually more conspicuous after preservation than in

the living fish.

Tables of Growth-changes.—These tables are intended to give an

epitome of the life-history and growth-changes of the species. As

far as possible they have been compiled from series of individuals

collected in the same or a nearby locality, preferably at the same time

and place; and preserved in the same manner. In the great majority

of cases the ratios, etc. represent the averages of several specimens of

each size.

It must not be expected, however, that individuals from other

localities, or even all individuals from the same locality, will conform

exactly in all details. Dwarfing may occur in small-sized streams, or

owing to poor food-supply, or other factors; and allowance must be

made for this.

Method of preservation is also a factor to be considered. Com-

parison of specimens preserved in formalin with those preserved in

alcohol may lead to different results. Further, the preserving fluid

may be either weak or rather too strong, resulting respectively in

flacidity or rigidity of the muscles, and possibly a slight increase or

104 Annals of the South African Museum.

decrease in the length of the body. The fleshy tip of the snout may

be considerably modified by the kind and strength of preservative.

Hence in a measurement any fraction less than } or + is really

meaningless.

Abbreviations used in the tables. TZ, total length, 2.e. from tip

of snout to end of middle caudal rays, in millimetres. L, body

length, 7.e. from tip of snout to end of scales on caudal peduncle.

H, head-length. , eye-diameter. S, snout. J, interorbital width.

d.a.n., distance between anterior nostrils (Gephyroglanis). 1.1.,

lateral line scales. c.ped., scales around caudal peduncle. sir.,

striae on exposed (posterior) field of scale (main striae, not short

intercalaries). g.r., gill-rakers on upper and lower parts of anterior

arch. barb., barbels. p, posterior, a, anterior; (p) and (a) indicate

that the barbel is just beginning to show. d.sp.s., serrations on dorsal

spine. The barb. column is left blank after the barbels (one or both

pairs according to the species) have fully appeared.

Acknowledgments are made: to Mr. A. C. Harrison, Hon.

Secretary of the Cape Piscatorial Society and Inland Fisheries

Advisory Officer, for enthusiastic help and co-operation, and to

Mr. A. T. Packham, another member of the same Society; to

Mr. F. G. Chaplin, Curator of the Jonkershoek Fish Hatcheries; to

the late Mr. A. E. Manley, of the Olifants River Irrigation Scheme,

Klaver; and to my colleagues on the South African Museum stafi—

Dr. A. J.-Hesse, Dr. L: D. Boonstra, and Mr. C: “We Thermeseis

Mr. Thorne I am especially grateful for his untiring energy in

collecting. To my overseas correspondents I also express thanks:

to Mr. J. R. Norman, and more recently Dr. E. Trewavas of the

British Museum, for information concerning Boulenger’s material;

and to Dr. de Beaufort of Amsterdam, and Dr. E. Ahl of Berlin,

for the loan of types and other material essential for the present

study.

To numerous farmers and owners of property grateful acknowledg-

ment is made for permission to camp and for other facilities.

To the late Mr. E. H. Cooke of Cape Town, and to his son

Mr. Vernon Cooke, my thanks are due for the use of a light-weight

boat, without which netting operations in many localities would

have been impossible.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The area embraced in this study is the south-western portion of

the Cape Province, approximately as far north as 31° S. and as far

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 105

east as Port Elizabeth, 254° E. Certain species living in the lower

Orange River are included because the South African Museum has

recently obtained important material illustrating their growth-

changes.

_ Of the rivers in this area, the Berg and the Olifants (Clanwilliam)

‘Tivers run approximately north-westwards to the Atlantic Ocean;

the others flow southwards and south-eastwards, arising on the south

side of the main Cape watershed (fig. 1).

This main Cape watershed runs from about Tulbagh north-

eastwards to Matjiesfontein and along the line of the Klein

Roggeveld, Komsberg, Nieuwveld, and Sneeuwberg ranges.* North

of this line, and east of the Roggeveld escarpment, lie the catchment

areas of the southern tributaries of the Orange River. The formation

of this watershed, which appears to have had an important influence »

on the distribution of the fish-fauna, is considered to have occurred

or to have been intensified during Tertiary times. f

From Tulbagh a continuous chain of mountains strikes south-

wards and south-south-westwards to Cape Hangklip. The fish-

fauna, and also the distribution of certain insects, indicates that

these mountains have been a barrier of some importance.

In the northern part of the Cape Peninsula only the rivers arising

on the eastern and southern slopes of Table Mountain, Constantia

Berg and the Kalk Bay Mts. contain fishes. Of these the Black

River (with its tributaries the Liesbeek and Kromboom streams)

flows northwards into Table Bay; the Palmiet River flows southwards

into Hout Bay on the Atlantic coast; the Diep River and Silvermine

River drain southwards into False Bay (fig. 28).

In the southern part of the Peninsula the highest land is on the

east side, and a few more or less perennial streams flow westwards,

e.g. the Bokram, Schusters, and Klaasjagers rivers (fig. 28).

There are several lakes (vleis) on the Cape Flats (isthmus) which

are more or less interconnected, at least during periods of heavy

rainfall. The poverty of the fish-fauna (Galazias and Sandelia only)

of the streams on the Cape Peninsula and the adjacent (western)

portion of the Cape Flats is evidently due to the whole isthmus

between Table Bay and False Bay having been formerly under the

sea.

* Rogers, Trans. S. Afr. Philos. Soc., xiv, p. 375, 1903.

+ Rogers, l.c., 1903. See also Barnard, 8. Afr. Geogr. J., xix, p. 6, 1936.

{ Haughton, Geology . . . Cape Town, Explan. Sheet 247, Geol. Surv., p. 58,

1933.

106

Annals of the South African Museum.

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Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 107

The outcome of this study seems to show that the species living

in the south-western corner of the Cape Province are confined to

this area. There are a few records (e.g. see under B. burchelli) which

appear to refute this generalization; but those specimens which

I have been able to examine have proved to be erroneously

identified.

The fact that each river-system harbours its own characteristic

species may be found to be more strikingly exemplified in the

S.W. Cape than in regions farther east and north-east.

Whether any of the typical Cape species (excluding those of the

Orange River) will eventually be found to inhabit other river-systems

in Natal, or the Orange Free State and Transvaal, remains for some

future investigator. But, as already remarked, the investigation of

these Provinces should not be delayed. And the caution may be

repeated that single specimens, or records based on such, are useless

unless supported by a thorough study (field and laboratory) of the

species living in each river-system.

In examining the above areas, the possibility of river piracies,

such as have occurred in the 8.W. Cape, must be borne in mind.*

Some of those in the 8.W. Cape may be noted here. The Steenbras

River now flows through the strike of the Hottentots Holland range,

but its headwaters obviously drained formerly into the Palmiet

River (fig. 1, between the numerals 4 and 5). The Klein River

(Stanford) has tapped the Hartebeest River, which appears to have

formerly flowed into the Kars River (Bredasdorp), and thus formed

part of the Breede River system (fig. 1, above the numeral 6). In

this latter case, the presence of the ‘“‘red-fin’’ Barbus vulneratus as a

relict in the Hartebeest River would not be surprising; we were

informed by a local farmer that there were ‘‘red-fins”’ (rooi-vlerke)

in the river, but our netting operations have failed to find any true

“red-fins’’ (Barbus) (see pp. 120, 248).

These are two examples of relatively minor piracies. On the other

hand, the two following may be regarded as major piracies, as they

affect adjacent, but totally distinct, drainage systems. The Little

Berg River, flowing through Tulbagh Poort, has tapped the former

source of the Breede River (fig. 1, between the numeral 3 and x).

The tributary of the Breede River which has cut back through

Michell’s Pass appears to have tapped streams which may formerly

* Barnard, /.c., pp. 8, 9, 1936. Haughton, Geology . . . Gamtoos Valley,

Explan. Sheet 151, Geol. Surv., p. 8, with map, 1937. J. de Villiers, Tr. Geol.

Soc. S. Afr., xli, pp. 38, 40, map on p. 39, 1939.

108 Annals of the South African Museum.

have drained eastwards into the Touws, and thence into the Gouritz

River (fig. 1, at x). These two piracies, especially the first, may

possibly have had some effect on the fish-faunas (cf. p. 114).

GEOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS.

No fossil representatives of the genus Barbus, or of Catfishes

(Clarias, etc.), are known from pre-Tertiary formations.* The

present fish-fauna must have spread over South Africa during or

since the Tertiary epoch. Nevertheless a brief epitome of the main

geological events which have contributed to the making of the South

African region may be included. It may help us, not so much to

visualize the conditions under which the present fish-fauna has been

evolved and dispersed, as to realize the difficulties in the way of a

satisfactory explanation.

At the beginning of the Jurassic period South Africa was a vast

waste of lava plains in process of elevation, and as the whole country

except the coastal border has been dry land ever since, the main

drainages, mostly radiating from the highlands of Basutoland, date

from that time.f

Mountain building (N.-S. Cedarberg folds, and E.-W. Zwartberg

folds) was reaching its climax, although these folds were renewed and

intensified later. The Cretaceous deposits were laid down in inter-

montane troughs in the folded (coastal) belt, but their extent to the

west and south-west is uncertain. {

Marginal faulting (Worcester fault, etc.) occurred, and also, which

is perhaps more important from our present point of view, cross-

flexuring. A series of basins was thus formed, in which the Cretaceous

beds are to-day preserved. And the primitive E.—W. drainages were

converted into N.-S. drainages cutting across the mountain ranges,

and by later entrenchment right through the ranges in some cases.

It may be noted that the Breede, Gouritz, and Gamtoos river-systems

each contains its remnant of Cretaceous beds; and each contains at

the present day its own characteristic fish-fauna (fig. 6).

It is not, of course, intended to imply that the fish-fauna dates from

Cretaceous times (there is no record of any freshwater Cretaceous

fish-fauna in South Africa); but the cross-flexuring may have had

two results: one geological, one faunistic.

* Meek, Migrations of Fish, pp. 170, 176, 1916.

+ This account of the geology is based on A. du Toit, Geology of South Africa,

pp. 437-543, 1926.

t Rogers, J.c., 1903. See also Rogers, S. Afr. J. Sci., xix, p. 23, note 17, 1922.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 109

The Tertiary uplift and planation caused the removal of most of

the Cretaceous deposits, and intensified the main Cape watershed and

the entrenchment of the N.-S. rivers. Allusion has already been

made to various piracies.

We cannot but look towards Central Africa for the source of our

freshwater fish-fauna, except possibly in the case of Galaxias (see

p. 113). Freshwater and subaerial deposits were being laid down on

the Jurasso-Cretaceous Kalahari peneplain, under varying climatic

conditions.* But there is no fossil evidence, and before any attempt

is made to explain the origin of the 8.W. Cape fish-fauna the other

areas (Natal, etc.) must be studied, and also the phyletic relationships

of the species, e.g. of the species of the genus. Barbus.

On the south coast an Eocene peneplain was cut by the sea, and

continued inland by the rivers as far as the southern Karroo (fig. 24).

It seems to have been connected, wa the Cape Flats, with the Saldanha

Bay and Olifants River (Clanwilliam) peneplain (du Toit only says

“possibly connected”? and makes no allusion to the Cape Flats).

The distribution of Galaxias in South Africa may perhaps have been

determined at this period (p. 113).

Elevation continued until the Agulhas Bank and the whole of the

continental shelf, as far as the present 400-fathom isobath, were laid

bare. Some of the old river courses are still traceable in spite of their

re-submergence in late Pleistocene times. T

The extension of the river courses across the Agulhas Bank is an

interesting point. Both du Toit and Krige consider that the extended

Breede River joined the extended Gouritz River. But the fish-faunas

of the two rivers are totally different (p. 123). Had these two rivers

(and others also) at that time the same, undifferentiated, fauna?

Or were they never connected? The latter seems more plausible.

Moreover, it is safe to say that two intervening rivers, viz. the

Duivenhoks and Kafferkuils rivers, at the present day relatively

small and cut off short by the coast-line, were formerly tributaries

of the Breede and not of the Gouritz River, because they contain

Barbus vulneratus (characteristic of the former), but not one of the

species found in the latter river (Galaxias excepted) (fig. 1).

The fish-fauna of the Kromme River and Zwartkops River, and

* Rogers, Post-Cretaceous Climates, S. Afr. J. Sci., xix, pp. 1 sqq., 1922. See

also F. Dixey, Tr. Geol. Soc. S. Afr., xli, p. 113, 1939.

tT In addition to du Toit, l.c., 1926, p. 443, see du Toit, S. Afr. Geogr. J., v,

pp. 9-12, 1922, and xvi, pp. 4-5, 1933; A. V. Krige, Ann. Stellenb. Univ., v,

sect. A, No. 1, pp. 14-19, 1927.

110 Annals of the South African Museum.

the intervening rivers, points to a former connection on the Agulhas

Bank. But the evidence is scanty. Some rivers in the Gamtoos

system require further investigation.

HyYDROGEN-ION CONCENTRATION.

Many observations have been made and collected by Mr. A. C.

Harrison for purposes of testing the suitability of the Cape rivers

for the introduction of trout, black-bass, etc. With the reagent

supplied by Mr. Harrison I have also tested the water of many rivers

which Mr. Harrison has not had an opportunity of visiting. On

these combined observations are based the following general state-

ments of the pH character of the different rivers.

Rivers and streams arising in the Table Mountain Sandstone

mountains of the 8.W. Cape are as a rule neutral (pH 7-7-5) in their

middle and lower reaches. After winter rains, however, they may

become slightly acid owing to sudden scouring of the upper reaches

where the streams flow through boggy areas with abundant Sphagnum

and decaying vegetation. #.g. the middle reaches of the Olifants

(Clanwilliam), Berg, Breede, and Eerste rivers.

Where the topography is especially favourable to the formation

of sphagnum bogs and vegetable cover, such as the dip-slopes facing

south or south-east in the folded mountain ranges, and where there

is a comparatively short run between the source and the mouth, the

rivers are acid, sometimes strongly acid (pH 4-5-5). #.g. Silvermine

(Cape Peninsula), Steenbras, Palmiet, streams between Onrust and

Hermanus, and the rivers flowing south from the Outeniqua-Tsitsi-

kama mountains (from George eastwards to near Humansdorp).

When, however, the sources of the rivers, or the major portion of

the catchment area, lie on the Malmesbury and Bokkeveld formations,

the water is either neutral or distinctly alkaline (pH 7-8-5). £.@.

Diep-Mosselbank rivers (Malmesbury), lower portions of the Olifants

(Clanwilliam), Verloren Vlei, and Great Berg rivers, Zout River

(Bredasdorp).

Alkalinity is especially characteristic of the two large rivers, the

Gouritz and the Gamtoos, which have their sources in, and for the

most part flow over, the Karroo formation. Some of the smaller

tributaries arising on Table Mountain Sandstone mountains are

acid at their headwaters, but their water is swamped in the great

volume emanating from the major tributaries.

If the map of the river-systems (fig. 1) were coloured red and blue

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 111

to indicate respectively acidity and alkalinity, the extreme south-

west area and the coastal belt from about George eastwards to

Humansdorp would appear for the most part red; while dividing

these two red areas would be a large blue patch representing the

catchment basin of the Gouritz; another blue patch farther east

representing the Gamtoos basin.

It is perhaps possible that the noticeable absence of large-sized

species of Barbus from the Gouritz, Gamtoos, Sundays, and other

rivers may be due to this alkalinity (cf. p. 112).

OUTSTANDING FEATURES OF THE FRESHWATER FISH-FAUNA

OF THE S.W. CAPE.

1. The whole family of Cichlidae is absent from the area under

discussion. Gilchrist and Thompson’s record of Tilapia natalensis

from Lakeside, Cape Peninsula (l.c., p. 487), was due to an error in

labelling: Lakeside was the domicile of the donor of the specimens,

not the locality where the fishes were caught.*

There are no Cyprinodontidae. The locality given for Fundulus

* For Smith’s types of 7. sparrmanii Boulenger (1915, l.c., ili, p. 208) gives the

locality as “Namaqualand, N. of Orange R.” Trewavas (1936, Novit. Zoolog.,

xl, p. 72) also says Namaqualand. But Smith merely said “north of Orange R.”’

Actually the type locality is Boetsap, eastern Bechuanaland (see Note on Andrew

Smith, p. 117).

Trewavas (1936, l.c.) records no Cichlids from south of the Otavi region in South

West Africa. None were collected in the Gt. Fish River (tributary of the Orange

River) or in the Orange River at Goodhouse or the Aughrabies Falls by the South

African Museum expeditions in 1936 and 1939.

Fowler’s reference (Ann. Transv. Mus., xvi, p. 286, 1935) to Weber’s locality for

Haphochromis moffatii is a misquote: Weber gave two localities in Natal, not

“Vivolsdrift, Klein-Namaqualand ”’ [sic =Violsdrift].

The South African Museum has no records of any Cichlids from south-west of a

line between (approximately) Kuruman and East London (cf. Weber, 1897, Zool.

Jahrb., x, p. 195).

Some examples of 7. mossambica were introduced into a dam on the farm

“Highlands,” Malmesbury, by Mr. W. R. Hewett in 1937. Since then they have

been placed in other dams in the neighbourhood, and are flourishing and

multiplying. In January 1940 they were found (A.C. H., K. H. B., and C. W. T.)

to be spreading to one of the tributary streams of the Diep River at Malmesbury,

and there seems every likelihood of their extending to the main Diep River and

becoming an integral part of its fauna. It is therefore important to note that

T. mossambica is not a natural component of the fauna of this river.

Haplochromis philander (Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., no. 1, 1913, p. 69, pl. 3, as

Tilapia philander) has been introduced at the Jonkershoek Fish Hatchery, but does

not seem to have escaped from captivity into the Eerste River.

112 Annals of the South African Museum.

capensis Garman, 1895—“False Bay, Cape of Good Hope’’—cannot

be taken seriously. The most charitable explanation is that “False

Bay” refers to the subsidiary bay of that name inside St. Lucia Bay

in Zululand. F. mkuziensis Fowler, 1934, came from the Umkuzi

River, which flows into St. Lucia Bay.

Gambusia has been introduced into Groen Vlei (between George

and Knysna) and other places for mosquito control and as a forage-

fish.

2. The presence of the Catfish (Gephyroglanis) in the Orange and

Olifants (Clanwilliam) rivers. The absence of Sandelza is a further,

though negative, link between these two rivers.

3. The absence of Clarias from the southern tributaries of the

Orange River (so far as the Cape Province is concerned); e.g. the

Kraai River (Aliwal North), Ongar (or Ongers) River (Richmond-—

Prieska Divisions), and Zak—Hartebeest River (Kenhardt Division).

Although well adapted for existence in periodic rivers, e.g. the Molopo,

Kuruman, and Gt. Fish (S.W.A.) rivers, there are no records from

the southern tributaries. This may be due to lack of collecting, or

possibly temperature may be a restricting factor.

4, The absence of Labeo and the anoplus group of Barbus in any

river south-west of the Olifants—Gouritz systems.

5. The absence of large-sized species of Barbus from all systems

south of the main Cape watershed, except the Breede River, until

Natal is reached.

6. The presence of a group of small Barbus with “red-fins” in

the south-west and southern areas as far east as (and including) the

Zwartkops River, and, so far as we yet know, confined to these areas.

7. The absence of Sandelia in the Olifants River (Clanwilliam)

although Galaxias is present. i

8. The presence of Galaxias in the rivers on the Tertiary sea-cut

terrace around the south-west and south coasts, and its extension

to inland localities drained by the headwaters of these rivers (fig. 24).

The explanation of these rather remarkable features of distribution

is not easy. The full facts are not yet available. For example, are

the red-fin species really confined to the 8.W. Cape; are they absent

from the Orange River system and the rivers of the Eastern Province

and Natal, and the Transvaal and Hast Africa? In tracing the

distribution of these species reliance should only be placed on living

specimens, not on ‘‘Museum” specimens which may appear to belong

to, or have been “identified” as, species known to be red-fins (e.g.

Boulenger’s “‘burchelli ’’ from Deelfontein).

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 113

Are there really no large, radiately striate scaled Barbus in the

Orange system, or indeed anywhere south of the Limpopo system,

until one reaches the south-west corner of the Western Cape Province ?

Are there really no large-sized, either longitudinally or radiately

striate scaled, Barbus in the rivers east of the Breede River until

one reaches Natal? In the present state of our knowledge it seems

that not only is the presence of B. andrewi in the Breede River an

anomaly, but the presence of any radiately striate scaled large Barbus

in the Olifants-Berg—Breede area is a greater anomaly. The nearest

such species is B. rapax from the Transvaal.

It is a reasonable assumption that B. capensis has been derived

from holubs (or both from a common ancestor); serra and andrew

may be closely allied to one another, but not to either of the longi-

tudinally striate scaled species.

It is legitimate to suggest queries for future research to investigate,

but speculation without much fuller data than we yet possess is not

advisable.

Nevertheless, perhaps the following suggestions may be made.

The distribution of Galaxias over the Tertiary peneplain on the west

and south coasts offers little difficulty in view of the marine ancestry

of these fishes (and the katadromous habits of some of them at the

present day). The explanation is all the easier on the basis of the

Continental Displacement hypothesis and the one-time close juxta-

position of the southern continents.*

Sandelia seems to have been a later immigrant, from the east,

which managed to spread over the whole of the southern Tertiary

peneplain and the Cape Flats and Berg River area, but which seems

to have been in some manner prevented from entering the Olifants

system, and also the southern part of the Cape Peninsula. Although

formerly, before the Tertiary uplift had given impetus to erosion,

the watersheds were much less well-defined and the possibilities of

intercommunication (by flooding) greater, we must assume that the

watershed between the Gouritz and Olifants rivers, even at Karroo

Poort, was sufficiently marked to prevent the migration of Sandelia

(fig. 1, x x x). On the other hand, even at the present day the

watershed between the Breede and the Little Berg rivers in the

* Sir A. C. Seward: “It is difficult, it is probably impossible, to explain the

facts without calling to our aid the hypothesis of drifting continents... . I can

do little more than reaffirm adherence to the view that plant records from rocks

of many ages raise problems which seem to be insoluble unless we postulate

movement and sliding of the earth’s crust.’ —Nature, vol. 144, no. 3644, Suppl.,

p. 424, Sept. 1939.

114 Annals of the South African Museum.

neighbourhood of Tulbagh is comparatively low (fig. 1, x). The

capture of the headwaters of the Breede River by the Little Berg

River may have been the means of introducing Sandelia from one

(? the former) into the other (? the latter).

And if this transference occurred in the case of Sandelia, may it not

also have happened to B. andrewi? But if so, in which direction,

from the Berg River into the Breede River or wice versa?

And if serra and andrewi are derived from one another (or a common

ancestor), where and when were the drainage systems of the Olifants

on the one hand, and the Berg—Breede on the other hand, in (periodical)

intercommunication? So far as one can judge from the present-day

topography, the most likely place is the Witzenberg Vlakte between

the Witzenberg Range and the Schuurfteberg Range (near Gydo,

north of Ceres) (fig. 1, x x). Here the actual sources of the Olifants

and the Dwaars (Ceres) rivers arise on the same intermontane plain.

But as I have suggested elsewhere, the headwaters of the Dwaars

once flowed, not through Michell’s Pass into the Breede River, but

eastwards into the Kasdies River and Touws River drainage, thence

to the Gouritz system.* Thus it is necessary to introduce a time

element, and to suppose that the Michell’s Pass river, in cutting its

way back, first tapped the sources of the Kasdies River before reaching

the Witzenberg Vlakte, where intercommunication with the Olifants

River might have been possible. If this did happen, one might have

expected to find the anoplus group represented in the Breede River

system. But it is not represented. Thus one speculation leads to

another!

Note on Sir ANDREW SMITH’s SPECIES.

Andrew Smith described and figured the following freshwater fishes

in “Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa.’’ Bound copies bear

the date 1849, but the work was issued in parts prior to that date

(see Waterhouse, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1880, p. 489), viz.:

1840. Part 9. Plate 5. Tilapia sparrmani [original spelling].

1841. Part 14. Plate 10, fig. 1. Barbus capensis.

fig. 2. Barbus marequensis.

Plate 11, fig. 1. Barbus burchelli.

fig. 2. Barbus pallidus.

Plate 12, fig. 1. Abrostomus [ =Labeo| umbratus.

fig. 2. Abrostomus capensis.

1845. Part 23. Plate 27. Clarias capensis [=gariepinus, not

capensis C. and V.].

UEC epss0 Loa:

- F

)

;

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 115

Of these species the types, 7.e. specimens considered by Boulenger

to be the types, of T. sparrmani, Barbus capensis and marequensis,

and Clarias capensis, are in the British Museum.

The figures of these species are coloured, and give the impression

of considerable accuracy on the part of the artist. When, however,

the number of scales represented by the artist in the coloured figures

(both freshwater and marine species, but excluding of course Clarias

and other scaleless species) is compared with the number found in

actual specimens, it is seen that the artist has inserted too many (in

some cases far too many) scales.* To take one case where Andrew

Smith has (exceptionally) stated the number of scales, T. sparrmani:

“about 10 longitudinal rows, from 23-27 scales in each’’—the artist

has shown at least 37 scales along the middle of the side of the body.

In other cases Andrew Smith did not state the number of scales.

Dr. V. Fitzsimons has examined the remains of Andrew Smith’s

collection of Reptiles and Amphibians, and his remarks relative to the

descriptions and figures may be quoted here. “It is apparent that

in many of his original descriptions Smith had more than one speci-

men before him, and although at a later date these species were

figured, there is no guarantee that he actually figured one of hi

original specimens. Some of the actual specimens figured by him in

his “Illustrations” are now in the British and Royal Scottish Museums,

and in spite of the doubts expressed above, I feel that it would be

quite legitimate to regard these as the types, in the absence of any

proof to the contrary. In other cases the evidence available points

often to composite descriptions and even composite figures, and in

such the definite localizing of the type is impossible.”’ t ¢

I have shown that Andrew Smith’s description of Barbus capensis

is accurate as far as it goes, and includes one essential character,

namely, the scale-sculpture; but although he gives its true habitat,

he states that it also inhabits an entirely different river, which latter

statement we now know to be erroneous. §

In this case the type was fortunately extant, and the confusion

arising out of Boulenger’s Catalogue could be rectified. But the

* In the uncoloured figures this discrepancy is not found, or is very much less

noticeable, thus suggesting a different artist.

t+ Ann. Transv. Mus., xvii, p. 260, 1937.

t In reply to an enquiry addressed to the Royal Scottish Museum, Mr. A. C.

Stephen, Keeper of the Natural History Department, states (1/xii/37) that there

are no fishes in Sir Andrew Smith’s collection preserved in that Museum.

§ Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (10), xix, p. 304, 1937.

116 Annals of the South African Museum.

absence of the types of B. burchelli and of Labeo umbratus and capensis

leaves no alternative to the adoption of Boulenger’s diagnoses of

these species.

It is impossible to say whether B. burchelti was founded on burchelli

(as now defined) or on vulneratus. The type of pallidus also is lost,

and no author has claimed to have recognized it, or has identified

specimens with it. Boulenger thought it might have been based in

part on vulneratus, but the size (2 in., 9 lines) alone excludes this

species and the other “‘red-fin” species, all of which develop their

““red-fins’’ considerably before reaching this length. There is no

doubt in my mind that Boulenger’s hemipleurogramma is really

Andrew Smith’s pallidus. The two species of Labeo are discussed ~

below (p. 125).

Andrew Smith’s collection of freshwater fishes was in all probability

derived from various localities and various sources. He himself

travelled widely in the Colony; he instituted and was the first

Curator of the South African Museum established in Cape Town in

1825.*

The localities given by Andrew Smith in the “Illustrations” do

not help much. Although he mentions the Olifants, Breede, and

Orange rivers in some cases, for the very two species of Barbus whose

types are missing and whose exact status is thus, to some extent,

doubtful, he gives only a general locality: ‘‘ various rivers of the Cape

Colony” (B. burchelli); “‘clear streams in various parts of the Cape

Colony” (B. pallidus).

On the chance of finding an entry recording the capture of fresh-

water fishes on the Expedition led by Andrew Smith in 1834 from

Port Elizabeth wa Graaf Reinet and Colesberg to Philippolis (2.e.

within the region covered by the present paper), I have consulted the

original MSS. Diary, which is in the South African Museum. This

Diary, however, only begins with the departure from Graaf Reinet,

and contains no reference to the capture of any fishes en route until

the Expedition reached Boetsap (Bootscap). As this record and a

* See A. Michie, Memoir of Sir A. Smith, Trans. Berwickshire Naturalists Club,

Alnwick, 1877; A. Roberts, Ann. Transv. Mus., xviii, p. 271, 1936; V. Fitzsimons,

ibid., xvii, p. 259, 1937.

Chief expeditions (dates taken from Michie): Kaffirland, 1824-25; West coast

to Orange River, 1828; Natal and Zululand (with Krebs and Drége), 1830; Port

Elizabeth to Graaf Reinet, Philippolis, Basutoland, Kuruman, and Limpopo

River, 1834-35.

P. R. Kirby, “Andrew Smith, M.D., Founder of the First South African

Museum,” Ann. S. Afr. Mus., xxxvi, pp. 1-26, pls. 1-5, 1942.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 117

later one in the Diary enable the type localities of two of Andrew

Smith’s species to be fixed, they may be quoted here.*

At Boetsap on 23rd January 1835 Andrew Smith obtained “Fish

No. 76” (published Diary, i, p. 228). The description of the colora-

tion, which mentions the anterior and posterior portions of the

dorsal fin, corresponds unmistakably with the coloured figure (pl. 5)

of Tilapia sparrmanw in the “Illustrations.”” The type locality for

this species, therefore, may be accepted as the Hartz River near

Boetsap, Bechuanaland, Cape Province.

On 15th August 1835 Andrew Smith records: “A fish with four

palpi to the upper lip was this day caught in the Marique [ = Marico

River] nearly if not same that occurs in the Orange River. It

appeared thicker in proportion to its length than those of the last-

named river. It was of a fine green colour, the scales edged with

golden yellow; belly and chin white; under lip yellowish white;

eyes silvery, clouded in some parts with bronze, and a fine bright

golden yellow ring margined the pupil; fins greenish, pectoral ones

purplish at base on outer scale; upper lip pale yellowish green”

(published Diary, ii, pp. 161, 162). On this date the Expedition

was alongside the Marico River near where it reaches the border of

Bechuanaland at Deerdepoort and Sekwani, east of Gaberones

(Kirby’s map in Diary, ii).

This place must be regarded as the type locality for Barbus

marequensis, though perhaps it would be rash to assume that the

so-called type specimen in the British Museum actually came from

the Marico River. Fresh specimens from this locality should be

obtained, and a re-examination of the type specimen would not be

superfluous.

From the shape of the anal fin in the figure in the “Illustrations”

(pl. 10, fig. 2) the species is one with longitudinally striate scales

(cf. p. 144), although Andrew Smith is not so definite on this point

as he is in the case of B. capensis; further, he says “scales very

large,” his figure shows about 45 in the lateral line, and (apparently)

14 around the caudal peduncle; whereas Boulenger (1911, Cat.

Fw. Fish. Afr., u, p. 36) gives 33 and 12 respectively. The figure

shows the last dorsal spine as rather strong, and accentuated by

bright yellow colour; Boulenger describes it as rather feeble (see

further p. 160).

* This Diary has now been edited by Prof. P. R. Kirby, and published as

Nos. 20 and 21 of the Publications of the Van Riebeeck Society, Cape Town,

vol. 1, 1939, vol. 2, 1940.

VOL. XXXVI, PART 2. 8

118 Annals of the South African Museum.

Note on Mr. C. R. SEEBER.

Gilchrist and Thompson recorded three species: Labeo seebert,

Barbus seebert, and Barbus serra, collected by ‘‘Dr. Seeber”’ in the

“Olifants River.” In the case of the first and third species these

authors in their monograph place the locality in the Transvaal, but

in that of the second species in the Cape Province. In the latter

case the locality is still ambiguous because there are two well-known -

rivers of this name in this Province, one in the Clanwilliam Division,

the other in the Oudtshoorn Division (cf. p. 119). In the South

African Museum Register book, in W. W. Thompson’s handwriting,

the word “Transvaal”’ (after Olifants River) occurs only in the case

of Labeo seeberi, the other two being recorded merely as from the

Olifants River.

As it seemed strange that Seeber should have collected in only

two rivers, both of the same name, but in two different Provinces,

and since it has been found that all the three species in question

are common in the Clanwilliam Olifants River, but have not been

recorded from any other localities, enquiries were made in likely

quarters.

Seeber was evidently in communication with Dr. Gilchrist (see

Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 404), but not with the South African

Museum, as his name does not appear on the Museum files.

In the Report of the South African Museum for 1906, however,

Dr. Gilchrist recorded the name “C. R. Seeber, Clanwilliam” as a

donor of freshwater fishes (Rep. S. Afr. Mus. for 1906, Cape Town,

1907, *p2 21):

Consequently it is quite clear: that “Dr.” was a misprint for

““C, R.”; that Seeber obtained all his specimens from the Clanwilliam

Olifants River; and that Gilchrist and Thompson inadvertently

wrote the word “Transvaal” instead of “Cape” in recording the

localities of Labeo seebert and Barbus serra.

I have recently (1940) traced and personally met Mr. Seeber.

He confirms that the only fishes he sent to Dr. Gilchrist were caught

in the Clanwilliam Olifants River, while he was Chief Constable at

Clanwilliam.

Note on KRgEBs.

On one of his expeditions, namely, to Natal and Zululand in 1830,

Sir Andrew Smith was accompanied by Krebs (Roberts, Ann. Transv.

Mus., xviii, p. 271, 1936), and also by the botanist Drége (Fitzsimons,

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 119

ibid., xvul, p. 259, 1937). But I am not aware of any record of

Krebs’ travels or itinerary.*

The types of Barbus afer and serra are in the “Krebs collection”

now in the Berlin Museum. DB. serra is a species known only from

the Olifants River (Clanwilliam), but B. afer has not yet been

rediscovered.

Notes on DUPLICATION OF PLACE-NAMES.

Reference has already been made to the ambiguity arising from

there being three rivers, two in the Cape Province and one in the

Transvaal, bearing the same name of Olifants River (p. 118).

Duplication, nay multiplication, of the same place-name occurs with

eteat frequency in South Africa, and the compiler of locality-records

should be on his guard.

For the purpose of the present paper the following additional

cases may be noted :—

Diep River arising on Table Mt. and flowing into False Bay;

Diep River arising near Malmesbury and flowing into Table Bay.

In the present paper no reference is made to the Diep River, Caledon,

a minor tributary of the Zwart—Bot River.

Gt. Fish River, a northern tributary of the Orange River, arising

in South West Africa; a large river in the Hastern Cape Province

arising on the south of the main Cape watershed; and Fish River, a

southern tributary of the Orange River connected with the Zak River.

Klip River, Natal (Max Weber), and Klip River, Transvaal

(Gilchrist and Thompson).

Palmiet River in the Cape Peninsula, flowing from Table Mt. into

Hout Bay; and the Palmiet River (area 5 on map, fig. 1) on the

east side of the Hottentots Holland Mts. and Cape Hangklip. There

are several other ‘‘ Palmiet”’ rivers, or farms called “‘ Palmietrivier.”’

Similarly there are several Riet, Dwars (or Dwaars), and Zout

(or Salt) rivers. There is a Groot (or Groote) River near Ladismith,

and one at Steytlerville. Both the Clanwilliam Olifants River and the

Oudtshoorn Olifants River have a tributary called the Doorn River.

The former of these as well as the Breede River has a tributary,

Hex River.

Crocodile River (Transvaal): one of the headwaters (others are

the Magalies and Yokeskei rivers) of the Aapies River, arising on

* In a list of donations to the South African Museum in 1825 he was described

as “naturalist to His Prussian Majesty.” See Kirby, Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus., xxxvi,

p. 14, 1942.

120 Annals of the South African Museum.

the north of the Witwatersrand in the Krugersdorp and Pretoria

Divisions, and belonging to the Limpopo system; a larger river

arising on the east of the Drakensberg escarpment in the Lydenburg

Division, and joining the Komati River.

In the case of towns, there is Richmond in the Cape Province and

in Natal; Heidelberg in the Cape and the Transvaal; Ladsmith

in the Cape and Ladysmith in Natal.

Montagu Pass, north of George, is a long way from the village of

Montagu.

CoLLOQUIAL NAMES.

As in the case of many other animals, so in the case of fishes, there

are very few colloquial names, and these are often applied to several

fishes which the scientist now recognizes as distinct species. Con-

sequently they are of little use in scientific work. For example, in

the Reports on Inland Waters,* Mr. 8. A. Hey employs only colloquial

names, and expresses the opinion that “‘To my mind there is but little,

if any, difference between the yellow-fish, scaley, and witte-vis”’

(Rep., ii, p. 29). Yet his records of the occurrence of these fishes in

the various rivers investigated seem to have been based on some

character or coloration easily observable in the field (either by himself

or his informants), because his records coincide in general with the

distribution as known from authoritatively identified specimens or

recent investigations. #.g. Holub’s Yellowfish (B. holubz) is found

(so far as the Cape Province is concerned) in the tributaries of the

Orange River (Rep., iil, p. 28), 2.e. only north of the main Cape

watershed.

In detail, however, his records could not be used to delimit the

distribution of particular species. These remarks are not intended

as criticism, because the Survey was undertaken only with a view

‘to ascertaining the possibilities of the inland waters of the Union

for stocking” with non-indigenous edible fish (Rep., i, p. 1).

In the case of the Kurper, or Rockey as it is known in the Eastern

Province, the records show that in all probability Sandelia occurs

from the Cape along the coastal belt as far as the East London and

Komgha districts. When we come to the Transvaal, however, we

have to bear in mind that in that part of the country the name Kurper

refers to various species of Tilapia.

‘“‘Rooivlerk Kurper” is a name which, in my own experience, has

* Union S. Afr. Fisheries Survey, Inland Waters, Report, i, 1926; Report, i,

1926; Report, iii, 1928.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 121

caused confusion owing to the omission of the second word (see

pp. 107, 248).

In reports on the Black Bass,* certain statements regarding the

local and scientific names, and the distribution, of some of the in-

digenous fishes are incorrect, though this was unavoidable at the

time the reports were written. Later researches have shown, e.g.,

that the term “‘rooivlerk” is ambiguous, and that the published

records of “‘ Barbus anoplus”’ refer to more than one species, but none

of them to the true anoplus (p. 206).

“Gilieminkie”’ is a name applied in the Eastern Province and

Natal to any small species of Barbus which is not a red-fin. Ina MS.

note on fishes from the Klip River, Transvaal, the late Dr. Gilchrist

spelt the name “ Kilimkjas.”

Therefore, in order that the various species in the Cape may be

referred to with greater exactitude by anglers and others, the following

names are proposed. They have been chosen in consultation with

Mr. A. C. Harrison, Hon. Secretary of the Cape Piscatorial Society

and Advisory Officer on Inland Fisheries to the Cape Provincial

Administration.

Labeo capensis. : . Orange River Sandfish.

Piamoraius . . Moggel; Mud Mullet (E.P.f).

», seeberr : : : . Clanwilliam Sandfish, Sandvis.

Barbus holubs : : . Holub’s Yellowfish, Geelvis.

3 capensis . : : . Clanwilliam Yellowfish, Geelvis.

» serra , ‘ : . Saw-fin.

» andrew . : : . Andrew Smith’s or Cape White-

fish, Witvis.

» Ourchella . ; 5 . Burchell’s Red-fin, Rooivlerk.

» vulneratus : : . Castelnau’s Red-fin, Rooivlerk.

» calidus \ d : . Clanwilliam Red-fin, Rooivlerk.

5 asper y : : . Plump Red-fin, Rooivlerk.

» tenutrs : : , . Slender Red-fin, Rooivlerk.

55. senticeps .: , . Uitenhage Red-fin, Rooivlerk.

pallidus... ; . . Goldie.

» karkensis . : f . Gillieminkie or Gillie (E.P. and

Natal).

», anoplus and varieties . . Chubby-head (Gouritz, Clan-

william, Orange River).

* A.C. Harrison, Union S. Afr. Fish. Mar. Biol. Survey, Investigational Reports,

4, 1934, pp. 21, 22, 80; and 7, 1936, pp. 17, 18, 20, 79, 88, 90, 94, 95, 101.

t+ W.P., E.P.=Western, Eastern Province respectively.

122 Annals of the South African Museum.

Clarias . Mud-barbel, Platkop Barber.

Gephyroglanis sclaterv . : . Orange River Rock-baager or

Catfish.

- gull : . Clanwilliam Catfish.

Galaxias zebratus . . Mountain Galaxias (W.P.)

>» punctrfer . Lake or Vlei Galaxias (W.P.).

Sandelia capensis . .. Cape Kurper.

i bainsi : : . Bain’s Kurper, Rockey (E.P.).

Gilchristella aestuarius . : . Whitebait, Freshwater Sprat.

Mugil . ' . Springer, Harder.

Anguilla mossambica . Freshwater Eel, Paling.

Monodactylus faleiformis — . . Moonfish, Kaapse Nooitje.

PARASITES.

Infestation by trematode worms, causing black warts under the

scales, may be very heavy in some places, e.g. on Red-fins (Barbus

asper) in a tributary of the Gamtoos River at Patentie. But in

most localities the fishes seem to be very free from parasites.

The Fish-louse (Argulus) has only been found on Sandelia capensis

in one locality (see p. 253) in the area dealt with, although Dr. V.

Fitzsimons of the Transvaal Museum has submitted specimens from

Cichlid hosts from the Transvaal.

FISH-FAUNA OF THE RIVER-SYSTEMS.

The following are not specially listed :—

The Hel (Anguilla) is found in all rivers flowing southwards and

south-eastwards, 7.e. in areas 2 and 4-12 (p. 255).

Gobies (Gobius and Psammogobius) are found in the lower reaches

and estuaries of the Breede River and other rivers eastwards (p. 258).

The Moonfish or Kaapse Nooitje (Monodactylus) occurs in the

Eerste, Breede, and other rivers eastwards.

Springers and Harders (Mugil) occur in all estuaries and often for

some considerable distance inland (p. 255).

Area on Number

Map, Rivers and Systems. Species. of

fice ih. Species.

Galaxias zebratus

1 Cape Peninsula and western Cape s. punctifer | 4

Flats | Sandelia

Gilchristella

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 123

Area on Number

Map, Rivers and Systems. Species. of

fig. 1. Species.

Galaxias punctifer

1A Diep River, Mosselbank River Sandelia I 2

(Malmesbury district) [Tilapia mossambica,

introduced | J

Galaxias zebratus

2 Eerste River | Rp aes OUR Ie +

Barbus burchelli

Galaxias zebratus

Be punctifer

3 Berg River (Great and Little Berg) Sandelia 5

Barbus andrewr

>» oburchelli

3A Zoutkloofs River, Verloren Vlei CALLE ee 9

River, Lange Vlei River pen Pape HULSE: :

4 Lourens River Galaxias zebratus 1

5 Steenbras River, Palmiet River, Galaxias zebratus )

Bot River, Onrust to Hermanus { Senda 2

streams J

Galaxias zebratus

6 Hartebeest and Klein River, Zonn- Sandelia

tagskloof and Uilenkraal rivers, Gilchristella (lower 3

Bushman River reaches, Klein

River)

Galaxias zebratus

7 fore River, River Zonder End, Ace Fie 5

uffeljagt River

vulneratus

Gulchristella

Galaxias zebratus

7A Nieuwejaars River, Grashoek River, Sandelia | 4

Kars River (Bredasdorp district) Barbus vulneratus |

Gulchristella

7B Duivenhoks_ River, Heidelberg, Galaxias zebratus )

Vette and Kaffirkuils rivers, Sandelia 3

Riversdale Barbus vulneratus i)

Touws, Buffels, Groote Galaxias zebratus

(Ladismith), Dwyka, Sandelia

8 Gouritz Gamka, Grobelaars, Le Labeo wmbratus

system Roux, Olifants ( Oudts- Barbus asper 6

hoorn); and (south 4 ae LILLY

the Teta ctl > anoplus

ders and Valsch rivers

Little Brak River, Mossel Bay { Galaxias zebratus 9

(upper reaches) Barbus asper

Little Brak River and Great Brak Labeo umbratus (see

9 River p. 137) 1

Malagas River, George Galaxias zebratus 1

Homteni, Goukama, Kruis ea Sandelia 9

Knysna; Keurbooms River Barbus asper }

f Sandelia ]

10 Groote River, Steytlerville, Bavi- Labeo umbratus 4

aans Kloof River, Gamtoos River Barbus asper

» pallidus

124 Annals of the South African Museum.

Area on Number

Map, Rivers and Systems. Species. of

fig. 1. Species

Kromme_ River, Geelhoutboom Sandelia |

River, Kabeljouw River, Ronde- Barbus asper L 4

10A bosch River, Zeekoe River, » pallidus |

(Humansdorp district) » senticeps

; Sandelia

van Stadens River { Barbus pallidus } 2

£ Sandelia

| Barbus pallidus

1] Baakens and Zwartkops River » senticeps 4or5

| asper?

Gilchristella

12 Sundays River Labeo umbratus

[not fully investigated]

Galaxias zebratus

Labeo seeberi

Barbus capensis

13 Olifants River, Clanwilliam % heme 8

», phlegethon

5 «= cernuus

Gephyroglanis gilli

Labeo capensis }

Barbus holubi

14 Orange River, western or lower » paludinosus

section, below Aughrabies Falls, », hospes 6

incl. Gr. Fish River (S.W.A.) Engraulicypris garie-

pinus

Clarias gariepinus

144 Orange River, middle section from Labeo capensis

Aughrabies Falls to junction of », umbratus

Caledon River, incl. southern Barbus holubi

tributaries Great Riet, Zak, » paludinosus |

Ongars, etc. (excl. Dry Hartz, », anoplus var.

Vaal, Modder, and other northern Gephyroglanis sclatert

tributaries) | Clarias gariepinus

Famity CYPRINIDAE.

Gen. LABEO Cuv.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xi, pp. 346,

553, 562.

HistTorica (excluding Transvaal and Rhodesian species).

1841. Andrew Smith described and figured:

Abrostomus umbratus from rivers north of the Orange River, with

“very small”’ scales (actual number not stated, but figure shows at

least 110 along lateral line); and A. capensis from rivers of Cape

Colony [z.e. south of the Orange River] but without definite locality,

with “rather small” scales (figure shows about 60 in lat. line).

St.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 125

Such an enormous number of scales as is represented in the figure

of wmbratus is unknown in the genus; the nearest approach being

82-90 in seeberr. It is possible that Andrew Smith did actually

obtain a specimen of the Olifants River (Clanwilliam) species together

with specimens of Barbus capensis (p. 116, footnote); but both

umbratus and capensis are stated to have two pairs of barbels, which

seebert (adult) has not got. On the other hand, as noted above

(p. 115) the artist responsible for Smith’s figures persistently repre-

sented more scales than were necessary.

We may therefore regard Smith’s figures of wmbratus and capensis

as representing two species, one with relatively smaller and one with

relatively larger scales. Although there may be a suspicion that

umbratus was based on (or perhaps partly based on) a specimen of

what we now know as seeberi, there is no means of proving it; and

we must accept Boulenger’s diagnoses based on specimens in the

British Museum.

1861. Castelnau described inadequately:

Labeo cafer from Cat River (Gt. Fish River), and L. sicheli from

“la partie supérieure de la riviére d’Orange”’; the latter is stated to

have about 60 scales in the lateral line and ‘“‘D 3/9.” He also recorded

A. capensis Smth. from Burghersdorp (Orange system).

1868. Giinther (Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vii, p. 68) abstracted brief

diagnoses of Smith’s two species, but mentioned no specimens in the

British Museum or elsewhere. We may assume that Smith’s types

were, even then, lost or not available.

1894. Steindachner described and figured:

A. capensis Smith, from Philippolis, O.F.S8., with 59-60 scales in

the lat. line; and L. tenuirostris from the Limpopo River, with 46

scales in the lat. line.

1909. Boulenger made no reference to Smith’s types, and appears

to have recognized that the artist exaggerated the number of scales

in the figures. He therefore based his descriptions on more recent

material, and defined:

L. umbratus (Smith) as having 58-65 scales in the lat. line, 30-34

around caudal peduncle, dorsal rays 8-10, and anal not reaching

caudal.

L. capensis (Smith) as having 44-50 scales in the lat. line, 20-24

around caudal peduncle, dorsal rays 10-11, and anal reaching to

caudal (or nearly).

126 Annals of the South African Museum.

He made cafer Cast. and sicheli Cast. synonyms of umbratus (Smith)

Blgr., and in accordance with his interpretation of Smith’s species

transferred capensis of Steindachner to wmbratus, and tenwirostris

Stndnr. to capensis (Smith).

The British Museum material listed by Boulenger constitutes the

plesiotypes of the two species, the authorship of which should be

credited to Boulenger as well as to Smith. ,

It cannot be maintained that Steindachner in assigning a specimen,

described in detail by him, to capensis thereby crystallized the

diagnosis of this species. Smith’s two species must be taken in

conjunction, and as Steindachner’s specimen has the smaller scales

it is rightly regarded as a synonym of wmbratus. His figure shows

well the plump head (see fig. 3, a) and the short anal fin.

1911. Gilchrist and Thompson described (not figured until 1913):

L. seebert from ‘“‘Olifants River, Transvaal” (see p. 118), with

83 scales in lat. line, and “about 32” (actually 48) around the caudal

peduncle.

1913. The same authors followed Boulenger as regards the diagnoses

of Smith’s two species, and accepted his synonymy. In addition

they described and figured:

L. stenningi from Potchefstroom (Vaal—Orange system), with 60

scales in lat. line, and 28 around caudal peduncle. The single

specimen has actually 30 scales around caudal peduncle, and 4 dorsal

spines (as in many specimens of wmbratus, though the Ist is very

small and inconspicuous). Iam unable to accept it as a valid species,

and include it under wmbratus, with which it further agrees in the

shape of the head and the position of the barbels.

L. rubromaculatus from Zululand (Tugela River system), with

43 scales in lat. line, and 20 [22] around caudal peduncle. Besides

the type (total length 270 mm.) there is in the South African Museum

a series of 14 specimens, 120-190 mm. in length, from the same

locality. The type has Diii.9, one other has i. 10, all the others

have iv.9, although the Ist spine is very inconspicuous. Red

spots may occur also in capensis (p. 133).

1916. Boulenger accepted stenning: and rubromaculatus as valid

species, the former without comment, the latter with the remark

that it was very close to capensis.

1938. A peculiar little (90 mm.) species, L. guathlambae Brnrd., was

described (Barnard, 1938, Ann. Natal Mus., viii, p. 526, text-fig.)

from Natal. Apparently allied to wmbratus.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 127

Key to the Cape Species.

1. Two barbels on each side (fig. 3, a, b). Scales moderate.

a. Scales 1.1. 48-50, c.ped. 20-24. Dorsal branched rays usually

11. Anal reaching to caudal (or nearly) . CAPeNsis.

b. Scales 1.1. 57-65, c.ped. 30-34. Dorsal rays usually 2) ‘Anal

not reaching caudal . ; umbratus.

2. No barbels (in adult) (fig. 3, c). Scales very small, ‘very numerous,

1.1. 82-90. Dorsal rays usually 9. Anal not reaching caudal . seeberr.

DISTRIBUTION (fig. 2).

L. capensis. Although Andrew Smith stated that this species was

found in Cape Colony [2.e. south of the Orange River], published

records and material in the South African Museum indicate that it

occurs in the Vaal—Orange system north of the main Cape watershed,

but not south of this watershed. In an Albany Museum Guidebook

(l.c., infra, 1937, p. 129) it is recorded that “when the Gt. Fish River

[v.e. the one in the Eastern Province] comes down in flood many

thousands of this species are thrown up on the shore near the mouth

_ of the river.’ But Dr. J. L. B. Smith, who compiled the list, tells

me (am ltt. 21/v/41), when I pointed out that the occurrence of this

species in this river seemed to be an anomaly, that the paragraph in

question was intended to apply to wmbratus.

Gilchrist and Thompson record a specimen from the Crocodile

River (? which one, see p. 119), Transvaal; and tenwirostris came

from the Limpopo River. The former specimen is supposed to be

in the Transvaal Museum. I have not seen it; but I have seen

another specimen from the Crocodile River, Pretoria district

(caught 3/x/13).* This latter specimen, like tenwirostris, shows

slightly different proportions (larger eye) from those of the Vaal-

Orange series of capensis, as may be seen from the table. Whether

this feature is constant and definite enough to justify resurrecting

tenwrostris remains to be tested on a long series from the Limpopo

system.

The Pretoria Crocodile River rises on the north of the Witwaters-

rand, not far from some of the headwaters of the Vaal system,

but flows northwards to join the Aapies River (Limpopo system).

In the Tugela River system occurs L. rubromaculatus, a species

exceedingly close to, if not identical with, capensis.

For the present I do not include tenwirostris or rubromaculatus in

the synonymy of capensis.

* Thanks to the kindness of the Director and Dr. V. Fitzsimons.

Annals of the South African Museum.

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Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 129

L. umbratus was recorded by Andrew Smith from streams north of

the Orange River, but most later records are from the southern

tributaries of the Orange and localities south of the main Cape

watershed: the exceptions being Castelnau’s sicheli, Boulenger’s

record from Vredefort, O.F.S. (from a tributary of the Vaal River),

the type of stenningi from Potchefstroom; and half a dozen other

specimens (South African and Kimberley Museums) from the Modder

River at Glen, O.F.S., and Vryburg, Bechuanaland; also from a

tributary of the Zand River near Whites (20 miles south of Kronstad).

It occurs as far west as the Gouritz River system; it has been

collected in the Gamtoos River, and is reported from the Sundays

River and the Gt. Fish River, but not from the Gt. Kei River or

farther east.

The limits of distribution of these two species requires to be worked

out in much greater detail.

L. quathlambae occurs in the Upper Umkomazana River (Umzimkulu

River system) near Himeville, Natal.

L. seebert. Evidence has been given above (p. 118) showing that

the original specimen came from the Clanwilliam Olifants River,

from which river alone all recent specimens have been obtained.

Taxonomic CHARACTERS.

Dorsal Fin Spines.—In the three Cape species 4 dorsal spines can

usually be seen without difficulty in the juveniles; but the lst spine

is very small and in half-grown and adults is usually obscured under

the skin and last predorsal scale (cf. Barbus, wnfra, p. 142).

Anal Fin.—No marked growth-change in shape occurs. The fin

has the shape seen in certain species of Barbus (e.g. holubi, q.v.),

characterized by the apex of the lst branched ray reaching beyond

that of the last ray when laid back. The tip of the fin (as also of

the ventral fins) may be somewhat bluntened in large specimens.

The extent to which the tip of the fin (lst ray) reaches along the

caudal peduncle appears to have some specific value, at least in the

Cape species. Juveniles (30 mm.) of capensis can be distinguished

easily from those of wmbratus by this character alone.

Pectoral Fin.—No growth-change or sexual difference has been

observed in the three species examined.

Scales.—The striae are subparallel, or very slightly radiating. No

appreciable difference in. the number of striae occurs in the three

Cape species.

130 Annals of the South African Museum.

Mottley (Fishing Gazette, cxv, no. 3155, Oct. 1937, p. 444) shows

that the difference in the number of scales in North American trout,

hitherto regarded as a specific character, is dependent on the

temperature at the eyed-egg stage and for five weeks thereafter:

the higher the temperature, the lower the scale-count. The quoting

of this reference must not be taken toimply that a similar phenomenon

may have occurred in the genus Labeo, leading to the differentiation

of such a form as seeberr. In comparison with the more tropical

species, seebert has a remarkably high scale-count. But we have no

very definite data on the spawning season or seasons, and none on

the concomitant water-temperature factors, of any of the South

African species. A very cursory plotting of localities of the species,

and the air temperatures of the nearest recorded meteorological

station (Union of South Africa Year Book), seems to show that such

an investigation might possibly prove interesting.

Warts on Head.—Many of the species of this genus, e.g. cylindricus,

develop conspicuous horny tubercles on the snout in the adults of

both sexes, though they are often better developed or more numerous

in males than in females. These warts are perhaps caducous after

the actual spawning period, leaving crater-like scars.

The Cape species capensis, umbratus, and seeberr do not develop

these horny warts; nor does rubromaculatus (in the material at

hand).

On the other hand, it seems to be a property of the mucous

covering on the head and body, both in those species which develop

large warts and in those which do not, to show when preserved a

large number of minute whitish pimples. They are often indistinct,

and the variability in this respect seems dependent on the method

or state of preservation. Sometimes they are so numerous as to

lead one to suppose they might be sexual or even specific; but they

are not so, as their occurrence has been noted in both sexes of both

“tuberculate’? and non-tuberculate species. In fact they can be

seen sometimes in the mucus on the scales, especially on the back

and shoulders, but not of course if the specimen has been wiped

clean.

Macrocephaly.Specimens of both capensis and wumbratus are

occasionally found with an abnormally large head, so to speak a

‘bull-head”’: see the 300 mm. Laingsburg and the 240 mm. Keiskama

specimens in the table of measurements for wmbratus. |

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 131

Labeo capensis (A. Smith) Bler.

Orange River Sandfish.

Figs. 3, 0, 4.

1841. A. Smith, Illustr. Zool. 8. Afr. Pisces, pl. 12, fig. 2.

1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. l’Afr. austr., p. 57 (name only).

1909. Boulenger, Cat. Fw. Fish. Afr., i, p. 340.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xi, p. 360.

1937. J. L. B. Smith, Guide Vert. Fauna Hast. Prov., Albany Mus.,

Grahamstown, pt. 2, p. 128, pl. 31, fig. 3.

(The figures in Boulenger, G. and T., and J. L. B. Smith are of

tenuirostris, after Steindachner.)

[Not capensis Steindachner, 1894.]

In addition to the diagnostic characters in the key, the following

may be given: nape, especially in mature examples, rising in a sharp

curve; lower profile of head flat; snout as long as or slightly longer

than postocular part of head; rostral flap well developed; distance

between bases of anterior barbels about 2 in snout and subequal to

distance between bases of the anterior and posterior barbels; posterior

nostril oval or subcircular, closed by a rather large flap (easily over-

lapping the rim of the nostril in well-preserved specimens).

The growth-changes may be illustrated by the following table

compiled from two long series of specimens: one from the Modder

River (Kimberley district), the other from Goodhouse on the Orange

River and Aiais on the Great Fish River (S.W.A.) *; measurements

of a few larger specimens from other localities (including the largest

in the S.A. Mus.) are included.

The two series are very similar. In the largest Aiais specimens (2

each of 170 and 190 mm.) the head is proportionately larger than

might be expected (cf. also L. umbratus).

In the smallest example (16 mm.) only the posterior barbel is

_ present (fig. 4); but at 18 mm. the first indication of the anterior

barbel is distinguishable. At this stage also the lips are already thick

and papillose.

The scales are developed between the 22 and 25 mm. stages. Large

specimens show granular roughening on the shoulder and nape scales.

At about 60-65 mm. minute whitish granules or pimples can be

noticed in the mucus on the top of the head and snout, extending

down the sides of the latter, but not strong hard warts as in cylindricus,

* See note, p. 119.

132 Annals of the South African Museum.

rubropunctatus, etc. These pimples continue throughout life, being

present in the largest specimens, and in both sexes (see p. 130).

Fic. 3.—Labeo. Semidiagrammatic outlines of heads of half-grown

specimens (150-200 mm.). Anterior predorsal scales indicated. Line

from middle of snout to indicate relative position of eye.

a. umbratus. b. capensis. c. seebert.

The smallest ovigerous 2 measures 200 mm. in length (Zak River,

Fraserburg).

Revision of I ndigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 133

Young specimens 21-25 mm. in length are easily distinguished from

young Barbus holubs of same size (in addition to morphological

characters) by a heavier pigmentation. All the specimens obtained

from the Great Fish and Orange rivers had numerous minute dots on

the scales over the whole body except those on the throat and ventral

portion of the belly. Two of the larger ones had several dull reddish,

round spots irregularly and asymmetrically arranged on the sides;

according to the collectors these spots were not noticeable when the

fishes were caught (cf. rubromaculatus G. and T., p. 360).*

No records of time of spawning are available. The Aiais and Good-

house series, including juveniles from 16 mm. upwards, were collected

early in November (1936).

Localities.—Orange River system: lower Orange (below Aughrabies

Falls) and its tributary Gt. Fish River (coll. C. W. T. and A. J. H.);

_ middle Orange (between Aughrabies Falls and junction with Caledon

River) at Prieska and above the Aughrabies Falls (S. Afr. Mus.),

Zak River, Fraserburg (Boulenger, G. and T.); upper Orange at

Burghersdorp (Castelnau), Aliwal North (S. Afr. Mus.), Stormberg

River north of Burghersdorp (coll. C. W. T. and L. D. B.).

Vaal and northern tributaries: Dry Hartz at Taungs (coll. C. W. T.

and L. D. B.), Kimberley + (Boulenger, G. and T.), Warrenton (coll.

C.W.T. and L.D.B.), Potchefstroom (Boulenger, G. and T.),

* Sir J. E. Alexander, ‘An Expedition of Discovery into the Interior of Africa”

(London, 1838), vol. 2, p. 204: ‘‘Among other fish caught here [in the Gt. Fish

River at Kuis, near Kub, north of Gibeon] were two which seemed to be novel:

one, eighteen inches long, was brown on the back, with red blotches on the sides

[italics mine], and yellowish-white belly; it had a purse or bag-like mouth, and

eleven rays to the dorsal fin, was evidently a barbel (barbus), but peculiar from

having its nose produced and rounded, like Cyprinus Narus, and from the form of

the back being elevated and rounded. .

‘* The other was afoot long; its back was bluish, | p. 205, yellowish on the sides; it

was probably a Leuciseus [sic], for there were no indications of beards. Mr. J. E.

Gray, of the British Museum, to whom my sketches were shown, proposed to call

the first of these two varieties of fish Barbus Namaquaensis, and of the second he

said that he was not aware that any species of the genus, to which it appeared to

belong, had before been recorded as a native of the southern part of Africa.”

The first fish is clearly Labeo capensis. Gray’s name was never published, and

though we must credit Andrew Smith with knowing Alexander’s work, it is

doubtful whether he would have recognized either his capensis or wmbratus in a

fish stated to have red blotches on the sides.

The second fish would seem to be Barbus holubi, though Alexander said it had

no barbels, and made no mention of the characteristic stout dorsal spine; but

there is no other species of that size.

+ See note on Kimberley Reservoir under Barbus kimberleyensis, p. 159.

VOU. XXXVI, PART 2.

134

TL in mm.

iv]

is 20

x 22

= 25

—-— | 28-30

Se | 32-34

ag 36

Se 40

2 a 45

2a 50-55

o— | 60-65

= 70-75

S 80-85

} 90

& 110

160

170 ©

190

re) 28-30

a 35

Ss | 40-45

ag 50

ay 60

pen igs

52] 80

zs 90

= 98

Prieska, 115

Zak R.., 200

Vaal R.., 215

Potchefstroom, 255

Modder R., Glen,

O.F.S., 260-270

Limpopo R., 260

Aliwal N., 325

Crocodile R.,

Pretoria, 340

Modder R., 350

Zak R., 450

Annals of the South African Museum.

ff | | a |

L/H | H/E

Ba ay

Sy se

Shad pod

3t 3g

SI il woe

Bh yo oe

3t 33

3¢ 33

31 30h ak

33 3¢

31-32 | 4-42

32-33 | 42

7 tee lla

4 5

4-41 | 51-54

44-44| 5

42 | 54-53

Sip hee

Sarasa!

31-31 | 32-33

42321 4

3g | 44-44

Be) fae

Ait Wa

od nay

4 5

A rG

45 63

A 0 eG

ARG

A Miepye

Bay

45 83

Fea ee

3 | 8

43 | 9

Si) WE

1 14

1 i}

1 14

1 it

ea ee

fe cd\s 1

Tea re

eB et

19134) 14-12

Ele oes

2 2

2 Q1

24 3

Bt 8

1 iy

ES oe

(9195/9318

eo ae

iy) 2

es 2

2 2

Ons

Os EONS

Ooms

Oo eal

3 33

25 ee)

4 44

Be) Nc

4 44

Labeo capensis.

1.1 c.ped

No scales

43 20

42-43 | 20

Hata ht

43-45 | 20-22

3 22

44-46 ae

Ap)

43-44| 20

43-45| 22

44 22

45 99

46 “5

44 %

44-45 35

46 (22)

47 22

43 20

45 22

46 es

g.r. | barb.| Sex and Remarks.

et els

“| p.(a)

EP p.a

34+14

5+17

6 +20

10 +26

12 +30

5 +16) p.a.

7+20

10 +26

12 +38

D iv. 11, fin rays

distinct.

Lips thick and sub-

papillose.

6, ovig. 9.

dd.

tenuirostris Stndnr.

¢ (Pretoria Mus.).

Ovig. °.

Ovig. 9.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 135

Vredefort Road (Boulenger), Modder River, south of Kimberley

(G. and T.), 25 miles north of Bloemfontein (coll. C. W. T. and

L. D. B.), Glen (S. Afr. Mus.), Kromspruit, 38 miles south of Bloem-

fontein (coll. C. W. T. and L. D. B.).

SSS

Fic. 4.—Labeo capensis. Juvenile, 16mm. Goodhouse, Orange River.

Records from the Transvaal (Crocodile and Limpopo rivers) are

not included above, as the status of tenwirostris should be investigated

more closely.

Labeo rubromaculatus.

For comparison with L. capensis.

oS 120 4. 44 2 23 44 22, NOE 28

= | 130 |. 4 5 2 3 3 59

= 140 4. 5 2 3 e x

S 150 41 5s 24 34 a Et

ayy. 160 41 54 24 34 a He

2 170 4t 52 22 34 = Bs

1, 180 4i 6 S 4. ae a8

S 270 | 43 64 3 4 x 22 |12+36| § Type Diii, 9.

13 specimens Div. 9, one (160 mm.) Diii. 10.

Labeo umbratus (A. Smith) Blegr.

Moggel; Gamkavis; Vaalvis; Mud Mullet.

Fig. 3, a.

1841. A. Smith, l.c., pl. 12, fig. 1.

1861. Castelnau, l.c., p. 60 (cafer and sichelz).

1894. Steindachner, Sb. Ak. Wiss. Wien, ciii, p. 12, pl. 4, fig. 1,16

(capensis non Smith).

1909. Boulenger, l.c., p. 339, fig. 255.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 362, fig. 30 (after Blegr.).

136 Annals of the South African Museum.

~ 1913. Id., abid., p. 363, fig. 31 (stenning?).

1916. Boulenger, l.c., iv, p. 208, fig. 131 (after G. and T.) (stenningi).

- 1937. J. L. B. Smith, l.c., p. 129, pl. 31, fig. 4 (after Boulenger). |

Characters additional to those given in the key: nape not rising;

lower part of head swollen, profile convex (this is well shown in

Steindachner’s figure; Andrew Smith’s figure is not drawn in true

side-view and shows the broad snout); snout shorter than postocular

part of head; rostral flap feebly developed; distance between bases

of anterior barbels 14 in snout, and 2-24 times as great as the distance

between bases of anterior and posterior barbels; posterior nostril

narrow oblong-crescentic, the flap just large enough to close the

aperture.

The usual dorsal fin formula is D ii. 9; the true Ist spine is very

small and mostly obscured in half-grown and adult specimens, but

juveniles show 4 distinct spines. Occasionally specimens with Div. 8

or Div. 10 are found (Zak River, 44 with 9 rays, 3 with 10).

The anal fin is shorter than in capensis, not reaching beyond about

half-way along the caudal peduncle.

The table seems to show that in addition to these differences this

species has a smaller eye relatively to the length of the head.

Like capensis, the young have the scales heavily dotted with dark

pigment. The colour in life is silvery, greyish or greenish-grey or

buff on back, fins with a faint pink tinge.

It appears to start breeding at about the same size as capensis.

The largest recorded size is 310 mm. (Boulenger). The earliest stages

have not yet been obtained. Ripe adults were obtained in middle

and late October (1937), as were also the 30 mm. and other juveniles

listed in the table. Information received from Cradock by the

Department of Agriculture of the Cape of Good Hope in 1894, stated

that these fish spawned in September; and it was suggested that the

close season should be from September to November.

No large warts on head in either sex.

Variability is shown in the three specimens from the Keiskama

River. Normally the distance between tip of snout and origin of

dorsal fin is greater than distance between base of last dorsal ray and

end of scaling on caudal peduncle. The 240-mm. specimen is normal

in this respect, but in the 210-mm. specimen the two distances are

equal; and the 230-mm. specimen is intermediate.

Localittes.—Gouritz River and tributaries—Touws River; Buffels

River (Laingsburg); Gamka River (Prince Albert); Buffels or

Groot River (Ladismith); Valsch River (Albertinia); Olifants River

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 137

Poort. Ladismith.

Gamka

Buffels R., Laingsburg.

Alice.

Keiskama R..,

Labeo umbratus.

TL L/H | H/E| S/E | I/E ll. jc.ped.| g.r. | barb.|/Sexand Remarks.

SS eee

30| 32 34 1 13 53 26 3+15 | p(a) | Div. 9.

35| 32 34 1 13 57 28 4+18 | p(a) | Lips papillose.

40| 332 32 14 14 | 57-58 | 28-30 os p-a.

45; 32 |.4 |14-14| 1: A bs 5+20 | p.a.

55| 3¢ 4 |IJt-14| 12-2 | 56-58) ,, | 5-6+20

65) 4 41 |13-12| 24 | 58-61 | 30-32 | 6-74 23

Cale |. 4 4} 12 24 ae eh

85| 4 5-54| 2 23-3 | 60-62| 32

95) 4 54 2 3f » |32-34

100| 4 52 24 34 | 58-60| 32 8 +25

135 | 4-44 | 6 24 32 | 59-64 | 32-34

145| 4-41 | 6 24 32 | 59-62] 32

160 | 4-41 |6-64| 24 | 324 |59-60| 32 a .. | g¢gimmature and

ripe.

170| 44 24 = 57 32 |9-10+30 3.

180 | 4-41 |63-7| 24 | 4-44 | 59-65 | 32-34 “ We) AGS Qe.

210| 4-44 | 7 |24-23| 44 |58-61| ,, 10+32] .. | d, ovig. g.

230| 44 a 22 44 | 56 34 ue ie A

240 | 43-41 | 7-74 | 22-3 | 4% |60-63)| 32 Mei his 3

270| 424 74 3 5 68 x Re Be || Oy aireie?

290| 44 8 Se 5 61 aa i Se iG pnOMlen ee

300| 4 9 34 5 54 30 i) oe) Onde 2

210) 4 7+ 23 414. 60 DOP LO S2) || as Ne.

230| 4 i eae 44 62 32 fe os pOnias oe

240| 34 9 33 5 61 SOP IZ ESO) eh Ge

205| 44 64 24 34 60 30 10+30 2 Type stenningi.

(Oudtshoorn) (the last-mentioned according to Mr. Pocock of Oudt-

shoorn, all the former collected by K. H. B., C. W. T., and A. J. H.,

1937); Grobelaars River (Oudtshoorn) and Gamka River (Boulenger,

Gilchrist and Thompson).

Little Brak River and Great Brak River—a MS. note by the late

Dr. Gilchrist refers to specimens from these rivers sent to the S. Afr.

Museum and identified by Mr. Trimen (date ?. Mr Trimen ceased to

be Director in 1895).

Gamtoos River—upper reaches (=Groote River) at Fullarton and

Steytlerville; lower reaches at Patentie (coll. K. H. B., C. W. T., and

A. J: H., 1938).

Sundays River—Van Ryneveld’s Pass Dam, Graaff-Reinet (A. C.

138 Annals of the South African Museum.

Harrison in F. Mar. Biol. Surv., Investigat. Rep., 7, 1936, p. 75,

specimens not seen by me). ;

Gt. Fish River—Cradock (Boulenger); Fort Brown, Albany Div.

(Grahamstown Museum, seen by me); Tyumi River, tributary of

Keiskama River, Alice (Gilchrist and Thompson). Also Cat River (a

tributary) if Castelnau’s cafer be regarded as synonymous.

Orange River—streams N. of Orange River (A. Smith); upper

Orange (Castelnau, szchelv); Philippolis (Steindachner); tributary of

Zand River at Whites, approx. 20 miles south-west of Kronstad (coll.

D. Hey, Jonkershoek Fish Hatchery, seen by me); tributary of

Vaal River at Vredefort Road (Boulenger); Potchefstroom (Gilchrist

and Thompson, stenningi); Vryburg (S. Afr. Mus., Kimberley Mus.);

Zak River, Williston, and Ongar River, Richmond (Cape) (coll.

K. H. B., C. W. T., and L. D. B., 1939); Modder River at Glen (8.

Afr. Mus.); Sea Cow (Seekoe) River, 8 miles N.E. of Hanover, Oorlogs-

poort River, 20 miles 8.H. of Colesberg, and Stormberg River, 11

miles N. of Burghersdorp (all coll. C. W. T., L. D. B., A. J. H., 1939).

Labeo seebert G. and T.

Clanwilliam Sandfish.

Hig: (3,0¢.

1911. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8), vu,

p. 477.

1913. Id., Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xi, p. 347, fig. 18.

1916. Boulenger, Fw. Fish. Africa, iv, p. 211, fig. 133.

The following description is supplemental to that of Gilchrist and

Thompson :—

Depth 44 (juv. and the type) to 4? (largest specimen), length of

head 4 (70 mm.) to 54 (largest specimen) in length of body, excluding

caudal fin. Interorbital width twice in length of head (slightly

more than twice in smallest specimen). Snout subequal to postocular

part of head in juv. up to 96 mm., longer in specimens of 185 mm.

and upwards. Hye 32? (70 mm.) to 7 (the type, and 280 and 380 mm.)

in length of head. (Measurements involving the length of the head

are dependent somewhat on the method of preservation, as the tip

of the snout is very fleshy.)

A low fleshy ridge runs obliquely from the origin of the rostral flap

towards the junction of the upper and lower lips, and ends in a very

small barbel (1 eye diameter) on the left side in one 83-mm. specimen,

on both sides in one 93-mm. specimen; in all other specimens the

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 139

ridge ends bluntly; both ridge and barbel (when present) are hidden

under the preocular margin when the mouth is closed.

Posterior nostril oval or subcircular, the flap just closing the

aperture.

In all specimens up to 280 mm. (including the type), distance

between nostril and base of 3rd dorsal spine subequal to distance

between base of last dorsal ray and base of median caudal rays; in

the largest specimen the latter distance is subequal to that between

tup of snout and base of 3rd dorsal spine. In all cases base of ventral

spine vertically below base of 4th or 5th dorsal ray.

D iv. 9 (-10). Pectoral 2 (juv.)—4 length of head. The type has

the lower caudal lobe longer than the upper (as G. and T. describe,

though the figure scarcely shows it), but this seems to be merely

casual, as the other specimens have the upper lobe slightly longer

than the lower. Anal fin not reaching lower caudal rays. Caudal

peduncle twice as long as deep in juv. and type, nearly 24 as long as

deep in the 280-mm. specimen, and nearly 3 times in the 380-mm.

specimen.

Scales: 1.1. 82-87, the largest specimen 90; between 1.1. and ventral

spine 16; around caudal peduncle 36 (juv.) increasing to 50 (the type

has 48).

Gill-rakers on Ist arch: 7 (upper part) +24 (lower part) (72 mm.),

increasing with age to 14+ 40.

Stomach-contents, all ages, fine vegetable debris and microscopic

algal growths.

Pale grey or brown with silvery sheen, belly silvery white, each

scale (not the body as in G. and T.’s account) on back and sides with

minute dark dots, more noticeable in juveniles than adults.

Locality.—Olifants River, Clanwilliam, Cape.

Remarks.—This species is more slender than either capensis or

umbratus. Even ripe females in good condition are scarcely so

plump as the type; and none have the arched dorsal profile shown

in the figure, which is due to the position in which the specimen has

been preserved; also the artist has “improved” the profile of the

belly, giving an unnatural depth of body. In the largest specimen

the slenderness, especially of the hinder part of the body and of the

caudal peduncle, is very noticeable.

Of 50 specimens netted in mid-April 1937, ranging from about

150-290 mm., there were 6 $¢ and 7 99 apparently nearly ripe, and

37 immature; the mature ones were 250 mm. upwards in length. Six

specimens had 10 dorsal rays. No strong warts on head in either sex.

140 Annals of the South African Museum.

The young stages have not yet been obtained (see infra).

Mr. A. C. Harrison has kept a small specimen, 44-5 in. long, in

captivity for four years. Although it fed well on algae, etc., it did

not increase in size.

Labeo seebert.

TL | L/H| H/E| S/E | I/E } 1.1. c.ped. eet: barb. | Sex and Remarks.

70 4 32 14 14 82 36 7+24

15 4 4 12 12 83 38 8 +25

80 41 41 13 2 83 38 8 +25 i)

90 44 4i 13 2 86 38 p

95 41 5 24 23 85 40 8 +25

110 41 5 24 23 85 40 9 +25

140 44 5t 24 24 86 42 10 +26

175 44 5s 22 3 84. 44 11428

185 44 54 22 3 87 46 12 +30

210 44 6 22 3 84 48 12 +33

268 44 7 3 34 85 48 14+38 Type.

275 42 | 3 34 85 48 14+40

280 43 7 3 34 83 48 ms

290 43 | 3 33 87 48 i

310 43 i 3 34 85 48 he ak

380 52 vi 3 4 90 50 ee

Youne or 2? Labeo seeberi.

Fig. 5.

Some very young specimens, 9-5-15 mm., were taken at Keerom,

Upper Olifants River, on 16th April 1938 (K. H. B., A.C. H., C. W. T.).

They are more heavily pigmented than the young of any of the

species of Barbus occurring in the Olifants River, and would be, with

considerable confidence, referred to Labeo, but for the fact that in

the largest specimen (15 mm.) (only one of this size) the ventrals

arise below the anterior spines of the dorsal fin, a position that is not

in keeping with the adults of any species of Labeo. In the dorsal fin

7, possibly 8, rays can be counted, and 5 in the anal.

In addition to the pigmentation, the fact that at 15 mm. there still

remains an appreciable amount of the ventral lamina, shows that

these young do not belong to the Olifants River species of Barbus, all

of which have been traced back stage by stage.

In the Barbus species the ventral lamina disappears at about

the 13-mm. stage, except in B. cernuus where it can still be traced in

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region.

14]

the 15-mm. stage, though it has completely disappeared at 16 mm.

But in B. cernuus the ventral fins are well formed and free at the

13-mm. stage, whereas in the 15-mm. ? Labeo specimen they are

merely tiny lobes.

Fic. 5.—Juveniles of ? Labeo.

Bei aise ie lite Ne

H E EK E

9-5 43 Dot Wee == Sal tele

“es ES a rs rs

oo ee ie ae

Se ulise.| 3 , Ae

Olifants River, Clanwilliam. Lengths:

9-5 mm., 10-5 mm., 12 mm., and 15 mm.

Scales.

Barbs.

Dorsal and anal distinct.

Ventral just beginning.

Ventral lamina present.

142 Annals of the South African Museum.

Gen. Barsus Cuv.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xi, pp. 366,

554, 562.

1938. Barnard, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (xi), 2, p. 80.

TAXONOMIC CHARACTERS.

The study of long series of specimens has shown the necessity of

revising some of the characters which hitherto have been relied upon

for distinguishing the species.

The number of dorsal spines is given as 3 in some cases, 4 in others.

It seems, however, that 4 is the usual number; the first one being

very small and often hidden under the skin and the hindmost

predorsal scale. In juveniles of, e.g., burchelli and vulneratus the

4 spines are distinct, but in the adult the true 1st spine is not discern-

ible without dissection. In calidus all 4 spines are at all stages

more distinct than usual. In practice therefore the number given

in the dorsal fin formula is that which is usually visible without

dissection.

Similarly in the anal fin the Ist spine is often indistinct in the

adult, so that observers have given 2 anal spines in their descriptions

(see also under pallidus, and note on wviparus).

Although the normal number of dorsal and anal branched rays is

generally distinctive for many of the species, too much reliance

should not be placed on these formulae in identifying single specimens.

The following instance will serve to show the possibilities of error in

this respect (cf. also pallidus, p. 194).

On 13th and 14th February 1939 at Keerom on the Olifants River

above Citrusdal (Clanwilliam Division), a large quantity of young

fry was collected, viz. 723 specimens of 25 mm., and under, in length,

comprising the following (only the branched rays are counted) :—

pope D9, A5. Number of specimens, . . 44

capensis, Diss Aes: ne 2

D 10, A 5. - 1

normal, s i AvSy. es 122

ee ee :

serra, At: 33 2

: : A 5. as 1

D8, A 3 (spines and 2 rays ie 1

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 148

| normal, D7, A6. Number ofspecimens . . 470

calidus, < DS, 2A 6. 5 1

( iD ae i 19

i normal, D7, A65. i 50

phlegethon, \ D7, A6. ‘ 1

In all cases the abnormality is caused by the interpolation or

omission of one or two rays, the last ray being as usual a double one

(counted as one).

There are of course collateral characters by which the true identity

of a specimen can be determined; the dorsal and anal fin formula

being only a “first aid.’’ For example, the shape of the anal fin

will show whether a specimen with D7 and A 6 (rays) is a normal

calidus or an abnormal phlegethon; or again, the details of the colour

pattern and the position of the ventral fins will distinguish an

“8/5” capensis from a serra.

Ignorance, or possibly a glossing-over, of sexual characters has

been responsible for the institution of “‘new species.” In several of

the smaller species the relative length of the pectoral fin varies:

in males it reaches to, or nearly to, the base of the ventral fin spine;

whereas in adult females it is shorter, leaving a definite gap between

the end of the pectoral and base of ventral amounting to about

4 or 2 the length of pectoral fin. In most of the species showing

this sexual difference the juveniles are more like the male, but in

anoplus, cernuus, and phlegethon the juveniles are like the female.

That is, in the former the pectoral fin becomes relatively shortened in

the female, in the latter relatively lengthened in the male.

In the larger species, on the other hand, the pectoral fin does not

seem to show any sexual difference in length.

Max Weber (1897) appears to have regarded the length of the

pectoral fin as a specific character. The only real distinction between

burgi Blgr. and burchelli is the length of the pectoral fin, and yet

Boulenger in describing asper later on in the same work definitely

notes the difference in length as being sexual.

The anal fin shows no sexual differences,* but in most descriptions

the extent of the fin (reaching, or not reaching, to base of caudal fin)

is mentioned, and several different shapes are represented in the

illustrations (see Boulenger, and Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c.). So

far as I am aware no comment has been made on these differences

* Such as occur in some Indian species (Hora and Misra., J. Bombay N.H. Soc.,

xl, 1938); and in B. wéhlerti (Trewavas, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (xi), ii, p. 64, 1938).

144 Annals of the South African Museum.

in the various species, or on the possibility of their being due to

growth-changes. Among the species dealt with here, a growth-

change occurs in holubs and capensis (q.v.), and there is an essential

difference in shape between the anal fin of these two species and all

the other 8.W. Cape species.

The difference in shape is seen by comparison of the figures of

holubi, or capensis, and serra (cf. figs. 8 and 9 with 12, etc.). In

the former the Ist branched ray when folded back extends, at all

stages, beyond the end of the last ray; in the latter the last ray

extends beyond the Ist ray. In andrewi, burchelli, etc., the 1st and

last rays extend about equally far back, the former slightly less far

in adult than in young—that is, the fin (as also the dorsal and ventral

fins) becomes somewhat shortened or bluntened in adult (see fig. 16).

It so happens that both the species in which this growth-change

occurs are species with longitudinally striate scales; but whether

this correlation holds good for all the African or South African species

needs investigation. From the illustrations in Boulenger’s mono-

graph it would seem that rhoadesiz comes nearest to being an excep-

tion to the statement that all longitudinally striate species have an

elongate anal fin in the adult. On the other hand, amongst the

radiately striate species there seem to be several with an elongate

anal fin, taking Africa as a whole, but none among the 8.W. Cape

species.

The males. of several species, particularly the smaller species,

develop large conical tubercles on the snout and top of the head. It

is not yet known whether these tubercles are developed only at

certain seasons when breeding takes place, or, once developed, are

retained throughout life. In preserved specimens they are often

easily caducous, but this may be merely the effect of the preservative.

B. asper and burchelli are good examples. In the Modderfontein

specimen recorded (erroneously) as anoplus by Gilchrist and Thompson

(l.c., p. 429) the tubercles are very numerous, extending over inter-

orbital, snout, preopercle, sub- and pre-orbital, upper lip, chin, and

rami of lower jaw. In the Indian species B. hexagonolepis they

occur in a patch on the sub- and pre-orbital (Hora, 1940, J. Bombay

Nat. Hist. Soc., xl, pp. 81, 82, figs. 1, 2, and pl.).

The larger species do not develop these relatively large and few

tubercles. Instead, both sexes may have the top of the head and

snout thickly sprinkled with numerous minute pimples (cf. Labeo,

p. 130). B. holubi (and kimberleyensis), and andrewt, e.g., have these

pimples, but capensis and serra apparently have not. They are

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 145

very noticeable in hospes (g, adult 2 unknown), and often so in calidus;

but as remarked under Labeo their conspicuousness seems to be

dependent to some extent on the method or state of preservation.

In two Indian species (B. kolus and ticto) Hora and Misra (1938,

J. Bombay N.H. Soc., xl, pp. 28, 29, pl. 1 and fig. 3) find that

tubercles are developed in the males not only on the sides of the

snout, but also on certain rays of the anal fin and lower lobe of the

caudal. Trewavas (1938, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (xi), ii, pl. 64) finds

the same in B. wohlerti, a species believed to have been found in

Mozambique. This has not been observed in any of the S.W. Cape

species.

EXTERNAL SEXUAL DIFFERENCES.

Difference in Length of Pimples or Tubercles

Pectoral Fin. on Head.

holubs . None. Minute pimples in both

| sexes.

capensis None. None.

serra. : None. None.

andrew . None. Minute pimples in both

sexes.

calidus . a None. a

paludinosus . None. None.

hospes . . | Not reaching ventral 3, ?¢.| Minute pimples dg, ? 9.

burchella 4 Shorter in 2 than in 4. Large tubercles in g.

vulneratus : e iy

asper . : . ‘

senticeps i FY eS

tenuis . ; Ss None.

pallidus . ‘ vi None.

anoplus . ; i, None.

CErNUUS . : ua None.

phlegethon ” None.

afer : . | Not reaching ventral 9, ? 3. 2,

The institution of new species solely or mainly on the presence of

enlarged fleshy lips and labial lobes appears quite unwarranted (cf.

Worthington, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1929, p. 131). These “‘rubber-

lip” forms (see under capensis, p. 166) seem to occur only in those

species with longitudinally striate scales.*

* B. labialis, G. and T., 1913, appears to be an exception; but the specimen is

not in the South African Museum, and I have not had an opportunity of checking

whether the scales really are radiately striated.

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Annals of the South African Museum.

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Reviston of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 147

The number of barbels, one or two pairs, has been regarded as a

specific character, but it seems to have been assumed that the

character is constant from juvenile to adult. This assumption is

quite wrong, and no species can be said to be adequately described

until the life-history has been studied and it is known at what stage

the respective pairs of barbels (and scaling) are developed. The

requisite series showing these stages have been obtained for nearly

all the Cape species (table, p. 154).

As the anterior pair of barbels develops later, sometimes consider-

ably later than the posterior pair, and sometimes not at all, it may

happen that an immature specimen with only one pair of barbels

is quite erroneously identified. This has actually happened (see

burchelli).

From the tables given for each species it will be seen that other

characters may change as the fish grows. An increase in the number

of scales along the lateral line or around the caudal peduncle may

take place concomitant with growth. Accessory scales are not

infrequently developed, especially in fully grown specimens, around

the caudal peduncle, and chiefly in the dorsal region. A long series

of specimens, however, indicates clearly what is the normal number

of scales. The increase is usually more marked in the larger than in

the smaller species; but often the scale formula remains fairly constant

for each species.

The bright red patches at the bases of the pectoral, ventral, dorsal,

and anal fins, found in certain of the smaller species, known as “‘ Red-

fins,’ are neither sexual nor seasonal. It may be, however, that the

colour becomes more vivid during the actual breeding season. It is

more vivid in males, and may become dull in spent females. Indica-

tions of the colour can be seen at quite an early stage, round about

30 mm. usually. None of the larger species develop these red patches,

but in the case of some species the fins may be wholly suffused with a

pale salmon or pink tinge.

Dark lateral bands, which are so often seen and described in

preserved specimens, are usually not at all conspicuous in the living

fishes.

The collecting and examination of long series of all stages is con-

sidered of paramount importance in diagnosing and fixing the limits

of a species. For example, the difficulty of separating certain

individual specimens which might have been either burchella or

vulneratus suggested that the two might be synonymous. But though

the difficulty of separating isolated and individual specimens remains,

148 Annals of the South African Museum.

the long series of normal individuals at once showed that two species

should be recognized. Another case is that of anoplus and cernuus

(but see enfra, p. 213). These cases are important also from the

geographic point of view, because once the morphological difference

was demonstrated, each species was found to be confined to its own

particular river-system.

From the foregoing it will be seen how cautious one should be in

accepting records based on single specimens, unless the species is a

very clearly defined one.

B. gobionides C. and V. (Hist. Nat. Poiss., xvi, 1842, p. 189) is best

relegated to oblivion, unless the type happens to be extant. The

description is based on a single dried specimen, 4 inches long, collected

by Verreaux, and there are said to be 26-30 scales [in one specimen!]

along the side. The authors end their brief description by saying

that the specimen may not be a Barbus in spite of its four barbels.

Distribution (figs. 6 and 7).—Subject to the aforesaid qualification

(supra, p. 120), Hey’s reports (l.c.) provide a useful survey of the

distribution of certain species of this genus. Thus we find a “‘rooi-

vlerkie” [Red-fin], although said to be exterminated in the Eerste

River (Rep., i, p. 36), in the coastal belt from the Duivenhoks River

(Heidelberg) to the Kromme River (Humansdorp). Farther east,

from Cradock—Victoria East—Keiskama to Queenstown—Cathcart—

Komgha, its place is taken by the “Gilliieminkie,” a “similar” fish

but without red fins (Rep.,i, p. 65). Hey also notes that the “Scaley,”

one of the larger species (B. elephantis), does not occur south of Natal.

So far as recent investigations in the 8.W. Cape go, Hey’s statements

can be confirmed, except that the Red-fin is not extinct in the Herste

River; and the following points in the distribution of Barbus seem

to be correct :—

1. None in the Cape Peninsula, and none on the Cape Flats, except

in the Eerste River on the eastern border of the latter region.

2. Absent from the smaller rivers on the once-submerged post-

Tertiary terrace. The Cape Flats being part of this terrace

explains the absence of Barbus from the Cape Peninsula.

3. (a) Red-fin species (i.e. calidus, phlegethon, burchelli, vulneratus,

asper, tenuis, senticeps) occur only in the Olifants (Clan-

william), Berg, Eerste, Breede (and its former tributaries

Nieuwjaar River and Grashoek River), Gouritz, Gamtoos,

and Zwartkops systems, and intermediate localities. Their

presence east of the Port Elizabeth area has not yet been

confirmed.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 149

(0) The occurrence of the true anoplus (not a Red-fin) in the

Grahamstown, Alicedale, Pirie, and Bedford districts needs

confirmation.

4. (a) No large-sized species (like holubi, serra, capensis, andrewt,

elephantis, all over 150 mm.) are found in the area, south of the

main Cape watershed, between the Breede River (andrewi) and

Natal (elephantis).* The presence of andrewi in the Breede

River seems a curious anomaly (see p. 113).

(0) No large-sized radiately striate scaled species except in the

extreme west and south-west (Olifants, Berg, Breede rivers),

in fact nowhere in the Cape, O.F.S., or Natal, south of the

Limpopo system.

5. Only one species, viz. andrewi (see p. 114), is common to two

totally distinct river-systems, the Berg and the Breede. But

there is a very close relationship between burchelli (Berg River)

and vulneratus (Breede River). An even closer relationship

exists between anoplus (Gouritz system), anoplus var. (Zak

and Ongers rivers, tributaries of the Orange River), and

cernuus (Olifants River, Clanwilliam) (see p. 214).

Identification of Specumens.—During the progress of this investiga-

tion an attempt was made to construct keys applicable to every

successive stage of growth at every 5 or 10 mm. But since it was

found that each river-system has its own set of species, such keys

would be redundant, apart from certain inherent difficulties.

From the table of development of barbels and scales (p. 154), it

will be seen that all the species have attained their adult characters

at a length of about 55 mm. A synopsis and key, applicable to

specimens over that length, are given. For the identification of

* It is possible that this statement will have to be slightly modified, but until

proper investigations have been made and actual specimens properly identified,

the following two quotations are not to be regarded as contradicting it.

Hey (Survey Rep., no. 1, 1926, p. 66): “It is said that a few years back, mud-

fish (a very bony fish) were taken from the Kat River . . . and placed in a dam

in the Tyumie catchment area . . . and found their way into Tyumie River...

after spreading over lower reaches of Tyumie it found its way into the Keiskama

and has now become well established . . . to the detriment of the mullet which

is a far more edible and desirable fish.”’

Harrison (Fish. Mar. Surv., Investig. Rep., 7, 1936, p. 73) in reporting on Black

Bass in a Kat River dam, Fort Beaufort: ‘‘It [reservoir fed from Kat River]

contains small fish, . . . and large ‘yellow-fish’ (a species of indigenous Barbus).”

If this really is a large-sized Barbus, it considerably reduces the area in which

such fish are said to be absent. Personally I think it is more likely to be a Labeo.

VOL. XXXVI, PART 2.

Annals of the South African Museum.

150

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Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 151

specimens under that length, the table just mentioned should be

a guide, in conjunction with other data.

As the characteristic number of dorsal and anal rays (branched)

is developed at a very early stage, this character is of primary

importance. The first five species in the synopsis (infra) are at

once definitely signalized, and the only remaining difficulty is to

separate those species combining 7 dorsal with 5 anal rays.*

It is important to notice that certain species in the latter “7/5”

Synopsis of the S.W. Cape species of Barbus,

over 55 mm. (2 in.) an length.

Lateral| Caudal | Pre- | Striae

A.|R.| 8 eae ts fel Line | Peduncle!} Dorsal| on Barbels

ay8./'YAYS-) Scales.| Scales. |Scales.+| Scales. NEE She

capensis Salles oF. 5 | 41-45 |16-18 (20)| 15-17 | longi- 2

tudinal

anne... |-ALl | s-. | 859 5 | 34-43] 14-16 | 13-15 _ 2

andrewt Sal CRS 8 6 | 38-41 16 13-14 |radiate| 2

serra Mee PaaS, 8 5 | 41-44] 20(22) | 18-20 ee 2

calidus . = ile N85 tec) 7 6 | 36-38| 14-16 15 a 2

paludinosus .|.. S a 5 | 33-36 | 16 (-18) | 15-17 tis 2

hospes . S idk 5 | 37-39 16 21 we 2

asper A ee iat coal 7 5 | 35-41 |16—-18 (20)| 19-25 3 1

tenuis . Pa ee ial a a 5 | 33-36; 12-14 | 17-20 a 1

(bare

patch); ,,

senticeps R 7 5 | 30-32 12 14-16 as 1

vulneratus R 7 5 | 33-26 14 17-18 BS 2

burchelli R i 5 | 30-36 12 13-15 Fs 2

phlegethon R 7 5 | 34-36 12 14-16 Ps 1

pallidus at 7 5 | 27-29 12 10-11 se 2

afer 7 5 27 12 12 5 1

anoplus i 5 | 34-36 (14) 16 13 as 1

cernuus ul 5 | 33-35 (14) 16) 14-15 bs ia

A=anal fin with lst branched ray extending beyond the last ray when folded

back, the fin reaching in adult to or almost to base of caudal.

R=red-fin.

S=last dorsal spine serrate.

* David and Poll (Ann. Mus. Congo Belge., Zool., ser. 1, T. iii, fasc. 5, p. 262,

1937) in describing B. microbarbus, remark on the fact that the only species hitherto

known with 6 anal rays were Moroccan species (Boulenger, l.c., species 67-73).

They overlooked Boulenger’s “‘capensis”’ (=andrewi). We now know a second

Cape species with 6 anal rays: calidus.

+ On the variability of the predorsal scales, cf. Hora, Misra and Malik, 1939,

Rec. Ind. Mus., xli, p. 269.

+ Sometimes a second barbel developed on one side or both sides.

152 Annals of the South African Museum.

group never develop the anterior pair of barbels (with the one

exception of cernwus, which occasionally does do so); and that in

burchelli its development is delayed until a very late stage of growth.

If the locality of a juvenile specimen, which is required to be

identified, is known (and if it is not, then the specimen is better

ignored!), the identification is easier.

For example, in dealing with Olifants River (Clanwilliam) specimens,

capensis, serra, and calidus on the one hand are each identified by

their respective fin formulas, and on the other hand phlegethon and

cernuus are distinguished one from the other by the caudal peduncle

scale-count, and the number of striae on the scales. The anal rays

(and caudal peduncle scales) separate the two Berg River species

andrewi and burchelli4. Of the three Gouritz River species asper,

tenuis, and anoplus, the first is distinguished from the other two by

the striae on the scales, and the second from the first and third by

the caudal peduncle scale-count.

Key to S.W. Cape Species (specimens over 55 mm.

(24 an.) wn length).

Grovp I.

Scales longitudinally striate (figs. 8, 9).

Last dorsal spine moderately or strongly enlarged, but never serrated.

Anal fin with Ist branched ray when folded back extending beyond the last ray,

the fin in fully grown examples reaching to or almost to base of caudal.

Prominent conical warts on head in § not developed.

Red-fins (brilliant patches at bases of fins) not developed.

Two pairs of barbels.

‘‘Rubber-lips”’ sometimes developed.

Large species.

A. Last dorsal spine strongly enlarged. Ventral spine below or in

advance of Ist dorsal spine . : : , holubi.

B. Last dorsal spine feebly or only raodorately bated: Ventral

spine below 4th dorsal spine : : : : : . capensis.

Grovp II.

Scales radiately striate (figs. 12, 16).

Last dorsal spine thin or moderately or strongly enlarged, smooth or serrate.

Anal fin with 1st ray when folded back not extending beyond last ray; no change

in shape of fin from young to adult (in S.W. Cape species).

Prominent conical warts on head in ¢ in several of the smaller species.

Red-fins in some of the smaller species.

One pair or two pairs of barbels.

‘*Rubber-lips”’ not developed (in S.W. Cape species).

Large and small species.

A. Dorsal spine more or less enlarged; serrate. Two pairs of barbels. No large

warts on head in g.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 153

1. Dorsal rays 8. No red-fins. Large species.

a. Analrays 5. Dorsal spine strongly serrate. : ive . serra.

b. Anal rays 6. Dorsal spine feebly serrate * . : : andrewt.

2. Dorsal rays 7. Small species.

a. Analrays 5. No red-fins.

i. When dorsal fin extended, anterior margin at 60°,

hind margin at 90°, to long axis of body . paludinosus.

ii. Anterior and hind margins both at 60° to body axis . hospes.

6. Analrays 6. Red-fins . L : F calidus.

B. Dorsal spine not enlarged; thin and flexible; noe serrate:

1. Two pairs of barbels.

a. Radial striae on scales few (less than 20, usually less than 10).

i. L.l. 30-35, c.ped. 12, pred. 13-15. Red-fins.

Warts on head in g : : é : burchelli.

ii. Ll. 33-36, c.ped. 14, a “17-18, Red-fins.

Wartsing . y . vulneratus.

Mi duale 27—29,¢.ped. 12, pred. Noe 11. his red-fins.

No warts . A 5 pallidus.

b. Radial striae numerous (20-30). an 33-35, c.ped. 16,

pred. 14-15. No red-fins. Nowartsin § . anoplus f. cernuus +

2. One (the posterior) pair of barbels.

a. Radial striae few (less than 20). Red-fins.

i. C.ped. 16-18(20), pred. 19-25. Warts on headin gf. asper.

ii. C.ped. 12, pred. 14. Warts in J : , . senticeps.

iii. C.ped. 12, pred. 14-16. Nowarts. . : . phlegethon.

b. Radial striae numerous (20-30, or more).

i. C.ped. 12(14), pred. 17-20. Red-fins. Nowartsing . tenuis.

ii. C.ped. 16, pred. 13-15. No red-fins. No warts . anoplus.

Barbus holubs Stndr.

Holub’s Yellow-fish, Geelvis.

Fig. 8.

1894. Steindachner, Sb. Ak. Wiss. Wien, ciii, p. 449, pl. 3, fig. 1.

1897. Weber, Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst., x, p. 151 (capensis non

A. Smith, non Boulenger; part: juv. from Viol’s Drift, Orange

River).

1911. Boulenger, Cat. Fw. Fish. Afr., 11, p. 22, fig. 4.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., x1, p. 374,

fig. 3D.

1937. J. L. B. Smith, Guide Vert. East. Prov., Albany Maus.,

Grahamstown, ii, p. 126, pl. 31, fig. 1.

1938. Barnard, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (xi), 2, p. 81.

* Serrations sometimes obsolete in large specimens.

t+ Normally only one pair of barbels, but occasionally the anterior barbel is

developed on one or both sides.

154

Barbus, development of barbels and scales.

Annals of the South African Museum.

except pallidus and senticeps.

Early stages complete for each species

posterior barbel. — — anberior Darvel. |) cari eanae scales.

15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 mm.

i ciaibe No barb.

No barb.

capensis

No barb.

Sser7a . Te lee eel ar ——

No barb. ——> |

paludinosus oe == | = a

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10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 mm

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 155

This species is easily distinguished by the very stout and non-

serrated 4th dorsal spine, the longitudinally striated scales, and the

ventral fins arising below or slightly in advance of the 1st dorsal spine.

In half-grown, and more so in fully grown, specimens the nape

rises very sharply immediately behind the head, and more so in

ovigerous 99 than in gd; in one very large specimen (410 mm.) the

head appears ridiculously small in comparison with the depth of

the fish.

The species appears to be distributed throughout the whole of the

Orange River system. The localities nearest to our area, so far

known, are the Zak River (Fraserburg) (fig. 6), above the Aughrabies

Falls (Orange River), and Goodhouse on the lower reaches of the

Orange River. Having a long series from the latter locality, and

also from the Great Fish River in South West Africa, some remarks

on growth-changes may not be out of place here.

The tables are compiled from 103 specimens from Goodhouse,

12-82 mm. in length, and 109 specimens from Aiais on the Great

Fish River, 30-215 mm. in length (Nov. 1936). A few specimens

from other localities are also given.

The posterior barbel begins to develop at about 20-21 mm., the

anterior one at about 26-27 mm.; at the latter size the scales also

are just becoming recognizable. There are at first 14 scales around

the caudal peduncle, but very soon the full normal number of 16

is developed.

The striae on the scales increase from 4-5 when the scales are

first formed, up to about 36 (410 mm.).

Although the number of dorsal fin rays is given as 8, 9 would

appear to be an equally typical number. In some communities the

number 9 predominates, in others 8, and in others again both numbers

might occur in equal proportions, judging by the specimens at

hand.

Gilchrist and Thompson did not mention any specimens with

9 dorsal rays, but amongst their material there are the following :—

One specimen out of 3, from Kraai River, Aliwal North.

One i »» 9 >, Modder River, Kimberley.

Twospecimens ,, 38, ,, Mooi River, Potchefstroom.

One specimen ,, 7, ,, Potchefstroom (see infra, under

kimberleyensis).

I have also seen 2 specimens out of 3 collected in the Great Fish

River at Gibeon (South West Africa), with 9 dorsal rays. From the

Annals of the South African Museum.

156

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Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 157

latter river at Aiais (7.e. nearer its confluence with the Orange River),

out of 109 specimens of various sizes there are 24 with 8 rays, one

with only 7, while the rest have 9. Of the 103 specimens from

Goodhouse on the Orange River only 6 have 8 rays. Out of 27

specimens from the Orange River above the Aughrabies Falls 9 have

9 rays, 17 have 8 rays, and one has only 7 rays. Max Weber’s

specimens from Viol’s Drift on the Orange River also had 9 rays.*

The proportions of the fish vary. Up to about 80-90 mm. the

length of the head is greater than the depth of the body; from

this size up to about 190-200 mm. these two measurements are

sub-equal; from about the latter size upwards the head-length is

less than the body-depth owing to the development of the nape.

In very young stages up to about 40 mm., the base of the ventral

fin spine is situated below the 4th dorsal spine; it then shifts forward

(relatively) to below the 1st dorsal spine, and from about 90-100 mm.

onwards it is slightly in advance of the vertical from the Ist dorsal

spine.

Growth-change occurs in the anal fin, similar to that described in

capensis (q.v.).

The ends of the lower labial grooves are connected by a groove or

fold across the chin from quite an early stage (30 mm.) upwards;

but the chin-lobe does not develop (in the specimens at hand) very

strongly, being always broader than long, with a very short freely

projecting flap. In one 300-mm. 2 (Kimberley), however, there is a

well-developed freely projecting flap as long as it is broad, evidently

an incipient “rubber-lip”’ (see infra, capensis, p. 166).

The 410-mm. ? from Zak River (length as given by G. and T.

360 mm.) is the largest specimen I have seen.

Colour (Aiais specimens, freshly preserved); half-grown and

smaller specimens with irregular dark spots on upper part of body,

these spots usually somewhat vertically oval in shape, or even like

short vertical cross-bars, usually a sub-triangular spot on the lat. line

at end of caudal peduncle.

Burchell (1822) says of Zak River specimens: “A beautiful kind

of carp entirely of a yellow-green with a brazen lustre.”

Boulenger (l.c., 1911, pp. 23 and 144 resp.) refers to the two in-

adequately described species of Castelnau, natalensis and kurumanni

[original spelling], under holubi and trevelyani respectively. It seems

to me far more likely that natalensis is the same as elephantis Blgr.;

* T have to thank Professor de Beaufort as well as the late Professor Max Weber

for their courtesy in sending these specimens for my personal inspection.

1587) Annals of the South African Museum.

while from the locality, the dorsal spine being “‘trés forte,” and the

black spot at base of tail, kuruwmanni is obviously trimaculatus.*

Castelnau’s natalensis, however, should be ignored unless the type

specimen can be found.

Boulenger (l.c., 1916, p. 223) places lineolatus G. and T. and

zuluensis G. and T. as synonyms of holubi. The former certainly

has 4 (not 3) dorsal spines, but the latter has only 3. In neither

species does the ventral fin arise in advance of the dorsal fin, as it

does in typical holubs of the sizes given for these species. And in

zuluensis the lower labial grooves are discontinuous across the chin.

Thus, whatever lineolatus may be, zuluensis cannot be regarded as

synonymous with holubi. The localities also are not altogether in

keeping with the distribution of holubz.

Barbus holubi.

TL | L/H| H/E| S/E | I/E | Ll. |c.ped.| striae.) g.r. | barb.) Sex and Remarks.

( 12-13] 34 3 \e>s)e> 1) iWNorsieales 7 weak) None} Dorsal and anal rays

: distinct.

= 14 | 23 llib Se. gliases aves et ee

Sp 15-16 3 3 29 ” ” ” 7-8 2

Bi LTAS AS Cain) oem eee ee ‘3 0+9] ,,

5 20-21] 3 3 35 EP as : 0-1+9) (p)

o < 22-23 3 3 9 > 29 29 1+9 p

4 25-26 | 3 3 2? 9 9 9 p

2 27 3 3 ay » | Searce|ly disti/nct 1+9 | p(a)

zs 28 3 3 = en 37 14 1+9 | p (a)

So | ( 30 3 3 fe » |37-88/14-16| 45 | 149] pa

o Sohal Say |e aituath eal \ iy Wa eeOM epee

35 3h | 3h x 1 6-7 | 2+9

AG \e3e soe ed 1

45 34 | 34 1 1 2+10

; 50 (32-34) 34 1 1 10

a 55 |34-34| 32 1 1i

= 60 34 | 33 1 14 3+10

7) 65 34 | 32 | 12 | 12 12

: 70 oe) lost Fey ee 34+11

i 75 | 34 | 33-4 |12-12/12-14| | 5

mm 2X) 4780) 34 4 4 | 14 Ge — 4+11

ey 85 34 | 44 | 14 | pee

6 DOTS 35g Ak 1s ee

og LOO! | 35 aes ag ae 14-15

3 105 32 | 44 | 14) 14 4+1]1

= 160 4 44 | 14 | 13 18

170 4 4¥°| 14 | Minute white pimples

on head.

180 4 44 | 14 {13-12 20

190 4 44 | 14 /1$-12

195 + 42 | 14 | 12 Minute white pimples.

K 2h 44 | 5 14 | 25 (4411

* Specimens from Kuruman, recently collected, confirm this latter synonymy.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 159

Barbus holubi.

TL L/H) H/E] $/E|1/E| 11. | c.ped.|striae.| g.r. |barb.| ~°% 2n¢

Modder R. . 55) 34 / 34 |-1 1 | 40] 16 10 |2+10| pa

Dpingion, 82] 4 | 8/2 | gt | 1s | 5. |3tu0) Pe

Orange R Be © eaell

Oa \68 Sy Sr ale) 404) 6 ee

Gibeon, S.W.A. 68| 34 | 34] 1 | 14] 40] 16

Modder R., 75 | 32 | 4 14 | 14 | 38] 16 14 |4+10

Kimberley ) 81| 34 | 44 | 14114] 40} 16 | .. [4411

Gibeon, 8.W.A. 94| 34 | 44] 12] 14 | 40] 16 441]

F 125| 34 | 44 | 14 / 14) 42 16 15 |44+11

Eemeron { 145138 | 43 |14/12|41| 16 | a7 las is

eee 21701039) ] 4h | 14 | 22) 414) [email protected]. 144-11

Kunberley .300/4 |6 |2.)2 |.40)], 16 34 |4+11 2

Wee ~~) 410) 4 | 82] 24 | 8E [40 | 16° | 36 [44-11 Q

Barbus kimberleyensis

Ws) se 4b) 121 16-17

3 1 1 1 1

Potchef- a o ai 3 a ri aR

stroom Fe oe ol eS amy ce Cis!

Doan 190 | 3 | 53 | 12 | 12 he os -. | d pimples.

222| 4 | 54 | 12 | 2 25 ae -. | do few pimples.

280; 4 | 6 | 2 | 24 a : -- | 3d pimples.

Kimberley

Reservoir pm 34 | 7% | 24 | 24 48 - heel. Leyes

D iv. 9.

Largest and a ar 3 ; ; 10

3 others vd 31 7 7

D iv. 9. alae ular,

7 with D iv. 9 mite as

Warrenton ae eS Les

vi 32 | 5 14) 14 24 = .. | Immature.

No pimples.

Barbus kimberleyensis G. and T.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xi, p. 378, fig. 38.

1916. Boulenger, Cat. Fw. Fish. Afr., iv, p. 226, fig. 142.

1938. Barnard, l.c., p. 82.

This species was based on a single specimen of very different

appearance from typical holubi. The type came from the Kimberley

Reservoir, which is fed from the Vaal River near Riverton.* Apart

from its slender body, which lacks the prominent bulge on the nape

* My thanks are due to Miss Wilman, Curator of the McGregor Memorial

Museum, Kimberley, for making enquiries of the Town Clerk, who stated (in hit.

22/ii/37) that the Reservoir was first filled in 1883, and that it now contained large

numbers of indigenous fishes commonly called yellow-fish (a 12-pounder was

caught in 1936), silver-fish, mud-fish, barbel, carp, and Tilapia sparmanni.

160 Annals of the South African Museum.

(depth at least 44 in length excl. caudal fin), the presence of 9 dorsal

rays evidently seemed to the authors to warrant specific separation.

But any attempt to separate kimberleyensis from holubs on other

characters fails, and the above demonstration that holubi of typical

body-shape can have either 8 or 9 dorsal rays, reduces the differences

to one of body-shape only.

Among Gilchrist and Thompson’s material are 7 specimens from

Potchefstroom which these authors apparently identified as holubz

without further ado. One of these (255 mm., but not the one so

measured by G. and T.) has the typical holubi body-shape, but in

spite of its size the head-length is not less than the body-depth; and

it has 9 dorsal rays. The other 6 specimens, including the largest

one of 280 mm., are typical kimberleyensis in body-shape, but have

8 dorsal rays. These 6, together with 11 from Warrenton, are

included in the table with the type of kimberleyensis.

Although all these 6 specimens and the type are gd, the difference

in body-shape is apparently not sexual, as there are in the collection

undoubted gg with the typical holubi shape. The 125, 190, 222, and

280 mm. specimens have the top of the head and snout more or less

thickly sprinkled with minute pearly pimples.

The status of kumberleyensis is thus doubtful, and before making

any decision it might prove interesting to investigate the holubi—

kimberleyensis community in the Kimberley Reservoir. The problem

is outside the scope of the present paper, and has only been mentioned

because it arose inevitably out of the study of the holubi material.

Barbus marequensis A. Smith

1841. A. Smith, Illustr. Zool. 8. Afr. Fish., pl. 10, fig. 2.

19,1. Boulengers/c.,p. 36, te. alG:

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 377, fig. 37 (after Blgr.).

A stuffed specimen, regarded as “‘one of the types,” 350 mm. in

length, is in the British Museum. According to Boulenger it has

33 scales in the lateral line and 12 around the caudal peduncle, and

the last dorsal spine is “‘rather feeble.” Smith’s figure shows about

45 scales in ll. and 14 around caudal peduncle, and gives the im-

pression that the last dorsal spine is rather strong, although perhaps

not so strong as in typical holubi.*

* On variability in size and strength of the last (or main) dorsal spine in

B. hexagonolepis McC., see Hora, 1940, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., xlii, p. 82, fig. 4.

It is found that the fishes from rivers flowing through limestone areas have better

developed dorsal spines.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 161

The figure given by Boulenger is a black-and-white reproduction

of Smith’s coloured figure. The so-called type specimen should be

re-examined.

Although other species of Barbus have been recorded from the

tributaries of the Limpopo River, no one has yet recorded any speci-

mens from the Marico River under the name marequensis. Gilchrist

and Thompson recorded specimens of holubs from Six-mile Spruit

(Hennops River), Dwaars River, and Pienaars River, all tributaries

of the Limpopo. As these specimens are not in the South African

Museum, I enquired whether the Transvaal Museum had any Barbus

material from the Marico River, with a view to determining what

species are present in this river, and, if holubz is present, whether it is

actually the same as the Orange River holubv.

Thanks to the Director and Dr. Fitzsimons, I have been able to

examine 5 specimens of “holubs”’ from near Zeerust on the Marico

River, a locality about 70-80 miles distant from Andrew Smith’s

type locality.

As marequensis is obviously not closely allied to any other form

but holubz, it would be reasonable to assume that the Zeerust speci-

_ mens are representatives of marequensis. And the assumption would

be strengthened if a re-examination of the type showed that Smith’s

figure, as regards the number of scales, is nearer the truth than

Boulenger’s statements.

A further question is whether the Marico specimens are to be

regarded as specifically the same as the Orange River holubi. A

table of the 5 Transvaal Museum specimens is given for comparison

with typical holub:.

The differences which can be observed are not so significant as the

trend of variation.

It has been stated above (p. 157) that in holubs from about 90 mm.

upwards the length of the head becomes approximately equal to the

depth of body, but here the head-length is definitely greater than the

depth in specimens up to a length of nearly 200 mm.

Secondly (also cf. p. 157), whereas in holubz the base of the ventral

spine gradually shifts forward so that in specimens from about 90-100

mm. upwards it lies slightly in advance of the 1st dorsal spine, here

even in the largest specimens it has not yet reached a position in

advance of the 1st dorsal spine.

Far more material is necessary, especially a complete series showing

the growth-changes of the Marico River “holubi”’; but it seems not

unlikely that holubt and marequensis may be regarded as two extremely

162 Annals of the South African Museum.

closely allied species, the former inhabiting the Orange system and

the latter the Limpopo system. The extent of the distribution

within the Limpopo system should also be investigated.

TL \aL/ BO | A/S) 8/9) a te peda ei ap: Sex and Remarks.

(a) 150| 34 | 42 1k 12 | 41 16 |H>D| Immat. ?¢. V below

3rd—4th dorsal spines.

(6) 175| 32 | 5 12 12 | 40 16 |H>D)| Immat. V below 3rd

dorsal spine.

dorsal spines.

(d) 200| 32 | 5 12 | 12 | 40 16 |H=D)| g. V below 3rd dorsal

spine.

H=D)| g. V below Ist dorsal

spine.

ple

—

Pleo

—

for)

(ec) 200] 32 | 5

In all specimens Div. 8. In (d) the Ist dorsal spine seems to have been torn

out, or to be degenerate. In (b) the right anterior barbel is bifurcated.

V=ventral spine. H=length of head. D=depth of body.

Barbus capensis A. Smith

Clanwilliam Yellow-fish, Geelvis.

Figs. 9-11.

1841. A. Smith, Illustr. Zool. 8. Afr., pl. 10, fig. 1.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 398, fig. 57 (seebert).

1916. Boulenger, l.c., iv, p. 241, fig. 150 (seeberz).

1937. Barnard, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (10), xix, p. 305.

1938. Jd.,1.e3 p- 82:

[not capensis Weber, Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst., x, p. 151, 1897.

not capensis Pappenheim in Schultze, Reise, iv, p. 276, 1910.

not capensis Boulenger, l.c., 1, p. 123, 1911, except A. Smith’s

type specimen.

not capensis Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 412, 1913.

not capensis J. L. B. Smith, l.c., p. 125, 1937.]

A large species characteristic of the Clanwilliam Olifants River

(fig. 6), where of late years it has become known as an excellent

sporting fish. Very large examples are known as “Kalverkop”’

(calf’s head). Examples with fleshy lips are known to anglers as

“rubber-lips”’! *

* Trout-flies, by “Kingfisher.” London, 1938. The author on p. 172, speaking

of the Olifants River “rubber-lip,” says specimens were identified with specimens

at the South African Museum as “Barbus m’fongosi.” No specimens were

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 163

Gilchrist and Thompson’s description of seebert was based on three

specimens ranging from “95-102 mm.” in length. In fact, “102”

is a misprint for 210, the lengths of the specimens being 95, 115, and

210 mm. Owing to Boulenger having included capensis among the

species with radiately striate scales, Gilchrist and Thompson were

bound to consider their specimens as representing an undescribed

species. |

All three specimens seem to have been originally preserved in

formalin, the tissues on the throat, chin, and lips are plump, and

especially in the largest one the symphysial region is considerably

puffed out. The groove connecting the ends of the lower labial

grooves across the chin is consequently very inconspicuous, and it is

not surprising that Gilchrist and Thompson stated “lower lip inter-

rupted on chin.” This groove is, however, traceable on the two

smaller specimens, and in all fresh specimens is distinct.

Boulenger (l.c.) places the species after gilchristz, and says it 1s

distinguished from the latter “‘chiefly by the interrupted lower-lip.”

It would seem, however, to be far more closely allied to B. holubi,

which is widely distributed in the Orange River system. This latter

species is occasionally found with 9 rays in the dorsal fin, and the

resemblance of the two species is then very striking, the differences

being in the enlargement of the 4th dorsal spine (strong in holubi,

weak in capensis), the relative positions of the dorsal and ventral

fins, the dorsal profile, and the extra scales around the caudal

peduncle. One might suggest on morphological grounds that holubs

and capensis are derivatives of one ancestral species.

The original description (of seeberz) can be emended or supple-

mented by the following details.

Depth sometimes 4, but usually 44-44 in length of body (excluding

caudal fin). Depth of caudal peduncle twice or nearly twice in its

length. Div.9. Base of Ist dorsal spine equidistant between tip

of snout and base of middle caudal rays (or slightly nearer the latter).

Anal fin in large specimens reaching to base of caudal fin, shorter in

half-grown and young specimens (v. infra). Ventral spine arising in

vertical from 4th dorsal spine. Scales 1.1. 41-45; around caudal

peduncle 16 in young, 16-18 in half-grown, and (usually) 18 in adult

(16 in a 635 mm. g, and 20 in a 650 mm. 9, see table); predorsal

submitted for official identification. The author saw the specimens formerly

exhibited in glass cases in the Museum, among which was a Natal ‘“‘rubber-lip”’

labelled m’fongosi. Needless to say, the “rubber-lip” is the only point of

resemblance.

164 Annals of the South African Museum.

Fic. 9.—Barbus capensis. Adult, with scale enlarged; predorsal scales and every 10th scale (and

approximately the 36th) in lateral line indicated; anal fin showing change in shape from young and

half-grown to adult.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 165

15-17. In large specimens the posterior barbel may be 24 times

as long as eye.

The posterior barbel is developed at the 17-18-mm. stage, the

anterior barbel at 24-25 mm.; scaling begins at 30-31 mm.

Largest specimen seen by myself: 730mm. This specimen weighed

154 lbs., but specimens up to 224 lbs. have been reported (Cape Argus,

Cape Town, 21/iv/38, with photo.). Specimens from about 180-

200 mm. with developing roes. Males without trace of warts on

head. The smallest juveniles were caught in mid-February; but

spawning evidently takes place also later, and probably earlier in the

summer.

Adult more or less golden or brassy above, silvery below, cheeks,

opercles, and lips (especially in the “rubber-lip” forms) lemon-

yellow; all fins tinged with pale gamboge or lemon-yellow. Juveniles

with an irregular series of horizontally or vertically oval spots along

the sides, composed largely of pigment-specks (chromatophores) of a

characteristic square or oblong shape; fins as in adult.

Locality.— Olifants River, Clanwilliam Division, Cape. Long series

collected by A.C. H., K. H. B., A. J. H., C. W. T., 1936-1939, together

with single large specimens submitted by F. Bowker, the late Morch-

Ohlsen (Warmbaths, Citrusdal), G. D. Jooste, and E. Wale.

Remarks.—The anal fin undergoes a notable change of shape

during growth (fig. 9). When extended so that the last ray is hori-

zontal, the hind margin is vertical and straight in the young and

half-grown (slightly concave in very young), but in large specimens

it is oblique and gently convex. In the latter the anterior margin

is rather strongly curved. The first ray is always appreciably longer

Least Depth of

Length Ist Anal Ray | Caudal Peduncle| j, Moss ee can ek f

of Fish. extending in length of Wenge aE ree

Ist Anal Ray. san

70 mm. Half-way to About 1} Slightly concave and sloping

caudal slightly forwards (and down-

wards).

GO. 3. a me Straight and vertical.

200 ,, 2 2 2

210° 55 Three-quarters 14 Straight and _ vertical (or

to caudal slightly convex).

300 ,, - 13 Gently convex and sloping

backwards (and downwards).

BOO as To caudal 12 es

390 39 99 2 33

VOL. -XXXVI, PART 2. Lt

166 Annals of the South African Museum.

than the last ray, and when folded back reaches well beyond the

latter; in young and half-grown it reaches to about half-way between

base of last ray and bases of lower caudal rays, in the fully grown

examples it reaches to or almost to the bases of the lower caudal rays.

Fic. 10.—Barbus capensis, normal and “‘rubber-lip”’ variety. Lateral

and ventral views of mouth ; the dotted line shows the extreme develop-

ment of the upper lip.

The shape of the fin, which is similar in holubi, is essentially

different, even in the early stages, from that of serra (q.v.) and other

Cape species, in that the Ist ray when folded back extends beyond

the end of the last ray.

Rubber-lips—Amongst the normal capensis there is sometimes

found a form with thick fleshy lips, both the upper and lower lip

being produced in a median lobe (fig. 10). This form is known to

local anglers by the very expressive name of “Rubber-lip.” Except

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 167

this fleshy enlargement of the lips there is no other distinction between

the forms. The smallest rubber-lip I have seen is an immature one

145 mm. in length; one 255 mm. long has been gutted; one 335 mm.

long isa 3; and the two largest, 390 and 410 mm. in length, are both 99-

Worthington (Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1929, p. 431, fig. 3) has

figured the extreme variations in the lips of B. radcliffic and its

Fie. 11.—Barbus capensis. Juveniles, 15 mm. and 23 mm.

synonyms bayont and lobogenys, and has stated that every gradation

between the thin-lipped and rubber-lipped forms may occur in both

sexes.

The occurrence of rubber-lips in both sexes of capensis has been

confirmed. Of three specimens of gunning: in the South African

Museum, 2 are ovigerous 99, the third probably 9.

Several other pairs of “species” may be suggested as being

probably synonymous, e.g. mentalis, a synonym of kimberleyensis,*

sector and dwaarsensis of brucw (this has line precedence over sector),

and m’fongosi of elephantis.

It is a little curious that specific importance should be attached

to the lip development. Day (Fishes, India, 1878-1888, p. 564,

pl. 136, fig. 5, and pl. 140, fig. 1) described and figured both the

thin-lipped and thick-lipped forms of Barbus tor (the Mahseer), and

evidently assumed without question that they were one and the same

* Perhaps both these are synonyms of gilchristi; the latter based on a single

specimen, collected together with a typical example of holubi. The curiously

short pectoral fin of gilchristi may be abnormal.

168 Annals of the South African Museum.

species. Hora (J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 1939, xl, pp. 279-282,

fig. 2 and pl. 2; «bid., 1940, xli, p. 522, pl. 2; and abid., 1940, xh,

p. 787) holds the same opinion. He suggests that the excessive

development of fleshy lips to form a suction disc may be for the

purpose of adhesion to rocks in swift currents.

In conformity with

this hypothesis it may be mentioned that local anglers seem to be of

opinion that the rubber-lip variety of the Yellow-fish is usually

found in the more rapid parts of the Olifants River. Many more

observations, however, are required.

Barbus capensis.

TL | L/H | H/E | S/E | I/E | 1.1. |e.ped.|striae.| — g.r.

34 3 e>s|e>i|No sicales 0+7

34 3 eS se ene a 14+8

3 3 62 isin us os 2+9

3 3) Cre Sie 9” 99

3 3+ je>s| 1 a % 2+10

57 Nas une 13) Ay 14161) 5-6 -

51 2 seal 1h pa) AG 6 1 S480

34-1) 33 A ab ald wl ele oe

Sigal eT) 1 ea! FG 3 $ 10-11

Se Se || re ee 10-12| 4411

Sasay) 328 tyne

ye ee diet ei eli

ae peel te Te

gil ak ae a

Sie aaa eae

Ba | Al | HTbS on eae 16-18

Pie i 0

So.) AL Se leone

eh lv teal eel ae

PU ee mbes ile ) 599-94

321 42h 1 | eee

330 | 49 1 ies isos ayia ae

Bree Suan) vile se

Se Wee ah ie

S207] 5a ile eae

Be) 6 a | Or ae 26-28

S20 NG ey aaa

aot GL oe ee

Sem 6k oe 4+12

a8 GL Ote iD

350) 16304198 12

Be omen ie

BF eS sl Se MNS a alea a lealis 4414

33 evi ae ye Med allay 4+14

33 94 34 33 | 44 16 36 4+14

Se Or esee, 32 | 40 oo

Se) 9 ok Sel outanas

Sex and Remarks.

Dorsal, anal, ventral

fins distinct. No

ventral lamella.

p 4 eye.

p 2 eye.

Type seeberv.

Type seebert.

‘*Rubber-lip.’

6 juv.

Type seeberv.

6 juv.

‘*Rubber-lip.”’

Gutted, and scales re-

rubber-lip.”’

2 “rubber-lip” and

normal.

rubber-lip.”’

moved.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 169

wes

som

(G;

Fic. 12.—Barbus serra. Adult, with scale enlarged; predorsal scales and every 10th scale

in lateral line indicated.

170 Annals of the South African Museum.

Barbus serra Peters

Saw-fin.

Figs. 12, 13.

1911. Boulenger, l.c., p. 114, fig. 91.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 403, fig. 61 (part: not the

two smallest of the three specimens coll. Leipoldt).

1938. Barnard, l.c., p. 82.

Distinguished from holubi and capensis by the serrated dorsal spine,

radiately striate scales, and shape of anal fin. The latter undergoes

Ode

ae eis

Fic. 13.—Barbus serra. Juvenile, 18 mm. Dorsal spine of young

40 mm. (spine 9 mm.) and 70 mm. (spine 14 mm.). (There are actually

2 rows of serrations, but only one row is shown.)

no change of shape during growth. Lower labial grooves not con-

tinuous across the chin. No warts on head in ¢.

Largest specimen examined, 380 mm. The posterior barbel is

developed at about 17-18 mm., the anterior at about 20-22 mm.

Scaling begins at 25-27 mm., and serration of the dorsal spine at

20 mm.

The smallest juveniles were collected in mid-February; but spawn-

ing continues later, and probably begins earlier.

Silvery greyish or drab-coloured above; dorsal, caudal, anal, and

ventral fins suffused with pale orange-salmon. Juveniles with a

series of dark spots, longitudinally or vertically oval, along the side,

the largest being at end of caudal peduncle, often a second less

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 171

numerous series on back; these spots become more prominent after

preservation; fins faintly tinged with orange or salmon.

Originally described from “Cape of Good Hope” (coll. Krebs).

Like capensis, this distinctive species has only been found in the

Olifants River, Clanwilliam Division (fig. 6); the insertion of the word

“Transvaal”? in Gilchrist and Thompson’s monograph being a slip

(p..118).

Barbus serra.

TL | L/H| H/E| S/E| T/E} 1.1. | c.ped.|striae.| g.r. | barb.| Sex and Remarks.

F 4 f Dorsal, anal, ventral

+ 3 3 e>s|e>i |No sjcales ae .. |None { fads botnet ae

3 eriileeie u eL Nine <a a a ave ag ventral lamella.

18 3 3 29 29 29 29 si ee (p)

20 | 3 3 BULL analy “a ate .. |p (a) {0-1 serrations on dor-

sal spines.

2A es Ran lep se i es 33 he 1+9 |p (a) | 1-2 ns 3

2 Se oe oe ee 5 A S 2+9 | p.a. | 2-3 "A AY

(or ja few

ante|riorly)

BH |e a | } 1 40 18 4 /|2+4+10] p.a.| 4-5 a at

30 | 3 | 34/1 1 41 |/18-20; 4 /|3+10| .. | 5-6 a My

35 | 34 | 34] 1 1 4] (18) 20) .. |54+11| .. | 7-8 ss ys

40 | 34 | 34 | 14 | 14 | 42 4 |5+411

45 | 34 | 34 | 14 | 14 | 42 he a

50 | 34 | 32} 14 | 14 -« {|5+12]| .. | 14 serrations.

55 | 3} | 32 | 14] 14 4-5

65 | 34: | 4 | 14 | 14

70 | 34+ | 44] 14) 14 -. {6412

75 | 34 | 44] 12] 14 5-6

~ 95 | 34 | 446] 12] 14

100 | 34 | 42 | 14 | 14 20

110 | 34 | 44 | 12} 14

125 | 34 | 5 1) is 7-8

140 | 34 | 52 | 2 14 i»

170 | 32 | 52 | 2 14 i

210 | 34. | 6 | 23 | 12 tS 10-12 |6+12

260 | 34. | 6 | 24] 12 a Ss 3.

280 | 34 | 64 | 24 | 2 ce 3.

300 | 34.| 74 | 22 | 24 15 3.

320 | 34 | 74 | 3 | 24 we 3.

at) o2)(-8 | 3d | 3 Spent &.

350 | 34 | 8 | 34/3 Ss 6.

360 | 34 | 84 | 34 | 34 ‘ae a us 3.

380 | 34 | 83 | 4 | 34 | SS) 17 |6+12 dé.

Barbus paludinosus Peters

Fig. 14, a, 6.

1911. Boulenger., Cat. Fw. Fish. Afr., ii, p. 115, fig. 92.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xi, p. 404, fig. 62.

172 Annals of the South African Museum.

1935. Fowler, Ann. Transvaal Mus., xvi, p. 265, fig. 9 (tsotsorogensis).

1936. Trewavas, Novit. Zoolog., xl, p. 66.

1936. Pellegrin, Arc. Mus. Bocage, Lisbon, vu, p. 53.

¢ 1937. J. L. B. Smith, l.c., p. 125, pl. 30, fig. 4.

A very fine series of over 200 specimens of all sizes was collected

by Dr. Hesse and Mr. Thorne in the Gt. Fish River at Aiais, South

West Africa, Nov. 1936. Although strictly speaking the locality is

outside our area, it seems desirable to include some details of the

young stages of this species, particularly for comparison with the

following species hospes.

This series shows that the posterior barbel develops at about the

19-20 mm. stage, the anterior one at about 29-30 mm. The scales

are developed at about 23 mm., with 3 striae (radiating); at 68 mm.

there are about 12 main striae and several “‘intercalaries”’ (15-18 im all).

The first serrations on the 3rd dorsal spine appear at about 22-23

mm., increasing in number until in the adult there are about 18

serrations, closely set and all curving downwards towards base of the

spine. The tip of the spine is delicate and easily broken. In the

adult the 2nd spine is not more than 4 length of the 3rd.

The dorsal fin from the earliest stage onwards has a characteristic

elevated shape, the hind margin being approximately vertical when the

fin is extended (3rd spine at an angle of 60° with the long axis of body).

The lowermost gill-rakers (about 6) are knob-like and rather stout,

not lanceolate. (In the Gibeon and Etosha Pan specimens in S8.A.

Museum all the gill-rakers are slender.)

External sexual differences are not apparent, no warts or mucous

pores being developed on the head in 3, and the pectoral fin not

differing in length. Males are adult at about 55 mm., and females

at about 62 mm. (Aiais series).

Adults show a faint creamy-yellow tinge on the fins, including the

caudal, but no red spots.

A series from Middelburg, Transvaal (Limpopo system), includes

specimens from 20 mm. in length upwards (only the larger ones were

recorded by Gilchrist and Thompson), and fits in with the table

drawn up from the Aiais series.

In addition to the localities mentioned by Gilchrist and Thompson,

the South African Museum has material from Ovamboland and the

Ktosha Pan, 8.W.A.; from the Gt. Fish River at Gibeon, S.W.A.;

from the Orange River, lower section at Goodhouse, and middle

section above the Aughrabies Falls and at Upington; from the Dry

Hartz River at Taungs, and Vaal River at Warrenton.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region.

Fie. 14.—Barbus paludinosus: a. Juvenile, 12 mm. Gt. Fish River,

South West Africa. 6. Dorsal spines of specimens 35 and 68 mm. in

length. Barbus hospes: c. Juvenile, 18 mm. Goodhouse, Orange

River. d. Dorsal spines of specimens 32 and 63 mm. in length. (Only

one row of serrations on the spines is shown.)

173

174 Annals of the South African Museum.

I have examined specimens of tsotsorogensis Fowler; it is merely

another synonym of paludinosus.

Recent investigations appear to show that this species is absent

from the southern tributaries of the Orange River.

J. L. B. Smith (1937) says it is common in the Grahamstown and

Eastern Cape districts. There are no previous records from this region

and the identification should be checked.

Barbus paludinosus.

TL |L/H|H/E|S/E| I/E | 1.1. | c.ped.|striae.| g.r. | barb.| Sex and Remarks.

Dorsal and anal fin

TP Sh Sr Nessa No sjcales he .. | None ee ree ae

serrate.

135) 34 30 les 55 se os

1d) \aF | 3. less) és i as

18 | 34 | 3 le>s| 1 oe i ue

20 |'3¢ | 3 je>s| 1 publ his . 8 | (p)

23 | 3¢ | 34 le>s| 1 32 | 14 a 8-9 | (p) | Dorsal spine serrate.

25 | 34+ | 34+ le>s| 14 |133 16 3 - p ,

28 | 34 | 34 le>s| 5 Pp

30 | 34 | 31 le>s| 14 3-4 py (a)

32 | 34 | 34 le>s| 14 -- |{14+9]p(a)

35 | 33 | 34 le>s} 14 ox 2-29) oat

38 | 34 | 34] 1 13 4

40 | 34 | 33 | 1 13

42 | 32 | 34] 1 14 4-5

45 | 32 | 34 | 1 13 Soll Nice

48/4 | 34); 1 13 Heal) eee 7-8 |2+9 ¢ juv

52} 4 | 34] 1 |14-14/|° way, evs) ee ¢ juv

ef alley caleba hi re is 3.

58 |} 4 | 33 | 1 |14-14 9 ne 3.

GORA mais alien 13 3+10 3.

62; 4 | 32; 1 |1413 56 oe 2 ova.

65 |} 4 | 32] 1 |14-14 10 Q.

68 | 4 | 32/1 14 10-11 Oo

Barbus hospes Brurd.

Hig. 14, 6, a.

1938. Barnard, l.c., p. 85.

Depth of body (largest specimens) about 4 in length (excluding

caudal fin); length of head 3 (juv.), 32 (adult) in length; eye 3 (juv.),

33 (adult) in length of head, 1-14 in interorbital width, and, from the

30-mm. stage upwards, subequal to snout. Snout rounded, mouth

inferior, lower labial grooves interrupted across chin; 2 pairs of

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 175

barbels, both appearing simultaneously at about the 15-mm. stage,

subequal to one another, and from about the 32-mm. stage upwards

subequal to eye-diameter.

Diu. 7. Ist spine slightly nearer to end of middle caudal rays

than to tip of snout, 2nd spine about half length of 3rd, 3rd spine

in adult thickened, serrated from near base, about 14 serrations, those

on basal half directed apically, those on distal half directed towards

base of spine, serrations fewer in young and half-grown; margin of

fin forming an angle of about 60° with long axis of body. A ii. 5.

Pectoral not reaching to ventral (3). Ventral spine arising in advance

of Ist dorsal spine, base of last ray about below 3rd dorsal spine.

Caudal elongate, length of longest rays 3 times in length of body

(excluding caudal fin) in juv., to 23 or 22 in adult.

Gill-rakers in adult 2+6 (7) on anterior arch, the 3-4 lowermost

ones short and broad.

Scales developed at about the 22—23-mm. stage, radiately striate,

3 striae in juv. to 6-7 in adult; 1.1. 37-39, 16 (14 in youngest scaled

stage) around caudal peduncle, 6 between 3rd dorsal spine and 1.1.,

4 between ventral spine‘ and 1.1. (the 1.1. scale not counted), 5 between

I.]. and anal spines, predorsal about 21.

Top of head and snout in the largest specimens thickly sprinkled

with minute white pimples (about 4—5 per sq. mm.); all these are 3d,

no adult 2 was collected.

Colour (as preserved): silvery, green-brown above, belly in the

largest specimens with an orange-salmon tinge, fins pale. According

to the collectors, no markings or red spots at fin-bases were present in

the freshly caught specimens. The specimens are notably paler in

all stages than the specimens of paludinosus caught, and preserved,

at the same time.

Locality.—Orange River, at Goodhouse, Namaqualand (A. J.

Hesse and C. W. Thorne, Nov. 1936).

This species is distinguished by the particular character of the

serrated 3rd dorsal spine, the long caudal fin, and the s¢multaneous

development of the two pairs of barbels.

From paludinosus, with which it was associated, it is easily dis-

tinguished in all stages by the shape of the dorsal fin, serration of 3rd

dorsal spine, and the length of the anterior barbel. In very young

stages the serration of the dorsal spine may not be very distinctive,

but the two other characters just mentioned, together with the length

of the caudal fin, enable the species to be separated without difficulty.

The serration of the dorsal spine differs from that of any other

176 Annals of the South African Museum.

South African species in that the proximal serrations curve towards

the apex of the spine.

Mr. A. C. Harrison has examined the scales and finds that there

are a few weak striae (radiating) in the exposed (posterior) field, but

none in the anterior field: “‘ The entire absence of radii in the anterior

field and the weakness of those in the posterior field gives the scales

a facies differing markedly from that of other small Barbus scales

examined; the concentric circuli about the focus are without breaks

or scalloping in consequence of this absence of radiating striae.”

The specific name in allusion to ‘‘Goodhouse,” the name of the farm

on the south bank of the Orange River at Raman’s Drift, owned by

the hospitable Mr. C. Weidner.

Barbus hospes.

TL | L/H| H/E| 8/E |1/E | 1.1. | c.ped.|striae.| g.r. | barb. Sex and Remarks.

14.) 3 | 3) |e s] 1 ||Noisieales st 5 None | Dorsal and anal fin rays

distinct.

Poms 3 Ukes= isi rf =< |) (p) (a)

16 | 3 3 hes sil a * Sy p. a.

18 | 3 3 Whe siek ee s 5-6 | p.a. | Dorsal spine 1-2 serrations.

20 | 3 3. =| Cs .sand ie om ne ate a eS Bs

23-3 3. te > sl 1 on 14 1+5-6 e ee “

25 | 3h | 34 |e>s]| 1 37 16 1+6 a » 4-5 6

28 | 34 | 34 je=s/ 1 38 16 1+6 ae a

30 | 34 | 34 1 We e3y 16 = es » o-6 se

32 | 34 | 33 1 Le 3d 16

52 | 34 | 34 ] 14 | 38 16 4-5 | 6+6 3 with pimples.

55 | 32 | 34 ] 14 | 37 16 5-6 = Zi As

60 | 32 | 34 1 14 | 39 16 6-7 | 2+6 3 :f

63 | 32 | 33 1 14 | 38 16 7-8 | 24+7 3S be

Barbus calidus Brurd.

Clanwilliam Red-fin; Roovvlerk.

Fig. 15, a-c.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., xi, p. 404 (part

serra non Peters—the two smallest of the three specimens coll.

Leipoldt).

1938. Barnard, l.c., p. 86.

Depth of body 43 (juv.), 4 or 32 (adult), length of head 3 (juv.),

32 (adult), in length of body (excluding caudal fin). Eye 3 (juv.),

33 (adult) in length of head, subequal to snout and to interorbital

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 177

width in adult, but greater than these in juveniles. Snout rounded,

projecting slightly beyond mouth. Lips thin, the lower labial

grooves interrupted for a short distance medianly on chin. Two

barbels on each side, the posterior equal to eye-diameter, the anterior

Fie. 15.—Barbus calidus: a. Juvenile, 13 mm. b. Dorsal spines of

specimens 25, 40, and 70 mm. in length (length of spine 5-3, 8, and 13 mm.

respectively). (Only one row of serrations on the spines is shown.)

c. Anal fin. Barbus phlegethon: d. Anal fin.

slightly less. Gill-rakers 2+6 (juv.), 2+7 or 8 (adult) on anterior

arch. No tubercles on head in g, but minute pimples often visible

in both sexes. ;

- Div.7. The 1st spine about midway between the last scales on

caudal peduncle and the centre or front margin of eye; 3rd spine

178 Annals of the South African Museum.

about 4 length of 4th, the latter not exceeding ? head length; 4th

spine serrate in the youngest specimens (17 mm.), with few and

rather widely spaced serrations; in adult enlarged and with numerous

strong, closely set serrations pointing downwards towards base of

spine. Aui.6(-7). Pectoral reaching to or nearly to base of

ventral spine in both sexes. Last ray of ventral fin below, or even

slightly in advance of, the Ist dorsal spine. Caudal peduncle about

14 times as long as deep.

Scales radiately striate, striae 4-5 (juv.), 12-14 (adult); lat. line

36-37 (34-38), tr. 6 between dorsal spines and lat. line, 3 between latter

and base of ventral spine; around caudal peduncle 12 in specimens

up to about 30 mm., 14 in those up to about 55 mm., and 16 in

adults. Predorsal about 15.

The posterior barbel is developed at 13-14 mm., the anterior at

17-18 mm. Scaling begins at about 18 mm.

Up to 93 mm. (tip of snout to end of middle caudal rays). Greenish-

brown above, silvery with pale yellowish tinge on belly; in specimens

from 21 mm. in length upwards red patches are developed in both

sexes at bases of the dorsal and anal fins, and in the axils of pectoral

and ventral fins; caudal fin also frequently with a pinkish tinge.

In preserved specimens a dark lateral stripe becomes visible, more

or less broken up into several spots posteriorly; juveniles with dark

spots along side and back (somewhat similar to serra and capensis).

Localitves.—Olifants River, Clanwilham (C. J. Leipoldt, 1897, and

R. M. Lightfoot, 1898); Jan Diesel’s River, Clanwilliam (K. H. B.

and C. W. T., 1936); Tratra River, Wupperthal, Clanwilliam District

(K. H. B. and C. W. T., Sept. 1936); Boontyes River, Citrusdal

(A. J. H. and C. W. 7., Nov. 1936; A.C). K. Bo andy ae

April 1937 and 1938); Keerom (S. of Citrusdal), Olifants River

(A. C. H., K. H. B., and C. W. T., April 1938, February 1939).

Remarks.—The three specimens collected by C. J. Leipoldt in 1897

were recorded as serra by Gilchrist and Thompson, but only the

largest one is that species. The error is quite pardonable, as at that

time the presence of another species was not suspected and no long

series of any species was available to the above collaborators.

Juveniles were obtained at the end of September, in November,

February, and early April.

Distinguished from the other Red-fin found in the Olifants River

(phlegethon), and also from all other Red-fin species, by the serrated

dorsal spine. The shape of the anal fin also distinguishes it from

phlegethon (fig. 15, d).

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region.

Named after the brightness of the red patches, and the heat of

the Olifants River valley in summer time.

Both the Jan Diesel’s River and the Tratra River are in the

Olifants River system, the former flowing direct into the Olifants

River at Clanwilliam, the Tratra flowing into the Doorn and then

into the Olifants.

Citrusdal and Clanwilliam (figs. 1 and 6).

Barbus calidus.

TL | L/H| H/E| S/E | I/E | 1.1. | c.ped. | striae.

11 | 32 | 24 |e<s|e<i| WNooscalejs

12 33 3 99 29 oe)

13 3g 3 oe) 29 29

14 35 3 29 29 29

15 3 3 29 29 29

16 3 3 29 29 29

17 3 3 oy) 29 29

19 3 3 29 29 29

21 | 34 | 3 55 3 | ot P 512 4

25 | 34 | 3 #5 Paleo WL ) 45

27 | 34 | 3 a oe: (POO ly LZ as

30 | 34 | 3 35 es ol eoGe 12 6-8

San) oy | og | ss ssluall esa | i valid ae

39 | 3i | 3k | ,, 39) 80,| JA 3

43 | 34 | 3} | 1 hwo) |) 4 oe

50 | 34 | 34} 1 Do hesae [ol a ae

55 | 34 | 34) 1 To!) 36. 14 10

68 | 34 | 34) 1 1 | 37 /|14-16| ..

70 | 33 | 34] 1 fe esau U6 a

75 | 3$ | 34] 1 Disa. 6 12

80 | 382 | 34 |) 1 1 | 36) 16 but

88 | 32 | 34 | 1 DepiesGn| a6 a

93 | 32 | 34 | 1 fess 1) eG 14

barb.

None

(p)

Pp (a)

Barbus andrewi Brurd.

Andrew Smith's White-fish; Berg and Breede River

White-fish; Wiatvis.

Figs. 16,

1897. Weber, Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst., x, p. 151 (part capensis, non

17.

The Boontjes flows into the Olifants River between

Sex and Remarks.

Dorsal and anal fins dis-

tinct.

Ventral fins free.

\ No ventral lamella.

Dorsal spine 0-1 serration.

2-3 serrations.

Red patches begin.

7 serrations.

10 serrations.

A. Smith: the French Hoek and Paarl specimens, but not the juv.

from Viol’s Drift).

1911. Boulenger, l.c., p. 123, fig. 100 (part capensis, non A. Smith:

all specimens except Smith’s type) (figure shows only 7 dorsal rays).

180 Annals of the South African Museum.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 412, fig. 70 (capensis, non

A. Smith) (fig. after Boulenger, showing 7 dorsal rays).

1937. J. L. B. Smith, l.c., p. 125, pl. 30, fig. 1 (capensis, non

A. Smith).

1937. Barnard, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (10), xix, p. 305.

1938. Id.,. abode (11); py 82:

This species and serra are the only two large-sized Barbus with

radiately striate scales in the region under discussion. The Saw-fin

(serra), however, is easily distinguished by the much stronger serration

of the dorsal spine, only 5 branched anal rays, and the scale-count.

The dorsal fin formula is given as Diii. 8; but there are actually

4 spines, the true Ist spine being obscured in half-grown and adult

examples. In large specimens the dorsal spine is often less strongly

developed, relatively, than in younger specimens, and the serrations

become nearly obsolete.

The posterior barbels are developed at about 21-22 mm., the

anterior at about 24-25 mm.; scaling begins at about 24-25 mm.,

and from about 25 mm. the dorsal spine serrations begin to develop.

Although published records give 380 mm. as the length to which

this species grows, local farmers and anglers report that it reaches a

length of at least 2 feet (600 mm.); the largest I have seen was a 2

20% inches (525 mm.) in length, weighing 6 lbs. 7 ozs., caught in

the Brand Vlei Dam at Worcester by Mr. H. Botha in November

1941, and forwarded to the South African Museum by Mr. Perkins

who stated that it was a record for the Worcester Trout Anglers

Association.

The sexes can be distinguished by the roes at a length of about

160 mm., and sexual maturity is attained probably at about 200 mm. .

There is no sexual difference in the length of the pectoral fin. No

warts are developed on the head in the 3, but in both sexes there are

numerous minute pimples on the top of the head, and extending

over the scales as far back as the dorsal fin. When a fish is taken

out of the water and allowed to dry, these pimples are quite visible

to the naked eye, and can be felt with the finger as a slight roughness.

After preservation they become white, but are not to be seen if the

mucous covering has been rubbed off; where the mucus is lost

minute pits can be seen on the top of the head (cf. Labeo).

The fishes mass for spawning at the head of a stony pool or run

below rapids from the middle of November onwards into January.

On 27th November 1938 Messrs. F. G. Chaplin, A. C. Harrison, C. W.

Thorne, and the writter netted and “stripped” several ripe g¢ and

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of 8.W. Cape Region. 181

09 in the Berg River at Drakenstein. Mr. Chaplin took the fertilized

eggs to the Jonkershoek Fish Hatchery, where the fry hatched on

2nd December. Juveniles were preserved at various stages, and

have been used to check observations on juveniles caught free in the

river.

Coloration, up to about 100 mm. in length, silvery, with irregular

dark spots or vertical bars, more marked in the younger stages; larger

specimens are duller especially on the back, with the centre of each

scale pale lemon-yellow, giving the freshly caught fish a distinct

yellow tinge; old examples are dull bronzy-green or brassy, becoming

paler yellowish and more or less silvery on the belly; all the fins pale

rosy or dull orange-salmon, including the caudal, but usually only

the anterior part (if at all) of the anal fin; quite small specimens of

30-35 mm. begin to show the pink tinge on the fins, which often

becomes intensified in breeding gd.

Dr. Andrew Smith had examples of this fish from the Breede

River, but unfortunately he confused them with examples from the

Olifants River. The Berg and Breede River White-fish does not

correspond with his description of capensis (with longitudinally striate

scales), nor with his type specimen of capensis in the British Museum.

Consequently a new name had to be instituted (1937).

B. andrewv is found throughout the Berg and Breede river-systems,

but has not been recorded from elsewhere (fig. 6). Gilchrist and

Thompson recorded a specimen emanating from the Durban Museum,

but there is no evidence to show that it was actually caught in Natal.

This is the only species of Barbus which is found in two major

catchment basins separated by well-defined topographical barriers.

On p. 42 of Report, i (1926), Hey says: “It is stated that 35-40

years ago the Wittevis was unknown in the Breede River or its

tributaries. It is suggested that this fish made its way from the Berg

River by means of a furrow connecting the Small Berg and the Witte

River” [near Wellington]. The first statement is refuted by Andrew

Smith recording Barbus “‘capensis”’ (the fact that he confused two

species under the same name has no significance in this connection)

from the Breede River; secondly, only one furrow is known and it

leads off from the Witte River (a tributary of the Breede River) and has

such a precipitous fall down to the Krom River (tributary of the Berg

River) that any migration wp-stream from the latter to the former

is out of the question.*

* This furrow was completed in 1860, and constitutes a “counter act of piracy

through human agency,”’ because the Witte River at one time flowed into the

VOL... XXXVI, PART 2;

Fie. 16.—Barbus andrewi. Young, showing markings, and half-grown

(nat. size); in the latter the predorsal scales and every 10th scale in

lateral line are indicated; scale enlarged; anal fin of an intermediate

sized example showing change in shape between young and adult.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 183

It is possible that the early colonists transported the white-fish

from the Berg into the Breede River, but the suggestion does not seem

altogether plausible and is not based on any historical record.

At the present day the lowest and least accentuated watershed

between the Berg and Breede systems lies between the sources of the

Little Berg River and the main Breede River in the Tulbagh—Wolseley

area (fig. 1,x). Heavy flooding might have made intercommunica-

tion possible. But, on the other hand, the topographic evidence

Fic. 17.—Barbus andrewi. Juvenile, 14 mm. Berg River. Dorsal

spines of specimens 40 mm. and 70 mm. in length (length of spines 8 and

13 mm. respectively). (Only one row of serrations on the spines is

shown.)

shows that in former times the Little Berg River captured the true

headwaters of the Breede River.

Aberrations.—Two specimens have been examined which agree in

nearly all respects with typical specimens; but if submitted to a

systematist without any data, or long series of typical specimens for

comparison, they would probably be regarded as a distinct, un-

described species.

One of 85 mm. length was caught in the Witte River valley

(a tributary of the Breede River). The last dorsal spine is slender,

flexible, and non-serrated. There are only 2+5 gill-rakers on the

anterior arch.

One of 95 mm. length was caught among a shoal of typical andrewt

Berg River, but was captured by the energetic tributary of the Breede River

cutting up through Bain’s Kloof. See River Piracy, The Origin of the Witte

River Furrow, by B. L. [Bernard Lewis], Journ. Mountain Club S. Afr., No. 38

for 1935, p. 21, Cape Town, 1936.

184

Annals of the South African Museum.

in the River Zonder End by Mr. Thorne and myself.

distinguishable at the time of capture, or after preservation, by

coloration. Like the first specimen, it has the last dorsal spine

slender and non-serrate, and the gill-rakers are slightly fewer, 3+8

(normal for these sizes: 5 or 6+10, see table infra).

Barbus andrew.

It was not

TL | L/H| H/E | S/E |1/E| 11.

12 23309 22) eS sike= tan aN

14 | 33 3 22 | oa

15 | 33 | 3 seul ve

18 | 37] 3 Sete

4 k 3 3 99 99

230 Sua tos 1 6

25 | 3 Soi ee Veeas

30 | 3 34] 1 1 | 38

35 | 3 34 | 1 1

40 | 3 | 33 14 | 14

45 | 3 32 | 14 | 1t

50) || 3 4 1i | 1

58, oe.) "4 1 Lee

65 | 34 | 43 | 14 | 14

75 | 34| 44 | BI 4

85 | 34 | 42 | 12 | 13

95 | 34 | 5 2 13

105 | 33 | 5 2 13

15, | S854 2 ae ies

125 | 34| 54 | 2 | 15 || &

Wes Sie ee 12 is

145 | 34 | 6 24 | 2 =

155 | 34 | 62 | 24 | 2 fs

170 | 33 | 64 | 24 12 ie

180 | 34 | 6E | 23 | 22

195 | 34 | 62 | 23 | 24

225 | 3h | 7% |°3 24

245 | 34 | 74 | 3 24

295 | 33 | 8 34 | 24

305 | 34 | 8% | 33 | 3

340 | 34 | 8% | 33 | 3

350 | 34 |84-84| 34 | 3

365 | 34 | 84 | 33 | 3 |

525 | 834 1104 | 42 | 42 | 38

c.ped. | striae.

o scale|s

14-16| 3

16 34

4-5

5-6

6-7

9-10

ig #

oO 1

124

14+

16 14+

or.

0+4

barb.| d.sp.s.| Sex and Remarks.

None

0-1

2-4

5-7

6-8

8-10

9-12

10-13

12-14

13-16

14-16

15-18

17-20

19-22

25-26

ca. 30

Dorsal formed, anal

and

ventrals

forming.

Dorsal

and anal

formed, ventrals

free.

2 ova.

3d?

serrations

Spine often

slender and

serrations

feeble.

ob-

solete.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 185 —

Barbus burchella A. Smith

Burchell’s Red-fin; Roovwvlerk.

Hie, 18. a:

1841. A. Smith, Illustr. Zool. 8. Afr. Fish., pl. xi, fig. 1.

1897. Weber, l.c., p. 152 (part anoplus, the juv. from French

Hoek).

1911. Boulenger, I.c., p. 146, fig. 122 (part: nos. 1-3, but not the

juv. from Deelfontein).

1911. Id., sbid., p. 147, fig. 124 (burge = 3).

1911. Id., cbid., p. 178, fig. 156 (afer from Cape Town, non afer

Peters).

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 417, fig. 75 (part, not the

Robertson specimens).

1913. Id., ibed., p. 419, fig. 76 (burgr).

1913. Id., ibid., p. 430, fig. 88 (afer, after Blgr., non Peters).

1938. Barnard, l.c., p. 82.

[Not burchells Weber, l.c., p. 153. Oudtshoorn and Laingsburg =

asper.

Probably not burchelli Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., lxxxvi,

1934, p. 429. Natal.

Probably not burg: Pellegrin, Arquiv. Mus. Bocage. Lisbon, vii,

1936, p. 55. Angola.

Probably not burchelli J. L. B. Smith, l.c., 1937, p. 127, pl. 30, fig. 2.]

A smallish species, growing to a length of 117 mm., and very closely

allied to vulneratus. Its most remarkable feature is the belated

appearance of the anterior pair of barbels.

There are actually 4 dorsal spines, but the true 1st is very small and

can only be seen moderately easily in juveniles; in adults it becomes

obscured, and for practical purposes the species is reckoned as having

only 3 dorsal spines, the last being thin and flexible, without serrations.

The spine of the ventral fin arises at the vertical from the 2nd (2.e.

penultimate) dorsal spine. The ventral fins become free at a slightly

earlier stage than in vulneratus.

The scaling begins at about 17-18 mm. The number of lateral

line scales may increase slightly in adults, but the normal number

around the caudal peduncle is 12. One or two extra scales may be

interpolated at the forward end of the peduncle in large specimens.

Predorsal scales 13-15, usually 15. The lateral line tubules are

complete except in very rare cases.

186 Annals of the South African Museum.

The posterior pair of barbels is developed at about the 17-18 mm.

stage. The development of the anterior barbels is delayed until a

quite unusually late stage in life, viz. 52-53 mm. I have seen two

specimens of 62-64 mm. in which the anterior barbels were either

absent or mere points, easily overlooked. This explains the identifica-

tion of young specimens (having only the posterior pair of barbels) as

Fic. 18.—Barbus burchelli: a. Juvenile, 13 mm. Berg River.

Barbus vulneratus: 6b, c. Juveniles, 11 mm. and 15 mm. Genadendal,

River Zonder End.

anoplus by Weber (1897).* The anterior barbel always remains

relatively small, scarcely ever equalling the diameter of the eye.

The pectoral fin shows sexual differences. In the young, and

throughout life in the 3, it reaches to, or almost to, the base of the

ventral fin (burgz Blgr.). In the adult 2 it is appreciably shorter and

does not reach to the ventral fin; the gap between the end of the

pectoral and the base of the ventral is at least 4 the length of the

pectoral fin.

Breeding gd, about 80 mm. in length (one of 62 mm. examined),

* T have seen these specimens.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 187

_ develop conical tubercles on the snout and top of head. In preserved

specimens these tubercles are easily rubbed off, and possibly they

are naturally caducous after the breeding season.

In juveniles about 20-35 mm. there are obscure dark spots on the

body, in addition to the line of pigment along the sides; later the

lateral stripe usually becomes more distinct, and it may swell out

in places forming more or less disconnected spots; there is nearly

always a subtriangular spot at the end of the caudal peduncle. The

dorsal, caudal, anal, and ventral fins begin to develop the salmon

or reddish tinge at about 30-40 mm. in length, and the red patch in

the axil of the pectoral fin also begins at the same stage. These red

patches develop before sexual maturity, and in both sexes; they are

retained throughout the year, but may become more brilliant during

the breeding periods.

As regards synonymy there is the initial difficulty in that we do

not know what fish Andrew Smith actually described, as he did not

give a definite locality, and his type is not extant. It may have

been either burchelli (as we now know it) or vulneratus of Castelnau.

Smith’s description says “‘base [of dorsal fin] anteriorly directly over

base of pectoral [sic, =ventral] fins”; the figure shows the ventral

spine actually in advance of the origin of the dorsal fin. Smith’s

“burchelli”’ might be a vulneratus, though the ventral fin is figured

as too far forward for this species. To avoid upsetting the nomen-

clature, Smith’s discrepancies may be overlooked; and it will be

assumed that his specimens came from a locality where burchelli

(as now diagnosed) is known to occur.

Reasons for including part of Weber’s anoplus material (juv.) and

Boulenger’s burgi (3) have already been given.

At my request Mr. Norman examined the specimen (about 73 mm.

in length) collected by H.M.S. Challenger ‘“‘near Cape Town,” which

Boulenger identified and figured as afer Peters. It has two pairs

of barbels, the anterior one at least 1 the eye-diameter according to

’ Mr. Norman; and Dr. Trewavas later informed me that the specimen

agrees with the types of burgv.*

I have seen the specimen from Deelfontein, identified by Boulenger

as this species; actually it is a specimen of anoplus. I have also

* While in Cape Town the staff of the Challenger made several excursions, but

no details are given (Challenger Rep. Narrative, vol. i, pt. 1, p. 282). Without

doubt they visited Stellenbosch and Paarl, where burchelli is common; and a

specimen of the freshwater crab Potamonautes perlatus is recorded from the river

at Wellington (Miers, Challenger Rep., xviii, 1886).

188 Annals of the South African Museum.

seen Weber’s Oudtshoorn and Laingsburg specimens and find that

they are really asper. Pellegrin’s record of burgi from Angola will, I

believe, prove to be another species, and probably not one with red-fins.

The two specimens from Robertson recorded by Gilchrist and

Thompson are vulneratus.

The record of Barbus? burchelli in the Klein River, Stanford (Fish.

Mar. Biol. Surv., Investigat. Rep., 7, p. 94, 1936) was based on

casual observation of specimens in the water. Specimens netted on

a later occasion proved to be juvenile Mugil and Gulchristella.

Barbus burchelli.

TL | L/H|H/E| S/E | L/E l.l.- |e.ped.|striae.| g.r. | barb.) Sex and Remarks.

9/4 | 24 je>sle>i Njo scales

105) 32>) 237 a - aye .- | Dorsal and anal form-

ing.

1 eos wines oth 1 s 2+5 | None! Dorsal and anal rays

distinct. Ventrals

forming.

13 | 34 | 3 Seed ie | ss se .. | Ventrals free.

eure te | 28 12 (p)

> 29 Zz 5 5 2° Pp

20 | 33 | 3 Somilee 28 12 = 2+5 | (p)

25 | 34 | 3 55 Bae 29 12 ‘i - Pp

SOulostlec Bele ie be 28 12 4 ” p_ | Red patches begin.

oo 3% a Serer aie ls 29 12 ie “3 p

eal) poral sna, osse lee 29 12 45 | 3+5]| p

45 | 32 | 34 | 1 14 | 29-30 12 a 3 Pp

50 | 34 | 32) 1 | 13 | 12 5 i. p

55 | 38/34) 1 | 12 |loo 9g | 12 | 67 | 4 |p) .

60 | 34 | 34 ] 13 | 12 7-8 a pa |g with warts, 2 ova.

710 | 33 | 4 1i | 14 12 8 |3+5-6| pa

7a | 84) 44 | 1d | Ig behets 12 ne Pe

80 | 32 | 42 | 14 | 12 | 12 10 | 4+6

85 | 32/5 14 | 12 12 \

DOE 73205 LE Tes Wy 12 12 | 4+6

eS) ges es PS 12 | 2 34-36 12

100 | 34 | 54 | 12 | 2 12 14

117 | 32 | 54 | 2 23 12 LG.) | 4:66.) cos | Or owar

Barbus vulneratus (Cast.)

Castelnaw’s Red-fin; Roovvlerk.

Rig. 1836, ¢:

1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 57 (Gnathendalia

vulnerata).

1870. Steindachner, Sb. Ak. Wiss. Wien, lxi, p. 633, pl. 3, fig. 2

(B. multimaculatus).

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 189

1911. Boulenger, l.c., p. 148, fig. 125 (part: the specimens from

Zonder Hende River).

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 416, fig. 73 (but not any of

the recorded specimens).

1913. Id., ibid., p. 418 (burchell, part: the 2 specimens from

Robertson).

(sis. Bb. Smith, 1c., p. 127, pl. 31; fig. 2.

£958; Barnard, f.c., p. 83.

[Probably not Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., Ixxxvi, 1934,

p. 428; and wbed., Ixxxvu, 1935, p. 371. Natal.]

Castelnau placed this smallish species in a new genus named after

the Moravian Mission, Genadendal. His description was inadequate

for purposes of distinguishing the species from burchell1. Boulenger

incorporated Steindachner’s species, and separated vulneratus from

burchelli by the slightly more forward origin of the ventral fins.

On a recent visit to the type locality a complete series of all stages

was collected, which shows that the species is valid, although some

individuals are sometimes difficult to distinguish from burchellz.

In specimens of vulneratus over 55 mm. in length: the ventral

fins arise at the vertical from the lst (apparent) dorsal spine or

slightly in advance thereof; the interpolation of 2 more rows of

scales (dorsally) on the caudal peduncle, making 14 in all (there are

occasionally even 16), continues at least to the middle section, often

along the whole, of the caudal peduncle; so that the scale count is

normally 14 in contrast to the normal 12 in burchelli; the anterior

pair of barbels is always better developed than in burchelli; there is

also sometimes a tendency to the suppression of the tubule on some

of the lateral line scales on the caudal peduncle. Predorsal scales

17-18.

The real validity of the species, however, is shown by the early

development of the anterior pair of barbels, at the 21-mm. stage,

as opposed to the delayed appearance of them (52-53 mm.) in

burchello.

As in burchelli, there are actually 4 dorsal spines, but the true

lst spine is very small and becomes obscured in half-grown and

adult examples.

The scaling begins at 20-21 mm. At first there are only 12 scales

around the caudal peduncle, but at about 30-35 mm. an additional

row appears on either side dorsally, and from about 40 mm. upwards

the normal number is 14.

The posterior pair of barbels appears at about 19 mm., and the

}

190 Annals of the South African Museum.

anterior pair very soon afterwards at about 21 mm. The anterior

barbel becomes well developed, and in adults is usually as long as

the eye-diameter.

The pectoral fin shows the same sexual difference as in burchelli.

Large warts on head in g, as in burchellr. :

Judging by the Genadendal series, vulneratus arrives at sexual

maturity at a smaller size than does burchelli: 33 with conical

tubercles on the head at 50-55 mm., and 92 with ripe ova at 55-

60 mm. Castelnau said the species grew to a length of 120 mm.,

but the largest caught on the recent visit were 90 mm. in length.

The coloration is the same as in burchelli, but the spots in the

young and half-grown, and even the adults, appear to be more

conspicuous. The red colour on the fins and in axil of pectoral is

very brilliant.

Details at different stages are as follows: up to 15 mm. heavily and

more or less uniformly pigmented, dorsal fin pigmented along its

base and in the angle of the 3rd spine; at 18-20 mm. body paler and

becoming silvery on opercles and belly, pigment aggregated more or

less into ill-defined spots along the side, with a more definite spot at

end of caudal peduncle, angle at base of 3rd dorsal spine and the

spine itself dark; at 30 mm. spots along sides and on back, spot on

caudal peduncle distinct, base of dorsal fin dark, a faint tinge of

salmon at base of dorsal and caudal fins; at 45 mm. brownish, more

or less silvery on belly, the dark spots subcircular, or vertically or

horizontally oval, more or less united into a longitudinal stripe, spot

on caudal peduncle subtriangular and always distinct, all fins (except

pectoral) and the spot in axil of pectoral more or less reddish; from

55 mm. upwards the red patches get their full blood-red colour, the

pectoral fin remains greyish, with only a faint pink tinge in its basal

half in some large specimens.

The status of Steindachner’s multemaculatus is doubtful, and is

likely to remain so unless the precise locality of his specimens were

discoverable and a series obtained from that locality.

Boulenger assigned to vulneratus some specimens from “Zonder

Kende River (tributary of Forcade River) near Ondtsloon”’ [sic].*

Boulenger repeatedly misspells Oudtshoorn, but I am unable to trace

on any map, or by local enquiries, a “‘Forcade”’ River in that neigh-

* In a letter (9.xii.09) to Gilchrist he asked for the exact position of

“Porcade (?) R.”? and “Ondtsloon.’’ Apparently Gilchrist never enlightened

him. Gilchrist’s handwritten labels could be easily misread by anyone not

knowing the localities.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 191

bourhood; in any case the Zonder End River, though correct for

Castelnau’s type locality, is nowhere near Oudtshoorn.

Baakens River, near Port Elizabeth, is another locality recorded

by Boulenger which must be deleted, because the 3 specimens, which

were recorded by Gilchrist and Thompson from this locality and

which bear the identification label “vulneratus’”? in Boulenger’s

handwriting, have only a single pair of barbels and are referable to

senticeps (v. infra).

Of Gilchrist and Thompson’s other material, the Yokeskei River

specimens are probably motebensis; the smaller of the two specimens

from Zwartkops River is pallidus and the larger one senticeps!

Even if Gilchrist and Thompson’s material had not been available,

the Baakens and Zwartkops localities would have been open to doubt,

as the species is absent from the intervening Gouritz River system.

And on a recent collecting trip to the Zwartkops River no specimens

of vulneratus were obtained.

Besides the Genadendal series, other specimens are at hand from

the headwaters of the River Zonder End on the east side of French

Hoek Pass (near Villiersdorp) (K. H. B. and C. W. T., Oct. 1936);

Slanghoek and Witte rivers (tributaries of the Breede River); Michell’s

Pass River (H.G. Wood, 1938); Hex River at Sandhills, near

Barbus vulneratus.

——

TL | L/H |H/E; S/E |1I/E| 1.1. | e.ped.|striae.| g.r. | barb.) Sex and Remarks.

10-11) 4 24 |e>sle>i Njo scale/s .. |None

12-13] 34 | 23 Bi af He ' »» | Dorsal forming.

14 32 | 3 ae A. As ss », | Anal forming.

15 34 | 3 Ve 1 um 0+4 », | Dorsal and anal rays

distinct ; ventral

| fins just free.

17-18; 34 | 3 I 1 0+5-6| ,,

20 34 | 3 1 1 Not} distin|ct 1+5 | (p)

22-23 | 34 | 3 1 il 34 12 3 2+5 |p (a)

25 |34-34| 3 1 1 34 12 ne oe pa

30 34 | 3 1 1 33 |12-14; 4 2+6 | pa

35 32 |3-34) 1 14 | 33 |12-14| .. 8 .. | Red patches begin.

40 3% | 34] 1 14 | 33 14 5-6

45 32 | 34) 1 14 | 34 14

50 3% | 34] 1 14 | 34 14 8 2+6 6 with warts.

55 |34-32| 4 14 | 14 (34-36) 14 $0 6 with warts. Q ova.

60 34 | 44 | 14 | 16)] 35 14 2+6 32

70 |34-32) 44 | 14 | 14 | 35 14 vi ay be.

80 |34-3%) 42 | 14 | 12 | 34 14 10 |3+6-7 3.

90 3% | 5 2 2 36 14 ae ae oe.

192 Annals of the South African Museum.

Worcester (A.C. Harrison); Cogman’s Kloof River at Montagu

(tributary of the Breede River) (H.G. Wood, 1938); Buffelsjagt

River (tributary of the Breede River); the Robertson (Breede River)

specimens recorded by Gilchrist and Thompson; long series from the

Nieuwejaar, Grashoek, and Kars rivers in the Elim-Bredasdorp area

(K. H. B. and C. W. T., 1937); Duivenhoks River, Heidelberg (Cape)

and Vette and Kaffirkuils rivers, Riversdale (A. C. H., K. H. B., and

C. W. T., 1938) (figs. 1 and 6).

The occurrences in the Nieuwejaar, Grashoek, Kars, Duivenhoks,

and Kaffirkuils rivers are interesting as indicating the former con-

nection of these, now independent, rivers with the extended Breede

River across the Agulhas Bank (fig. 1, area 7, Ta, 7b).

Barbus pallidus A. Smith

Goldie.

1841. A. Smith, Illustr. Zool. 8. Afr. Fish., pl. xi, fig. 2.

1911. Boulenger, l.c., p. 149 (species dubia).

1911. Id., cbid., p. 150, fig. 126 (hemepleurogramma).

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 426, fig. 85 (hemipleuro-

gramma (part: the specimens from Baakens River, not the Transvaal

specimens).

1913. Id., abid., p. 416 (vulneratus non Cast., part: the smaller

specimen from Zwartkops River).

1916. Boulenger, l.c., p. 272 (anoplus non Weber).

1937. J. L. B. Smith, l.c., p. 127, pl. 29, fig. 4 (hemipleurogramma).

1938., Barnard, T.c., p. 83.

Sir Andrew Smith not only travelled widely in the Cape, but set

out on one of his most important expeditions from Port Elizabeth

(see supra, p. 116). It is reasonable to assume that he obtained

samples of the fishes from the rivers in that neighbourhood, where

to-day the species described by Boulenger as hemipleurogramma .is

common. 3

Smith’s figure shows the following essential features: 2 barbels on

each side, 1.1. scales 31 or 32, caudal peduncle 12, pre-dorsal 12 or 13,

Matar AV?

the artist’s propensity for indicating too many scales (see supra,

p. 115)—and the fewer the scales the less likelihood of exceeding the

correct number—all these features are characteristic of hemzpleuro-

gramma. Yet Boulenger in a note on pallidus on the page preceding

and 3 between 1.]. and ventral. If allowance be made for

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 193

the description of his n. sp. failed to recognize the resemblance, or

was too cautious to resuscitate pallidus in the absence of Smith’s type

specimen.

There cannot be, I think, the slightest doubt that Smith and

Boulenger refer to one and the same species. It is the only species

in the western Cape Province with 2 pairs of barbels and non-serrate

dorsal spine, combined with so few and such large, radiately striate,

scales. Smith himself remarked on the large size of the scales.

The coloration of the living fish, well described by Smith, fades on

preservation to that given by Boulenger. A somewhat more detailed

note of the coloration was taken (K. H. B.) at the time of capture of

specimens in the Zwartkops and other rivers: silvery, brownish above,

more or less golden, especially in adult gg, more greyish in 99; a line

of black spots along sides; one at base of caudal and one at base of

anal fin present in the youngest stages upwards; when the brilliant

golden colour in ¢ is fully developed the lateral spots are not apparent;

a golden tinge on opercle behind eye; fins pale; caudal more or less

yellowish, and in golden specimens ($3, and often also in 22) the

middle caudal rays are deep orange or even reddish.

Although Smith described the lateral line as extending to the

base of the caudal fin, this is not necessarily an objection to the

suggested synonymy. The incompleteness of the lateral line, regarded

as one of the specific characters of hemipleurogramma, is not at all

constant. Though not frequent, there are specimens in which the

lateral line is complete at least on one side; and there are many in

which the line is interrupted at two or more places; that is, the

line ceases at the anterior third or half of the body and is indicated

by two or more single tubules, or groups of tubules, and ending with

one or two tubules at the base of the tail. Incompleteness of the

lateral line is, however, the normal condition; but where a tendency

to suppression of the tubules occurs, the utmost inconstancy and

variability may be expected (cf. also vulneratus and asper).*

This species has a very neat appearance due to the regularity of

the large scales; this regularity is particularly noticeable along the

dorsal profile, where there are normally 10 (10-11) predorsal scales,

in contrast with the frequently irregular arrangement in species

having a larger number of predorsal scales.

It is a small species attaining sexual maturity at about 38-40 mm.

The largest specimens examined are females.

There are no red patches at the bases of the fins, and no warts

* Cf. Hora, Misra and Malik, 1939, Rec. Ind. Mus., xli, pp. 268, 269.

194 Annals of the South African Museum.

on the head in the 3. The pectoral fin in juveniles and $3 reaches

to or almost to the base of the ventral fin spine, but in 99 is separated

by a gap about half the length of the pectoral fin.

At 15 mm. the posterior barbel is just beginning, and the anterior

one appears at about 17-18 mm. Scaling begins at 15 mm.

The young, once they have attained their scales, are thereby

distinguished from the young of senticeps, with which species. they

are often associated, as well as by the black spot at base of anal

and caudal fins. But the very young stages I have not yet been

able to discriminate with certainty. Breeding in aquaria would

settle this point.

In the anal fin only 2 spines are observable in the adult, but in

the young 3, sometimes 4 or even 5, can be counted.

In addition to Gilchrist and Thompson’s material (Baakens and

Zwattkops rivers) I have collected and examined series from the

Zwartkops River at Uitenhage (Groendal valley); Van Staden’s

River; Baviaans Kloof, and smaller tributaries of the Gamtoos River

at Loerie and Patentie; Zeekoe River near Humansdorp; Kromme

River at Assegai Bush. Also I have seen a single specimen from

Howieson’s Poort, Grahamstown (Kariega River), which appears to

be conspecific; I should prefer to see living and fresh material before

finally accepting this locality (figs. 6 and 7).

Boulenger’s 1916 specimens of “‘anoplus’’ are referred to the

present species on the authority of Dr. Trewavas.

Not having seen any fresh material, | express no opinion on the

specimens from the Transvaal recorded by Gilchrist and Thompson.

Abnormalities.—The following abnormalities have been noticed and

should be borne in mind in discussing the possibility of “‘n. spp.”

having been based on such casual variants. Approximately 6-2

per cent. of the specimens have 8 dorsal rays instead of the normal

number of 7.

Out of 19 specimens from Baakens River, one juv. with 8 branched

dorsal rays.

Out of 7 specimens from Zwartkops River, Uitenhage (C. L. Biden,

1935), one 2 with 8 dorsal rays, one § with 6 dorsal rays and in

addition 1.]. 32 (right), 31 (left), caudal peduncle 12, predorsal 13,

and only the posterior pair of barbels. This latter specimen, on

paper, might have been thought to be a senticeps, but the specimen

was seen by me in a fresh state, had no red-fins, and was obviously

pallidus. Out of 150 specimens from same locality (K. H. B. and

C. W. T., 1938), 3 (1 3, 2 99) with 8 dorsal rays; 2 92 with 6 dorsal

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 195

rays. Out of 4 specimens from Van Staden’s River, one 2 with

8 dorsal rays. Out of 7 specimens from Zeekoe River, Humansdorp,

2 99 with 8 dorsal rays. Out of 25 specimens from Loerie, 4 $¢ with

8 dorsal rays, 1 juv. with 9 dorsal rays, one 2 with 7 rays, the 4th

and 5th intertwined. Out of 6 specimens from Assegai Bush, 1 juv.

with 5 dorsal rays. Out of 135 specimens from Baviaans Kloof,

2 33, 4 92, 3 juv. with 8 dorsal rays, 1 2 with 6 anal rays, 1 2 with

8 dorsal and 6 anal rays, 1 2 with 7 dorsal rays, the 4th and 5th

intertwined.

There is a distinct resemblance (accepting current diagnoses)

between specimens with 8 dorsal rays and B. lineomaculatus, and

even more so with B. viviparus, in view of the black spot at base of

anal fin.

Parasites —When slitting the bellies of specimens in the feta it

was noticed that some specimens contained large globular bodies

which appeared as if they might be large ova indicating viviparity.

The case of B. viviparus recurred to mind, eyes as the speci-

mens were superficially very like wwparus.

Closer examination, however, at once showed that these bodies

were parasitic Trematodes. They were encysted in the gonads, and

Barbus pallidus.

TL | L/H|H/E)| S/E | 1/E| 1.1. | c.ped.|striae.) g.r. | barb.| Sex and Remarks.

MO sa) co) | | Ci Sil ll 26 12 4 1+4 1] (p) | Fin” rays _ distinct.

Black spot at base

of anal and caudal.

18 | 34 | 3 sh aah eee lagia 2 oe 2+4 | p(a)

20 | 34 | 3 pp le We28e te 2 4-5 pa

ee 25 | 3k) 3 | 4, | b | 27) 12

Mc s0)| of | 3 sped Liege fet Shoal| e 5-6

| || lh =|]

or = sj

meaiise ar | 31) 2 pir ipele* |. | 5. |e | Gove.

Be} t42| 32/32] 1 | 1

ee 45) 86/84 | 1 1 14 6 [244-5

ass 50 | 4 | 3$ 1 Id |} © at ae vlna, Ova. 2.

2 See oa 3 |) tag pla Pn Gat Nae Piss te

go), 4 | 3h) 1 PS ite - wT) | -C.owde:

57 | 4 32 I 14 7-8 eh ae lee ovis.

Zwartkops 60 | 4 | 32/ 1 1d | 28 12 8 |2+4-5) .. | & ovig.*

Howieson’s A ie Ne 2ON yl TD 6 Pr. \ | O Ova.

Poort 47

* Gilchrist and Thompson’s 52-mm. (measured to end of scaling) specimen

recorded by them as “‘vulneratus.”’

Sorry »

196 Annals of the South African Museum.

occurred in both sexes, but more frequently in 99 than gg. In

some cases nearly the whole space normally occupied by the ova was

filled with 4-6 of the parasites, leaving scarcely any space for the

ova. When removed from the cyst, the flukes were oval-shaped,

narrowing in front, 7-8 mm. in length and 5 mm. in width.

Dr. Baylis of the British Museum very kindly identified these

Trematodes as the metacercariae of Huclinostomum sp., probably

E. heterostomum (Rud., 1809), the adult of which is a parasite of

herons.

Barbus asper Blgr.

Plump Red-fin, Rooivlerk.

Fig. 19, a.

1897. Weber, l.c., p. 153 (burchellia non A. Smith, from Buffles

River, Laingsburg, and Kammenassie River, Oudtshoorn).

1911. Boulenger, l.c., p. 176, fig. 154.

1911. Id., ehid., p. 177 (anoplus non Weber, part: nos. 1-10,

Grobelaars River, Oudtshoorn).

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 427, fig. 86, and p. 579.

1913. Id., zbid., p. 428 (anoplus non Weber, part: only the 12

specimens from Grobelaars River, Oudtshoorn).

1917. Boulenger, C.R. Ac. Sci. Paris, clxiv, p. 299 (“spinosus,”

laps. cal.).

1938. Barnard, l.c., p. 84.

[Probably not asper Borodin, Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst., Ixvii, 1936,

p. 6. Lake Tanganyika! *]

The editorial statement on p. 579 of Gilchrist and Thompson’s

monograph is true in so far as the said specimens are adults of the

species which was at that time thought to be anoplus, but which is

in fact asper; the suggestion that asper was a synonym of anoplus

has been shown to be wrong.

This species has no anterior barbels at any stage of growth. The

posterior barbels develop at about 28 mm. Juveniles from this size

up to 50 mm. are distinguished from burchellz, which at this size has

only the posterior barbels, by the larger number of predorsal and

caudal peduncle scales. Scaling begins at about 23 mm.

The red patches at the bases of the fins begin to show at about

30 mm. in both sexes. Warts on the head in males. The pectoral

* Myers (1936, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., Ixxxiv, p. 11, footnote) declines to accept

this author’s identifications. As regards “‘asper,’”’ I most emphatically agree

with Dr. Myers.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 197

fin reaches to or almost to the base of the ventral fin in juveniles and

males, but is relatively shorter in females.

Spawning takes place between September and February. Sexual

maturity is reached at about 60 mm.; and the greatest length hitherto

recorded is 110 mm., but recently one of 118 mm. was caught in the

Kabeljouw River (see znfra).

Originally described from the Groote River * (Gamtoos system) at

Steytlerville, and Le Roux River near Oudtshoorn (Gouritz system).

I have collected long series in both of the type localities; and have

obtained specimens from the following localities :—

(a) Gouritz system—Buffels River, Laingsburg, and its lower

course (Groote River) + near Ladismith; Gamka Poort and Meiring’s

Poort in the Zwartberg Range; Rossel River, near Klaarstroom; Le

Roux River at Schoemann’s Poort, near Oudtshoorn; Doorn River,

north of Montagu Pass (tributary of the Kamanassie-Olifants);

Touws River between Ladismith and Montagu (village) {; Langtouw

River, near Herbertsdale; Weiders and Valsch rivers in the Albertinia

district. Also at Haalkraal on upper reaches of the Little Brak

River, an independent river entering the sea in Mossel Bay.

(6) Gamtoos system—Baviaans Kloof River; Couga River at

Haarlem; tributary of the Gamtoos River at Patentie. Also the

independent rivers: Kabeljouw, Rondebosch, and Zeekoe in the

Humansdorp district.

tary of the Kruis River, near Knysna; the Homteni River (= upper

part of the Goukama River); and Ruigte Vlei ¢ (figs. 6 and 7).

Dr. Trewavas of the British Museum has kindly examined the

specimens nos. 1-10 from the Grobelaars River, Oudtshoorn, which

Boulenger recorded as “‘anoplus”’ and finds that the scales around the

caudal peduncle number 16 to (in the largest specimens) 20. I have

seen samples of the scales from these specimens, and they agree with

my own material, and also a scale from the type specimen of asper

from Steytlerville. Dr. Trewavas also finds that the specimens

nos. 17, 19, and 20 have respectively 14 or 15, 14, and 16 scales

around the caudal peduncle. These might also be asper, and if they

are, the Port Elizabeth area must be included in the distribution of

the species. I prefer, however, to withhold my opinion on this for

* See supra, p. 119, on duplication of place-names.

+ See p. 119, duplication of place names.

t Opposite Post Office, Ruigte Vlei. The railway siding of the same name is

opposite Groen Vlei.

VOL, XXXVI, PART 2. 13

198 Annals of the South African Museum. |

the present, because in the course of my own collecting in the Zwart-

kops River, and other neighbouring rivers, no specimens of asper were

obtained. I have not, however, examined as yet the Baakens River

at Port Elizabeth.

I have seen Max Weber’s specimens from the Buffels and Kaman-

assie rivers, which he called “burchellii.” It seems that Weber

overlooked the absence of the anterior barbels, or else laid more stress

on the presence of the red-fins corresponding with Andrew Smith’s

Fic. 19.—Barbus asper: a. Head of 9 (semidiagrammatic). Barbus

tenuis: b. Head (semidiagrammatic; dotted portion represents bare

post-occipital area). De Rust, near Oudtshoorn.

coloured figure. His statement that the pectorals do not reach the

origin of the ventral fin is true of the 9, but apparently he did not

examine the ¢¢ in his collection.

For comparison with the next two species (senticeps and tenuis) the

chief diagnostic features may be given: mature g¢ with warts on

head; mouth terminal; depth of body subequal to or greater than

length of head; scales with few (8-12) striae, 1.1. 36-42, ltr. 7-8

between dorsal spine and 1.1., 5-6 between latter and ventral spine

(the lateral line tubuliferous scale not counted); 16-18 or 20 around

caudal peduncle, 19-25 predorsal, commencing immediately behind

occiput, without any bare patch; base of ventral below anterior

dorsal rays; the lJ. series of tubules may be complete, but more

often (75 per cent.) is incomplete or irregularly interrupted.

Silvery, greyish or brownish above, innumerable tiny dark dots

tending to form a dark spot in centre of each scale, giving a speckled

appearance; bright red patches at bases of dorsal, anal, and ventral,

and in axil of pectoral fins. After preservation a more or less (usually

less) conspicuous dark lateral stripe.

The above diagnosis, in regard to the number of predorsal and

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 199

caudal peduncle scales, applies to what may be called the typical

form, found at Steytlerville and throughout the Gouritz River system.

Barbus asper.

TL | L/H|H/E| S/E | I/E | 1.1. | c.ped.|striae.| g.r. | barb.) Sex and Remarks.

7-8 | 44 | 24 Je>slje>i Nio scale|s None

IO }:4 4 22 | .,, us a ,, | Dorsal and anal fins

beginning.

12-13) 4 3 a ie By, », | Dorsaland analrays

distinct.

14 | 4 3 “ o ui , | Ventral fins show-

ing.

15 | 4 3 = Ae He be ,, | Ventral fins free.

17 4 3 ye) 29 ”? Qe 29

Fi 20 | 32 | 3 Ys 1 a ae Be

o 2olese | oe | 55 1 |30-32) 14 4 1+4 si

Z| 30 | 34] 34] ,, | 14 | 34 |14-16|) 4-5 | 2+5 | (p) | Red patches begin.

eae. Se) 3f 1 1°: iN 16 6 i Pp

S} 40 | 34] 33 | 1 13 | al) See

eo 450) 32) 3E) 1 4) 1e | le || 8

«| 50 | 32/4 | 12 | 1b [+E | le | .. [3+7-8

=| 55 |3e-4)4 | 1b] 12 || 8 | fe | lo

= 60 | 4 {4-44} 14 12 ae 3 with warts, 2 ova.

os 65 |4 | 4$) 14 | BY a 3? \ The L/H figure

70 | 4 | 43] 14 | 12 18 12 <% be is often alittle

75 |4 | 4$|] 14 | 4 18 3-4+8 S less than that

e004 4 42 ie | 14 18 ae », | here given in

85 | 4 5 12 & SC) 4+9 BS the case of

SOP 4271 5b | 1s. 2 it Hf ity Gauee, ithe

95 | 34] 5. |12-13| 2 iS 90 ” MG », | head is rela-

100 | 34 | 5 {12-13} 2 we | 2 1449-10 ,, | tively slightly

Se eich larger in 33

105 1.32) 5 123 | 2 a . than in 92°.

Kabeljouw

Rate | of |'be | 12.) 2 37 16 2 ovig. Record size.

45 \32 | 35 | I 14 7-8 | 2+8 p

moO) | 32 173z | I 14 deg ee seven ese

i, 99 | 32 | 35} 14 | 1k oh 3.

—-| 60 | 32) 32| 1 | ~ wy Q ovig.

Bees | 32) 32) If aah = aieS=9 3 with warts.

| 70 | 32/4 | 14 | 13 J(& Le Be ae an

ds | 32 | 44) 12. | 13 Be ide se

80 | 32 | 44) 14 |] 12 sit 2 ovig.

83 | 34 | 44 | 14 |] 13 10-11 2 ovig.

In the localities given above under (6) and (c), certain local varieties

occur (see fig. 7). H.g. in the Kabeljouw River a large number of

adults was obtained, including one of record size (118 mm.). None

of these had more than 16 scales around the caudal peduncle, and the

number of predorsal scales varied from 17-20. As a result of this

200 Annals of the South African Museum.

latter feature the rather crowded appearance of the scales on the

upper part of the shoulder, so characteristic of the typical form, was

lacking.

The Ruigte Vlei series agrees with those from the Kabeljouw River

and other localities as regards the predorsal and caudal peduncle

scaling. But when alive they had a beautiful warm brown or golden-

brown appearance, in marked contrast to the usual silvery-grey

colour of the typical form. This colour was noticeable, but to a lesser

degree, in the Homteni River specimens. In both these localities the

water is of rather high acidity (pH 4-4-5), whereas the more silvery-

grey forms come from water which is alkaline (pH 8-9). The acid

waters are brown in colour; and the alkaline ones are frequently

opaque with a considerable amount of mud in suspension. Compare

a similar correlation between the colour of the fish and the clarity

or opacity of the water in Sandelva (p. 248).

Barbus senticeps J. L. B. Smith

Uitenhage Red-fin, Rooivlerk.

1911. Boulenger, l.c., p. 177, fig. 155 (anoplus, part, non Weber:

no. 18, Port Elizabeth, the specimen figured, assuming figure is

natural size).

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 416 (vulneratus part, non

Cast.: 3 specimens from Baakens River, and the larger of the 2 from

Zwattkops River).

1913. Id., ibid., fig. 87, after Boulenger (anoplus non Weber. Not

the description, nor the recorded specimens).

1936. J. L. B. Smith, Trans. Roy. Soc. 8. Afr., xxiv, p. 54, fig. 3.

1937, ld, Ver) p24 tee

1938. Barnard, l.c., p. 84.

Dr. Trewavas has kindly examined Boulenger’s specimens nos.

11-20 of “‘anoplus,”’ and informs me that nos. 11-17 have 12-14 or

15, and nos. 19 and 20 respectively 14 and 16, scales around the

caudal peduncle; and that no. 18, with 13 scales around caudal

peduncle, appears to be the specimen figured by Boulenger, assuming

the figure to be natural size. No. 11 is clearly a senticeps, and

probably also nos. 12 and 13 (13 scales c.ped.); but whether nos. 14,

15, 16, and 19 (14-15 scales) can be included is doubtful. Confirma-

tion must be sought by further collecting in the Port Elizabeth area

to see if asper occurs along with senticeps. Specimen no. 20 (16

scales) would certainly seem to be asper.

Zwartkops R., Uitenhage.

™

Kromme R., Assegai Bush.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 201

This species agrees with asper in having only one pair of barbels,

but is distinguished by having normally only 12 scales around caudal

peduncle. The posterior barbel is already showing in a specimen of

23 mm., the smallest specimen of this species yet obtained. The red-

fins begin at about 30 mm. Pectoral shorter in 2 than in 3.

Barbus senticeps.

TL | L/H|}H/E| S/E |1/E| 1.1. |e.ped.| striae.| g.r. | barb. Sex and Remarks.

23 | 34 | 24 |e>sle>i] 30 12 4-5 1+6 (p)

25 | 34 | 24] ,, Ms 30 12 4-5 1+6 P

(& eye)

30 | 3} | 22 | _,, A ie be Red patches begin.

35 413 ee 1 6 2+6

40 | 33 | 3 ah 1 | ke

45 | 34 | 34°] 1 14 2 ed ats .. |g¢immat. 9 ovig.

50 | 34 | 33] 1 14 oe 8 2 ie A pOwe Ss

55 | 3$ | 32] 1 14 be

60 | 32 | 32] 1 li : ¢ with warts, ovig. 9.

65.| 32 | 32 | 1 14 12 ina Me

70 | 32 | 4 1+] 14 2or3+ sa

6 or 7

75 | 32 | 4 14 | 14 us 10 nd a

80 | 34 | 4 14} 14 > ee 2+8 as

Sessa | iw lie | ls | 12 ees ee a

85 | 4 | 4 14 | 14 the fe) (cf. asper).

90 |4 | 4 14 | 13 ee te Q.

95) 4 | 44) 14 | 12 12 3+8 Q.

For comparison with asper and tenwis the following characters are

given: mature $¢ with warts on head; mouth subterminal; depth

of body subequal to length of head; scales with few (8-12) striae, 1.1.

30-34, |.tr. 5-6 between dorsal spine and 1.1., 4-5 between latter and

ventral spine, 12 around caudal peduncle, 14-16 predorsal; lateral

line tubules more or less incomplete.

This species was described by J. L.B.Smith from a single 3g

specimen from the Kromme River, Assegai Bush, Humansdorp

Division, with only 10 scales around the caudal peduncle.

The South African Museum has a ? from the same locality (F. G.

Chaplin, 1935); 2 $¢ from the Zwartkops River, north of Uitenhage

(C. L. Biden, 1935); 1 9 from Zwartkops River recorded by Gilchrist

and Thompson as vulneratus; and 3 specimens from the Baakens

River. The latter three were identified by Boulenger (label in his

handwriting accompanies the specimens) as vulneratus in spite of

202 Annals of the South African Museum.

their having only one pair of barbels, and were recorded by Gilchrist

and Thompson as vulneratus.

I have collected a good series in the type locality at Assegai Bush,

and in the Geelhoutboom River, a tributary of the Kromme River;

and also in the Zwartkops River above Uitenhage, and its tributary

the Brak River. Contrary to the expectation expressed in my 1938

paper (p. 84), senteceps has not yet been found in the Gamtoos system.

So far as at present known, therefore, this species is confined to

two of the smaller river-systems, separated by the lower reaches of

the large Gamtoos River (fig. 7). In former times the Kromme River

was certainly a tributary of the Gamtoos, and apparently the

Zwattkops was also. But it is difficult to explain why senticeps and

asper appear to be mutually exclusive in a river, while pallidus is

found associated with the one or the other of these two species in

all the rivers in the Uitenhage, Port Elizabeth, Humansdorp area.

The fauna of the Baakens River, Port Elizabeth, has not been

investigated in recent years.

Barbus tenuis Brurd.

Slender Red-fin.

Fig. 19, b.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 428 (anoplus non Weber, ©

part: the specimens from Le Roux River, Cango).

1938. Barnard, l.c., p. 87.

Depth of body less than length of head, the former 44, the latter

34 (juv.), 4 (adult) in length of body (excluding caudal fin). Eye

24 (juv.), 5 (adult) in length of head, 1-2 in interorbital width, greater

than snout to about 35 mm., after that 1-2 (or nearly 2) in snout.

Snout rounded, projecting beyond mouth, which is definitely inferior.

Lips thin, lower labial grooves interrupted medianly. A single

(posterior) barbel on each side, developing at the 22-mm. stage, not

exceeding eye-diameter in length. Gill-rakers 2+5 (6) to 3+7 (8) on

anterior arch. No warts on head in 2.

Diu. 7, the 3rd spine a little nearer to end of caudal peduncle

than to tip of snout, shorter than depth of body, thin, flexible, non-

serrated. There are really 4 spines, but the true Ist is obscured in

half-grown and adults. Ai. 5. Pectoral extending to or nearly to

base of ventral spine in juv. and ¢, but in 2 extending only to about

3 distance between bases of pectoral and ventral. Ventral fin in

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 203

advance of dorsal, the last ventral ray below the Ist-3rd dorsal

spines.

Scales radiately striate, striae numerous, about 8 (juv.), 24 (adult);

1.1. 32-36 (37), the series of tubules complete, rarely one or two

missing posteriorly; |.tr. 5 between dorsal spine and 1.]., 3 between

latter and ventral spine; 12-14 around caudal peduncle, with

occasionally in large specimens accessory scales; predorsal (12)

15-20, usually beginning, but irregularly and somewhat inconstantly,

some little distance behind occiput, thus leaving a bare triangular

patch, nearly always present but variable in extent.

Up to 85mm. Silvery, rather heavily suffused with brown above,

after preservation a dark lateral stripe expanding into a more or

less defined spot on end of caudal peduncle; fins greyish, base of

dorsal, anal, ventrals, and axil of pectoral brilliant red, beginning to

develop at about the 30-mm. stage.

Locahities.—Gouritz River system—Seven Weeks Poort, Amalien-

stein, near Ladismith; Meiring’s Poort; Rossel River, near Klaar-

stroom; tributary of the Olifants River, near De Rust, Oudtshoorn;

Grobelaars and Le Roux rivers, near Oudtshoorn; Moeras River,

between Oudtshoorn and Robinson Pass; tributary of Kamanassie

River (farm “‘ Waterval’’); Langtouw River, Herbertsdale (figs. 6 and7).

Remarks.—Although the 4 largest of Boulenger’s specimens

nos. 1-10 of “anoplus” from Grobelaars River have 16-20 scales

around caudal peduncle, as Dr. Trewavas informs me (p. 197), possibly

some of the smaller ones from the same lot really belong to this

species. Gilchrist and Thompson’s Le Roux River material, recorded

as “‘anoplus,” belongs to this species.

In the field, when freshly caught it is easily distinguished from

asper by its slender shape, and the more suffused brownish coloration;

asper tends to be more silvery, with greyish speckling, like a “‘speckled

hen.” After preservation the dark lateral stripe, though often to be

seen in asper, is always much more pronounced in tenuis.

For comparison with asper and senticeps the following characters

are given: no warts on head in g¢; mouth inferior; depth of body

less than length of head (even in gravid 99 it is scarcely equal to

head); scales with numerous (14-24) striae, 1.1. 32-36, Ltr. 5 between

dorsal spine and 1.1., 3 between latter and ventral spine, 12-14 around

caudal peduncle, (12) 15-20 predorsal, usually not beginning immedi-

ately behind occiput, but leaving a bare triangular space; base of

ventral in advance of dorsal; lateral line tubules nearly always

complete.

Grobelaars R.

Moeras R.

204 | Annals of the South African Museum.

The scales, with their numerous striae, resemble those of anoplus;

but in specimens which have lost all trace of distinctive coloration,

the shape of the snout and the number of caudal peduncle scales are

decisive differences.

The bare patch behind the occiput is very noticeable in the

material from De Rust (fig. 19, 6), but is not so constant in that from

other localities; in nearly every specimen from the Langtouw River

the scales start almost immediately behind the occiput. This feature

therefore cannot be regarded as always decisive.

Barbus tenuis.

TL | L/H |H/E| S/E | T/E| 1.1. |c.ped.|striae.| g.r. | barb.) Sex and Remarks.

15 | 382 | 24 |je<s| 1 Njo scale|s mf None) Fin rays distinct.

Wasi eee | yf Ul 99 . 99

20 34 22 39 1 33 1 +4 Ne)

23 | 34 |24-3) ,, | 1 Ms Ns (p)

25 | 34 | 3 ssp all 33 12 8 24+5 P

30 | 33 | 3 ie 1 PY 12 a Es. p_ | Red patches begin.

35 | 34 | 3 » | l |33-34; 12 |10-12|2+5-6

40 | 34 | 34} 1 1i 33 12 Fe af Immature f¢ and 22.

45 | 34 | 34] 1 14 12-14 ae

50 | 32 | 32) 14/14 - 2+6-7

55 | 32 | 4 14 | 14 be 16-18

ee ee | a 1S 3d no warts.

65 | 32 | 44 | 14 | 13 18-20 . :

70 | 33 | 44 | 12 | 12 = 347-8 ee

75 |33-34| 42 | 12 | 18 |) ||— |22-94

80.) SEVIS te eae eee

3S | Gy NTS S 24 |3+7-8

Barbus phlegethon Brurd.

Figs. 15, d, 20.

1938. Barnard, l.c., p. 87.

Depth of body 33-4, length of head 34 (juv.), 4 (adult) in length

of body (excluding caudal fin). Eye 24 (juv.), 34 (adult) in length of

head, 1-1} in interorbital width (greater than interorbital in very

young), greater than snout up to about 37 mm., equal to snout in

larger specimens. Snout moderately rounded, projecting slightly

beyond mouth, which is subinferior or definitely inferior. Lips thin,

lower labial grooves interrupted medianly. A single (posterior)

barbel on each side, developing at about the 25-mm. stage, not

exceeding $ eye-diameter. Gill-rakers 2+4-6 on anterior arch.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 205

D i. 7, the 3rd spine equidistant from tip of snout and last scales

on caudal peduncle, not quite equal to length of head, thin, flexible,

non-serrate. A ii. 5. Pectoral extending to about 2 distance between

bases of pectoral and ventral in 9, 3 or 4 that distance in $. Ventral

spine arising in vertical from 3rd dorsal spine. Caudal peduncle

about 12 as long as deep.

Scales radiately striate, beginning at about the 15-16-mm. stage,

striae few, about 4 or 5 (juv.) to 7 or 8 (adult); 1.1. 34-36, tubules

Reg Cae he aii te :

PT Ra ae en eee te em Eo

. SEEN

Tae oe

Fic. 20.—Barbus phlegethon. Juvenile, 13 mm.

complete, seldom one or two absent posteriorly; l.tr. 4-5 between

dorsal spine and |.]., 3 between latter and base of ventral spine;

around caudal peduncle 12; predorsal 14-15.

Up to55 mm. Silvery, rather heavily tinted with brownish above,

after preservation a dark lateral stripe ending in a more or less defined

and rather large spot on end of caudal peduncle; fins pale greyish,

Barbus phlegethon.

TL |L/H|H/E| S/E | 1/E | Ll. |c.ped.|striae.| g.r. | barb.) Sex and Remarks.

13 | 32 | 24 |e>sle>i Njo scale|s sn None! Dorsal, anal and ven-

trals developed.

12 (Gea ats nee ee in ast oy

ree lo | 80) 12 Ml ras |,

eer oe gt le ag 4 peel:

21 z 25 ” oe) 2c O98 oe)

pees | 92 |, | I ane my €

Pome 3 | 33 A ea 9)| Cp)

Sle) os | 3 5s 1 | i p

35 | 33 | 3 At 1 Ne .. | Red patches begin.

ieloe | 3 by 1 12

40 | 32 | 31 )/ 1 1+ wo | | 5-6 2+6

Bese | 3h | | 1 i

4432 | 31) 1 14 3 i 3b.

MSs | 34-1) |. 1d 6-7

paee | 34.| 1 | 14

mas Sh | 1 Sh 1g } 7-8 |24+6or7| .. | d, ovig. 9.

206 Annals of the South African Museum.

the fork of each branched ray in dorsal and anal rather dark, giving

the semblance of a band when the fin is partly open; base of dorsal,

ventral, most of caudal and anal, axil and base of pectoral brilliant

red, beginning to develop at about the 35-mm. stage.

Locality.x—Boontjes River, Citrusdal, a tributary of the Olifants

River, and in the main Olifants River at Keerom (south of Citrusdal),

Clanwilliam Division, Cape (A. C. H., K. H. B., and C. W. T., April

1937 and 1938, February 1939) (fig. 6).

Remarks.—This species rivals calidus in the brilliancy of the red

splashes on the fins. It is distinguished from calidus by the non-

serrate dorsal spine, the shape of the anal fin (see fig. 15, d) and the

single pair of barbels.

Barbus anoplus Weber, forma typica

Gouritz River Chubby-head.

Fig. 21 (head).

1897. Weber, l.c., p. 151 (part: only the Buffels River, Laingsburg,

specimens).

1938. Barnard, l.c., p. 84.

[Not Boulenger, J.c., 1911, p. 177, fig. 155.=asper, senticeps, and

probably other species.

Not Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., 1913, p. 428, fig. 87.=asper,

tenuis, and probably other species.

Not Boulenger, l.c., 1916, p. 272. = pallidus (fide Trewavas).

Not J. L. B. Smith, l.c., 1937, p. 124, pl. 29, figs 2, figure atter

Boulenger. = senticeps.

Probably not Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., Ixxxvi, p. 430,

1934, and Ixxxvii, p. 371, 1935. Natal.]

The first point to be emphasized in discussing this species is that

it is not a red-fin.

Gilchrist and Thompson had no specimens of the true anoplus.

Boulenger appears not to have examined the types, because, if he

had done so, he could not have failed to notice the striking difference

in “facies” between the true anoplus and the specimens he assigned

to Weber’s species. The specimens recorded in 1916 are really

pallidus according to information given me by Dr. Trewavas.

Thanks to Dr. de Beaufort, I have been able to examine the type

series from the Buffels River, Laingsburg, comprising over 100

specimens from 22 mm. up to 87 mm. The largest specimen measured

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 207

to the end of the caudal lobes 95 mm., thus corresponding with the

measurement given by Weber; it has had the mouth cut and the

gill-rakers on one side extracted.

From this series and the very large amount of material recently

collected by the South African Museum, the following diagnosis has

been compiled.

Proportions as in table, p. 209. Snout short, in adult equal to, in

very large specimens very slightly longer than eye, bluntly rounded

like that of the Kuropean Chub (hence “‘Chubby-head’’) (see fig. 21).

Mouth terminal. Lower labial grooves interrupted medianly. A

single (posterior) barbel on each side, 4—? eye-diameter, developing

at about the 24-mm. stage. Giull-rakers 245-7 on anterior arch.

No tubercles on head in 3G.

Di. 7 (actually 4 spines, true Ist very small, and obscured in

adult), hindmost spine thin, flexible, non-serrated. A ii. 5. Pectoral

reaching to or nearly to base of ventral in g, shorter in 9. Base of

ventral fin below dorsal spines in juv., but shifting slightly forwards

so that in adult base of the last ray is below Ist dorsal spine.

Scales with very numerous (20-28) radiating striae; scaling

beginning before the barbel is developed, at about the 23-mm. stage.

Lat.l]. 33-35, tubules variously interrupted and incomplete, some-

times only half a dozen anteriorly; |.tr. 5-6 between dorsal spine

and I|.l., 4 between latter and ventral spine; 16 around caudal

peduncle; 13-14 or 15 predorsal.

Colour of the living fish: metallic silvery, greenish or greyish above,

with a more or less pronounced yellow or golden tinge in g, more

greyish in 9; fins whitish, without either red patches at their bases

or any pinkish suffusion, but in g¢ they may partake of the yellow

tinge, especially the caudal fin. After preservation there is a more

or less conspicuous dark lateral stripe, not expanding at end, but

ending in a small more or less indistinct spot.

The smallest ovigerous 9 examined was 35 mm. in length. Spawn-

ing, as far as observations have gone, takes place from September

onwards to March and April.

Weber’s insistence on the pectoral fin not reaching the base of

ventrals is curious, as there are several 3¢ in his Laingsburg material

in which the pectoral does reach almost to the ventrals.

_ Weber noted the more pointed snout and higher dorsal fin in the

Klip River, Natal, specimens, but nevertheless included them with

anoplus. I have seen the specimens; they show several other

differences, and are certainly not anoplus, nor karkensis (see p. 216).

208 Annals of the South African Museum.

The French Hoek specimens, also included in anoplus by Weber,

are young burchells in the “‘single-barbel”’ stage (see p. 186).

B. karkensis G. and T., regarded by Boulenger (1916, p. 272) as a

synonym of what he thought was anoplus, is quite different from the

true anoplus (karkensis has a complete lateral line, see infra, p. 215).

Gilchrist and Thompson’s

‘anoplus’’ material (except the Albany

INS

LLY,

—WtG

Fic. 21.—-Barbus anoplus. Head of adult of typical form and forma

cernuus (but not forma oraniensis, which has shorter barbel). Juvenile

of forma cernuus, 13 mm., Olifants River, Clanwilliam.

Museum specimen which I have not seen) consists of asper, tenuis,

and other species, on the identity of which latter I express no opinion

except that they are not anoplus.

South African Museum material, including recent collecting, shows

that this species occurs throughout the Gourtiz River system: Ver-

keerde Vlei and Touws River; Gamka River at Letjesbosch, Kruid-

fontein, and Gamka Poort (Zwartberg Range); Bushman River,

tributary of the Gamka River, near Letjesbosch; Buffels River,

Laingsburg, and its continuation (Groote River) at Ladismith; Le

Roux River, Oudtshoorn; Langtouw River, Herbertsdale.

I have also seen 3 specimens, which appear to be conspecific, from

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 209

a dam at Bedford, in the Great Fish River system (F. G. Chaplin

coll.).

Up to the present, however, recent collecting has failed to find this

species in any river-system south of the main Cape watershed except

the Gouritz River system (fig. 6).

Note on a locality in the Karroo. In March 1937 Dr. Boonstra

and Mr. Thorne discovered a colony of this species on a farm near the

Bushman River, a tributary of the Gamka River, near Letjesbosch.

In April 1939 they took me to see the place. No one would dream of

looking for fish in such a locality. It affords a very striking example

of subterranean pools or reservoirs enabling fish to maintain their

existence in what is on the surface a drought-stricken area.

A small spring arises on the farm, and the farmers have enlarged

the opening and cut a channel, 2-3 feet wide, back into a low hill,

so that now the water comes out of the rock about 10 feet below the

surrounding surface. It is about 50 yards from the nearest tributary

stream leading to the Gamka. Except for short periods after heavy

rain this “stream” is only a dry stream-bed, and the Gamka itself

at this part of its course is only a periodic river. The spring, however,

is perennial, and must be fed from underground sources, as the local

rainfall is certainly insufficient to keep it flowing. At the time of

our visit the fish were there in large numbers, of all sizes.

On a neighbouring farm where a spring forms a surface pool no

fish were found, although it also is perennial.

Barbus anoplus forma typica

Buffels (Groote) River, Ladismith.

TL | L/H|H/E) S/E | I/E | Ll. |c.ped.|striae.| g.r. | barb.| Sex and Remarks.

18 | 34 | 22 je>s/ 1 Njo scale|s .. | None} Fin rays distinct.

20 34 3 oe) 1 29 cue 29

23 | 34 | 3 Ss 1 | 382-33] 14 8-10; 1+4] ,,

25 | 34 | 3 BA 1 14 | 10-12) 2+5 | (p)

30 | 34 | 34] ,, 1 14-16|12-14| .. p

35 | 33 | 33 | 55 1 16 | 14-16 |2+6-7| p | 9 ova.

40 | 34 | 34 | ,, 1 16-18) .. ‘ 3 2 ova

45 | 34 | 34] ,, 14 we a se Set Sol ss

50 | 34 | 34] 1 14 i 24-26| .. FEN eS oa.

55 | 32 | 32 | 1 |14-14) | & 16 a aes Sonne: Ceres

60 | 32 | 32 | 1 14 30 |2+6-7) .. |¢@ ,,

70 | 32 | 4 ii 12 32-34] .. HQ

80 | 4 | 44) 14 | 2 ay ais ia | LoVe

87 | 4 | 44] 14 | 2 es 2+6-7| Zeye| 2 ,,

210 Annals of the South African Museum.

Barbus anoplus forma oraniensis nov.

Orange River Chubby-head.

1911. Boulenger, l.c., p. 146 (no. 4, juv., Deelfontein, recorded as

burchellr).

Since my proposal to give the Clanwilliam Olifants River form a

separate specific name, a large series of specimens has been obtained

from the north-eastern and southern tributaries of the Orange River.

Although this paper deals only incidentally with the Orange River

fish-fauna, some account of this form is necessary. A table of

characters at successive stages 1s given for comparison with those

of typical anoplus and f. cernuus.

The table shows a closer approximation to cernuus than to anoplus

in the L/H and H/E proportions; but there is a lag in the development

of the scales, especially of the full complement around the caudal

peduncle, as in typical anoplus. The lateral line tubules are greatly

reduced, often appearing on the anterior scales only.

This form differs from both anoplus and cernuus in the very short

barbel, and the later period at which it develops. No trace of an

anterior barbel was found in any of the 1300 specimens examined.

Localities.—Laken Vlei River, Merriman (Richmond Division), a

tributary of the Ongar River (K. H. B., L. D. B., and C7ajaee

April 1939); Zak River, Williston (Calvinia Division) (R. Smithers,

March 1939; K. H. B., L. D. B., and C. W. T., Apnl 1939) see

All the following collected by C. W. T., L. D. B., A. J. H., Oct=

Nov. 1939: Dry Hartz River at Taungs; Vaal River at Warrenton;

Modder River and tributaries near Boshof, Bloemfontein, and

Dewetsdorp; tributary of Caledon River at Smithfield; Stormberg

River near Burghersdorp; Brandspruit north of Steynsburg; Oorlogs-

poort River south-east of Colesberg; and Sea-Cow (Seekoe) River

near Hanover.

Remarks.—Thanks to Mr. Norman, I have examined Boulenger’s

no. 4 specimen from Deelfontein, a locality near Merriman. At first

glance the “Chubby-head” was sufficient to indicate that, as I

suspected, it was not burchelli.

Both the Ongar and the Zak rivers are in the Orange River system,

and arise on the northern slopes of the main Cape watershed. To the

west of the Zak River there is a tributary (Fish River), between

which and the source of the Oorlogs River (a tributary of the Clan-

william Olifants River) there is an ill-defined watershed. Further,

the sources of the Tanqua River (Olifants system), Fish River

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 211

(Orange system), and Buffels River (Gouritz system) approximate

in the Division of Sutherland; the Tanqua being separated from the

Buffels by the Klein Roggeveld Mts., and both from the Fish River

by the Roggeveld-Komsberg escarpment. Intercommunication in

past times has certainly been possible.

It is not possible, however, to decide whether the original ‘‘anoplus”’

stock was spread over all three river-systems, or whether one river

has been stocked from another by river-capture or intercommunica-

tion during sheet-flooding. It seems probable that anoplus and

f. cernuus, being almost indistinguishable, have been isolated from

the Zak River stock for a longer period than they have from one

another.

Recent investigations have traced the presence of this form of

anoplus in some of the other southern and north-eastern affluents of

the Orange River. If the occurrence of anoplus in the Gt. Fish

River (Hastern Cape Province), or in the Sundays River (which has

not yet been investigated), were confirmed, it would form a parallel

with the occurrence in the Gouritz River, as both systems arise on

the main watershed opposite to the southern tributaries of the

Orange River. In former times intercommunication may have been

easier than it is to-day.

The Orange River itself might repay investigation. As no anoplus

were found by Dr. Hesse and Mr. Thorne at Goodhouse and Aiais,

i.e. in the section below the Aughrabies Falls, the possibility should

be borne in mind that the fauna of the Orange River may not be

homogeneous.

Recent (Nov. 1939) results obtained by Mr. Thorne, in company

with Dr. Hesse and Dr. Boonstra, confirm the above statement that

the fish-fauna of the Orange River is not entirely homogeneous.

Whereas paludinosus has been found only in the lower and middle

sections and the northern and north-eastern tributaries, but not in

the southern tributaries, anoplus occurs in the northern and north-

eastern and the southern tributaries, but not apparently in the lower

and middle sections.

It is indeed remarkable that, in spite of its evidently wide distribu-

tion in the southern tributaries (as well as in the Vaal, etc.), neither

anoplus, nor any other species with radiately striate scales and only

one pair of barbels, has been recorded from the lower and middle

sections of the Orange River.

Although formerly it seemed justifiable to give the form from

the Clanwilliam Olifants River (cernwus) full specific rank, I now

212 Annals of the South African Museum.

think that the geographical distribution can be better expressed and

the factors leading to this distribution more readily discussed by

uniting all three forms under one specific name. The Gouritz River

form must for taxonomic reasons be regarded as the typical form,

although chronologically it may be the latest offshoot from the

ancestral stock.

Barbus anoplus forma oraniensis.

(Merriman and Zak River, Williston.)

TL | L/H | H/E| S/E | T/E | 1.1. | c.ped.|striae.| g.r. | barb. Sex and Remarks.

14 | 3¢ | 32 |e<s|.1 None .. |1+4 | None | Fin rays distinct, no

ventral lamina.

dt 3 29 1 oe) 2°

18 | 34 | 3 Be 1 eS of ae i

AD | Bee a8 te a id apy ce bes ’

: 35 3 i) 1 29 Geo ae 29

23 | 34 | 3+ 5 1 (32 12) a =: ss Scales scarcely distinct.

33 | 34 ee 1 33 14 12 a

30 | 34 | 34 fe 1} 14 - (p)

EU ee ea mage Yh se! 14 14216) 00 la), oe

40 | 34 | 34 3 1} 14-16} .. |2+5] deye | 3 9.

50 |382-34| 33-4, 1 13 AG 20-22 4-1 eye

5p lee oa ie ey Tee SS XA 3°92.

60 |34-4| 44 1 12 e 26 + | deye

65 | 4 44) 14 | 12 |i 16 ih

70 | 4 Age eon 28 S | deye | $2.

75 | 4 43 | 14 | 2 a 2.

80 | 4 44 | 11 | 2 2.

85 | 4 5 Le oil ee 37 32 Zeye | 9.

Barbus anoplus forma cernuus

Clanwilliam Chubby-head.

Fig. 21 (head, and juv.).

1938. Barnard, l.c., p. 88 (cernuus).

Depth of body 34, length of head 34 (juv.), 4 (adult) in length of

body (excluding caudal fin). Eye 3 (juv.), 4 (adult) in length of

head, subequal to snout from about the 30-mm. stage upwards,

1 (juv.), 14 (adult) in interorbital width. Snout rounded, mouth

terminal. Lips thin, lower labial grooves interrupted for only a

short distance medianly. Normally, from 22 mm. upwards, only

the posterior barbel on each side, 4-2 (scarcely ever 2) eye-diameter

in length; occasionally in medium-sized specimens the anterior

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 213

barbel is feebly developed. Gill-rakers 2+4 or 5 on anterior arch,

feebly developed. No tubercles on head in g.

Diu.7, the 3rd spine about equidistant from the last scales on

caudal peduncle and from tip of snout; 3rd spine about + length of

head, thin, flexible, non-serrate. Aii.5. Pectoral extending to

~ about 2 the distance between its (upper) base and base of ventral

spine in 3, # the distance in 9. Ventral spine arising in vertical from

3rd dorsal spine, slightly more forward in juveniles. Caudal peduncle

about 14 or 14 as long as deep.

Scales radiately striate, striae numerous, about 20-25 in adult,

1.1. 31-35, tubules usually nearly complete, but not seldom interrupted

or incomplete posteriorly, l.tr. 6 between dorsal spine and 1.1, 3

between latter and ventral spine; around caudal peduncle 12 in

very young, 14 up to about 45 mm., usually 16 in adult; predorsal

14-15.

Up to 70 mm. Silvery, slightly brownish above, with bright

yellow or golden tinge in J, and a pinkish or violet sheen in 9; after

preservation a more or less conspicuous dark lateral stripe, ending

usually in a small spot at end of caudal peduncle; fins pale, without

red patches or any pinkish suffusion.

Locality.—Olifants River at Keerom, south of Citrusdal; Boontjes

River, Doorn River, irrigation furrow at Klaver, and Troe Troe

River at Van Rhyns Dorp—all in the Olifants River system, Clan-

william Division, Cape (long series collected by the late A. EH. Manley,

pee HK. HB, C. W. T., 1936; 1937, 1938, 1939) (fig. 6).

Remarks.—This small species is easily distinguished from the other

species of Barbus found in the Olifants River by its bluntly rounded

snout with terminal mouth, numerous radiating striae on the scales,

and the absence of red-fins. The terminal mouth is distinctive even

in juveniles, which, moreover, are distinguished from those of calidus

by their non-serrated dorsal spine, and from those of phlegethon by

their scales and (after preservation) paler colour.

On the other hand, it is so like typical anoplus that I doubt whether

isolated specimens could be satisfactorily distinguished on morpho-

logical characters (unless a rudimentary anterior barbel is present).

The proportions of the head, and of the eye are slightly different, the

striae on the scales are slightly more numerous in typical anoplus,

the ventral fin is slightly more forward in anoplus, but the difference

is scarcely tangible; the lateral line tubules are usually nearly

complete in cernuus, but in typical anoplus very far from complete,

often greatly reduced. Where a feature is inconstant, the inconstancy

VOL. XXXVI, PART 2. 14

214 Annals of the South African Museum.

cannot be used to differentiate varieties and races, as is justly noted

by Hora, Misra and Malik (1939, Rec. Ind. Mus., xl, pp. 268, 269).

But when the life-histories of the two forms are compared, there is

seen to be a distinct lag in the development of the scaling and the

barbel in the case of typical anoplus. On the other hand, the full

Barbus anoplus forma cernuus.

complement of 16 scales around the caudal peduncle is reached a

little sooner in anoplus than in cernuus.

A curious feature of cernwus, which has not been observed in typical

anoplus or forma oraniensis, is the occasional, and sometimes asym-

metrical, development of the anterior barbel. This has been noticed

in 17 specimens out of 250 (counting only those from 30 mm. in length

upwards). In all cases it was only feebly developed, and occurred

only in specimens between the lengths of 30 and 55 mm.: on both

sides in 7 specimens, only on the left in 4, and only on the right in 6.

For these reasons the maintenance of two specific names formerly

seemed to me to be justified. But the advent of the Orange River

material has caused me to revise this opinion. The very close relation-

ship of the two forms is assuredly correlated with the close topo-

graphical approximation of the headwaters of the respective river-

systems, the Olifants (cernwus) and Gouritz (anoplus). The two

TL | L/H|H/E| S/E | I/E | 11. | c.ped.|striae.| g.r. | barb. Sex and Remarks.

125.2 eSeleceanal Njo scale|s ate None | Ventrals not free.

Dorsal and anal fin rays

distinct.

13 | 34. | 3 ae il ae ae k Ventrals just free.

15 | 33 | 3 Es il re sk Ee Ventral lamine almost

gone.

16 | 34) 3 a 1 31 12 | 10-12 aus of No ventral Jamina.

20 | 34 | 3 5 1 33 | 14 |12-14|) 14+4 $5

22032 | oa | es 1 14 af: Be -(p)

25) ioe |) ee) aps i 14 |16-18) 2+4 Pp

30 | 34 | 33] SG, 1 14 “2 - Pp

3D |as | ot.) 1 14 14 | 18-20

AQ: | 349) Sel. 3 Opel eae het

45 | 32 | 34] 1 li oe 14-16 | 22-24

60 | 32 | 34 | 1 | 1A |{gl14-16) .. | 245 | .. |¢, ovig. &.

55 | 34 | 4 1 14 16 2 ie » «|, Gy ONIS. eee

57 | 4 | 4 1 1t 16 | 26-28 a se || GasOWaeree

60 | 4 | 4 1 /1}-1} 16 ot oe .. | 9 ovig.

6514 | 4 sas 16 lt Ba Sal Oe. eee

70; 4 | 44) 1 12 16 | 28-30 | 2 +5(6)| 2 eye | 9 ovig.

| Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 215

systems abut on the main Cape watershed, and especially at Karroo

Poort the headwaters of the Doorn River (Olifants system) and the

Touws River (Gouritz) are at the present day separated only by low-

lying country. Im earlier times when the whole country was lower

and the watershed less elevated or developed, it is possible, nay

probable, that some interconnection existed.

Very early stages and ovigerous 92 were caught in November,

February, March, April.

The Clanwilliam Chubby-head is hardy in captivity, examples

having been kept by Mr. Harrison for two years. They have a

curious habit, while floating in the water, of bobbing the head down

and up, as if making obeisance to some invisible Fish-god.

Barbus karkensis G. and T.

Gilkeminkte or Gillie (Eastern Province and Natal).

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 430.

1916. Boulenger, l.c., p. 272 (synonym of anoplus).

1934. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., Ixxxvi, p. 431 (? part only).

Although there is no fresh material from the type locality, Mr.

Harrison has recently collected material which appears to be this

species. In view of its similarity with anoplus, and the distributional

questions raised thereby, some notes on this material are given.

There are no specimens under 30 mm. in length, consequently

nothing can be said as to the stage at which the barbel and scaling

develop.

All the stages above 30 mm. up to 87 mm. agree with the table

given for anoplus forma typica (p. 209), except in one feature. The

lateral line tubules are continuous and complete, except on the

hindmost 2-5 (sometimes 6) scales on the caudal peduncle; sometimes

- the tubules are missing only from the last scale.

Gilchrist and Thompson’s type (73 mm. to end of middle caudal

rays) also agrees.

The striae on the scales, although numerous, are slightly fewer

than in anoplus.

The completeness of the series of lateral line tubules, and the fewer

striae on the scales, seem to be the only morphological differences

between karkensis and anoplus, although the snout is not quite so

blunt and rounded in karkensis as it is in anoplus.

The Gillieminkie is not a “‘red-fin.”” In other respects the colora-

tion appears to be the same as in anoplus. In some specimens, as

216 Annals of the South African Museum.

preserved, there is a distinct yellowish tinge, those which show it best

being males (as in anoplus); and at Kokstad Mr. Harrison’s attention

was drawn to these yellow specimens.

Localities —Tugela River system: Helpmakaar, Natal (Fowler);

Driefontein, Ladysmith, Natal (ex Natal Museum). Umgeni River

system: Karkloof, Natal (Gilchrist and Thompson). Umzimhlava

River system: Kokstad commonage, Eastern Griqualand) (A. C. H.).

Gt. Kei River system: Kubusie River at Stutterheim (A. C. H.);

Nahoon River at Berlin (A.C. H.). Buffalo River system: Tyusha

stream at Pirie (A.C. H.). Gt. Fish River system: dam at Bedford

(F. G. Chaplin, 1933). Vaal River system: Bethlehem, O.F.S (Fowler).

Fowler says (l.c., p. 431) only first 10 lateral line scales are tubular

‘“‘in young’; he records specimens of 50-63 mm. from Bethlehem,

58 mm. from Helpmakaar, and 55 mm. from “Zwartsberg River,” *

none of which can be called young. In the present material the

lateral line tubules are developed and complete at the 35-40-mm.

stage. And I have seen a single specimen from Harrismith (also

Vaal River system) with incomplete lateral line. Consequently I

am inclined to think that Fowler’s description is composite. Much

more material is required from the Bethlehem-Harrismith area before

one can say whether the Vaal River specimens are a form of anoplus

or true karkensis.

No investigation has yet been made of the southern Natal area

between the Umgeni River system and the Umzimhlava system

(Umkomaas and Umzimkulu rivers). And as regards the south-

westerly limit of karkensis, the area between the Gt. Fish River and

the Sundays River, including the Bushmans and Sundays rivers, has

also not yet been investigated.

I have seen Weber’s Klip River specimens, 11 in number, from

32-55 mm. in length. Although very similar to both anoplus and

karkensis, they differ in certain respects. From anoplus they differ

in having a complete series of lateral line tubules, and slightly fewer

striae on the scales; and at 50 and 55 mm. (ovig. 2) they have not

developed more than 14 scales around the caudal peduncle.

The two former characters bring them into agreement with

karkensis, but in the latter character they differ from karkensis as

well as from anoplus, in both of which species specimens of 30-

40 mm. typically exhibit 16 scales around the caudal peduncle.

Weber’s specimens cannot therefore be included with karkensis,

but no conclusions should be drawn from so small a series.

* It is impossible to say where this locality is.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 217

The same applies a fortiort to a single specimen from Howieson’s

Poort, Kariega River system (ex Albany Mus.), which is 50 mm. in

length with only 14 scales around the caudal peduncle.

Barbus afer Peters

1864. Peters, MB. Ac. Wiss. Berlin, p. 395.

1868. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vii, p. 148.

1938. Barnard, l.c., p. 85. .

[Not Boulenger, l.c., 1911, p. 178, fig. 156, the description is

composite, the recorded specimen and its figure = burchelli.

¢ Pellegrin, Bull. Soc. zool. Fr., xlv, p. 148, 1920. Name only.

Upper Zambezi.

? Fowler, Proc. Ac. Sci. Philad., Ixxxvi, p..431, 1934. Natal and

Cape Province. 35 and 37 mm.

Not Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., 1913, p. 430, fig. 88. After

Boulenger. |

Thanks to the kindness of Dr. E. Ahl of the Berlin Museum, I was

able to examine one of three specimens labelled as types (Cape of

Good Hope, coll. Krebs), preserved in that Museum. Dr. Ahl said

all three specimens were in poor condition. The specimen sent to

me was an ovigerous 2 measuring 100 mm. in length; it had lost

most of its scales, but as these are of large size, the scale-pockets

could be counted with reasonable accuracy.

Depth of body approximately (the belly was very flabby) 4, length

of head 4 in length of body (excluding caudal fin). Hye 4 in length

of head, subequal to snout, 12 in interorbital width. Mouth terminal

or subterminal. One barbel on each side, subequal to eye-diameter.

Gill-rakers 2+6-—-—7 on anterior arch.

Diu. 7. 3rd spine thin, flexible, non-serrated, slightly shorter (4)

than length of head, origin of lst spine midway between tip of snout

and base of middle caudal rays. Pectoral not reaching ventral (9),

the latter arising below dorsal spines. A iii. 5. Scales large, striae

few (about 8), 1.1. 27, c.ped. 12, tr. 4 (5) between dorsal spines and

l.l., 3 between 1.]. and ventral spine, between 1.1. and base of anal

3 anteriorly, 2 posteriorly; 12 predorsal (no scales left, pockets

counted); lateral line tubules present on scales 1-6, 12-15, 18, 19,

and 25, absent on 20th scale right side, and 26th and 27th scales

left side, other scales missing; 1.1. therefore probably complete or

nearly so.

218 Annals of the South African Museum.

Note on Barbus viviparus Weber

1941. Barnard, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (xi), 8, p. 469.

On account of the alleged viviparity of this species, and also of its.

resemblance to pallidus, I thought it desirable to re-examine the

original material. Thanks to the kindness of Dr. de Beaufort of

the Amsterdam Museum, I have been able to do this; and a brief

note has been published (l.c., swpra).

Weber (Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst., x, 1897, p. 153) stated that he

took embryos, 8 mm. in length, with large yolk-sacs, from a 9 53 mm.

in length. As Weber remarked, no case of viviparity among the

Cyprinidae was known. So far as I am aware, these observations

have not been commented upon, or confirmed.

In the material loaned to me, there were one large and one small

specimen from Isipingo, and 25 specimens, 17-49 mm. in length,

from the Umhloti River, Verulam. The large Isipingo specimen

measures 64 mm. to the end of the caudal lobes, and a 49-mm.

specimen measures 53 mm., thus conforming with the measurements

given by Weber.

None of these specimens had been opened for purposes of sexing,

Neither the specimen from which Weber took the embryos, nor any

of the embryos, were included in the material.

I opened all the specimens sent to me, and found that the sexes

could be distinguished in specimens from 35 mm. in length upwards.

Most of them were males; the 59-mm. Isipingo specimen, and 3

Verulam specimens, 45-49 mm., were females.

The ovaries in all the 99 were in all respects normal, containing

a large number of normal-sized ova. The $¢ were without intromittent

organs. I failed, therefore, to find any evidence suggesting that

this species is viviparous.

Later, Dr. de Beaufort informed me (15/iv/39) that there were

two more specimens in the Amsterdam Museum: one 2 “with

embryos in the ovarium,”’ mounted in the exhibited collection; and

another 2 which had been cut open and “‘‘the embryos fallen out of

the body-cavity and lying on the bottom of the glass.” The former

specimen could not, of course, be sent to me, but Dr. de Beaufort

very kindly sent the latter.

Hxamination of this specimen showed that the stomach and

intestines had been removed, the ovaries were nearly intact and

contained a large number of normal-sized ova (as in the previous lot of.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 219

specimens), and the supposed embryos lying loose in the tube were

really the fry of a Cichlid!

Weber (l.c., p. 148) mentions that he obtained young fry from the

mouths of ‘“Chromis philander” in the Umhloti River at Verulam,

one of the localities where he obtained B. viviparus. And in the

tube of 25 B. viviparus from Umhloti River, previously sent to me,

there were also 8 small Cichlids. The explanation, therefore, seems

to be that in the exigencies of field-collecting, all these specimens

were preserved together; later one 2 viviparus had been put in a

separate tube together with the Cichlid fry assumed to be its embryos.

The investigation has thus been narrowed down to a re-examination

of the 2 mounted in the exhibition collection at Amsterdam to see

whether: (a) the young are actually in utero (not perchance in the

stomach or intestine, indicating that the Barbus had been feeding

on them, which is unlikely), and (b) they are actually young Barbus.

Pending this re-examination and confirmation of Weber’s state-

ments, in view of the above evidence and the novelty of the pheno-

menon of viviparity in a Cyprinid, the specific name “wviparus”’

must be regarded as a misnomer, although of course nomenclatorily

it remains valid.

The following notes on diagnostic characters may be useful.

B. viviparus is a pretty little species, resembling pallidus in many

respects, but with different markings in preserved specimens. It

has, as Weber described, a thin dark lateral streak ending in a round

spot on the end of the caudal peduncle. In Weber’s types (collected

1894-5) the tubuliferous lateral line is not dark; in Boulenger’s

Durban specimen (1911, l.c., p. 170) it is dark. The dark spot on

either side of the base of the anal fin is distinct at all stages (cf.

pallidus).

Length of head in length of body changes from 34 (17-mm. stage),

3% (20 mm.), 32 (25 mm.), to 4 (35 mm. upwards); diameter of eye

in head from 24 (20 mm.), 3 (25 mm.), 34 (40 mm.), 34 (45 mm.),

32 (49 and 59 mm.). Up to about 45 mm. the eye is slightly greater

than the snout, only after that stage being subequal to it. The

17-mm. specimen is mutilated, but at the 20-mm. stage the scales

and the posterior barbel are present, and the anterior barbel is just

visible as a mere knob; at 23 mm. the latter is easily discernible.

The striae on the scales are few, not more than about 5 or 6,

sometimes 7; and a feature of those in the largest specimens is the

incompleteness of the striae (not reaching the hind margin of scale).

Predorsal scales 10-11, usually 10. The dorsal and anal fin

220 Annals of the South African Museum.

formulas are given as Dii.8 and Au.5. These may be regarded

as normal. But among the 27 specimens examined there were 3

(one of them being the mutilated 17-mm. specimen, and one the

large 59-mm. Isipingo specimen) with only 7 dorsal rays.* One

other specimen had 6 anal rays. As a rule only 2 anal spines are

visible, but in most cases, especially in the juveniles, 3 can be

distinguished, the true Ist spine being very short.

Gen. ENGRAULICYPRIS Gnthr.

1911. Boulenger, Cat. Freshw. Fish. Afr., ii, p. 209.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., x1, p. 436.

1917. Nichols and Griscom, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., xxxvu,

p. 703.

1930. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., lxxxi, p. 39.

1934. Van der Horst, Ann. Transv. Mus., xv, p. 281.

1936. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., lxxxviii, p. 294 (with

subgenera).

Engraulicypris garvepinus 0. sp.

It is a little uncertain whether one or two South African species

should be recognized. F. brevianalis Blgr., 1908, was founded on a

single specimen from Zululand (37 mm.) with 12 branched anal rays

and 52 scales in the lateral line. The number of gill-rakers was not

given. In Boulenger (l.c.) the original description is supplemented

by the inclusion of 3 specimens from the Dwaars River, Transvaal,

viz. anal rays 12—13, scales 1.1. 50-52, and gill-rakers about 15. Whether

it is the type specimen, which has “about 15” gill-rakers, or the

Dwaars River specimens, remains ambiguous.

In the South African Museum are the 7 specimens from the Dwaars

River (Limpopo system) recorded in Gilchrist and Thompson’s work,

which are part of the original lot, 3 having been sent to Boulenger.

These 7 specimens show the following features: Diu.7. A i. 12-14

(one specimen with 12, two with 13, and four with 14 branched rays).

The number of gill-rakers is 10-11 (total number on Ist arch), Gilchrist

and Thompson did not give the number of gill-rakers, but gave scales

l.1. 52-55 (which numbers are confirmed herewith).

There are also 3 specimens from the Sabi River (Komati River

system) which agree with the above 7 specimens in the number of

gill-rakers; one, however, has D ii. 8, one has A iii. 14, and two have

A i, 15.

* Cf. pallidus, p. 194.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 221

Further, 7 specimens from the Hluhluwe Reserve, Zululand (Dr.

R. F. Lawrence, Natal Mus.): gill-rakers and scales as above, five

specimens with 13, two with 14 anal rays, one with 8 dorsal rays

(this specimen has 13 anal rays).

From the Orange River at Goodhouse I have over 1000 specimens,

11-55 mm. in length; and from the Gt. Fish River at Aiais, S.W.A.

(a tributary of the Orange River), 106 specimens, 22-56 mm. in length.

These show: Dii. 7-8. A ii. 15-17, gill-rakers 9-10, scales 1.1. 45-48

(—49-50), caudal peduncle 16.

In 1934 van der Horst described a second South African species:

whiter, from the Aapies River (Limpopo system), with A ii. 15-16,

gill-rakers 12, and scales 1.1. 58-59.

As van der Horst gives 3 anal spines, and the same number is

constant in all my specimens, it may be assumed to be normal, and

that the minute Ist spine was overlooked by Boulenger, and by

Gilchrist and Thompson.

Counting the branched rays only, we see that a complete series can

be obtained from comparatively few specimens (taking a haphazard

sample of 20 from the Orange River specimens) :—

Number of

<a alae Branched Material. Authority.

P * | Anal Rays.

1 12 Type of brevianalis (Zululand) GuAS:

1 12 Dwaars River (G. and T.’s material) K: EB:

2 13 29 29 2?

5 13 Zululand ©

2 14 » »

4 14 Dwaars River (G. and T.’s material) a

it 14 Sabi River io

2 15 ee) 2”?

9 15 Orange River Ba

9 13-16 Aapies River, whiter v. id. Ei.

9 16 Orange River KK, F/B.

2 17 5 »

Similarly there is a continuous series as regards the scales in the

lateral line from 47-55 and 58-59. This is not correlated with the

number of anal rays; but, on the other hand, one may note that the

number of gill-rakers decreases as the number of anal rays increases.

Although it may seem premature to give a name to the Orange

River specimens, they are at least as distinct from brevianalis and

whiter as these two forms are from one another, and I think no great

222 Annals of the South African Museum.

harm will come if they be recorded under the name gariepinus nu. sp.

(essential characters given above).

Before the limits of the species can be determined, a detailed

analysis of abundant material from many more localities must be

made. It is rather astonishing that hitherto no examples of Engrauli-

cypris have been obtained from the upper reaches or tributaries of the

Orange River. If the genus really is absent from the latter region,

its presence in the lower section of the Orange River, below the

Aughrabies Falls, and its tributary the Gt. Fish River, is even more

remarkable.

Gilchrist and Thompson mentioned one feature which seems to

have escaped the attention of Boulenger; they say the under surface

of the lower jaw is either “‘entire”’ (=smooth) or covered with minute

tubercles. They do not suggest that it is a sexual character; but to

some extent itis. The lower surface of the lower jaw in the ovigerous

numerous and distinct, and extend on to the symphysial and branchio-

stegal membranes, and the interopercle and lower border of the

preopercle.

The very fine series from the Orange River and Gt. Fish River

were collected by Dr. A. J. Hesse and Mr. C. W. Thorne of the South

African Museum (Nov. 1936). When freshly caught the colour was

pale yellowish-silvery; as preserved the whole body is silvery and

there is a more or less obvious stripe along the side formed by minute

pigment specks; dark specks are also present along the back, on the

top of the head, snout, upper border (and to a lesser extent the lower

border) of the eye-ball, and along base of anal fin; opercle, cheek, and

iris brilliantly silvery, pupil black.

Famity CLARIIDAE.

Clarias, the Mud-barbel, occurs in the Orange River system, but

it need not be considered here, except to record the actual occurrence

of L. garvepinus at Goodhouse on the Orange River, and at Aiais on

its tributary the Gt. Fish River in South West Africa (A. J. H. and

CW. T., Nov. 1936) (ig. 22).

Famity BAGRIDAE.

Gen. GEPHYROGLANIS Bler.

1911. Boulenger, l.c., u, p. 344.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 452.

1916. Boulenger, l.c., iv, p. 304.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 228

The distribution of this genus is discontinuous: Lake Chad, Ogowe

River (French Equatorial Africa), Congo River, and the Orange

River system.

Gilchrist and Thompson recorded two specimens from the Kafue

River, a northern tributary of the Zambezi River. Mr. Drury, of

the South African Museum, tells me he does not definitely remember

catching this particular kind of Catfish; the specimens were not

registered by Mr. W. W. Thompson at the time, merely put in a bottle

SOUTH WEST 1 coe

x AFRICA} : s é PA

Esti

Saye es TRANSVAAL F <im pono R,

‘

oD ORANGE FREE *

< STATE =

Orange Le

> NATAL Tnger, a

CAPE PROVINCE

"zimuubu R>.

Olifants

Fig. 22.—Map showing recorded localities of @ Clarias gariepinus,

A Gephyroglanis sclatert (in the Orange River system), and B Gephyro-

glanis gilli (in the Clanwilliam Olifants River).

with a pencilled label outside; and there is now only one specimen,

instead of two. Confirmation of the locality seems desirable.

Dr. van der Horst (I.c., onfra) mentions G. sclaterz from the Transvaal,

but without definite locality.

Dr. J. L. B. Smith (l.c., anfra) gives Natal as a locality, but see

infra, p. 227.

The recent discovery (September 1936, K. H. B. and C. W. T.) of

specimens in the Clanwilliam Olifants River is one of the most surpris-

ing results of the investigation of the indigenous fish-fauna (fig. 22).

Of the species described in Boulenger’s work, the Orange River

species, sclateri, is the only one with obtuse or rounded caudal lobes.

The number of anal rays differs in each species, but appears to be

characteristic, especially the number of branched rays. The anal

fin is composed of short weak spines, longer simple rays, and branched

rays. The spines are concealed under the rather thick skin; without

dissection, and sometimes even after dissection, they are difficult to

count. The simple rays are segmented, at least distally. The

224 Annals of the South African Museum.

branched rays in specimens up to about 75 mm. in length (both the

Orange River and Olifants River forms) are simply bifurcate; but

in those over this length each branch is split up, and the ray becomes

quadrifurcate. In the largest specimen (Orange River) there may

be 5 or 6 branches to each ray. The first ray, however, usually

remains bifurcate, or only one of the branches splits (trifurcate).

The last ray, which begins as a simple ray, becomes bifurcate, and

remains so (in the smallest specimens, although simple, it is counted

among the branched rays).

The Catfishes of this genus are distinguished from the marine

Catfish Galeichthys (also called a Barbel): by the deep angle or

notch in the gill-membranes on the lower surface; by the well-

separated nostrils, the anterior nostril tubular, the posterior with a

short barbel or tentacle; by the dorsal and pectoral spines being

smooth on the front edges, the former is smooth also on its hind

edge, only the pectoral spine being serrate on its hind edge.

Key to the Species.

1. Distance between anterior nostrils equal to distance between inner mental

barbels, but less than distance between posterior nostrils; the distance between

the latter equal to distance between outer mental barbels; the former

distance 14 in the latter. Orange River a i: sclateri.

2. Distance between anterior nostrils equal to aitacnees patwreek inner mental

barbels, and also equal to the distance between posterior nostrils; this

distance twice in the distance between outer mental barbels. Olifants

River F : ‘ ; : ‘ : : ; : gilli.

Gephyroglams sclateri Blgr.

Orange River Rock-baager, or Cat-fish.

Fig. 23, a, b.

1911. Boulenger, l.c., 11, p. 346, fig. 269.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 453, fig. 104.

1931. van der Horst, Ann. Transv. Mus., xiv, p. 246. (Transvaal,

without definite locality.)

1934. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., lxxxvi, p.419.

1937. J. L. B. Smith, l.c., p. 1380.

Gilchrist and Thompson did not dissect the anal fin in their

material, nor did Boulenger apparently. I find from an examination

of 23 specimens that the composition of the fin does not quite agree

with previous statements.

There are usually 4 spines, in two cases 3; in one case only 2; 2

or 3 simple rays; and 10-12 branched rays. The formula may be

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 225

9.2.12, 3.3.11 or 12, 4.3.10-12, 4.2.11 or 12; the most frequent being

4.2.12. The total number varies from 17 to 19; among the 23

Fic. 23.—Gephyroglanis. G. sclateri: a. Dorsal view of head. -

6. Caudal fin. G. gilli n.sp.: c. Dorsal view of head. d. Caudal fin.

e. Side view of posterior nostril. f, g. Low and high varieties of

dorsal fin.

specimens there is one with 19 (4.3.12), 6 with 17, 15 with 18, and

one with only 16. (The Kafue River specimen is included.)

In the dorsal fin there are, in 22 specimens, 7 rays, the last being

226 Annals of the South African Museum.

small and less branched than the preceding ones; in one specimen,

140 mm., there are 8 rays.

The large dorsal spine is preceded by a short, blunt, and more or

less movable bony process, which might be regarded as the true

Ist dorsal spine; but following Boulenger’s practice only one spine

is counted.

The dorsal fin varies in shape irrespective of age or sex (cf. fig. 23,

f, g of gilli). In high fins the dorsal spine equals the distance from

hind margin of opercle to posterior nostril; the Ist ray equals the

distance from hind margin of opercle to anterior nostril. The dorsal

spine is a little longer than the pectoral spine.

In low fins the dorsal spine and the Ist ray are equal to the distance

from hind margin of opercle to, respectively, about midway between

eye and posterior nostril, and to posterior nostril. The dorsal and

pectoral spines are subequal.

In both forms the length of the base of the dorsal fin is the same:

subequal to the snout.

Both dorsal and pectoral spines are measured to the end of the

bony portion, excluding the flexible membranous tip.

The table shows certain growth-changes. At about 170 mm. the

sexes are distinguishable but immature; at 180 mm. onwards the

specimens are ripe or nearly so.

For comparison with the new species described below, the following

details, taken from the 75- and 115-mm. specimens, are given:

distance between anterior nostrils 14 in distance between posterior

nostrils; snout slightly longer than postocular part of head; distance

between bases of anterior (inner) mental (or mandibular) barbels

14 in distance between posterior (outer) mental barbels, and equal

to distance between anterior nostrils; distance between posterior

mental barbels equal to distance between anterior margin of eye and

posterior nostril. These details apply also to the larger specimens.

The caudal lobes tend to become blunter in large specimens, but

the emargination is always greater than in the next species (fig. 23, 6).

The mucus tubules on the head are more or less dendritic (fig. 23, a),

z.e. each tubule opens by two or more pores.

Localities.—In addition to SBoulenger’s and Gilchrist and

Thompson’s records, Fowler describes a specimen from Bethlehem,

O.F.S. (on a tributary of the Vaal River); the 8. Afr. Mus. has

Kannemeyer’s specimen from the junction of the Orange and

Caledon rivers,* and several specimens from Upington.

* Kannemeyer, Proc. 26/vi/95 in Trans. S. Afr. Philos. Soc., viii, p. xcvii, 1896.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 227

J. L. B. Smith gives Natal as a locality. It might be thought,

perhaps, that he was referring to Fowler’s record which was published

in a paper dealing with fishes “mostly from Natal and Zululand.”

But Smith gives 15 inches as the greatest recorded length; this is

much greater than any actually published record (220 mm. G. and T.),

and may be a misprint; Smith informs me (én litt. 21/5/41) that

he has no specimens in his collection.

Dr. Kannemeyer explains that this species gets its name from its

preference for rocky spots, as opposed to the mud-loving Clarias.*

Gephyroglanis sclatert.

Pectoral

S Spine Sex and

TL | L/H) G/E| 8/E | I/E | I/d.a.n. Soret it St Ree

tions.

Potchefstroom 75 | 32 |5 | 2 | 14 2 6-7 |4+10

5a 115 | 4 | 53 | 24 | 12 24 9 4+12

Kraai R. . 185; 4 | 53 | 24 | 1¢ 24 Il

Upington . 140] 4 | 53 | 22) Ie 24 a ie sf NS

Johannesburg 145 | 4 | 6 | 24 | 12 24 12-13 |5+13

Upington Goa iG) aan es 24 A -. | 2 immature

Potchefstroom 175 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 14 24 14-15 3 “a

Vaal R. a) Sb") 4h '6 ie 2ae 24 16 ea Ces

Upington . 200 | 4 | 64 | 22 | 2 24 16-17 |54+14/ 39.

si pa) Awa ices | eae 24 17 ate S23

Kafue R. Se LOM RAD MN eet da 2s 14 |5+15| 9° ovig.

Upington . 215 | 4 | 74 | 34) 24 24 15 |5+15) 9 ovig.

Potchefstroom 220 | 4 | 74 | 34 | 24 24 16-17 |5+15}] ¢.

. 230 | 4 | 74 | 34 | 24 24 16-17 |5+16) 9 ovig.

Orange R. . 300/}4 | 74 | 84) 22 23 18-19 |6+16] 2 ovig.*

23 specimens. * Kannemeyer’s specimen.

Gephyroglams gilli n.sp.

Clanwilliam Catfish.

Fig. 23, c-g.

Closely allied to sclateri (Di. 7, caudal lobes obtuse, etc.), but

distinguished by the following characters.

The caudal lobes are more obtuse and the notch much shallower

in gilli than in sclaterz; the middle caudal rays being a little longer

than the depth of the caudal peduncle instead of subequal (cf. fig. 23,

band d). Asin sclaterz, the lower lobe is usually slightly larger than

the upper lobe. At 32 and 38 mm. the caudal is truncate with

rounded corners; at 43 mm. slightly emarginate.

* Kannemeyer, Proc. 26/vi/95 in Trans. 8. Afr. Philos. Soc., viii, p. xcvii, 1896.

228 Annals of the South African Museum.

The composition of the anal fin is different: 2 or 3 spines, 2 simple

rays, 10 or 11 branched rays (including the last one, which in the

smaller specimens is simple): total number 14-16. The usual

formula is 3.2.10=15 (contrast with sclaterz: 4.2.12=18).

The head is relatively larger and the eye smaller in gilli (cf. the

73, 77, and 105 mm. specimens of gill1 with the 75 and 115 mm.

sclatert in the tables).

The length of the snout is subequal to the postocular part of head.

The snout is broader in gilli: distance between the anterior nostrils

subequal to that between the posterior nostrils.

The distance between anterior nostrils equals distance between

bases of anterior mental barbels (as in sclateri), but this distance is

twice in distance between bases of posterior mental barbels; the

latter distance almost as long as distance from anterior margin of eye

and tip of snout. The distance between anterior nostrils is almost

twice in snout in gilli, but almost thrice in sclateri (cf. fig. 23, a and ¢).

The mucus tubules on the head are all simple (fig. 23, c), each opening

by a single pore. ;

On the basis of these differences the institution of a separate species

for the Olifants River form is justified. As Boulenger named his

species after the then Director of the South African Museum, so it is

appropriate to name this n. sp. after the present Director, Dr. E. L.

Gill.*

Locality.—Olifants River system, Clanwilliam Division: in an

irrigation furrow off the Jan Diesel’s River in Bosch Kloof, Clan-

william (Sept. 1936, K. H. B. and C. W. T.); Boontjes River, Citrusdal

(A.C. H., K. H. B., and C. W.T., April 1937); upper feaeheamas

Olifants River at the farm “‘Keerom” and in a side tributary on the

farm.“ Noordhoek” (K. . Bo and/ C2 W. 12 HebsiSa9)

The dorsal fin formula is normally D1i.7, counting only one spine,

although there is the same short blunt bony process in front of it as in

sclatert. There are two very feeble and inconspicuous denticles

on the hind margin of the spine at 55 mm., and 4-5 at later stages

(fig. 23, f, 9).

In 4 specimens out of 27 there are only 6 dorsal rays: one 38 mm.,

one 43 mm., and two between 70 and 80 mm.

As in sclaterz, there are two forms of dorsal fin (fig. 23, f, g), which

are irrespective of age (and by analogy, probably irrespective of sex

also). The length of the base of the fin is the same in both forms, sub-

equal to the snout. |

* Written before Dr. Gill’s retirement in January 1942.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 229

In high fins the dorsal spine and Ist ray are equal to the distance

from hind margin of opercle to, respectively, anterior margin of eye

(or midway between eye and posterior nostril), and to posterior

nostril. In low fins the dorsal spine and 1st ray are equal to the

distance from hind margin of opercle to, respectively, hind margin of

eye and to midway between eye and posterior nostril.

As in sclateri, the dorsal spine is a little longer than the pectoral

Spine (measured as indicated above) in the high fin form, but in the

low fin form the two spines are subequal.

The margin of the low fin is even, with fine scalloping between

the rays; the margin of the high fin is uneven, ragged, the rays

projecting more or less beyond the membrane.

Although there is a slight amount of variation, there is no difficulty

in at once separating the high and low finned forms. In the extreme

forms, if they came from different river-systems, this difference

might almost be regarded as constituting a specific difference. In

fact, however, the difference appears to be due to habitat. In the

case of sclaterz no details are available as to the particular habitat of

any of the specimens. But the Clanwilliam specimens were all

collected by myself and my assistant Mr. Thorne and the following

correlation can be observed.

The first seven specimens, 43-88 mm. in length, were caught in

September 1936 in an artificial furrow leading from a side tributary

of the Jan Diesels River. The furrow was from 1-2 feet wide and

about the same in depth, with muddy bottom, and margins over-

grown with vegetation. The current was moderate, and would

probably be fairly constant even after heavy rains, as most of the flood

water would be carried by the natural stream. All these specimens

have low, untorn dorsal fins.

Four specimens, 70-105 mm., were caught in April 1937 in the

Boontjes River near Citrusdal (a tributary of the Olifants River).

The Boontjes is from 10-20 feet wide in this section; the bottom is

rocky and stony in some places, sandy and muddy in other places.

The specimens were caught under the banks of a muddy bottom;

but they may have come down from the stony parts; the stony

parts were not closely examined, as we were working with a fine net,

and at that time we were unaware of the habits of these fish. These

four specimens have high ragged fins.

In February 1939 in the upper reaches of the Olifants River

(““Keerom’’) we discovered that these fish were quite common under

the stones and boulders near the margin of the river. We found

Ol. XXXVI, PART 2). 15

230 Annals of the South African Museum.

them in a similar habitat in a side stream (‘‘Noordhoek’’), All

these (16 specimens were killed, from 32-95 mm. in length) have high

ragged dorsal fins.

Thus it appears that the low untorn fin is correlated with a placid

and muddy habitat; whereas the high ragged fin is correlated with

a stony and more turbulent habitat.

Several specimens were brought alive to Cape Town in February

1939 and handed over to Mr. A. C. Harrison. The smaller ones soon

became quite tame and fed openly on Enchytraeid worms, but the

larger ones remained shy. All were maintained in good condition

until July 1939, when all but the smallest one died; and the latter died

six months later. We hoped that they would attain maturity and

breed in captivity, but apparently there was something lacking in

the diet, as they all became very thin, although otherwise perfectly

healthy.

Gephyroglanis gillt.

| Pectoral

Spine 4

TL| L/H | H/E | S/E T/E | I/d.a.n. real iene Sex and Remarks.

tion.

Bn wos 54 2 13 13 5 3+10| Di. 7.

38 | 34 52 24 13 13 6 okey A DING:

43 | 33 52 24 13 4 4-5 win | Male ie

55 | 34 52 21 13 6-8 .. | Di.7. 2feeble dorsal

spine serrations.

60 | 34 6 24 13 13 5-8

65 | 34 6 24 2 13 5-10

70 34 6 22 2 13 6-10 * | 4+10 | 4 feeble serrations.

73 34 64 24 2 4 6-10

hi 34 64 24 2 4 7-10

83 33 64 24 2 4 7-10

88 | 34 63 23 2 13 7-10 |4+11

90 34 u 3 2 4 8-10*| .. | 4-5 feeble serrations.

95 | 34 7 3 2 4 10°*

105 | 33 7 3 2 : 10 |4+11)| Immature.

27 specimens.

* 11, 12, or even 13, owing to obvious duplication of one or two serrations.

Famity GALAXIIDAE.

1906. Regan, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1905, ii, p. 363.

1915. Boulenger, l.c., ii, p. 12.

1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 470.

1936. Scott, Pap. and Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasman. for 1935, p. 85.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 231

1938. Id., cbid., for 1937, p. 111 (statistics for G. attenuatus).

1941. Id., whid., for 1940, p. 55 (colour pattern phases in G.

truttaceus).

In New Zealand these scaleless fishes are known as Minnow, Gudgeon,

Mud-fish, Whitebait, or Inanga (and other Maori names) (W. J.

Phillips, Bibhogr. N. Zeal. Fish., 1927, Fish Bull., No.1, pp. 13, 14).

As they are quite different from the true (European) Minnow, -the use

of this name is to be deprecated. Attempts are being made, there-

fore, to familiarise Cape anglers and the general public with the name

“Galaxias” as a colloquial name, adding “mountain form” and “‘lake

(vlei) form” respectively for zebratus and punctifer.

Various opinions have been expressed as to the bearing of the

geographical distribution of Galazias on the question of the former

approximation of the southern land-masses (Giinther, 1886; Weber,

1897; Boulenger, 1905; Regan, 1913 and 1914; Meek, 1916; Mac-

farlane, 1923). Up to the present the discussion has been based

on the bare fact that Galazias is found in certain countries; its

distribution within each country, in relation to the topography and

the geological history of the respective countries has not been studied.

Whether Galazias has arisen from a marine ancestor independently

in each of the southern continents, or whether its presence in these

countries is evidence of their former intimate connection, are questions

outside the scope of this paper. For the present an analysis of the

specific characters of the South African species, and comments on

the present-day distribution will suffice.

Scott (1936, l.c., p. 105) proposes the name Agalazis, as a subgenus

of Galaxias, for the South African species because they possess only

6 rays in the ventral (pelvic) fins instead of 7 as in typical Galaxias

from Australasia and South America.

If the anatomy of the South African species had been better

known, it is probable that Scott would have suggested full generic

rank for Agalazis. Although the teeth resemble those of typical

Galaxias in being uniserial in the jaws (v. infra), the number of

_ vertebrae is less than that of any other Galaxiid yet investigated.

According to Regan (1906), W. J. Phillips (1926), and Scott (1936),

the number of vertebrae in certain Australasian and South American

species of Galaxias ranges between 52 and 64; Scott (1936) describes

Saxilaga anguilliformis with 73 myomeres. In the opposite direction

Paragalazias (Scott, 1935, Pap. and Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasman. for

1934, p. 41) has only 44 vertebrae. The South African representative

has even fewer, viz. 40 (occasionally 39 or 41).

232 Annals of the South African Museum.

In conjunction with the character of 6 ventral rays, this low

number of vertebrae might be considered to justify generic rank.

It seems, however, a pity to refrain from using the classical and

euphonious name in order to adopt the (with all respect to Mr. Scott)

less euphonious anagram.

Moreover, Stokell has recently shown (1940, Trans. Proc. Roy.

Soc. N. Zeal., lxix, p. 422) that variation in the number of ventral

rays occurs not only in a species but even in an individual, and

therefore that the subgeneric divisions proposed by Scott cannot be

maintained.

The dentition of typical Galazias comprises (Regan, 1906) a single

row on the lower jaw, on the premaxilla, and on the entopterygoid,

and a double row on the tongue. An exactly similar dentition is

found in the South African species. That is, on the assumption

that, when a dentition is said to be uniserial, it means that only a

single row of teeth is operative at a time; it does not exclude the

presence of an inner, decumbent, row of replacing teeth.

When the head of a South African Galazias is rendered transparent

in a clearing reagent (e.g. parachlorophenol + chloralhydrate) all the

rows of teeth, which ordinarily appear to be uniserial, are seen to

have a series of replacers adjacent to them: on the inner side of the

mandibular and premaxillary rows, on the outer side of the ento-

pterygoid row, and on the outer side of each lingual row. A similar

appearance as regards the mandibular and premaxillary series has

been figured by Scott (l.c., 1935, fig. 1) for Paragalarias. Scott

regards the dentition of Paragalazias as biserial. I believe that this

is an erroneous description, because if the process of clearing be

watched under a lens, the row of replacer teeth only becomes visible

as the flesh becomes transparent, whereas the operative row is

visible without any clearing.

Scott (1935, l.c., p. 43, fig. 2) in a brief mention of the mucus-pits

or pores in Paragalaxias, says there are 6 on the dorsal surface of

the head. The figure shows 2 interorbital pairs and a single post-

orbital pore behind each eye. In case the number and arrangement

of the pores varies in different genera or species, the arrangement in

the South African species may be given. In addition to the 6 in

the same position as in Paragalazias, there is one on the inner side

of each posterior nostril, and one on the inner side of each anterior

nostril. On the side of the head there is one behind each anterior

nostril, 2 preorbital, 1 suborbital, and 5 around the edge of the

preopercle. Below, and slightly in front of the suborbital pore,

‘spLeD]DH JO UOINGIASI—' FZ “OL

as)

: R

SS)

2 peyqsiajumM odep ure — —

ANY)

sjuvfi

= \ juvfr1o

s "83 “Sy 908 ‘emsutuag odeg jo s[iejop 107

‘3 [‘popeys oov1103 nx. coe

; 3 Arerqr9, pur “m0zU0d 400j-006 94} YIM Ajoyewtxoidde STEM NS.

. Surpuodserioo ‘- - - - - - - oUul]-9Svoo Arerq19,7, 0407] ‘y

234 Annals of the South African Museum

there may be another, small and indistinct, but often absent

(fig. 25).

The lateral line pores are somewhat irregular, there being sometimes

two, though usually only one, to a myomere. The number of pores

is therefore not an indication of the number of myomeres (vertebrae).

The arrangement in both forms, zebratus and punctifer, is the same.

The following would appear to be characteristic of the South

African species: vertebrae (39) 40 (41); teeth on jaws and ento-

pterygoid uniserial, a double row (larger and recurved) on the

tongue; branchiostegals (6) 7; gill-rakers on anterior arch 2 or 3+9

or 10; D 3-4, 8-9; A 3-4, 8-10 (total in both cases 11-13).

As regards the species in South Africa, Gilchrist and Thompson

admitted three in their monograph, but suggested (p. 473) that the

examination of extensive material might show that the three species

should be regarded as varieties of one. Such examination does

indeed lead to the conclusion that dubsus G. and T. cannot be

maintained as separate from zebratus, and furthermore that Castelnau’s

original two species are variable to such an extent that only their

extreme forms can be separated.

Both of Castelnau’s species were found together on the Cape

Flats, near Cape Town, punctifer being stated to be “‘beaucoup plus

rare” than zebratus.

Steindachner’s species capensis has been regarded as synonymous

with zebratus (Regan, Boulenger, Gilchrist and Thompson), and

specimens from the same locality, Lourens (Lorenz) River, Somerset

West, in the South African Museum confirm this synonymy.

The examination and tabulation of the characters of some 4700

specimens of all sizes (9 mm. upwards), mostly long series from each

of several localities, discloses the extreme difficulty of finding clear-

cut and constant characters of specific value.

Ratios of head-length to body-length, depth to length of caudal

peduncle, length of the latter in relation to head-length, etc., are

quite inconclusive in a long series. The positions of the dorsal,

anal, and ventral fins, and even the most outstanding difference,

namely, the shape of the caudal fin, are found to be variable, and

the extreme forms, zebratus and punctifer, are connected by transi-

tional forms (fig. 26). Young and half-grown examples often have

a squarish tail and approximate closely to typical punctzfer in this

respect. See also Steindachner’s description of capensis (SB. Ak.

Wiss. Wien, cili, p. 460, 1894), where variation in the position of

the dorsal fin and shape of the tail is noted.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 235

Castelnau’s statement that punctifer was much rarer than zebratus

is certainly true, taking the 8.W. Cape asa whole. The only recorded

localities for punctifer are: ““Cape Flats” (Castelnau), Liesbeek River,

at Durban Road (Regan), and Diep River, Lakeside (Gilchrist and

Thompson). Recently, however, typical examples have been collected

Fic. 25.—Galaxias. Lateral and dorsal views of head, showing mucus

pores; only two in lateral line in upper figure shown. Openings of

nostrils shaded.

in the Mosselbank and Diep* rivers (Klipheuvel—Philadelphia—

Kalabas Kraal, Malmesbury area); in the headwaters of the Zout

River, a tributary of the Gt. Berg River, near Mamre Road Siding;

in Zeekoe Vlei on the Cape Flats; and near the mouth of Verloren

Vlei, Piquetberg Division.

All these examples are (after preservation in alcohol) cream-

coloured, with scarcely any trace of pigmentation. When alive

they were transparent, the backbone, the red gills and heart, and the

* Not to be confused with the previously mentioned Diep River. See p. 119.

236 Annals of the South African Museum.

silvery lining of the body cavity showing through. The water in the

Mosselbank and Diep rivers at the time was muddy and opaque;

that in Zeekoe Vlei clear, with a pale sandy bottom; in the latter

habitat the fishes whenever possible sought shelter under the landing-

stage, boats, or clumps of weed growing on the bottom.

Other series collected in the Nieuwejaars River, Elim, and in a

small stream at Strandfontein (S.E. of Zeekoe Vlei on the False Bay

coast) approach very closely to typical punctifer, but tend to be more

pigmented, and the caudal fin can be described as emarginate only

when not completely expanded.

The only factor which appears to be common to these localities is

a slight alkalinity of the water: pH 8-9.

Passing to the other extreme, the zebratus form, with a more or less

rounded tail, and (usually) a heavier, often a much heavier, pigmenta-

tion, we find this in the smaller streams, nearer the foot of the moun-

tains, where there is usually an abundance of decaying vegetable

debris, and the water is more or less brownish (‘‘peat’’-stained) and

on the acid side: pH 5-6-5.*

But variation occurs in each and every locality. Some of the

Mosselbank River, Mamre Road Siding, and Zeekoe Vlei specimens

have very feebly emarginate or square tails, with the tips of the lobes

very slightly rounded. Amongst the Strandfontein lot was one with

a very definitely and conspicuously rounded tail. Young and half-

grown specimens, as already remarked, are often impossible to place

in the one or the other form, judging by the shape of the tail.

Therefore, as a series showing complete transition from the zebratus

form to the punctifer form could be picked out, though not from a

single community in any one locality, only one species (zebratus)

should be recognized. But the extreme forms, if placed side by side,

are so distinct that this course would probably not meet with general

approval. We may therefore recognize two forms, thus:

zebratus.—Caudal fin rounded-truncate, the tips of the lobes

usually distinctly rounded, but sometimes somewhat squarish;

distance between end of middle caudal rays and Ist dorsal spine (not

the adipose extension in front of it) not exceeding the distance

between latter and hind margin of eye, 7.e. the 1st dorsal spine arises

slightly behind the middle of the total length, and approximately

opposite the vent; usually more or less heavily pigmented, with or

* Colour of the water and acidity are not necessarily correlated. In the lower

reaches of the Nieuwjaar River near Zoetendals Vlei the water is alkaline but

retains its brown-stained coloration (A. C. H.).

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 237

without cross-bars, the silvery lining of the belly mostly obscured;

usually in slightly acid waters.

punctifer.—Caudal fin emarginate, the tips of the lobes square or

slightly acute; distance between end of middle caudal rays and Ist

dorsal spine subequal to (or even slightly greater than) distance

Fic. 26.—Galaxias. Semidiagrammatic, to show variation in caudal fin

in zebratus (a-c) and punctifer (d). The letters a-d are each exactly at

the middle of the total length. Varieties of coloration also shown, but

there is no correlation between coloration and morphology.

between latter and tip of snout, 7.e. 1st dorsal spine arises in middle

of total length, and slightly in advance of vent; body often a little

more slender, especially the caudal peduncle; usually scarcely or not

at all pigmented; the silvery lining of the belly usually very distinct;

usually in slightly alkaline waters.

Fig. 26 shows typical zebratus and punctifer and two transitional

forms. It may be noted that Boulenger’s fig. 8 of zebratus is rather

238 Annals of the South African Museum.

too deep in the body, and that the outline of the dorsal fin in Regan’s

fig. 3 of punctifer is not quite accurate (both figures copied in Gilchrist

and Thompson’s work).

Coloration.—Fig. 26 also shows some of the varieties of coloration,

but is not intended to indicate any correlation between coloration

and morphology. There is no such correlation. Typical zebratus

is more or less strongly barred (a). The most heavily barred speci-

mens are found in the Silvermine Stream, Kalk Bay, Cape Peninsula,

many of them being even more heavily barred than the one figured,

the dark bars extending almost to the ventral profile.

In other examples, and in other localities, a mild barring (d) or a

shadowy mottling is found, or the whole body is tinted with minute

specks with here and there a larger dot (c).

Both the c and d coloration, but mostly the former, is found in

punctifer.

Adult males of the zebratus form are usually darker in colour than

females, either the cross-bars being more intense, or the pigmentation

The character of the stream-bed and the colour of the water may

perhaps influence the coloration. Most of the habitats are small

streams (not the main rivers) with muddy (fine, dark, vegetable

debris) bottoms, or containing pools with muddy bottoms, with more

or less brown-coloured water. But in one such stream, the Jan

Niemands, a tributary of the Palmiet River, all the Galaxias were

noticeably pale. In some clear streams with gravelly or stony

bottoms, the gravel and stones being various shades of grey, buff,

or orange-brown, specimens of a pale buff or grey body-colour were

found, with either a uniform and faint pigmentation (c) or irregularly

arranged dark spots (6b). The figured specimen of 6 is by no means

the most heavily spotted; these spotted specimens are very striking,

especially after preservation, as the body-colour fades to white while

the spots remain (in alcohol) for a considerable time. The colour of

typical punctifer has been noted above.

Whether colour changes could be induced in captivity would be an

interesting experiment; as would also experiments to show whether

the extreme forms of zebratus and punctifer will interbreed.

Breeding.—Except that they are not sea-going, little is known

about the breeding of South African Galaxias. They are hardy in

captivity, but in spite of continual observation (examples in glass

tanks) (A. C. H.) the actual pairing and deposition of the eggs has

not been seen.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 239

The ripe eggs are demersal, relatively large, numbering about

30-40; the number probably seldom if ever exceeds 50.

The fishes become sexually mature at about 38-40 mm. in length.

The maximum length seems to vary in different localities: on the

Cape Peninsula both the zebratus and punctifer forms reach a length

of 65 mm. The largest specimen of zebratus hitherto caught is one

of 68 mm. (Slanghoek stream, Worcester district), and the largest

punctifer one of 75 mm. (Malmesbury). The specimens collected by

Dr. Holub in 1884 at Somerset West and described by Steindachner

(1894) as capensis were “‘nearly 7 cm.”’ in length.

Very young fry have been observed in captivity in garden ponds

during March (A. C. H.), and have been collected in the free state in

June, July, August, and September (Cape Peninsula), late September

and October (Clanwilliam and Villiersdorp), November (Citrusdal

and Hermanus), January (Genadendal), February (Drakenstein, Cape

Peninsula, and George), April (Hermanus). In most cases mature

specimens (the 99 with ripe eggs) were taken at the same time.

Probably breeding occurs throughout the greater part of the year.

Individuals have been kept in captivity for three years (A. C. H.).

Postembryonal Stages.—The earliest stage yet obtained is one 9 mm.

in length (fig. 27, a) showing the straight tail, and no indications of

the fins (except the pectorals). At 10-5-11 mm. there appear the

indications of the dorsal fin, and, at a slightly later stage, of the anal

fin; and the tail has an upward bend (heterocercal). At 12-5-13 mm.

in this series, corresponding with a stage slightly later than the

1l-mm. stage in the George series (fig. 27, 6), the dorsal fin is nearly

free of the median adipose flange or lamina of skin, and the ventral

fins are just visible as two minute knobs. At 15 mm. the ventral

fins are free, but the anal is still embraced within the median flange.

At 16-17 mm., corresponding with the 15-mm. stage in the George

series (fig. 27,c), both the medio-dorsal and medio-ventral flanges

have disappeared except for a short extent on the belly and on the

caudal peduncle. The belly flange persists until the fish is about

18-19 mm. in length. On the caudal peduncle the flange is gradually

reduced to a greater or lesser extent (fig. 26).

Distribution (figs. 24 and 28).—The known limits of distribution

to the north and east have not been extended since Gilchrist and

Thompson wrote, but Galaxias has been shown to occur in many

intervening localities. The northward limit is the Willems River

(Gilchrist and Thompson) about 6 miles north of Nieuwoudtville

(Calvinia Division), which flows northwards into the Klein Doorn

240 Annals of the South African Museum.

River, Zout River, and thence into the Olifants River. In the same

river-system Galazias occurs in the Boontjes River (Citrusdal) and

Jan Diesels River (Clanwilliam), and in the headwaters and upper

reaches of the Olifants itself.

FAR 26 a WY” ts :

TOF St 2 tS WY 427 pie

hua dea 5 aha eainn ae UWIDA

Ae AEESS Sees See a ee ee Bs

es ee PS

cavaSs) Beat tsi & ir ae SS

Se este Ei ne wee are tre PE OE NSS

. sou Se VENA AS

y 2S n> ove NS

SAO an SN

w“N

io seats pre Cte Q Sr =

Eee = Ss

FSA ON SEN AS WINRSSO SS

Fic. 27.—Galaxias, juveniles. a. 9 mm. (Villiersdorp). 6. 11 mm. (George).

c. 15 mm. (George). d. 13 mm. (Lourens River, Somerset West).

Galaxias is probably to be found in all streams near the bases of

the mountains (not in torrential mountain streams), and side channels

of the rivers in the following systems, and in the neighbouring vleis

(lakes) if permanent. The following are actual localities (where no

author is added, collected by 8. African Museum or A. C. Harrison) :-—

zebratus (mountain form)

Olifants River, Clanwilliam: headwaters of main river (so-called

Malangs River) between Witzenberg and Schurfteberg Ranges;

main river at Keerom (P.O. Groot Kuil); Boontjes River,

Citrusdal; Jan Diesels River in Bosch Kloof, Clanwilliam;

Willems River, north of Nieuwoudtville (Gilchrist and

Thompson).

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region.

=a Cape Town

es — Cape Flats

ei =

4 ¢

= Diep \@

S _

= Se

< A, eekoe Vlei

q #

SS Ss Strandfontein

Kalk Bay

Bokram (© <n Silvermine

e S Q>

SS,

SEY False Bay

Schusters nm

ere Aq

Klaasjagers \f y o

241

Fic. 28.—Map of Cape Peninsula, showing localities for Galaxias (zebratus and

punctifer). Land above 900-foot contour shaded.

242 Annals of the South African Museum.

Langevlei, Leipoldtville (Clanwilliam Division).

Het Kruis, upper reaches of Verloren Vlei.

Zoutkloofs River, north-west of Aurora.

Berg River: headwaters of Little Berg River at Tulbagh; of the

Berg River at French Hoek (Weber), Wemmershoek, and

Drakenstein; Bushmans River at Sauer (transition to punctifer).

Modder River, west of Mamre (Malmesbury Division).

Cape Peninsula: Liesbeek River at Newlands (Weber), at Kirsten-

bosch and Rondebosch; Little Princess Vlei (Weber); Silver-

mine stream, Kalk Bay; Palmiet River flowing into Hout

Bay; Bokram stream, Kommetje; Schusters and Klaasjagers

rivers. “Cape Flats’? (Castelnau).

Eerste River: Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch.

Lourens River, Somerset West (Steindachner, Gilchrist and

Thompson).

Steenbras and Palmiet rivers; and Malkop Vlei on west side of

Palmiet River mouth (property of Hangklip Estates) (A. C. H.).

Bot River: a small tributary at Eerste Hoop (Post Office) on Bot

River to Viliersdorp road; Zwart River at Caledon.

Onrust River, and small streams on coastal terrace near Hermanus.

Hartebeest River, being the upper reaches of the Klein River.

Zontagskloof stream.

Nieuwejaars River, Elim (transition to punctifer); Grashoek and

Kars rivers, Bredasdorp district.

Breede River tributaries: Montagu; Zanddrift and Buffelshoek

streams, Hex River; headwaters of Zanddrift stream north of

Matroosberg (farm ‘‘Lakenvlei,’’ Ceres district); du Toit’s

Kloof, Rawsonville; Slanghoek, Goudini; Zonder End River,

headwaters near French Hoek Pass (east side) and Villiersdorp,

and Genadendal; Buffelsjagt River, east of Swellendam.

Gouritz River system: Klein Zwartberg stream, tributary of the

Buffels River, north of the Zwartberg Range (near farm

““Koudebergs Berg’); Seven Weeks Poort stream east of

Ladismith; Weyders River, south of the Langeberg Range,

Albertinia Division; Doorn River, Barrydale.

Little Brak River (Mossel Bay district); upper reaches at Haal-

kraal.

Malagas River, George district (Gilchrist and Thompson, also

recent collecting); Wit Els River, George district.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W, Cape Region. 243

punctifer (lake or vlei form).

Verloren Vlei, near mouth.

Berg River: stream crossing Malmesbury to Hopefield Road; Zout

River at Mamre Road Siding; Bushmans River at Sauer

(transition to zebratus).

Diep River and its tributary Mosselbank River, Klipheuvel,

Kalabas Kraal, and Malmesbury districts.

Cape Peninsula: Liesbeek River at Durban Road (Regan); Diep

River at Lakeside (Gilchrist and Thompson); ‘‘Cape Flats”

(Castelnau); Princess Vlei; Zeekoe Vlei; Oleboom Vlei

(A. C. H.); Strandfontein.

Kerste River: below junction with Kuils River, Faure (Sheik

Joseph’s Tomb).

Nieuwejaars River, Elim (transition to zebratus).

All these localities lie on the Tertiary marine-cut terrace, or on

the present-day headwaters of rivers flowing across it. This terrace

follows approximately the 900-foot contour (fig. 24).

In the map of the Cape Peninsula the land above the present

900-foot contour is shaded (fig. 28). Only in these areas is the

water-table apparently high enough to maintain a perennial stream.

Towards the end of summer the Bokram, Schusters, and Klaasjagers

streams run very low, becoming often merely a series of disconnected

pools or bog-holes; and the water becomes brackish. At such times,

near the mouth of the Klaasjagers River, Galaxias occurs in water as

salt as the sea. This fact is not surprising when we remember that

G. attenuatus, the Australasian and 8. American species, migrates

downstream to the coast for spawning.

Although it is not intended to draw any conclusions here, the

distribution of Galazias in the 8.W. Cape is certainly very suggestive

of a marine ancestry during the Tertiary epoch, followed by the

adoption of a fluviatile habitat, and gradual penetration inland with

the cutting-back of the streams.

Some experiments on the duration of survival out of water were

made by Mr. A. C. Harrison, on lines similar to those of Scott (1938,

Pap. Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasmania for 1937, p. 138). Using G. zebratus,

it was found that the fishes when placed in a dry enamel bow! became

very adhesive as they dried, and this probably acted against their

survival, especially in the case of small and weak fishes. In this

experiment the fishes survived only 3-6 hours. Others were then

244 Annals of the South African Museum.

placed on very slightly damp moss, and in these conditions survived

10 hours (the experiment was not completed owing to an accident).

Famity ANABANTIDAE.

1909. Regan, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., ii, p. 770.

Up to the present no species of this family has been recorded from

any of the Cape rivers north of the main Cape watershed, nor from

the Orange Free State, Transvaal, Natal, and southern part of

Portuguese East Africa. Hey makes no mention of Kurper from

the Transkei, Pondoland, or Natal.*

From Lake Ngami and the Zambezi basin northwards occur

several speeies with more or less multispinose opercle and denticulate

subopercle (Ctenopoma), allied to the Indian and §.E. Asiatic species

(Anabas).

The two Cape species have a non-denticulate subopercle, and the

opercular spines either entire or feebly bifid or trifid.

Both the morphology and the remarkable discontinuity in distribu-

tion therefore uphold the justice of Regan’s classification, which

regards the Asiatic Anabas, the tropical African Ctenopoma, and the

Cape Sandelia (olum Spirobranchus) as three separate genera.

In addition to the character of the opercle, there are the following

differences between Ctenopoma multispinis and Sandelia capensis.

All the scales in multispinis (except those forming the sheaths of

the dorsal and anal fins, those on top of head and on throat) are

ctenoid; in capensis all or very nearly all of them are cycloid.

In multispinis the anterior prolongations of the air-bladder are

relatively short, ending close behind the rather deep posterior cavity

of the supra-branchial chamber (fig. 30, a); in capensis they are very

long, extending up towards the nape, where they are separated one

from the other by the vertical septum of the supra-occipital bone at

the back of the skull (fig. 30, 6). In neither species is there any

apparent connection between these anterior prolongations of the air-

bladder and the supra-branchial chamber. In juvenile capensis,

13 mm. total length, the anterior prolongations are already developed

to their full extent, whereas the posterior prolongations extend only

half-way along the anal fin (in the adult ieee extend to midway on

the caudal peduncle).

The labyrinthine organ is very simple in capensis (fig. 30,6; and

cf. Cuv. and Val., Hist. Nat. Poiss., pl. 205), but complexly foliate

* See p. 120. “‘Kurper”’ in the Transvaal refers to species of Tilapia.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 245

in multispinis (fig. 30, a). In adult capensis there is a more or less

horizontal lamina arising from the upper part of the rachis of the Ist

gill-arch, fused with the hind wall and forming the lining of the upper

posterior half of the chamber, and extending across to the inner

(median) wall of the chamber; thus incompletely dividing the

NORTHERN

RHODESIA

: Y 7 el SOUTHERN

Etosha Pan : Es ;

EHODESIA

E ; Lake Ngami

SOUTH WEST Bie

-’ Makarikari

Pan

AFRICA

BECHUANALAND

TRANSVAAL

“ORANGE FREE

"STATE poe

R-

ange =

or “NATAL ugeig R.

*zimoubu R:.

Fic. 29.—Distribution of Anabantidae. Tropical forms with denti-

culate subopercle and more or less multispinose opercle (Ctenopoma).

e@ Southern forms with non-denticulate subopercle, and only two entire

(or feebly bifid) opercular spines (Sandelia).

chamber into an upper and a lower cavity. The free margin of this

lamina is sinuous, more or less thickened, and often develops a small

ear-like lobe (usually not so large as that represented in the figure).

In juveniles of 17 mm. total length the lamina is relatively small,

and arises on the rachis between the inner and outer rows of gill-

rakers. At 25 mm. total length the base of the lamina seems to have

spread outwards so as to absorb the 2 uppermost outer gill-rakers, all

trace of which has vanished.

In multispinis there is a similar lamina continuous with the upper

VOL. XXXVI, PART 2. i}

246 Annals of the South African Museum.

Fic. 30.—Dissected head to show Ist gill arch with labyrinthine organ

(adults). Posterior cavity of the branchial chamber, and position of

anterior prolongation of the air-bladder indicated by dotted lines.

a. Ctenopoma multispinis. b. Sandelia capensis.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 247

part of the gill-arch and extending across the branchial chamber as

in capensis, but additional lobes and foliations are developed from

its free margin and outer surface. There are traces of 4 (or 5) upper

outer gill-rakers. Further, there is a small ear-like lobe anterior

to the main foliate lamina, and seemingly formed by expansion of

one of the outer gill-rakers.

In Anabas (sensu stricto) the supra-branchial chambers extend

upwards into the cavity behind the head and are separated by the

supra-occipital septum, but Regan (l.c., p. 770) does not mention

the extent of the anterior processes of the air-bladder.

In some MSS. notes made by the late W. W. Thompson in prepara-

tion for Gilchrist and Thompson’s Monograph, I find that Thompson

had observed these differences and wanted to use them as a reason

for separating the three genera. Apparently he was overruled in

deference to Boulenger.

Breeding.—l1 have not seen Boulenger’s paper on oral gestation

in A. multispinis (The Field, cxvii, p. 968, 1911), nor a paper on the

breeding of Anabas by Lonnberg (Fauna och Flora, Upsala, vi, p. 224,

L911,

Gen. SANDELIA Cast.

1829. Cuvier, Regne Anim., ed. 2, 11, p. 229 (Sprrobranchus, preocc.

Oken, 1818, Vermes).

1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss.; vu, p. 392

(Sprrobranchus).

1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. l’Afr. austr., p. 36.

1909. Regan, l.c., p. 770 (Spurobranchus).

1916. Boulenger, l.c., iv, p. 48 (Anabas, part.).

1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 542 (Anabas, part.).

Sandelia capensis (C. and V.)

Cape Kurper.

Figs. 30, 6, 31, 32.

1916. Boulenger, l.c., iv, p. 50, fig. 27.

1916. Id., cbid., p. 51, fig. 28 (vicinus).

1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 543, fig. 157.

1917. Id., abid., p. 545, fig. 158 (vicinus).

Examination of a large amount of material, including series of

specimens of all sizes caught at one and the same time and place,

convinces me that vicinus cannot be maintained as a separate species;

but it may well rank as a colour variety.

248 Annals of the South African Museum.

In specimens from the 8.W. Cape the dorsal spines vary from

12 to 14, the anal spines from 6 to 8, the usual numbers being 13 and

7 respectively. In specimens from localities farther east, George to

Port Elizabeth, the anal spines number 8, only occasionally 7, and

the dorsal spines vary from 13-14, mostly 14 (one specimen

with 15).

The slight difference in size between the scales on the upper part

of the body and those in the middle of the side is often a little more

noticeable in vicinus than in typical capensis.

The number of scales around the caudal peduncle (at its base) is

normally 18, but there may be only 16, especially in younger specimens

(30-60 mm.), or 14 (15-25 mm.).

The opercular spines are more or less obtuse; when the covering

skin is removed, they are seen to be frequently feebly bifid or some-

times trifid, the points being separated merely by a slit or very narrow

cleft; often the composite nature of the spine is shown only by

surface striae or slight ridges.

The coloration and markings are not always stronger or more

distinct in the viconus form than in the capensis form; as Castelnau

remarked, there is considerable variation in colour. Specimens

from muddy and opaque water in the Diep and Mosselbank rivers

(Malmesbury—Kalabas Kraal—Klipheuvel district) were silvery with

a very pale greenish tinge, even the opercular spot being inconspicuous.

Sometimes there is a pinkish tinge around the axil of the pectoral

fin. Hence the name “Rooivlerk Kurper” applied in some localities

(see pp. 107, 120).

The largest specimen I have seen is one 215 mm. in length from

Princess Vlei, Cape Flats; this specimen contained 2 full-sized Gul-

christella, and pieces of water-weed (the latter possibly accidental).

Juveniles from 8 mm. upwards have been examined.

These juveniles were taken in November, December, and January,

but it is not known how long the spawning season lasts. Males

appear to begin breeding at 70 mm., females at 80 mm.

Some rather noticeable differences in body-shape have come under

observation.

The original figure by Cuvier and Valenciennes (reproduced in

Boulenger and G. and T.) is a fair representation of the normal shape

of a small or medium-sized specimen, though the body is usually a

little deeper. In most cases the depth of the body is about equal to

length of head, 23-24 in length (to end of large scales on caudal

peduncle); the depth between anal spines and dorsal fin is less than

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 249

length of head. The front profile is very slightly convex, and the

snout is moderately sharply pointed (fig. 31, a).

Large specimens from Aurora (Piquetberg Division) and Cape Flats

tend to become “bull-nosed,”’ with bluntly rounded snout (fig. 31, e).

Specimens from the Diep River in the Malmesbury district are

unusually shallow: the depth less than length of head, and 34 times

in length of body (fig. 31, d).

In the opposite direction there are specimens, e.g. from Goukama

River near Knysna, showing an increase in the depth of the body,

the depth being greater than length of head, and 24 times in length

of body (fig. 31, 6).

The most remarkable specimen observed is one from the Palmiet

River, Elgin, which was forwarded to Mr. A. C. Harrison (Inland

Fisheries Advisory Officer) as a “‘Black-bass” (which has been

introduced into this river). The body is very deep, the depth being

only 24 times in body-length, and considerably greater than length

of head. The dorsal-anal depth also is greater than length of head.

The profile is slightly but distinctly concave, and the snout is abnor-

mally sharp (fig. 31, c). The colour was also abnormally dark.

A thoroughly intensive study of large numbers of specimens from

all rivers and localities has not been carried out, but the following

points may be noted, not as demonstrated facts but as indicating

lines of investigation.

There seems to be a tendency in large specimens to become “ bull-

nosed,’ and this may be found to be more noticeable in specimens

from alkaline waters (pH 7-5-8-5) and to be correlated with a lesser

body-depth. On the other hand, in the specimens from acid waters

(pH 4-5-5-5) the depth seems to be greater and the snout more

pointed. As examples of this are 2 from Goukama River near

Knysna, and the extreme form from the Palmiet River.

The extremes of the shallow and deep forms placed side by side,

and apart from the intermediates, appear to be utterly different

species.

In addition to the localities given in Weber, Boulenger, Gilchrist

and Thompson, recent collecting has supplied specimens from the

following localities (arranged from north to south and then east-

wards) :—

Langevlei River, Leipoldtville (Clanwilliam Division).

Het Kruis and Verloren Vlei (Piquetberg Division).

Zoutkloofs River, N.W. of Aurora (Piquetberg Division).

250

Annals of the South African Museum.

Fic. 31.—Sandelia capensis, variation in shape.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 251

Berg River: Twenty-four Rivers (south of Porterville);

Drakenstein.

Diep and Mosselbank rivers near Philadelphia, Kalabas Kraal,

Klipheuvel, and Malmesbury.

Cape Peninsula: Liesbeek stream, and Diep River, Lakeside.

EKerste River.*

Steenbras and Palmiet rivers.

Bot River: at Eerste Hoop and Houw Hoek Pass.

Onrust River, Hartebeest, and Klein River (Hermanus—Stanford

district).

Zonntagskloof and Uilenkraal rivers.

Nieuwejaar River, Elim; Grashoek and Kars River, Bredasdorp

district. Also Zoetendals Vlei (coll. V. Fitzsimons, Transvaal

Mus.).

Breede River and tributaries: Witte River (Bain’s Kloof);

Robertson; Hex River, Worcester; headwaters of River

Zonder End (east side of French Hoek Pass); Villiersdorp;

Genadendal; Buffelsjagt River (east of Swellendam).

Duivenhoks River, Heidelberg (Cape), and Kaffirkuils River,

Riversdale.

Gouritz River: Touws River between Ladismith and Montagu;

Buffels River west of Ladismith; Seven Weeks Poort, Amalien-

stein; Langtouw River, Herbertsdale; Weyders River,

Albertina district.

Ruigte Vlei, between George and Knysna.

Goukama River, near Knysna.

Keurbooms River at Edmonton.

Kromme River, Assegai Bush.

* Hey (l.c., Rep. i, p. 36, 1926) stated that the Kurper had been exterminated

in the Eerste River, but that is incorrect.

a. Palmiet River. pH 4-5-5, 100 mm., typical, si 25, d,—N, do < h.

b. Goukama River. pH 5, 95 mm., rather deep, z 22,1¢, > h, d,—h.

c. Palmiet River. pH 4-5-5, 130 mm., very deep, = 24, d, and d, both > h.

d. Diep River, Malmesbury district. pH 8-8-5, 90 mm., very shallow, ; 33;

d, and d, both < h.

e. Aurora, Piquetberg Division. pH 7-5, 135 mm., shallow, bull-nosed, Z 23,

Od, —h, dy <= h:

252 Annals of the South African Museum.

Zeekoe River, Humansdorp.

Gamtoos River (lower portion) at Loerie and Patentie. In the

Groote River at Fullarton and Steytlerville, z.e. the upper

portion of the Gamtoos River, no specimens were obtained.

Van Stadens River.

Zwartkops River, Uitenhage.

The distribution, though extending farther eastwards, is thus the

same as that of Galaxias, viz. all along the old Tertiary terrace and

Fic. 32.—Sandelia capensis. Juveniles, 8 mm. and 10 mm. in length.

the headwaters of the rivers flowing across it, except in two par-

ticulars: Sandelia appears to be absent from the whole of the

Clanwilliam Olifants system; and (at least at the present day) from

all streams on the Cape Peninsula except the Liesbeek and the Diep

(Lakeside) rivers.

If the assumption be granted that the Kurper never was present

in the Palmiet, Silvermine, Schusters, and Klaasjagers rivers on the

Cape Peninsula, the fact that there is no means by which a purely

freshwater fish could get to these rivers from the Cape Flats, seems

to point to the Kurper having arrived after the land had begun to

rise. On the other hand, at the time of maximum elevation of the

land the whole of False Bay would have been dry land, and the

Silvermine and Diep rivers were probably connected. Did the

Kurper formerly live in the Silvermine stream, and has it for some

reason been unable to maintain itself? This does not seem likely,

as it is a very hardy fish; but, as we shall never know whether the

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 253

Kurper did actually live in the Silvermine, the problem must remain

unsolved.

We can, however, say that Sandelia was present in the Breede

River system either before or during the period of maximum elevation,

because it is present in the Nieuwejaars, Grashoek, and Kars rivers,

which are now cut off from communication with the Breede River.

The finding of the Kurper as far north as Leipoldtville on the west

coast belt intensifies the question as to why it has not (apparently)

penetrated into the Olifants River (Clanwiliam) system. The

Jackals River, flowing through Graafwater to Lambert’s Bay, seems

to be mostly dry and to have no fish-fauna at the present day.

In some specimens from Zoetendals Vlei, Bredasdorp district,

Dr. V. Fitzsimons of the Transvaal Museum has found specimens of

the Fish-louse Argulus.

Sandelia bainsi Cast.

Bain’s or Eastern Province Kurper, Rockey.

1916. Boulenger, l.c., p. 52, fig. 29.

1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 546, fig. 159.

This species is distinguished by the more pointed snout and the

slightly smaller scales. The scales on the upper part of the body

are distinctly smaller than those in the middle of the side, 6-7 between

lateral line and origin of dorsal fin.

There are 22 scales around the caudal peduncle in the larger

specimens and 20 in young specimens up to 60 mm. in length.

The opercular spines are distinctly more acute than in capensis.

Hither the upper or lower spine, or both, and either on one side only

or on both sides, may be bifid. Bifurcation might be due to injury,

but probably occurs as a normal concomitant of growth. In young

specimens both spines are acute and entire, but with traces of

incipient bifurcation.

The two groups of opercular spines is one of the characters on

which Castelnau based his genus Sandelia in contradistinction to

Spirobranchus. As shown above, however, there is no essential

difference between these spines in capensis and bainsw which would

warrant generic separation. But both capensis and bainsiw are

sharply distinguished in this respect from the typical species of

Anabas (s.s.) and Ctenopoma.

Castelnau’s type came from the Kowie River near Grahamstown.

Boulenger’s record, “‘ Buffalo River, Port Elizabeth,” should, it seems,

be corrected to Buffalo River, East London.

254 Annals of the South African Museum.

According to Mr. Harrison’s investigations, the Rockey occurs

in the Nahoon River, but is unknown to local fishermen in the Kubusie

River at Stutterheim (a tributary of the Great Kei River).

The largest specimen I have seen is that recorded by Gilchrist and

Thompson from King William’s Town (its total length is 115 mm.).

I have also examined two small ones from the Pirie Trout Hatchery

near King William’s Town, and a series, 45 mm. to 110 mm., collected

by Mr. A. C. Harrison (Oct. 1941) from the Tyusha stream near Pirie

(a tributary of the Buffalo River).

The colour when freshly caught is dull olive-green, with very few

and indistinct markings (A. C. H.).

Famity CLUPEIDAE.

Gen. GILCHRISTELLA Fowler.

1935. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., Ixxxvii, p. 365.

Gilchristella aestuarius (Gilch.)

W hitebatt.

1913. Gilchrist, Mar. Biol. Rep., i, p. 55, fig. (Spratelloides a.).

1925. Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxi, p. 109 (Spratelloides a.).

1935. Fowler, l.c., p. 365, fig. 4.

1934. Harrison, Fish. Mar. Biol. Surv., Investigat. Rep. 4, pp. 22,

63, 64, 80 (Spratelloides, localities).

1936. Id., ibid., Investigat. Rep. 7, pp. 94 (“‘Gillieminkies, a small

Barbus, probably burchelli”’) and 96 (Spratelloides).

1937. J. L. B. Smith, Lc., p. 139.

In addition to Princess Vlei, Cape Flats, and the Zwartkops River,

Port Elizabeth, this little fish has been caught at the following

localities :—

Verloren Vlei, near mouth (Piquetberg Division).

Lakeside, Cape Flats.

Brand Vlei and Breede River, Worcester (permanently fresh, 100

miles, as crow flies, from mouth of Breede River).

Zonder End River, at Genadendal.

Klein River, Stanford.

Nieuwejaars River, Elim; Grashoek and Kars River, Bredasdorp.

Groen Vlei, Knysna.

Blue Lagoon, Umgeni, Natal (Fowler).

~~ i

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 255

Famity MUGILIDAE.

1935. J. L. B. Smith, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., xxx, p. 587 (revision of

S. African species).

Although the majority of the South African Harders or Springers

enter estuaries and rivers, only the three mentioned below appear

to be actually recorded from fresh water.

Mugil cephalus (with well-developed adipose eye-lids, pointed scale

in axil of pectoral, and no scales on soft dorsal fin) was recorded by

Cuvier and Valenciennes (as constantiae) from one of the vleis near

Constantia, Cape Peninsula; and by Weber (1897) from Little

Princess Vlei. |

The South African Museum has specimens from Lakeside and

Zeekoe Vlei (Cape Flats): Wilde Vogel Vlei, Kommetje; Klaasjagers

Lagoon (Cape Peninsula).

Mugil capito (with feebly developed or no adipose eye-lids, soft

dorsal scaly only at base, pointed scale in axil of pectoral) is recorded

from the Berg River (Boulenger, 1916), probably from near the mouth

in St. Helena Bay. The South African Museum has collected speci-

mens at the mouth of the Olifants River (Van Rhynsdorp Division),

and Verloren Vlei (Piquetberg Division).

Mugil euronotus (with feebly developed or no adipose eye-lids, soft

dorsal completely scaly, no pointed scale in axil of pectoral). Speci-

mens of this species have been caught in the Valsch River, a tributary

of the Gouritz River, Albertinia Division.

Famity ANGUILLIDAE.

Anguilla mossambica (Peters)

Freshwater Eel; Paling.

1897. Weber, Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst., x, p. 155 (delalandiv).

1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 466, figs. 1lla, 112.

1925) Barnard, Ann. S27 )Atc)-Mus., xxi; p. 175, and 1927, cbid.,

p2t013.

1935. Id., Rep. 8. Afr. Mus. for 1934, p. 10 (elver).

193i. Id., Anni Ss. Afr. Mus., xxx, p. 49 (elver).

As mentioned in the appendix to the Monograph of Marine Fishes

(1927, p. 1018), the researches of the late Dr. J. Schmidt showed that

only this one species of Freshwater Kel occurs in South Africa.

Although it is generally known that eels are found in all or most of

the southward and eastward flowing rivers in the Cape area under

256 Annals of the South African Museum.

discussion, the only definite recent records are those given by Weber,

viz. Kammanassie River at Oudtshoorn; Kafferkuil River at Rivers-

dale; and Duivenhoeks River at Heidelberg (Cape). At the last-

mentioned locality Ensign Schrijver caught some on 17th January

1689.*

The South African Museum has a specimen caught by Mr. F. G.

Chaplin at Jonkershoek in the Eerste River near Stellenbosch. Mr.

A. C. Harrison caught one in a stream on the south side of Potteberg

near the mouth of the Breede River, and below the dam on the

Steenbras River; one was caught in Ruigte Vlei, between George

and Knysna (C. W. T., Oct. 1938), and another in a tributary of the

Kruis River, 5 miles north of Knysna (Nov. 1938). According to

several verbal reports eels are common all along the River Zonder

End.+

In addition to Dr. Kannemeyer’s Orange River specimen, t Gilchrist

informed Schmidt (in ltt. 29/xii/08) that one large specimen was

caught in a stream which ultimately joins the Orange River, but near

the watershed of the Crocodile and Orange rivers in the Pretoria

district.§ Both these records would seem to be satisfactorily ex-

plained by overland migration. The intensification of the main Cape

watershed would seem to have cut off all possibility of migration

from the southeast-flowing rivers into the Orange River system,

except in rare instances.

In the case of the record from the Liesbeek River, overland migra-

tion was certainly possible.|| Although this stream rises on the

eastern slopes of Table Mt. and flows northwards into Table Bay, it

is joined not far from the coast by the Kromboom stream, which

rises on the Cape Flats (cf. fig. 28). Between the source of the latter

and one of the sources of the southward-flowing Diep River there was

(in 1891, when this eel was caught) a stretch of some two miles of low-

lying marsh and meadow-land: by.no means an insuperable barrier.

An earlier record occurs in van Riebeeck’s Journal § of an eel

in the “Fresh River,” z.e. the stream flowing through the settlement

where Cape Town now stands, in opposition to the “Salt River.”

* Van Riebeeck Society Publ., xii, p. 215, 1931, Cape Town. W.W. Thompson,

Sea Fisheries of the Cape Colony, p. 134, Cape Town, 1913.

Tt See Hey, l.c., Reports, i-iii.

{ Kannemeyer, Proc. 26/vi/95 in Trans. 8. Afr. Philos. Soc., viii, p. xcvii, 1896.

Barnard, l.c., supra, 1925, p. 176. .

§ Schmidt, K. Dansk. Vid. Selsk. Skr., ser. 8, vol. x, p. 334, 1925.

|| Barnard, l.c., p. 176, 1925.

4 W. W. Thompson, l.c., p. 134, 1913.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 257

It is possible that this record refers to the Liesbeek, the old name of

which was Vers Rivier (= Vars = Fresh).*

Apart from the possible unsuitableness of the rivers on the west

coast of South Africa owing to their being mainly periodical, the

absence of Freshwater Hels from these westward-flowing rivers

seems to be due to past oceanographical factors in the South Atlantic

Ocean. Eels are in fact absent from the whole of the west coast of

Africa as far north as about 15° N. lat., and from the east coast of

South America as far as about 5° N. lat. It is just these parts of

these two continents which, on the Taylor-Wegener Displacement

Hypothesis, were formerly much closer together than they are to-day.

In other words, there was no South Atlantic Ocean in which these

eels could breed.f

Freshwater Eels breed in the deep waters of the ocean; and the

spawning-grounds of the South African eel lie in the region of the

Madagascan Deep. Schmidt says: “* . in the western part of

the Indian Ocean the larvae of three species were found, viz. Anguilla

bicolor, Anguilla mossambica, Anguilla mauritiana” [2.e. the Hast

African, South African, and Madagascan species].§

Up to the present only one specimen of the elver of A. mossambica

has been recorded, although verbal reports indicate that the arrival

of the elvers and their ascent of the rivers is well known to many

people in Natal.||

The correlation of the Leptocephalus larva and the elver with the

adult is based on the number of myotomes (muscle-bands) and

vertebrae. Hach species has a definite and characteristic number of

vertebrae, within certain rather narrow limits; that of A. mossambica

being 100-105.

In view of Schmidt’s discovery of the Leptocephalus larva of

A. mossambica, and the record of the elver, it is a little difficult to

understand the unorthodox and rather startling suggestion made by

Dr. J. L. B. Smith. It would be interesting to know the nature of

the evidence which is said to be accumulating to show that the

South African Freshwater Hel may have a life-history entirely

different from that of any other species.§

* C. Graham Botha, Place Names in the Cape Province, Cape Town (Preface

dated Dec. 1926), p. 79. t+ Schmidt, l.c., p. 367 and pl. 1, 1925.

t A. L. du Toit, Our Wandering Continents, 1937.

§ Schmidt, ed. Tanning, Danish Eel Investigations during Twenty-five Years,

p. 8, footnote, Copenhagen, 1932. || Barnard, J.c., supra, 1935 and 1937.

4 J. L. B. Smith, Albany Mus. Guide to Vertebrates, pt. 2, p. 132, 1937.

258 Annals of the South African Museum.

Famity GOBIIDAE.

Gobies (freshwater).

Only the Cape species are discussed, but a synopsis of the fluviatile

species is given. In estuaries several of the marine species are likely

to be found, and for the identification of these the key in Barnard,

Marine Fishes 8. Afr. (Ann. S. Afr. Mus., xxi, p. 813, 1927), may

be used.

Synopsis of Fluvatile Species.

I. Gill-membranes free from isthmus, gill-opening very wide (fig. 33, a). Dorsal

and anal rays (branched) 9-10. Scales in lateral series 29-31. An

irregular patch of scales on throat. . Psammogobius knysnaensis.

IJ. Gill-membranes united to isthmus, gill-opening restricted (fig. 33, b) . Gobzus.

A. Lower jaw projecting beyond upper jaw.

1. Dorsal and anal (branched) rays 7. Scales in lat. series 20

silvanus.

2. Dorsal and anal rays 8-9.

a. Scales in lat. series 28-36. Mouth extending to below front

margin of eye. Scales on throat present or absent . giuris.

b. Scales in lat. series 26. Mouth wide, extending to below hind

margin of eye : . : ; . dewaali (Natal).

B. Upper jaw overhanging lower jaw. Dorsal and anal rays 10. Scales in

lat. series 58-64. No scales on throat

aeneofuscus (Natal, Transvaal, Rhodesia, East Africa).

Psammogobius knysnaensis J. L. B. Smith

Fig. 33, a.

1935. J. L. B. Smith, Rec. Albany Mus., iv, p. 215.

Recorded from the tidal portions of the Breede, Knysna, Keur-

booms, Bushmans, and Kowie rivers.

Gobius silvanus Nn. sp.

Head 34 in length (excluding caudal), eye 3 in length of head.

Lower jaw projecting, mouth extending to below front margin of

eye (or very slightly farther back). Snout scarcely 4 length of eye.

Tongue free, rounded. Teeth in 2-3 rows in both jaws, no canines.

Gill-rakers 6-8 feeble knobs on lower part of anterior arch. Mucus

pores (difficult to trace) a row along lower margin of orbit, one

horizontal row across cheek, a row along lower margin of preopercle.

Dvi.+i.7. Ai.7. Caudal shorter than head. Rays of each

ventral fin very fliimsily connected, and apparently no membrane

connecting the two fins posteriorly.

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 259

Scales in lat. series 20, transv. series 7, around caudal peduncle 12.

Head naked; a triangular naked patch extending back almost to

origin of dorsal fin, only 1-2 predorsal scales in middle line.

Colour (as preserved) pale with minute grey speckling, chiefly on

upper parts; some of the scales brownish, or outlined in brown,

Fic. 33.—Ventral views of head, showing extent of gill membranc, and

scaling on throat, in (a) Psammogobius, and (b) Gobius. (Pectoral and

ventral fins not completely shown.) (c) Caudal fin of Gobius giuris: shorter

‘ than (dotted), equal to (broken line), and longer than length of head

(full line).

producing an irregular and variable dappled appearance; 3—4 darker

(blackish) spots on hinder part of mid-ventral line, the foremost

being at, and divided by, the anal fin, and one spot at base of middle

caudal rays; spinous dorsal with a black blotch. Ova showing

through body wall as yellowish-orange patch.

Length: 20-22 mm. (including ovigerous 29).

260 Annals of the South African Museum.

Locality.—Knysna Lagoon (C. W. Thorne and H. G. Wood, Oct.

1938).

Remarks.—This little Goby has fewer scales in the lateral series

than any other South African species. The specific name in allusion

to the two collectors, and the appearance of sylvan light and shade

on the body.

Gobius guuris Ham. Buch.

Flat-head Goby.

Bigs 3s, b,c:

1916. Boulenger, l.c., iv, p. 24, fig. 15.

1927. Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxi, p. 814.

1936. J. L. B. Smith, Trans. Roy. Soc. 8. Afr., xxiv, p. 49) mae

(gulosus).

1937. Id., Guide Vert. Fauna East. Cape Prov., pt. 2, p. 137,

fig. 4 (callidus).

This species grows to a length of about 300 mm. in Natal and the

Transvaal, but the South African Museum has no specimens over

100 mm. from localities in the Cape Province. Nor is there a series

of young or half-grown from Natal or the Transvaal, so that I am

unable to say at what size breeding starts in those regions.

Recent collecting of series of specimens in the Zwartkops River

(Uitenhage), Gamtoos River, and Kromme River (Assegai Bush)

shows that in this part of the Cape Province breeding starts at a

length of about 43 mm. No specimens over 100 mm. were obtained,

so that I cannot say to what size this fish may grow in Cape rivers.

Examination of the material shows the following points. In my

1927 description of the species, the gill-rakers were said to be

obsolete. That is more or less true of large specimens, merely 7 or 8

very short knobs being present. But a series seems to show that

after an initial increase from 7 or 8 to 10 or 11 there is a subsequent

reduction in the number and in the length of the rakers (see table,

p- 262).

The scales on the throat (the triangular area between the ventral

fins and the isthmus) are variable. In the large specimens the

area is completely scaled, and likewise in a series of small specimens

(23-100 mm.) from the Buffalo River (King William’s Town and

Kast London), On the other hand the Gamtoos River series shows

absence of scales in the young up to about 30 mm., and their gradual

development in specimens over that length. In the Kromme River

Revision of Indigenous Freshwater Fishes of S.W. Cape Region. 261

series the scales seem tardy in developing, first appearing in some

specimens of 75 mm., but being absent in others 80-90 mm. None

of the Zwartkops River series (up to 85 mm.) have throat scales.

This character therefore cannot be used for specific differentiation.

The scaling on the occipital region is subject to growth, but appears

to follow a more regular development. In the smallest specimens the

whole occipital region is naked, extending back almost to the origin

of the dorsal fin, in front of which only 1 to 2 or 3 scales are traceable.

With the development of 4-5 predorsal scales the scaling extends

forwards to about the level of the hind margin of opercle, and with

6—7 or 8 scales to about midway between the opercle and preopercle.

When fully developed there are 14-16 scales together with some

4 or 5 small irregular, often indistinct, ones in front (ca. 20 in all),

extending to or almost to the level of the hind margin of the eyes.

The Buffalo River specimens are well-scaled for their size, in com-

parison with the other series (cf. throat-scaling, supra).

The number of scales in a transverse series (between bases of soft

dorsal and anal) may increase with age, but a longer series should be

examined from localities where the fishes are known to reach a size

of 250 or 300 mm.

The dorsal and anal branched fin-rays number usually 9 and 8

respectively; but in the Zwartkops River specimens the normal

formula is 10/9, only occasionally 9/8, and in one instance 9/9 (a

second case of this latter in one specimen from Van Stadens River).

I have seen no specimen with 8/7 (as in gulosus), but there are 2 from

Assegai Bush with 9/7.

The caudal fin, when fully expanded (which cannot be done in

specimens much hardened in strong preservative), forms a broad

fan with rounded margin. Neither Peters’ figure (reproduced in

Boulenger, fig. 15) nor J. L. B. Smith’s figure (1936 and 1937) are

correct, both being based on incompletely expanded caudal fins.

The roundness or pointedness of the caudal fin is not a character,

but the length of the middle caudal rays is a feature which deserves

consideration, together with the length of the pectoral, in relation

to the head-length (fig. 33, c). |

Like other features, the lengths of these two fins seem to be depen-

dent on growth, and to be variable at that. They seem to increase

in length with growth up to 100 mm., and may equal the length of

the head, or in the case of the caudal fin may exceed it. But the

increase is not regular or constant in a series of specimens, especially

in series from different localities. Further, when the largest specimens

VOle pox vin PART’ 2, 17

262 Annals of the South African Museum.

are measured there seems to be a retrogression (cf. the 3 Umkomas

specimens); but unfortunately I have no long series from the very

young upwards from any locality in Natal or the Transvaal.

The tables, however, give sufficient indication of the truth of Day’s

remark (1878-1888, Fish. India, p. 295): ‘‘The fins are subject to

very great variations as to the length of the spines and rays”; and

of the necessity of a detailed investigation of long series from many

localities.

Even on the basis of the very small amount of material available, I

am unable to admit the validity of gulosus, based on a single specimen,

whose only unusual feature is the fin formula 8/7. This is surely an

individual abnormality (cf. the Assegai Bush specimens). It would

be inadvisable to claim specific rank for any of the present series until

we know the growth-changes, and the size when breeding starts, in

communities in Natal and the Transvaal.

The eggs are of the characteristic oval shape; and the nearly ripe

gonads can be seen as a yellowish patch through the body-wall at a

length of 388 mm. (Kromme River). The fully ripe gg and 99 from

43 mm. upwards were taken in late October.

ADDENDUM AND CORRIGENDUM TO P. 153.

Barbus aeneus (Burchell)

syn. B. holubi Stndr.

Burchell (1822, Travels Int. 8. Afr., vol. i, p. 280, fig. on p. 284)

described “‘Cyprinus”’ aeneus, and (abid., p. 425, fig. on p. 445)

““Silurus” gariepinus. The latter was accepted by Giinther and

Boulenger, but, for no apparent reason, not the former.

As regards gariepinus, Burchell gave no characters by which this

species can be distinguished from, e.g., mossambicus. Burchell’s

species is not recognisable except on a geographical basis; it is typical

of the Orange River and apparently the only species found in that

river.

On this basis aeneus is also recognisable, although the description

does not fulfil modern requirements. But is the description entirely

inadequate? The description states that the head is small (cf. supra,

p. 157, and fig. 8); the figure shows an elongate anal fin, and was made

from a fish 194 inches in length; the locality was the Zak River.

As B. holubi is known from the Zak River, and the main Orange

River, and is the only large species of Barbus in this system, Burchell’s

species is clearly recognisable. Therefore his earlier name should be

accepted in place of Steindachner’s.

The colloquial name (pp. 121, 153) should be changed to Orange

River Yellow-fish.

y| Remarks.

qe not as far as opercle.

sionally 9/8; one specimen 9/9.

3 mm.

nly one of 68 mm.

s not quite to opercle.

mature.

€55 mm.

s not quite to opercle.

th 9/7 rays.

hable from 38 mm.

45 mm.

om East London.

illiams Town. \

To face page 262.

Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., Vol. XXXVI.

Gobius guuris.

Locality. Length. Gill-rakers. menroralenerent| ‘ 5 Lateral |'Transverse rae

. ee oz 0) ead. Caudal: Head. Gawagt Sonica Predorsal.| Throat Scales. aoe ue Sex. Remarks.

us 3 Tength of head a length of head 26 6 0

. 35 From 8 2 z B ; - y Ran !

Zwartkops R. (Groendal 45 |(} length of the filaments)| } ,, Be ae oe 12 114 specimens.

Valley), Uitenhage ob Gi to Lo A fs yee i 7 Se None 10 9 Predoreel scales not as far as opercle,

55 ength of filaments) 5 to almost equal 5 to equal « 29-% 2 ays 10/9, occasionally 9/8; i f

75 5 & rT $ {ua 31 2 Rive 99 from 43 onal /8; one specimen 9/9.

5 ome

2-3

25 7(-8) (} filaments) ) 28 i ie None

30 3—-} head 3-3 head 2

Gamtoos R., tril "9 aC) : a 23

amtoos R., tributary 0 10 (}) \ 7 25 speci

aon x s e pecimens, only one of 68 mm.

at Loerie 2 10-11 J : | Me sp 28-31 7 | 34 Nprnaill 9 8 Predorsal scales not quite to opercle.

60 | 10-11 zo» ane. | patch None sexually mature.

enn 5 : 3 ee Hqua

68 a length of filaments) } § to almost equal Ty times thelhead A

. 40 5 ‘

Gamtoos R., tributar 2 2 F t ny 2-3

aMpscentiG | 60 \ As in Loerie series f Equal 29-31 7 5 A small 9 8 12 specimens.

70 a Ed patch Ripe 92 from 55 mm.

30 2

40 3 \ t a 21

Kromme R., Assegai 50 5 c 2 None, or Fs Has

a a ., Asseg' 60 igatesinelvocrio aries j Voge 7 se | sometimes m ae orsal scales not quite to opercle.

1S 70 A | 2 eT p 8 specimens with 9/7 rays.

By ts Bqual : patel (7) Ova distinguishable from 38 mm.

90 } A tie ciel 3 Ripe 22 from 45 mm,

4 }

Van Stadens RR. - a 80 10 = 1} times head 31 7 1 Small patch 9 9 3 One specimen.

23 7-8 (2) 27

30 8-9 | | ay Ah : 5-6

taal 30 10 - 2 P

c | Bast London . = 55 o 2—} | | recent 9 8 6 specimens from Hast London.

z | 65 10-11 - 29-32 8-9 1 from King Williams Town.

z | \ 75 ye length of filaments) £ | } Tee

AWAD) ee) ae 70 s ‘ 28 7 oad

Bast London . Z .| 100 10 (4) g 3 a0 ao 10 Present 9 8 ? 1 specimen.

eae 65 a i ae ro 8

Port Elizabeth F 70 10 (4) i a 28-29 7 9-10 Present 10 9 2 specimens. Dxact locality ?.

Tet eae eel 05 9 (4) 3 j 31 9 A None 9 8 .. | 1 specimen.

80 10 (3 4 29 7 4 None

2) 4 $

Umkomaas 100 10 (4) J B = 31 8 5-7 35 9 8 3 specimens.

200 7 (4) 3 R 31 9-10 ca. 20 Complete 3

3 W)

Sabi R. - 4 , .| 150 9 (4) g 3 32 “) ca. 20 Complete Oy. 8 6) 1 specimen.

Natal . é d .| 255 7-8 (4) 3 $ 30 9 ca, 20 Complete 9 8 3 J specimen,

Umgeni R 275 | \ 7-8 (4) % 5 31-32 9 ca. 20 Complete 9 8 3 2 specimens.

mgeni R. - . 300 | f t 3 3 Pp gripe

k. H, Barnard. To face page 262.

our 7 Knowledge of the Genus Latrodectus (Araneae).

in South Africa.—By Ruay H. N. Surrnzrs, B.Sc. ’

(With Plate VIII, 20 Text- -figures, and 2 maps. \e

PF ATS oe :

) oy)

Aiows

\G ies

| MAY 1944. PRICE 5s. Cp Tae

Ys ira

CBee

e Eee

4, Contributions to our Knowledge of the Genus Latrodectus (Araneae)

in South Africa.—By Reavy H. N. Smituers, B.Sc.

(With Plate VIII, 20 Text-figures, and 2 Maps.)

THE deadly nature of the venom of spiders of the genus Latrodectus

has long been known, and, as a result, considerable attention has been

paid to the systematics and bionomics of the genus in various parts

of the world. |

Until the early part of the present century, however, relatively

little mention had been made of specimens from South Africa. In

1902 Frederick Pickard-Cambridge, in his paper (8), recorded several

specimens from widely separated localities in this region; this being

followed in 1904 by a paper (12) by Octavius Pickard-Cambridge in

which he described two species of Latrodectus—L. indistinctus and

L. concinnus—from material in the collection of the South African

Museum lent to him by the late Dr. W. F. Purcell. In this publication

(12) there appeared to be some misunderstanding regarding the local

name “‘Knopiespinnekop,” for Octavius Pickard-Cambridge applied

this to another Theridiid spider Teutana lepida with the remarks:

“An abundant species known as the “Knopie-spider’ and its bite is

dreaded by the natives, Cape Peninsula, under stones everywhere.”

The application of the name “Knopiespinnekop” to this spider is

wrong; the true “Knopiespinnekop or Button-spider” is Latrodectus

indistinctus.

During the years 1934-36 increasing numbers of cases of serious

illness and death were attributed to spider bite, the majority of these

occurring in the coastal belt of the Western Province. While it was

impossible to arrive at any definite conclusion from the reports of

sufferers as to the type of spider causing these illnesses, suspicion

centred on a black spider common at some seasons of the year in the

wheat fields and locally known as the “‘ Knopiespinnekop.” Investiga-

tion of the properties of the venom of this spider by Finlayson (17)

threw further light on the problem, and subsequently it was proved

beyond doubt that the females of the ‘“‘Knopiespinnekop or Button-

spider,” Latrodectus indistinctus, were the culprits (18).

VOL, XXXVI, PART 3. 18

OFC & ¥ page

264 Annals of the South African Museum.

As a result of these reports and accounts published from time to

time in the Press, numbers of supposed Button-spiders were received

by the South African Museum for identification. It soon became

apparent that, as far as South Africa was concerned, our knowledge

of the systematics and bionomics of the genus was meagre in the

extreme and that, owing to its economic importance, an investigation

of these might prove interesting.

While full details of the properties of the venom, records of clinical

cases, Arachnolysin, and the Antivenene now prepared by the Union

Health Department, are available in the papers by Finlayson (17, 18),

the following observations may be of general interest.

Owing to the difficulty of obtaining adequate numbers of males

their venomous properties have not up to the present been investi-

gated. It seems probable, however, that only the bite of the female

L. wndistinctus can cause serious symptoms in man; since, owing to

the small size of the males and the consequent minute size of their

fangs, it is unlikely that these could penetrate the human skin.

Under normal circumstances the danger of being bitten by the

Button-spider has been greatly exaggerated for, except under

exceptional circumstances, chances of contact with the spider are

small. Unlike L. mactans, better known as the “ Black Widow Spider ”’

of America, L. indistinctus does not build its nest in houses or out-

buildings. To workers in the grain fields at harvest time, however,

its presence constitutes a very real danger.

The majority of clinical cases of Button-spider bite occur during

the harvest season; in the Western Province the greatest number

being recorded in the grain lands of the western coastal belt. During

this season the spiders, which are then particularly numerous, are

disturbed by the reaping operations. Owing to the disruption of their

nests or exposure to the sun, through the removal of the shade afforded

them by the standing grain, they become restless and seek more

substantial shelter. This is provided for them by the sheaves which

are left lying on the stubble for a few days to dry. © Under these

they rebuild their nests. The workmen who come to stack these

in “shooks”’ are in the habit of collecting several sheaves under their

arms, and in doing so may come into contact with a spider, which,

being irritated by friction with the clothing or skin, are induced to

inflict a bite.

During the 1936 harvest a count over a considerable area in the

districts of St. Helena Bay, Philadelphia, and Bellville showed that

one out of every six sheaves turned over had a “ Knopiespinnekop ”

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 265

nest on the underside. In the St. Helena Bay district during the

same season as many as twelve were collected on or around a wagon

bringing grain from the fields to the thresher.

As far as the systematics of the genus is concerned, owing to the

confusion which has arisen through the description in 1904 by O.

Pickard-Cambridge (12) of the species LZ. concinnus, which will be

shown in this paper to be a synonym of L. geometricus C. L. Koch, this

opportunity is taken to give a short redescription of a typical South

African specimen of L. geometricus. As Octavius Pickard-Cambridge’s

description of L. indistinctus is lacking in the mention of several

important characters, this species is redescribed and at the same time

the characters of the previously undescribed male are given.

Owing to the scarcity of material from districts of South Africa

outside the Western Province no finality is claimed for the distribution

records. Judging from the results so far obtained, however, it seems

likely that both L. indistinctus and L. geometricus will in time be

shown to occur throughout South Africa. It is hoped, when

further material becomes available from Southern Rhodesia and

South West Africa, to deal at greater length with the forms occurring

in these regions.

Immature forms of Latrodectus differ noticeably in pattern and

coloration from the adults, and in order to understand the various

forms occurring in South Africa a departure from the normal examina-

tion of preserved specimens was necessary. A series of specimens was

reared from emergence from the egg-sac till the adult state had been

reached, and the examination of these was augmented by comparison

with similar stages collected in the field. The results obtained

demonstrate clearly the danger of attempting to describe new species

from immature forms, an error into which many of the earlier students

of the genus fell. At the same time they facilitate the correlation

of the brightly coloured immature forms with the jet-black adults.

I take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to the following

gentlemen for specimens and information: Dr. K. H. Barnard, Dr.

M. H. Finlayson, Dr. 8. H. Skaife, Dr. J. Hewitt, Mr. R. Attwell,

Mr. C. H. Colson, Mr. J. F. Cloete, and Mr. C. H. Major. I have also

to thank Mr. C. W. Thorne of the South African Museum, who accom-

panied me on most of my local collecting expeditions and whose

enthusiastic co-operation was invaluable throughout the course of

this investigation; Dr. R. F. Lawrence for helpful advice and the

loan of specimens from the collection of the Natal Museum; and to

Dr. A. J. Hesse of the South African Museum, who kindly consented

266 Annals of the South African Museum.

to identify the insects which form the food supply of Latrodectus

indistinctus from material incorporated in a series of nests and webs.

A list of these insects is given in a separate paper by Dr. Hesse in

which at the same time he describes the Hymenopterous parasites

infesting the egg-sacs of this spider (22).

The major part of the collecting for distribution records was made

possible by grants during 1937-39 from the National Research Council

and Board, to whom my thanks are due; and the whole of the

laboratory work was carried out while I was a member of the staff

of the South African Museum.

Genus LatropEectus Walckenaer.

Tabl. Arach., p. 81, 1805.

Key to the South African species.

ADULT FEMALES.

(1) Ventral surface of abdomen with a distinct hour-glass-shaped yellow or

reddish-yellow marking. Dorsal surface of abdomen without coarse

bristles : : geometricus C, L. Koch.

Ventral surface without a distinct hour- class- shaped marking, but with one

or two indistinct whitish transverse bands or ae black. Dorsal surface of

abdomen with coarse bristles . : 2.

(2) Dorsal surface of abdomen jet black or with a series of small white spots ;

a red spot or subtriangular patch on the posterior apex

indistinctus O. Pickard-Cambridge.

Dorsal surface of abdomen jet black with a distinct red median longitudinal

band the anterior end of which is sometimes produced into two arms laterally

forming a T-shaped marking . : : . indistinctus var. karrooensis,

ADULT MALEs.

(1) Dorsal surface of abdomen predominantly pale cream or white with an irregular

brownish pattern.

Dorsal surface of abdomen predominantly black with a distinct red median

dorsal longitudinal band the anterior end of which is produced laterally

into two arms forming a T-shaped marking and on either side of the shaft of

this T-shaped marking two lateral red patches indistinctus var. karrooensis.

(2) Dorsal surface of abdomen with two parallel longitudinal rows of three or four

black spots on an irregular brownish pattern. Leg I subequal to twice

length of cephalothorax + abdomen : geometricus C. L. Koch.

Dorsal surface without black spots. Leg I subequal to four times length

of cephalothorax +abdomen . ; indistinctus O. Pickard-Cambridge.

Notes ON THE TYPE OF LarroDECTUS INDISTINCTUS

O. PIcKARD-CAMBRIDGE.

Unfortunately O. Pickard-Cambridge did not designate his types.

In the collection of the Hope Museum, Oxford, however, there is a

jar containing a series of spiders left to this Museum by him. This

is labelled ‘““From Dr. W. F. Purcell, South African Museum,” the

specimens bearing registered South African Museum numbers and

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 267

corresponding through the series with the spiders described by O.

Pickard-Cambridge in his paper published in the Annals of the South

African Museum (12). As O. Pickard-Cambridge’s description of

L. indistinctus is given in this paper, it seems reasonable to suppose

that the two specimens included in this series from Mamre, C.P.,

are the syntypes of this species.

Through the good offices of Professor G. Hale Carpenter I had the

opportunity of examining these two specimens.

While they agree in their general morphology they exhibit small but

noteworthy differences in certain characters.

No. 1 specimen has a small light yellow spot on the posterior apex

of the abdomen immediately above the superior spinerettes, while in

No. 2 specimen this marking is subtriangular. This variation was

found to be fairly common in specimens from Mamre, in some cases

the marking being very faint. As a period of some years had elapsed

from the time that the specimens were collected (1896) till they were

received by O. Pickard-Cambridge (1899) the original colour of these

markings had ample time to fade. No mention is made in his paper

of differences in colour between these markings and the other markings

on the dorsal surface of the abdomen. From extensive collecting in

the Mamre area there is little doubt that in the fresh specimens this

‘S)

oe O os

O oO (&) © © O re) O

Anterior. Anterior.

No. 1 Specimen. No. 2 Specimen.

Fie. 1.—L. indistinctus O. Pickard-Cambridge. Diagrams of the eyes of the

syntypes.

spot or subtriangular marking was bright red, whereas the other

markings on the dorsal surface were white.

No. 2 specimen has, on the ventral surface of the abdomen, two

distinct light yellow transverse bands, one immediately posterior to

the epigastric furrow, the other immediately anterior to the thoracic

groove. In No. 1 specimen the ventral surface is of a uniform black

colour. In both cases the two rows of eyes are divergent, the anterior

median being the smallest (fig. 1). In No. 2 specimen the eyes of the

posterior row are homogeneous, while in No. 1 they are heterogeneous,

the median pair being slightly smaller than the laterals.

268 Annals of the South African Museum.

The weight of the legs as compared by Petrunkevitch’s Tibial Index

Width of patella x 100

’ Length of patella + tibia’

of No. 2 specimen are thicker than those of No. 1.

shows that the fourth pair of legs

Formula

Specimen. No. 1. No. 2.

Leg I 10-8 10-7

Leg IV 10-7 11-4

4 a

2 y4

<<?

Kia. 2.—L. indistinctus, adult 9.

This variation in the weight of the legs is met with in series of specimens

from the same locality, but, as it does not seem to be related to other

morphological differences, deserves but passing mention.

In both specimens the sternum is slightly longer than broad in the

proportions 10:9, and the dorsal abdominal setae, which are stout

and bristle-like, are of three types: long curved, medium curved, and

short straight in the proportions of length 8:3: 2.

Latrodectus ndistinctus, O. Pickard-Cambridge.

Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. i, part v, p. 154, and pl. xi, fig. 1, 1904.

Female. Fig. 2.

Cephalothorax: fig. 3 (c).—Slghtly longer than broad, covered with

short stout setae, these more numerous towards the lateral margins

where they are interspersed with a few long setae. Posterior area of

raised cephalic region covered with long fine setae. Median fovea

a deep recurved depression the ends of which are deeper than the

median portion. Clypeus anteriorly rounded.

Eyes.—Anterior median pair the smallest, raised on a common low

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 269

tubercle, about one and a half diameters apart and nearer together

than either is to the anterior lateral on its side. Posterior medians

slightly larger than the anterior medians and nearer together than

either is to the posterior lateral on its side. Laterals homogeneous

or the anterior lateral slightly larger than the posterior, and slightly

larger than the posterior medians. Median ocular quadrangle longer

Fic. 3.—ZL. indistinctus. a, chelicera of 2. 6, chelicera of g. c, cephalothorax

of 2, with poison sacs. d, lateral view of chelicera with poison sac.

than broad, in front narrower than behind. Clypeus subequal to

twice length of median ocular quadrangle.

Chelicerae: figs. 3 (a) and 3 (d).—Subequal to one and a quarter

times length of clypeus, unarmed, with a brush of long fine setae on

the distal apex of the inner margin.

Sternum.—Longer than broad in the proportions 10:9, brownish

black covered with long fine setae. The posterior apex ending acutely

beyond coxae of fourth legs. Labium twice as broad as long, apically

rounded.

Abdomen.—Subglobular, jet black, dorsally with a few indistinct

white spots. The posterior apex with a red spot or subtriangular red

marking. Covered with three types of bristle-like setae, long stout

curved, medium curved, and short straight in the proportions of length

8:3: 2, fig.20(f). Ventrally black with two indistinct transverse white

or light yellow narrow bands, one immediately anterior to the thoracic

270 Annals of the South African Museum.

groove, the other immediately posterior to the epigastric furrow, one

or other of these bands frequently absent.

Legs: I, IV, Il, I11.—Jet black, tarsi and metatarsi lighter than

the remainder of the legs, femora, patellae, and tibiae with setae of

a b

Fic. 4.—L. indistinctus. a, epigyne 2. 6, abdomen 3.

the same type as the abdomen, the setae on the tarsi and metatarsi

longer and finer. Femora, patellae, and tibiae with two glabrous

dorsal longitudinal bands on either side of a median band of setae.

Epigyne: fig. 4 (a).

Dimensions.—Cephalothorax, 5 mm.; abdomen, 12 mm.; leg I,

21 mm.; leg LV, 19 mm.

Male. Fig. 5.

Taken from nest with adult female, Klapmuts, C.P., Nov. 1937.

S.A.M. 9185.

Fic. 5.—L. indistinctus, adult 3.

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 271

Cephalothorax.—Dull yellow-brown, longer than broad in the pro-

portions 7-5:6, lateral margins infuscated, sparsely covered with

short fine setae, these more numerous on the anterior face of the

clypeus and in the region of the eyes.

Eyes.—In two distinctly converging rows, the anterior strongly,

the posterior weakly recurved. Anterior medians the smallest, the

posterior median smaller than the laterals, which are of uniform size.

Median ocular quadrangle longer than broad, the anterior side shorter

Fic. 6.—L. indistinctus, 3 palp. a, dorsal view. 6, anterior view.

L. geometricus—c, 3 palp.

than the posterior. Lateral eyes on either side separated by three-

quarters their diameter. Clypeus subequal to length of median

ocular quadrangle.

Chelicerae: fig. 3 (b).—Unarmed, subequal to one and a half times

length of clypeus.

Sternum.—Dark brown, as broad as long, longitudinally bisected

by an indistinct pale yellow band, lateral margins lightly infuscated.

Covered with medium length fine setae. Posterior apex ending

acutely beyond coxae of fourth legs. |

Abdomen: fig. 4 (b).—Longer than broad in the proportions 10: 7.

Dorsally predominantly white or pale cream with an irregular pattern

of dark brown lines and spots as in fig. 4(b). Ventrally dark brown

with a distinct diabilo or hour-glass-shaped light yellow marking

between the epigastric furrow and the thoracic groove, and a series

of four white spots surrounding the spinerettes. Sparsely covered

with short fine setae.

Legs: I, IV, II, 111.—Femora, patellae, and tibiae dark brown, the

tibiae lighter towards their apices, metatarsi and tarsi light brown.

Palpi.cSee section devoted to these organs. Figs. 6, 7, and 8.

272 Annuals of the South African Museum. ~

Dimensions. — Cephalothorax, 1:75 mm.; abdomen, 2:25 mm.;

leg I, 15 mms TV, im ies mms: SL

The very long slender legs are particularly characteristic of the

males of this species. In males of LZ. yeometricus, in which the over-

; b

Fic. 7.—Modified tarsus of 3 palp with the embolus and other organs

removed. a, L. indistinctus. b, L. geometricus.

all length of the cephalothorax+abdomen is the same as in this

specimen, 7.e. about 4 mm., leg I is 9 mm. as against 15 mm. in

L. wndistonctus.

The Male Palp of Latrodectus.

The sexual organs of the male palp are borne in the modified tarsus,

which is subtriangular and curved, the apex covered with a brush of

setae situated in an inner and ventral position, the broader portion

serving as a roof over these organs.

Internally near the apex of the tarsus there is an inwardly

directed two-lobed process the structure of which differs in the species

L. indistinctus and L. geometricus. In L. indistinctus the lobes are

straight and truncate, one being noticeably larger than the other,

whereas in L. geometricus while the larger lobe is similar to the

corresponding one in L. indistinctus, the other is much finer and

distinctly hooked (fig. 7).

The embolus which resembles a stiff coiled tape, through the centre

of which runs the sperm duct to open near the point, lies in an open

coil on the anterior side of the tarsus and is clearly visible in live

specimens as a small jet-black ring. The basal portion of the embolus

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 273

is enclosed in the tarsus and is held there by membranous fibres

(fig. 8 (a)).

On the inner side of the tarsus lies the hematodocha, a semi-

transparent fibro-elastic bag, connected at its innermost edge by a

Fie. 8.—L. indistinctus, portions of the § palp. a,embolus. 6, receptaculum seminis and

hematodocha. c, accessory organs. L. geometricus—d, accessory organs from palp.

short fine duct leading to the receptaculum seminis, a three-lobed

pouch lying curled round the base of the tarsus (fig. 8 (b)). From

the lobe of the receptaculum seminis farthest from the hematodocha

arises the sperm duct which leads to the base of the embolus and

connects with the duct running through this organ.

The median lobe of the receptaculum seminis has at its distal end

a funnel-shaped structure attached by means of a small duct. Two

274 Annals of the South African Museum.

other smaller structures are found near the base of the embolus

(figs. 8 (c) and 8 (d)).

NoTES ON THE Bionomics oF L. INDISTINCTUS,

Female.—The females of this species are sedentary by nature, and

having constructed a nest and web seldom, save under exceptional

circumstances, leave this during their lifetime.

The web consists of three distinct portions; the nest, the tunnel,

and the delaying threads.

The nest is constructed at the base of small bushes, tufts of grass

or stubble, or among heaps of loose debris, being situated low down

often on the ground and usually in the centre of such cover or at

least well concealed. Nests have been found under the overhanging

edges of stones and in rock crevices as well as among occasional

rubbish such as old tins, but sites such as these are the exception.

Unlike the species L. geometricus or the American L. mactans, no nest

of L. undistinctus has yet been recorded from the immediate precincts

of a building.

The nest consists of a dense pocket of closely woven webbing, a

corner of which is fashioned into a small pouch which just accom-

modates the spider with its legs drawn close to its body. To this

portion of the nest it retires on being disturbed. In the case of nests

of this species taken from the scrub bush near Mamre, C.P., the nest

measured from 4 to 6 inches in length. Nests of these dimensions

are seldom found in grain lands, as here they are disturbed during

the course of the season. An outstanding characteristic of the nests

of L. indistenctus is that the carcasses of the spiders’ victims are

woven into the walls of the nest (Plate VIII).

From the opening of the nest runs a more open web mass, attached

to twigs or small stones on the ground on either side and raised in

the centre, forming a tunnel with the ground as a floor. Small pieces

of stick, leaves, and other debris are woven into the walls of this

tunnel by the spider often in such quantity that from above it is

difficult to distinguish it from the surroundings. Much of this debris

originates from the floor of the tunnel, and this is usually singularly

free of loose material, the remainder is added by being blown there

by the wind or falling from above. Very large pieces of stick and

even stones have been found in the walls of the tunnel, some of them

many times the weight of the spider. From the roof of this tunnel

numbers of vertical strands are dropped attached at their basal

ends to vantage-points on the ground below, these strands being

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 275

coated over a distance of one or two centimetres at their basal ends

with globules of a viscid fluid. These appear to be the only portions

of the web with the exception of the points of attachment where this

viscid fluid is used, and they form the main trapping apparatus of the

web. The tunnels vary in length from a few inches up to 2 feet.

The delaying threads radiate irregularly from the mouth of the tunnel

and may often be detected 3 feet from the nest.

The great strength of individual strands is a distinctive feature of

webs of Latrodectus and, after a little practice, one can determine,

when the nest and spider are hidden, whether the web belongs to a

specimen of this genus by passing a finger through one or two of the

delaying strands. This is of some assistance in collecting as the nest

is often well hidden at the base of dense vegetation, its presence being

revealed solely by a glint of sunlight on a solitary strand of web among

the surrounding vegetation.

As a consequence of the great strength of the individual strand the

walls of the nest are of the strength of a light fabric which is, more-

over, waterproof. Frequently the tunnel was easily capable of

supporting the weight of a 15-inch pair of metal forceps (5-6 oz.).

The greater part of the work involved in the construction of the

web is performed at night; during the day the spider seldom leaves

the nest except for the purpose of effecting a capture or of carrying

out minor repairs. |

Nests are seldom found in damp places or in wooded country.

In an open sclerophyll association such as in the Mamre district

where extensive examination and collecting has been carried out,

L. indistinctus nests are found mainly in the thicker clumps of low-

erowing Proteaceous shrubs such as Leucospermum hypophyllum or

patches of Restio grass, especially when these are surrounded by an

accumulation of dry debris. The more open bushes or grass patches

harbour but few individuals. As this type of locality shelters many

different types of insects, the spiders are assured of a plentiful food

supply. In this locality several webs of Latrodectus were found under

the spreading sheet webs of another spider, Huprosthenops sp., the

webs, however, being quite independent.

In the more arid parts of the country such as the Great Karroo,

Namaqualand, and Bushmanland, L. indostinctus is, in comparison

with the coastal belt of the Western Province, relatively scarce.

Here greater use of disused rat holes, depressions in the ground,

overhanging banks and stones is made for the construction of the

web. In the Victoria West and Williston districts all the specimens

276 Annals of the South African Museum.

collected were taken from nests among stones on the sides of rocky

kopjes almost devoid of vegetation. In Namaqualand many specimens

were taken from disused meercat (Suricata) holes and several from

crevices in rocks and under stones.

Far larger numbers of L. indistinctus, however, have been collected

in stubble, but the apparently great numerical concentration here is

to some extent due to the fact that they are easier to find in such an

environment than in the indigenous scrub. It is probable that owing

to the plentiful food supply and the shelter afforded by the grain,

greater numbers of the young survive in these fields than in the veld.

In the St. Helena Bay, Aurora, and Piquetberg areas at least the

concentration in the grain fields is far greater than in the scrub bush

between the fields. In collecting for distribution records a search

was invariably instituted in stubble before the bush was searched,

special attention being paid to heaps of dry debris and small indigenous

bushes in the stubble which proved to be fruitful sources of specimens.

While rather sluggish and awkward in her movements on the

ground, the spider moves freely and at times with great speed on her

web. On the web her normal position is upside down, hanging from

the roof of the nest or tunnel.

In securing the victim the eyes are put to the minimum of use, the

spider relying mainly on its sense of touch to locate and secure its

prey. On an insect coming into contact with one of the delaying

threads or one of the sticky vertical strands hanging from the roof

of the tunnel, the spider advances towards the site of the disturbance

in a series of short rushes, pausing from time to time to orient herself

in the right direction. Advancing close to the disturbing insect the

spider turns round and applies short strands of web heavily covered

with viscid fluid by means of the fourth pair of legs to the body of the

victim. This initial application has the effect in most cases of

immobilising the victim, which is then securely bound up with

further lengths of plain web applied in like manner. In the case of

the larger insects such as Psammodes sp. and the larger Acrididae, a

bite may be inflicted which soon quietens the struggles, after which

the securely tied victim is cut from the web and carried between the

fourth pair of legs to the entrance of the nest to be devoured. Smaller

insects are often carried still struggling in this manner. When the

victim is too large to be carried, the bound-up carcass may be sucked

dry in situ or slung by a careful attachment and cutting of lines to

the entrance of the nest. Very large amounts of the viscid fluid

can be applied by the spider at a time, and often when it is picked

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 277

up with a pair of forceps the points of these get covered in the sticky

mass.

Victims are similarly treated when they become arrested in the

vertical snaring strands in the tunnel; here contact with that portion

of the web strand carrying the globules of sticky substance holds the

victim until the spider has time to catch it. Such is the strength of

these strands that even some of the large Anthiades are held, as if

on the end of a fishing line. When smaller prey gets caught in this

manner, the spider has been observed to lift the still struggling victim

at the end of the strand and without entangling it further to carry

it to the nest.

In the case of the delaying threads situated at some distance from

the nest which carry no viscid fluid, the spider relies on the mechanical

entanglement of these to hold the victim until it can approach.

When insects walk over the outside of the tunnel the spider applies

viscid fluid from the inside, which serves to arrest the victim until

the spider can cut its way through and complete the capture. While

applying the tangling threads in this case the spider has to do so in

an unnatural position, 7.e. dorsal side uppermost, but this is carried

out with as much facility. as when she is hanging in her natural

attitude inside the tunnel.

The egg-sacs are as a rule hung from the roof of the nest, but in

some cases they are situated outside the nest near the entrance of

the nest in the tunnel. When this is done the roof of the tunnel is

reinforced with additional web forming a watertight roof over them.

Males.—Adult males of L. indistinctus have been taken only during

the months of November to January, during which period they may

be found on the female web near the entrance to the nest, often two

or three to each female.

After hatching and dispersal they construct a web similar to that

of the female but much smaller, which they occupy until the final

ecdysis. After this the male, probably actuated by sexual desire,

develops a wandering habit and leaves his nest to seek a mate.

Having found one he must exercise great caution in moving about

her web, for when adult males are artificially introduced to the webs

of females, unless this is done with great caution, she will rush out

and seize him before he has had a chance to drop out of harm’s way.

The male appears at all times to have great fear of the female, for

even when he has been in attendance on the female for some days he

exercises great caution in his approach to her and will immediately

drop from the web and remain motionless on the slightest sign of

278 Annals of the South African Museum.

ageression from her. It frequently happens when males are on the

female web that they all drop and lie motionless when she rushes

out of the nest to secure a passing victim.

Having found a mate the male takes no part in the construction or

repairing of the female web or in the capture of food. In the majority

of cases he makes no attempt to feed while on the female web, although

in a few cases he was observed to suck at the carcass of an insect

which the female had discarded.

If adult males are introduced on to the webs of immature females

they are almost invariably driven off, the female making vigorous

attempts to catch them. On the other hand, on two occasions in the

laboratory when the female was underfed and sickly the male turned

the tables on her, tied her up, and proceeded to suck her carcass.

Tae Matine oF L. pyprsrrveros.

The mating of pairs of L. indistinctus under laboratory conditions

was observed on several occasions, the following details of two cases

being recorded. .

No. 9384, an immature female collected on 29th September 1938

at St. Helena Bay. On 21st November the final ecdysis took place.

On Ist October an immature male and on 6th November a mature

male had been introduced to this female, but in both cases she had

immediately attacked and killed them. After her final ecdysis,-:

however, her behaviour towards a mature male introduced to her on

6th December was entirely different. This male was collected near

Mamre, C.P., on this day and introduced to her web at 3.29 p.m.

On first contact with her web he remained motionless for a few

moments, then proceeded to move cautiously around with a peculiar

jerky movement. At first several brief excursions were made to

outlying parts of the web as if a survey were being made of roads of

escape should the female prove hostile. Then certain adjustments

were made to the web, threads being cut, new attachments made

and loose strands of web being pulled to one side and carefully

attached. At 3.40 p.m. a somewhat lengthier excursion brought

one of his first pair of legs into contact with the first pair of legs of

the female which were protruding from the nest. On this contact

the male remained motionless for a few moments, then a rapid

trembling of his abdomen began which continued for the remainder

of the mating.

After a few moments the female suddenly dropped from the nest

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 279

and hung below it upside down. The male in the meantime had

hastily withdrawn, but almost immediately re-established contact

with the female and proceeded with the same jerky movements which

had characterised his movements since the beginning to walk over and

around the abdomen of the female, at the same time lightly tying

up her legs with threads. As will be seen later these threads, owing

to their extreme fineness, do not in any way hinder the movements of

Fic. 9.—Positions taken up by ¢ and 2 L. indistinctus at mating.

the female when she later makes up her mind to break loose, but they

probably serve to give the male confidence or to remind the female

that her partner is in attendance.

At 3.46 p.m. the first contact of the male palp with the female

epigyne was observed, but no insertion of the embolus took place,

instead the male tapped the raised portion of the epigyne for some

moments, then suddenly withdrew to recommence tying up her legs

and to resume his excursions round her body. At this stage the

female shook her abdomen with a trembling movement for a few

seconds, this being the only time during the mating that the female

showed any sign of life. At 3.50 p.m. the male climbed on top of the

female, head to head, and appeared to make the first definite insertion

of his right palp (fig. 9). He remained on top of the female for

about three minutes, the trembling of his abdomen being most

pronounced during this period. At the end of this time, on attempt-

ing to resume his excursions, it was evident that he was caught, his

tight palp remaining attached to the female epigyne. For some ten

minutes he struggled frenziedly to free himself. At the end of this

VOL. XXXVI, PART 3. 19

280 Annals of the South African Museum.

time he at last broke free and retired a short distance, where he

proceeded to pull out the embolus of his right palp with one of his

forelegs as if it was causing him irritation. It was observed that the

tip of this embolus was missing, this later being found in the female

epigyne.

At 4.12 p.m. the male recommenced his advances, and after several

excursions about the body of the female and having made adjust-

ments to the web again proceeded to tap the epigyne of the female,

this time with his left palp, now and then withdrawing a short distance

then rushing in again to resume the tapping with almost feverish

haste.

This continued until 4.38 p.m., when the insertion of the left palp

took place. Contact was established until 4.42 p.m., when he again

attempted to withdraw but again found himself firmly attached to

the female. At this moment the female, who until now had shown

no signs of movement, suddenly sprung into action and proceeded

to rid herself of her attached mate. With the aid of her second and

third legs the body of the male was pulled in towards her and several

attempts were made to bite the apex of his abdomen which, however,

was too short to reach her chelicerae, so instead she proceeded to

wind him up in a mass of web. In the meantime the male frantically

attempted to dislodge himself, but without avail. In the course of

these struggles his fourth pair of legs were torn off, these being

followed by his first pair, then by one of the third, but this did not

serve to distract the attention of the female, who continued to apply

webbing to his body. The female finding that she was not freeing

herself by this method moved slowly and uneasily about the web,

stopping now and then to apply more webbing to the body of her

mate or to try and force him away with her fourth and second legs.

Eventually by a process of turning and twisting, the remains of the

male, now totally enclosed by a mass of webbing, broke free and

dropped to the ground. The female, as if to rid herself of all memory

of her erstwhile loving partner, carefully cut the legs which remained

in the web and dropped them after his body.

The whole process occupied one hour and twenty minutes.

In the case of female No. 9388, who had likewise killed several

immature males introduced to her nest, the mating took 40 minutes.

In this case the process was observed through a high-power dissecting

microscope and, while the whole process proceeded in much the same

manner as in the case of No. 9384, this time the male was destroyed

after the insertion of one palp only, in this case the left palp. On the

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 281

insertion of the embolus at the act of copulation a sac-like protuber-

ance was noticed at the base of the embolus, this gradually filling out

like a small balloon. This was apparently the hematodocha or fibro-

elastic bag, normally lying undistended in the modified tarsus of the

palp, filling with body fluid and so forcing the sperm from the palp

into the female epigyne. This swelling of the hematodocha has been

observed by Gerhardt in the Hreszdae (19), Bonnet in the Prsauridae

(5), and more recently by Locket in the Attidae (31).

Portions of the embolus of the male palp are frequently observed

in microscope slides of the female epigyne of L. indistinctus, the tip

of this organ entering the anterior lobe of the female spermatheca

by a duct on its inner side, the remainder of the embolus lying in the

coiled tube leading from the opening of the epigyne to spermatheca.

Epigynes have been examined in which portions of the embolus were

observed in both spermatheca, in one only, and in some exceptional

cases two emboli were observed in one spermatheca.

I have repeatedly tried to mate females of L. indistinctus with

males of L. geometricus and vice versa, but without success.

The Egg Sac.—The egg sacs of L. indistinctus are globular or pear-

shaped and are normally suspended inside the nest. A well-fed

female under laboratory conditions constructed nine during its life-

time, but in the field eight is the maximum number observed in any

one nest, three or four being more usual. In contrast to the egg sacs

of L. geometricus, which are covered on the outside with short spikelets

of web, those of L. indistinctus are smooth (fig. 10).

During the height of the warmer season, 7.e. December to February,

an average of 180 eggs are deposited in each egg sac, but in the

laboratory fewer eggs were found, the average number being 130.

Occasionally in the field much larger egg sacs were found containing

250-300 eggs.

The size and number of the egg sacs and the number of eggs

laid in these depends mainly on the food supply. From a series

of deliberately poorly fed females under laboratory conditions very

small egg sacs were produced from which as few as twelve spiders

emerged, whereas from well-fed females larger egg sacs were obtained

with up to 200 eggs in each.

The normal size of the egg sacs of L. indistinctus is approximately

12-15 mm. in diameter.

The construction of the egg sac takes place at night or in the late

evening, the lower portion of the globular sac being woven and the

eggs dropped into this. On the egg-laying being completed the sac

282 Annals of the South African Museum.

is closed and then the whole rotated between the fourth legs, while a

final layer of webbing is laid over the outside surface with a dabbing

motion of the abdomen. When first laid the eggs are covered with a

Fie. 10.—Egg sacs of a, L. geometricus. b, L. indistinctus. c, a series of eight

egg sacs of L. indistinctus (Kendekuil, Cape Province) to illustrate variability

in shape.

layer of viscid fluid which binds the mass of eggs together, this later

dries allowing the individuals to le free in the sac. The newly

constructed egg sacs are pure white, becoming yellowish after a few

days. Once the spiderlings inside have undergone their first ecdysis,

]

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 283

the sacs darken in colour and assume a greyish colour owing to the

dark mass of spiderlings being seen through them.

Tut LIFE-HISTORY OF L. INDISTINCTUS PRIOR TO EMERGENCE

FROM THE Eae Sac.

From egg sacs constructed during the warmer season of the year,

say in December, the spiderlings emerge at regular 28-32-day intervals

from the time that these are constructed. Towards the end of this

season, however, the incubation period lengthens and the young when

they do hatch from the egg remain in the sac until the arrival of the

warmer weather in the following spring, the time spent in the sac

in some instances being as long as 212 days.

To quote from the records of a spider from Agter Paarl collected

on 22nd November 1937, in which case it will be noticed that the

emergence time during December and January is longer than was

found in the much larger series kept under observation during the

following year, a difference which was probably seasonal :—

S.A.M. 9728.

Date of

eneituction of Young Emerged. es oe wan ae dime

Egg Sac. of Young. in Days.

25.12.37 2.2.38 175 39

6.1.38 14.2.38 161 39

26.1.38 6.3.38 182 39

10.2.38 24.3.38 165 42

18.2.38 18.9.38 170 212

3.3.38 , 26.9.38 192 207

12.3.38 6.10.38 205 208

21.3.38 10.10.38 125 203

1.4.38 Aljive 5.10.38 160 At lea|st 188

Note.—The last record is based on a sac in which the spiderlings were seen to

be alive on 5.10.38, but in which the young were inadvertently destroyed.

This to a large extent explains why far greater numbers of spiders

are found during the harvest season in January and February, for a

great proportion of these emerged from egg sacs which were con-

structed during the latter part of the previous season and from which

the young only emerged with the coming of the warm weather in

August to October.

Further information on the time taken for the young to emerge

from the egg sacs is given in the tab/e on next page. |

Date of

eee Construction of

Egg Sac.

9465 30.9.37

9275 12:12:30

de 21.3.38

9276 26.7.38

9276 25.7.38

9376 “AT AOB8

9465 21.10.38

9465 2.11.38

9465 21.11.38

9515 28.11.38

9518 He12.00

9515 1.12.38

9384 12.12.38

9515 13.12.38

9388 14.12.38

9518 18.12.38

9515 19.12.38

9384 21.12.38

9388 29.12.38

9518 1539

9515 16.1.39

9623 16.1.59

9518 17.1339

9408 19.1.39

9515 21.1.39

9405 23.1.39

9388 23.1.39

9407 24.1.39

9583 1.2.39

9417 2.2.39

9388 4.2.39

9633 6.2.39

9583 6.2.09

9384 7.2.39

9413 7.2.39

9409 1.2.99

9405 8.2.39

9518 13.2.39

9584 9.2.39

9406 9:2.39

9581 10.2.39

9583 13.2.39

9416 13.2.39

9587 13.239

9417 14.2.39

9585 14.2.39

9515 20.2.39

9584 20.2.39

9408 23.2.39

9585 21.2.39

9413 1.3.39

9587 4.3.39

Young Emerged.

\ Number

of Young.

18.11.37

22.1.38

13.8.38

17.8.38

17.9.38

5.12.38

8.12.38

29.12.38

3.1.39

11.1.39

10.1.39

17.1.39

16.1.39

23.1.39

21.1.39

28.1.39

6.2.39

11.2.39

15.2.39

20.2.39

18.2.39

21.2.39

24.2.39

23.2.39

18.3.39

14.3.39

19.3.39

18.3.39

27.3.39

24.3-39

21.3.39

23.3.39

1.4.39

29.3.39

8.4.39

29.3.39

1.9.39

18.4.39

21.4.39

29.3.39

12.9.39

10.8.39

18.8.39

4.9.39

30.8.39

198

185

178

180

153

176

130

110

118

196

208

220

196

110

171

215

130

110

Time

in Days.

145

171

204

168

178

190

151

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 285

It must be emphasised that in the foregoing tables the emergence

time, that is the time taken from the construction of the egg sac till

the young emerge, has been tabulated rather than the hatching times.

To remove the eggs from their sacs and observe their hatching times

may, by exposing the eggs to conditions from which they are protected

while inside the sac, distort the natural sequence of events.

This emergence time is dependent on several stages in the develop-

ment, each of which appears to be influenced by certain factors,

especially temperature. It is dependent not only on the time taken

for the young to hatch, but also on the time which elapses from

hatching till the first ecdysis, before which the young are incapable

of cutting their way out of the sac owing to their mouth-parts not

having hardened. Again when this ecdysis has taken place the

spiderlings are much more active during warm weather and sooner

feel the urge to cut their way out than during colder periods.

_ That the hatching times are shorter during the warmer seasons of

the year is shown by the results obtained by removing the eggs from

their protecting sacs and allowing them to develop between beds of

sterile cotton-wool in test-tubes. From eggs treated in this manner

and laid in August the young hatched in 41 days, while from those

laid in July the period was 54 days. Hggs treated in this manner

seemed particularly prone to attack from a fungus which killed many

batches before they hatched; they were also inclined to dry out

without hatching unless care was taken to keep the air in the tubes

moist with small pieces of damp blotting-paper.

The graph (fig. 11) is compiled from a short series of readings of the

emergence times of egg sacs under laboratory conditions. It has

not been possible to plot all the results obtained, but it shows clearly

the sudden increase in the emergence time about the middle of

February. The average mean monthly temperature is given as a

rough measure of the temperatures experienced by the developing

eges and young at different times of the year.

It would of course be more satisfactory to keep the developing

eggs and young under controlled conditions, but a study of this kind

is outside the scope of the present inquiry.

It is interesting to note that the sudden increase in the emergence

time took place at approximately the same time for both years under

review. It is probable, however, that this time will vary according

to conditions ruling at this period from year to year.

Regarding the four results plotted for June 1938, it must be borne

in mind that no record is available of the time of the construction of

Annals of the South African Museum.

286

these sacs, but it is noted that their minimum emergence time is what

might be expected for live egg sacs found around this time of the year,

-ganjzereduiey ATYJUOUE UOT YIM ‘“66T JO SYUOW de1Y} YsIY oyy pure

SEGL SULINP pozoT[oo vyep WOT ‘snjowrsepus “J SuNOA jo owt} sUESJoUe UT aseorOUT MOYS OF YdeIg—T] “OI

eosunqyedodws} ATYUPUOT UBOW

eoes BHa yO uoTzONA}SUos JO 21ed

: . ‘ ig e.ee eve | v-OS=-2.00> @-7o T-09° ¥-89 9.95 2°99

Pence er seam °dos *Bnyv “TINE eounp °A£BW ‘wdy "19K *qaq sue r

O2T

O9T

002

OVS

“seq

°oUTL QouesAa9ouy

i.e. 69-84 days, much longer than the normal time for those developing

during the warmer sea on.

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 287

To sum up our knowledge of the pre-emergence history, it appears

that from egg sacs which are constructed and in which development

proceeds during the warmer months of the year the young emerge

in periods from a minimum of 28 days to a maximum of about 40

days. From those egg sacs which are constructed at the end of

the warmer season the young do not emerge until a much longer

period has elapsed, up to about 200 days, z.e. the young remain in the

shelter of the egg sac and emerge with the onset of the warmer weather

in the spring. This ensures that the young spiders emerging from

the former sacs get settled before the arrival of the colder weather,

while those emerging from the latter are assured of favourable weather

conditions and a plentiful food supply when they do emerge.

THe LIFE-HISTORY OF L. INDISTINCTUS.

Female.—Adult female specimens of ZL. indistinctus are found

throughout the year, but the numerical concentration varies with

locality, season, and from year to year. They are most numerous

from about November till the end of February. From this time

onwards increasing numbers of empty nests or nests with the dried-up

remains of spiders are found. They appear to be most numerous in

grain lands, especially the grain lands of the Western Province.

Female specimens have been kept alive in captivity for periods up

to fifteen months and have been watched in the field over periods of

eleven to thirteen months. In the latter cases the spiders had had

at least one moult before being found. It seems probable, theretore,

that the normal life-span is from a year to eighteen months, in some

cases up to two years.

To consider a typical life-history take, for example, an adult fertile

female during December when the spiders are numerous.

The construction of the egg sacs and the laying of eggs takes place,

the eggs hatching and from the sacs the young spiderlings emerging

at regular 39-40-day intervals from all egg sacs constructed from

December till about the end of January. From the end of January

onwards, however, although the eggs hatch, the spiderlings do not

emerge from the sac until the early spring in, say, August and

September, with the onset of the warmer weather. As egg-laying

continues from the end of January till about the beginning of April,

in some cases even further into the year, the onset of the warmer

weather in August finds large numbers of egg sacs containing spider-

lings which have lain throughout the winter and which are ready to

288 Annals of the South African Museum.

emerge. These young spiderlings by the end of the year have reached

maturity, are fertilised, and the cycle repeats itself.

Rearing experiments carried out in the field have shown that

maturity can be reached under approximately normal conditions in

three to four months.

In the laboratory spiders were reared to maturity in periods from

107 to 135 days, the very young spiderlings being fed on Argentine

ants, Iridomyrmex humilis, followed as they grew up by black beetles,

Chlaenus sp., and later by Acrididae and Tok-tokkie beetles,

Psammodes sp. In some cases the growth in the laboratory was much

slower, and young from an egg sac collected at Malmesbury, from

which they emerged on Ist September, the majority had only reached

a size of 5 mm. by 14th December, two of the specimens only reaching

maturity after a period of 176 days.

If the weather is warm and sunny the spiderlings, on emergence

from the egg sac, climb to the tips of the surrounding vegetation

and scatter by ‘‘ ballooning” off on the end of lengths of fine web.

If the conditions are unfavourable they remain bunched together on

the web until better conditions prevail. On settling they seek the

shade of a bush under which to settle and build their nests. In the

first stages moisture is essential, and they dry out very quickly if

exposed for any length of time to the direct rays of the sun. This is

probably the most important factor in the numerical control of the

species in any locality: a spell of hot dry weather at the time of

emergence will cause a high mortality rate, while cooler or overcast

weather conditions following the scattering will allow them to get

settled in a shady corner where they are less likely to be effected by

such adverse conditions.

Female spiderlings which emerge from the sacs late in the season,

v.e. say in March, may live through the winter and mate during

November to January when the males appear. Immature females

have been found throughout the year, and many adult specimens

taken during the early part of the spring were found to be infertile,

which points to their having hatched from eggs laid late in the

season.

Both in the laboratory and in the field it was observed that females

which were fertilised one season and which laid fertile eggs during

that season can survive the winter and recommence egg-laying the

following season. During the winter these females are very sluggish,

and with one or two exceptions made no attempt to capture insects

presented to them. With the advent of the warm weather, however,

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 289

they regained their| liveliness and fed normally. In the high-lying

parts of the Karroo such as the Victoria West district, mature and

immature females in the second and third instars were collected during

June when the nightly temperatures fell as low as several degrees

below freezing-point. Although occupying nests on the exposed

sides of kopjes where there was little protection from the bitter

conditions, they seemed to suffer no ill effects, and during midday

hours when the temperature rose to 60° or 70° F. in the shade they

fed readily on insects presented to them.

Females of L. indistenctus undergo eight ecdyses before the adult

stage is reached, one of which takes place before the spiderling emerges

from the egg sac. The time between the ecdyses varies greatly and

seems to depend to a large extent on the food supply. The history of

a typical female from an egg sac constructed in captivity may be

tabulated as follows :—

Egg sac constructed 21.3.38.

First ecdysis in sac date undeterminable.

Emerged 1.9.38.

Time in Days

between Hcdyses.

2nd ecdysis . . 12.10.38

ere yc /', 5 PlialOrss 5

167 sae estes 25

iby ie i, 921208 28

Grn. ., : . 24.12.38 15

fon 5, . 12.1.39 1g

8th Le : . 27.1.389 Now adult 15

Until the first ecdysis in the sac the spiderlings are white or pale

cream in colour, semi-transparent and incapable of feeding or spinning.

After this ecdysis they gradually become darker in colour and are

now capable of feeding, spinning, and of chewing their way out of the

sac. They emerge through one or two minute holes chewed in the

fabric of the sac. For some two or three days prior to each ecdysis

they eat nothing.

As males have up to the present only been found during the months

of November to January, it appears that those that hatch from egg

sacs constructed after the end of January till the beginning of the

spring die with the onset of the cold weather, otherwise we might

expect to find them before November. That males do hatch from

these late sacs has been shown by rearing spiderlings from these

in the laboratory and from clutches of newly hatched spiderlings

290 Annals of the South African Museum.

collected in the field. Unfortunately it was not found possible to

sex the young spiderlings until the third instar when the swelling

of the palp in the males becomes noticeable. The methods employed

by Montgomery for sexing newly hatched L. mactans are not applicable

to L. indistinctus.

The males moult 4—6 times, the time taken to reach maturity from

emergence from the egg sac being 38-42 days. As in the case of the

female the first moult takes place inside the egg sac.

During the early stages the males behave in much the same way as

the females, a small web being constructed on which they remain

until the final moult, when they leave it to seek a mate. While on

this web the young males catch small insects and feed like the

immature females.

ABDOMINAL PATTERN AND COLORATION OF IMMATURE

L. INDISTINCTUS.

Kxamination of a large series of immature specimens of L. in-

distunctus in Museum collections showed that a wide variety of

abdominal patterns and colorations 1s exhibited by these specimens.

In cases where immature specimens and adults were available from

the same locality the immature specimens were in every case much

more brightly coloured than the adults, the difference being so great

that at times it was difficult to believe that they belonged to the same

species. At the same time the abdominal pattern and coloration

of these immature specimens differed from specimens from other

localities of approximately the same instar.

In order to understand the changes taking place in the abdominal

pattern and coloration during growth, series of spiders were reared

in the laboratory from egg sacs collected or constructed by specimens

from various localities throughout the country.

This showed that, while the adults from, e.g., the Little Karroo and

Port Hlizabeth were identical, this stage was reached by a progressive

series of changes in the abdominal pattern and coloration of the

immature specimens which was different in the two groups. When

spiders were reared from egg sacs collected in the type locality,

Mamre, C.P., the progressive changes were different from either of

the series of changes observed in the series from the Little Karroo

or Port Elizabeth.

Unfortunately it has only been possible to obtain egg sacs from a

limited number of localities, but the results obtained demonstrate

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 291

what may be expected in immature specimens from other parts and

the danger of describing new species from immature forms.

I have examined the specimen in the collection of the British

Museum mentioned by F. Pickard-Cambridge in his paper to the Zool.

Soc. Lond. from Jansenville, C.P. (9), which he ascribes to ‘the species

L. hasseltit Thorell owing to its distinctive abdominal marking. This

can now be shown to bea brightly coloured immature specimen of

L. indistinctus.

Details of the progressive changes in the abdominal pattern and

coloration during the growth of spiders from three districts are as

follows :—

Mamre, C.P. Dorsal (fig. 12).

Instar I[.—The first eedysis occurs in the egg sac, and during the

latter part of instar I the young spiderling cuts its way out of the sac.

During this instar the dorsal surface of the abdomen is pearly white.

Instar II.—At instar II, two, four, or six black spots appear on

the pearly white surface, and sometimes a pair of indistinct black

lines one on either side near the apex.

Instar III.—Similar to instar II, but with three black lines, a

median and two lateral, at the apex. The pearly white ground colour

becomes broken up by a network of fine black lines, and in some cases

a faint red colour is noticeable at the apex.

Instar IV.—By this stage the spiderling has attained a size of

about 5 mm. overall, the ground colour is greyish white with two

transverse reddish bands basally and a median and two lateral reddish

bands apically, these apical bands converging on the apex where

they meet, forming a W-shaped pattern.

Instar V.—The ground colour is now dark grey and the basal

bands and apical pattern bright red, the former narrowly margined

with white. In some cases the posterior of the basal bands is broken

up into a transverse series of red spots margined with white.

Instar VI.—The spider is now approximately 8 mm., the ground

colour is jet black, the apical pattern and the anterior basal band

remain, and only a few small red, white, or red margined with white

spots remain to mark the position of the posterior basal band. In

some cases the anterior basal band is broken up in a similar manner.

Instar VII.—The ground colour is jet black, the basal bands having

disappeared altogether, their place being taken by a few scattered

white or red spots. The lateral arms of the apical pattern are much

shorter and narrower.

292

Annals of the South African

Museum.

Instar 2.

Instar 4.

Ufo? esi =

ANY

¢,

fii a tied

Uapoe

Instar 6. Instar 6, variation.

Instar 7.

Instar 8. Instar 8, variation.

Fie. 12.—Progressive phases, with variations, of the dorsal abdominal pattern of L. indistinctus from

emergence from the egg sac to the adult stage.

Adult.

Cross-hatching denotes a red colour.

(Mamre, Malmesbury Div., Cape.)

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 293

Instars 2-4. Instar 5. Instar 6.

Instar 6, variation. Instar 6, variation. Instar 6, variation.

Instars 7-8. Adult. Adult.

Fie. 13.—Progressive phases, with variations, of the ventral abdominal pattern of L. indistinctus

from emergence from the egg sac to the adult stage, showing disappearance of the hour-glass-shaped

marking. (Mamre, Malmesbury Div., Cape.)

294 Annals of the South African Museum.

Instar VIII.—Similar to instar VII, but the lateral arms of the

apical pattern shorter still and with but a few minute white spots

basally. In some cases the basal bands do not entirely disappear at

instar VII, but are narrow and broken up and the median band of the

apical pattern begins to disappear.

Adult.—The adults from Mamre, C.P., have a jet-black abdomen,

with a few white spots basally and a small apical red spot or sub-

triangular marking.

Ventral (fig. 13).

The ventral surface of the abdomen on hatching is jet black, with a

distinct hour-glass-shaped red or yellowish-red marking between the

epigastric furrow and the thoracic groove, similar to the marking

found in the adults of L. geometricus. Up to the time that the young

reach the fourth instar, or about 5 mm., this marking persists, but

from this stage onwards gradually disappears, the median portion

of the marking darkening and blending with the ground colour and

in the adults being represented by one or two transverse whitish

bands in the position of the anterior and posterior side of the original

hour-glass-shaped marking. Great variation exists in the manner

and stage at which this pattern disappears, the final result, however,

being constant.

Port Elizabeth, C.P. (fig. 14).

In tracing the dorsal abdominal pattern and colour changes in a

series of developing spiders from the Port Elizabeth district (Patentie,

Humansdorp Division, S.A.M. 9473, 9474) an even more drastic

change is found.

Instars I, II, and IIT.—During these instars the abdomen of the

young spiderlings is marked with a series of white bands and an apical

white pattern on a light grey ground as in fig. 17.

Instar IV.—The ground colour immediately posterior to the

transverse lines is dark grey.

Instar V.—The ground colour is an even dark grey, and a reddish

tinge is seen in the apical half of the median band of the apical

marking. |

Instar VI.—The ground colour is jet black and the lateral arms of

the apical marking have joined medially, and two inwardly directed

lobes have appeared pointing towards the apex of the median band

of this marking. Both the basal bands and the apical marking are

bright red.

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 295

Instar VII.—S8imilar to Instar VI, but the inwardly directed lobes

of the apical marking have joined with the median band.

Instar 5.

Bt ON a

—2> 275 >

as S8

a :

ays “=,

= pore,

| ys y p

AX Y WY «

RO é

Instar 6. Instar 7. Instar 8.

Adult.

Fic. 14.—Progressive phases in the dorsal abdominal pattern of L. indistinctus from emergence from

| the egg sac to the adult stage. Cross-hatching denotes a red colour. (Patentie, Humansdorp Div., Cape.)

Instar VIII.—The red markings have become distinctly narrower

and the apex of the median band of the apical marking is again free.

Adult.—The abdomen is jet black, with a few white spots basally

and a small red spot or subtriangular marking at the apex. Ventrally

VOL. XXXVI, PART 3. 20

296 Annals of the South African Museum.

the changes are similar to the changes taking place in specimens from

Mamre, C.P.

The colour of the cephalothorax and legs of the spiderlings from

Patentie is much redder than the corresponding stages from Mamre,

and one has no difficulty in distinguishing between batches of spider-

lings from the two districts. This reddish tinge disappears in the

Patentie specimens about the seventh instar, and the adults from the

two localities are indistinguishable one from another.

Amahenstein (Ladismith District, Inttle Karroo) (fig. 15).

While it has not been possible up to the present to examine a

complete series from the Amalienstein district, the examination of

O99

Instar 4. Instar 5. Instar 6.

Instar 6, variation, and 7. Instar 8. Adult.

Fig. 15.—Progressive phases in the dorsal abdominal pattern in an incomplete

series of L. indistinctus from instar IV to the adult stage. All markings red,

(Amalienstein, near Ladismith, Cape.)

several specimens during four or five instars each gives a good

indication of the changes taking place.

Instar IV.—At this stage the abdomen is jet black, with three

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 297

bright red transverse bands and a longitudinal apical band of the

same colour.

Instar V.—The lateral portions of the transverse bands are lost,

only the median portion remaining, and the apical longitudinal band

is shorter than in the last instar.

Instar VI.—Only the median portion of the posterior transverse

band is now left, the apical band persisting. In some cases only the

longitudinal apical band remains.

Instar VII and VIII.—The apical band only persists during these

two instars.

Adult.—At the final ecdysis the apical band is lost, only a red spot

of subtriangular marking being left at the apex, the remainder of the

abdomen being jet black, sometimes with a few white spots basally.

It appears from specimens in the Transvaal Museum, T.M. 5891,

the S. African Museum, 8.A.M. B3705, the British Museum,

03-7-14-62-5 and 15-10-27-1, that in the Northern Transvaal and

Southern Rhodesia the adult stage is reached by a series of colour

and pattern changes very similar to those recorded for the specimens

from Patentie. The series in the British Museum, 03—-7—14—-62-5,

gives us the clue to this, as the series includes several immature forms

as well as adults, these adults having jet-black abdomens with a small

red spot on the apex of the abdomen, while the immature forms are

brightly coloured, some having a longitudinal apical red band and

three transverse red bands basally, while others have only the

longitudinal apical band. The specimen from Zoutpansberg, T.M.

5891, S.A.M. B3705, from the Marico Rover, and B.M. 15-10-27-1

from 8. Rhodesia have the three transverse bands and the apical

band similar to an immature specimen in the series, B.M.

03-—7-14—62-5.

It will be necessary, however, to obtain egg sacs from these localities

before the whole series of changes can be fully understood.

DISPOSITION OF THE EYES IN IMMATURE SPECIMENS OF

L. Inpistinetvs.

In another portion of this paper it is observed that characters

drawn from the eye formula are unreliable, in support of which

evidence is given of South African specimens in which the two rows

of eyes are not divergent as in the characterisation of the genus

Latrodectus by authors. In newly hatched specimens of 14 mm. the

two rows of eyes are convergent, but between this stage and approxi-

mately 7 mm. they gradually, in the majority of cases at least,

298 Annals of the South African Museum.

become divergent. In male specimens the two rows of eyes remain

convergent to the adult stage, no exceptions to this rule being met

with.

Latrodectus indistinctus var. karrooensis (fig. 16).

In the South African Museum collection there are eighteen specimens

similar in every respect with L. indistinctus except that the adult

females have a bright red median longitudinal band on the dorsal

surface of the abdomen (fig. 16). The males too differ in abdominal

pattern and coloration from the males of L. indistinctus, having a

bright red median longitudinal band on the dorsal surface of the

Fic. 16.—Dorsal abdominal pattern of L. indistinctus var. karrooensis, 2 (left)

and ¢ (right). All markings red.

abdomen with two red spots one on either side about the middle,

the anterior end of the dorsal band produced laterally into two arms,

forming a T-shaped marking (fig. 16). Ventrally in the females

there is an indistinct light yellow patch between the epigastric furrow

and the thoracic groove, and the sternum is bisected longitudinally

by a light yellow band broadening anteriorly.

From records at present available it appears that these brightly

coloured specimens are found only on the high-lying parts of the

Karroo, and in order to distinguish them from the normal specimens

of L. indistinctus I propose to designate them as a colour variety of

this species L. indistenctus var. karrooensis.

As well as this striking difference in abdominal pattern and colora-

tion, the nests and webs of this colour variety are different in certain

respects from those of L. indistinctus. In this case the nest, an inverted

cup-shaped structure, is suspended in mid-air at a height of about

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 299

18 inches from the ground in the middle of a small bush or, as in the

case of a specimen from Laingsburg, 8.A.M. 9101, among the upright

stems of a species of Huphorbia. The uppermost or convex side of

the nest is densely covered with stone chips, many of them as large

as the abdomen of the spider. From the mouth of this nest radiates

an irregular web attached at vantage-points on the Huphorbia stems

and the ground below. Most of the specimens listed below from the

Hanover district were collected by the late S. C. Cronwright Schreiner

who, in the Popular Science Monthly (54), gives a detailed description

of the nest built by these spiders in this district, which shows that

they are of exactly the same type as those found in the western parts

of the Karroo: “She builds a bell-like nest, about three inches long,

in a small bush. At the bottom of the bell, which hangs mouth

downwards, the web is very fine and open and from the mouth radiate

web strands. As the webbing approaches the top of the bell it

becomes closer woven until, for the last inch or so, it is quite opaque

and often covered with small stone chips, some of them astonishingly

large for the size of the spider, which she has carried up one by one

from the ground.”

In the Calvinia district nests of L. ondistinctus and the colour variety

var. karrooensis are found close to one another. The following records

of L. indistinctus var. karrooensis are at present available :—

S.A.M. 13192 9, 11952 9, 11801 ¢ and 9, B234 9, 11867 9, 11801 9,

11869 9, 11814 9, 11932 9, 10058 9 and 3, 11801 2 jnr. 99, 5809 9,

district Hanover.

S.A.M. 13239 9 and 2 99, N/N Calvinia.

S.A.M. 14673 9, De Aar.

S.A.M. 9101 9, Laingsburg.

Lawrence, in his paper ‘‘Contributions to a knowledge of the

fauna of South West Africa” (29), describes a species of Latrodecius

from Ongandjera, Ovampoland, L. incertus, which, in its adult form,

has a very brightly coloured abdomen somewhat similar to fig. 14,

instar VI. It seems that this is another colour variety of L. indts-

tinctus, but until further specimens are available I do not propose

to deal with it. |

The occurrence of these colour varieties of Latrodectus indistinctus

is interesting in that it may be possible to show, when a wide range of

specimens becomes available from localities from the Northern parts

of the Union of South Africa to Southern Europe, that this species

is itself but a colour variety of the Southern European L. tredecim-

guitatus.

300 Annals of the South African Museum.

DISTRIBUTION oF L. inpIistincrus AND L. IwpistTinctTus

VAR. KARROOENSIS.

Since the publication of the preliminary investigation of the

distribution of L. indistinctus in the S.A. Medical Journal (69), which

was based on specimens examined up to September 1938, large

numbers of specimens were received by the South African Museum

from widely scattered localities. I have also been able to carry out

a very intensive search in the coastal districts from Namaqualand

to Port Elizabeth with the aid of a grant from the National Research

Council.

This has shown that the species is much more widely distributed

than was previously thought, and it is reasonable to suppose from

the results obtained that, when further exploration is possible, it

will be shown to be distributed throughout the whole of South

Africa.

The results of these investigations to date are shown pictorially in

the distribution map (Map 1).

Outside the Union our information is scanty. In Southern

Rhodesia our knowledge is based on a series of specimens in the

collection of the South African Museum from Salisbury, B3201,

B3240, 3286, Bulawayo, 3307, 9102, and from the Matopos, 6249.

In the collection of the British Museum there is a series from Lonely

Mine, 15-10-27-1.

The South African Museum has specimens from South West Africa:

Walfish Bay, B2302, 2301, Namutoni, B5883, Aminuis, 9021, Ovam-

poland, B6236; and the Transvaal Museum from Windhoek,

7852.

No specimens have up to the present been recorded from the

Basutoland Protectorate, and there is but one record from Swaziland,

Henwoods Halt, near Piet Retief, S.A.M. 98438.

L. endistinctus var. karrooensis.

As but few records of this variety of L. andistinctus are at present

available, we can only state that it has been found in the districts

of Calvinia, Prince Albert, De Aar, and Hanover. It seems likely

that, as further records become available, it will be shown to be

present in the intermediate districts of the Great Karroo.

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 301

Latrodectus geometricus, C. L. Koch.

= L. concinnus, O. Pickard-Cambridge.

Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. 11, p. 152, 1904.

As in the case of many of the descriptions given by early workers,

C. L. Koch’s original description of this species published in 1839 (25)

2 ae

Fic. 18.—L. geometricus, adult g.

is not comprehensive enough for the requirements of modern

systematics. His description deals entirely with the abdominal

pattern and colour, and while an excellent figure accompanies the

description no details are given of such important characters as the

epigyne.

In 1875 Dr. T. Thorell (75) described a spider from Madagascar

as L. geometricus, figuring the abdomen. This agrees in every respect

with Koch’s original description. Dr. Thorell at the same time gave a

description of the epigyne which reads as follows: ‘‘Cujus in apice

adest vulva sub specie foveae vel rimae transversae sat parvae magno

ejus posticus elevatus aequaliter procurvus est intiger (non in medio

302 Annals of the South African Museum.

incursus) margo vero anticus in medio rectus ad utramque extremi-

tatem in lobum brevem retro directum productus his lobis tuberculata

duo assimulantibus.”’

In 1884 Count Keyserling in his ““Spinnen Amerikas”’ (24) described

a spider from South America as L. geometricus C. L. Koch, the epigyne

of which differs entirely from the description given by Dr. Thorell

and yet the abdominal pattern and colour of which agrees with both

Dr. Thorell’s and C. L. Koch’s descriptions.

Fortunately C. L. Koch’s type is still in existence as a dried specimen

in the collection of the Zoologisches Museum der Universitat in

Berlin, and Professor Dr. E. Hesse was good enough to supply me

with details and a drawing of the epigyne of this type.

This shows quite clearly that the specimen which Count Keyserling

described as L. geometricus does not belong to this species or that

some typographical error has been made, for the epigyne of the

specimen which he figured and the epigyne of the type differ in

certain notable respects.

When O. Pickard-Cambridge Sone specimens of L. geometricus

from the Cape he used Count Keyserling’s description as a basis for

his knowledge of L. geometricus and consequently he was forced to

create a new species, L. concinnus, for these Cape specimens, saying

that while the markings were very like those of L. geometricus the

epigyne was different from that described by Count Keyserling.

Through the good offices of Professor Hale Carpenter of the Hope

Museum I have had the opportunity of examining O. Pickard-

Cambridge’s types of L. concinnus and have found them to agree

with C. L. Koch’s type L. geometricus in every respect save that they

are much darker in colour.

Regarding this colour difference, attention was first drawn to

variation in colour in this species by F. Pickard-Cambridge in his

paper to the Zoological Society of London (9) in which he says that

‘“‘in numerous examples of L. geometricus from the Amazons, Table

Mountain, Karachi, and Jansenville one finds every variation in

coloration from pale whitey grey to almost jet black.” Extensive

collecting in South Africa has produced further evidence in support

of this assertion. Within the area of a one-acre garden on the slopes

of Table Mountain it was possible to collect a series of specimens

whose individual coloration varied from pale yellowish white to

almost jet black. The abdominal pattern of the lighter coloured

specimens agrees in detail with the original description of L. geo-

metricus, while in the case of the darker specimens the conspicuous

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 303

pattern of lines and spots is almost obliterated by the dark ground

colour. In the intermediate stages what pattern is present corresponds

in the main to the outline of the patterns found on the brightly

coloured specimens. Careful examination has not revealed any

morphological differences between the various stages, nor does the

mode of construction of the nest or web, the formation of the egg

sacs or the position in which the nests are found show any differ-

ences of habit. It seems therefore that O. Pickard-Cambridge’s

L. concinnus is a synonym of L. geometricus C. L. Koch.

Embrick Strand (72) suggests that L. indistenctus is a synonym of

L. concinnus, but this is not the case, for the two species differ in such

important features as the morphology of the epigyne, the types of

abdominal setae, and the fact that the ventral hour-glass-shaped

marking so characteristic of the adults of L. geometricus is invariably

absent in the adults of L. endistinctus.

When E. Simon surveyed the genus Latrodectus (58) he recognised

three species, L. tredecum-guttatus, hystrix, and geometricus, the latter

differentiated by the fact that the anterior median eyes were a little

larger than the remainder. F. Pickard-Cambridge noted (9) that

characters drawn from the eye formula were unreliable, and during

this investigation this was borne out in the examination of a series of

LL. geometricus from the Cape area in which, out of one hundred and

ten specimens, in three the eyes were homogeneous. Although

Walckenaer’s original description of the genus makes no mention

of the disposition of the eyes, at a later date (78) he enlarges on this

and says that the eyes are “‘sur deux lignes ecartes et legerment

divergent.” O. Pickard-Cambridge mentions in his original descrip-

tion of L. concinnus that the eyes are not divergent as in the character-

isation of the genus by authors, and suggests that if a uniform

persistence of this character be noted it might be sufficient to warrant

the creation of a new genus. Out of one hundred and ten Sou h

African specimens examined, six had convergent rows of eyes, while

in seven others the rows were parallel. Out of the six with convergent

rows three were from Eendekuil, C.P., but twenty others from this

district showed the more usual character of divergence, and two of

the specimens with parallel rows were taken in Wynberg, C.P.,

where a large series were collected with normal divergent rows.

In immature specimens the rows of eyes are convergent until about

the third or fourth instars, and in males the rows are always con-

vergent even in adult specimens. From these considerations we

must treat the disposition of the eyes as a variable character.

304 Annals of the South African Museum.

F. Pickard-Cambridge described the abdomen of L. geometricus as _

having a “‘clothing of fine silky hairs.” In all specimens of L.

geometricus examined, not only from South Africa but from many

other parts of the world, the abdominal setae were found to be of

Cc d

Fic. 19.—L. geometricus. a-d, variation in the dorsal abdominal pattern in a

series of dark-coloured specimens from the Cape. e, abdomen of a light-

coloured specimen. f, abdomen of ¢.

(S.A.M. Nos. a, 8997 ; 6, 9004 ; c, 9882 ; d, 8968.)

two types, the longer about half a millimetre, the shorter about half

this length and finer.

The diabolo or hour-glass-shaped marking on the ventral surface

of the abdomen was present in all specimens examined and forms

the easiest means of distinguishing adult L. geometricus from adult

L. indistinctus.

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 305

I have been unable to trace the specimen referred to by Count

Keyserling in his ““Spinnen Amerikas”’ (24), for unless a typographical

error has been made it might form the basis for a new species. On

the other hand it seems more probable that an error has been made,

for the figure of the epigyne marked L. geometricus corresponds very

well with the epigyne of the species L. mactans which Count Keyserling

figures and describes immediately prior to L. geometricus.

Illness resulting from the bite of L. geometricus has been recorded

(18, Mar.), but it appears from the investigations by Finlayson (17,

Jan.) that the potency of the venom is much less than in the case of

L. wndistinctus, the minimum lethal dose of L. geometricus venom for

rabbits being 12 mg. as against 3 mg. of L. indistinctus venom.

Latrodectus geometricus C. L. Koch.

Die Arach., vol. 8, p. 117, 1839.

Female. Fig. 17.

Cephalothorax.—Longer than broad in the proportions 6: 5, light

or yellowish brown, covered with short fine setae, the posterior

portion of the raised cephalic region with a few long fine setae. The

median fovea a deep recurved depression. Clypeus anteriorly

rounded with a shallow median indentation.

Eyes.—In two recurved, usually divergent but on rare occasions

convergent rows. Anterior medians usually larger than the remainder,

which are homogeneous. Distance between anterior medians sub-

equal to three-quarters the diameter of an eye, and the anterior

medians nearer together than either is to the anterior lateral on its

side. Eyes of the posterior row equidistant, the laterals raised on

divergent tubercles. Median ocular quadrangle longer than broad,

in front narrower than behind. Clypeus subequal to length of median

ocular quadrangle.

Chelicerae (fig. 20 (a)).—Subequal to two and a half times length

of clypeus, armed with a single minute denticle and a brush of long

fine setae, subequal to three-quarters the length of the unguis, on

the distal end of the inner margin.

Sternwm.—Longer than broad in the proportions 8 : 6, dark brown

covered with long fine setae. Posterior apex ending acutely beyond

coxae of fourth legs. Labium twice as broad as high, apically rounded.

Abdomen (fig. 19).—Subglobular, covered with long fine and short

fine setae, the latter about half the length of the former and more

numerous. Ground colour varying from pale yellow to jet black

306 Annals of the South African Museum.

If the former, then with a conspicuous pattern of lines and spots as

in fig. 19 (e); if the latter, then with a few narrow white lines and spots

Fig. 20.—L. geometricus. a, chelicera of 2. 6, chelicera of g. c, epigyne.

d, seta from tarsal comb. e, abdominal setae.

L. indistinctus. jf, abdominal setae.

corresponding to the outline of the pattern of the lighter coloured

specimens (fig. 19 (a-d)). Ventrally with a characteristic hour-glass-

shaped yellow, ochre, red or, in the case of the very light coloured

~ Ce += See e

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Lactrodectus (Araneae). 307

specimens, almost white marking between the epigastric furrow and

the thoracic groove. Spinerettes surrounded by six white spots,

these sometimes absent in the dark specimens.

Legs: I, IV, If, I11.—In the light coloured specimens with dark

brown encircling bands at the joints; in the dark ones, uniform

dark brown. In both cases the tarsi and metatarsi lighter than the

remainder. The patella and apical quarter of the femur of the legs

dorsally with a glabrous band on either side of a median band of

setae. Setae on the femora, patellae, and tibiae the same as on the

abdomen setae, on the tarsi and metatarsi longer and of even length.

Epigyne.—As in fig. 20 (c).

Dimensions.—Cephalothorax, 3-5 mm.; abdomen, 7 mm.; leg I,

21 mm.; I1V,19 mm.; II, 13 mm.; III, 9 mm.

Male. Fig. 18. Museum grounds, Cape Town, Feb. 1937,

S.A.M. 9071.

Cephalothorax.—Light yellow, margins narrowly infuscated, a

black band from the median fovea to the posterior pair of eyes.

Sparsely covered with short fine setae. Median fovea a transverse

recurved depression.

Eyes.—In two converging rows, anterior medians a diameter apart

and nearer together than either is to the anterior lateral on its side.

Anterior medians the largest, the remainder homogeneous. Median

posteriors a diameter apart and nearer to the posterior laterals than

from each other. Laterals three-quarters their diameter apart,

raised on divergent tubercles. Clypeus subequal to half length of

median ocular quadrangle.

Chelicerae (fig. 20 (6)).—Subequal to three times length of clypeus,

armed with a minute denticle on the distal end of their inner margin.

Sternum.—Longer than broad in the proportions 3: 2-5, dark

brown, with a longitudinal median light yellow band. Posterior apex

ending acutely beyond coxae of fourth legs.

Abdomen (fig. 19 (f)).—Subglobular, dorsally dark brownish grey

with three white spots in a median longitudinal line, the hindermost

spot produced into a broad white band reaching the spinerettes.

On either side of this line a further line of four black spots each

situated at the end of vertical lateral tapering white band, these

converging on the spinerettes. Covered with long fine setae of even

length. Ventrally light yellow with an hour-glass-shaped white or

light yellow marking as in the female.

308 Annals of the South African Museum.

Legs: 1, IV, II, 11].—Even light yellow.

Palpi.See figs. 6, 7, and 8.

Dimensions.—Over-all, 4 mm.; leg I, 9 mm.; IV, 6 mm.; [1,

5 mm.; III, 3 mm.

NoTEs ON THE BIONOMICS OF LATRODECTUS GEOMETRICUS.

Unlike L. indistinctus the nests and webs of L. geometricus are most

often found in and around buildings, the nest being hidden in a

ventilator, behind pipes, under the eaves, in fact in any odd corner

which affords substantial shelter for the nest and where a plentiful

supply of insects is to be found. They are particularly numerous

round barns, stables, garden buildings and rubbish pits, and are also

found under the bark of trees, in holes in the ground, under bridges,

in rock crevices, under stones, and occasionally in thick tufts of grass

or bushes. Owing to the position of the nest, contact with this

spider is more likely than with L. indistinctus, but, up to the present,

no fatality and only one case of illness resulting from the bite of this

species has been recorded (18, Mar.). A comparison of the relative

strengths of L. indistenctus and L. geometricus venom is given in the

introduction to the latter species.

The web of ZL. geometricus is similar to that of L. indistinctus,

consisting of three parts—namely the nest, the tunnel, and the

delaying threads, but in this case the tunnel is never so well developed

and is at times absent altogether. Again sometimes the delaying

threads are woven together, forming a stout cable which may lead

for a foot or more from the main mass of web, where it breaks up

into an auxiliary series of delaying threads.

The individual threads are of great strength and the web is as a

tule easily differentiated from the webs of other spiders such as

Agelenidae and Teutana spp., which build in similar positions, by the

accummulation of leaves, twigs, feathers, and other debris held by

the web.

The egg sacs are of characteristic spherical shape covered with

little protuberances (fig. 10 (a)), and are suspended either just inside

or at the entrance of the nest, each containing 80-100 eggs. Under

laboratory conditions with ample feeding up to ten egg sacs have

been constructed by one female, eight being the maximum number

recorded in the field. These egg sacs, when first constructed, are

pure white, but darken after a few days and become yellowish. When

the young hatch inside they become dark grey owing to the mass of

young being visible through the fabric of the sac.

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 309

The time taken for the young to emerge from the sac is about the

same as that of L. indistinctus taking similar seasons of the year, a

typical record being as follows :—

Date on which

y Se ro DEAE Number Emergence Time

was EN, ‘ P | ob Moung: in Days.

12.10.38 20.11.38 82 40

31.10.38 8.12.38 96 38

14.11.38 19.12.38 98 36

22.11.38 28.12.38 68 36

3.12.38 6.1.39 53 36

28.12.38 26.1.39 75 29

7.1.39 4.2.39 26 28

21.1.39 16.2.39 58 26

Males.—Males of L. geometricus are found throughout the year.

When on the female web they usually occupy a position in the vicinity

of the entrance to the nest, where as many as four are found to each

female. Round the Museum outbuildings in Cape Town males were

systematically removed from the webs of a series of females; in

practically every case new males had arrived within three or four

days, in one case eight males being removed in 32 days, in another

five in 14 days. Immature males have never been found on female

webs, although they are frequently found occupying a web of their

own. This web is much smaller than that of the female. It appears

that, like L. endistinctus, the males do not seek a mate until they have

become adult.

The mating of this species has not been observed, but judging from

the number of bound-up and dead specimens found at the bottom of

breeding-cages in the laboratory it appears that, as in the case of

L. indistinctus, the males are usually killed after the act of copulation.

In numerous microscope slides of the female epigyne the tip of the

male embolus was seen, and adult males have been found in which

the tip of one embolus was missing, which points to their being held

prisoner for a time during the act of copulation.

DISTRIBUTION OF LATRODECTUS GEOMETRICUS.

L. geometricus is a very widely distributed species, being recorded

by Simon (58) “dans presque toutes les régions tropicales du globe,”’

310 Annals of the South African Museum.

and by Petrunkevitch (43) as a ““cosmotropical species.” As far as

South Africa is concerned it is probably an introduced species.

Petrunkevitch in his “Spiders of Porto Rico” (43) notes that the

first record of this spider on the island was a specimen which he

collected from a packing-case from some other tropical country,

“there being scarcely a doubt as to the accidental importation of the

specimen in question.”’ Spiders of this type which construct their

nests in sheltered crannies readily make use of the corners of packing-

cases, and as they are quite capable of living for long periods without

food may be artificially distributed over long distances. Nests of

L. geometricus are common in the region of Cape Town docks and

railway sheds, and it is highly probable that they attach themselves

from time to time to merchandise destined for other localities. Webs

have also been found under rolling-stock, and during 1938 one

constructed its web under the chassis of my motor van and, not-

withstanding the fact that the van was in daily use, it lived there for

four months in apparent perfect harmony with its surroundings, in

due course producing one egg sac which unfortunately was destroyed

in a washing operation. In 1939 a web was seen under the saddle of a

bicycle, the spider being immature.

In South Africa L. geometricus is found in a wide range of localities

from Cape Town to Pretoria, from Port Nolloth on the west coast to

Durban and in localities as far inland as Upington. Further details

of the districts from which it is recorded are given in the distribution

map (Map 2). It seems probable that as further records become

available it will be found to be present throughout the country.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

(1) Banre, W. J. Journ. Parasitol., ix, p. 161. 1923.

(2) Barra, W. J. Sc. Mon., xvii. 1923.

(3) Bertxav, P. Zool. Anz., xii, p. 451. 1889.

(4) Bocren, E. Arch. Int. Med., xxxviii, p. 623. 1926.

(5) Bonnet, P. Bull. Soc. d’Hist. Nat. Toulouse, lxv, p. 618. 1933.

(6) Butter, A. G. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 75. 1877.

(7) Butter, A.G. Ibid., p. 763. 1882.

(8) CamBRIDGE, F. Pickarp-. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (7), x, p. 38. 1902.

(9) CaMBRIDGE, F. PrckaRD-. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., i, p. 247. 1902.

(10) CampBripGE, O. PickaRD-. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 287. 1872.

(11) CamBripGE, O. PickarpD-. Biol. Centr. Amer., ii, p. 378. 1897-1905.

(12) CamBripGcE, O. ProkarD-. Ann. S. Afr. Mus., iii, p. 152. 1904.

(13) Dani, F. SB. Ges. Naturf. Fr. Berlin, No. 2, p. 45. 1902.

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 311

(14) Datmas, ComTe pz. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., lxxxvi, p. 360. 1917.

(15) Escomet, E. Amer. Soc. Trop. Med. Trans., ii, p. 95. 1917.

(16) Fapricius, J.C. Syst. Ent. Insect., i, p. 140. 1775.

(17) Frntayson, M. H. S. Afr. Med. Journ., Jan. and Nov. 1936.

(18) Frytayson, M. H. Jbid., March and Oct. 1937.

(19) Gernarpt, U. Z. Morph. Okol. Tiere., x, p. 601. 1928.

(20) Herms, W. B. Med. and Vet. Ent., p. 363. 1915.

(21) Herms, W. B., Bairzy, S. F., and McIvor, B. Univ. Calif. Agr. Exper.

Sta., Bull. No. 591. 1935.

(22) Hussz, A. J. Jour. Ent. Soc. 8. Africa, v, p. 45. Sept. 1942.

(23) Kaston, B. J. Bull. New Engl. Mus. Nat. Hist., Ixxxv, p. 3. 1937.

(24) Knysrertine, E. von. Die Spinnen Americas. Therid., i, p. 148. 1884.

(25) Kocu, C. L. Die Arachn., 8, p. 117. 1836-48.

(26) Koon, L. Die Arachn. Austral., p. 276. 1872.

(27) Kocu, L. Aeg. und Abyssin. Arachn., p. 24. 1875.

(28) Képpen, F. T. Beitr. Russ. Reiches (2), iv (In Russland vorkom. gift... .

Arachn.). 1881.

(29) Lawrence, R. F. Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus., xxv, p. 30. 1927.

(30) LussEeRT, R. DE. Rev. Suisse Zool., xxiii, p.9. 1915.

(31) Locket, G. H, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (xi), 3, p. 629. 1939.

(32) Metio-Lerrao, C. DE. Revista Mus. la Plata., n.s. Zool., ii, p. 35. 1940.

(33) Monrcomery, T. H. Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., lv, p. 59. 1903.

(34) Montcomery, T. H. Amer. Nat., xlu, p. 697. 1908.

(35) Monteomery, T. H. J. Exper. Zool., v, p. 429. 1908.

(36) Montcomsery, T. H. Amer. Nat., xliv, p. 151. 1910.

(37) Muserave, A. Rec. Austral. Mus., xvi, p. 43. 1927.

(38) Paut, B. Ann. Soc. Ent. Amer., xxvi, p. 568. 1933.

(39) Pavest, P. Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen., xx, pp. 36,37. 1883.

(40) Pavust, P. Ibid. (2), xviii (xxxviii), p. 167. 1897-98.

(41) PerrunKkevitcH, A. Ann. New York Ac. Sc., xix, No. 9, p. 208. 1910.

(42) PErrunKeEvitcH, A. Trans. Conn. Ac. Sci., xxvii, p. 103. 1925.

(43) PerrunKkevitcn, A. Ibid., xxx, p.11. 1929.

(44) PetrunKevitou, A. Ibid., xxx, pp. 172-177. 1930.

(45) Pocock, R. I. J. Linn. Soc. Lond., xxv, p. 296. 1895.

(46) Pocock, R. I. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (7), ii, p. 213. 1898.

(47) Pocock, R. I. Fauna Br. India. Archn., p. 237. 1900.

(48) Powru., Lu. Trans. New Zeal. Inst., iii (1870), p. 56. 1871.

(49) Ratnspow, W. J. Rec. Austral. Mus., i, No. 3, p. 244.

(50) Ratnspow, W. J. Ibid., vi, p. 28. 1905.

(51) Rarnsow, W. J. Jbid., xi, p. 64. 1916.

(52) Rarnspow, W. J. Mem. Queensl. Mus., i, p. 204. 1912.

(53) Ross1, P. Fauna Etrusca., ii, p. 136. 1790. (Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. Libr.

Catal. 1792-94.)

(54) ScHREINER, S.C. Pop. Sc. Monthly, p. 155. Dec. 1902.

(55) SHuLov, A. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond., 152nd ser., pt. 3, p. 309. 1940.

(56) Smmon, E. Etude Arachn. (Expl. Sci. de la Tunisie), p. 25. 1885.

(57) Stuon, E. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (6), v, p. 371. 1885.

(58) Stmon, E. Hist. Nat. Araign., 2nd ed., i, p. 568. 1894.

(59) Smmon, E. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (6), x, p. 99. 1890.

(60) Stmon, E. Bull. Soc. Zool. Fr., ix, 1884. P. 23 in reprint dated 1896.

VOU) XXEVI, PART 3: 21

312 Annals of the South African Museum.

(61) Stuon, E. Bull. Soc. Zool., Fr., xxi, p. 220. 1896.

(62) Stmon, E. SB. K. Ak. Wiss. Wien, cxv, Abt. 1, p. 3. 1906.

(63) Stmon, E. Ann. Mus. Civ. Nat. Gen. (3), iii (xliii), p. 44. 1907.

(64) Smmon, E. Fauna Siidwest Austral., i, 12, p.411. 1908.

(65) Smmon, E. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., liii, p. 36. 1909.

(66) Stmon, E. Schultze Reise Siidafr., iv, Arachn., p. 191. 1910.

(67) Smmon, E. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (6), iii, p. 306. 1883.

(68) Smmon, E. Ann. Soc. Ent., 43, p. 272.

(69) SmrrHeRs, R. H. N. S. Afr. Med. Journ. Jan. 1939.

(70) Stranp, E. Nyt. Mag. Naturv. Kristian., xlvi (Mitt. K. Nat. Kab. Stuttgart,

No. 57), p. 35. 1908.

(71) Stranp, E. Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst., xxvi, 4, p. 464. 1908.

(72) StRanpD, E. D. Siidpol Exp., x (Zool. ii), p. 565. 1909.

(73) THoRELL, T. Europ. Spiders, Nov. Act. R. Soc. Sc. Upsal. (3), vii, fase. 1,

p. 95. 1869.

(74) THorELL, T. Oefv. K. Vet. Akad. Forh., 1870, No. 4, p. 369. 1870.

(75) THORELL, T. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 138. 1875.

(76) TutuerEen, A. Bih. K. Sven. Vet. Akad. Forh., xxvii, Afd. 4, No. 1, p. 6.

1901.

(77) Tutteren, A. Ark. Zool., ii, No. 19, p. 27. 1905.

(78) WaLCKENAER, C. A. Hist. Nat. Inst. Apteres., i, p. 642. 1837. (Br. Mus.

Nat. Hist. Libr. Catal. 1836.)

(79) WaLcKENAER, C. A. Tabl. Arachn., p. 81. 1805.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE VIII.

Adult 2: L. indistinctus with nest in a clump of stubble, egg sac and victim

(Psammodes sp.).

Note the loose debris on the right woven into the web. The tunnel of the nest

which runs into the centre of the stubble is concealed. (Mamre, Malmesbury

Division, Cape Province.)

Plate VIII.

spennar

Iie lel DANG

ras

ves

vad

ir)

op)

Photo

Ann. S. Afr. wn

ensis (stippled).

R. H. N;

Ann. S. Afr. Mus., Vol, XXXVI.

R. H. N. Smithers.

Map 1.—South Africa south of lat. 25° S. to show distribution of Latrodectus indistinctus (lined) and indistinctus var. karrooensis (stippled).

—

- - Py : 7 A we

Ce ee ee i sess a St) re a ea

=a ri

e. : a ba rae pers: qos =

3 ee hae a, >=

7 os 5 »

.- s 2

‘ =

ARR JOT ¢

: rte Fs

< ' eed bo

% ane ~ es

a. ;

7 a...

iG é

‘

a ‘

es .

— =

5 y

= :

ad ”

—

-——# ,

ee. —iaek saa ie

—

a ~

i “ j \

: 2

Pre ase

‘

Hl .

sill Ait

ante

Ann, S. Afr, Mus., Vol. XXXVI.

BR. H. N. Smithers.

Map 2.—South Africa south of lat. 25° S. to show distribution of Latrodectus geometricus.

l @

9 CNIS Cue bo

Contributions to our Knowledge of Genus Latrodectus (Araneae). 313

Key TO ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS OF THE CAPE PROVINCE (1-57), AND

TO PoLiTicaAL AREAS OF SouTH AFRiIcA (58-65).

Cape.

. Stellenbosch and Somerset West.

. Paarl and Wellington.

. Malmesbury.

. Piquetberg.

. Tulbagh.

. Worcester.

. Caledon.

. Robertson.

. Bredasdorp.

. Montagu.

. Swellendam.

. Riversdale.

. Ladismith.

. Laingsburg.

. Ceres.

. Clanwilliam.

. Van Rhynsdorp.

. Namaqualand.

. Calvinia.

. Williston.

. Beaufort West.

. Prince Albert.

. Willowmore.

. Victoria West.

. Prieska.

. Gordonia.

. Vryburg.

. Kimberley.

. Herbert.

. Hopetown.

. De Aar.

. Richmond.

34.

35.

36.

aie

38.

39.

40.

41.

42.

43.

44.

45.

46.

47.

48.

49,

50.

51.

52.

53.

54.

. Tsolo.

. Umtata.

. Port St. Johns.

> (Natal:

. Basutoland.

. Orange Free State.

. Swaziland.

. Portuguese East Africa.

. Transvaal.

. British Bechuanaland.

. South West Africa.

Hanover.

Colesberg.

Middelburg.

Graaf Reinet.

Jansenville.

Uitenhage.

Humansdorp.

Port Elizabeth.

Alexandria.

Somerset East.

Albany.

Bedford.

Albert.

Fort Beaufort and Victoria East.

Glen Grey, Xalanga, and St. Marks.

East London.

Komgha.

Butterworth.

Kentani.

Willowvale.

Engcobo.

ANNALS

SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM

VOLUME XXXVI.

PART IV, containing:—

| 3 5. Observations on the Food-Cycle of the South African Stockfish,

4 ‘Merluccius capensis Cast. off the West Coast of South Africa ;

with a Note on the Food of the King-Klip Genypterus capensis

(Smith). By J. M. Ratrray, M.Sc., Low Temperature

Research Laboratory, Cape Town. (With 2 Text-figures.)

a ISSUED JUNE 1947. PRICE 38s.

‘a PRINTED FOR THE

a e TRUSTEES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM, CAPE. TOWN

Me BY NEILL AND CO., LTD.,

212 CAUSEWAYSIDE, EDINBURGH.

5. Observations on the Food-Cycle of the South African Stockfish,

Merluccius capensis Cast. off the West Coast of South Africa;

with a Note on the Food of the King-Klip Genypterus capensis

(Smith).—By J. M. Ratrray, M.Sc., Low Temperature Research

Laboratory, Cape Town.

(With 2 Text-figures.)

(MS. received 1945.)

THE observations recorded in this paper were made during a bacteri-

ological investigation of a serious outbreak of spoilage in various

canned stockfish products. The bacteria which were ultimately

found to be responsible for the spoilage were traced back to the fish

on the trawler, and eventually the evidence suggested that the fish

actually left the water in an infected condition. As a result of this

it was thought that a study of the food-cycle of the stockfish might

throw some light on the primary source of infection.

The South African stockfish Merluccius capensis Cast. is apparently

very similar morphologically to the Northern Atlantic form M.

vulgaris, commonly known as hake, and may even be identical with

it. The question, however, has not yet been satisfactorily settled,

and at present M. capensis is regarded as a distinct species. Although

it is one of the most important commercial fishes of South Africa and

forms the bulk of the fish trawled round the coast of this country

and half of the total fish harvest, no information has been published

regarding its life-history, feeding habits, etc. Barnard (1) says of

the stockfish: “It is very abundant at times, but seems to be uncertain

in appearance. Like the Northern form, they probably migrate

considerable distances, both for purposes of spawning and also from

one food-ground to another.’ According to Gilchrist (2) their chief

food seems to be one particular species of Macrurid, viz., Macrurus

fasciatus. This appears to be the only first-hand reference there is on

the subject.

It must be stressed again that the data presented here were

obtained during the course of a bacteriological examination of the

foodstuffs in the stomach of the stockfish and that it was not intended

to make a comprehensive and independent study of this aspect of

VOL. XXXVI, PART 4. | 22

SAAB f

(7° 17°30! ;

CAPE cou var

83 ye A . a; Cs.

SALDANHA

a mm 86 «tl

YSTERFONTEIN PT. oi :

_33° 30’ ae

CAPE TOWN

34° 34

OWN ;

——" 4

APE POINT

We a os 38

a ; '

TE : fo

{ 17°30 \\s° BP 30!

Fic. 1.—Showing the trawling grounds (shaded area) from which the stockfish were obtained.

(Taken from Division of Fisheries Analytical Chart, No. 1, 1931.)

ERENT SIZE GROUPS.

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To face page 317.

Wske\t/ Soy

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Observations on the Food-Cycle of the South African Stockfish. 317

the natural history of the fish. The observations were made over a

period of about 18 months and involved the examination of some

1450 stomachs of fish trawled from the main Atlantic fishing grounds.

No fish from the Indian Ocean were examined.

The fish, which were obtained through the courtesy of Messrs.

Irvin and Johnson, were trawled from what are known as the North

fishing grounds that lie roughly between lat. 33° S. and 30° 30’ S. and

long. 17° EH. and 18° 10’ E., and the depth of this area varies between

100 and 300 fathoms (see fig. 1). Depending on circumstances, the

trawlers usually stay on the grounds three or four days, returning to

port twice a week to land the fish. When conditions permitted, a small

sample of between 12 and 18 fish in the round state and selected as

being representative of the usual commercial sizes was sent to this

laboratory for examination.

According to existing legislation (3) it is not permissible to catch

or offer for sale stockfish under 20 inches in length, and the size of the

trawl mesh is presumably laid down so as to ensure this. In practice,

however, it is apparent that a considerable number of fish below

20 inches are caught, and there is evidence to show that only fish

under 12 inches escape, while fish from 12 to 19 inches are caught in

ever-increasing quantities (4). The few fish under 12-13 inches

which were examined were obtained from the stomachs of larger fish.

THe Main Foop of THE STOCKFISH.

At least 19 different organisms were removed from the stomachs at

various times throughout the 18 months, butit soon became apparent

which of these constituted the main food of the fish and which

were mere casual items of diet. Undigested organisms found in the

mouth have been disregarded, as the stockfish presumably behaves like

the hake and snatches at anything which may be present in the trawl

while being pulled to the surface.

Table 1 shows the different types of organisms which were found

in the stomachs of fish of different size groups.

The number of stomachs examined includes those that were

found empty. When several different organisms were present in

the same stomach, each organism is recorded as having been found

once. The frequency of occurrence is given as the actual number of

times the organism was found and not as a percentage, as this is

misleading in the size groups where only a few stomachs were examined.

Table 2 shows the monthly distribution of the various types of

organisms recovered.

Ann, S. Afr. Mus., Vol. XXXVI.

TaBLe 1.—SHowING Foop PRESENT IN Stomacus or Fish oF DIFFERENT S1zE GROUPS.

Frequency of Occurrence.

Main Food of Stockfish. Other Organisms Found.

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only occurred once or twice.

J. M. Rattray. To face page 317.

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TABLE 2.—SHOWING THE MontHty DistRiBuTION or THE Various Types or ORGANISMS RECOVERED.

Frequency of Occurrence.

Main Food of Stockfish.

318

Other Organisms Found.

Annals of the South African Museum.

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Observations on the Food-Cycle of the South African Stockfish. 319

_ As will be seen from Table 1 the type of food found in the stomachs

varied to a large extent with the size of fish. For convenience,

therefore, fish from 10 to 172 inches in length were ranked as small,

those between 18 and 302 inches as medium, and fish 31 inches and

over as large. Fish below 10 inches in length were rarely encountered

so that it was not possible to ascertain to any great extent what

constituted the main food of these very small fish.

Before discussing each item of food separately it should be

pointed out that the South African stockfish appears to be very

similar in its habits to the European hake in that it feeds by night,

presumably some distance from the bottom, and is only caught by

the trawl during the day when it goes back to the bottom again.

The fish from which the data for this paper were obtained were

usually brought up in the last trawl of the day before returning to

port, z.e., between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. To what extent the types of

food found in the stomachs of these fish would have varied had they

been caught in the early morning has not been ascertained.

The principal food constituents of the stockfish in order of import-

ance are: small crustacea belonging to the Mysidacea and Euphausi-

acea, small deep-sea fish belonging to the Myctophidae and Stomiatidae,

small specimens of Merluccius (stockfish), Macrurids, Cephalopods,

and to a lesser extent Z'rachurus (masbanker or horse mackerel).

Of the other organisms listed in the table only the prawn-like crustacea,

represented chiefly by the two genera Solenocera and Funchala,

may possibly form a minor constituent of the diet, the rest occurred

far too spasmodically to be regarded as important.

Mysidacea and Euphausiacea.—These small pink crustacea formed

a very large part of the food of fish up to about 30 inches in length

but fish larger than this do not appear to feed on them at all, only

single specimens being found when they did occur in the stomachs.

The mysids were usually species of Thysanopoda and the euphausiids

species of Huphausia, but identification was often difficult on account

of the mutilation which had taken place and no attempt was made to

determine the species.

According to Smith (5) the Myszdacea, although pelagic, are not

very frequently found on the surface but generally swim some dis-

tance below it, going down in many cases to the abysses, while the

euphausiids, on the other hand, are frequently met with in the surface

plankton, one species E. pellucida being taken at the surface as well

as at considerable depths. Hickling (6) says that the euphausiids,

which form the main part of the food of small hake, have a very

320 Annals of the South African Museum.

definite habit of swimming up to the surface at night and sinking to

the bottom or to considerable depths by day. There is no available

information regarding this vertical migration as far as the South

African euphausiids and mysids are concerned, but in view of the

fact that the stockfish leave the bottom at night to feed in the higher

strata it is possible that these crustacea also rise from the bottom

to the middle depths at this period, unless of course they frequent

them all the time. That they are present in midwater at the time of

feeding is obvious, but how far they extend towards the surface is a

matter of conjecture. Hickling says that small hake feed directly

on these euphausiids and must clearly follow them to the surface.

The small stockfish, 2.e., those between 10 and 18 inches in length,

also feed heavily on them, but if the crustacea rise right to the surface

at night and the small fish follow them, then the medium, and particu-

larly the large, stockfish will be found at the surface as well, in order

to obtain the small stockfish which in turn form such an important

item in their diet. It is unlikely that stockfish of all sizes feed at the

surface in this manner, and it seems more probable that only the

very small stockfish, 2.e., those under 10 inches, will be found there,

and thus account to a certain extent for the extreme rarity with which

fish of this size are found in the stomachs of the larger fish. It

therefore appears that the small- and medium-sized fish remain in

the middle waters where the crustacea abound freely and that the

large fish either remain in still deeper waters where few crustacea

occur, or if they do come up to midwater they show great discrimina-

tion in their selection of food. Other deep-sea fish such as Coelorhyn-

chus, Maurolicus and Myctophum as well as the pelagic species

Trachurus also feed heavily on these crustacea.

Several attempts were made to ascertain the food of these mysids

and euphausiids, but apart from a few diatoms of the Coscinodiscus

type nothing recognisable was recovered from their alimentary tract.

Myctophidae and Stomiatidae.—These two families were represented

by the genera Myctophum and Maurolicus respectively and are

classed together, as in the majority of cases they were found in a

semi-digested condition making identification difficult. The presence

of photophores characteristically arranged on pieces of skin, and also

the otoliths, assisted materially in recognising these two genera when

the bodies were often considerably digested. They are small deep-sea

fish usually about 14-12 inches long, and were nearly always found

together with the small crustacea. They form a large part of the

food of fish up to about 30 inches in length throughout the year, but

Observations on the Food-Cycle of the South African Stockfish. 321

fish above this length do not feed on them at all. When these small

fish are in abundance as food, as many as 77 have been found in one

stomach. It is interesting to note that it was on this occasion when

the stockfish had been feeding more heavily than usual on the small

fish, that the latter in turn were found to have been feeding on

copepods (Calanus sp.). This occurred towards the end of February

1943 and was the only time that copepods were found as food—the

_ mysids and possibly euphausiids being the only other food encountered

in the stomachs of these small fish.

Myctophum cocci (Cocco) and Maurolicus pennanti (Walb.) were

the two species commonly encountered, but Myctophum humboldti

(Risso) was also found on a few occasions and it is possible that other

species may have been present but were too badly mutilated to allow

of identification. Barnard (1) has described a new species of Mycto-

phum (M. aeolochrus) as having been found in the stomach of a

stockfish.

Merluccius capensis Cast. (Stockfish).—These were found in the

stomachs all the year round and form the main diet of the large fish.

They were recovered from fish 18 inches in length and upwards but

were more common in fish above 24 inches. They were not found

in the stomachs of any fish below 18 inches in length. The size of

the stockfish found as food varied between 4 and 21 inches. Of

those still measurable 3 were below 10 inches, 45 between 10

and 15 inches, and 14 between 16 and 21 inches. The rarity with

which fish below 10 inches were found in the stomachs has been

mentioned in a previous section of this paper and is interesting in

that it indicates that the South African stockfish apparently follows

to some extent the same habits as the hake during the first two

years of its life. The available data (4) on the rate of growth of the

stockfish during the first few years of its life indicate that it grows

about 4-44 inches a year. Thus at the end of the second year the

fish ought to be 8-9 inches long. If these very young fish are similar

in their habits to the hake, which according to Hickling (6) remain

pelagic for the first two years and only go down to the bottom when

they are about 8 inches long, then they will obviously only be found

at the surface and therefore not be available as food for the larger

fish until they are about two years old or approximately 9 inches in

length. On the other hand, even if these very small stockfish do

live at the surface during this period, it has still not been established

whether they are to be found in the same areas as the larger fish.

The hake moves to deeper waters at the commencement of spawning

322 Annals of the South African Museum.

and gradually migrates to shallower waters as spawning progresses,

but the eggs and newly hatched fish, being pelagic, drift considerable

distances away from the spawning grounds and it is usually quite a

long time before they get back to their usual localities. There is a

certain amount of evidence (4) to show that the stockfish also migrates

to deeper waters during spawning, but whether the eggs and small

fry are carried away by currents and wind and are completely absent

from the spawning area until they can fend for themselves has not

yet been ascertained.

An interesting point which has arisen in connection with the

cannibalism of stockfish is the fact that more males are eaten as

food than females. That this is almost inevitable is shown by the

greater proportion of males to females in the size group which is

eaten by the larger fish. The following table (Table 3) shows the

percentage of males which were found among fish under 23 inches in

length.

TABLE 3.—SHOWING THE PERCENTAGE OF MALES AMONG FISH

UNDER 23 INCHES IN LENGTH.

i A Per cent

: :

No. of Fish under 23 Inches Examined. Nales:

755 61

O10 63

* 533 61

* From data supplied by Dr. Roux (4).

Only a small number of stockfish actually taken from the stomachs

were examined for sex, but 71 per cent. were males. The male

stockfish is obviously a smaller fish than the female and very few of

them reach lengths over 23 inches. This is very strikingly shown by

the fact that of 683 fish which were over this length only 8 per cent.

were males. Fig. 2 shows graphically on a percentage basis the pro-

portion of males to females which were found in the total number

of fish examined. As was pointed out earlier, the fish were selected

for size and do not therefore constitute a random sample. The fact

that they are selected fish may account for the apparently very great

preponderance of males over females in the smaller size groups up

to about 18 inches. In a random sample this difference is not so

Observations on the Food-Cycle of the South African Stockfish. 323

marked although the general shape of the curve is the same, particu-

larly in the biggest size groups.

° ° °

rae

Oo 50

‘iG =

° a r

O —

9 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 ao

oo]

° to to to to to to to oO to to to to to

ei 15% «17% « 19% «| «21 23% 25%) 27% “20% 31% 33% 35% 37% 39% OVER

SIZE GROUP OF STOCKFISH (IN INCHES )

Fic. 2.—Showing the proportion of males to females in the total number of fish examined.

It is difficult to account satisfactorily for the predominance of

males in the smaller size groups caught by the trawl or eaten by other

fish, but a possible explanation may be that the males congregate

sooner than the females.

324 Annals of the South African Museum.

Macrurids.—It is interesting to note that Hickling (6) states it

to be unusual to find bottom-living fish such as the Macrurids in the

real food of the hake. Gilchrist (2) however, in reference to the

stockfish, says that it was

“*. . . found by the ‘Pickle’ in great abundance in the deeper waters

up to 300 fathoms, and, occasionally, even in 500 fathoms. Its

presence in deeper water is explained by the fact that it seems to

feed almost exclusively on Macrurus fasciatus, which is so abundant

in these regions, and a glance at the list of fishes, etc., procured,

published in the first Report of the Survey, will show how constant is

the association of the two fish in the catches.”

During the present investigation Macrurids were certainly found

to form part of the diet of stockfish, but were by no means the chief

constituent. The stockfish examined, however, were trawled at

depths of about 150-200 fathoms and their food may of course be

different from that of the stockfish frequenting the very deep waters

up to 500 fathoms. Coelorhynchus fasciatus (Guthr.) was the common-

est Macrurid encountered. It occurred all the year round and was

eaten by fish from 17 inches and upwards in length, but not by the

smaller fish, although the rat-tail itself was sometimes only 24

to 6 inches long, the longest being 184 inches.

As the Macrurids are essentially bottom dwellers—a study of

their food (Table 4) shows that they feed mostly on or near the

bottom—it is of course possible that they mainly frequent the depths

in which the larger stockfish occur and thus are more likely to become

the prey of these fish. On the other hand the fact that copepods

(Calanus sp.) were eaten in quantity by small rat-tails at ene stage

shows that they do feed near the surface on occasions.

Cephalopods.—In a large number of cases only the eyes and horny

mandibles were found in stockfish stomachs, but when specimens in

an identifiable state were recovered they were almost invariably a

species of the decapod Loligo. These varied in size from 4 to

18 inches and were present practically throughout the year, being

in greatest abundance in 1943 during January to March. They

formed an important ccnstituent of the food of the medium-sized

fish, only two being found in fish below 18 inches in length and none in

fish over 30 inches. Loligo is pelagic and moves about in large shoals

so that it would appear to be available as food for all sizes of stockfish.

It is therefore curious that only the fish of the medium-sized group

seem to favour it as food. Whether such a fact has any biological

significance in South African waters is a matter of conjecture, as

TasLeE 4.—Foop oF Macrurips (MOSTLY OF

Month.

August 1942 .

September 1942

October 1942

November 1942

December 1942

January 1943

February 1943

March 1943

April 1943

May 1943

June 1943

July 1943

August 1943 .

September 1943

October 1943

November 1943

December 1943

January 1944

CozLORHYNCHUS FASCIATUS).

Contents.

4 specimens of Squilla armata, and crustacean

remains, some probably of Squilla; 1 sponge

crab (EHxodromidia spinosa); 2 Polychaeta;

2 dragonets (Paracallionymus sp.); un-

recognisable fish remains.

Remains of a fish (probably stockfish).

Numerous Thysanopoda, several specimens ot

Eunice aphroditors.

Several specimens of Humice aphroditois and

prawns (Squilla sp.) ?

1 Isopod; 1 Polychaete; 1 mysid; 1 starfish.

Very numerous mysids; 1 Mawurolicus; 1

euphausiid; 1 Polychaete; 1 hermit crab,

probably Hupagurus sp., and remains of

several small fish.

Numerous hermit crabs (Hupagurus); several

mysids; 3 specimens of Hunice aphroditois;

1 Pandalina brevirostris; and crustacean

remains probably Squilla; 1 Polychaete.

1 sponge crab (probably Ezodromidia); several

hermit crabs; 2 Polychaeta; crustacean

remains and fish remains, both unidentifiable.

Remains of cephalopod; remains of stockfish.

2 Dragonets; 4 mysids; several hermit crabs;

7 Polychaeta; remains of 4 cephalopods;

3 specimens of Squilla and remains of

crustacean, probably Squilla; remains of

several small fish (1 of which probably

stockfish; 2 of which probably Maurolicus) ;

remains of 2 small crabs (probably sponge

crabs).

Numerous copepods (Calanus sp.); 3 Poly-

chaeta, several hermit crabs (Hupagurus sp.);

3 specimens of Eunice aphroditois; 1 Lolago,

and remains of several small cephalopods;

very numerous portions of red starfish;

3 Maurolicus; several Thysanopoda: 9

Leontocaris paulsoni; 1 stockfish.

Gorged with Thysanopoda.

Several Squilla; 3 cephalopods; 1 Eunice

aphroditois; remains of Maurolicus or

Myctophum.

326 Annals of the South African Museum.

cephalopods apparently form an important part of the food of all

sizes of the European hake, except of course the very young fish.

No recognisable food remains were recovered from the alimentary

tract of the cephalopods.

Trachurus trachurus Linn. (Masbankers, Horse-mackerel).—

Masbankers, although not found very frequently, were recovered

mostly from the stomachs of the large stockfish, 2.e., those over 30

inches in length, none being found in fish below 26 inches. From the

present data masbankers do not appear to be available as food from

January to June but further observations are required to confirm

this. In this connection, however, it is interesting to record that

Kallir, Rapson and Schwartz (7), during a study of the variations in

oil content of the masbanker, found difficulty in obtaining trek-net

fish during the latter half of the year, and they suggest that a migration

may take place at this time, away from the coastal waters in which

they are usually caught, possibly for spawning purposes. If the

masbanker migrates to deeper waters, then it could become available

as food for the stockfish during the latter half of the year and be

absent from their feeding grounds during the first half.

Two masbankers 13 inches and 14 inches long, taken from a

stockfish in July, were examined and their stomachs found to contain

numerous mysids and a few specimens of Maurolicus as well, while

masbankers examined from other sources were found to feed fairly

frequently on Mysidacea (Thysanopoda sp.) and on one occasion the

stomachs were gorged with Mesopodopsis slabbert van Beneden.

OTHER ORGANISMS FOUND IN THE STOMACH OF THE STOCKFISH.

Several other organisms were found in the stomachs from time to

time, which, although not forming part of the regular diet, are listed

here mainly for purposes of distribution records.

(a) Prawn-like Crustacea. The badly mutilated remains of red

prawn-like crustaceans were found several times in the stomachs,

and when whole specimens were recovered they were identified as

Solenocera sp. (probably S. siphonoceras) and Funchalia woodwardi

Johnson. On one occasion 18 of the latter were found in one stomach

and 12 in another. It is interesting to note that several adult males

of F. woodwardi were present among these specimens and are the

first to be recorded from South African waters.

(b) Photichthys argenteus Hutton, a deep-sea fish, which, like

Maurolicus, belongs to the family Stomiatidae, was found on four

Observations on the Food-Cycle of the South African Stockfish. 327

occasions but the presence (at other times) of pieces of skin with

photophores similar to Photichthys suggest that it may have been

eaten more frequently.

from the stomachs of stockfish only four times throughout the year,

which is surprising as they are said to occur in large shoals together

with masbankers.

(d) Jacopever. Five small (about 1-14 inches long) and very

young specimens of either the ordinary Jacopever (Sebastichthys) or

the Spiny Jacopever (Sebastosemus), probably the latter, were found

in a good state of preservation and were obviously freshly swallowed.

They were taken from two stockfish stomachs in December. The

stomachs of these young fish were gorged with Mysidacea.

(e) Helicolenus maculatus (C. and V.) (Sancord). Two obviously

freshly swallowed specimens were recovered in May and September.

One of them had been feeding heavily on Mysidacea.

(f) Tripterophycis gilchrists Blgr. (Gilchrist’s Triple-fin) was found

once in February.

(g) Parapagurus dimorphus (Studer) (Hermit crabs), large red

Sea-anemones, and Starfish were found several times and on one

occasion a Polychaete; most of these were obviously freshly swallowed.

CoMPARISON OF THE Foop-CYCLE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN

STOCKFISH WITH THAT OF THE HAKE OF EUROPEAN WATERS.

Unfortunately the Fisheries Investigations Reports (Nos. 1 and

2 of vol. x, Series II) of the British Ministry of Agriculture and

Fisheries, wherein Hickling describes in detail the food of the hake,

are not available in this country, and all the references to the hake

throughout this paper have been taken from “The Hake and the

Hake Fishery” which are his Buckland Lectures for 1934 published

in book form. However, for purposes of a general comparison

sufficient data are available and the following charts (see page 328)

of the food-cycles of the two fish show the essential features fairly

clearly.

In the case of the stockfish the initial links in the food chain have

not yet been established, but it is reasonable to assume that, following

the cycle of the hake, copepods feed on some plankton organisms

such as diatoms, and that very young stockfish, mysids and euphausiids

feed on copepods. The identity of the small fish mentioned by

Hickling which form an important part of the food of small hake,

Annals of the South African Museum.

328

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SaxaAVH

Observations on the Food-Cycle of the South African Stockfish. 329

blue whiting, horse mackerel, etc., has not been ascertained, but they

feed on copepods and euphausiids, and have their counterparts in

the stockfish cycle in Maurolicus and Myctophum. These small fish

feed on copepods, mysids and euphausiids, and are in turn fed upon

by small- and medium-sized stockfish, masbankers and macrurids,

which also feed on the small. crustacea. Small hake and small- and

medium-sized stockfish are important items of the food of the larger

fish. Hickling states that actually 21 per cent. of the food of the hake

consists of smaller hake. In the case of the hake cycle, cephalopods

feed on euphausiids and small fish, and in turn form one of the principal

constituents of the food of the hake generally. The food of the South

African cephalopods has not been ascertained, but they themselves

are fed upon largely by the medium-sized stockfish.

According to Hickling, most of the hake live in deep water at

depths of from 90 to 300 fathoms in the winter and spring, and during

this time they feed almost exclusively on blue whiting, smaller hake

and fantails (cephalopods). They then migrate to shallower waters

during summer and autumn and their food then consists chiefly of

mackerel, horse-mackerel and herring. The stockfish migrates,

apparently to deeper waters, during the spawning season which is

usually about the end of winter and the beginning of spring, but the

types of food present in the stomach, except for variations in CES

remain essentially the same throughout the year.

To what extent the hake exhibits the same peculiar discriminatory

powers as those apparently shown by the stockfish in their selection

of feod is not known, as the data are not available, but the size of

the stockfish seems to play an important part in the type of food which

will be eaten.

Note ON THE Foop or THE Kinc-KLIP,

Genyprervs capensis (A. SMITH).

A number of king-klip were obtained during the above investiga-

tions and it is of interest to record the contents of the stomachs,

as these fish are trawled in the same waters as the stockfish. The

specimens ranged in length from 174 to 444 inches and were examined

throughout the 18 months.

In view of the fact that the king-klip is found on the same fishing

grounds as the stockfish it is not surprising that the latter should

form part of the food of the king-klip, but it is interesting to note that

no specimens of king-klip were ever found in the food of the stockfish.

330 Annals of the South African Museum.

TABLE 5.—SHOWING ORGANISMS FOUND IN THE STOMACHS

OF THE KincG-KLIP.

Frequency of

Organism Present.

Occurrence.

Paracallionymus costatus (Blgr.),

Cape Dragonet . ; 15

Macrurids . : 14

* Merluccius capensis

Maurolicus sp. 6

Prawns (mostly Squilla armata) 8

Cephalopods 5

Small crustacea (mostly mysids) 8

Remains of small fish, unidentifiable 9

Remains of large fish, unidentifiable 2

The writer wishes to acknowledge with many thanks the assistance

given by Dr. K. H. Barnard of the South African Museum, who

identified all the marine organisms mentioned in the paper, and for

many helpful suggestions. The writer is also indebted to Dr. E. R.

Roux of Vitamin Oils Ltd. for the use of much unpublished data,

and to Dr. C. von Bonde, Director of Fisheries, for access to the

Fisheries Library and for allowing reproduction in part of the Depart-

ment of Fisheries chart of the fishing grounds.

SUMMARY.

1. The observations recorded in this paper were made during the

course of a bacteriological investigation of spoiled canned stockfish.

The stomachs of about 1450 stockfish trawled from the main Atlantic

fishing grounds were examined in an attempt to find the primary

source of the bacterial infection causing the spoilage.

2. The principal types of food were found to be species of Mysidacea

and Huphausiacea, small deep-sea fish Myctophum sp. and Maurolicus

sp., small stockfish, Macrurids, cephalopods, and to a lesser extent

masbankers (T'rachurus trachurus).

3. Several other organisms were found as well, but of these only

the prawns (Solenocera and Funchalia) may possibly form a minor

constituent of the stockfish diet.

* The smallest stockfish seen by the writer was recorded from the stomach

of the king-klip on 10th June 1943. It was-complete except for the rays of the

tail and measured 1? inches in length.

Observations on the Food-Cycle of the South African Stockfish. 331

4. The stockfish appears to show a certain amount of selectivity

in its food, and the size of the fish seems to have an important bearing

on the type of food eaten. Thus fish from 10 inches up to about

25 inches eat mainly small crustacea and the small deep-sea fishes,

Myctophum and Maurolicus, while fish above 30 inches length feed

chiefly on other stockfish, macrurids and masbankers. Fish between

25 and 30 inches appear to feed fairly evenly on all the major

constituents of the food of fish below and above these lengths.

Cephalopods were only recorded from the stomachs of fish between

18 and 30 inches.

5. (4) The main food of Mysidacea and Euphausiacea was not

ascertained although a few diatoms were recovered.

(6) Maurolicus and Myctophum feed on small crustaceans, chiefly

Mysidacea and Euphausiacea, and occasionally on copepods.

Chaetopoda, hermit crabs, sponge crabs and starfish were often

recovered from their stomachs, but other organisms such as Squilla

armata, Mysidacea, Huphausiacea, Cephalopoda, small stockfish,

dragonets and Maurolicus were also found as food.

(d) Masbankers appear to feed chiefly on small crustacea such as

Thysanopoda and Mesopodopsis, but include the small deep-sea fish

Maurolicus as well.

6. The food-cycle of the stockfish is very similar in its main

features to that of the European hake. The cycle can be repre-

sented generally thus: Plankton—Copepods+Small fish, Mysids

and Kuphausiids+Small- and medium-sized stockfish, Masbankers,

Macrurids (Cephalopods)->Large Stockfish.

7. A note is given of the food of the king-klip (Genypterus capensis).

REFERENCES.

(1) Barnarp, K. H. “A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa,”

Ann. S. Afr. Mus., xxi, pt. 1, 1925.

(2) Gmcurist, J. D. F. Fish Mar. Biol. Surv. Rep. II for 1921, Special Report

ITI, 1922, p. 60.

(3) Government Gazette, cxxii, No. 2820, October 1940.

(4) Roux, E. R. (unpublished data).

(5) Smita, G. ‘‘Crustacea,’’ Camb. Nat. Hist., iv, 1909.

(6) Hicxtine, C. F. ‘The Hake and the Hake Fishery,” Buckland Lectures for

1934.

(7) Katie, K., Raprson, W. S., and Scuwartz, H. M. “South African Fish

Products: Part V. The Maasbanker or MHorse-Mackerel (T'rachurus

trachurus, Lin.),”’ J. Soc. Chem. Ind., Ixiii, No. 2, February 1944.

VOL. XXXVI, PART 4. 23

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ANNALS

—

OF THE

_ SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM

VOLUME XXXVI.

3 3 PART V, containing :—

6. Reports on the Marie Mollusca in the Collections of the South

African Museum.—By J. R. uz B. Tomtiin, M.A.

7. Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes.—By K. H.

| Barnard, D.8c., F.L.S., Assistant Director. (With Plates

TX-XIII and 17 Text-figures.)

8. Report on a Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River, with

ae Notes on Zambesi Fishes.—By K. H. Barnarp, D.8c., F.L.S.,

Bees.” Assistant Director. (With 9 Text-figures.)

ISSUED JUNE 1948. PRICE £1, 3s. 6d.

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6. Reports on the Marine Mollusca in the Collections of the

South African Museum.—By J. R. Le B. Tomuin, M.A.

XI. Famity BUCCINIDAE.

Gen. Nassaria Link, 1807

THIS name is inconveniently similar to Nassarius Dumeril, 1806,

but is not to be rejected on that account. In 1853 H. and A. Adams

called the genus HINDsIA.

Nassaria acuminata (Reeve)

Triton acununatus Reeve, Conch. Icon., u, pl. 14, fig. 54, a, 6, June

1844. China.

Durban (Brit. Mus.). Mérch, Yoldi Cat., i, p. 107, gives it doubtfully

from the Cape.

Nassarva gracilis Sowerby III.

Marine Investigations in 8. Africa, u, p. 94, pl. 2, fig. 10, Sept. 1902.

Tugela R. mouth, N. by W2W., distant 154 miles: depth 40

fathoms.

Gen. Puos Montfort, 1810

Phos cyanostoma A. Adams

P.Z.S. Lond., 1850, p. 155, Feb. 1851. Philippine Islands.

Durban Bay (Falcon).

Phos laevigatus A. Adams

P.Z.S. Lond., 1850, p. 155, Feb. 1851. Cape of Good Hope.

Phos nodicostatus A. Adams

Ibid., p. 154. Negros Is.

Scottburgh (Burnup), a small example.

Phos roseatus Hinds

Voy. “Sulphur,” ii, p. 38, pl. 10, figs. 9, 10, 1844. Sumatra.

Durban (Brit. Mus.).

VOL. XXXVI, PART 5. gies 2S

334 Annals of the South African Museum.

Gen. Eneina Gray, 1839

Engina mendicaria (Linn.)

Voluta mendicaria Linn., Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 731, 1758. Asia.

Durban (Brit. Mus.); Natal (Krauss).

Engina perlata (Kister)

Buccinum perlatum Kister, Conch. Cab. (2), Lief. 163, pl. 12, fig. 56,

1858. Natal.

Engina natalensis Melvill, Proc. Mal. Soc. London, 1, p. 226, pl. 14,

fig. 12, 1895.

I have seen specimens from as far west as Hast London and Port

Alfred. It occurs up the EH. coast as far as Mombasa.

Engina astricta (Reeve)

Ricinula astricta Reeve, Conch. Icon., iii, pl. 4, fig. 30, Oct. 1846.

Hab. ?

Umkomaas (Burnup); Durban (McClelland).

Charitodoron Tomlin, 1932

Charitodoron euphrosyne Tornlin

Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxx, p. 167, fig. 8, 1932. Off Cape Point in 660-

700 fathoms, 26 miles E. in 218 fathoms, and 18 miles N. 50°

EK. in 180 fathoms.

Charitodoron aglaca Tomlin

Ibid., p. 169; figs 951952) "S: Atmiea:

Charitodoron thalia Tomlin

Ibid., p. 169, fig. 10, 1932. Off Cape Point in 131 fathoms and in

800-900 fathoms.

Charitodoron pasithea Tomlin

Tomlin, J. Conch., xxu, p. 50, text-fig., 1943.

Off Cape Point in 430-630 fathoms.

Gen. HuTHria Gray 1850

Euthria filmerae Sowerby III

Proc. Mal. Soc. London, iv, p. 1, pl. 1, fig. 3, April 1900. Pondoland.

Reports on the Marine Mollusca. 335

Euthria ponsonbyt Sowerby III.

Journ. of Conch., vi, p. 149, pl. 3, fig. 3, Oct. 1889. 8. Africa.

Taken subsequently not rarely ex piscibus.

Euthria pura Martens

Deutsch. Tief-See Exp., vii, Lief, 1, p. 25, pl. 2, fig. 14, 1903. Agulhas

Current, 273 fathoms.

Euthria queketia Smith

Journ. of Conch., x, p. 110, pl.i, fig. 1, 1901. Ina fish caught 10 miles

off Durban in 40 fathoms.

Gen. Pisanta Bivona, 1832

Pisama tritonoides (Reeve)

Buccinum tritonoides Reeve, Conch. Icon., i, pl. 10, fig. 77, Dec.

1846. Ticao Is.

Durban (Brit. Mus.).

Pisama marmorata (Reeve)

Bucconum marmoratum Reeve, Conch. Icon., i, pl. 12, fig. 95, Dec.

1846. Capul Is.

Isipingo (B.M.); Durban (McClelland and Casey); Port Elizabeth

(Sowerby).

Pisania crenlabrum A. Adams

P.Z.S. London, 1854, p. 138, April 1855. W. Indies (by error).

Pisania montrouziert Crosse, J. de C., x, p. 251, pl. 10, fig. 7, 1862,

New Caledonia.

Pondoland (Sowerby); Umkomaas (Burnup); Natal (Brit. Mus.);

Coffee Bay (Tyson in Albany Mus., several).

Gen. Pottia Gray in Sowerby, 1834

Pollia subcostata (Krauss)

Buccinum rubiginosum Reeve var. subcostata Krauss, Siidafr. Moll.,

p. 120, 1848. Natal.

Buccinum cariniferum Kiister, Conch. Cab. (2), Lief. 163, p. 63,

pl. 12, figs. 9, 10, 1858. Natal.

Tritonidea natalensis Smith, J. of C., x, p. 111, pl. 1, fig. 23, 1901.

Durban.

Durban (Burnup and McClelland); Izotoka (coll. Tomlin).

336 Annals of the South African Museum.

Krauss’ above name is evidently intended for this species. Sowerby

(J. of C., vii, p. 368, and Mar. Invest., 1, p. 229) wrongly identified it

with T. subrubiginosa Smith.

Martens wrongly identified it with Buccinum porcatum Gmelin

(J. B. Mal. Ges., I, p. 136).

Pollia insculpta (Sowerby ITI)

Tritomdea insculpta Sow., Pr. Mal. Soc. London, iv, p. 2, pl. 1, fig. 4,

April 1900. The Kowie.

Pollia shepstonensis Tomlin

Ann. Natal Mus., v, p. 291, pl. 16, fig. 4, May 1926. Beach End,

near Port Shepstone.

Pollia undosa (Linn.)

Buccinum undosum Linn., Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 740, 1758. Asia.

A very common Indo-Pacific shell, recorded from Durban and

Port Elizabeth; Cape, not uncommon (Sow.). Falcon has one

35 mm. long from Durban Bay. Sowerby (J. of C., vi, p. 148, 1889)

unnecessarily introduces a var. minor—fortunately a nomen nudum.

It is always a variable shell in point of size.

Gen. Metuta H. and A. Adams

Metula clathrata (A. Adams and Reeve)

Buccinum clathratum A. Adams and Reeve, Zool. Voy. Samarang, p. 32,

pl. u, fig. 12, 1850. Cape of Good Hope, 136 fathoms.

Gen. BuRNUPENA Iredale, 1918

Burnupena cincta (Réding)

Buccinum mexicanum Bruguiere, Enc. Méth. Vers., I, p. 260, 1789.

Mexico.

Buccinum cinctum Réding, Mus. Bolt., p. 113, 1798.

Buccinum porcatum Gmelin, Syst. Nat., p. 3494, 1791. Anglia.

(non da Costa 1778.)

Purpura ligata Lamarck, An. s. Vert., vil, p. 244, 1822. Hab.?2

Buccinum crassum Morch, Cat. Yoldi, i, p. 94, 1852. Cape.

Buccinum pubescens Kiister, Conch. Cab. (2), Lief. 162 and 164,

p- 73, pl. 18, figs. 8, 9, 1858. Hab. unknown, probably S. Africa.

Reports on the Marine Mollusca. 337

Common and generally distributed. The earliest name is un-

doubtedly Buccanum mexicanum Brug., but I have hesitated to make

use of this, in view of its incorrectness.

Tryon says that Buccinum biservale Kiister from Cape Elim is this

species.

Burnupena lumbosa (Lamarck)

Purpura limbosa Lamarck, An. s. Vert., vil, p. 243, Aug. 1822. Hab.?

Cominella porcata multihrata Bartsch, U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 91, p. 47,

pl. 4, fig. 6, July 1915. Cape of Good Hope.

St. James and Lambert’s Bay (Stephenson); Camps Bay (Connolly);

Port Alfred (Turton); Natal (Krauss); Dyer Is. (Odhner);

False Bay and Algoa Bay (Martens).

Burnupena prolongata (Smith)

Cominella (?) prolongata Smith, J. of C., ix, p. 248, pl. 5, fig. 3, 1899.

Cape Colony.

Until other and better specimens turn up it is doubtful where this

should be placed.

Burnupena delalandw (Kiener)

Buccinum delalandii Kiener, Coq. Viv., p. 15, pl. 5, fig. 14, 1834.

Cape of Good Hope.

Port Nolloth and Lambert’s Bay (Stephenson); Saldanha Bay

(Kimberley Mus.); Port Alfred (Turton); Dyer Is. (Odhner);

Liideritzbucht.

Burnupena lagenaria (Lamarck)

Purpura lagenaria Lam., An. s. Vert., vii, p. 245, Aug. 1822. Hab.?

Purpura cucurbita Duclos, Ann. Sci. Nat., xxvi, p. 112, pl. 2, fig. 12,

May 1832. Hab. Inconnu.

Buccinum violaceum Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. Astrolabe, 1, p. 456,

pl. 30, figs. 32-34, 1832. Table Bay.

Common in the Cape Province. Quoy and Gaimard’s Buccinum

violaceum (Voy. Astrolabe, Zool., ii, p. 456, pl. 30, figs. 32-4, 1832)

may possibly be this species.

Burnupena papyracea (Bruguiére)

Buccinum papyraceum Brug., Enc. Méth., Vers, I, p. 260, 1789.

Norway (error).

Buccinum anglicum Gmelin, Syst. Nat., p. 3494, 1791. England

(error). ,

338 Annals of the South African Museum.

Buccinum anglicanum Reeve, Conch. Icon., iii, pl. 4, fig. 23, Dec. 1846.

England and Norway.

Buccinum intinctum Reeve, l.c., pl. 5, fig. 82, Dec. 1846. Hab.?

Buccinum robustum Kiister, Conch. Cab. (2), Lief. 164 and 165, p. 81,

pl. 14, fig. 13, pl. 15, fig. 5, 1858. Cape and Natal.

Port Nolloth (Stephenson); Liideritzbucht.

Burnupena semisulcata (Sowerby ITT)

Cominella semisulcata Sow., Marine Shells 8.A., p. 10, pl. 1, fig. 7;

1892. Port Elizabeth.

Turton does not seem to have come across this, but Becker sent me

several from Port Alfred many years ago.

Burnupena tigrina (Kiener)

Buccinum tigrinum Kiener, Coq. Viv., p. 27, pl. 10, fig. 32, 1834.

Hab.? Common in the Cape Province.

Burnupena dunkeri (Kiister)

Bucconum dunkert Kiister, Conch. Cab. (2), Lief 164 and 165, p. 86,

pl. 15, figs. 9-11, 1858. Cape.

Fusus lwneolatus (Dunker) Philippi, Abbild., i, p. 110, pl. 1, fig. 10,

March 1844. Cape. [non F. lineolatus Costa 1840.]

Burnupena capensis (Philippi)

Fusus capensis (Dunker) Philippi, Abbild., i, p. 110, pl. 1, fig. 7.

March 1844. Cape of Good Hope.

Euthria turtons Bartsch, U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 91, p. 50, pl. 3, fig. 6,

July 1915. Port Alfred.

Port Alfred and East London. This is probably the shell that

Sowerby (M. Shells, App. 2) lists as Huthria magellani Vélain: ef.

Smith in Pr. Mal. Soc. London, V, p. 371.

Sowerby (M. Shells S.A. p. 10) gives the New Zealand Cominella

glandiformis (Reeve) as South African with a query. It certainly

does not occur here.

Gen. AFROCOMINELLA Iredale, 1918

Afrocominella simoniana (Petit)

Fusus simonianus Petit, J. de C., i, p. 164, pl. 7, fig. 7, 1852. Cape

Agulhas.

Reports on the Marine Mollusca. 339

Conwnella elongata Dunker, Pr. Z.8. London, 1856, p. 356, May 1857.

Hab. ?.

Cominella alfredensis Bartsch, U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 91, p. 48, pl. 3,

fig. 7, July 1915. Port Alfred.

Petit’s name for this common shell has been overlooked. The

figure is unmistakable.

Afrocominella lacertina (Gould).

Euthrya lacertina Gould, Pr. Boston Soc. N.H., vii, p. 327, Sept. 1860.

Simons Bay.

I have what I take to be this species from Jeffreys Bay and False

Bay and specimens which Stephenson took at Lambert’s Bay.

Afrocominella angusta (Sowerby IIT)

Cominella angusta Sow., J. of C., v, p. 4, Jan. 1886, and vi, pl. 1,

fig. 8. Port Elizabeth and Port Alfred.

Afrocominella puncturata (Sowerby ITI)

Cominella puncturata Sow., J. of C., v, p. 2, Jan. 1886, vi, pl. 1, fig. 9.

Common on the Cape coast.

Gen. GLYPTEUTHRIA Strebel, 1905

Glypteuthria capensis Toralin

AuienooNe Mus, xxx, p. 165, fic, 6, 1952. Cape Pomt, N. 41° H,,

38 miles, 318-400 fathoms.

Glypteuthria solidissima Tomlin

Ibid., p. 166, fig. 7. Cape Point, 11 miles, 45 fathoms.

( 341 )

1. Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes.

By K. H. Barnarp, D.Sc., F.L.S., Assistant Director.

(With Plates [X—XIII and 17 Text-figures.)

THIS paper contains notes on the material which has been received

at the South African Museum since the publication of my last paper

(Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxxu, 1937). Interim notes and photographs

of some of the recent acquisitions have appeared in the Museum

Reports for 1937, 1938, 1939 (published respectively 1938-1940).

Several donors have contributed the specimens on which these

notes are based. The Museum is greatly indebted to the firm of

Messrs. Irvin & Johnson, Cape Town. The skippers and crews of the

trawlers of this firm have kept a sharp look-out for rare and unusual

fishes; in particular the names of Captains Gibson, McGill, and Pace

should be mentioned with gratitude. Thanks are also due to the

National Trawling and Fishing Co. Ltd., Cape Town, one of whose

trawlers obtained the remarkable new Hand-brush Fish (Ateleopid).

The literature published on South African Marine Fishes since 1936

need not be specified here, but one paper was omitted in the list

given in my 1937 paper: 1930. Pauca. Ann. Nat. Hist. Mus.

Wien, xliv, pp. 33-37 (Walfish Bay records). Also, the reference

to Smith’s paper on the Aluteridae should follow the reference to his

paper in Rec. Alb. Mus., iv.

In Mr. J. R. Norman’s paper on the John Murray Expedition

Fishes (John Murray Exp. Rep., vii, 1939) there are records which

extend the distribution of several fishes of the South African fauna-

list up the east coast of Africa to Zanzibar and the Arabian Sea

region.

I wish to express my thanks to Mr. Norman of the British Museum

for lending me pamphlets (unobtainable here) from his personal

library, and giving me his opinion on several matters concerning

morphology and synonymy.

Observations on the oesophageal sacs and teeth of Stromateids,

and finally, some notes on hyperostosis of the supra-occipital bone

are here given.

342 Annals of the South African Museum.

Famity BRANCHIOSTOMIDAE.

Branchiostoma capense Gilch.

1884. Report S. African Museum for 1883, p. 8 (“Amphioxus

lanceolatus’’).

1925. Barnard. Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxi, p. 12.

The first record of an Amphioxus from South Africa is that contained

in the above Report. The specimen was dredged in 40 fathoms in

Simons Bay (False Bay) by Mr. H. W. Oakley, Assistant Curator,

and was identified at the time as the European species.

It was mentioned by Gilchrist, 1902, p. 112, together with the other

specimens on which capense was founded. Unfortunately Oakley’s

historic specimen was not returned to the Museum.

Famity SCYLLIORHINIDAE.

Scylltorhinus africanus (Gmel.).

1925. Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxi, p. 39.

1939. Id., Rep. 8. Afr. Mus. for 1938, p. 12 (albino).

An albino specimen, 450 mm. in length, was caught at Kalk Bay

(False Bay) in November 1938 and presented to the Museum by Mr.

Fleck.

It was uniform creamy-white all over; the extremities of the fins,

especially the caudal, were pinkish, but this may have been due to

extravasation of blood after capture. The colour of the iris was

cream; the pupil was colourless when the specimen was brought to

the Museum, but may have been emerald green in life, like that of

Squalus acanthias. After preservation in alcohol an extremely

faint indication of one of the normal dark lateral stripes appeared.

Famity ISURIDAE.

Gen. Isurnus Raf.

Isurus bideni Phillips.

Blue Porpoise Shark.

1925. Barnard, l.c., p. 33 (Isurus glauca, non M. and H.).

1931. Whitley, Rec. Austral. Mus., xviii, p. 140, pl. 20, figs. 1, 2

(Isuropsis sp.).

1932. Phillips, W. J., New Zeal. J. Sci. Techn., xiii, p. 227, fig. 2.

1941. Fowler, Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., no. 100, vol. 13, p. 104.

“*

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 343

The South African form of Porbeagle has been described as a

distinct species with the above name, after Mr. C. L. Biden. Whether

it is distinguished by really constant characters from Isurus glaucus,

and other species, remains to be tested on a large series of specimens

of all sizes.

In Fowler’s key, bedenz is said to have the anal base wholly behind

2nd dorsal fin, in contrast with glaucus which has it partly beneath

the 2nd dorsal. Two specimens are in the South African Museum:

one is a g and corresponds with glaucus, the other is a 9 and corre-

sponds with bideni.

Famity GONORHYNCHIDAE.

Gonorhynchus gonorhynchus (Linn.).

1766. Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 12,1, p. 528.

1925. Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxi, p. 125, pl. 6, fig. 4.

1931. Chabanaud, Bull. Soc. geol. Fr., (5), 1, pp. 497 sqq. (figs.

scale, skeleton, chart of distribution of recent species).

1937. Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxxii, p. 46 (gronovi).

At the time of my last note I had not actually seen Chabanaud’s

paper. Linnaeus’ name is accepted: gronovir C. and V., 1846, and

brevis Kner, 1867, being synonyms.

The distribution is from Port Nolloth to Natal, and the islands of

Bourbon and St. Paul (southern Indian Ocean).

All the species of the genus are very closely allied and are separated

on slight differences in the position of the dorsal fin (see Ogilby,

Ann. Queensland Mus., x. pp. 30 sqq.).

Famity ARGENTINIDAE.

Gen. NANSENIA Jord. and Everm.

1896. Jordan and Evermann, Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., xlvu, p. 528.

1922. Gilchrist, Rep. Fish. Mar. Biol. Surv., Rep. 2, Spec. Rep. 3,

p. 53 (Bathymacrops).

1939. Norman, Rep. John Murray Exp., vii., p. 16.

The genus is provisionally placed in the Argentinidae by Norman.

Nansenia groenlandica (Reinhdt.).

1922. Gilchrist, l.c., p. 53, pl. 9, fig. 2 (B. macrolepis).

1925) Barnard, Ann. S. Afr. Mius., xxi, p. 129, pl. 7, fig. 3 (B.

macrolepis).

344 Annals of the South African Museum.

1939. Norman, l.c., p. 16, fig. 4 (synonyms).

Distribution.—N. Atlantic, near Zanzibar, Maldives.

Famity STOMIATIDAE.

1925. Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxi, p. 131.

1930. Regan and Trewavas, Rep. “Dana” Exp., No. 6, p. 53.

The remarkable fish described below was brought up in the trawl

about 40 miles W.N.W. of Cape Town from 220 fathoms, September

1937. The skipper of the trawler, Capt. J. T. R. Gibson, who has

on several previous occasions brought interesting fish to the Museum,

reported that the fish was alive when the trawl came on board, with

its head bent downwards almost at right angles to the body. It was

photographed in this position (“Cape Times,” 16/10/1937). Before

placing the fish in alcohol, however, Mr. Drury, of the Museum,

found that the flesh of the ventral surface was pulled forwards and

hooked over one of the teeth of the lower jaw; he unhooked it and

more or less straightened out the head.

I did not see this fish until after preservation. I found then that

the head could be eased into the normal position, and that the skin

of the chest formed an angular projection below the pectoral fins.

On the right side there was a fold of skin into which the opercle would

fit when the head was bent down; on the left side there were only a

few creases in the flesh. Fig.1, a, shows the fish with head straightened

out and the ventral flap extended.

In July 1939 a larger and nearly perfect cocaine was captured by

Capt. Pace, skipper of one of the same Company’s (Irvin & Johnson)

trawlers, in approximately the same locality.

This specimen shows that the peculiar convex profile of the upper

surface of the head in the first specimen is abnormal; and that the

size of the eye in proportion to the head is probably also abnormal.

In the second specimen the dentition is asymmetrical.

Gen. Opostomias Gnthr.

1887. Giinther, “Challenger” Rep., vol. xxii, p. 208.

1930. Regan and Trewavas, l.c., p. 55.

1941. Imai, Jap. J. Zool., ix, p. 239.

Although there are slight differences in the numbers of dorsal, anal,

and pectoral rays, these two specimens are very close to the Australian

micripnus, the only species included in this genus. Giinther stated

that maxillary teeth were absent, but Regan and Trewavas say

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 345

“maxillary teeth minute, not piercing skin.” The present specimens

are in agreement with Giinther’s statement.

A more important feature is the presence (in both specimens) of

the post-temporal bone (fig. 2, a, c), in consequence of which the present

specimens cannot be fitted into any of the genera in the key given

by Regan and Trewavas (l.c., p. 53). Possibly the post-temporal

was overlooked in the type specimen of Opostomas; if not, too much

taxonomic importance appears to have been attached to the presence

or absence of this bone. The Australian and South African species

are so much alike that two separate genera are unnecessary.

Opostomias gubsonpacet n.sp.

Figs. 1, 2.

Description of first specimen (Capt. Gibson’s).

Parietal and post-temporal bones present (figs. 1, e; 2, a,c). Depth

Fic. 1.—Opostomias gibsonpacei n.sp. 4, first specimen, lateral series of photo-

phores diagrammatic, not the exact number. 8, end of barbel. 6, end of pectoral

ray. d, tooth with its denticle. e, dorsal view of centre and right side of skull,

=parietal bone.

(at ventral fins) 8, length of head (to symphysis of lower jaw, which

does not extend beyond tip of snout) 9 in length (excl. caudal fin).

Eye 3 in length of head, 1} in interorbital width. Pupil round, about

1 eye diameter. Snout 14 in eye, 43 in head. Thickness of body

(at ventral fin) about 3 in depth.

346 Annals of the South African Museum.

All teeth simple, not apically bifid or barbed; 5 in each jaw, the

2nd upper and Ist lower fang-like, the latter perforating the pre-

maxillae when mouth closed; all fixed except the 2nd in lower jaw,

which is depressible; a small denticle, consisting of a soft base with

enamel tip and with dermal attachment only, on the inside of each

tooth (fig. 1, d); a pair of vomerine teeth, the left one depressible,

the right fixed; no palatine or lingual teeth.

Symphysis of lower jaw knob-like. Gill-rakers short, spiniform,

mostly in pairs, 2 on upper+8 on lower portion of anterior arch

(each pair counted as one raker). Branchiostegal rays 10 (? 11).

Barbel 12 as long as head (about 58 mm.), black, ending in a slight

expansion, which is white, 3 white filaments of fair length and 2 short

subapical ones (fig. 1, 0).

Dorsal and anal arising opposite one another; D 23, lst ray very

short and more or less concealed in skin (last ray double but counted

as one). A 26 (the last ray single). C 17, with 3-4 short curved

basal rays on upper and lower margins. V 7, midway between tip

of snout and base of caudal fin, lateral, but not high up, the outer-

most ray very slender, filamentous, the other rays broken. P 1+5,

the lowermost ray about 50 mm. in length, separate, black, with a

white margin at about 30-32 mm., which ends freely as a short

digitiform process, beyond this the ray continues (about 18 mm.) as

an exceedingly fine filament (fig. 1, c); the 5 short rays so close together

as to appear like only 2 or 3, until dissected out. Lateral surfaces

of dorsal, anal, caudal, and ventral fins with minute scabrosities.

Post-ocular luminous organ rather large, longitudinally oval.

Lateral photophores present but impossible to count; ventral series:

4 symphysial, 13 branchiostegal, 7 below right pectoral fin as far as

the fold of skin (skin on left side injured), 20 to ventral fin, 17 from

ventrals to vent, 10-11 long base of anal.

Total length 355 mm. Dark blackish-brown, skin when closely

examined, with minute black dots arranged more or less in vertical

lines, photophores whitish, those on the branchiostegal membranes

amethystine. Innumerable minute white dots which may be photo-

phores (cf. Giinther, p. 209).

Description of second specimen (Capt. Pace’s). Agrees with the

first specimen in the presence of parietal and post-temporal bones,

and in other features except as follows.

Depth (at ventral fins) 641, length of head (to symphysis of lower

jaw, which projects beyond tip of snout) 8 in length (excl. caudal

fin). Hye 54 in length of head (to tip of snout), 14 in snout, 2 in

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 347

interorbital width. Snout 4 in length of head (to tip of snout).

Thickness (at ventral fins) 2? in depth. Pupil round, approximately

4 eye diameter.

Dentition similar to first specimen except: in lower jaw 2 large

fangs on left side, none on right, the socket being covered over with

skin (fig. 2, 6); the peculiar denticles on dermal pedicels are absent,

cee LD epee SARs

as Sa

ee fete.

; Fic. 2.—Opostomias gibsonpacei n.sp. a, head of second specimen, with shoulder

girdle indicated. 6, front view of Ist lower left tooth. c, post-temporal bone.

d, end of barbel.

there is a depressible tooth behind the 4th and the 5th teeth in lower

jaw on left side (fig. 2, a), on right side 2 depressible teeth (between

which the upper fang closes), then 4 fixed teeth, the 2nd of which is

the largest, corresponding with the normal 4th tooth on left side,

and the hindmost 2 adnate at their bases; teeth in upper jaw sym-

metrical, the 3rd tooth is the smallest, more or less concealed in skin,

and close in front of the 4th, behind the latter a depressible tooth;

left tooth on vomer fixed, the right depressible.

Barbel about 12 as long as head (about 90 mm.), with 3 filaments

above, the middle one with a pinkish knob at end, and 2 elongate

subapical filaments below (fig. 2, d).

D 23, 6th or 7th ray longest, about equal to post-ocular part of

head. A 25, 7th or 8th ray longest, slightly longer than longest

348 Annals of the South African Museum.

dorsal rays, last ray arising at level posterior to origin of last dorsal

ray. C19, with 4 or 5 curved rays on upper and lower basal margins;

lower lobe stronger than upper. V 7, length about 46 mm., Ist ray

slender but not longer than the others. P 1+5, the lowermost

(isolated) ray about 47 mm. in length, the white margin not ending

in a free projection (fig. 2, a).

Post- (or sub-) ocular luminous organ oval, whitish, with a red spot

in it anteriorly. Lateral photophores not counted; ventral series

approximately as in first specimen.

Total length 515mm. Colour as in first specimen; but all lateral and

ventral photophores amethystine. Ventrals grey, all rays pale, mem-

brane between 3rd and 7th rays black in its distal 3 (as in micripnus).

Remarks.—It would not be surprising if a re-examination of the

types of micripnus showed that a few of the dorsal, anal, or pectoral

rays were overlooked in the original description (Giinther: D 21,

A 23, P 148). Giinther counted 15 branchiostegals; I cannot

find more than 11 in either of my specimens. Perhaps the most

noticeable difference in the descriptions is the shape of the pupil,

which Giinther said was vertical; the figure shows it vertically oval,

and proportionately much smaller than the round pupil of the present

specimens.

There appears also to be a great similarity in the skin of the

Australian and South African specimens, with its vertical lines of

dark dots, faint pale nebulous banding, and the innumerable scattered

minute dots which may be luminous (cf. Giinther, p. 209).

Although this fish appears to be normally of compressed shape,

the first specimen was certainly in an emaciated condition. The

gonads were in an early stage of development, too early for sexing.

The second specimen was in good condition, and the whole of the

body cavity was filled up with the two ovaries, containing an enormous

number of eggs, apparently nearly ripe.

In both specimens the stomach and intestine were completely

empty. The structure is as described by Regan and Trewavas

(l.c., p. 37) for Stomiatids in general. The caecal stomach is very

long, extending almost to the vent, black with whitish vascular

network on its surface; in the smaller specimen there are two

subsidiary diverticula on the stomach. The connection between

stomach and intestine is very similar to that of Idiacanthus (Regan

and Trewavas, l.c., fig. 8, HE), with two well-developed pyloric caeca.

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 349

Famity MYCTOPHIDAE.

The expectation (Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxi, p. 1021, 1927) that Lampa-

dena would eventually be found in South African waters has at last

been fulfilled.

- Lampadena chavesi Collett.

1905. Collett, Zool. Anz., xxviii, p. 728.

1906. Brauer, Wiss. Erg. D. Tiefsee Exp., xv, p. 210, fig. 129.

1911. Zugmayer, Res. Sci. Camp. Monaco, fasc. 35, p. 29.

1914. Pappenheim, D. Siidpol. Exp., xv, p. 194.

1916. Regan, Brit. Antarct. (“Terra Nova”’) Exp., i, p. 140, pl. 6,

fig. 8 (post larva).

1928. Taning, Vid. Medd. Dansk. Naturf. For., lxxxvi.

1928. Parr, Bull. Bingham Ocean. Coll., iii, 3, p. 149.

1936. Fowler, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., xx, 1, p. 399, fig. 198

(after Brauer).

A. fine specimen of this species was caught in December 1943 by

one of Irvin & Johnson’s trawlers (Skipper Warren) in about 200

fathoms on the Stock-fish grounds N.W. of Table Bay. At the same

time a specimen of Hchiostoma tanner (Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,

xxxu, p. 48, 1937) was taken from the stomach of a stock-fish.

The present specimen is considerably larger than any of those

previously recorded, but appears to agree in all respects with the

specific diagnosis given by Parr.

Brauer redescribed Collett’s example, which was 70 mm. in length.

Length.—155 mm. (to end of middle caudal rays).

Distribution.—Azores (Collett); off Moroccan coast, 3660 m.

(Zugmayer); west of Cape Verde Islands, 3000 m. (Pappenheim).

Famity ATHELEOPODIDAE.

1925. Barnard, Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus., xxi, p. 250 (Ateleopidae).

1929. Roule, Bull. Inst. ocean. Monaco, no. 546, p. 13.

1935. Rivero, Mem. Soc. Cubana Hist. Nat., ix, p. 91 (p. 1 in

reprint).*

The family diagnosis as given in 1925 has to be slightly altered.

Body more or less elongate. Mouth more or less inferior, protractile,

small or large. Teeth present or absent; when present, small,

villiform, in bands in upper or in both jaws. Pupil not always very

* My thanks are due to Mr. Norman for lending me his personal copy of Rivero’s

paper.

VOL. SSVI, PART 0. 25

300 Annals of the South African Museum.

small. Perforated scales present on inner wall of the lateral mucus

canal which lies below the surface of the skin. Ventral fins jugular

or thoracic; each consisting of a more or less elongate anterior ray,

followed by 2 or 3 rudimentary or well-developed rays, and also in

one genus by a well-developed membrane-bearing fin. Vent and

genital opening separate or opening into a common cloaca. No

pseudobranchiae.

Rivero found a difference in the pelvic arch between Ateleopus

and Parateleopus on the one hand, and Jjzmaza on the other hand.

The former (Ateleopinae) have two foramina and two feeble ossifica-

tions; the latter (Jjimainae) has only a single median foramen and

no ossifications.

To these three genera is now added a fourth, remarkable for several

features, which might quite reasonably be made the type of a third

subfamily. The well-developed ventral fin and the short tail seem

to indicate a lesser degree of specialization, whereas the scales in the

lateral mucus canal are more highly specialized.

In the South African Museum the name “Handbrush Fish” has

been adopted for these fishes, the body being likened to the handle,

and the tail with its long anal fin to the brush.

Key to the Genera (adapted from Rivero).

1. Pelvic arch wide, with 2 foramina and 2 ossifications. Head

as long as trunk. Ventral ray elongate (no proper fin).

a. 8-10 dorsal rays : : - ; - : : Ateleopus

b. 3 dorsal rays . : : : . Parateleopus.

2. Pelvic arch narrow, with one median foramen and no ossifidations:

Head approximately equal to or shorter than trunk.

a. Ventral ray short, followed by 3 rudimentary rays (no

proper fin). Dorsal rays 9-10 . : : Ljimaia.

6. Ventral consisting of 3 separate rays and a proper fin.

Dorsal rays 12 : ; 5 5 : : . Melanogloea.

Gen. ATELEOPUS Schlegel.

Ateleopus natalensis Regan.

Fig. 3.

1925, Barnardel-c.. ps 205i.

1935. Rivero, l.c., p. 7 (in reprint).

1939. Norman, John Murray Exp. Rep., vii, p. 31.

Rivero expresses the opinion that this is probably a synonym of

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 351

japonicus Blkr.; Norman is inclined to agree, but points out certain

differences.

Where the skin is not abraded, the course of the lateral mucus

canal can be traced by a series of shallow depressions. As in the case

of Ijimaia (infra) these depressions do not communicate with the

canal. On cutting open the canal, perforated scales at intervals are

seen lying on the internal (body side) wall of the canal. These scales

are broadly oval, with lines of growth, but without any little pro-

jection on the internal surface near the foramen.

Fic. 3.—Aleleopus natalensis Regan. Ventral fins: a, left fin, slightly enlarged,

prior to dissection, and further enlarged showing the components separated after

dissection; 6, right fin of same individual, showing variation. c, portion of lateral

mucus canal cut open to show perforated scales on inner wall.

Each ventral fin consists of one long ray, segmented distally, and a

separate small skinny projection behind it. When dissected the long

ray 1s found to consist of 2 short spines and a long segmented ray,

each one paired. In the enlarged figure (3, a) these 6 components

are drawn separated. The cutaneous membrane enclosing the whole

“ray” extends as an unsupported filament well beyond the end of the

segmented ray. The rudimentary detached portion also consists of

paired elements, but not so closely bound together as in the long

“ray.” There are 3 pairs of spines (sometimes an extra single one),

and the hindmost pair, or one of its halves, may be segmented. This

rudimentary fin varies in different individuals, and even on the two

sides of the same individual, as shown in fig. 3, a, b.

The stomach contents of specimens in the South African Museum

352 Annals of the South African Museum.

consist of Crustacea, both Macrura and Brachyura, but none of the

fragments is specifically identifiable.

NMstribution.—Off Zanzibar, 640-658 metres (John Murray Exp.).

An interesting juvenile specimen, presented to the South African

Museum by Dr. Roux (Vitamin Oils Ltd., Cape Town), was caught

during daylight in a surface tow-net about 40 miles N.W. of Table

Bay.

Total length 223 mm., depth just in front of dorsal fin 15 mm., at

vent 14 mm., and midway between these two points 18 mm. D 10.

P13. A108 0r 109. C9(A+Cca. 118). Gill-rakers on first arch 8,

lower ones not well developed. Hye 24 in snout, 7 in length of head,

3 in interorbital width. Top of head flat, in side view the eye almost

touching dorsal profile. Dorsal and pectoral fins subequal, about

14+ as long as head. Ventral fin consisting of 3 long simple rays a

trifle longer than length of head, and 2 short rays. Pelvic arch with

the posterior projections distally expanded, but not as strongly as

in adult; the presence of foramina (one or two) not determined with

certainty owing to the extreme tenuity of the arch in the centre line.

From the vertical of the fore part of dorsal fin a fleshy midventral

ridge extends to the vent. A few indications of the formation of

scales on the inner wall of the lateral mucus canal were visible, but no

actually formed scales could be isolated.

The whole body, pale, semi-transparent (similar to a Leptocephalus

after preservation), the hind end of the gut near vent greyish showing

through the skin; upper part of eyeball blackish, the rest pale,

pupil black; front margin and tip of dorsal grey, front margin and

tip of pectoral black, anal with a narrow black margin.

This specimen is referable certainly to the genus Afeleopus, and

possibly to natalensis, though natalensis has not been found outside

the Natal area, and no species of this genus is known from either the

north or the south Atlantic.

Gen. IgIMAIA Sauter.

1905. Sauter, Annot. Zool. Japon, v, p. 235.

1929. Roule, l.c., p. 138.

1935. Rivero, l.c., p. 7 (in reprint).

The external differential features of this genus are the head shorter

than trunk, and the short ventral ray, followed by 3 rudimentary

rays.

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 353

Ijimaia lopper Roule.

Fig. 4,

1929. Roule, l.c., p. 14, text-fig.

1935. Rivero, l.c., p. 8 (in reprint).

Owing to the flabbiness of the whole fish and the soft and gelatinous

Fie. 4.—Ijimaia loppei Roule. a, external view of slipper-like pocket in skin

over lateral mucus canal. 6, scale from lateral mucus canal with longitudinal

section (in a. and 0b. anterior end to left). c, ventral fin.

nature of the snout, the usual ‘“‘exact”? measurements cannot be

given.

Skin gelatinous and naked; a moderate number of scales embedded

in the lateral mucus canal. Vent very prominent. From about the

vertical from the vent there is a low mid-dorsal fleshy ridge extending

to base of caudal fin (cf. Sauter’s figure of I. doflerns, 1905).

Head shorter than trunk; head plus trunk 4 length from snout to

base of caudal rays. A conical knob behind eye, its tip projecting

through the skin (? due to abrasion in trawl). Eye 7-8 in post-ocular

part of head; 2 in distance from anterior margin of eye to anterior

304 Annals of the South African Museum.

nostril. Distance from eye to anterior nostril 34 in post-ocular part

of head. Pupil round.

Upper jaw with short band of villiform teeth. Gill-rakers 10 on

1st arch, the lowest one feeble. Branchiostegals 7. Gill membranes

free from isthmus.

D10. P14. V14+38. A79. C11(A+C90). Distance between

verticals from base of 1st dorsal ray and end of opercle 24 in post-ocular

part of head. Height of dorsal approximately equal to the longest

pectoral rays, and also to distance from anterior nostril to end of

opercle; length of base of dorsal 24 in height of dorsal, 2 in post-ocular

part of head. The spine of the ventral fin is about 30 mm. long, stiff,

somewhat sinuous, apically acute; the 3 rudimentary rays are 5-7

mm. long, very slender and inconspicuous (fig. 4, c¢).

Lateral line not so near dorsal profile as in Roule’s figure: it lies

approximately midway between base of dorsal and upper base of

pectoral. In the anterior two-thirds the lateral line has at intervals

a series of scales, 38-40 in number, which were not visible before the

specimen was skinned and mounted. During the process of skinning,

Mr. Drury, the taxidermist, found little hard lumps in the skin in

the position of the lateral line. After mounting, these scales showed

clearly in the dried skin, especially anteriorly above the pectoral

fin. They appear externally as slipper-like depressions (fig. 4, a);

but apparently the opening of the “slipper” is a blind pocket, as no

tube could be traced leading to the internal mucus canal, although

one would expect some such connection. When cleaned the scales

are boat-shaped, concave externally, with a tiny foramen at the bottom

of the concavity. On the internal surface there is a small cup or

spoon-like projection posterior to the foramen (fig. 4, 6). No other

scales, embedded or superficial, were found either on the tail or the

belly (contrast I. dofleint Sauter, 1905, though Roule, l.c., p. 15,

queries their presence). It is probable that the lateral line scales

would be found in Roule’s specimens if the mucus canal were dissected

out.

Ovaries well developed, but ova not ripe. Genital duct and vent

opening into a common cloaca.

Lengths (approximate): snout to base of caudal rays 1025 mm.,

snout to beginning of anal fin 370 mm., beginning of anal fin to base

of caudal rays 655 mm.

Dark brown, very slightly lighter on belly, the dorsal fleshy ridge

blackish, dorsal and pectoral fins black, anal and caudal blackish

brown. Lining of mouth dark, fold of skin at angle of mouth pale.

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. — 355

Tip of knob behind eye and the spines of ventral fins pale; rays of

ventral fins black. Pupil black, iris greyish brown.

Localhity.—Off Slangkop Lighthouse (west coast of Cape Peninsula,

north of Cape Point), 200 fathoms. Capt. Gibson, June 1939.

Distribution.—Off Agadir, Morocco, 350-400 metres. Two speci-

mens 1845 and 1990 mm. (the latter incomplete).

Remarks.—The specimen seems so like Roule’s species (total

number of anal plus caudal rays exactly the same) that it may be

regarded as conspecific. So few specimens of Ateleopids are known,

and their consistency so flabby, that specific characters are hard to

find.

Unfortunately the pelvic arch of the specimen was cut up and

destroyed in the course of mounting the specimen.

Like the two Moroccan specimens, this specimen is a female. The

sex of Sauter’s Japanese specimen is not given. Both Rivero’s

specimens (I. antillarum, W. Indies, and fowlerz, Japan) were females,

measuring respectively 1636 mm. and 1534 mm. It may sound a

fantastic suggestion, but is it possible that Zj7maia is the female of

Ateleopus? The five specimens of A. natalensis in the South African

Museum, 350-480 mm., are immature, but so far as they can be sexed

appear to be males.

The contents of the stomach and intestines of the present specimen

consisted of a large quantity of fragments of the Brittle-star Ophiura

trument Bell (cf. Ateleopus plicatellus Gilbert, 1905, Bull. U.S. Fish.

Comm. for 1903, pt. 2, p. 654). Together with these fragments

were fish-scales belonging apparently to Photichthys argenteus. I

have compared them with the scales from a Photichthys 8 inches in

length, and they agree exactly both in size and characteristics. A

slim fish such as a Photichthys of this size could be just conveniently

taken into the mouth by the Jjimaia. Sauter (l.c., p. 238) doubts

whether the practically toothless mouth could catch or hold quickly

moving prey. In the present case there is no means of knowing

whether the Photichthys was caught alive, or whether the Ljimaca

was merely scavengering.

These scales have also been compared with those of Merluccius,

to which they bear some resemblance. But even a fish 16 inches

long has scales smaller than those from the Jjzmaca intestines. So

unless [jimaia is a scavenger, the size excludes Merluccius.

356 Annals of the South African Museum.

Melanogloea Brurd.

1941. Barnard, Ann. Rep. 8. Afr. Mus. for 1940, p. 10.

Body not greatly elongate. Head about equal to trunk, tail

shorter than head plus trunk. Skin, especially on head and trunk,

very gelatinous. Mouth subinferior, very large. No teeth on either

jaws, palate, or tongue. Branchiostegals 7. No pseudobranchiae.

Dorsal rays 12. Pelvic arch narrow, raised into a median boss

dorsally, concealing the foramen which opens posteriorly between

the bases of the long curved posterior cornua; ventral fins thoracic,

below the pectorals, each consisting of 3 separate rays and a well-

developed membrane-bearing fin. Perforate scales in lateral mucus

canal tubular in shape. Vent and genital opening separate.

Melanogloea ventralis Brnrd.

Fig. 5.

1941. Barnard, l.c., p. 10, fig. on plate.

Length of head 34 in length of body, approximately equal to or

a little shorter than trunk (depends on how much allowance is made

for the gelatinous nature of the snout), and a little greater than depth

of body. Hye (approx.) 3 times in snout, which is (approx.) 12 in

post-ocular part of head. Pupil 4 eye-diameter. Mouth very large,

when pulled open vertically the gape is about 90 mm., when pulled

open laterally about 130mm. Lips fleshy. Maxilla extending back to

below hind margin of eye. Gull-rakers 5+ 17 or 18 on anterior arch,

the anterior one or two mere knobs.

D 12, all segmented rays, 3rd longest, the first 3 and the last one

simple, the others once bifurcate. A 80. P13. C6.

V 1+1+41+47, Ist ray 100 mm. long, flattened basally and slightly

grooved above and below, appearing as if composed of 2 rays, but

really only a single ray, distally segmented, unbranched, supporting

apically a fleshy, club-shaped flap of skin; 2nd ray 30 mm. long,

simple, segmented, without fleshy apical enlargement; 3rd ray

75 mm. long, resembling the Ist ray; fin composed of 7 segmented

rays, the first simple, the others once bifurcate.

Scales in the embedded lateral mucus canal traceable nearly to

end of tail (where not abraded), boat-shaped, tubular. No scales

elsewhere on body.

Vent large. Genital opening smaller, behind the latter and quite

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 357

separate. No pyloric caeca. Gonads not fully developed, but

apparently female.

No recognisable substances or fragments in stomach or intestine.

680 mm. Black, including the exposed parts of the lips, and a

marginal border 3-1 inch wide around the inner surface of the gill-

cover; whole cavity of the mouth, and the concealed parts of the

Fie. 5.—Melanogloea ventralis Brnrd. a, whole fish, with one of the posterior

cornua of the pelvic arch dotted. 6, lateral view of right side of pelvic arch.

c, dorsal (internal) view of arch, posterior cornua not completely drawn, bases

of ventral rays shown on one side, arrow indicating median foramen. d, external,

internal, and side views of one of the tubular scales from the lateral mucus canal.

maxilla white; all fins black; the basal parts of the detached ventral

rays greyish, but the fleshy apices of the lst and 3rd rays jet black;

iris dark greyish, pupil transparent.

Locality.—On the Stock-fish grounds north-west of Table Bay and

west of Saldanha Bay, 300 fathoms.

Remarks.—This very interesting specimen was caught early in

August 1940 by one of the trawlers belonging to the National Trawling

and Fishing Co. Ltd., Cape Town. It was in very good condition,

except that the head was somewhat abraded and the eyeballs rather

308 Annals of the South African Museum.

loose in their sockets. The head and body were extraordinarily

gelatinous. This was greatly reduced, however, by preservation in

alcohol.

Whereas in Ateleopus the scales in the lateral mucus canal are

broadly oval in shape, and in Jjzmaia elongate oval (with a small

remnant of the tubular portion found in normal external lateral

line scales), in Melanogloea these scales have become boat-shaped and

the lateral margins curled over until they meet and fuse. The whole

scale thus becomes a more or less complete tube. The fusion of the

margins is not perfect, as several little gaps, variable in number,

Shape, and size, remain. As increase in the size of the scale is not

possible at this fused area, the lines of accretion are seen crowded

together between and around these gaps, and sometimes partly

obliterating them.

Famity MACRORHAMPHOSIDAE.

1925. Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxi, p. 275.

Gen. CenTRiscors Gill.

1914. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8), xiii, p. 20 (Jan. 1914).

Centriscops humerosus (Rich.).

Red and White banded Bellows-fish.

1911. Waite, Rec. Canterbury Mus., 1, p. 170, pl. 26 (var. oblequus).

1914. Regan, l.c., p. 21 (humerosus and obliquus).

1914. McCulloch, Biol. Res. “Endeavour,” u, p. 90 (synonymy)

(July 1914).

1938. Barnard, Report 8. Afr. Mus. for 1937, p. 12, plate (obliquus).

A specimen caught in the trawl (together with Notopogon macrosolen)

W.N.W. of Table Bay, 270 fathoms, by Capt. Gibson (1937) agrees with

Waite’s figure.

Total length 230 mm. Tip of snout to anterior margin of eye

55 mm. Depth, from bony knob in front of ventral fins vertically

to the dorsal profile, approx. 110 mm. Dorsal profile bristly from

occiput almost to where the profile rises to the dorsal spine. Skin

very rough to the touch. Hye equal to post-ocular part of head, and

to its distance from lower profile of snout, but a little greater than the

depth of the cheek. Dvu,16. A19. C12 (9 strong main rays).

McCulloch maintains that obliquus is the adult of humerosus,

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 309

the difference in body-shape being accounted for by growth

changes. All McCulloch’s specimens were banded (“‘rose-pink” and

‘* yellowish’’).

The present specimen, after preservation, has the same pink and

yellowish banding; but when fresh the yellow bands were almost

white. By a slip, in the above-quoted Museum Report the fish was

described as “black-banded,” the red bands showing black in the

photograph.

Famity TRACHYPTERIDAK.

Trachypterus arcticus (Briinn.).

Fig. 17 (see p. 406).

1925. Barnard, l.c., p. 353, pl. 14, fig. 3.

On 8th August 1945 Capt. Gibson, skipper of one of Irvin & Johnson’s

trawlers, captured a very fine ovigerous female of this species. It

arrived at the Museum very little damaged, and a cast was made for

exhibition.

From base of caudal fin to front margin of eye the length was 2125

mm.; length of snout closed 100 mm.; total 2225 mm. (7 ft. 5 in.).

Snout fully protruded 210 mm. Diameter of eye 87 mm. Depth

at pectoral fin 305 mm.; greatest depth (at 400 mm. behind eye)

320 mm.; at 1000 mm. behind eye, 210 mm.; at 1400 mm. behind

eye, 85 mm.; at end of tail 10-12 mm.

D 176, rays smooth, no anterior dorsal crest. P 9, Ist ray stronger

than the others, longest ray 75-80 mm. C 8, rays about 130 mm. in

length. Ventral fins obsolete.

Eggs 3-3-5 mm. in diameter.

Dark spots or blotches (two) scarcely visible.

If the position of the greatest depth of the body is to be regarded

as a differential character between arcticus and iris, the specific

identity of the present specimen seems a little doubtful. The greatest

depth is in fact posterior to the occipital region, but there is not a

great difference between the measurements at the two positions.

Locality.—N.W. of Table Bay, 300 fathoms (Stock-fish grounds). |

Regalecus glesne (Ascan.).

1925. Barnard, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., xxi, pp. 354 and 1025.

From perusal of the Museum Reports and old correspondence files

the following additional records have come to light:

1876. Simonstown, reported to 8. African Museum.

360 Annals of the South African Museum.

1879. Table Bay, 8. African Museum Report for 1879. 8 ft. 6 in.,

tail mutilated.

1886. February/March. Knysna, reported to 8. African Museum.

Since 1927 the following specimens have been reported to the

South African Museum :—

1929 May. Kei River mouth.

1930 April. Kentani.

1930 April. Knysna.

1935 March. Gordon’s Bay, False Bay.

1936 July. Port St. Johns.

1939 March. Kommetje, west coast of Cape Peninsula.

1939 October. Port St. Johns.

1941 February. Port St. Johns.

Together with those in the 1925 monograph the total is 23 records.

The 1879 specimen is no longer in existence, having probably been

discarded when a better specimen came to hand in 1906.

Famity MONOCENTRIDAE.

Monocentris japonicus (Hout.).

Fig. 6.

1914. Yoshizawa, Dobutsu-Gaku-Zashi, xxviii, p. 411, figs.

(luminous organ).

1925. Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxi, p. 360, pl. 14, fig. 6.

Fia. 6.—Monocentris japonicus (Hout.). External view of left ramus of

lower jaw, showing luminous pad.

1926. Okada, Woods Hole Biol. Bull., 50, p. 365, figs. 1-7 (photo-

genic organ).

1928. Yasaki, J. Exp. Zool. Philad., 50, p. 495, pls. (luminescence).

In January 1939 Dr. Nanni, Curator of the Hast London Aquarium,

wrote to me stating he had in his aquarium a Pine-cone Fish with a

pair of luminous organs on its chin, and wanting to know whether

his specimen could possibly be the Australian Cleidopus, in which

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 361

luminous organs have been recorded. From diagrams of the essential

differences between Monocentris and Cleidopus Dr. Nanni concluded

that his fish was a Monocentris. In January the fish had been about

four months in the aquarium; in March it died and was forwarded

to the South African Museum. I can confirm the identification as

M. japonicus.

The luminous organs consist of two pads, black in colour (as

preserved), below-the chin, one on either side of the symphysis, and

are glandular in structure. According to Okada the light can be

produced both by day and by night. It is spontaneous, though

controlled to some extent by the fish; it can be evoked by agitating

the water or by chemical stimuli.

Famity DIRETMIDAE.

Diretmus argenteus Johnson.

1863. Johnson, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 403, pl. 36, fig. 1.

1879. Campbell, Tr. New Zeal. Inst., xi, p. 298, fig. (Duscus aureus).

1895. Goode and Bean, Ocean. Ichthyol., p. 211, fig. 234.

1939. Norman, John Murray Exp., vu, p. 54.

1944. Barnard and von Bonde, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (11) x,

p. 237, fig. (references).

The last-mentioned paper gives a description and figure of the

first-known adult of this species. It was caught in 170-200 fathoms

off the west coast of the Cape Peninsula in December 1943. Total

length 405 mm.

- Famity GRAMMICOLEPIDAE.

1937. Myers, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., Ixxxiv, pp. 145-156.

From an examination of several specimens of Grammicolepis and

Xenolepidichthys, and also the type specimen of Vesposus, Myers

has shown that Vesposus is a synonym of Grammicolepis, and that

the latter genus and Xenolepidichthys are closely allied but separable

by certain characters which he sets out in tabular form.

Prionolepis J. L. B. Smith (1931, Rec. Albany Mus., iv, p. 145)

(non Egerton 1850) has been withdrawn by Smith himself (1935,

ibid., p. 209) as not being Grammicolepid at all, but based on a post-

larval stage of Monoceros.

Thus only two monotypic genera are now included in this peculiar

family.

Myers has examined half-grown and “subadult” specimens of

362 Annals of the South African Museum.

G. brachiusculus Poey, 73-182 mm. (standard length, 7.e. excl.

caudal fin), and the 230 mm. type of Vesposus egregius Jordan, which

seem to indicate that certain growth-changes occur.

The depth of the body relatively to length decreases with age, the

high-arched lateral line becomes flattened into a low curve, and the

end of the base of the dorsal fin moves forward relatively to that of

the anal fin.

These three features are included in Myers’ table as generic features

separating Grammicolepis from Xenolepidichthys. He has, however,

seen no specimens of the latter over 90 mm. (standard length), and

seems to have assumed that the largest was fully grown; the figure

of a 71 mm. specimen is labelled “subadult.’? No indication was

given as to the degree of development of the gonads. In the largest

specimen I have seen, 120 mm. total (= 105 mm. standard), the gonads

are in a very early stage of development. Three specimens in the

British Museum, up to 110 mm. standard length, have been examined

by Mr. J. R. Norman at my request. Mr. Norman finds that in all

these the gonads are insufficiently well developed to enable the sex

to be determined (in litt. 11/iv/39). It is true that Gilchrist in his

original description (p. 74) mentioned a “mature 9 of 116 mm.”;

but while one does not doubt that statement, it 1s unfortunate that

the specimen is not available for confirmation.

Recently (March 1939), however, a specimen was received by the

South African Museum which appeared as if it might be the real

adult of X. dalgleishi. Its gonads are well enough developed to

enable its sex to be determined with fair certainty as a 9g. And it

exhibits exactly the three changes in external anatomy mentioned

above as occurring during the growth of Grammuicolepis. Since in

other respects the specimen is a Xenolepidichthys, these three characters

(nos. 8-10 in Myers’ table) cannot be used to differentiate the two

genera.

I am able to confirm Myer’s statements that the pseudobranchiae

are present, and that there are 7 branchiostegals.

The description of this remarkable specimen follows. As quite a

fair number of specimens of dalgleashi were known or recorded from

South African waters (Gilchrist, von Bonde, Barnard, Smith: see

Myers, 1937, l.c., p. 153),* all of a comparatively small size, and the

largest not sexually mature, it seemed eminently reasonable to assume

that the large sexually developed individual was merely the adult

* The distribution of X. dalgleisht is now known to extend to the Phillippine

Is., Japan, and off the coast of British Honduras.

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 363

of the former, and not the representative of a distinct species. The

description and the remarks were written before I had received

Nichols and Firth’s paper, and are left as written; with the addition

of a comparison between the American and South African specimens

of americanus.

Xenolepidichthys americanus Nichols and Firth.

‘Plate IX and text-fig. 7.

1939. Nichols and Firth, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., lii, Oy eld)

oor

1940. Barnard, Rep. 8. Afr. Mus. for 1939, p. 11, plate.

Body ovate, greatest depth below 2nd—3rd dorsal spines, 1-9 in

length (excl. caudal fin), length of head 44 in length of body. Eye

23 in length of head. Maxilla rugulose, reaching to midway between

tip of snout and front margin of eye. Preopercle with double

serrulate edge. Supra-orbital ridge with its upper surface (forming

an elongate triangular area in dorsal view) spinulose. Interorbital

ridges spinulose and dehticulate [as in dalgleishi]. Papillose mucus

pores between supra- and inter-orbital ridges, on median side of

nostrils, on preorbital, a row in front of the scales on nape, 2

longitudinal rows on chin, each continued along lower margin of

preopercle [as in dalgleisha]. 12-13 gill rakers on anterior arch

(incl. one or two feeble ones) [in dalgleishi the number varies from

13 to 15, also incl. feeble ones at both ends of the series].

D vu, 32. Ist spine minute and hidden under skin in a pocket

between the predorsal scales, 2nd spine not quite equal to eye, closely

serrate on its front edge except the apical sixth, only 4-5 serrations

in basal quarter on each postero-lateral edge; 3rd—7th spines thin,

filiform, 3rd a trifle longer than 2nd, 4th shorter than 3rd, 5th a little

longer than eye, 6th between 3rd and 4th in length but broken,

Tth equal to 4th. The 5th and 7th taper to very fine tips, but the

6th is broken and the 3rd and 4th also may be incomplete. Ist

articulated ray about 4 eye, longest rays in posterior quarter, subequal

to eye. 385 bony scutes along base of dorsal, all except the hinder 3

with a hooked spine, and additional spinules or serrations in front of

the spine, more numerous on the anterior than on the posterior scutes.

[dalgleisht for comparison: lst spine minute but exposed, 2nd spine

serrated for nearly its whole length (where tip not broken off) on

all three edges, 3rd spine serrated at base on both postero-lateral

edges, preserved in its entirety only in the smallest specimen (65 mm.

Wy"

Poy

> —

b MB og

Fic. 7.—Xenolepidichthys americanus N. and F. a, head, arrow indicates

view-point of b. 6, dorsal view of head, width between arrows 14mm. ce, dorsal

view of nape of X. dalgleishi Gilch. for comparison, showing different arrangement

and shape of scales. d, diagrammatic cross-section of nape at vertical from centre

of eye in X. dalgleishi (full line) and americanus (broken line). e, f, lateral pro-

jections of scales, f, from the caudal peduncle (anterior end to right).

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 365

total length) where it ends in a fine tip and is twice as long as eye.

About 31 bony scutes along base of fin.]

A 1i—33. Ist spine very long (Pl. IX), extending back to end of

caudal peduncle, triquetral at base (about 4 inch), then quadrangular

‘for about half its length, then again triquetral, serrulate on all 3,

resp. 4, edges, but mainly on the front edge (edges) for about half its

length, the distal half smooth. 2nd spine + eye, triquetral with one

or two serrations at base only on each postero-lateral edge, connected

by a low membrane (represented by the hyphen in the above formula)

in the groove between the basal scutes to the lst ray which is distant

about ? eye diameter. Ist ray subequal to 2nd spine, longest rays

in hinder quarter, subequal to eye, 36 scutes along base of fin, similar

to those along dorsal fin. [dalglevshi: 1st spine triquetral at base,

then more or less quadrangular, then triquetral at tip (where preserved),

2nd spine serrate on both postero-lateral edges, a gap between 2nd

spine and first definitely articulated ray, containing 1 (sometimes 2)

feeble non-articulated ray.]

A narrow naked groove in front of Ist anal spine extending to

vent. [dalgleishi: a similar groove but the scales on the two sides

of the belly usually meet for a short distance between it and the vent.]

V i. 6. Spine slightly longer than eye, serrated on front edge,

2nd ray 2 length of head, a few spinules on basal portion of Ist—4th

rays, on ventral and dorsal surfaces (chiefly dorsal). [dalglevshi:

these spinules on the rays are inconspicuous. |

P 14, longest rays subequal to eye.

Caudal subtruncate, or rounded if fully expanded. 15 rays, the

outermost one, dorsal and ventral, spiniform, subequal to eye and

serrated on its outer edge; in addition there is a very short serrated

spine dorsally and ventrally in front of the above-mentioned spines,

i.e. there are 17 in all; longest rays subequal to length of head. [dal-

gleishi: 17 rays, the outermost dorsally and ventrally short but

relatively longer than the very short ones mentioned above, neither

this nor the next one serrated. |

All the dorsal, anal, and pectoral rays are simple, though articulated;

the ventral rays and some of the caudal rays, however, are branched.

Scales—As in Grammicolepis where the high arch of the lateral

line of the young becomes a low curve in the adult, so in this specimen

the lateral line forms a low, somewhat wavy, curve. There are

97 lateral line scales to the end of the lateral process on caudal

peduncle, beyond this some 3-4 obscurely perforated scales, and

several small ones extending to base of caudal rays. There appear

VOL. XXXVI, PART 5. 26

366 - Annals of the South African Museum.

to be 5 transverse rows (excl. small scales near ventral margin),

but these are not so easy to count except by removing a piece of skin

[as was done in the case of a dalgleishi]. Gular region fully scaled.

12 scales around caudal peduncle.

The scales, both of the normal subcircular or transversely oval

shape, and of the excessively elongate shape, all have a central (in

the long axis of the scale) ridge, with numerous but irregular prickles

in the case of the elongate scales. The posterior (exposed) field has

a few concentric, or in the case of the elongate scales sub-parallel,

striae (cf. fig. 8, X. dalgleisht).

The lateral projections seen in the photograph (Pl. IX) are out-

growths of the scales. They occur in eleven places on each side,

and are almost symmetrically arranged on the two sides. In some

places only one scale has this outgrowth, in others 2, 3, or 4 successive

scales have them (fig. 7, e, f). These outgrowths are developed on

the posterior (exposed) field of the scale, and have an appearance

similar to what one would expect by a pinching-up of the scale

membrane, and the ordinary scale striae can be more or less clearly

traced across them; the anterior field of the scale takes no part in

the formation of the outgrowth (cf. Trachurus and other Carangids).

When two or more successive scales produce outgrowths, the anterior

margin of one is received into the slot-like hind margin of the one in

front.

Viewed in profile (7.e. from the dorsal or ventral margin of the

fish) the posterior outgrowths project slightly more than the anterior,

the greatest “height” (that of the hindmost one on caudal peduncle)

being 5 mm.

The number of scales participating in each projection is not quite

the same in the corresponding outgrowths of the two sides: the upper

one on caudal peduncle and the lower anterior one on belly are each

formed by one scale on left side, 2 scales on right; the one in centre

of the body and the central one just before beginning of caudal

peduncle are each formed by 2 scales on left, 3 on right side; the

upper anterior one by 2 scales on left, one on right side.

Dimensions: total length (to end of mid caudal rays) 300 mm.

(=245 mm. standard length). Thickness greatest at upper hind

margin of opercle, 30 mm. Thickness at base of scales on nape in

vertical from centre of eye 14 mm.

Colour (after being on ice for a few days) silvery with faint indica-

tions of blackish spots or blotches, chiefly towards the belly; upper

part of head (interorbital, preorbital) and the snout and lower jaw

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 367

blackish, the interorbital and premaxillary groove intensely black;

inside of mouth whitish; fins whitish, the anal spine with black rings,

some of the rays and intervening membrane of anal with black marks,

apices of rays of the ventral fin and a spot at the base of the rays

black, caudal rays apically blackish, and some irregular dark spots

Fic. 8.—Xenolepidichthys dalgleishi Gilch. Scales from a specimen 120 mm. in

length. a, from lateral line behind shoulder, 30 mm. x1 mm., with area of lateral

line pore further enlarged. 6, from nape, dorso-ventral length 13 mm. c, from

caudal peduncle, 1-3 mm. and 2:5 mm.

across the middle of the caudal; the filiform dorsal spines appear to

be blackish.

Locality.—Off Table Bay, approximately 250 fathoms. Capt. Pace,

- March 1939.

Distribution.—Off east coast of N. America (220 miles E.S.E. of

Boston Lightships at outer edge of Georges Bank).

Remarks.—In comparing this specimen with dalgleishi, there are

three features which may be left out of account. These have already

368 Annals of the South African Museum.

been referred to, and may be regarded as being normal growth changes

by analogy with the closely allied genus Grammicolepis.

The very long Ist anal spine is paralleled only in the smallest

dalgleisht hitherto described, viz.: Smith’s 43 mm. specimen (l.c.,

1935). Normally one finds that a spine (or ray) which is elongate

in the juvenile becomes shortened with age. Four specimens of

dalgleisht in the South African Museum conform with this, but in

none of them can one be absolutely certain whether the spine has

been broken off in the process of capture or has become shortened

by normal wear and tear during the life of the fish.

One noticeable difference between the specimen of americanus and

dalgleishi is the shape of the scales on the nape (fig. 7, 6 and c): in the

former, scales of an oval or moderately elongate shape are more

numerous; whereas in the latter, scales of elongate or considerably

elongate shape are more numerous. In the latter also there is a more

or less distinct line of demarcation between the scales of the two

sides. This difference may be explained by the change in the

transverse curvature of the nape. The thickness of the nape measured

at the base of the scales above the orbit and in the vertical from

centre of eye is approximately the same in relation to length of head

in the specimen of americanus as well as in dalgleishi; and the height

from base of scales to dorsal profile in the same vertical is relatively

the same, being in fact the same as the thickness; so that a cross-

section of the nape at the vertical from centre of eye is nearly an

equilateral triangle (fig. 7, d). But whereas in dalglevshi the sides

are only slightly convex and meet dorsally in a sharp curve, in ameri-

canus the sides are more strongly convex and meet in a broad curve.

There remains the difference in the dorsal and anal fin formulae.

For dalglessht Gilchrist * gave: D iv. 28, A i. 28; Barnard (4

specimens): D’ v. 27-29, Au. 28; Smith: DD vy. 27, Aye

Myers (4 specimens): D vi. 28-29, Au. 27-29. The total number

of spines plus rays thus ranges in the dorsal fin: 32-35; in the anal:

29-31.

The specimen of americanus on the other hand has D vii. 32, A ui.

33, total D 39, A 35; being an increase of 4 over the highest total

for the smaller specimens.

It is clearly better to take the total number on account of the

difficulty sometimes of deciding whether a particular fin-support

should be called a spine or a ray, the latter being all unbranched.

With only the one specimen one cannot be sure that it has the

* Gilchrist overlooked the minute true Ist spine.

Per a

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 369

normal fin formulae, but it is reasonable to assume that with the

gradual increase in the length of the body another 4 rays might be

developed. I have no information on this point, but from my

experience with some hundreds of young of the Cape species of

fresh-water Barbus, the full complement of spines and rays charac-

teristic of each species is developed right at the start; in the case of

Barbus, however, the length of the fin-base is very short, and no

lengthening of the body takes place. In Xenolepidichthys the pre-

sumed lengthening of the body affects exactly the part subtending

the fin-bases.

When we compare Grammicolepis, and assuming that Myers’

correlation of small and large specimens is correct, we find a very

pleasing confirmation that the total number of fin-supports does

increase with age. Setting out the lengths of the specimens and the

respective dorsal and anal formulae (total numbers), which Myers

has most fortunately given, we find:

73mm. D 34, A 30.

82mm. D 35, A 3l.

85mm. D 36, A 30.

182 mm. D 39, A 36.

230 mm. OD 41, A 38.

On the available evidence, therefore, there were good reasons for

claiming Capt. Pace’s remarkable specimen as the adult of Xeno-

lepidichthys dalgleishi. The discovery of the small example described

as X. americanus, however, puts this assumption out of court.

Comparison of the present specimen (245 mm. standard length)

with the type (100 mm. standard) of americanus.

The two specimens exemplify the growth-changes which Myers has

traced in Grammicolepis (v. supra), and are thus an additional proof

that the three characters (nos. 8-10 in Myers’ table) are not

generic.

The American and South African specimens are clearly conspecific,

and distinct from dalgleishi.

The reduction of gill-rakers in the adult (in this case from about

20 in the young to 12-13 in the adult) is not unknown in other fishes.

An increase in the total number (spines+rays) of dorsal and anal

‘‘fin-supports, ”’ such as suggested above takes place in Grammuicolepis,

is not found (type: D 38, A 36. S. African specimen D 39, A 35).

The change from a forked tail (young) to a subtruncate or rounded

one (adult) is not surprising.

370 Annals of the South African Museum.

The change in the course of the lateral line is not so marked as in

Grammicolepis.

Nichols and Firth do not state the actual number of groups of

lateral outgrowths of the scales (‘“‘horizontally flattened spines”’),

but judging by their figure there seem to be 9, as against 11 in the

present specimen.

Famity SOLEIDAE.

Zebrias regani (Gilch.)

1925. Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxi, p. 408 (Aesopia r.).

1937. dd:, tbid., xxsai, 1p; D4.

Chabanaud (1936, Bull. Soc. zool. Fr., lxi, p. 401) withdraws his

proposed subgenus Pseudaesopia, and regards Gilchrist’s species as a

true Zebrias, distinguished from zebra Bloch, altopinnis Alcock, and

fasciatus Macleay by the contiguity of its eyes.

Famity ACANTHOPLESIOPIDAH.

In accordance with Regan’s (I.c., infra) suggestion, Jordan (Classif.

Fishes, 1923) places this family after the Plescopidae. It contains

only Acanthoclinus Jenyns, 1841,* New Zealand, with 3 (and a partial

4th) lateral lines, and Acanthoplesiops Regan, 1912, India, with one

lateral line. See also Weber and de Beaufort, Fish. Indo-Austral.

Archipel., v, p. 372, 1929:

Gen. ACANTHOPLESIOPS Regan.

1912. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8), x, p. 266.

Day described the lateral line as absent, and the ventral fin as

having 8 soft rays; Regan corrected these statements. There are

only 2 ventral rays, the Ist being bifid.

Acanthoplesiops indicus (Day).

Hig:

1888. Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 264 (May) (Acanthoclinus 7.).

1888. Ld., Fish. India. Suppl., p. 798, fig. (Oct.) (Acanthoclinus 7.).

1889. fd., Fauna India. Fishes, 1, p. 325, fig. 105 (Acanthoclinus 1.).

1912. Regan, l.c., p. 266.

Depth 4 (or just over), length of head 3, in length of body (excl,

* Not 1842. See Neave, Nomencl. Zool., i, 1939,

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 371

caudal). Hye subequal to snout, 4 in head. Maxilla extending to

below centre of eye, lower jaw projecting. 2 opercular spines (in

the smaller specimen only the upper one developed).

D xviii. (smaller specimen) to xix. (larger) 4. Beginning above hind

margin of opercle, Ist ray projecting slightly beyond last spine.

A vii. 4. Dorsal and anal connected with base of caudal.

Fic. 9.—Acanthoplesiops indicus (Day).

C 16. P 16. Vi. 2, Ist ray bifid, its inner branch elongate,

extending almost to vent, 2nd ray shorter than outer branch of Ist

ray.

Scales of somewhat unusual shape (fig. 9), more or less pyriform,

the exposed area ending in a point, or 2-3 points like a cockscomb,

or if on the middle of the hinder part of the body (where the lateral

line usually is) often more or less symmetrically bilobed. About

36-38 in a lateral series. The whole of the head is naked right up to

the origin of dorsal fin, and this bare patch is continued backwards on

either side of the dorsal as a narrowing strip until about the 8th—10th

spine. A series of mucus pores from behind the eye follows the margin

of the naked area until the scaling begins; apparently these pores

constitute all that remains of the lateral line tubules, although two

372 Annals of the South African Museum.

or three at irregular intervals can be traced piercing the scales adjoin-

ing the bases of the dorsal spines, but apparently not descending to

the middle of the side or on to the almost non-existent caudal peduncle.

(Possibly by removing each successive scale separately more exact

details would be obtained, but there are only 2 specimens available

and they do not belong to the South African Museum.)

Length 26 and 30 mm. Body and fins very dark, almost blackish

brown except as follows: a medio-dorsal white stripe from base of

dorsal to snout and upper lip, and extending on to lower lip (in dorsal

view the stripe is lenticular in shape between dorsal fin and eye);

a white cross-band through caudal peduncle and the dorsal and anal

soft rays; hind margin of caudal, tips of dorsal and anal spines, and

distal half of ventral fin white; pectoral transparent. In the larger

specimen the first 2 dorsal spines are included in the medio-dorsal

white stripe, in the smaller specimen only the base of the Ist spine.

Hye dark.

Locality.—_Delagoa Bay. Prof. C. J. van der Horst, 1939.

Distribution.—Madras, India.

Remarks.—Day described the species from one specimen an inch

long. Regan seems to have examined a specimen, as he corrected

certain of Day’s statements, but he was concerned only with its

systematic position, and gave no locality. I cannot find any later

reference to the occurrence of this little fish.

At first glance the fish looks like the letter A or N in the Morse code

according as seen from the right or the left side, thus: - — or —-

(fig. 9).

Famity APOGONIDAE.

Epigonus telescopus (Risso).

1927. Barnard, l.c., p. 523.

1935. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., Ixxxvi, p. 383.

I have examined a specimen, 460 mm. in length, caught in 1940 by

a local trawler and submitted to the Zoology Department, University

of Cape Town. It corresponds with my description of the specimen

in the South African Museum, but the dorsal spines are longer;

apparently I did not make enough allowance for the length of the

broken tips. In the present specimen the 4th spine is broken at the

tip, but was probably the longest since; it is now, as is likewise the

complete 3rd spine, 14 times the eye, the 5th is 1} times the eye, and

the 6th about § the eye,

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 373

Although externally in good condition, the initial preservation was

not penetrating enough to preserve the internal organs in a good

enough condition to enable the pyloric caeca to be accurately counted;

but the number does not seem to be as high as 22. Two specimens

submitted by the Fisheries Survey, caught in December 1943, were

in too poor a condition for an accurate count, but there were certainly

not as many as 22 caeca. Fowler records it from off the Natal coast.

Famity CARANGIDAE.

Trachurus capensis Cast.

1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. austr., p. 43.

1927. Barnard, l.c., p. 531, pl. 28, fig. 1 (trachurus).

1934. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., Ixxxvi, p. 443 (trachurus).

1935. Nichols, Copeia, no. 2, 16th July.

Nichols, on the basis of 10 specimens from “south-west Africa

(probably Walfisch Bay),” finds that the South African specimens

are deeper in the body than the Mediterranean trachurus, and more

slender than the northern European semispinosus; and they have a

greater number of dorsal and anal rays than either of these species.

The accessory lateral line extends back under the second dorsal

fin.

Nichols is inclined to regard the forms occurring in various geo-

graphical regions as subspecies.

Elagatis bipinnulatus (O. and G.).

1927. Barnard, l.c., p. 562.

Specimens of this species have been caught in False Bay in February,

March, and December 1928 (C. L. Biden), and in December 1941

(Fleck). .

Famity BRAMIDAE.

Gen. TaractEes Lowe.

1843. Lowe, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 82.

1929. Bigelow and Schroeder, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harv., lxix,

pp. 41 sqq.

The joint authors have discussed the genus and the several species.

They regard longipinnis and asper as separate species on account of

the rounded caudal fin of the latter, They do not agree with Smitt’s

374 Annals of the South African Museum.

union of princeps with longipinnis, apparently considering Smitt’s

princeps is the same as Johnson’s princeps.

Taractes longipinnis (Lowe).

Plate X.

1927. Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxi, p. 594.

1929. Bigelow and Schroeder, l.c., p. 45, pl. (princeps).

1939. Barnard, Rep. 8. Afr. Mus. for 1938, p. 12, pl. 2.

[Not: Fowler, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., lxx, p. 653, fig. 293,*

1936. ]

Description of the large mounted example (Camps Bay, 1938)

(Pl. X, lower figure). The specimen was mounted while I was out

of town, and none of the internal parts (gill arches, gonads, pyloric

caeca) were preserved.

Depth 2 in length (reckoned to end of scaling on caudal peduncle),

length of head 43. Thickness 5} inches between eye and edge of

opercle, 532 inches in middle of flank at vertical from origin of dorsal

fin (1.e. greater than in princeps Johnson). Eye vertically oval, its

minor (horizontal) diameter 4 in length of head and 1 in snout (if

measured flat as in the photo, but 43 and 14if measured on the curve);

major diameter about 14 in distance from its upper margin to the

high rounded profile of head. Preorbital 4 minor diameter of eye.

Maxilla extending to below first + of eye.

Gill opening extending upwards to level of middle of eye, distance

of its upper limit to upper base of pectoral being twice the length of

pectoral base. The photograph gives a false impression that the

gill opening ends lower than it actually does; the upper margin of

the opercle is formed by projecting scales which fit very closely against

the scales on the body; 3 depressed scales on the body (seen in photo-

graph as a slightly darker spot) opposite the hind rounded angle of

the opercle mark the apparent upper extent of the gill opening (cf.

Bigelow and Schroeder’s figure).

A distinct transverse groove dorsally and ventrally on ‘canta

peduncle at base of caudal lobes.

D 34, 4th longest (possibly actually the 5th, but if there is a very

short ray in front it is not counted here), about equal to length of

head. A 25, 3rd longest (maybe actually the 4th), about 14 in length

of head. Length of head 14 in length of pectoral. Ventral about

* The legend to the figure says “after Lowe,” instead of after Smitt. Lowe

published no figure of his species, his pl. 7, quoted by Fowler, illustrates an entirely

different fish. Smitt’s figure seems to refer to raschii Esmark.

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 375

equal to major diameter of eye. In the low part of both dorsal and

anal fins the rays project beyond the membrane.

Scales.—Lat. series 20 with pores, 26 without pores, to level of

grooves on caudal peduncle, plus 9-10 posteriorly, total 55-56.

The first 20 scales show more or less clearly a single or a bifurcate

mucus channel. About 4 rows of scales along the flanks have a slight

median horizontal ridge; and some of the scales on the belly (laterally)

have a small median point, apparently the remains ofaspine. Around

the caudal peduncle there are 22 scales, and though the lateral scales

are slightly ridged, none bear spines. Head, except the interorbital

and snout, scaly; dorsal and anal fins scaly.

Teeth in bands on jaws anteriorly, posteriorly a single row; this

single row, continued anteriorly as the inner row of the band, contains

slightly larger teeth than do the bands. A single row of incurved

teeth on palatines; no teeth distinguishable on vomer.

Length.—¥rom end of middle caudal rays to tip of snout 765 mm.,

to tip of lower jaw when closed 775 mm.

Colour.—Brownish or bronzy above, many of the scales with dark

vertical marks, silvery laterally and ventrally; dorsal and anal fins

silvery, with blackish margin anteriorly and at tips of the prolonged

portions, continued submarginally along the short rays, the tips of

which are white and project beyond the black stripe; pectoral

blackish above, greyish below; ventrals black with white tip and white

internal edge; caudal with black upper and lower margin, the concave

portion with white margin, and black submarginal band; iris brownish,

pupil bluish black. )

Description of half-grown specimen (Simonstown, 1876), taken

from the dried and mounted half-skin (Pl. X, upper figure).

Depth 12 in length, length of head 34. Eye approximately (a

circular glass eye has been inserted in the skin) 34 in length of head,

slightly greater than snout. Preorbital approximately 4 eye diameter.

Maxilla extending to below middle of eye. Gill opening extending

upwards to level of middle of eye, distance between its upper limit

and upper base of pectoral twice length of pectoral base.

Teeth as described for the larger specimen. The vomer has been

cut through, but the row of teeth on the palatine is distinct.

Dorsal and ventral transverse groove on caudal peduncle.

D 33 or 34, 3rd (maybe the 4th) 14 in length of body, almost 3 times

length of head. A 26 or 27, 8rd nearly as long as longest dorsal ray.

Rays of both dorsal and anal projecting beyond membrane in low

part. Pectoral and ventral broken,

376 Annals of the South African Museum.

Scales.—Lat. series 45 (not counting the very small ones on base

of middle caudal rays), the posterior 10 with antrorse spines, the 7 or

8 in front of these with spines directed backwards; 6 or 7 rows on the

flanks with slight ridges, those on the hinder part of the flank with

backwardly directed spines; 20 around the caudal peduncle, the row

above and below the mid lateral row of scales bearing antrorse spines.

Head, except interorbital and snout, scaly; dorsal and anal scaly.

Length.—From end of middle caudal rays to tip of snout 300 mm.;

the 350 mm. given in my 1927 description included the caudal lobes.

Remarks.—Photographs of the two specimens here described were

submitted to Mr. J. R. Norman of the British Museum for comparison

with British Museum specimens and figures in works not accessible

here (Liitken, etc.).

Mr. Norman very kindly informed me (zn ltt. 30/xii/38) that a

specimen in the British Museum, 540 mm. in length, thus intermediate

in size between our two specimens, has the fins proportionately

intermediate in length. Thus the lobe of the anal fin is about equal

to the length of the fin. In our smaller specimen the lobe of the anal

is 14 times the length of the fin, in Bigelow and Schroeder’s specimen

it is 14 in the length of the fin, and in our large specimen twice in

the length of the fin. These four specimens therefore constitute a

series in which the relative lengths of the lobe of the anal fin and

of the body are correlated.

The length of the lobe of the dorsal fin seems also to be correlated

with the length of the body (not given for B.M. specimen), except that

Johnson’s figure does not fit.

The following table includes data so far as they are available.

Height of Lobe | Height of Lobe

Length of D in Length| of A in Length

mm. 2 as of Base and in | of Base and in a D.

Length of Fish.) Length of Fish.

asper . , ‘ 33 23 43

1876 specime : 300 | 33-34] 26-27 | 14 times base | 14 times base 45 12

(S. Afr. Mus.) 13 in length

body

longipinnis Lowe . 460 35 28 41-45 23,

approx

princeps , : 540 height of lobe 45

(Br. Mus., Norman) = length of

base

princeps ‘ : 670 35 28 12 in base 14 in base 43 oe

(Big. and Schr.) 34 in body

1938 specimen é 765 34 26 + in base 2 in base 45 2

(S. Afr. Mus.) 41 in body

princeps Johnson . 825 5+ 29 1: 24 length of 45 24

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 377

The conclusion that the two South African fishes are young and

adult of the same species seems not unreasonable; but, as Mr. Norman

says, a lot more material is required to put the taxonomy of these

fishes on a sound basis.

Bigelow and Schroeder’s specimen was caught 50 miles S.W. of

Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, on a hook at a depth not exceeding50 fathoms.

Famity HISTIOPTERIDAE.

Histiopterus spinifer Gilch.

Plate XI.

1927. Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxi, p. 620, pl. 31, fig. 2 (adult).

1939. Norman, Rep. John Murray Exp., vu, p. 65.

A photograph of a young specimen, 72 mm. in total length, is

reproduced to show that the coloration is not always uniform. In

juveniles there are black spots on a silvery-white ground-colour, the

fins also being spotted.

The specimen was caught off Cape Infanta by Capt. McGill, April

1938. Another specimen of approximately the same length was

caught on the Agulhas Bank in May 1941.

Distribution.—Gulf of Aden (Norman).

Famity AMPHIPRIONIDAE.

Amphiprion polymnus (Linn.).

- 1893. Saville-Kent, Gt. Barrier Reef Austral., p. 308, chromo

pl. 16, fig. 7 (A. clarki Benn.).

1927. Barnard, l.c., p. 729.

1928. Fowler, Fishes Oceania. Mem. Bishop Mus., x, p. 303.

1928. Id., Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., no. 100, vol. vu, p. 6.

Specimens collected at Delagoa Bay exactly resemble the figure

in Saville-Kent’s work: white (in life most of the white is yellow)

with a black stripe through eye, another through spinous dorsal,

another through hinder part of soft dorsal, caudal and pectoral each

with a round black spot, margins white, ventral fins blackish in front.

Famity SCOMBRIDAE.

Gen. NEoTHUNNUS Kish.

1923. Kishinouye, Scombroid Fishes, pp. 45, 445.

1926. Jordan and Evermann, Occ. Papers Calif. Ac. Sci., xii,

pp. 8, 18.

378 Annals of the South African Museum.

1933. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., lxxxv, p. 163.

Fowler includes in his genus Semathunnus the genotype S. guildi

from Tahiti, and the “‘imperfectly known” ztosibi and allisoni, and

possibly the unidentifiable albacores.

The reference to Fowler is given above without implying that I

agree that certain species should be taken out of Neothunnus and

included under Semathunnus. The pectoral ridge, and the complete-

ness or otherwise of the corselet, are features which may prove to be

available as generic distinctions.

Neothunnus albacora (Lowe).

Plate XI.

1788. Bonnaterre, Encycl. Meth., p. 140. Based on a rough

drawing by Sloane. (See Jordan and Evermann, infra.) (Scomber

albacores.)

1831. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., viii, p. 148.

Based on Sloane’s figure. (Scomber sloanet.)

1839. Lowe, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 77. (Lhynnus albacora.)

1910. Cunningham, zbid., p. 110, fig. 4, juv. (Lhynnus a.)

1926. Jordan and Evermann, l.c., p. 23. (JN. albacores.)

1929. Frade, Bull. Soc. Port. Sci. Nat., x, p. 235, pl. 5, fig. 2.

1935. J. L. B. Smith, Rec. Albany Mus., iv, p. 207, fig. 4.

(NV. ttosibe.)

1936. Fowler, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., lxx, pt. 2, p. 628,

fig. 282. (Germo a.)

1939. Barnard, Ann. Rep. 8. Afr. Mus. for 1938, p. 12, pl. (phot

of mounted specimen). (J. ztosibz.)

Depth of body 4, length of head 4, in length of body. Greatest

thickness (at bases of pectoral fins and in middle of body) 54 in length

of body. Eye 7 in head, 34 in interorbital width, 24 in snout.

Maxilla extending to below anterior margin of eye. Width across

lateral caudal keel slightly greater than length of snout. Behind

the lateral keel are two smaller keels slightly oblique at the start, and

continuing to the two small lobes in the centre of the caudal fin.

A horizontal lateral ridge from base of pectoral, against which upper

margin of fin fits when laid back. Gill-rakers 9 + 21 =30.

D xiii. 13 (or 14). 1st spine 3, 2nd 23 in length of head. 9 detached

finlets and 1 semi-detached at hind base of soft dorsal. Au. 9 (or 10),

9 detached and 1 semi-detached finlets. Pectoral not quite as long

as head.

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 379

Corselet deeply excavate behind. The lateral line runs nearly

horizontal from upper end of opercle to below 1st dorsal spine, then

rising rather abruptly and following a gently curved course, sinking

gradually to below soft dorsal, where there is another, smaller, rather

abrupt bend down to the middle of the flank, thence horizontal to the

lateral keel on caudal peduncle.

Length (to end of middle caudal rays) 5 ft. 6 in.

Colour.—Bluish black above, shading to bluish on sides, silvery

white below, with more or less conspicuous silvery spots from the

level of the soft anal backwards, lower jaw white, grooves around

end of maxilla black, inside of mouth black, spinous dorsal

blackish brown, soft dorsal and anal dark on front edge, yellowish

behind, finlets bright yellow with black margins, caudal greyish

with pale yellowish tinge, pectoral bluish on upper margin, white

below.

Locality.—Off Cape Infanta, Agulhas Bank, April 1938. The

Museum is indebted to Capt. McGill, skipper of the trawler “‘ Bluff,”’

for taking care of this specimen when it came up in the trawl, and

delivering it at the Museum in excellent condition.

Remarks.—The specimen had been gutted when brought to the

Museum, so the liver could not be examined. Dissection during the

course of skinning seemed to show the cutaneous blood-vessels passing

through the myotome of the 5th vertebra (as in Thunnus), whereas

in Neothunnus they are said to pass through that of the 7th vertebra.

‘There are several differences between this specimen and the de-

scription of the stuffed specimen given by Smith. The unsatisfactori-

ness of the specific diagnosis of this species is shown by the following

table. Jordan and Evermann examined more than one specimen,

but did not record the number of dorsal and anal spines and soft rays.

There is much to be said for Smith’s surmise that probably only one,

circumtropical, species should be recognised. The manufacture of

species based on photographs, and a fortiori on old drawings, surely

cannot advance our knowledge of these fishes (cf. Fowler’s remarks).

In the table I have included S. guildi, because there are several

resemblances to our specimen. On the other hand Fowler notes the

absence of the ridge (or groove) from the pectoral base in his specimen,

whereas it is present in Jordan and Evermann’s photograph and in

our specimen. Fowler’s figure also shows the pectoral arising very

much higher up, opposite the upper end of opercle; and his specimen

was completely scaled.

A second specimen, caught off Simonstown in January 1946, has

380 Annals of the South African Museum.

also been examined. It measured 5 ft. in length and was stated to

weigh 125 Ib.

Body completely scaled. Liver not striated, trilobed, right lobe

the longest.

Californ. Fish Bull. No. 60, 1944).

Other characters as in table.

Spleen large (cf. Godsil and Byers, Div. Fish and Game,

Gill-rakers 20 +8 on Ist arch.

Fowler (1936) regards the Pacific macropterus (Temm. and Schleg.)

and allison: (Mowbray) from Florida as synonymous.

garded ztosibe as insufficiently known.

In 1933 he re-

I think there can be little doubt that the Cape specimens should be

referred to albacora, which has been recorded in the eastern Atlantic

down to St. Helena.

Dye text

N. atosibi tyPeL en Eto

Bs another spec.

: Smith ex"

fig.

S.A.M. specimen, 1946

3 1938

S. guildi Fowler

Scomberomorus commersoni (Lacep.).

1927. Barnard, l.c., p. 802.

Length ;

Jelies I/d.|1/h.} h/e. | s/e. D.

44} 4 Se Ss

sae aerate 74 | 23

75 a | 4 9

66 5 | 4 12) 434 xy.

es 44 | 44] 84 | 3

60 44 | 44 | 72] 3 xiv.

66 4 | 4 7 Ves eine

73 4 |4 7 | 250), x0.

A very fine specimen, one of a large shoal, was caught off Kalk

Bay, in False Bay, in March 1944; length 49 inches, weight 24 lb.

Famity BLENNIIDAE.

1927. Barnard, l.c., p. 831.

1943. Norman, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (xi), 10, p. 793 (synopsis of

genera).

The present time is not opportune for a revision of the South

African species, but the list of recorded species may be set out with

their equivalents in Norman’s arrangement; and also a key simplified

and adapted from those given by Norman.

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 381

Barnard 1927.

Blenmus bifilum Guthr.

cornutus (Linn.)

» fascigula Brnrd.

» punctifer Regan

. cristatus Linn.

“ scullyt G. and T.

Mi ocellatus G. and T.

: hypenetes Klunz.

. capito C. and V.

Petroscirtes woods (G. and T.)

33 rhinorhynchus Blkr.

- elongatus Peters

~ variabilis Cant.

ve mitratus Riipp.

Aspidontus taenvatus Q. and G.

Salarias sexfasciatus von B.

3; rivulatus Riipp.

a dussumiert C. and V.

_ meleagris C. and V.

Ly unicolor Riipp.

» kosiensis Regan

5 periophthalmus C. and V.

s oorti Blkr.

Aiphasia setufer Swains.

Later additions to fauna list:

Blennius steendachnert Day

i trifascigula Fowler

Petroscirtes striatus J. and L.

ie tapernosoma Blkr.

Salarias edentulus (Schn.)

» frenatus Val.

VOL. XXXVI, PART 5.

Norman’s nomenclature.

Rhabdoblennius (Antennablen-

mius) 6.

Blennius c.

Blennius f.

Not specified by Norman.

Blenmus c.

[Syn. of cornutus, fide Smith

1935.]

Not specified.

Rhabdoblennius (Antennablen-

nius) h.

Chalaroderma c.

Omobranchus w. [syn. of stri-

atus fide Fowler 1931].

Aspidontus r.

Omobranchus e.

Dasson v.

Petroscortes m.

Aspidontus t.

[Syn. of Blennus bifilum,

fide Smith 1935.]

Not specified.

Tstiblennius d.

Istublennius m.

Istublenmus u.

Cirripectus k.

Istiblennius p.

Istiblennius o.

Artphasia s.

Blenmus s.

Not specified.

Omobranchus s.

Aspidontus t.

Istiblennius e.

Not specified.

382 Annals of the South African Museum.

{. Caudal free.

A. No bony crest on premaxilla. Teeth large or moderate,

more or less attached to bone and usually immov-

able.

1. Interorbital less than eye. Canines, if any,

well developed in both jaws, the lower

ones not enormous compared with the

upper.

a. Gill membranes forming a fold across

throat. Gill openings wide .

6. Gill membranes united to isthmus,

no fold across throat. Gill open-

ings restricted.

i. Gill openings extending down-

wards in front of pectoral

base. Skin loose and flabby

ii. Gill openings entirely above

pectoral base, usually

smaller than eye

2. Interorbital equal to or greater than eye

(except Petroscirtes). Canines small in

upper jaw, relatively enormous in lower

jaw.

a. Gill opening entirely above pectoral

base.

i. Dorsal rays 138-15

ii. Dorsal rays 28-31

b. Gill opening extending down in front

of pectoral base. Dorsal rays 26-

B. A bony crest on premaxilla forming a groove for

reception of upper lip. Teeth (except Rhabdo-

blennius) small, implanted in lips, movable.

1. Crest on premaxilla covering roots of teeth,

which are moderate, more or less attached

to bone, and somewhat movable

2. Crest not covering roots of teeth, which are

very small, implanted in lips, and freely

movable.

a. Anal spines in 6 modified to form

fleshy dendritic masses. Two or

more tentacles on each side of nape

6. Anal spines in d not or only slightly

modified, not dendritic. <A single

tentacle on each side of nape

II. Caudal united with vertical fins. Body eel-like

Blennius.

Chalaroderma.

Omobranchus.

Petroscirtes.

Dasson.

Aspidontus.

Rhabdoblennius.

Cirripectus.

Istiblennius.

Xiphasia.

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 383

Famity CLINIDAE.

Gen. CLinus Cuv.

1927. Barnard, l.c., p. 850.

1931. Smith, J. L. B., Rec. Albany Mus., iv, p. 154.

1937 (March). Barnard, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., xxxii, p. 63.

1937 (May). Smith, J. L. B., Ann. Natal Mus., viii, p. 194 (dis-

tribution). |

In any future revision of the South African species, I would suggest

the possibility of agilis Smith, 1931, being the young of taurus, which

according to Smith, 1937, extends as far as Plettenberg Bay.*

In order to indicate the possible variations or aberrations which

may be found, descriptions are given of two specimens both from

Port St. Johns, one found several years ago, the other in 1944. The

first might be a swpercoliosus with reduced number of dorsal fin

spines and anal rays. The second may also be a superciliosus without

supraorbital tentacles. The shape of the head and snout is quite

different from that of pavo, the only species with a dorsal crest and

no supraorbital tentacles.

2. 160 mm. Depth of body 4, length of head 33, in length of

body. Eye equal to snout, 44 in length of head. Interorbital 14

in eye. Maxilla extending to below posterior third of eye. Nasal

(anterior) tentacle fringed; supraorbital tentacle flattened and

fringed. No occipital groove. Front row of teeth stronger than

inner rows. D ii.+xxvii. 5, beginning in vertical from between

preopercle and hind margin of eye, 2nd spine in crest $ length of head,

membrane of 3rd spine reaching to base of 4th; the 3 spines of the

crest each with a tuft of cirri, all the other spines each with a single

apical cirrus. A ii. 22 (=24). Vi.2. Lateral line a single row of

pores.

3. 130 mm. Body not strongly compressed. Depth of body

subequal to length of head, 44 in length of body. Eye slightly greater

than snout, 4 in length of head. Interorbital 2 in eye. Maxilla

extending to below centre of eye. Nasal (anterior) tentacle fringed.

No supraorbital tentacle. No occipital groove. Front row of teeth

stronger than inner rows. D iii.+xxvii. 5, beginning in vertical

of hind margin of preopercle (or slightly in front), Ist and 2nd spines

of crest about 4 length of head, membrane of 3rd spine reaching to

* Smith (1945, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (xi), 12, pp. 535-546) not only retains

agilis as a distinct species, but places tawrus and agilis in different genera.

384 Annals of the South African Museum.

base of 4th, a gap between the 14th and 15th spines (the 11th and

12th excluding the crest) filled with membrane without the spine,

cirri apparently absent. Au. 22(=24). Vi. 3, 3rd ray very small.

Lateral line a single row of tubules. Red-brown, mottled, 8 dark

patches on dorsal fin, 6 on anal fin, caudal and pectoral with narrow

bars on the membrane “‘staggered”’ and not always forming continuous

unbroken lines across the fin. Indications of two dark bars from eye,

one horizontal to hind margin of opercle, the other passing obliquely

behind end of maxilla.

Famity STROMATEIDAE.

1902. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (7), x, pp. 115 and 194

(classification).

1922. Gilchrist, cbed. (9), 1x, p. 249 (oesophageal teeth).

1923. Gilchrist and von Bonde, Fish. Mar. Surv., Rep. 3. Special

Rep. 4 (S. African species).

1927> Barnard: Vc. p. cou:

Having occasion to examine a fresh specimen of the rare Cubiceps

capensis, it seemed worth while to repeat, in general, Gilchrist’s

observations on the oesophageal teeth. This has been done for all

the genera occurring in South Africa.

No comment is made on the homologies of the oesophageal sacs

suggested by Gilchrist; I have merely examined the structure of the

toothed processes within the sacs.

Gilchrist’s figures of these processes in Stromateus and “ Psenes

natalensis” are confirmed except for minor differences. The pro-

visional name “‘Psenes natalensis” is a nomen nudum for a species

which was called in 1923 Psenes africanus, and which I am inclined

to regard as synonymous with P. indicus.

On p. 253 Gilchrist describes the oesophageal sacs, upper pharyn-

geals, and papillae of “Psenes (Atimostoma Smith, Cubiceps Giinther)

capensis.” This is remarkable because in the following year (1923,

p. 7) Gilchrist and von Bonde state that Smith’s stuffed type in the

British Museum is the only known specimen, and quote Regan’s

taxonomic description.

But Gilchrist was in possession of the specimen (caught in 1919)

which he afterwards made the type of Centrolophodes irvini (1923)

(which in 1927 I regarded as synonymous with Centrolophus niger),

and his description of the pharyngeals and oesophageal sacs agrees

with these structures in Centrolophus niger. It is true that the

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 385

description would in fact also fit Cubiceps capensis, but one must

conclude that Gilchrist described these structures from a fish which he

d i

Fie. 10.—Stromateidae, oesophageal sacs. Lateral and dorsal views, and cross-

section of: a, Psenes indicus. 6, Stromateus fiatola. c, Nomeus grovonw. d,

lateral and dorsal views in Centrolophus niger and Cubiceps capensis. @, f, J, CLOSS-

sections in Centrolophus niger, Cubiceps capensis, and Schedophilus ovalis respectively.

In the lateral and dorsal views the branchial arches are situated on the left,

the oesophagus on right. In the cross-sections the obliquely shaded oval structures

are the 4th upper pharyngeal teeth; they are not shown in the figure of Stromateus

because they only just enter the anterior part of the sac.

had actually before him; and that the name in an anatomical paper

was a temporary pis aller (cf. ““P. natalensis,” swpra) or a lapsus

386 Annals of the South African Museum.

calamz. In accordance with this conclusion, corrected references

for the two species are given below.

Fig. 10 shows the differences in form and situation of the oesophageal

sacs in the genera examined. In Psenes indicus the two sacs are

longitudinally ovoid and lie parallel with the course of the oesophagus

(10, a); in Stromateus fiatola the two sacs together form a nearly

globular mass, in side view nearly circular and extending both above

and below the oesophagus (10, b). In Nomeus, Centrolophus niger,

Cubiceps capensis, and Schedophilus ovalis each sac is kidney-shaped

and lies athwart the oesophagus, as Gilchrist says, “‘following the

general contour of the branchial arches” (10, c,d). Their appearance

certainly suggests that they are a specialised development of the

closed-up gill-slit behind the 5th branchial arch.

Gilchrist came to the conclusion that the spiniferous lining of the

sacs was derived from two different sources; in the one case being —

homologous with the spiniferous lining of the upper pharyngeals

(““Psenes capensis” =Centrolophus, and Nomeus), in the other case

homologous with the gill-rakers (Psenes “‘natalensis,”” and Stromateus).

It seems rather doubtful to me whether detailed studies of the struc-

tures in question would confirm this view. In the case of Psenes

“natalensis”? Gilchrist examined the gill-rakers and found that they

“showed the same structure” (p. 252). If this statement implies

that the gill-rakers have a circular or oval base, my observations do

not confirm Gilchrist’s.

In Psenes indicus and Stromateus the sacs are lined with numerous

spiniferous papillae, of all sizes, projecting inwards more or less

radially (fig. 10, a, 6). Each of these papillae (Gilchrist: “long

horny processes resembling gill-rakers”) has its own base for attach-

ment to the muscular wall of the sac. This base is round and scale-

like in Psenes, stellate in Stromateus (cf. Gilchrist, figs. 1 and 2).

I find that in Psenes the base is not always circular, but is very

often irregularly oval, and the papilla seems to arise normally at one

side of it, not centrally (fig. 11, a). In Stromateus the basal root-like

processes are not always curved at their extremities as Gilchrist

shows them.

In Nomeus, and especially in Centrolophus niger and Cubiceps

capensis, the inner wall of the sac is lobed and plicate; in the two

latter species there is a particularly strong digitiform process anteriorly

in the lower half of each sac vis-d-vis the 4th upper pharyngeals

(fig. 10, c, e, f). The whole lining is beset with spiniferous papillae

(fig. 11, 6, c, d). None of these, however, attains the size, relatively

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 387

to the lumen of the sac, that the papillae do in Psenes and

Stromateus.

In Schedophilus ovalis there is a rather broad spiniferous area

projecting into the anterior part of the lumen between the sacs

(7 an extension of the lower pharyngeals) but not extending to the

hinder part of the lumen which is strongly plicate (fig. 10, g).

Fie. 11.—Stromateidae, papillae from lining of oesophageal sacs. a, Psenes

indicus. 6, Cubiceps capensis. c, Nomeus gronovii, a small and a large papilla.

d, Centrolophus niger, on right a small papilla, or one at an early stage of

growth.

In Cubiceps capensis and Nomeus the papillae have stellate bases

(fig. 11, 6, c). In Centrolophus niger they are of heavier build, some-

what like a humped-up starfish, and when closely packed they form

quite a firm “horny” layer, which has a Polyzoan-like appearance

when the spines are rubbed off (fig. 11, d).

It seems therefore that there is no essential difference between the

Psenes-Stromateus type and the Nomeus-Cubiceps type. In the former

the individual papillae grow to an enormous size relatively to the

lumen of the sac, which they nearly fill; in the latter, outgrowths of

388 Annals of the South African Museum.

the wall, covered with relatively small papillae, occupy most of the

lumen.

Also, it would seem that the words used in Regan’s key (1902,

l.c., pp. 120, 121), “oesophagus with (per contra: without) longitudinal

plications” are not very happily chosen to form the antithesis required

inthe key. Psenes and Centrolophus both fall within his first category.

Centrolophus mger (Gmel.).

Rigs: 10; d, e; Uji:

1902. Regan, l.c., p. 195.

1922. Gilchrist, l.c., p. 253 (oesophageal teeth, quoted as “‘Psenes

(Atimostoma Smth., Cubiceps Gnthr.) capensis”) (non Cubiceps

capensis (A. Smith)).

1923. Gilchrist and von Bonde, l.c., p. 3, pl. 17, fig. 1 (Centrolophodes

wrvine).

1927. Barnard, l.c., p. 895, pl. 33, fig. 1.

1935. Fraser-Brunner, Proc. Roy. Irish Ac., xlu, B, p. 323.

Since my 1927 paper I have seen two more specimens. One is half-

grown, 450 mm. to end of middle caudal rays, and was caught by a

trawler off Table Bay, approx. 200 fathoms, in 1937. The other is a

large specimen, 1165 mm., caught in the same locality in November

1941.

Beyond recording these specimens, the only point that need be

mentioned is that the upper pharyngeals on the 2nd arch form an

oval patch (in contrast with the linear patch in Cubiceps capensis,

v. onfra). Fraser-Brunner notes the difference in coloration of the

SEXES.

Gen. Cupicers Lowe.

1927. Barnard, l.c., p. 891.

1930. Chabanaud, Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Paris, (2), 1, p. 519.

1938. Fowler, Monogr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., 2 (key to species).

The diagnosis has to be altered in regard to the palatine teeth,

which may be present or absent. Regan’s 1902 diagnosis gave

“palatine teeth absent.”” McCulloch (1923) described a 79 mm.

caeruleus Regan, and a 371 mm. baateri n. sp., both with palatine

teeth. Chabanaud says his dollfusz n. sp. (up to 145 mm.) differs from

all other species of this genus in the absence of teeth “au palais”

(vomer and palatines).

Fowler (1934, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., Ixxxvi, p. 442, fig. 23)

i oceans |

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 389

describes longimanus n. sp. from a juvenile 55 mm. long, from Natal,

with D vil. i. 15 and Ai. 14, pectoral slightly shorter than head.

I have not seen Fowler’s 1938 paper.

Cubiceps capensis (A. Smith).

Figs. 10, d,7; 4, 6; 12.

1845. A. Smith, Illustr. Zool. 8. Afr. Fishes, pl. 24.

1902. Regan, l.c., p. 123.

1923. Gilchrist and von Bonde, l.c., p. 7.

1927. Barnard, I.c., p. 891.

[Not Psenes capensis Gilchrist, 1922, l.c., p. 253=Centrolophus

niger. |

Description of a male specimen, 460 mm. in length (to end of middle

caudal rays).

Depth equal to length of head, 32 in length of body (excl. caudal

fin); thickness at bases of pectorals a little greater than half length

of head. Caudal peduncle just over 14 times as long as deep (scarcely

1% as in stuffed type). Eye equal to snout, 33 in length of head,

34 in interorbital width (measured point to point, not round the

strongly convex curve). Maxilla extending to vertical from a point

midway between eye and posterior nostril; without supplemental

bone, and entirely concealed under preorbital when mouth closed.

Preorbital depth (at end of maxilla, narrower posteriorly) 4 eye

diameter. Snout rounded. Lips thin. Nostrils far forward, inter-

narial distance 14 times in distance from posterior nostril to anterior

margin of eye.

Branchiostegals 6. Gill membranes free from isthmus. Gill-

rakers 10+18 on Ist arch, longest rakers subequal to filaments,

4 diameter of eye. Pseudobranchiae well developed.

A single row of setiform teeth in both upper and lower jaws, regular

and close-set but not adjacent to one another. A single longitudinal

row on vomer, and on each palatine (fig. 12).

Tongue slightly concave in its free portion (to receive the vomerine

teeth) with a small number of scattered setiform teeth; behind the

tongue there is a roof-like ridge between the gill-arches, with a single

median row of setiform teeth, fitting into the V-shaped groove of

roof of mouth (fig. 12). Upper pharyngeals: no teeth on Ist arch, a

linear patch on 2nd, a rhomboidal patch on 3rd, 4th projecting into

lumen of oesophageal sac. Oesophageal sacs, see supra. Pyloric caeca

numerous but uncountable on account of surrounding fatty tissues.

390 Annals of the South African Museum.

D xi. 23. Ist spine arising in vertical from middle of pectoral

base; 3rd spine longest, subequal to or a trifle longer than spine at

beginning of soft dorsal; 9th and 10th spines concealed in groove

between spinous and soft dorsals; an unusually wide gap between the

6th and 7th spines suggests that one spine is here undeveloped, though

the membrane between the 6th and 7th spines is unbroken. A iii. 20,

Fia, 12.—Cubiceps capensis (A. Smith). Left: view of roof of mouth.

Right: tongue and ridge between gill arches.

3rd spine 34 in length of head, subequal to 3rd dorsal spine. P 24,

14 times length of head; direction of insertion of base nearly horizontal.

Ventral 24 in length of head, spine arising below base of last pectoral

ray. Caudal from base of middle rays to end of lobes ? length of

head. The fin has been split in the middle apparently as a result

of injury in early life, and the two lobes can be easily folded, the one

completely over the other.

Most of the scales are lost; a few remain near the pectorals and

along the bases of soft dorsal and anal. One to 3, sometimes 4 or

even 5, pores in each scale pocket. Scaling on head extending

almost to tip of snout (to vertical from anterior nostril), and to the

margin of orbit except the anterior portion, continued on preorbital

to vertical from nostrils; on cheek and subopercle, extending to

symphysis of lower jaw; on gular membrane and on throat, extending

> ,

“se

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 391

to isthmus. Soft dorsal and anal scaly at base, and also pectoral

for a short distance.

Scales large, cycloid, exposed surface with rather inconspicuous

crinkly subparallel longitudinal striae. Lateral line: 66 to base of

caudal, 52 or 53 to vertical from base of last dorsal ray. Approxi-

mately 46 from beginning of scaling on snout to origin of dorsal fin.

L. tr. 6 between lat. line and spinous dorsal, and between 1.1. and spine

at beginning of soft dorsal, the uppermost scale being the narrow one

next to the scaly fin-base; 5 between 1.1. and Ist-3rd rays, and 4

between 1.1. and remainder of soft dorsal; 22 between 1.1. and middle

line of belly; 12 from 1.1. to level of base of hindmost pectoral rays,

and 6 from this point to base of spine of ventral fin; 18 between

lJ. and anterior part of anal fin; 12 between 1.1. and last anal ray;

28 around caudal peduncle; 6 (7) rows of small scales on cheek

next to orbit, followed by 2 rows of large scales; 10 between orbit

and upper limit of gill opening, the hinder 3 being large scales.

Colour.—Purplish brown, the snout paler, tongue and lining of

mouth intense blue-black, dorsals, anal, caudal, and ventrals blackish

grey, pectorals lighter.

Locality.—Off Table Bay, approximately 200 fathoms, June 1939.

Remarks.—This specimen was caught by Capt. Pace, skipper of one

of Irvin & Johnson’s trawlers. It agrees very well with Regan’s

description of Andrew Smith’s stuffed type, which is approximately

22 times larger.

The specimen is interesting as being the second * of this species

to be obtained in a century (Andrew Smith left the Cape in 1837).

No young specimens seem to have been caught either by the Fisheries

Survey or the trawlers, or, if so, they have not been recognised as of

sufficient importance to be saved; on commercial trawlers small

fish are dumped overboard, except those of strikingly bizarre

appearance.

The Cape species may be retained under Andrew Smith’s name,

though very possibly it will eventually have to be included in gracilis

Lowe 1843, when more material is available.

Andrew Smith stated that the head was without scales except

behind the posterior edge of orbit; but in the figure there are

distinct indications of scales on the interorbital as far at least as

* Mr Norman, however, informed me (én litt. 10/vii/39) that he received four

rather small specimens in October 1925 which he identified as this species. They

were taken from the stomach of a Sei Whale caught 70 miles W.N.W. of Saldanha

Bay and were presented to the British Museum by Hans Ellefsen Ltd.

392 Annals of the South African Museum.

above centre of eye, and the artist has carried the purplish colour

forward almost to above the nostrils, which is approximately where

the scaling begins in the present specimen. In fact Smith’s figure

is a very good one, except that the scaling on the caudal peduncle

has been continued too far backwards, making the middle caudal

rays absurdly short.

Gen. SCHEDOPHILUS Cocco.

1829. Cocco, Giorn. Gab. Messina, i, p. 30, and Innom. Messina

Ann., il, p. 57.

1833. Cocco, Giorn. Sci. Lett. Sicil., xii, p. 20 (Mupus).

1834. Lowe, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 143 (Leirus, nom. preoce.

Meg. in Dahl., 1823, Coleopt.).

1843/4. Valenciennes in Webb and Berthelot, Ichthyol. Iles

Canaries, p. 43 (1843, fide Sherborne; 1844, fide Prussian Acad.

Nomenclator). (Crius.)

1846. Agassiz, Nomencl. Zool., p. 213 (Zirus emend. for Leirus

Meg. and Lezrus Lowe).

1902. Regan, l.c., p. 195 (Larus).

1927. Barnard, l.c., p. 896 (Lirus).

1937. Norman, Discovery Rep., xvi, pp. 117, 118 (comments on

subdivision of genus).

Mr. J. R. Norman recommends the use of this name, which is in

conformity with American usage. Lezrus is admittedly preoccupied;

Agassiz’ emendation may be valid for the Coleopterous genus, but

cannot be valid also for Lowe’s genus.

Agassiz gave the etymology of Leirus as Aeypos=subtilis; but

Valenciennes claimed that it was the latinised form of “‘leiro,”’ the

Portuguese name of the fish at Madeira.

Schedophilus ovalis (C. & V.).

Mies 10595013.

1833. Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., ix, p. 346

(Centrolophus o.) and p. 348 (C. crassus).

1843/4. Valenciennes, l.c., p. 43 (Crius bennettir).

1843/4. Id., ebid., p. 45, pl. 9, fig. 1 (Crius bertholotiz).

1896. Collett, Res. Sci. Camp. Monaco., x, p. 27 (L. bennettz).

1902. Regan, l.c., p. 198 (Lirus o.).

1919. Roule, Res. Sci. Camp. Monaco, li, p. 42 (Centrolophus

Crassus).

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 393

1933. Roule and Angel, zbid., lxxxvi, p. 83 (Centrolophus o.).

1937. Pellegrin, Bull. Soc. centr. Aqu. Péche., xliv, pp. 33-36,

2 figs. (bionomics and fishery).

Depth (reckoned as 155 mm.) 3 in total length (to end of middle

caudal rays), 22 to end of lat. line tubules; length of head 43 and 33

in the above lengths respectively. Hye slightly less than snout (in

true profile), 44 in length of head, not quite twice in interorbital

width (point to point, not around the strongly convex curve), which

is 22 in length of head. Maxilla extending scarcely beyond vertical

from anterior margin of eye. Narrowest (posterior) width of pre-

orbital 4 eye diameter.

Preopercle denticulate, subopercle less conspicuously so. A single

row of setiform teeth in both upper and lower jaws; no teeth on vomer,

palatines, or tongue. Gill rakers 6+16 on Ist arch, the longest not

quite as long as longest filaments, which are about } eye. Branchi-

ostegals 7. Pseudobranchiae well developed. An oval patch of

upper pharyngeal teeth on 2nd arch; 4th pharyngeals extending into

oesophageal sacs.

D viii. 27, arising above upper limit of gill opening; Ist spine short,

1 eye, 2nd close behind Ist, 4 eye, following spines graduated to the

rays, 9th about 14 times the eye, 9th or 10th ray the longest. A in.

(17, middle portion of fin missing). P 22. Ventrals about } length

of head, folding into a slight groove, innermost ray connected with

body by membrane.

Scaling on back beginning only a short distance in front of dorsal

fin, 5-6 (not more) predorsal scales. 2-3 rows on lower part of cheek,

i.e. across middle of preopercle. Opercle and subopercle scaly;

rest of head, lower jaw and gular region naked, with numerous pores,

the top of the head somewhat spongy.

Lat. line ca. 95; about 18 between Ist dorsal spine and origin of

lat. line; about 42 around caudal peduncle; base of dorsal and anal,

and pectoral for a short distance, scaly.

Oesophageal sacs kidney-shaped, lying athwart the oesophagus

(fig. 10, g, cross-section). Six large and bulky, digitiform pyloric caeca.

Length 470 mm. to end of middle caudal rays, 430 mm. to end of

scaling on caudal; depth of body 150-160 mm. (difficult to measure

exactly on account of scaly base of dorsal fin); length of head

110 mm.; snout 25 mm. in true profile (30 mm. if measured from

middle point of tip of snout to eye); eye 24 mm.; pectoral 95 mm.

Colour.—Grey with a purplish tinge, probably more silvery when

the scales are in position, top of head and all the fins darker; roof of

394

Annals of the South African Museum.

mouth purplish grey, but tongue and floor of mouth pale; gall-

bladder very distinctly green.

res 3

Fic. 13.—Schedophilus ovalis (C. and V.). Head to show scaling and pores

(diagrammatic, the scales are not numerically correct).

Locality.—Off west coast of Cape Peninsula, approx. 150 fathoms.

Capt. Pace, June 1939.

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 395

Distribution.—Madeira, Canary Is., Azores, Moroccan coast,

Mediterranean.

Remarks.—The specimen is a male. A large hemispherical hole,

about 14 inches across, has been scooped out (? eaten by a Hag-fish)

on the lower part of the right-hand side at the middle of the anal fin

and injuring also the fin itself; the exposed flesh has been covered

over by a layer of thick skin, but no new scales have been developed.

For the purpose of proportional measurements the above lengths

have been chosen because I am not certain what actual points Regan

in his table of measurements of British Museum specimens (l.c.,

p-. 199) has taken as the junction of the trunk with the “caudal”. For

the larger specimens he gives the “caudal” as approximately one-

fifth of the total length. One-fifth of the total length of the present

fish reaches from the end of the middle caudal rays to the narrowest

part of the caudal peduncle; but there are many scales, including

lat. line tubules behind this point. A more exact measurement is:

tip of snout to end of hypural 415 mm., end of hypural to end of

middle caudal rays 55 mm.

Gen. PALINURICHTHYS Blkr.

1859. Bleeker, Acta Soc. Indo-Neerl., vi, p. xxi.

1859. Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., 1, pp. 273, 337 (Hyperoglyphe).

1937. Norman, Discovery Rep., xvi, pp. 117, 118.

Palinurichthys (Hyperoglyphe) porosa (Rich.).

Fig. 14.

1845. Richardson, Voy. “Erebus and Terror”, Fish, p. 26, pl. 16,

figs. 5,6. (Diagramma p.).

1889. Giinther, Challenger Rep., xxxi, p. 11, pl. 2, fig. F (Lorus p.).

1902. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (7), x. p. 202 (Larus p.).

1929. McCulloch, Mem. Austr. Mus., v, p. 125 (Hyperoglyphe p.).

1937. Norman, l.c., p. 118 (Hyperoglyphe o.).

Description of two specimens 520 and 530 mm. in length (to end

of middle caudal rays); immature, with feebly developed gonads.

Depth not quite 3, head 3 times, in length (excl. caudal fin);

thickness at base of pectorals about } length of head. Caudal

peduncle twice as long as its least depth. Hye 4% in head, 14 in

snout (slightly less as figured), 2 in interorbital width (over the curve).

Snout rounded, lips thin. Mouth slightly oblique, lower jaw pro-

396 Annals of the South African Museum.

jecting slightly beyond upper (when closed). Maxillary extending

to below centre of eye, not concealed under preorbital, with supple-

mentary bone. Edge of preopercle denticulate, edges of opercle and

subopercle very finely denticulate where they meet, edge of preorbital

Fie. 14.—Palinurichthys porosa (Rich.). Head to show scaling and pores

(diagrammatic, the scales are not numerically correct).

smooth. Nostrils about midway between tip of snout and anterior

margin of eye.

Teeth in jaws small, numerous, conical, in a single row in each jaw;

no teeth on palate or tongue. Upper pharyngeals, none on Ist arch,

an elongate patch on 2nd, an oval patch on 3rd arch, 4th projecting

into lumen of oesophagus.

Gill-rakers 7+16 or 17 on Ist arch; longest rakers about 4 eye

diameter, not as long as longest filaments. Pseudobranchiae well

developed. Branchiostegals 7. Guill membranes free from isthmus.

Oesophageal sacs feebly developed. Lining of oesophagus plicate.

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 397

Pyloric caeca numerous, but impossible to count owing to surrounding

fatty tissue.

D vii. i. 19 or 18, 1st spine arising in vertical from axil of pectoral,

4th and 5th spines longest, ? eye diameter, 6th-8th decreasing, 8th

longer than Ist but shorter than 2nd, the spine at beginning of soft

dorsal slightly shorter than 4th or 5th spines, not quite 4 length of

longest rays which are $ length of head, rays decreasing to last which

is 2 eye diamenter.

A ii. 14, 3rd spine subequal to 3rd dorsal spine, longest rays not

quite as long as longest dorsal rays. P 21, falcate, 1¢ in length of

head. V not quite 4 length of head, spine arising in vertical from

middle of pectoral base and from Ist dorsal spine, inner ray joined

to belly by membrane.

Scales mostly lost, a few remaining beneath pectoral fins, along

lat. line, and at bases of dorsal and anal, thin, cycloid. No pores

in scale pockets. Head and snout naked, with numerous pores

which extend on to preorbital and the postorbital crescent; an

isolated patch of scales on the supra-scapular region. Preopercle

(except lower corner) scaly, about 9 rows; opercle and subopercle

also scaly. Soft dorsal and anal scaly at base, also pectoral for a

short distance.

Lateral line becoming straight about opposite beginning of anal or

middle of soft dorsal, approx. 72 (but scale pockets difficult to count

accurately), 10 to vertical from 1st dorsal spine, 56 to vertical from

last dorsal ray; 1. tr. approx. 11 between 1.1. and 1st dorsal spine,

approx. 18 between 1.1. and beginning of soft dorsal; approx. 30

around caudal peduncle.

520 and 530 mm. (to end of middle caudal rays), end of hypural

to end of middle caudal rays 60 and 65 mm. resp. Purplish-grey,

tongue and lining of mouth grey, dorsal fin blackish-grey, anal pectorals

and ventrals grey; iris dark, pupil as preserved pale (probably

translucent when alive).

Locality.—Stock-fish ground N.W. of Table Bay, approximately

250 fathoms: (larger specimen) Nov. 1941 (Dr. Molteno, Vitamin Oils

Ltd.), (smaller specimen) March 1943 (National Trawling and Fishing

Co. Ltd.).

Remarks.—Specimens of porosa up to 140 mm. in length have been

described from the coast of Australia (Richardson) and the Kermadec

Islands (Giinther). Richardson’s type is the largest known specimen,

and there is a close agreement between his description and figure and

| the present specimens. The points of agreement include the relative

VOL. XXXVI, PART 5. 28

398 Annals of the South African Museum.

lengths of the dorsal spines, and the isolated patch of scales on the

supra-scapular region. The anterior rays, however, of the soft

dorsal and anal fins, especially of the former, are considerably longer

than the hinder rays, whereas in Richardson’s specimen there is

much less difference in length. The pectoral is distinctly falcate

instead of broadly rounded as shown in Richardson’s figure. There

are | or 2 rays less in the dorsal and 1 less in the anal than in the type.

These differences, and the diminution in the denticulation of the

edges of the preorbital, opercle and subopercle, may very likely be

due to the greater size of the present specimens.

The North Atlantic species P. perciformis (Mitchell), according to

Regan (l.c., 1902, p. 202), has the dorsal spines behind the 4th sub-

equal instead of decreasing in length. I have not seen Morton’s

description of the Tasmanian H. johnston (1888, Pap. Proc. Roy.

Soc. Tasman. for 1887, pp. xlvu and 77, plate).

For the present, therefore, the Cape specimens are referred to

Richardson’s species.

Famity SCORPAENIDAE.

Scorpaena kowiensis J. L. B. Smith.

1935. Smith, J. L. B., Rec. Albany Mus., iv, p. 224.

Port St. Johns, one specimen, 1944. 112 mm. Well-developed

supraorbital tentacles. Four skinny flaps along the lateral line, the

last at base of caudal peduncle.

Red-brown, obscurely mottled; dorsal fin dark brown, mottled,

with an oblique pale band on soft dorsal from top of Ist ray to base

of posterior rays; anal with 3 oblique dark bars, ground colour buff

between basal and middle bars, crimson between latter and marginal

bar; pectoral with dark spots forming bars; pelvics bright orange-

red in axils, rest dull salmon, with a dark bar across middle and another

along margin; caudal irregularly barred.

This second specimen with fin formula similar to that of the type,

seems to confirm the validity of the species, though the additional

differences formerly supposed to distinguish it from haplodactylus

prove to be fallacious. The type was 59 mm. long, and possibly the

supraorbital tentacles and skinny. flaps had not been developed, or

they had been rubbed off when the specimen was “beach-rolled”.

The present specimen was also picked up on the beach after a cold

snap, but fortunately is in excellent condition.

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 399

Gen. ScoRPAENODES Blkr.

1857. Bleeker, Nat. Tijdschr. Ned. Ind., xiii, p. 371 (pro Scorpaen-

wchthys Blkr. 1856, non Girard 1854).

Resembles Scorpaenopsis in the absence of palatine teeth, but has

D xii, and ctenoid scales on the head.

Scorpaenodes guamensis (Q. and G.).

1824. Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. Uranie & Phys. Zool., p. 326

(Scorpaena g.).

1878-88. Day, Fish. Ind., p. 150, and Supplem., p. 788 (Scorpaen-

Opsis g.).

1885. Ramsay and Ogilby, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., x, p. 577

(Sebastes scabra).

1913. McCulloch, Rec. Austral. Mus., ix, p. 387, pl. 13, fig. 2

(Sebastopsis scabra).

1928. Fowler, Fishes of Oceania. Mem. B. P. Bishop Mus., x, p. 289,

and p. 290 (scabra).

1931. Id., Supplement 1, Lbid., xi, p. 349.

1943. Schultz, Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., no. 180, pp. 170 (in key), 173.

A specimen, 93 mm. in length, from the neighbourhood of Port

St.. Johns, agrees closely with Fowler’s description of scabra, except

as regards the suborbital stay which agrees better with Garman’s

figure (Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harv., xxxix, no. 8, pl. 1, fig. 2) of

erinacea (=guamensis fide Fowler l.c.). A smooth keel ends below the

anterior third of eye, followed by two keels each ending in a spine,

the lst below middle of posterior third of eye, the 2nd near edge of

preopercle which bears a double spine.

D xiui.10. Aui.5. 2nd anal spine nearly as long as the depressed

anal fin.

McCulloch’s figure differs in showing the middle keel (z.e. the Ist

keel ending in a spine) considerably shorter than the posterior one,

whereas in Garman’s figure and the present specimen the difference

in length is not so great, though the posterior keel is the longest.

S. guamensis is recorded from the Red Sea, Malaya, Hast Indies,

Australia, and Southern Pacific, scabra from the last two areas.

Though both McCulloch and Fowler maintain the two species, one

wonders whether they may not really be conspecific. The present

specimen appears to be a male. Possibly the length of the 2nd anal

Spine is a sexual character. Schultz finds that it is very variable,

and is inclined to regard scabra as a synonym.

400 Annals of the South African Museum.

Famity MONACANTHIDAE.

1927. Barnard, l.c., p. 949 (Balistidae: part).

Gen. STEPHANOLEPIS Gill.

1861. Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad., p. 78.

1940. Fraser-Brunner, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (x1), v, 518 (key to

species).

Distinguished from Monacanthus by the pedunculate dermal scales.

Fraser-Brunner has revised the genus, redefined the true setifer

of Bennett (a Caribbean species), and resurrected Castelnau’s South

African species auratus.

Key to the South African species.

1. Protile of snout concave. Length of caudal peduncle 3 in length of

head. D and A rays 32-33. P.14. ; ; ‘ : auratus.

2. Profile of snout straight. Length of caudal peduncle 4 in head.

D and A rays 30-31. P.13 . : ; : ‘ ‘ . rectifrons.

Stephanolepis auratus (Cast.)

1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 77 (Monacanthus a.).

1927. Barnard, l.c., p. 955 (setufer, non Bennett).

1935. Smith, Rec. Albany Mus., iv, p. 228, pl. 19, fig. B (setifer,

non Bennett).

1940. Fraser-Brunner, l.c., pp. 522 (in key), 532.

Brownish with indistinct dark or blackish spots, mostly transverse,

but some of them usually more or less confluent to form a longitudinal

stripe on hinder part of body and caudal peduncle; caudal fin

obscurely barred. Castelnau’s 60 mm. specimen was golden brown,

soft dorsal and anal fins yellow. Length of largest specimen in South

African Museum 170 mm.

Localities —Knysna to Zululand.

Stephanolepis rectifrons F-B.

1940. Fraser-Brunner, l.c., pp. 522 (in key), 531, fig. 6.

Dark brown with more or less distinct black blotches tending to

form transverse bands; caudal fin with 2 dark bars. 125 mm.

Localities.—Delagoa Bay and Zanzibar.

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 401

Famity OSTRACIONTIDAE.

1935. Fraser-Brunner, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (x), xvi, p. 313

(synopsis of genera).

1940. Id., abed. (xi.), vi, p. 390 (sexual dimorphism).

Ostracion lentiginosus Bl. Schn.

1851. Bleeker, Verh. Bat. Gen., xxiv, p. 32, pl. 6, fig. 13 (sebae= 3).

1865. Id., Atlas Ichthyol., v, p. 41, pl. 204, fig. 1 (sebae).

1927. Barnard, l.c., p. 962 (punctatus).

1934. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad., Ixxxvi, p. 510.

1940. Fraser-Brunner, I.c., p. 391.

Two specimens have been washed up on the beach at Strandfontein,

in False Bay (Cape) (Jan. and March 1938).

One, 28 mm. in length (incl. caudal), agrees with the Natal specimen

described in 1927. The smaller one, 10 mm. in length (incl. caudal),

has the ventro-lateral keel more pronounced, and a low blunt ridge

(or longitudinally compressed tubercle) immediately in front of the

dorsal fin, but not extending forwards beyond the vertical from base

of pectoral fin. The hinder part of the carapace is therefore 5-angled.

No indication of any spines.

Famity MOLIDAE.

Mola mola and lanceolata.

1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. l Afr. Austr., p. 75 (Pedalion, Aledon,

capensis).

1935. Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxx, p. 653, figs. 5-7.

1937. Gudger, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., cvii, A, p. 353, figs. 1-24

and pls. 1-5 (natural history and distribution of lanceolata) (references).

In the list of records (1927) I omitted Castelnau’s record of mola;

and in the files of the South African Museum I have found two other

records both presumably referring to mola.

(mola) 5th November 1856. Castelnau. Length 1000 mm.

Height 600 mm.

(? mola) April 1878. \ Pari es Gigs oN

(2? mola) 21st December 1881. Pectin ee

Since 1934 the following are the records of these two Ocean Sun-

fishes from the neighbourhood of Table Bay, which have been reported

to the South African Museum :—

402 Annals of the South African Museum.

(mola) June 1935. 36 inches in length.

(mola) July 1935. 174 inches in length (cast of this in S. Afr.

Mus.).

(mola) Ist October 1935. 24 inches in length.

(mola) 18th November 1935.

(mola) 11th January 1936.

(mola) 25th January 1938.

(mola) 20th March 1938.

(mola) 10th October 1939.

(mola) 2nd October 1940.

(lanceolata) 15th January 1942.

Amongst some papers of the late Dr. J. D. F. Gilchrist, I have

found photographs of two specimens which seem worth figuring here.

The small specimen (Plate XII), Table Bay, 1900, was approxi-

mately 23-24 inches in length, judging by the size of a man’s head

alongside the fish in the original photograph. The profile of the tail

has a perfectly even curve. The 173 in. and 24 in. specimens

recorded above were of the same shape.

The large specimen (Plate XIII), Kalk Bay (False Bay), 1901, was

approximately 6 feet in length, judging by the man alongside in the

original photograph. Both dorsal and anal fins and the lower part

of the caudal fin appear to have suffered injury while the fish was

alive. The frontal view shows unusually heavy supra-orbital ridges.

Mola alexandrini (Ranz.).

1839. Ranzani, Nov. Comm. Ac. Sci. Inst. Bonon., 111.

1935. Barnard, l.c., p. 655, fig. 5, a, b, and p. 658 (mola).

In 1935 I recorded a remarkable Sun-fish stranded in 1934 at

Kommetje (west coast of Cape Peninsula), which I regarded as a

freak specimen of mola. This opinion I am now inclined to revise

in, view of a very similar specimen which was caught near the shore

at Sea Point (Cape Town) in January 1942.

Its length was 5 ft. 10 in. In side view the shape was similar

to that of the Kommetje specimen (l.c., fig. 5, a), but not quite so

prominently protuberant on the throat; and the profile of the dorsal

ridge began farther forward, above or slightly in advance of the

vertical from the eye. In fact, if one assumes a certain crudity in

Ranzani’s drawing, the present specimen is intermediate between his

and my figures.

The coloration of both the Kommetje and Sea Point specimens

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 403

was considerably paler than is usually the case in typical mola. The

upper part of the back, and the dorsal and anal fins, are blackish,

but the dark colour shades off, in an irregular and blotchy pattern,

into grey on the flanks behind the pectoral fin, and the lower parts

are more or less silvery.

Both the Kommetje and Sea Point specimens appeared to be males;

at least they were not definitely females. The former specimen

was somewhat decomposed when I examined it, and the latter had

the abdominal cavity cut open by curious sightseers and the organs

were partially dried in consequence.

I am indebted to Mr. J. R. Norman for the tracing of Ranzani’s

figure; I do not know what description Ranzani gave. But the

presence at the Cape of two examples of such extraordinary shape

certainly seems to warrant the use of a distinctive specific name,

and Ranzani’s name seems suitable.*

HYPEROSTOSIS.

Figs. 15, 16.

Swelling and thickening of the supraoccipital bone is well-known

in a number of fishes: Platax, Sparidae, Sciaenidae, etc. (Késtler,

Zeitschr. wiss. Zool., xxxvii, p. 429, 1882; Pellegrin, Mem. Soc.

zool. France, xvi, 1903, p. 118, 1904). Ebina (J.Imp. Fish. Inst.

Tokyo, xxxi, p. 69, 1936) has given photographs of the enlarged

supraoccipital bone in the $ and Q of Hvynmis cardinalis, showing

that the bone tends to become thicker and more elevated in the

former.

A figure is given here (fig. 15, a) of the supraoccipital of a Red

Stumpnose, Chrysoblephus gibbiceps, from a skeleton, sex unknown,

in the South African Museum.

In the course of mounting for exhibition a large specimen of Caranx

equula (total length 580 mm., sex not determinable), Mr. Drury, the

Museum taxidermist, discovered a relatively enormous bony mass: on

the top of the skull. This proved to be the enlarged supraoccipital

(fig. 16, c, d). Two other specimens were then examined. One

285 mm. in length (sex not determinable), showed an early stage of

hyperostosis (fig. 16, ). The other, 185 mm. in length, showed no

sion of hyperostosis, the supraoccipital forming a thin vertical keel

(fig. 16, @).

At the same time Mr. Drury found the two suprascapulars. These

also are subject to hyperostosis. In the smallest specimen, with the

* See note p. 406.

37 mm.

404 Annals of the South African Museum.

thin keel-like supraoccipital, they are elongate-oval in shape and

quite thin (dorso-ventrally) (fig. 16, a). In the 285 mm. specimen

they are subcylindrical, with a groove and a curved ridge on.the

SSS \

/ ARN ; ‘\

QRS SY SS .

WAS OQ y\_

SO SSO So FS) Ga

COLUELPED COTE A

Fi ee ee

—

SEE

—— = =

Fic. 15.—Hyperostosis of supra-occipital bone. a, Chrysoblephus gibbiceps,

lateral and frontal views, and section at arrow; length 70 mm., height at arrow

b, lateral, ventral, dorsal, and posterior views, and section at arrow,

of a supra-occipital bone from Strandlooper kitchen-midden deposits at Hermanus,

Cape Province; length 90 mm.

external surface (fig. 16, 6). In the largest specimen they are very

massive; the ridge has been obliterated by the excessive growth of

bone, and only a faint trace of the groove remains (fig. 16, e, f).

The real reason, however, for introducing this subject of hyperostosis

Ann. S. Afr. Mus. Vol. XX XVI.

Xenolepidichthys americanus N. and I.

K. H. Barnard.

Plate IX.

Neill & Co., Ltd.

Plate X.

Taractes longipinnis (Lowe).

Upper figure 300 mm., lower figure 765 mm. in length.

K. H. Barnard. Neill 4: Co., Ltd.

. Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., Vol. XXXVI. Plate XT

Upper figure, Histiopterus spinifer Gilch., 72 mm.

Lower figure, Neothunnus albacora (Lowe) 5 ft. 6 in.

K. H. Barnard, Neill & Co., Ltd.

ee»

Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus., Vol. XXXVI. Plate XII

Mola mola, young, approximately 23 inches in length.

Photo: By the late Dr Gilchrist. Neill & Co., Ltd.

Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., Vol. XXXVI.

Plate XIII,

Mola mola, lateral view of mutilated specimen, and front view of head.

Photo: By the late Dr Gilchrist. Neill & Co., Ltd.

Further Notes on South African Marine Fishes. 405

mes. ;

Fig. 16.—Hyperostosis of supra-occipital and supra-scapula bones in Caranz

equula. a, specimen 185 mm. in length, lateral view with sections, length of supra-

occipital 40 mm. 8, specimen 285 mm. in length, lateral view with sections,

length of supra-occipital 71 mm. c, specimen 580 mm. in length, lateral view of

supra-occipital with section, length 115 mm. d, the same, dorsal view, width

33 mm. e f, the same specimen, dorsal and external lateral views of left supra-

scapula, with section, length 42 mm.

In all cases anterior end to the left: in section attached to e the external surface

is to the right; in f the zigzag lines at right-hand end indicate broken surface of bone.

406 Annals of the South African Museum.

is to give a figure (15, 6) of a remarkable bone which has been found

occasionally in kitchen-midden deposits at Hermanus (see Goodwin,

Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxiv, p. 211, 1938). The bone has caused con-

siderable speculation. It seems to be undoubtedly the supra-occipital

of a fish; and Mr. Norman of the British Museum agrees with this

identification. But the question is to what fish it belongs.

Mr. Norman was unable to match it with any of the skeletons in

the British Museum. It corresponds in a general way with the

supraoccipital of one of the 99 illustrated by Ebina (fig. 9, B), being

low and subcylindrical. But the primitive peoples who left the

kitchen-middens would not catch 99 only, and no specimens of high

and gibbous ones like that of the ¢ Hvynnis, or the Red Stumpnose

here figured, were found in the deposits.

It also resembles the supraoccipital of the Caranz mentioned above

in being elongate and subcylindrical; quite different from the Sparid

type illustrated by the Red Stumpnose. With this general resem-

blance as a hint, examples of the following local fishes allied to

Caranz were examined. ILichia amia (Leer-fish or Garrick), Trachurus

trachurus (Maasbanker), Seriola (Yellow-tail), Trachinotus baillonia

(=russelliz). Only young examples of Seriola were available (not

exceeding 300 mm.). All these examples had the thin keel-like

supraoccipital without any thickening.

Specimens (not exceeding 450 mm.) of Sciaena (Kabeljouw) and

Atractoscion (Cape Salmon or Geelbeck) have also been examined.

It would seem that the fish, to which the bone belongs, must be

some fish which is (or was) plentiful inshore along the southern coast

and easily either caught on primitive hooks or trapped in the stone

fish-kraals.

The specimen figured is 90 mm. in length. I have seen smaller

specimens (50 mm.), but none larger.

See as ee (©

Ss \

Fie. 17.—Trachypterus arcticus (Briinn).

Notr.—The Peace Memorial Museum, Zanzibar, has sent me a photograph of a

specimen of Ranzani’s or Alexandrine Sunfish which was washed ashore at Wete

Harbour, Pemba, in September 1947, length 6 feet.

A specimen 5 ft. 7 in. in length was washed ashore on Mouille Point beach (Cape

Town) on 7th April 1948, constituting the third Cape record.

( 407 )

8. Report on a Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River,

with Notes on Zambesi Fishes.

By K. H. Barnarp, D.Sc., F.L.S., Assistant Director.

(With 9 Text-figures.)

In 1939 Mr. Eedes, Native Commissioner stationed at Runtu on the

Okovango River, South West Africa, sent to the South African Museum

a collection of Fresh-water Fishes. The specimens were excellently

preserved, and in spite of transport difficulties, arrived in perfect

condition. Mr. Hedes is to be congratulated on his energy and

enthusiasm in making the collection. Very little collecting has been

done in the Okovango River, and the collection thus forms a very

important addition to the South African Museum collections.

The specimens were identified and a preliminary report sent to

Mr. Hedes. Publication of the present fuller report has been delayed

by world conditions. In preparing it I have utilised Gilchrist and

Thompson’s material and the material received by the South African

Museum from various collectors since the publication of their mono-

graph in 1917.

Of these collections special mention should be made of those

presented by the Rev. Ellenberger from Lealui (Lialui) and the Rev.

Jalla from Sesheki (Shesheki) (see map, fig. 1). These have been of

great value for comparison with Mr. Hedes’ collection.

It may be noted that the Rev. Hllenberger also sent specimens

to Dr. Pellegrin at the Paris Museum; and that Pellegrin and Gilchrist

and Thompson do not always agree on the identity of their respective

specimens which one suspects are really conspecific, having been

caught not only at the same locality but very likely also at the same

time (see Synodontis jallae, infra).

In this paper I have commented on some cases of synonymy, which,

on the basis of the material examined, seem moderately certain.

To be really useful, however, criticism and discussion of synonyms

should be based on extensive fresh material; ‘‘arm-chair” criticism

based on a few odd specimens collected casually here and there often

produces ill-considered results. I have tested Regan’s suggestions

408 Annals of the South African Museum.

as to the synonyms of Gilchrist and Thompson’s species of Cichlids

by examination of the types in the South African Museum.

We are very far from being able to discuss the geographical distri-

bution of the fresh-water fishes of this region in relation to the fish-

fauna of other African and South African regions. There are still

too many doubtful identifications of recorded species. For example,

Pellegrin (1936) records Barbus burg: Blgr. from the Cubango River

in Angola. I do not for a moment doubt that Pellegrin’s material

agreed with Boulenger’s description, and that the only alternative

would have been the institution of a n.sp. whose diagnosis would

have disclosed no apparent differences from burg:.* But I find it

impossible to believe that burgi, which is a synonym of burchelli, a

Red-fin species inhabiting only a single river system in the S.W.

Cape, should also occur in the Angolan highlands. The life-history

and the specific characters at every stage of growth must be worked

out before we can claim to have a true knowledge of the actual species

constituting the fish-fauna of a region}

Historical.—Castelnau recorded from Lake Ngami thirteen species

obtained for him by one of his “préparateurs” (1861, Mem. Poiss. de

Afr. Australe), and of these nine have maintained their status as

valid species as the outcome of later researches.

Boulenger (1911, Trans. Zool. Soc. London, xviii, p. 399) described

a collection made by Mr. R. B. Woosnam and was able to identify

the majority of Castelnau’s species, which up to that time had been

really species inquirendae owing to inadequate descriptions. He

recorded twenty-five species, which included all of Castlenau’s species

except two (Mormyrus lacerda and Hydrocyon vittatus).

These species were incorporated in Boulenger’s classic Catalogue

of Fresh-water Fishes of Africa (vols. 1-4, 1909-1916).

Gilchrist and Thompson (1913 and 1917, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xi,

pts. 5 and 6) based their work on Boulenger’s Catalogue. They had

in addition a collection of Ngami fishes made by Mr. H. F. Kirkham

and presented to the South African Museum. Five species were added

to the list, two of them being described as new.

* Cf. Trewavas, 1936, Novit. Zool., xl, p. 69. B. mocoensis Trew. from Angola

compared with B. burgi.

+ Cf. Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxxvi, p. 188, 1943.

t Including Chromis levaillantit, which Boulenger claimed to have recognised

as P. angusticeps. On the ground that a good description of the latter had been

given in 1907, Boulenger in 1911 declined to accept Castelnau’s name as he was not

quite certain of the identity.

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 409

Regan’s revision of the Cichlidae (1922, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist (9),

x, p. 249), however, removed Tilapia woosnami Bler., T. kirkhami G. &

T., and Pelmatochromis ngamensis G. & T. from the list as synonyms.

Paratilapia longumanus Blgr. was regarded as a synonym of Serrano-

chroms macrocephalus (Blgr.), but remained on the list of Ngamiland

species. Regan also regarded T. sheshekensis G. and T. as a synonym

of T’. andersonuw. |

In 1923 the South African Museum received a collection from

Captain Stigand which contained, however, only species already

known from Ngamiland.

With the exception of Barbus poechit Stndunr. (1930, Lohberger,

Zool. Anz., lxxxvii, p. 246), which is a synonym of B. trimaculatus,

no more records appear to have been published until Fowler described

the results of the de Schauensee Expedition (1931, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci.

Philad., Ixxxii, p. 233) and the Vernay-Lang Kalahari Expedition

(1935, Ann. Transvaal Mus., xvi, p. 251). These expeditions added

respectively five species, of which three were new, and fifteen species,

of which eleven were new.

In the following report, however, I have shown that some of Fowler’s

species are definitely synonyms, and others probably so. Fowler

completely ignores Regan’s classification of the Cichlidae, and con-

sequently as no anatomical details are given for Fowler’s n. spp.

(Tilapia allen, deschauenseer, Paratilapia deschauenseeae) one can

only guess where they should be placed in Regan’s system, or with

what species they should be compared.

In 1936 Pellegrin published an important contribution to the

ichthyology of Angola (Arq. Mus. Bocage Lisbon, vii, pp. 45-62).

Part of Pellegrin’s material was collected in the Cubango River,

which is the upper portion of the Okovango River. His results are

therefore particularly useful for comparison with the collection made

by Mr. Hedes.

This is the list of species recorded by Pellegrin, together with

those collected by Mr. Hedes (see p. 410).

According to the Zoological Record (Ixxvi, 1939, Pisces, p. 60),

Tortonese published a paper on Zambesi fishes (Boll. Mus. Zool.

Torino, xlvi, 1939, p. 73). I have not seen the paper.

Geographical.—Mr. Woosnam stated in his report (in Boulenger,

1911, p. 400) that ‘‘although the fish were labelled “Lake Ngami’ for

convenience of reference to maps, they come in reality from the

Okovango River and vast extent of marshes (of which Lake Ngami

is a part) into which the river opens out before it continues its way

410 Annals of the South African Museum.

Marcusenius cubangoensis Pelleg. .

Petrocephalus stuhlmanni Blgr.

Gnathonemus macrolepidotus (Peters)

Mormyrus anchietae Guim. :

Hepsetus odoé (Bl.) ‘

Hydrocyon vittatus (Cast.)

Alestes lateralis Blgr. ,

Micralestes acutidens (Peters)

Petersius woosnami Blgr. :

Nannocharax multifasciatus Blgr. .

Hemigrammocharax monardi Pelleg.

Labeo cylindricus Peters .

greent Blegr.

forskalit Rippell

parvulus G. and T.

Barbus hypostomatus Pelleg. .

rhodesianus Bler.

trimaculatus Peters

paludinosus Peters

eutaenia Blgr. .

viviparus Weber

burgi Bler.

unitaeniatus Gnthr.

‘barotseensis Pelleg.

lineomaculatus Blgr. .

macrurus Gand T. .

lujae Bler. :

barilioides Blgr.

sp.juv. . : : :

(Betrabarbus) okavangoensis

Brnrd. . : :

Barilius neaver Blgr.

Clarias gariepinis Burch.

ngamensis Cast.

dumerils Stndr.

Schilbe mystus Linn. .

Amphilius platychir Gnthr.

var. cubangoensis Pelleg.

Auchenoglanis ngamensis Blgr.

Synodontis nigromaculatus Blgr.

woosnami Blgr.

macrostigma Blgr.

melanostictus Blegr.

jallae G. and T.

Chiloglanis fasciatus Pelleg. . : °

Haplochilus cabindae Blgr. . i

Hemichromis fasciatus Peters 3

Pelmatochromis thumbergi (Cast.)

genisquamulatus Pelleg. .

welwiischi Bler.

Pellegrin,

1936.

oS OS OS PS ON oS OS tS OS 2S

oS eS OX PAS

Kk i KK OX

Remarks.

Recorded by Pelle-

grin as bifrena-

tus Fowl., see

p. 426.

See p. 408.

Now Serranochro-

mis t.

?=S8. thumbergi,:

see p. 447.

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 41)

Pellegrin, | Eedes

1936. | coll. sininielas

Tilapia galilaea Art. . : 5 ; x ?=macrochir.

melanopleura Dum. . : : x x

macrochir Blgr. : ‘ : x

ovalis Stndr. .° . ; 3 x x = Haplochromis

moffatii.

sparrmanw A. Smith 5 : x x

Sargochromis codringtont : ; ; x

Serranochromis sp.?. : , ; x

Anabas multispinis Peters

: Now Ctenopoma m.

Mastacembelus mutombotombo Pelleg.

as a single great river known as the Botletle or Zouga.” Except

that he travelled from Lehutitu to Okwa, Woosnam did not give his

itinerary, so that the actual locality or localities are not known. It

is clear, however, that “Okovango River” refers to that portion of

the river within the political boundaries of Bechuanaland (map, fig. 1).

He refers (p. 401, footnote) to the likelihood of the Okovango

marshes being connected with the Chobe marshes in times of flood;

and concludes his report with his opinion that: ‘There are not and

never have been any fish in Lake Ngami which are not also in the

Okovango and marshes... . But that there are fish in the upper

waters of the Okovango which are not found in the marshes is highly

probable” (p. 402).

The de Schauensee collection was made at Maun on the Thamalakani

River (upper or northern reaches of the Botletle). The Vernay-Lang

Expedition collected at the same locality, at, Tsotsoroga Pan between

the Okovango marshes and the Chobe, and 1 in the Chobe River; and

also in the Nata River flowing from the east into the Makari-kari

Salt Pan.

From the list of recorded species prior to 1930, and taking into

account the collections in the South African Museum from the Upper

Zambesi River (those received after the publication of Gilchrist and

Thompson’s work will be included in this report), the fish-fauna of

‘“‘Ngamiland” appeared to be essentially the same as that of the

Zambesi. Fowler’s reports, however, seemed to show that there are

a certain number of endemic species. This element will very likely

be reduced or wholly cancelled when more intensive collecting has

been carried out in the Zambesi River, especially in the case of small

species of Barbus.

The importance of the present collection is that it was made in the

412 Annals of the South African Museum.

Okovango River far above the area where it branches and loses itself

in the marshes of Ngamiland, but below that portion of the selfsame

river known as the Cubango River in Angola, whence Pellegrin (1936)

obtained his material. The actual locality is Runtu, S. lat. 17° 55’

K. long. 19° 43’, between Andara and Kuringkuru (88 miles east of the

latter place) (see map, fig. 1).

Famity MORMYRIDAE.

Marcusenius castelnaui Blegr.

19138. Gilchrist and Thompson, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xi, p. 328, and

1917, pp. 578, 579.

1913. Id. abid., p. 327 (estdorz, non C. & V.).

1916. Boulenger, Cat. F. W. Fish. Afr., iv, p. 159, fig. 106.

1916. Id. cbid., p. 161 (quotes G. and T’s record of zsedorz without

comment).

The three specimens from the Kafue River recorded by Gilchrist

and Thompson are not in good condition, but are certainly not isidort.

This latter species should be expunged from the South African fauna-

list.

As a matter of fact the specimens agree quite well with castelnaw.

Gilchrist and Thompson’s diagnosis seems to be composite. The

teeth number respectively from the smallest to the largest 4, 4, Z;

in the last case the 3 on the right side of the jaw appear to be replacers

and are not pushed up to the level of the other teeth.

There are also in the South African Museum six specimens from

Lialui and fifty-four from Sesheki, both localities on the Zambesi,

the latter opposite the Linyanti and Chobe swamps. The Sesheki

specimens range from 28 to 75 mm. The normal number of teeth

seems to be ¢. The larger specimens frequently have fourteen scales

around the caudal peduncle.

M. discorhynchus Peters, from the Lower Zambesi (Tete), has been

recorded by Pellegrin (1920) from Lialui on the upper Zambesi.

M. cubangoensis Pelleg. (1936) from the Cubango River (Upper

Okavango River) differs from discorhynchus in having fewer anal rays

(22-22) and a gibbosity on the chin.

Petrocephalus stuhlmanni Bler.

1909. Boulenger, l.c., 1, p. 56, fig. 41.

1916. Jd., abid., iv, p. 156.

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 413

1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 562 (Lialui specimens

recorded as catostoma).

There is a discrepancy in the number of scales around the caudal

peduncle as given by Boulenger and by Gilchrist and Thompson:

catostoma 16, stuhlmanni 12 according to the former, vice versa accord-

ing to the latter authors.

The Leydsdorp specimen identified as stuhlmanni by Gilchrist and

Thompson has 16 scales around the caudal peduncle, the Kafue speci-

mens have 12. In Boulenger’s key the Kafue specimens do in fact

run down to stuhlmanm, whereas the Leydsdorp specimen, which has

the same curious kink in the anal fin as shown in Boulenger’s figure

of stuhlmanni, runs down to catostoma. Who is correct?

It seems a little curious that a half-grown specimen from the

Kafue River, whence Gilchrist and Thompson identified five specimens

as catostoma, should be identified as stuhlmanm by Boulenger in 1916.

All six specimens were collected at the same time and place by Mr.

Drury (S. African Museum taxidermist attached to the Duke of

Westminster’s Expedition).

The South African Museum also possesses six specimens from

Lialui, Upper Zambesi, 52-58 mm., and one from Mr. Eedes’ collec-

tion from the Okovango River, 73 mm. (to end of middle caudal rays).

All these specimens have 12 scales around the caudal peduncle,

and agree also in other respects; but not even the largest one has any

sign of the irregular anal fin base.*

The Okovango specimen, as preserved in formalin, is very dark

sepia, almost black on top of head and along dorsal profile, throat

and breast pale greyish-white, an indistinct blackish bar across the

end of the scaling on caudal peduncle (not on the rays).

Famity CHARACINIDAE.

Hydrocyon vittatus (Cast.).

1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 65 (Hydrocinus v.).

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 338, fig. 12 (lineatus), and

1917, pp. 562, 578.

1939. Ricardo, Fish. Lake Rukwa and Bangweulu, pp. 21, 56

(lineatus).

This occasion is taken to note that the South African Tiger-fish

should really be called by Castelnau’s name: vwittatus; and also to

* In Gnathonemus macrolepidotus this is a sexual character of the g. Ovigerous

29 have a perfectly straight anal base.

VOL. XXXVI, PART 5. 29

414 Annals of the South African Museum.

draw attention to a somewhat remarkable outlying locality, Lake

Sibayiin Zululand, where this fish is said to occur. The record appears

in Mr. A. C. Harrison’s Black-bass Report (1936, Fish. Mar. Surv.

Investig., Rep. 7, p. 108) and rests on field observation only, no

specimens having been submitted to Mr. Harrison.

ANGOLA

a eee

: 3 SOUTHERN

tosha Pan ; oe |

RHODESIA

sce S|

SOUTH WEST Lake Ngami

: - Ma torikart

-- : an

Swakop RX~._ 7 AFRICA

BECHUANALAND

TRANSVAAL

XORANGE FREE

; a

eee OP state

Aes

Olifants 8

Fic. 1.—Distribution of: Tiger-fish (Hydrocyon vittatus), rivers thickened,

also Lake Sibayi; Lesser Tiger-fish (Hepsetus odoé), rivers crossed.

Its absence from Lake Nyasa north of the Murchison Rapids on the

Shiré River is also noteworthy (Worthington, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond.,

1933, 1, pp. 286, 289; Bertram, Borley and Trewavas, Fish. Lake

Nyasa, 1942, p. 18).

The map (fig. 1) shows the distribution of the Tiger-fish (H. vittatus)

and the Lesser Tiger-fish (Hepsetus * odoé). Mr. Hedes caught the

former, but not the latter, in the Okovango River. On the other

* Hubbs (Copeia, 1939, no. 3, p. 168) has resurrected Swainson’s name Hepsetus,

1838, to take the place of Hydrocyonoides Castelnau.

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 415

hand, Pellegrin records the latter but not the former from the Cubango

River.

Gen. ALESTES and MICRALESTEs.

In the descriptions of the species of Alestes and Micralestes in his

Catalogue, Boulenger did not refer to the sexual difference in the

shape of the anal fin, although he figured the g and 9 of M. acutidens.

In his Fishes of the Nile (1907), however, he specially mentions this

feature in three species of Alestes (pp. 113, 118, 123) and in M. acutidens

(p. 133). Guilchrist and Thompson also made no reference to sexual

differences, but copied Boulenger’s figures of M. acutidens without

explanation, leaving the reader to guess that the two figures portrayed

the two sexes.

No doubt the absence of a definite statement in Boulenger’s Cata-

logue is responsible for Fowler instituting (1935) two “species” for

the gg and 92 of a lot of Alestes all caught together at the same

place on the same day.

Whether sexual differences in the anal fin occur in all the species

of these two genera is a point to investigate (see Trewavas, 1936,

Novit. Zool., xl, p. 65). It occurs in Alestes omberz, as I have been

able to determine from specimens in the South African Museum. In

some species there is sexual difference also in the dorsal fin.

Alestes lateralis Blgr.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 341, fig. 14.

1916. Boulenger, l.c., iv, p. 179.

21925. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., Ixxvu, p. 197.

1935. Id., Ann. Transvaal Mus., xvi, p. 257, fig. 3 (thamala-

kanensis =Q).

1935. Id., ibid., p. 258, fig. 4 (langi =<).

1936. Pellegrin, Arq. Mus. Bocage Lisbon, vu, p. 49.

In the South African Museum there are 11 specimens (3 gg, 8 99,

75-90 mm.) from Sesheki, Zambesi River. The depth of the body,

especially in 99, is frequently a little greater than the length of the

head, as in Boulenger’s figure.

Micralestes acutidens (Peters).

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 342, fig. 15.

1913. Id., ibid., p. 343 (humilis non Blgr.).

The specimens from Maromba River, a tributary of the Zambesi

Fowler

416 Annals of the South African Museum.

River, recorded by Gilchrist and Thompson (and quoted later by

Boulenger, l.c., iv, p. 184) as humilis are really acutidens.

M. humilis should be struck off the South African fauna-list.

In addition to Gilchrist and Thompson’s material, there are in the

South African Museum six specimens (three gd, three 92, 60-75 mm.)

from the Victoria Falls (ex Rhodesian Mus.), and a series of thirty-

two (3 gd, the rest 92 and juv., 27-60 mm.) from the Okovango

River.

Gen. PreTersius Hilg.

1909. Boulenger, l.c., 1, p. 231, and 1916, L.c., iv, p. 185.

1936. Trewavas, Novit. Zool., xl, p. 66, footnote.

Pellegrin (1936) has recorded the Upper Congo species woosnamz

Blgr. from Kukulakaze (Cunene system) and the Cubango River.

Herre (1936) described P. barnardi from near Beira. The latter

constitutes the most southerly record of this genus.

Nannocharax multifasciatus Blgr.

1923. Boulenger, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xi, p. 487.

21933. Worthington, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (10); xi, p. 40 (menutus).

1935. Fowler, Ann. Transvaal Mus. xvi, p. 260, figs. 6, 7 (Disticho-

dina stigmaturus).

? 1938. Poll. Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr., xxx, p. 415, fig. 14 (mznutus Worth).

A misprint in Boulenger’s description may have been responsible

for Fowler regarding this little fish as an undescribed species.

As printed the fin formula was given as D ii. 10; A. i. 6; re-

examination of the type shows that it is really Din. 11, Au. 9. I

fail to find more than two anal spines, either in the type or in the

new material from the Okovango River; except in the case of the

36 mm. specimen where either ii. 9 or i. 8 can be reckoned.

The material shows the following features :—

pecimens.| mm. |rays. | rays.

19 1] 8 37 12 34 | 22 <e <e | No adipose fin.

23 ub! 8 38-39 12 34 22 <e <e a

26 ikl 8 39 12 34 22 <e <e -

30 13 8 40 16 34 | 22 <e <e | With adipose fin.

36 12 OF 41 16 33 | 3 i—e <e

48 1] 9 41 16 32 | 34 = =

22-36 | 12 | 9-10 |39-42 14 34-34/22-23| <e <6

(in figure or=e

of 31 mm.

| specimen).

* Might equally well be counted as iii. 8, instead of ii. 9.

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 417

Boulenger’s type came from Sesheki, Zambesi River, Fowler’s

fourteen specimens from the Chobe River, 3 miles from Kasane.

There are in the South African Museum nine specimens 23-36 mm.,

from the Okovango River, one, 19 mm., from the Linyanti River,

and Boulenger’s type.

Coloration as described by Fowler, the number of bars being vari-

able. The black spot on the tail, however, is on the caudal rays,

and there are no scales extending beyond it, contrary to Fowler’s

fig. 6; there may be one or two dark bars on the caudal behind the

spot. There is a strong superficial likeness to a Bartlius.

The most interesting feature of this series is the absence of the

adipose fin in specimens up to 26 mm. in length. The adipose fin

would appear to develop rather suddenly between the 26 and 30 mm.

stages, and seems to be correlated with an increase in the number of

scales around the caudal peduncle. The absence of the intermediate

stage is very unfortunate. Although Fowler had specimens of 22 mm.

upwards he makes no mention of this. Juveniles without the adipose

fin bear an even closer resemblance to a Barilius than do the adults,

but the shape of the mouth at once distinguishes them.

N. minutus Worth, from Lake Bangweolo, is closely related, if not

actually synonymous.

Hemigrammocharax monardi Pelle, 1935 (see also 1936), from the

Cubango River, is easily distinguished by its incomplete lateral line

and predorsal scales 13 (instead of 15-16), although the coloration is

very similar.

Famity CYPRINIDAH.

Labeo parvulus G. and T.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 353, fig. 22.

1916. Boulenger, J.c., iv, p. 205, fig. 129.

1937. David and Poll, Ann. Mus. Congo Belge, zool. ser. 1, T. i,

fasc. 5, p. 215 (Hlisabethville).

One specimen, 60 mm. in length, from the Okovango River.

Head 4 in length of body, eye 14 in snout, 4 in head, 13 in inter-

orbital width. Lat. line 34, predorsal 11, tr. $, 4 between lat. line

and root of ventral, 14 around caudal peduncle. D in. 10, Ist ray

a little shorter than head.

Sharp horny tubercles on snout, some of them bifid. Gonads

undeveloped.

For the time being this specimen must be identified as parvulus,

although I suspect that parvulus itself is really the same as cylindricus.

418 Annals of the South African Museum.

The life-history of cylindricus should be worked out in one and the

same locality.* As showing the reasonableness of the suggested

synonymy, the following table has been drawn up from specimens

from several localities :—

Total Length, mm. L/H. | H/E. | S/E. | I/E. | 1.1. | c.ped. ca Tubercles, sex.

Okovango River, 60 4 4 14 12 | 34 14 10 | Conical tubercles,

gonads immature

Crocodile River,t 72 4 4} 13 12 | 35| 14 9 | Conical tubercles

Type of parvulus gonads immature

87 4 + 12 12 | 34) 14 9 | Scars. Immature.

120 4 4h 2 2 35 | 14-16 | 9-10} Scars. Immature.

Sabi Ri 130 4 43 24 2 35 | 14-16] 9 Scars few and

abi River fecbleiea

2) lvamewaal | jeg 4 5 22 | 22 | 35 |14-16/9-10| Scars numerous.

Immature. ?9.

0a 4t 6 3 22 | 35 16 10 | Scars and rounded

warts numerous.

Ovig. 2

Manzemtoti River, 220 . 4} 64 3 3 36 18 10 | Scars and rounded

EK. Transvaal warts numerous.

Ovig. 9.

+ Eastern Transvaal, not the Crocodile River west of Pretoria.

In all these specimens the shape of the body agrees with Peters’

figure, and both the depth of the body and the length of the Ist dorsal

ray do not exceed the length of the head, or, in the case of the dorsal

ray, only very slightly. The pectoral is longer than either the ventral

or the anal.

In contrast to Boulenger’s statement (1909, p. 330) that the tubercles

on the snout are more developed in ¢ than in Q in forskalw, in the

above specimens of cylandricus they are more numerous in the 99.

There are, further, three specimens (245, 260, 275 mm., recorded

by Gilchrist and Thompson as cylindricus) in the South African

Museum from the western Transvaal and Zoutpansberg in the Limpopo

River system, which agree except that the depth is greater (14) than

the head. Consequently the dorsal profile is steeper, and the char-

acteristic cylindrical appearance is lost.

Probably these should be identified as darling: Bilgr., which is

recorded from the Letaba River, also in the Limpopo system. (The

* In Bertram, Borley and Trewavas, Fish. Lake Nyasa (1942, p. 43), some notes

on the biology of cylindricus are given, but not from the taxonomic point of view.

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 419

localities for the type of parvulus and the specimens of cylindricus

in the above table are in the Komati River system.)

Labeo forskalii Riippell.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 348, fig. 19.

1917. Nicholls and Griscom, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., xxxvii,

p. 693 (Stanleyville). ’

Boulenger (1916, p. 205) considers that the Victoria Falls specimen,

referred by Gilchrist and Thompson to forskalii, is probably cylindricus.

With this opinion I cannot agree, that is if the South African Museum

specimens of cylindricus are correctly identified. Both Peters and

Boulenger refer to the close resemblance of these two species. There

is, however, a great difference in the shape of the body between

Peters’ figure of a Zambesi cylindricus and Boulenger’s figure of a

Nile forskali.

There are a number of specimens in the South African Museum

from Transvaal localities which agree in body shape with Peters’

cylindricus, and some of their main characters are set out below.

The Victoria Falls specimen, however, is quite different, with a

steeper dorsal profile. It may not be the true forskali, but it is

certainly not the cylindricus of Peters. As there is a short series in the

South African Museum I give a table of characters for comparison

with those of cylondricus, including the two very fine and well-preserved

specimens from the Okovango River.

In all of them from the youngest upwards both the depth of the

body and the length of the Ist dorsal ray are greater than the length

of the head, the 1st dorsal ray being in larger specimens considerably

longer than head. Length of head 14 juv.—14 adult in depth of body.

In younger specimens the pectoral fin is subequal to the ventral fin

and to the anal fin; it does not reach the ventral fin, and the ventral

fin reaches only as far as the vent. In some of the larger ones the

pectoral is slightly longer than the ventral and anal fins. In the

two Okovango specimens they are subequal, but the pectoral reaches

the ventral, and the ventral reaches to or almost to the anal (midway

between vent and anal). The large Sesheki specimen is remarkable

for having the pectoral 14 times as long as head, and extending beyond

base of ventral; the latter is 14 times as long as head and extends

beyond a knob-like excrescence which represents the absent anal fin.

All specimens with scales tr. #, and 4 between lat. line and root of

ventral (5 if the scale covering the axillary scale be counted), predorsal

11-12.

420 Annals of the South African Museum.

Comparison of a long series from the very smallest upwards of the

Zambesi form with a similar series of forskalii from the Nile might

disclose differences; but for the time being there is no other course

open but to identify all the above specimens as forskali.

Total Length, mm. L/H. | H/E. | S/E. | I/E. | 1.1. | e¢.ped. ne iH Warts, Sex.

Lialui He a a 5 2 Bay || ig. ae cone ae

Zambesi River)120 .| 4 5 2 24 |37-38} 18 1} ‘ia i

Victoria Falls 135 4 5 2 24 38 18 14 | Scars numerous

(gutted).

Sesheki 150 .| 44 5 2 24 38 18 14 | Scars moderate.

Zambesi River Immature. |

Victoria Falls 200 ; 4} 53 22 22 39 16 14. | Rounded warts and |

scars. ?¢. )

eae ) Numerous sharp :

Souther: tte coONt eta Geil ee Sie S601) eG 1} conical, bifid, or

Sore OR) ale 7 3 34 37 | ob 14 multifid tubercles

tary of Zambesi |

River eae

Sesheki 310 . ' 4} 7 3 3% 37 18 13 | Scars not numer-

ous, rather feeble.

2d.

Scars not numer-

; 300 2 i 3 4 38 18 13

Okovango River 395 a 7 3 A 38 20) 13 ous, rather feeble.

2g spent.

Gen. Barsus Cuv.

The genus is divided according as the scales are longitudinally or

radiately striate.

Of the first group, species with longitudinally striate scales, there

are no specimens in Mr. Hedes’ Okovango collection. Nevertheless

it is interesting to set out the species which have been recorded from

the Zambesi system, together with certain comments.

A. Last dorsal spine more or less enlarged : : : : bruci Blgr.

Div. 9-10. Scales 28-30.455. Pe ie (syn. sector and cookez)

B. Last dorsal spine not enlarged.

1. Dorsal high.

Div. 9. 32-34. $. 12 “‘rubber-lip.” 130mm. zambesensis Peters

Div. 9. 30-32. 2. 12. “rubber-lip.” 235 mm. chilotes Bler.

Div. (9, "29. 4. (212)) “rubber-lip. ? 215mm

hypostomatus Pellegr.

Div, 8. 30=31. 3. 12) 320mm. é : victoriae Bler.

Ditty 9.4325) 3.122 890s codringtonii Blegr.

Dints Os 285 asa bs eS oOmmmin ' : altidorsalis Blgr.

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 421

2. Dorsal moderate.

Diii. 8-9. 30-32.. $. 12. 280mm. . : rhodesianus Blgr.

3. Dorsal low.

Dias oo ee 4. 6420) mme : ; fairbairnii Blegr.

Divan 305 a. [2.0482 mm, % ‘ A nasutus G. and T.

Even at a first glance the list has a suspicious look. How many of

these are really natural species, and how many merely “Museum

species?” Three (victoriae, fairbairni, codringtonw) came from the

Victoria Falls (above and below), and one (chilotes) from two miles

above the Falls. It seems rather a remarkable circumstance that the

collector caught, or picked out from his catch, only a single specimen

of each of the first three ‘“‘species’’, and two of the last-mentioned.

That is to say, four species were based on five specimens, and not one

of them apparently identifiable with the already known zambesensis

Peters. A fifth species (altidorsalis) was also based on a single

specimen, from the Kafue River.

B. hypostomatus Pellegr., 1936, was described-from a single specimen

from the Cubango River (Upper Okovango), very like chilotes.

A further question: have no young specimens of any of these

ever been caught and described? See p. 431: onerms.

B. brucit. I have elsewhere suggested,* that as fleshy lobelike

lips (‘‘rubber-lips”) are not a specific character, sector is probably

a synonym of brucit (which latter has line precedence). Here again

two species were founded on two specimens from the same locality.

B. cookei G. and T. (one specimen) is in my opinion also synonymous.

I have examined a specimen from the Mazoe River, Mashonaland.

This, in spite of its longitudinally striate scales, was first identified

by Boulenger as gurneyt and returned to the South African Museum,

then recorded by Gilchrist and Thompson as bowkeri (1913, p. 387).

Actually it is a specimen of brucw. B. dwaarsensis Gand T, 1913;

is probably also synonymous.

Of the second group, species with radiately striate scales, there

are several representatives in Mr. Hedes’ Okovango collection.

A synopsis of the relevant species is given, embodying the synonymy

suggested below under the respective species.

TI. No sensory ridges on head.

A. Last dorsal spine enlarged, not serrate. Two barbels. D rays

(7/8. Vl 30-34, tr. e.ped- 14-16 . trimaculatus Peters

oe el eee

* Barnard, Revision of F. W. Fishes 8.W. Cape, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., EXxvi, p. 167,

1943.

+ Worthington, 1929, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 431.

422 Annals of the South African Museum.

B. Last dorsal spine more or less enlarged, serrate.

1. Two barbels. D rays 7.

6-7

Scales 33-36. 34° 16-18. Ventral in front of

dorsal, scales with few striae : : paludinosus Peters

35-37. $. 14. Ventral partly below dorsal, scales

with numerous striae . ‘ ‘ longicauda Blgr.

24-26. 4. 12. Ventral arising in font of dorsal

eutaenia Blgr (Zambesi)

24-26. #@. 12. Ventral arising below 8rd dorsal

spine. ‘ ; : . manicensis Pellegr. (near Beira)

2. One barbel. D rays 8 : : . : serrula G. and T.

C. Last dorsal spine not enlarged, not serrate.

1. Two barbels. Dorsal rays 8.

a. Black spot at base of anal.

26-29. =*.. 12. 3-7 black spots on sides

barotseensis Pellegr.

27-29 (31). 3. 12. 1.1. curved, distant from

dark pigment stripe. : viviparus Weber

25-28. 3. 12. L1. straight, sdinet coincident

with dark stripe : ‘ thamalakanensis Fowler

21-24 (Fowler) 28-30 (Blgr.). %. 10. Vertical

bars on sides ‘ : : barilioides Blgr.

b. No black spot at base of aaa

i. Scales with more than 10 striae.

29-31. %. 12 (sometimes 9 or 10 D rays)

inermis Peters

30-36. %. 14-16 . : . macrurus G. and T.

ii. Scales with less than 10 striae.

26-27. %. 10. Posterior barbelS eye . ,

radiatus Peters

26-27 (? c.ped. and striae). 3-4 black spots

on side. 1.1. incomplete : ‘ lujae Bier.

30. %. 12. Both barbels longer than eye

lineomaculatus Blgr.

30-33. $. 12. Dark lateral stripe, with

or without spots. Depth of body greater

than length of head. . unitaeniatus Gnthr.

2. One barbel : : “afer”? (Pellegrin 1920 name only) *

3. No barbels, or very minute.ones. D 8. |

Lat. line and dark pigment stripe coincident. No black

spot at base of anal . : : rogersi Bler.

Lat. line curved, distant from dane bse: A black

spot at base of anal . : juv. sp.? (Okovango)

II. Sensory ridges or lines or pores on head (iereabarbus) : . okavangoensis

* Possibly a juvenile in the “‘single barbel”’ stage. |

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 423

Barbus trimaculatus Peters.

1852. Peters, MB. Ak. Wiss. Berlin, p. 683.

1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 59 (kwrumanni, original

spelling).

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 401, fig. 60.

EON td. 201d., p. 563.

1930. Lohberger, Zool. Anz., Ixxxviii, p. 246, fig. (poechi: Stndr.).

1930. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., Ixxxii, p. 34 (Lake

Victoria).

1933. Worthington, Proc. Zool. Soc., i, p. 304.

1935. Fowler, Ann. Transvaal Mus., xvi, p. 262.

1936. Pellegrin, Arq. Mus. Bocage Lisbon, vii, p. 53.

From the examination of forty-two specimens (forty with 8, two

with 7 dorsal rays) recently collected at Kuruman by Drs. Hesse and

Boonstra and Mr. Thorne (of the South African Museum) it is obvious

that Castlenau’s species should be put into synonymy here. Castelnau

said “‘la lévre supérieure porte deux petits barbillons”; Boulenger

(l.c., u, p. 144) has interpreted this as one barbel on each side, and has

suggested that the species is allied to trevelyani. The strong dorsal

spine and the locality (Orange River system) might have suggested

aeneus, but the black spot at base of caudal would have excluded this

latter species.

Kuruman was the only known locality for this species in the Orange

River system, until the above-mentioned collectors captured four

specimens in the Dry Hartz River, at Taungs in October 1939.

In the South African Museum there are the four specimens from

the Kafue River recorded by Gilchrist and Thompson, one of them

with 7 dorsal rays; one is an ovigerous @ 90 mm. in length. Also

the faded Kuruman specimen (G. and T., 1917, p. 563) 70 mm. in

length with 7 dorsal rays. Also two immature specimens from Lialui

(one of them with 7 dorsal rays) and one from Sesheki, both on the

Zambesi River.

Fifteen immature specimens, 50-63 mm. from the Okovango River.

All of them with 8 dorsal rays, and 14 scales around caudal peduncle

(except one which has only 12). The oval black spot at base of caudal

is very distinct; a faint lateral stripe, with indications of the two

spots (fore and aft the dorsal fin) in some specimens; the scales on

upper half of body with darker edges; the lateral line below the lateral

stripe is sometimes faintly indicated by pigmentation above and

below the tubule on each scale.

424 Annals of the South African Museum.

Pellegrin records it from the Kunene River and the Cubango

River, the latter being the upper (Angolan) portion of the Okovango

River.

Peters described the fins as greenish, the lower ones more yellowish.

Fowler (1930) mentions a dark spot at base of anal in specimens from

near Lake Victoria.

Barbus paludinosus Peters.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 404, fig. 62.

1913. Id., cbid., p. 408 (specimen from Wonderfontein, Transvaal,

as longicauda).

1916. Boulenger, l.c., iv, p. 251.

1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 563.

1930. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., lxxxii, p. 34.

1933. Worthington, Proc. Zool. Soc., i, p. 304.

1935. Fowler, Ann. Transvaal Mus., xvi, p. 263.

1935. Id., cbid., p. 265, fig. 9 (tsotsorogensis).

1936. Pellegrin, Arg. Mus. Bocage Lisbon, vu, p. 53.

1936. Trewavas, Novit. Zool., xl, p. 66.

1939. Ricardo, Fish. Lake Rukwa and Bangweulu, p. 23.

1943. Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxxvi, p. 171, fig. 14 a, b, (growth-

changes).

The dusky coloration, composed of minute dots and specks which

are often (especially along the middle of the sides) vertically oval in

shape, is characteristic of specimens preserved in formalin. In

specimens preserved in alcohol the silvery coloration often renders

the pigmentation less conspicuous.

Two specimens from the Okovango River, preserved in formalin,

were on arrival at the Museum olivaceous above, dorsal and caudal

fins faintly pinkish, pectoral, ventral, and anal slightly yellowish.

Specimens from the Orange River, preserved in alcohol, were

silvery, more or less greyish above and along middle of sides, the fins

very faintly yellowish.

Peters gave the colour as green, silvery on sides, finsred. Probably

rosy or salmon would have been a better term than “red.”

I have personally examined specimens of tsotsorogensis, kindly

loaned by the Transvaal Museum. The identity is obvious on direct

comparison.

B. longicauda Blgr. (gibbosus Peters, non C. and V.) differs in having

rather numerous striae on the scales instead of comparatively few

(cf. Peters, Reise Mossamb., pl. xi, figs. 1, paludinosus and 2, gibbosus),

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 425

and the ventral fins are not wholly in advance of the dorsal fin. The

Transvaal specimen recorded by Gilchrist and Thompson is paludi-

nosus, not longicauda.

Barbus barotseensis Pellegr.

Fig. 2.

1920. Pellegrin. Bull. Soc. zool. Fr., xlv, p. 149 (radiatus var.

barotseensis).

Differs from radiatus Peters (Tete, Lower Zambesi) in having three

spots along the sides, and one at base of anal fin; and in having a

Fie. 2.—Barbus barotseensis Pellegr. 10th, 20th, and 25th scales in

lat. line indicated.

shorter pectoral. Pellegrin does not suggest it, but the latter feature

may be merely sexual.

L/H. | H/E. S/H.) I/E. | 1.1. | c.ped.| Striae. ours Barbels.

3t 2% |e>s| e>i| 27 | 12 3-4 1+5 | Anterior 4 eye. Pos-

terior + eye.

ule ag) |". ie 28i| eat

3% | 22 9 > | 28) 12

32 3 x e=i | 28 12 5-6 Anterior } eye. Pos-

terior 4 eye.

32 3 Ae as 28 12 6-7 (8) |1+6(7)| Anterior} eye. Pos-

terior 2 eye.

A series of thirteen specimens, 32-57 mm. in length, from the

Okovango River seem to be referable in this species. They have 3 or

4 to 6 or 7 black spots more or less connected by a faint lateral stripe.

Unlike lineomaculatus, where only the spot at base of caudal is on the

lateral line, in these specimens the last 2 or 3, 2.e. one or two situate

above the anal fin and on caudal peduncle, as well as the one at base

of caudal are on the lateral line; cf. figure of atromaculatus N. and G.,

426 Annals of the South African Museum.

1917, and Fowler, 1930, fig. 6 (“luwjae” *). Moreover, there is a

conspicuous black spot at base of anal fin, which is not present in

luneomaculatus.

On arrival at the Museum (in formalin) the fins were colourless.

The scales show 4 radiating striae in the smallest, and not more

than 8 in the largest specimen. Both barbels are very short, in the

largest specimen the posterior barbel not quite 4 eye-diameter, the

anterior one about } eye. By this feature these specimens are dis-

tinguished from atromaculatus, lineomaculatus, lujae, tetrastigma.

The eye is distinctly larger than in equal-sized specimens of lzneo-

maculatus. Pupil 4 eye-diameter.

D iu. 8. Ventral spine below 3rd dorsal spine. Lat. line 27-28;

3 above 1.1., 2 below; predorsal 8-9; around caudal peduncle 12.

Pellegrin does not give the caudal peduncle and predorsal scale

counts.

Gill-rakers about 6 short blunt knobs on lower part of Ist arch.

Snout rounded, shorter than eye, mouth sub-inferior.

These specimens are distinguished from lujae by the very short

barbels, the sub-inferior mouth, and the complete lateral line.

B. barotseensis was first described (as a variety of radiatus) from

Lialui, Upper Zambesi River. It was not reported by Pellegrin from

the Cubango (Upper Okovango River) in 1936.

Barbus viviparus Weber.

Fig. 3.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 421, fig. 79.7

cf. 1935. Fowler, Ann. Transvaal Mus., xvi, p. 266, fig. 10 (befrenatus).

1936. Pellegrin. Arg. Mus. Bocage Lisbon, vii, p. 55 (bzfrenatus).

1943. Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxxvi, p. 218 (notes on alleged

viviparity).

Fowler mentioned differences in coloration between bifrenatus and

rogerst, but did not specially mention that the latter has no barbels

or only a minute one on each side.

Pellegrin records bzfrenatus from the Cubango River, Angola

(upper reaches of the Okovango River).

* David and Poll (1937) consider that Fowler’s 1930 figures represent lineo-

maculatus; one must assume that they consider the black spot at base of anal

(present in lujae but not in lineomaculatus) as of no specific importance. They

also do not agree that lujae and lineomaculatus are synonymous.

tT P. 421, line 6 from bottom, for “‘but”’ read “‘not”’.

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 427

As a matter of fact befrenatus is so extraordinarily like viviparus

that I think the two should be united.

I have compared paratypes of bifrenatus with cotypes of viviparus;

I have also examined the Livingstone specimen (referred by G. and

T. to wewparus) and three specimens from the Saib River, eastern

Transvaal.

From the descriptions it is not easy to reconcile the differences

in the numbers of scales transversely, unless the points between

Fie. 3.—Barbus viviparus-bifrenatus. Scaling between dorsal and

ventral fins to illustrate method of counting, and position of the dark

lateral stripe in relation to the lateral line. Head to illustrate features

mentioned in text.

which the count is taken are definitely stated. Weber gave: “1. tr.

6oAd

5.1.4 (V)”; Boulenger: iP 3 between |.]. and ventral”; Gilchrist

6¢ ay

and Thompson: ie 24 between 1.1. and ventral”; Fowler: “6 above

nu 29

3 below”; Pellegrin: = Boulenger’s figure shows 4 between 1.1.

and dorsal, 3 between 1.]. and ventral; Fowler’s figure of the young

agrees with this, but his figure of the type shows 3 above and 3 below

the lat. line.

As frequently happens, such discrepancies, evident enough “on

paper”, disappear when the actual specimens are compared.

428 Annals of the South African Museum.

In all the above mentioned specimens there are 4 scales between

the I.l. and the base of the dorsal, not counting the pre-dorsal scale

in front of the dorsal spine, or the elongate scales along the base of

dorsal; and 3 between the 1.1. and ventral spine, including the scale

which lies immediately above base of spine and from behind which

the axillary scale projects, or 2 if this and the axillary scale be

excluded (fig. 3).

Weber mentioned the lateral stripe, but not the double line of

dots along the lateral line tubules; nor do his specimens (collected

1894-5) show any trace of the latter marking. It is, however,

mentioned and figured by Boulenger (whose figure was copied by G.

and T.); described but not well figured by Fowler; and mentioned

by Pellegrin. It is present also in the Livingstone and Sabi River

specimens.

The dark lateral stripe, in the middle of the side, passes through the

upper half of the series of scales immediately above the 1.1. scales

(fig. 3); posteriorly descending to the middle and the lower half of

this series of scales, and eventually passing on to the 1.1]. series at about

the 8th (7th-9th) scale from caudal fin.

The dark stripe on the snout passes round in front very distinctly

in bifrenatus and the Livingstone and Sabi River specimens, but can

scarcely be traced even on the sides of snout (though distinct behind

eye) in viveparus.

There are some dark specks along base of dorsal fin, usually con-

centrated into a spot at base of spines and another at base of last

rays, sometimes a third in the middle.

In the Okovango specimen a black medio-ventral streak between

anal and caudal on the caudal peduncle, and a fainter medio-dorsal

stripe.

There are 12 scales around the caudal peduncle: in 18 mm. bifrenatus

and 20 mm. wviparus, and larger specimens.

The position of the base of the ventral spine is in the vertical

from the dorsal spines; Fowler’s figure of the type of bifrenatus shows

it distinctly in advance; but it is not in advance in the five paratypes

I have seen.

After thorough comparison, the only differences I can find are:

a very slightly larger eye and a few more straie on the scales in the

Sabi and Zambesi specimens than in wiveparus from Natal (specimens

of equal size compared, see table). In wiweparus there are 5-7 striae

(on the exposed field), in bifrenatus 8-10 (not counting incomplete

intercalaries). These differences are scarcely enough to justify two

. oe

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 429

species, especially when other small species of Barbus (e.g. trimaculatus,

paludinosus) seem to have an equally wide range in the tropical and

(eastern) subtropical areas.

In the largest paratype of bifrenatus seen, 30 mm., the eye is greater

than length of snout (as seen in profile); Fowler’s statement that it is

subequal to the snout would be correct if measurement is taken on

the curve to tip of snout.

As I have elsewhere pointed out, there are strong reasons for

suspecting that the alleged viviparity of this species was based on

erroneous observations.

Diagnostic characters, in addition to the more usually given specific

characters, of wviparus-bifrenatus :—

(a) Depth of body at least equal to length of head, usually (in larger

specimens) slightly greater, not more than 32 in length of body

(G. and T.’s measurement wrong).

(6) Distance from top of gill opening to the dorsal profile at 1st pre-

dorsal scale subequal to eye.

(d) Upper and lower profiles of head if continued in straight lines

meeting at an angle of approximately 35°.

(e) Lateral line curved downwards and meeting dark lateral stripe

only in vertical from end of anal base.

(f) Dark stripe passes through the upper halves of the scales above

the lat. line (7.e. where the 1.]. and the dark stripe are separate).

L/H. | H/E. | S/E. L/E. Barbels.

(2 spec.)18 mm. 34 23 | s <e |subequal| Anterior a mere point. Posterior

bifrenatus z eye.

paratypes a pe 33 2# |s<e 8 Anterior ¢ eye. Posterior 2 eye.

ile spec.) 30. ,, 34 3 s<e ' Anterior 2 eye. Posterior =eye.

DO ss 34 3 s<e ee Anterior 2 eye. Posterior =eye.

Sabi River 30) 43 34 3 s<e a (Mutilated).

43 5 4 3 s<e AY Anterior 4 eye. Posterior 2 eye

(whole specimen shrunken).

Okovango River Bliss 32 3 s<e ss Anterior § eye. Posterior =eye.

Livingstone 40 ,, 4 3 s<e . Anterior Zeye. Posterior slightly

> eye.

20 55 34 24 Anterior a mere point. Posterior

4 eye.

25 \ 32 3 s<e Pr Anterior ¢ eye. Posterior § eye.

Cotypes Verulam, 35 ,, 4 ae See a Anterior 4 eye. Posterior 3 eye.

viviparus Al 3; 4 3i |s<e 4 Anterior 3 eye. Posterior=eye.

45 ,, 4 a 1 S<e 14 Anterior 2 eye. Posterior > eye.

BO! 55 4 32 | s=e 14 Anterior $ eye. Posterior > eye.

Isipingo 59 ,, 4 3: | s=e 13 Anterior=eye. Posterior > eye.

VOL. XXXVI, PART 5. 30

430 Annals of the South African Museum.

Barbus thamalakanensis Fowler.

1935. Fowler, Ann. Transvaal Mus., xvi, p. 263, fig. 8.

1935. Id., vbid., p. 267, fig. 11 (fitzsimonst).

I have seen the type of the former, and nine paratypes (Transv.

Mus. No. 15251, Kasane, 12-20 mm.) of the latter. The former is in

poor condition, as Fowler noted (tip of dorsal spine broken off), and

many of the scales are rubbed off. There are several discrepancies

between the descriptions and figures of these two “species”; _fitz-

sumonsi is said to have “‘one pair of barbels at maxillary end”, the

figure indicates that there are two barbels on each side (and only

6 rays in the dorsal fin).

I have therefore carefully examined these specimens.

As regards thamalakanensis: the anterior barbel is longer, 4 the

posterior; 1.1. with 27 on left, 25 on right side, all told, pre-dorsal 11

(in figure about 30 and 13 respectively), 12 around caudal peduncle;

ventral axillary scale present; the 1.1. nearly straight, the tubules

in the middle of the side touching the lower margin of the lateral stripe.

Pupil 4 eye-diameter. Distance from top of gill opening to dorsal

profile at Ist pre-dorsal scale less than eye-diameter. Dorsal and

ventral profiles of head, if continued, subtending an angle greater than

30°.

The specimen is a 3, but not fully ripe, 36 mm. in length to end of

middle caudal rays.

The specimens of fitzstmonsi are obviously juveniles. They display

all the features of thamalakanensis: where the full scaling remains

the number of 1.1. tubules is 27-28 (in one case only 26), pre-dorsal

10-11, 12 around caudal peduncle; 1.1. nearly straight, and touching

(in middle of side) the lower margin of lateral stripe; both anterior

and posterior barbels present in specimens from about 16 mm.

upwards. Four clear rows of scales above 1.1. and 2 clear rows below,

but if the small scales at base of dorsal and ventral spines be counted,

the numbers are5and 3. In this respect the figure of thamalakanensis

is correct, that of fitzsimonst incorrect.

I have no doubts on the above synonymy, but the question remains

whether thamalakanensis itself is a valid species.

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 431

L/H. |H/E.| S/E. | I/E.| 1.1. | e.ped. | Striae. ay. Barbels.

fitzsimonsi | |

: 13 mm.| 34 3 |e>sle>i 0 +3) Posterior } eye.

14>. 3t 3 =" = Scaled, but many lost. Anterior a mere point.

} Posterior } eye.

( Kasane 16 ,, 34 3 ie Pe Count uncertain. Anterior a mere point.

} Posterior 4 eye.

; paratypes|18 ,, | 32 3 eS iit aon 12 4-5 Anterior } eye. Pos-

terior % eye.

HD) - 34 3 a z 2h 19s 0+3/Anterior + eye. Pos-

terior % eye.

20" 5, 33 3 z oe 27 12 1+3|Anterior + eye. Pos-

terior # eye.

On ose 3s 3 i “a 27-28 {2 5 1+4|Anterior + eye. Pos-

terior =eye.

thamalakanensis

type 36 ,, 32 3 es ae ee ett || ah? i 1+4)/Anterior 4 eye. Pos-

25 right terior =eye.

Barbus inermis Peters.

1911. Boulenger, l.c., ii, p. 153, fig. 129 (copy from Peters) (Limpopo

system).

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 426, fig. 84 (copy from Peters).

1937. David and Poll, Ann. Mus. Congo Belge, zool. ser., 1, T. iii,

fasc. 5, p. 218 (Elizabethville).

Boulenger (p. 153, footnote) says the scales of this species may be

regarded as a link between those with longitudinal striae and those

with radiate striae. Peter’s figure (1862, pl. xi, fig. 3) of the scale

shows fourteen feebly radiating striae (largest specimen 80 mm.).

Boulenger records “‘ad. and hgr.”’ up to 100 mm., but one does not

know whether he actually examined the gonads.

The point of these remarks is that the scales of wnermis bear a

strong resemblance to those found in juveniles of species with longi-

tudinally striate scales. A further noteworthy feature is the shape

of the anal fin. This elongate shape, as I have mentioned in another

paper,* seems to be found mostly in species with longitudinally

striate scales.

It is, moreover, a remarkable fact that no young specimens of any

of the big Zambesi Barbus (with longitudinally striate scales) seem to

have been recorded. It is therefore urgently desirable that the lzfe-

histories of the fishes of this river be investigated.

* Ann. S. Afr. Mus., xxxvi, p. 143, 1943.

432 Annals of the South African Museum.

I do not actually claim enermis as the young of a larger species.

There is a 55 mm. specimen from the Victoria Falls in the South

African Museum. It is not in very good condition, but agrees well

with Peters’s description. The anal fin is of the same rather elongate

shape, but the dorsal fin has only 3 spines and 8 rays. Lat. line 28;

4 clear scales above 1.]., and 2 below; pre-dorsal 10; caudal peduncle

12. Striae numerous and feebly radiating.

The barbels are longer than in Peters’s figure and Boulenger’s

description: the anterior one is almost equal to the eye, and the

posterior one a little longer than eye. Gonads immature.

Out of four specimens Peters found three with D iv. 9 and 4 scales

between lat. lin. and dorsal, and one specimen with D iv. 8 and 5

scales above l.l. The question may be asked whether examples of

two species have not been mixed together. David and Poll’s specimens

had 9-10 dorsal rays, which increases the suspicion that they may be

the young of a large species with longitudinally striate scales.

The anomalous specimen mentioned by Peters may be the same as

the Okovango specimens assigned to macrurus (infra).

But much more material is required. It is useless to consider single

or only a few specimens.

Barbus cf. inermis Peters, and macrurus G. and T.

Fig. 4.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 425, fig. 83.

1916. Boulenger, l.c., iv, p. 263, fig. 161.

Twenty-seven specimens, 38-75 mm. in length, from the Okovango

River appear at first sight somewhat like wntaeniatus (Angola and

Cubango River), but are much more slender and have more scales

around the caudal peduncle.

It is always risky to identify specimens from one river system with

species described from another system without actual comparison.

In the present instance a direct comparison with the type material of

macrurus (Dwars River, Transvaal, Limpopo system) is possible.

This type material now comprises (in South African Museum) only

five specimens from the Dwars River, 66-80 mm. in length (Thompson

gave the standard length 60-74 mm., 2.e. excluding caudal fin). The

shape of the snout in Gilchrist and Thompson’s figure is due to

shrinkage.

Okovango specimens: depth of body less than length of head,

44-41 (largest) in length of body (excl. caudal). Mouth sub-inferior.

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 433

Diu. 8. A. in. 5. Predorsal scales 10-11, 5 clear rows above lat. line,

2 below. See also table, and following features :—

! (a) Depth of body less than length of head.

: (6) Distance from top of gill opening to dorsal profile at 1st pre-

dorsal scale less than eye-diameter.

(d) Upper and lower profiles of head, if produced straight, sub-

tending an angle of about 30° (juv. somewhat less than 30°,

adult scarcely exceeding 30°).

(ec) Lat. line curved, meeting dark lateral stripe above middle or

end of anal base.

(f) Dark lateral stripe along middle of row of scales immediately

above lat. line (where latter and the stripe are separate).

Except that the caudal peduncle tends to be a very little longer in

macrurus than in the Okovango specimens, the lat. line scales in the

larger macrurus slightly more numerous, and the striae on the scales

slightly fewer, I find no differences. For the present the Okovango

specimens may be assigned to macrurus, with the proviso that when

full series of all stages from both localities are available, differences in

the earlier growth-stages may possibly be found.

As in several other species, there are actually four dorsal spines,

but the first is so minute, and not visible externally, that it may be

ignored in practice (cf. my remarks in Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxxvi, p. 142).

On the other hand the small 1st spine in inermis is clearly illustrated

in Peter’s figure.

Boulenger (l.c., p. 264) considered that this species might be the

same as labialis. Unfortunately the type of the latter is not in the

South African Museum, so I am unable to check G. and T.’s description.

L/H.|H/E.| 8/E. | I/E.| 11. |c.ped.|Striae|g.r.| Barbels, and Sex.

38mm. | 34 | 3 |e>sje=i (29-30) 14 5-6 |1+3] Both well developed.

Anterior 2 eye.

Okovango |45 ,, 34 | 3 Be » |29-30) 14 8

River 65 ,, 32 | 34 |e=s| 14 |31-82| 16 |10-12|2+4) Anterior 3 eye. Pos-

or 5 terior =eye.

MO) sf 4 34 35 14 (32-33) 16 14 Anterior 3 eye. Pos-

terior =eye.

66 ,, 32 | 3f 3 14 | 33 16 8 |2+5/ Anterior ¢ eye. Pos-

MACTUrUS terior =eye.

type Co lesen ese iio ba. | oe 16 a

material, (2)75 ,, | 4 32 | ,, | 14 (33-85) 16 | 8-10 .

Dwars 80 , | 4 | 32 | ,, | 14 | 36 | 16 |10-12|2+5| Spent 9. Anterior=

River eye. Posterior 1}

eye.

434 Annals of the South African Museum.

In the Okovango specimens the dark lateral stripe varies in width

and intensity; sometimes continuous, sometimes appearing as if

broken up into longitudinal streaks, varying in length. Usually a

dark spot at base of caudal, but not wider than the lateral stripe.

The lateral line tubules anteriorly where the lat. line is separate from

the dark stripe indicated more or less distinctly by pairs of dark marks.

»\

Sa) seer nS pia oa a

t a a = a me j

te , a

Fic. 4.—Barbus cf. inermis Peters and macrurus G. and T. Okovango

specimen, 10th, 20th, and 25th scales in lat. line indicated.

No black spot at base of anal fin. Coloration in macrurus similar

(so far as it remains; the dark stripe in G. and T.’s figure is wider

than in the five specimens at hand.

Barbus lineomaculatus Bler.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 420, fig. 78, and 1917, p. 563.

1916. Boulenger, l.c., iv, p. 266.

1936. Pellegrin, Arq. Mus. Bocage Lisbon, vi, p. 55.

1936. Trewavas, Novit. Zoolog., xl. p. 69.

1937. David and Poll, Ann. Mus. Congo Belge, zool. ser., 1, T. in,

fase: 5, po. 209) fie. 13a.

The specimens recorded by Gilchrist and Thompson conform with

Boulenger’s description; also one from Spring Vale, Matoppos,

Rhodesia (? whether the latter, and also Insiza, are in the Zambesi

or the Limpopo system). Boulenger’s 1916 locality is Solwezi on

the head-waters of the Kafue River.*

Both barbels at least as long as eye-diameter. All but the last

of the lateral spots are above the lateral line tubules; no dark spot

at base of anal fin. About 12 radiating striae on exposed surface of

scale in a specimen 50 mm. long.

* Boulenger in Gilchrist and Thompson (l/.c. 1917, p. 578) says Solwezi is on the

““Congo watershed”. Actually it is on the south side of the watershed, in the

Kafue-Zambesi drainage system,

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 435

Fowler (1930, t.c., p. 36, and 1935, l.c., p- 266) unites lineomaculatus

Blgr., 1903, with lujae Blgr., 1913; if they are synonymous surely

the 1903 name must be accepted.

Neither David and Poll nor myself consider that these two are

synonymous. Nor am I altogether satisfied that the Rhodesian

lineomaculatus is the same as the East African (type locality), but as

Boulenger has compared actual specimens, his opinion is accepted

here. In addition to the lat. line (complete or incomplete respectively)

another difference between lineomaculatus and lujae is the position

of the mouth; although one wonders whether, in some cases at least,

this may not be due to different methods of preservation (cf. the figure

of atromaculatus N. and G., 1917, with those of “Iujae” given by

Fowler, 1930).

Pellegrin records it from the Cubango (Kubango) River, Angola;

and Trewavas from the upper reaches of the Kunene River.

Barbus juv. sp.?

Fig. 5.

Twenty specimens, 22-45 mm. in length, from the Okovango

River.

Colour (as preserved in formalin): dusky above, a black lateral

stripe around front of snout and continued through eye to caudal,

rather sharply defined, sometimes with slight enlargement (but

scarcely forming a spot) at end of caudal peduncle; lateral line where

it is separate from the stripe marked by a double row of black specks;

a black spot at base of anal, and usually one at base of dorsal spines;

a thin medio-ventral stripe on caudal peduncle, also a less conspicuous

medio-dorsal one, also sometimes a predorsal stripe with or without

one or two spots on it.

D i. 8 (one specimen with 7 rays). Ai. 5. Predorsal 10-11;

4 clear rows between dorsal spine and 1.1., and 2 clear rows between

].]. and ventral spine (7.e. excluding the smaller scales at bases of the

spines).

Other features are given in the following table, and the diagnostic

features, which indicate the differences between this species and

VIVUPATUs.

(a) Depth of body less than length of head, or in larger specimens

nearly equal, but not greater than. (4-44 in length of body).

(b) Distance from top of gill opening to dorsal profile at 1st pre-

dorsal scale less than eye-diameter.

436 Annals of the South African Museum.

(d) Upper and lower profiles of head, if continued straight, meeting

at an angle less than 30°.

(ec) Lateral line nearly straight, meeting the dark lateral stripe at

vertical from anterior end or middle of anal base.

(f) The dark lateral stripe more diffuse or broader than in wivi-

parus, passing through centre and lower half of scales

immediately above the 1.., and sometimes embracing the

top portions of the 1.1. scales (7.e. where the stripe and the

l.]. are separate).

L/H. | H/E. | S/E. | 1/H. |. 11. \e-ped.)Striae.| gr. Barbels.

34 22 |e>s ) €>a1 28 12 0+4 | None.

34 22 - 50 29 12 4-5 Posterior a mere point.

34 23 . 29 12 =

34 22 es » |29-30| 12 4-6 |Oorl ie

33 23 5 > | 29-3) 12 os

32 3 - e=i | 29-30| 12 4-6 Posterior }-4 eye.

4 3 a as 29 12 1=4 | Anterior a mere point.

or 5 Posterior 3 eye.

These specimens cannot be assigned to viviparus-bifrenatus because,

in addition to the above reasons, the barbels do not develop at all

Fic. 5.—Barbus sp. juv. Okovango.

until a later stage (size), and even in the longest the anterior one is a

mere point (easily overlooked), whereas in an equal sized wvparus-

bofrenatus it is at least 4 the eye-diameter.

They might have been assigned to thamalakanensis, but I have

shown above, by re-examination of the type, that the figure of that

species is incorrect.

They are the juveniles (gonads in the larger specimens undeveloped)

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 437

of some larger species, but much more material is required before they

can be correctly identified.

Barbus (Beirabarbus) okavangoensis Brurd.

Figs. 6a, 7.

1941. Barnard, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (xi), 8, p. 470.

Seventy-five specimens, 27-65 mm. in length, from the Okovango

River.

Depth of body not exceeding length of head at any stage, less than

head in young, equal to in adults. Predorsal profile behind head

not strongly elevated. Snout rounded, shorter than eye, but in some

of the largest specimens subequal to it. Mouth, inferior. Barbels

very small, even in the largest specimens, not exceeding 4 eye, the

posterior one only very little longer than the anterior one (i.e. shorter

than in typical palustris). Gill-rakers 2+5 or 6 on Ist arch, short,

knob-like, the lower ones very feeble.

Di. 8 A ii. 5. Pectoral reaching to or almost to ventrals

in both sexes. Scales: 1.1. 26-28, predorsal (8-)9, 3 between dorsal

and 1.]., 2 between 1.1. and ventral spine (as in palustris), 12 around

caudal peduncle. Lateral line straight from beginning to end. Scales

with 4—6 striae on exposed field in smaller specimens, 6-8 in largest.

Colour of the Okovango specimens after preservation in formalin:

each scale above lat. line, and, less conspicuously, the two series below

it, with a greyish lunate or arrow-head shaped spot; a blackish line

from tip of snout to base of caudal rays, straight and exactly following

the course of the lat. line tubules; dorsal and caudal fins salmon,

anal fin also usually tinged with pink (cf. aurantiacus), front edge and

tip of dorsal, and sometimes hind margin (cf. rogersi), more or less

greyish.

A peculiarity of this species is the straightness of the lateral line,

in consequence of which the series of tubules and the dark lateral

streak coincide throughout their entire length. Asa rule in the species

of Barbus the lateral line is curved and runs below the dark streak

anteriorly, though joining it on the hinder part of the body and caudal

peduncle. According to illustrations, two other closely allied species

have this peculiarity: aurantiacus Blgr., 1910 (figured 1916); and

(very conspicuous) rogers: Blgr., 1911.

Both these species have very short or minute barbels; if they also

possess the sensory ridges (which may easily be overlooked if the skin

is shrivelled or contracted) the question will arise whether this species

438 Annals of the South African Museum.

is a synonym of rogersi, or perhaps both of them synonyms of

aurantiacus.

In addition to the Okovango specimens, there are three, 33-55 mm.

in length, from Insiza, 8. Rhodesia. This locality is between Bulawayo

and Gwelo, but whether the specimens are from the Zambesi system

Wis Sc o

Fie. 6.—Barbus (Beirabarbus). a. okavangoensis Brnrd. 63 mm.

b. palustris Herre. Paratype 59 mm. 10th and 20th scales in lat. line

indicated.

or the Nuanetsi (Wanetsi) River, which flows into the Limpopo, is

not recorded.

The specimens are not in very good condition, but from their

body-depth, head-length, eye-diameter, profile, and straight lateral

line appear to belong to the Okovango, rather than to the Beira,

form.

L/H. | H/E. | S/E. | I/E. 1.1. | ¢.ped. Barbels.

27 mm. 3t 22 |s<el|i<e 26 12 | None.

30: 5; 3+ 22 sp _ 26 12 None.

oo 53 3t 23. 56 i=e 26 1, Anterior and posterior mere

points.

40 ,, 3+ 3 ne A 26-27| i2 | Minute.

BO” 55 34 3 Ae ss 26-27| 12 | Minute.

aD). 32 3 a 26-27) 12 Minute.

65 ,, 33 3+ | s=e » |26-28| 12 | Not exceeding i eye.

or i

slightly

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 439

Barbus (Beirabarbus) palustris Herre.

(Fig. 6, 0.)

1936. Herre, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., xlix, p. 100 (Beira district,

P.H.A.).

Thanks to the kindness of Dr. G. 8. Myers of Stanford University,

I have been able to examine 4 of Herre’s paratypes (32-34 mm. and

59 mm.). I do not quite agree with Herre’s statement, “‘ maxillary

barbel more than twice in eye, about equal to diameter of pupil”’;

the diameter of the pupil is a little more than half the eye-diameter

in all four paratypes, as well as in the Okovango specimens.

The lateral line shows a slight but distinct downward bend from

its beginning to about the 12th scale. The dark lateral stripe, how-

ever, is straight as in the Okovango specimens, consequently it runs

across the wpper part of the 1st or 2nd to the 11th or 12th tubuliferous

scales.

The depth of body exceeds the length of head in specimens of 30

and 60 mm. length; the eye is relatively smaller than in the Okovango

form; and the predorsal profile is elevated.

The remarkable feature of these two forms is the development

of more or less parallel lines of minute mucus pores (Herre: sensory

ridges) on the head. Without sectioning a piece of the skin it cannot

_be stated that they are definitely pores. In the interorbital and inter-

narial area these structures appear as pale lines, more or less curved

and intersecting, on the dark ground-colour. Neither on the top of

the head nor on the cheeks or opercle are the lines constant or exactly

alike in any two individuals.

In addition to these pores on the head, there are similar lines of

440 Annals of the South African Museum.

minute pores on the lateral line scales and some of the neighbouring

scales, chiefly on the shoulders and anterior part of body. These

Sone 02000,

Fie. 7.—Barbus (Beirabarbus) okavangoensis Brnrd., mucus pores on

head and scales.

pores are in a single transverse and somewhat arcuate line on the

exposed field of each scale, just behind the free margins of the scales

in front. These scale pores are even less visible than the head pores

when the specimen is submerged in liquid; to be properly seen the

specimen must be removed from liquid and partially dried.

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 44]

Some taxonomic distinction, either subgeneric or full generic,

should be given to indicate this exceptional feature, which differenti-

ates these two species from all other South African (? African) species.

But I am not competent to judge the merits of Herre’s proposed

generic diagnosis.

Famity MOCHOKIDAE.

Gen. Synopontis Cuv.

Excluding colyert Blgr., 1923, from N. Rhodesia, and taking the

triangular area between the points Lake Ngami, Lialui, and the

Victoria Falls (with a linear extension to Tete on the Lower Zambesi)

we find that seven species of this genus have been described and one

other recorded:

nebulosus Peters, 1852. . founded on one specimen.

zambesensis Peters, 1852 : ne ? several specimens.

woosnami Bler., 1909 é oe one specimen.

macrostigma Blgr., 1909 . f ss two specimens.

leopardinus Pelleg., 1914 5 1. one specimen.

jallaeG.and T.,1917 . ; iF one specimen.

thamalakanensis Fowl., 1935 . ae two specimens.

melanostictus Blgr. : - One specimen recorded by Boulenger, 1911,

and nine by Fowler, 1935.

It may seem a little remarkable that so many species should be

found within such a comparatively small area and within only one

present-day riversystem. Moreover, it cannot be said that the validity

of the species has been well confirmed by later collecting. According

to published records there are three specimens of zambesensis (from

the area in question) and eleven of melanostictus. The South African

Museum has eighteen specimens, including Gilchrist and Thompson’s

material and material received since 1917, and also eleven specimens

from the Okovango River. The latter are in a perfect state of

preservation.

It is obvious that this small collection is quite inadequate for a

revision of the Zambesi species, but such as it is, it seems to show that

some of the characters hitherto relied upon as specific should be

carefully tested.

The number of movable mandibular teeth varies with age: one

specimen of zambesensis of 37 mm. has 11, two of 50 and 60 mm. have

16-18, one of 100 mm. has 20-22 teeth (see also melanostictus, infra).

Young zambesensis have indications of a nodose front margin on the

442 Annals of the South African Museum.

maxillary barbel (method of preservation may have some effect in

concealing or accentuating this feature), and the outer margin of the

pectoral spine may be strongly serrate as in melanostictus. In fact

it may be asked what is the morphological difference between

zambesensis and melanostictus, especially in juveniles ?

The shape of the humeral process seems to be a good character,

and secondarily the length of the maxillary barbel (excluding of

course minor individual variations such as ‘‘reaching to first } or

first 4 of pectoral spine).

The following key may be useful as a preliminary aid to identifica-

tion. S. nigromaculatus recorded from the Cubango River by

Pellegrin (1936) is included.

I. Humeral process narrow, longer than broad, acutely pointed, upper

margin concave or straight. Mandibular teeth in adult up to 40.

A. Maxillary barbel long, reaching to middle of pectoral spine

(the latter closed against body).

1. Usually unspotted. Outer edge of pectoral spine

- usually smooth or feebly serrate, at least in adult

zambesensis

2. With very numerous small spots. Outer edge of

pectoral spine usually strongly serrate.

a. Small spots . : z . nigromaculatus

b. Very small spots or date : ; 2 melanostictus

B. Maxillary barbel short, reaching only to anterior 4 of

pectoral spine. Moderately small spots ; : colyeri

II. Humeral process broad, little if at all longer than broad, Shtuaely

pointed, upper margin convex. Mandibular teeth in adult not

exceeding 26.

A. Maxillary barbel short and usually smooth on anterior

margin. Small spots . j é woosnami, ?leopardinus

B. Maxillary barbel short and usually Boars on front margin.

1. Large spots E : macrostigma

2. Small spots, more or ee sloweane, a arranged

more or less in longitudinal lines ‘ : : jallae

One suspects that nebulosus is merely an aberrant specimen of

zambesensis (humeral process rather short and broad, intermediate

between I and II in above key). If this were so, the name zambesensis

must give place to nebulosus as having page precedence.

According to the character of the maxillary barbel (described by

Pellegrin as ‘“‘simple”’) leopardinus may prove to be a synonym of

woosnami; or, on the other hand, it may be a valid species, in which

case jallae is probably a synonym of it. However that may be,

thamalakanensis is a synonym of jallae.

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 443

The type of colyert is an ovigerous 9. As Boulenger said, it is

closely allied to zambesensis.

Synodontis melanostictus Bler.

1917. Gilchrist and Thomson, l.c., pp. 560 and 579.

1935. Fowler, Ann. Transvaal Mus. xvi, p. 273.

1936. Pellegrin, Arq. Mus. Bocage Lisbon, vii, p. 58.

1939. Ricardo, Fish. Lake Rukwa and Bangweulu, p. 61.

In the South African Museum: seven specimens from Lialui,

Lake Ngami, Victoria Falls, and Sesheki. The three from Lialui

all have very small spots or dots, 1-1-5 mm. in diameter, whereas

in the others they are 2 mm. (in specimens 150-200 mm. in length);

this difference does not seem very great on paper, but is immediately

perceptible to the eye. In both cases the spots are round, and in

general their diameter is less than the distance between any two of

them.

There is a series of nine specimens from the Okovango River,

50-210 mm. in length. The two largest, 170 and 210 mm., have

conspicuous white or whitish barbels, a feature not apparent in the

preserved specimens from other localities; nor is it so conspicuous

in the younger Okovango specimens.

The spots are approximately 2 mm. in diameter in all the specimens

irrespective of length, except in two (65 and 70 mm.) in which they

are 2-5-3 mm., giving a somewhat macrostigma-like appearance. In

the smallest specimen the minute, nearly uniformly spread, speckling

is beginning to become aggregated into spots; the specimen looks

“patchy ’’.

In the three smallest specimens the front margin of the maxillary

barbel is nodulose (all the specimens have been preserved in formalin,

probably put alive into the liquid, and the skin is plump, not shrivelled)

but in the larger ones it is merely villous.

The following table gives the increase in number of mandibular

teeth, and the length of the maxillary barbel:—

50mm. . . 26teeth . . 10mm., reaches to base of pectoral spine.

COMBE GD poke Mn he TD eu, os i 3

Gomer eo Oates 8) sey Uae s 5 ic

Too |. - 28 , - = 20 ,, veaches % along pectoral spine.

SOME ee ayes Oey eso di OR das = ss ss

NOOMPe eter Gt eh) a. we AB. 5 5p » 2

Oy eos S83. 4, 2 = 60 5, reaches? along pectoral spine.

F1One se sO) a) he 9 CS)),,7 reaches just over half-way.

444 Annals of the South African Museum.

On two of the smaller specimens from the Okovango River (80

and 100 mm.) parasitic Copepods (Chonopeltis sp. Fam. Argulidae)

were found, mainly at the bases of the barbels on the chin, and the

folds of the lower lip, but also in the axils of the pectoral fins.

Pellegrin’s record is from Humbe on the Kunene River.

Synondontis jallae G. and T.

1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 561.

1931. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., Ixxxiii, p. 236 (woosnami

non Blegr.).

1935. Id., Ann. Transvaal Mus., xvi, p. 274, fig. 12 (thamalakanensis)

In the South African Museum, besides the type, there is an addi-

tional specimen from Sesheki, and one from Lialui. The latter was

collected by the Rev. Ellenberger in the same locality as the specimen

he sent to Pellegrin, on which leopardinus was founded. Like localities

do not necessarily imply synonymy, but they are suggestive. In

tact it is only the size of the spots, which are larger in leopardinus

(judging by Pellegrin’s description “‘atteignant a peine les dimensions

de l’ceil’’), which makes one hesitate to put jallae into synonymy (cf.

melanostictus for variation in size of spots, supra; and Pellegrin,

1936, l.c., supra).

The type of jallae has round spots 1-1-5 mm. in diameter (eye 9 mm.)

numerous and evenly distributed. A second specimen (topo-type)

has larger spots, 2 mm., most of them distinctly elongate oval or

even linear, and showing a linear arrangement on the hinder part of

body. The Lialui specimen has small spots like the type, but those

on anterior part of body are mostly round, while those on the hinder

part are more or less elongate. Lastly, there are two specimens from

the Okovango River which have spots of the larger size (the inter-

vening ground colour forming a pale network), more or less oval in

shape and arranged in lines. The paratype of thamalakanensis

figured by Fowler seems to represent the extreme development of

this linear arrangement of elongate oval spots. Cf. also Pellegrin,

1936, l.c., for linear arrangement of spots in mgromaculatus Blegr.

from the Cubango River.

An immaculate lower surface (cf. Fowler, 1935, p. 275) is merely

an individual character; one of the Okovango specimens is spotted

from chin to vent, the other immaculate (except for microscopic

pigment specks) as far as base of ventrals.

The following table gives the number of mandibular teeth, and the

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 445

length of the maximillary barbel; in the case of the latter some

allowance must be made for shrivel in the Sesheki and Lialui

specimens :—

Okovango 110mm. . 40teeth . 30mm., reaches ? along

pectoral spine.

Lialui 30) 43; a aS, as . 30 ,, reaches 7 along

pectoral spine.

ovig. 9—Sesheki 150 ,, sigh Sh . 385 ,, reaches 7 along

pectoral spine.

Okovango 165 ,, meh - 35 ,, reaches 75 along

pectoral spine.

* . 382 ,, scarcely reaches spine

(falls short by 4

length of spine).

leopardinus 160 ,, at Geta! e , ‘ does not reach

pectoral spine.

thamalakanensis 184-194 mm. . 17-18 teeth . reaches 7's-3 along

spine.

Type jallae—Sesheki 190 ,, . 16

The low number of teeth on one of the Okovango specimens and

the remarkably high number in the other (and smaller) are points

worth noting.

The front edge of the maxillary barbel is nodulose in the Sesheki,

Lialui, and Okovango specimens, especially so in the Lialui one;

it is also nodulose in Fowler’s figures, of thamalakanensis; in leopardinus

the barbel is described as “‘simple”, presumably the front edge is

smooth (or not conspicuously nodulose).

A certain amount of variability in the posterior processes of the

occipito-nuchal shield is noticeable in the series of melanostictus from

the Okovango, but it is much more noticeable in these specimens of

jallae. Maybe it is a sexual difference, but that is not possible to

determine with so few specimens at hand.

Pellegrin described the process in leopardinus as

jallae (type) it is narrowly rounded as in the figure of thamalakanensis;

in the larger Okovango specimen rounded but obliquely bevelled off

below; in the smaller Okovango specimen it would probably be

described as pointed; in the smaller Sesheki specimen (ovig. ¢) and

the Lialui specimen it is broadly rounded.

The humeral process does not seem to vary.

‘pointu”’; in

VOL. XXXVI, PART 5. ol

446 Annals of the South African Museum.

Famity BAGRIDAHE.

Auchenoglanis ngamensis Bler.

1913. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 454, fig. 105.

1917. Id., abid., pp. 578, 579.

1936. Pellegrin, Arq. Mus. Bocage Lisbon, vii, p. 58.

Recorded from Sesheki on the Zambesi River, in the appendix to

Gilchrist and Thompson’s work, and from the Cubango River, and the

Chiumbe River, N.E. Angola (a tributary of the Kasai, Congo system)

by Pellegrin.

There are two specimens: 64 and 180 mm. in length, from the

Okovango River.

Length of head 3 in body (excl. caudal); eye 34 and 44 in snout,

7 and 9 in head, 24 and 23 in interorbital width (in the smaller and

larger specimens respectively). Gull-rakers 4+9 on anterior arch,

decreasing in length below, the lowermost (anterior) 2 or 3 being

short and knob-like.

Boulenger’s figure shows the 3rd ray of ventral fin abruptly longer

than, and projecting beyond, the others. In these two specimens the

2nd ray is the longest, but not abruptly so, merely giving the fin an

ovate shape, especially in the larger specimen.

The larger specimen with few spots, mostly forming vertical bars;

smaller specimen with numerous spots, with narrow intervening pale

reticulation.

Famity CICHLIDAE.

1920. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (9), v, p.33 (Tanganyika genera).

1920. Id., cbed. (9), v, p. 422 (Madagascan genera).

1921. Id., abed. (9), vi, p. 632 (Lakes Edward and Kivu).

1921. Id., Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 675 (Lake Nyassa).

1922. Id., obed., p. 157 (Lake Victoria).

1922. Id., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (9), x, p. 249 (African and Syrian

genera).

These papers have done much to clarify the classification of this

difficult family. In the last-mentioned paper Regan has suggested

a reduction in the number of South African species in the genus

Tilapia. Itis probable that several more so-called ‘species,’ based on

when a proper investigation of the rivers is undertaken.

The number of species recorded from the Zambesi area is con-

siderable; some of them certainly merely “‘museum species.”

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 447

In addition to Regan’s suggestions with some but not all of which I

agree (he did not see the actual types of Gilchrist and Thompson’s

species), I would suggest the following synonymy :—

Tilapia sheshekensis G. and T., 1917 = macrochir juv.

Tilapia allent Fowler, 1931 =macrochir.

Lilapia deschauenseei Fowler, 1931=sparrmanii, as already sug-

gested by Trewavas (1936).

Tilapia ellenbergert G. and T., 1917, apparently accepted by Regan

as a valid species, proves on examination of the type to be

Haplochromis moffatii (Cast.).

Pelmatochroms genisquamulatus Pelleg., 1914 = Serranochromis

thumberg: (Cast.) as already suggested by Gilchrist and

Thompson.

Paratilapia carlottae Blgr. is considered by Regan to be a synonym

of gard Pellegr., a species with 6 scales between pectoral

and ventral fins; the type of carlottae, however, has only 3 or 4

scales like gibbiceps Blgr., 1911. The latter should therefore

become a synonym of carlottae, 1905.

Chromys moffat Cast. is not a synonym of ZT. sparrmanii, as

suggested by Trewavas (1936), but a valid species as maintained

by Regan.

Astatotulapia ellenbergert Pelleg., 1920, agrees with giardi in having

12 gill-rakers, and with darlingi in having 4 cheek scales;

but the description does not allow it to be run down in

Regan’s key.

Paratilapia arnold: G.and T., 1917 =Haplochromis darlingi. Regan’s

synonymy confirmed by examination of the type.

Tilapia rumsayi G. and T., 1917, regarded by Regan as synonymous

with Haplochromis acuticeps, but does not agree with his

1922 description as the middle teeth of the lower pharyngeal

are stout and blunt, as in darlings. Six anal rays is probably

an individual feature.

The following synopses only contain the species recorded from the

Zambesi and Okovango systems.

KEY TO GENERA.

1. Teeth usually not conical. Scales cycloid. Caudal truncate (at

least in Zambesi species) : : é : s

2. Teeth usually conical. Scales usually denticulate, but often very

finely or obscurely so.

Tilapia

448 Annals of the South African Museum.

a. 3rd vertebra with inferior apophyses.

i. Teeth nearly uniform in size. Caudal usually rounded

Haplochromis

ii. Middle pairs of teeth more or less enlarged, in both

jaws. Caudalsubtruncate . : : s Hemichromis

b. 4th vertebra with inferior apophyses.

i. Pharyngeal teeth stout, blunt. Caudal subtruncate Sargochromis

ii. Pharyngeal teeth slender. Caudal rounded or rounded

subtruncate : : : . : . Serranochromis

Gen. Tinapia A. Smith.

1920. Regan, l.c., p. 37.

1922. Id., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (9), x, p. 250.

1922. Id., Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 676.

Teeth usually not conical, but bi- or tri-cuspid. Lower pharyngeal

subtriangular. Cheek scales in 2-4 (rarely 5) series. Caudal truncate

(in the under-mentioned species). Gull-rakers slender, pointed.

A. Anal spines III. Lower pharyngeal with short anterior blade

(Tilapia).

1. Gill-rakers 8-12 on lower part of Ist arch. Pectoral not

reaching beyond vent.

a. D xiii-xv. 9-11. A (rays) 8-10. Cheek scales 2-3

sparrmanit (syn. deschauenseet)

melanopleura

b. D xiv—xvi. 10-12. A 9-10. Cheek scales iyo

mackeant

ae) sykeswt

druryt

kirkhamt)

2. Gill-rakers 15-20. Pectoral reaching to origin of anal (some-

times slightly beyond).

mossambica

@. Dixyervii) 10-12)e=10) @hecleecalso acc

natalensis

T’. arnoldt)

6. D xvi. 10-11. A 8-9. Cheek scales 2. Caudal

covered with small scales . : squamipinnis (Shiré R.)

3. Gill-rakers 20-25. Pectoral reaching at least to origin of anal,

usually beyond. ;

a. D xvi-xvii. 13. A 11-12. Cheek scales 3-4.

Depth more than twice in length : : . kafuensis

6. Dxv—-xvi. 11-12. A10. Cheek scales 2-3. Ha

Depth about twice in length shashekensa

c. D xvi-xvii. 11-13. A 9-11. Cheek scales 2-3. | andersonit

Depth more than twice in length (syn. intermedia)

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 449

B. Anal spines IV. Lower pharyngeal with long anterior blade

(Sarotherodon).

D xvi-xvii. 10-13. A 9-10. Cheek scales 2-3. Gill-rakers

15-19. Depth 2-24 in length . : : 3 shirana (Shiré R.)

Tilapia sparrmanit A. Smith.

Fig. 8, a.

1835. A. Smith, MSS. Diary of Exped., 23rd Jan., “‘Fish No. 76”.

Description of colour. Locality: Bootscap, Hartz River, Becuana-

land.

1840. Id., Ill. Zool. 8. Afr. Pisces, pl. 5 (coloured): “North of

Orange River”’.

1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 502 (sparrmani [sic]), and

p. 509 (Kuruman specimen as calliptera, non Gnthr.)

1935. Fowler, Ann. Transvaal Mus., xvi, 285 (sparrmani) Ngami

and Chobe area.

1936. Pellegrin, Arq. Mus. Bocage Lisbon, vii, p. 60 (sparrmani),

Cubango River.

1936. Trewavas, Novit. Zool., xl, p. 72, footnote 1, and p. 73,

footnotes 1, 2.

1939. A. Smith’s Diary, ed. P. R. Kirby, van Riebeeck Soc. Publ.,

Cape Town, no. 20, vol. 1, p. 227. Locality “Bootscap” = Boetsap.,

pals) Kish) No, 76%. |

1939. Ricardo, Fish. Lake Rukwa and Bangweulu, p. 63 (sparrmant).

1942. Bertram, Borley and Trewavas, Fish. Lake Nyasa, pp. 23,

40 (sparrmant).

1943. Barnard, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., xxxvi, pp. 111, footnote,

Boulenger seems to have added the word “‘ Namaqualand” to Andrew

Smith’s locality ‘north of Orange River”; and Trewavas (1936)

quotes Boulenger. From Andrew Smith’s Diary we now know the

exact type locality for this species; north of the Orange River, it is

true, but a long way from Namaqualand.

Gilchrist and Thomspon’s Kuruman specimen is not calliptera but

sparrmanit.

On a recent (1939) South African Museum expedition to Kuruman

specimens of both 7. sparrmani: and H. moffatii were collected. Thus

Trewavas’s suggestion that Chromys moffatic Cast. is “probably a

Tilapia” is disproved. Nor can I accept Trewavas’s statement that

CO. ovalis Stndr. is a synonym of sparrmanii, as Steindachner’s original

450 Annals of the South African Museum.

material had a rounded tail. Regan (1922) regarded ovalis as a

synonym of moffati.

T. sparrmanii has been recorded from the Zambesi system and

Ngamiland (and other localities). The South African Museum has

material from Bulawayo, Kafue River, Sesheki and Lialui, Lake

Ngami, and the Okovango River. But I confess I am unable to

Fic. 8.—Cichlids from Kuruman. Above Tilapia sparrmanii A. Smith;

below Haplochromis moffatii (Cast.). Three teeth from upper jaw, con-

secutive, spacing natural; lower part of Ist gill arch; hind part of body

showing shape of soft dorsal, caudal, and anal; lower pharyngeals, with

individual teeth further enlarged.

find in the material at hand any constant characters by which a

preserved specimen may be identified as sparrmanit or young

melanopleura,

Trewavas (1936, p. 72, footnote 1) considers deschauenseet Fowler,

1931, as probably Synonymous with sparrmaniv.

Tilapia melanopleura Dum.

1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 495, fig. 127.

1917. Id., abid., p. 498, fig. 128 (swierstrae), p. 499 (mackeant),

p. 900 (sykesit), p. 500 (druryt), p. 510 (kirkhami).

1922. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (9), x, p. 251, synonymy.

1935. Fowler, Ann. Transvaal, Mus., Xvi, p. 281, fig. 16.

1936. Pellegrin, Arg. Mus. Bocage Lisbon, vii, p. 60.

1939. Ricardo, Fish, Lakes Rukwa and Bangweulu, p. 63.

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 451

1942. Bertram, Borley and Trewavas, Fish. Lake Nyasa, pp. 23,

39, fig. 3, a (gillrakers).

I have examined the type specimens of Gilchrist and Thompson’s

species, which Regan suggested were synonyms of TEE

and I see no reason for disagreeing with Regan. All these “ species”

were founded on is specimens and are nothing more nor less than

“museum species”

Tilapia macrochir Blgr.

1915. Boulenger, l.c., iii, p. 160, fig. 105.

1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 488, fig. 123, and p. 579.

1917. Id., cbid., p. 489 (sheshekensis =juv.), p. 495 (three specimens

from Kafue River as squamipinnis, non Guthr.).

1917. Id., ibid., p. 492 (Victoria Falls specimen as galilaea, non

Art.).

1931. Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad., Ixxxiii, p. 238, fig. 1

(allent).

1935. Id., Ann. Transvaal Mus., xvi, p. 280 (also sheshekensis and

allent as separate species).

¢1936. Pellegrin, Arq. Mus. Bocage Lisbon, vii, p. 60 (galilaea

?non Art.).

1939. Ricardo, Fish. Lakes Rukwa and Bangweulu, p. 63.

The Victoria Falls specimen (95 mm. standard, 120 mm. total

length), identified by Gilchrist and Thompson as galilaea, belongs here,

as also the three Kafue River specimens doubtfully assigned to

squamipinnis.

There are eight specimens, 150-320 mm., in the South African

Museum from Lake Ngami, Victoria Falls, Sesheki, Lialui, Mazuli

River, Rhodesia; also eight specimens, 180-280 mm., from the

Okovango River.

All the Okovango specimens, on arrival at the Museum after a short

period in formalin, have a pale border, varying in width, on the longest

rays of the dorsal and anal fins, and on the hind margin of the caudal

fin (somewhat similar to the figure of Paratilapia longvmanus, see

Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., fig. 140). No definite bars across the

chin (as in alleni), but the throat often appears somewhat clouded or

blotchy.

Regan thought sheshekensis might be a synonym of anderson, but

the type and several other specimens from the type locality appear to

be merely the juveniles of macrochir.

452 Annals of the South African Museum.

Gen. Haptocuromis Hilg.

1921. Regan, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, pp. 676, 685.

1922. Id., Ann. Mag, Nat. Hist. (9), x, pp. 250, 253 (key to species).

Teeth conical or compressed, with or without cusps (but not incisor-

like), in 2 or more series. Third vertebra with inferior apophyses.

Cheek-scales in 3-7 series. Caudal fin usually rounded.

South African (Zambesi and southwards) species belong to subgen.

Ctenochromis Pfeffer, with outer series of bicuspid or conical teeth,

and one or more inner series of tricuspid or conical teeth (Regan).

Gill-rakers usually stout, blunt, sometimes T-shaped.

In 1921 Regan accepts Astatotilapia Pelleg. as well as Haplochroms.

In the former the teeth in outer series of upper jaw increase in size

posteriorly, in the latter they decrease. In Astatotilapia were included

(anter alia) swynnerton, calliptera, and moffatw. In 1922, however,

he withdrew Astatotelapia after examining Lake Victoria species (Proc.

Zool. Soc., p. 158, footnote).

In the Kuruman specimens, which it is reasonable to regard as

moffatw (see infra), the outer upper teeth may project a little more

from the gum, but cannot be said to increase in size posteriorly.

Boulenger (l.c., 11, p. 302) admits that he was unable to separate

some specimens of strigigena from young moffatw. Pellegrin (1920,

Bull. Soc. zool. Fr., xlv, p. 150) describes Astatotilapia ellenbergert as

near to strigigena and moffati (but with more gill-rakers). This serves

to show the great difficulty of defining some of the species, and the

small progress, if any, which can be expected from discussions on

affinities and synonymy. What is really wanted is the investigation

on the field of the full lite-histories and range of variation of the species

in any particular locality.

I. Dorsal rays 12-15. Pharyngeal teeth obtusely conical. Gill-rakers

9-12. Caudal rounded.

A. Depth of preorbital not greater than eye.

1. Chest scales small, 6 between pectoral and ventral

fins. Pectoral a little shorter than head : : giardi

2. Chest scales large, 3-4 between pectoral and ventral. sf carlottae *

Pectoral as long as head. : ; : \ ? gibbiceps

smithit

B. Preorbital a little greater than eye . : : {ion T. woosnami

P. robustus)

C. Preorbital much greater than eye . ‘ ‘ : . _ frederici

* See above, p. 447.

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 453

II. Dorsal rays 8-12.

A. Cheek-scales 6-7.

1. Caudal truncate. Gill-rakers 9 . : : : jallae

2. Caudal rounded . : , : : : ; humilis

B. Cheek-scales 3-5. Gill-rakers 7-10.

1. Maxillary to between nostril and eye. Caudal peduncle

longer than deep. Lower pharyngeal teeth small,

hooked. Chest scales small acuticeps (syn. ? 7’. rumsayi) *

2. Maxillary to front margin of eye.

a. Lat. series of scales 29-32. Middle teeth of

lower pharyngeal stout, blunt. Chest scales

small. D xiv-xvi. 8-12. A 7-9.

darlingi

(syn. P. arnoldi)

? A. ellenbergeri +

2? T. rumsayi

ii. Caudal rounded : : ? . calliptera

6. Lat. series of scales 26-30. Lower pharyngeal

teeth all small, conical.

i. Chest scales small, 5-6 between pectoral

and ventral. Caudal subtruncate swynnertoni

i. Caudal subtruncate .

moffatii

(syn. 7’. ellen-

bergert G. and T.

philander)

ii. Chest scales large, 3-4 be-

tween pectoral and ven-

tral. Caudal rounded

Haplochromis moffati (Cast.).

Fig. 8 b.

1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 16 (moffatii, original

spelling) Kuruman River.

1922. Regan, Ann. Mag, Nat. Hist. (9), x, p. 257 (moffatv).

As mentioned above only two Cichlids were collected by the South

African Museum Expedition (1939) at Kuruman, the type locality for

Castelnau’s species. The largest moffati is 87 mm. in length; Regan

gives 120 mm. as maximum length, Castelnau’s was 140 mm. We

can ignore as an obiter dictum Castelnau’s statement that the Cape

Museum possessed one double that length.

Although Castelnau’s description is quite inadequate for modern

requirements, it contains the one character necessary to identify a

Cichlid fish from Kuruman, granting that actually only two species

* See above, p. 447.

+ Not to be confused with Tilapia ellenbergeri G. and T., 1917. Pellegrin’s

species has 12 gill-rakers, as also has giardi Pelleg.

454 Annals of the South African Museum.

are present in that river, viz. the rounded caudal. The fin formulas

given by Castelnau fit both T. sparrmani and H. moffatti, but the

former has a square tail.

These two are the only Cichlids recorded, not only from the Kuru-

man River, but from the whole of the Orange River system (Gilchrist

and Thompson’s Potchefstroom specimens identified as H. desfontainesi

are really moffati).

Twelve specimens, 30-58 mm., from the Okovango River. A dark

lateral stripe broken up into darker spots where the faint vertical

cross-bars meet it; a black opercular spot, and a dark bar from eye

to mouth; soft dorsal and anal yellowish with pale (transparent)

spots, and pink edge, spinous dorsal with faint red margin; caudal

pale yellowish with wavy or zigzag cross-bands.

Gen. HremicHromis Peters.

1922. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (9), x, pp. 250, 253.

Teeth conical, middle pairs more or less enlarged (see fig. 156,

Gilchrist and Thompson). Cheek-scales in 5 series. Gill-rakers 9,

blunt, more or less T-shaped. Caudal subtruncate.

Hemichromis fasciatus Peters.

1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 540, fig. 156.

Specimens in the South African Museum from Victoria Falls,

Sesheki, and Lake Ngami.

Gen. SarcGocHRomis Regan.

1920. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (9), v, p. 45, footnote.

1922. Id., abid., (9), x, pp. 250, 263.

Teeth contents in adult, sometimes cuspidate in young. Phoeeeeal

teeth massive, the teeth stout, blunt. 4th vertebra with a pair of

apophyses united below. Cheek scales in 4-7 series. Gill-rakers

10-12, blunt, more or less T-shaped. Caudal subtruncate.

f codringtont

1. Cheek-scales in 4—5 series : 5

\(syn. P. marginata)

2. Cheek-scales in 6-7 series . 5 : : ‘ . angolensis

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 455

Sargochromis codringtoni (Blgr.).

1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 527, fig. 146 (Paratilapia c.).

1917. Id., abid., p. 531 (Paratilapia marginata).

1917. Id., ibid., p. 535 (Kafue specimens as P. mellandi, non Blegr.).

1922. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (9), x, p. 263.

Regan makes codringtont the genotype, and in the key gives the

difference between codringtoni and mellandi as respectively: depth

twice, and depth 23-22, in length. S. mellandi was described from

Lake Bangweolo specimens, 150-200 mm., but Boulenger (l.c., p. 359,

footnote) identified a specimen (length not stated) from the Kafue

River as this species.

S. codrington: was described from Zambesi specimens 300 mm.

in length.

In the South African Museum there are: types of marginata G. and

T., 120 and 295 mm. (95 and 232 mm. standard length) from Lialui

and Victoria Falls, three others from Lialui, three from Sesheki,

and three of the Kafue specimens recorded as mellandi by Gilchrist

and Thompson. Also nine specimens, 75-245 mm., from the

Okovango River.

The latter series is not a long one, even when supplemented by the

specimens from the other localities, but it appears to average out to

the result that the younger stages are less deep in the body, 7.e. more

mellandi-like, than the adults. There is, however, one possible

objection. Some orall of the younger specimens may be Haplochromis,

and apparently there is no means of distinguishing the Haplochromis

species with blunt pharyngeals except by dissection or radiograph

of every specimen to see on which vertebra the apophyses are situated.

Snout in relation to

L/D. L/H. | H/E. | S/E. postorbital part of Head.

75 mm. 22 22 3 1 Subequal.

Okovangos 115 __,, 23 23 4 14 %

140 _,, 2k 23 4 14 3

Sesheki, 190 ,, 24 23 At 12 ae

Okovango, 245 ,, 24 23 43 12 | Snout slightly < p.

Lialui, 300 ,, 2 3 44 2 Sip:

Sesheke, 235 ,, a little 3 5 2 Ss =< p.

less than

All the Okovango specimens have the soft dorsal, anal, caudal,

456 Annals of the South African Museum.

and ventrals with a broad pale border (cf. G. and T.’s description of

marginata).

Possibly Fowler’s Paratilapia deschauenseer (1931) and specimens

identified as P. mellands (1935, Ann. Transv. Mus., xvi, p. 292) belong

here.

Gen. SERRANOCHROMIS Regan.

1920. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (9), v, p. 45, footnote.

1922. Id., ibid. (9), x, pp. 250, 263.

Teeth conical. Pharyngeal teeth slender. 4th vertebra with a

pair of small inferior apophyses. Cheek scales in 5-10 series. Gill-

rakers 10-12, blunt, more or less T-shaped.

1. Cheek scales in 5-6 series. Premaxilla extending to between f macrocephalus

orbits : ‘ , : 5 ; : 4 (syn. longimanus)

2. Cheek scales in 7-10 series.

a. Premaxilla not extending beyond front margin of [thumbergi

orbits. Head 2-2} as long as broad. ; (syn. P. ellenbergert)

P. zambesensis

P. ngamensis

genisquamulatus

6b. Premaxilla extending to between orbits. Head 23-3 as long

as broad ; : : : : : ‘ : angusticeps

In Miss Ricardo’s Report on Fish. . . . Lakes Rukwa and Bang-

weulu (1939, p. 64) Boulenger’s Paratilapa kafuensis (1908) is

recorded without any reason being given for resuscitating as a distinct

species a form which Boulenger later (1915) regarded as the female

sex of angusticeps.

Serranochromis thumbergi (Cast.).

1861. Castelnau, Mem. Poiss. Afr. Austr., p. 13 (Chromys thumbergr

original spelling).

»1914. Pellegrin, Bull. Soc. zool. Fr., xxxix, p. 27 (Pelmatochromis

genisquamulatus).

1917. Gilchrist and Thompson, l.c., p. 526, fig. 145 (Paratilapia t.).

1917. Id., ibed., p. 521, fig. 141 (Paratilapia ellenbergert).

1917. Id., abed., p. 522, fig. 142 (Paratilapia zambesensis).

1917. Id., cbed., p. 539, fig. 155 (Pelmatochromis ngamensis).

1922. Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (9), x, p. 264.

1939. Ricardo., Fish. Lakes Rukwa and Bangweulu, p. 64

(thumbergit).

1942. Bertram, Borley, and Trewavas, Fish. Lake Nyasa, p. 55

(err. inserted among Cyprinidae), fig. 7, c.

A Collection of Fishes from the Okovango River. 457

The types of the three species described by Gilchrist and Thompson

and placed in synonymy by Regan, have been examined and Regan’s

suggestions confirmed.

A good series has been received from the Okovango River, the

smallest measuring 55 mm. in length. It is the smallest specimen in

the Museum collections and its proportions are given here for com-

parison with a rather remarkable specimen described below.

Depth 33 in length, very slightly greater than distance from tip of

snout to preopercle. Head 23 in length. Eye very slightly greater

than snout, 3 in length of head, nearly twice the interorbital width.

Width of head (at preopercle) 24 in length of head.

Fie. 9.—Serranochromis sp. 99 mm. Okovango River. Possibly an

abnormally slender young thumbergi.

Coloration of juveniles (about 90 mm.) from the Okovango River:

pale brownish with scattered orange spots on hinder part of body and

caudal peduncle; a dark lateral stripe, with indications of another

between it and the dorsal fin, more or less well-marked vertical

cross-bars; a black opercular spot, lateral stripe continued across

gill-cover to eye, a dark bar from eye to mouth; dorsal pale buff or

greenish, edged with scarlet, the soft portion with dark spots more or

less forming wavy longitudinal bands, anal yellow with a few deep

red spots, and a reddish-orange border, caudal yellowish shading into

red on lower lobe, with reddish-brown spots, ventrals pale, but some-

what suffused near the spine.

Serranochroms sp. ? thumbergz aberr.

Fig. 9.

Depth of body equal to distance from tip of snout to preopercle,

31in length. Head 22in length of body. Eye 4 in head, 13 in snout.

Interorbital 14 in eye, nearly 2 in snout. Maxilla exposed. Pre-

maxilla extending to vertical from front border of eye. Teeth conical,

458 Annals of the South African Museum.

3 rows in upper jaw, very few teeth in the two inner rows, a single

row in lower jaw. Gill-rakers 9-10, pointed. Lower pharyngeal

teeth few and conical, not enlarged or blunt. D xv. 13-14. A i. 10.

Pectoral short, equal to distance between tip of snout and hind margin

of eye. Caudal subtruncate. Scales denticulate; lat. series 34; lat.

lines 25 and 16; cheek with 7-8 series, chest scales small.

99 mm. Blackish, with black lateral stripe expanded into half a

dozen diamond-shaped marks where the faint cross-bars meet it (ef.

G. and T.’s fig. 141, of P. ellenbergert=juv. thumbergi); dorsal and

anal blackish, soft dorsal with a few pale spots basally, apical portion

of soft dorsal and of anal pale; posterior half of caudal pale, basal

part obscurely spotted; pectoral greyish, ventrals blackish with pale

border (cf. codringtont).

This single specimen resembles Sargochromis codringtont in having

pale borders to the vertical fins and ventrals; but the lower pharyngeal

teeth are of the Serranochromis type. The depth and head proportions

are like those of the young S. thumbergi given above; the eye, however,

is proportionately smaller, as it is also in normal thumbergi; 44 times

at 90 mm., and 5 times at 110 mm.

The suggestion is made that this specimen is possibly an abormally

slender thumbergi, i.e. abnormally so for a specimen of its length.

Its elongate shape somewhat resembles a Lamprologus or Champso-

chromis.

Whether that be so or not, it would obviously be bad zoology to

regard it as an undescribed species, especially as there is already a

surfeit of synonyms among the Cichlids. A figure is given in case

more specimens are collected in the future.

J ¢ i =f : cf oy iter, 7 yi BT . , rr

. <= tee wel ae Dn ,

ey ne eee :

> J “i q

\ ‘, i 5

* = tag a >

gt | -

y Fis)

7 ’ :

‘

Acanthoplesiops

Acinonyx .

Acomys

Aethomys.

Afrocominella

Alcelaphas

Alestes

Amphiprion

Anabas

Anguilla

Antennablennius

Antidorcas

Aonyx

Arctocephalus

Aspidontus

Ateleopus

Atilax :

Auchenoglanis .

Barbus

Bathyergus

Beirabarbus

Blennius . ;

Branchiostoma .

Burnupena

Canis (Thos)

Caranx

Caracal

Centriscops

Centrolophus

Ceratotherium .

Cercopithecus

Chalaroderma

Charitodoron

Chrysoblephus .

Chrysochloris

Cirripectus

Cistugo

INDEX OF GENERA.

PAGE

142, 262, 420

: 62, 94

437

381

342

336

41, 83

- 403

45, 86

358

388

381

334

- 403

30, 74

381

37, 79

Clinus

Connochaetes

Crocidura

Crocuta

Cryptochloris

Cryptomys

Cubiceps .

Cynictis

Dasson

Dendromus

Desmodillus

Diceros

Diretmus .

Hidolon .

Hlagatis .

Elephantulus

Engina

Engraulicypris.

Epigonus .

Eptesicus .

Equus

Eremitalpa

Kuthria .

Felis

Galaxias .

Genetta

Genypterus

Georychus

Geosciurus

Gephyroglanis

Gerbillurus

4 : 45, 86

Gerbillus .

Gilchristella

Giraffa .

Glypteuthria

Gliriscus

Gobius

Gonorhynchus :

Graphiurus

Haplochromis

Hemichromis

Hepsetus .

Hippopotamus .

Histiopterus

Hyaena

Hydrocyon

Hystrix

Ictonyx

Tjimaia

Istiblennius

Isurus

Labeo

Lampadena

Latrodectus

Leggada

Lepus

Liotomys .

Loxodonta

Lutra

Lycaon

Macroscelides

Marcusenius

Mastomys.

Melanogloea

Mellivora .

Merluccius

Metula

Micralestes

Miniopterus

Mola a

Monocentris

Mugil

Mus

Myomys

Myomyscus

Index of Genera.

111 (note), 452

: . 454

. 414

67, 98, 99

Bi step eid

s AVS

66, 97

40, 81

352

381

342

124, 417

349

. 266

60, 94

47, 87

67, 97

40, 82

Myonax

Myosorex .

Myotomys

Nannocharax

Nansenia .

Nassaria .

Neothunnus

Nycteris

Nyctinomus

Omobranchus

Opostomias

Oreotragus

Orycteropus

Oryx

Ostracion

Otocyon-.

Otomys

Palinurichthys .

Panthera .

Papio

Parotomys

Pedetes

Pelea

Petersius .

Petrocephalus

Petromus .

Petromyscus

Petroscirtes

Phacochoerus

Phos

Pisania

Platymops

Poemys

Pollia

Procavia .

Pronolagus

Proteles

Psammogobius .

Raphicerus

Rattus

Regalecus.

Pinabdoblennine

Rhabdomys

Rhinolophus

Saccostomus

Salarias

Sandelia

Sargochromis

Schedophilus

Scomberomorus.

Scorpaena.

Scorpaenodes

Scotophilus

Scylliorhinus

Serranochromis .

Smutsia

Spirobranchus

Spratelloides

Steatomys

Stephanolepis

Strepsiceros

Suncus

Suricata

Sylvicapra

Syncerus .

Synodontis

Index of Genera. .

PAGE

381

247

454

392

380

398

399

28) ao

- 342

- 456

247

254

400

Peels

43, 85

69, 98

441

Taractes .

Taterona .

Taurotragus

Thallomys

Tilapia

Trachurus.

Trachypterus

Vulpes

Xenolepidichthys

Xiphasis .

Zebrias

PAGE

alee)

53, 88

So. ered

111 (note), 448

373

359

41, 83

363

381

° - 370

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XXXVI. 1942-1947 Zoology $3: : e Re baal

XXXVIT. 1947- Archaeology Part?) {ow

Copies may be obtained from—

Messrs. WHELDON & WESLEY, L7rp.,

2, 3, and 4 ArTHuR STREET, New OxFORD STREET, Lonpon, W.C. 2; or,

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Except the Geclogical and Palaeontological parts which are obtainable from the

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