List ordering and taxonomy complies where possible with the current usage in World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), and may differ from the cited source, as listed citations are primarily for range or existence of records for the region. Sub-taxa within any given taxon are arranged alphabetically as a general rule. Details of each species may be available through the relevant internal links. Synonyms should be listed where relevant.
Raccoon butterflyfish or halfmoon butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunula (Lacepède, 1802) (South Africa to Hawaii, Japan and Australia. South to East London)[3][4]
Pugnose soapy, Leiognathus ruconius (Hamilton, 1822), recorded as syn. Secutor ruconius (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822), (Indo-West Pacific south to Transkei)[3][8]
Old woman angelfish, Pomacanthus rhomboides (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Red Sea to Knysna)[3][4] Previously known as Pomacanthus striatus Rüppell, 1836, but Rüppell's species is a synonym of P. maculosus (Forsskål, 1775)[9]
Sombre splitfin or silver splitfin, Verilus cynodon (Regan, 1921), reported as syn. Neoscombrops annectens Gilchrist, 1922 (off Natal and southern Mozambique)[3] and as syn. Neoscombrops cynodon (Regan, 1921) (Known from 2 specimens off Natal)[3][10]
Salt and pepper moray or Abbott's moray eel, Gymnothorax eurostus (Abbott, 1861) (Transkei to Bazaruto))[3]
Honeycomb moray or laced moray, Gymnothorax favagineus Bloch & Schneider, 1801 (Port Elizabeth to Mozambique))[3][4] or reticulated moray, reported as syn. Gymnothorax permistus (Smith, 1962) (Transkei to Delagoa Bay)[3][16]
Slender worm-eel, Scolecenchelys gymnota (Bleeker, 1857) (Bredasdorp to Zululand, east Africa to central Pacific)[3](syn. Muraenichthys gymnotus Bleeker, 1864)
Redfin worm-eel, Scolecenchelys laticaudata (Ogilby, 1897) (East London to Indo-Pacific)[3](syn. Muraenichthys laticaudata (Ogilby, 1897)
Orangehead worm-eel, Scolecenchelys xorae (Smith, 1958) (Algoa Bay to Natal)[3](syn. Muraenichthys xorae Smith, 1958)
Earthworm snake-eel, Yirrkala lumbricoides (Bleeker 1853) (off Durban; Northern Australia and Indo Pacific)[3]
Thin sand-eel, Yirrkala tenuis (Günther, 1870)(Natal to southern Mozambique, Red Sea and possibly Mauritius)[3]
Melanolagus bericoides (Borodin, 1929), recorded as syn. Bathylagus bericoides (Borodin, 1929) (off Cape Town; Throughout tropical and subtropical seas)[3][19]
Coccorella atlantica (Parr, 1928) (central water areas of all 3 major oceans; off western and south-western Cape coast, 1 specimen from 31°34'S, 30°09'E)[3]
Balbo sabretooth, Evermannella balbo (Risso, 1820) (4 specimens from off southern Natal, presumed to be circumglobal in transition region of southern oceans)[3]
Hammerjaw, Omosudis lowii Günther, 1887 (1 specimen from not far off east coast at about 25°S; otherwise known from all oceans between 40°S and 40°N)[3][20]
Macroparalepis macrogeneion Post, 1973 (South Atlantic sub-tropical convergence area from South Africa to continental slope off South America)[3]
Magnisudis prionosa (Rofen, 1963) (Circumglobal in southern oceans from 20°S to Antarctic)[3]
Spotted barracudina, Arctozenus risso (Bonaparte, 1840), recorded as syn. Notolepis rissoi (Bonaparte, 1840) (worldwide in temperate and tropical waters)[3][21]
Benthalbella infans Zugmayer, 1911 (off south-western Cape; tropical/subtropical in all 3 major oceans)[3]
Lagiacrusichthys macropinnis (Bussing & Bussing, 1966), recorded as Benthalbella macropinna Bussing and Bussing, 1966 (off south-western Cape coast; circumpolar in subantarctic and Antarctic waters)[3][22]
Staring pearleye,[citation needed]Scopelarchus guentheri Alcock, 1896 (off Durban; mainly tropical in the Atlantic, tropical/subtropical in Indian and Pacific oceans)[3]
Gigantura indica Brauer, 1901, recorded as syn. Rosaura indica (Brauer, 1901) (Tropical/subtropical in all 3 major oceans; Indian Ocean from 35°49'S, 23°09'E northwards)[3][24]
Blackwing flyingfish, Cheilopogon cyanopterus (Valenciennes, 1846) (Tropical and subtropical Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. One juvenile from Port Alfred, another from Natal)[3]
Spotfin flyingfish, Cheilopogon furcatus (Mitchill, 1815) (offshore in all tropical seas. Off South African coast from the Cape eastwards)[3]
Blackfin flyingfish, Cheilopogon nigricans (Bennett, 1840) (Tropical eastern Atlantic to Indo-West Pacific. One specimen known from South African waters)[3]
Two-wing flyingfish, Exocoetus monocirrhus (Richardson, 1846) (Indo-West Pacific south to Durban)[3]
Tropical two-wing flyingfish, Exocoetus volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) (worldwide in tropical waters, occasionally seen in South African waters)[3]
Subtropical flyingfish, Hirundichthys rondeletii (Valenciennes, 1846) (widely distributed in subtropical waters of all oceans, common off the Cape)[3]
Mirrorwing flyingfish, Hirundichthys speculiger (Valenciennes, 1846) (worldwide in tropical waters, one juvenile from Mbibi, Zululand, another from False Bay)[3]
Shortfin flyingfish, Prognichthys brevipinnis (Valenciennes, 1846) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific, recorded from Lake St. Lucia and Indian Ocean off South Africa)[3]
Shortnose flyingfish, Prognichthys sealei (Abe, 1955) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific; one adolescent off Cape St. Lucia and a small juvenile from Port Elizabeth)[3]
Ribbon halfbeak, Euleptorhamphus viridis (van Hasselt, 1823) (reported from Table Bay, also known from Algoa bay and Kei river Mouth. Tropical and temperate waters of Indo-Pacific)[3]
Spotted halfbeak, Hemiramphus far (Forsskål, 1775) (Knysna to Delagoa Bay. a few records west to False Bay)[3][4]
Tropical halfbeak, Hyporhamphus affinis (Günther, 1866) (Sodwana Bay to tropical west Indo-Pacific)[3][4]
Dwarf saury, Nanichthys simulans Hubbs and Wisner, 1980 (Warm temperate waters of the Atlantic and southern Indian oceans; Off the Cape up the west coast)[3]
Mimic blenny or false cleanerfish, Aspidontus taeniatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1834 (Red Sea south to Durban)[3][4] (syn. Aspidontus taeniatus tractus Fowler, 1903)
Picture rockskipper, Blenniella gibbifrons (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824), recorded as syn. Istiblennius gibbifrons (Quoy & Gaimard, 1836) (Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana Bay)[3][27]
Bullethead rockskipper, Blenniella periophthalmus (Valenciennes, 1836), recorded as syn. Istiblennius periophthalmus (Valenciennes, 1836) (Indo-Pacific south to Durban)[3][28]
Super klipfish or highfin klipfish, Clinus superciliosus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Namibia (18°59'S) to Kei River)[3][4][36] now recognised as a complex containing C. superciliosus, C. ornatus, C. arborescens, C. musaicus and C. exasperatus.
Longfin kingfish or longfin trevally, Carangoides armatus (Rüppell, 1830) (East London northwards throughout Indian Ocean to Gulf of Thailand and Japan)[3]
Longnose kingfish or longnose trevally, Carangoides chrysophrys (Cuvier, 1833) (Algoa Bay northward, and eastward to Japan and Australia)[3]
Golden kingfish or golden trevally, Gnathanodon speciosus (Forsskål, 1775), also recorded as syn. Gnathodon speciosus, (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Northern KwaZulu-Natal)[3][4]
Leervis or leerfish or garrick, Lichia amia (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mediterranean sea south along west coast of Africa and around Cape to Delagoa Bay)[3][4]
Pilot fish, Naucrates ductor (Linnaeus, 1758) (Circumtropical, common throughout Indian Ocean)[3]
White kingfish or white trevally, Pseudocaranx dentex (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Durban southwards, anti-tropical on both sides of Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indo-West Pacific)[3]
Giant yellowtail or yellowtail amberjack, Seriola lalandi Valenciennes, 1833 (Most common on Atlantic Cape waters, but follows the pilchard migration to Transkei and Natal. Circumglobal in subtropical waters)[3][4]
Longfin yellowtail, Seriola rivoliana Valenciennes, 1833 (Knysna northward. Circumtropical entering temperate waters in some places)[3]
White marlin, Kajikia albida (Poey, 1860), recorded as syn. Tetrapturus albidus Poey, 1861 (Atlantic Ocean)[3][42]
Striped marlin, Kajikia audax (Philippi, 1887), recorded as syn. Tetrapturus audax (Philippi, 1887) (Primarily Indo-Pacific, but have been caught off Cape Town)[3][43]
Blackspotted hawkfish, Cristacirrhitus punctatus (Cuvier, 1829), recorded as syn. Cirrhitus punctatus (Cuvier, 1829) (Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozanbique and South Africa south to Bizana)[3][47]
East coast roundherring or red-eye round herring, Etrumeus sadina (Mitchill, 1814), recorded as syn. Etrumeus teres (De Kay, 1842) (Durban to Mozambique border)[3][53]
Roundherring or Whitehead's round herring, Etrumeus whiteheadi Wongratana, 1983 (Walvis Bay to KwaZulu-Natal)[3][4]
Estuarine round herring or Gilchrist's round-herring, Gilchristella aestuaria (Gilchrist, 1913) (Knysna to Kosi bay, Saldanha Bay and possibly north to Orange River mouth)[3][4][54]
Oblong pursemouth or slender silver-biddy, Gerres oblongus Cuvier, 1830 (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Kosi Bay)[3]
Slenderspine pursemouth or common silver-biddy, Gerres oyena (Forsskål, 1775) (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Kosi Bay)[3]
Evenfin pursemouth or striped silverbiddy, Gerres methueni Regan, 1920, recorded as syn. Gerres rappi (Barnard, 1927) (Algoa Bay to southern Mozambique)[3][60]
Bubblefin wrasse, Halichoeres nigrescens (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), recorded as syn. Halichoeres dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1839) (Indo-West Pacific south to Durban)[3][62]
Grey barenose, Gymnocranius griseus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)[3][4]
Rippled barenose, Gymnocranius grandoculis (Valenciennes, 1830), recorded as syn. Gymnocranius robinsoni (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana Bay)[3][68]
Yellowfin emperor, Lethrinus crocineus (Smith, 1959) (Western Indian Ocean south to Natal)[3]
Longnose emperor, Lethrinus microdon Valenciennes, 1830, recorded as syn. Lethrinus elongatus Valenciennes, 1830, (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)[3][69]
Blackspot emperor, Lethrinus harak (Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)[3]
Snubnose emperor, Lethrinus lentjan (Lacepède, 1802), recorded as syn. Lethrinus mahsenoides Valenciennes, 1830 (Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana Bay)[3][70]
Cutthroat emperor, Lethrinus mahsena (Forsskål, 1775), recorded as syn. Lethrinus sanguineus Smith, 1955 (Western Indian Ocean south to Sodwana Bay)[3][72]
Variegated emperor, Lethrinus variegatus Ehrenberg, 1830 (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)[3]
Eclipse parrotfish, Scarus russelii (Tropical and subtropical Indian Ocean from India westwards but not Persian Gulf or Red Sea. One specimen from Sodwana Bay)[3]
Fivesaddle parrotfish, Scarus scaber Valenciennes, 1840 (East Africa south to Natal)[3]
Tricolour parrotfish, Scarus tricolor Bleeker, 1847 (East Africa south to Natal)[3]
Coelorinchus flabellispinis (Alcock, 1894) (Indian Ocean. Specimens from southern Africa differ somewhat from those off India and may be a different species)[3]
Mahia whiptail, Coelorinchus matamua (McCann & McKnight, 1980) (apparently abundant off South Africa, also found off New Zealand and southern Australia)[3] (syn. Mahia matamua McCann and McKnight, 1980)
Abyssal grenadier, Coryphaenoides armatus (Hector, 1875) (abyssal, all oceans except Arctic. One Atlantic record off South Africa)[3]
Gadomus capensis (Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924) (Table Bay to Mozambique)[3]
Macrourus holotrachys Günther, 1878 (Cape Point and Prince Edward Island; also off New Zealand and southwestern Australia)[3]
Kuronezumia leonis (Barnard, 1925), recorded as syn. Nezumia leonis(Barnard, 1925) (off Cape Point); Namibia; southwestern Atlantic)[3][82]
Lucigadus ori (Smith, 1968), recorded as syn. Ventrifossa ori (Smith, 1968) (off Agulhas bank, Durban and East London)[3][83]
Malacocephalus laevis (Lowe, 1843) (off South Africa; widespread in Atlantic and Indian oceans)[3]
Mesovagus antipodum (Hubbs & Iwamoto, 1977), recorded as syn. Mesobius antipodum Hubbs and Iwamoto, 1977 (off south coast of SA; New Zealand, eastern Indian Ocean and Madagascar plateau)[3][84]
Nezumia brevibarbata (Barnard, 1925) (Cape Point; Known only off the Cape, where it is common)[3]
Trachyrincus scabrus (Rafinesque, 1810) (Namibia, west coast of South Africa; eastern North Atlantic and Mediterranean sea)[3]
Ventrifossa aff. divergens Gilbert and Hubbs, 1920 (off East London, Durban, Natal and southern Mozambique)[3]
Comb goby, Paratrypauchen microcephalus (Bleeker, 1860), recorded as syn. Trypauchen microcephalus Bleeker, 1860 (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)[3][91]
Shadow goby, Acentrogobius nebulosus (Forsskål, 1775), recorded as syn. Yongeichthys nebulosus (Forsskål, 1775). (Western tropical Pacific and Indian oceans south to Durban)[3][92]
Pinkbar goby, Amblyeleotris aurora (Polunin & Lubbock, 1977) (Islands of western Indian Ocean from Maldives southwards and northern Natal)[3]
Whitespotted goby, Bathygobius coalitus (Bennett, 1832), recorded as syn. Bathygobius albopunctatus (Valenciennes, 1837), (Inhaca south to Transkei)[3][93]
Prison goby, Caffrogobius gilchristi (Boulenger, 1898), also recorded as syn. Caffrogobius multifasciatus (Smith, 1959), (Table Bay to Mozambique Island)[3][4]
Bigfin mudhopper or barred mudskipper, Periophthalmus argentilineatus Valenciennes, 1837, also recorded as syn. Periophthalmus sobrinus Eggert, 1935, (Port Alfred to Red Sea)[3][4]
Spotfin squirrelfish, Neoniphon sammara (Forsskål, 1775) (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Durban)[3]
Tailspot squirrelfish, Sargocentron caudimaculatum (Rüppell, 1838) (Red sea and Indo-Pacific south to Xora river mouth, Transkei)[3]
Crown squirrelfish, Sargocentron diadema (Lacepède, 1802) (Durban to Mozambique)[4] (Indo-Pacific south to East London)[3]
Dark-striped squirrelfish, Sargocentron praslin (Lacepède, 1802) (Indo-West Pacific reported by Smith to reach Durban, but no specimens available from south of Mozambique)[3]
Shadowfin soldier, Myripristis adusta Bleeker, 1853 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)[3]
Bigscale soldier or blotcheye soldierfish, Myripristis berndti Jordan and Evermann, 1903 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)[3]
Pale soldier, Myripristis botche Cuvier, 1829, recorded as sym. Myripristis melanosticta Bleeker, 1863, (Indian ocean (Sri Lanka, Maldives and Sodwana Bay) to Japan and New Hebrides)[3][100]
Broadstriped cardinal, Ostorhinchus angustatus (Smith & Radcliffe, 1911), recorded as syn. Apogon angustatus (Smith and Radcliffe, 1911) (Red Sea to Natal)[3][4][106]
Diamond cardinal or short tooth cardinal, Ostorhinchus apogonoides (Bleeker, 1856), recorded as syn. Apogon apogonides (Bleeker, 1856) (Indo-Pacific south to Durban)[3][107] and as syn. Apogon enigmaticus (Smith, 1961) (1 specimen off Durban)[3][108]
Bandtail cardinal oe ring-tailed cardinalfish, Ostorhinchus aureus (Lacepède, 1802), recorded as syn. Apogon aureus (Lacepède, 1802) (Red Sea south to Durban)[3][4][109]
Blackbanded cardinal, Ostorhinchus cookii (MacLeay, 1881), recorded as syn. Apogon cookii Macleay, 1881 (Western Indian Ocean south to Durban)[3][4][110]
Big angler, Antennarius commersoni (Latreille, 1804) (Natal, Red Sea and tropical Indo-West Pacific to Hawaiian islands)[3]
Shaggy angler or shaggy frogfish, Antennarius hispidus (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) (Indo-West Pacific, south to Knysna)[3]
Painted angler or painted frogfish, Antennarius pictus (Shaw and Nodder, 1794) (Durban to Zanzibar and tropical Indo-West Pacific to Hawaii)[3][4]
Striped angler or striated frogfish, Antennarius striatus (Shaw and Nodder, 1794) (Algoa Bay through Indo-West Pacific to Hawaiian islands)[3]
Freckled angler, Antennatus coccineus (Lesson, 1831), recorded as syn. Antennarius coccineus (Lesson, 1831), (Natal; throughout Indian Ocean, Red Sea and tropical Pacific to Hawaiian islands; Tropical and eastern Pacific off Costa Rica and Cocos and Galapagos islands)[3][118]
Pygmy angler, Antennatus tuberosus (Cuvier, 1817), recorded as syn. Antennarius tuberosus (Cuvier, 1817) (Natal, Maputo, Madagascar, Aldabra islands, and throughout Indo-West Pacific including Hawaiian and Line islands, and Taumotu Archipelago to Pitcairn island)[3][4][119]
Linophryne lucifer Collett, 1886, recorded as syn. Linophryne digitopogon Balushkin and Trunov, 1988, (1 specimen off Hondeklipbaai on west coast)[3][120]
Monk, Lophius vomerinus (Valenciennes, 1837), also recorded as syn. Lophius upsicephalus Smith, 1841 [121](off Cape of Good Hope; Eastern South Atlantic and South western Indian Ocean off South Africa; Bay of Bengal off Burma)[3]
Bluetail mullet, Crenimugil buchanani (Bleeker, 1853), recorded as syn. Valamugil buchanani (Bleeker, 1854) (Knysna to Indo-West Pacific)[3][4][128]
Bluespot mullet, Crenimugil seheli (Fabricius, 1775), recorded as syn. Valamugil seheli (Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-West Pacific south to Transkei)[3][129]
Squaretail mullet, Ellochelon vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825), recorded as syn. Liza vaigiensis (Quoy and Gaimard, 1825) (Indo-West Pacific, south to Durban)[3][130]
Flathead mullet, Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758 (All warm and temperate seas, estuaries and rivers)[3][4]
Longarm mullet, Osteomugil cunnesius (Valenciennes, 1836), recorded as syn. Valamugil cunnesius (Valenciennes, 1836) (Indo-West Pacific, occasionally reaches Natal)[3][131]
Diamond mullet, Planiliza alata (Steindachner, 1892), recorded as syn. Liza alata (Steindachner, 1892), (Indo-West Pacific to Algoa Bay)[3][132]
Large-scale mullet, Planiliza macrolepis (Smith, 1846), recorded as syn. Liza macrolepis (Smith, 1846) (Indo-West Pacific to Port Alfred)[3]
St. Lucia mullet or giantscale mullet or otomebora mullet, Planiliza melinoptera (Valenciennes, 1836) recorded as syn. Liza luciae (Penrith & Penrith, 1967), and as syn. Liza melinoptera (Valenciennes, 1836) (Northern Transkei to southern Mozambique, Indo-West Pacific,)[3][133][134]
Freshwater mullet, Pseudomyxus capensis (Valenciennes, 1836), recorded as syn. Myxus capensis (Valenciennes, 1836) (Knysna to KwaZulu-Natal)[3][4][135]
Redspot goatfish, Parupeneus heptacanthus (Lacepède, 1802), recorded as syn. Parupeneus cinnabarinus (Cuvier, 1829) (Red Sea south to Transkei)[3][136]
Two-saddle goatfish, Parupeneus trifasciatus (Lacepède, 1801), recorded as syn. Parupeneus bifasciatus (Lacepède, 1801) (Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana Bay)[3][137]
Benthosema fibulatum (Gilbert and Cramer, 1897) (Indian Ocean (18°N - 20°S), to 42°S in Agulhas current)[3]
Benthosema suborbitale (Gilbert, 1913) (tropical distribution in 3 major oceans, extensions to 50°S and 50°N in western boundary currents)[3]
Bolinichthys indicus (Nafpaktitis and Nafpaktitis, 1969) (Indian Ocean (20° - 45°S); Atlantic (20° - 50°N and 20° - 40°S))[3]
Stubby lanternfish, Bolinichthys supralateralis (Parr, 1928) (off Cape Peninsula and in Agulgas current; Atlantic (40°N - 02°S and 32° to 40°S); Indian Ocean (21° - 30°S); west coast of Australia and near Hawaii)[3]
Roundnose lanternfish, Centrobranchus nigroocellatus (Günther, 1873) (Atlantic (40°N - 36°S); Indian Ocean (08° - 34°S) and off Chile and New Zealand)[3]
Dasyscopelus asper (Richardson, 1845), recorded as syn. Myctophum asperum Richardson, 1845, (off east coast and in Agulhas water pockets off west coast.)[3][139]
Dasyscopelus obtusirostris (Tåning, 1928), recorded as syn. Myctophum obtusirostreTåning, 1928 (In Agulhas current and off west coast in pockets of Agulhas water)[3][140]
Spiny lanternfish, Dasyscopelus spinosus (Steindachner, 1867), recorded as syn. Myctophum spinosum (Steindachner, 1867) (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets)[3][142]
Short-headed lantern fish, Diaphus brachycephalusTåning, 1928 (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets; broadly tropical in Atlantic and Indo-Pacific)[3]
Crown lanternfish. Diaphus diadematusTåning, 1928 (in Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets and warmed upwelled central water northwards to 18°S; Indian Ocean (02°N - 38°S, and in Mozambique channel, but absent in central sector)[3]
Dumeril's lanternfish, Diaphus dumerilii (Bleeker, 1856) (off west coast as pseudoceanic pelagic species southward to 23°S)[3]
Garman's lanternfish, Diaphus garmani (Gilbert, 1906)(east coast continental shelf/slope southwards to about 26°S)[3]
Hudson's lanternfish, Diaphus hudsoni (Zubrigg and Scott, 1976) (From 18°S off west coast to 27°S off east coast)[3]
Jensen's lanternfish, Diaphus jenseniTåning, 1932 (one record at 33°49'S, 27°48'E; Indo-Pacific)[3]
Spotlight lanternfish, Diaphus lucidus (Goode and Bean, 1896) (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets. Atlantic(40°N - 38°S, but absent in Benguela upwelling region); also Indo-Pacific)[3]
Luetken's lanternfish, Diaphus luetkeni (Brauer, 1904) (In Agulhas current to 37°S. Atlantic (42°N - 11°S) also Indo-Pacific)[3]
Mead's lanternfish, Diaphus meadi Nafpaktitis, 1978 (In upwelled waters off west coast northwards to at least 21°S. Circumglobal convergence species (32° - 41°S))[3]
Spothead lantern fish, Diaphus metopoclampus Cocco, 1829 South of 29°S off west coast and 27°S off east coast. Mediterranean, Atlantic, Indo-West Pacific)[3]
Soft lanternfish, Diaphus mollisTåning, 1928 (off all SA coasts, Broadly tropical distribution in all major oceans)[3]
Diaphus nielseni Nafpaktitis, 1978 (taken once from Agulhas current (30°17'S, 31°25'E); off east coast of Madagascar, in Mozambique channel, and from southeast Asian seas to southern Japan)[3]
Ostenfeld's lanternfish, Diaphus ostenfeldiTåning, 1932 (off west coast northwards to about 23°S; Circumglobal convergence species (35° - 45°S))[3]
Parr's lanternfish, Diaphus parriTåning, 1932 (in Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets, Indian Ocean (10°N - 12°S with extension to 25°S in Mozambique channel), southeast Asian seas and Pacific (tropical waters west of 95°W))[3]
Transparent lanternfish, Diaphus perspicillatus (Ogilby,1898) (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets. Broadly tropical species in Atlantic (45°N - 36°S, but absent in southeastern sector); Indo-Pacific)[3]
Problematic lanternfish, Diaphus problematicus Parr, 1928 (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets. Atlantic(40°N - 39°S but absent south of 13°S in eastern sector); tropical Indo-Pacific with extensions into higher latitudes in western boundary currents)[3]
Horned lanternfish, Diaphus splendidus (Brauer, 1904) (in Agulhas current southward to 31°S; Atlantic (40°N to 28°S, but absent south of 10°S in eastern sector); Indo-Pacific)[3]
Slopewater lanternfish, Diaphus taaningi Norman, 1930 (over west coast continental shelf/slope southward to 24°S. Amphitropical species in Atlantic(western sector; tropical waters to 42°N; eastern sector: southward from Mauretanian upwelling region to South African region)[3]
Watases lanternfish, Diaphus watasei Jordan and Starks, 1904 (Over east coast continental shelf/slope southwards to about 30°S)[3]
Longfin lanternfish, Diogenichthys atlanticus (Tåning, 1928) (Atlantic (50°N - 48°S), Indian Ocean (22° - 45°S) and Pacific (35°N - 35°S, but absent in equatorial waters west of 130°W and near Hawaii)[3]
Diogenichthys panurgus Bolin, 1946 (In Agulhas current to about 38°S and in Indian Ocean (19°N - 05°S))[3]
Risso's lanternfish, Electrona risso (Cocco, 1829) (off east and west coasts of South Africa. Widespread in Atlantic (55°N - 40°S), Mediterranean, Indian Ocean (0° - 40°S), Tasman sea and Cook Strait, and eastern Pacific (42°N - 20°S))[3]
Barne's lanternfish, Gonichthys barnesi Whitley, 1943 (Off east and west coasts, south of 30°S. Convergence species in all 3 oceans (30° - 40°S))[3]
Gymnoscopelus braueri (Lönnberg, 1905) (Circumglobal between Subtropical convergence and Antarctica)[3]
Southern blacktip lanternfish, Gymnoscopelus piabilis (Whitley, 1931) (off west coast in Benguela upwelling region)[3]
Hansen's lanternfish, Hygophum hanseni (Tåning, 1932) (From 30°S on west coast to 33°S on east coast. Convergence species (30° to 43°S) in all 3 oceans)[3]
Bermuda lanternfish, Hygophum hygomii (Lütken, 1892) (West of Cape Peninsula and off east coast (25° - 37°S))[3]
Hygophum proximum Bekker, 1965) (South to about 37°S in Agulhas current; Indian Ocean (25°N - 10°S))[3]
Luminous lanternfish, Lampadena luminosa (Garman, 1899) (In Agulhas current. In all 3 oceans (20°N - 20°S) with extensions into higher latitudes in western boundary currents)[3]
Lampadena notialis Nafpaktitis and Paxton, 1968 (Off east coast and cape peninsula; convergence species in all 3 oceans)[3]
Mirror lanternfish, Lampadena speculigera Goode and Bean, 1896 (Off west and southeast coasts. Atlantic (66° - 35°N and 35° - 45°S), Indian Ocean (30° to 45°S) and Pacific Ocean (30° - 45°S))[3]
Lampanyctus achirus Andriashev, 1962 (Southern Benguela upwelling region, off south and east coasts, north to about 31°S)[3]
Lampanyctus alatus Goode and Bean, 1896 (Off all South African coasts; Atlantic (46°N - 38°S), Indian Ocean (0° - 39°S)[3]
Lampanyctus ater Tåning, 1928 (Off all South African coasts; Atlantic (58° - 17°N and 15° - 40°S) and Indian Ocean (12° - 44°S))[3]
Southern lanternfish, Lampanyctus australisTåning, 1932 (Off all South African coasts; Circumglobal convergence species(33° - 43°S with northern extension to about 27°S in eastern boundary currents))[3]
Lampanyctus festivusTåning, 1928 (off all South African coasts. Atlantic(53° - 18°N and 28° - 40°S with northern extension to 12°S in Benguela current and Indo-West Pacific.)[3]
Lampanyctus intricariusTåning, 1928 (In southern Benguela upwelling region. Atlantic (65° - 32°N and region of subtropical convergence) and Indo-Pacific (region of subtropical convergence, with northern extension to 18°S in eastern boundary currents)[3]
Lampanyctus lepidolychnus Bekker, 1967 (off all South African coasts, circumglobal convergence species (23° - 48°S))[3]
Lampanyctus macdonaldi (Goode and Bean, 1896) (West of Cape Peninsula, Circumglobal between subtropical convergence and Antarctic polar front)[3]
Lampanyctus nobilisTåning, 1928 (In agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets. Atlantic (40°N - 21°S), Indo-Pacific)[3]
Lampanyctus pusillus (Johnson, 1890) (Off all South African coasts. Bisubtropical species in all major oceans)[3]
Lampanyctus turneri (Fowler, 1934) (In Agulhas current and off west coast in Agulhas water pockets. Tropical and subtropical waters between south China sea and western Indian Ocean)[3]
Lampichthys procerus (Brauer, 1904) (Off Cape Peninsula, circumglobal convergence species (32° - 48°S) with extensions into lower latitudes in eastern boundary currents)[3]
Lobianchia dofleini (Zugmayer, 1911) (Off all South African coasts. Mediterranean, Atlantic (50°N - 40°S), Indian Ocean (23° - 38°S), Tasman sea and south Pacific(region of subtropical convergence))[3]
Cocco's lantern fish, Lobianchia gemellarii (Cocco, 1838) (off all South African coasts. Worldwide in tropical/subtropical waters.)[3]
Flaccid lanternfish, Metelectrona ventralis (Bekker, 1063) (West of Cape Peninsula in Southern Benguela upwelling region; Curcumglobal subantarctic species (36°-51°S))[3]
Taaningichthys minimus (Tåning, 1928) (taken at 34°15'S, 16°00'E; Atlantic (40° - 20°N and 08° - 38°S), Indian Ocean (20° - 30°S); central and eastern North Pacific)[3]
Triphoturus nigrescens (Brauer, 1904) (In Agulhas current south to about 40°S; Indian Ocean (08°N - 15°S) and Pacific Ocean (30°N - 30°S))[3]
Eel pearlfish, Eurypleuron owasianum (Matsubara, 1953) (Japan, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, southeastern Pacific, Mozambique and South Africa)[3]
Pearlfish, Onuxodon fowleri (Smith, 1955) (Indo-West Pacific from Durban to Hawaii)[3]
Slender cusk eel, Porogadus miles Goode and bean, 1886 (One specimen off the Cape; relatively common both sides of the Atlantic; also recorded from Indian Ocean)[3]
Longspine glassy, Ambassis ambassis (Lacepède, 1802), recorded as syn. Ambassis productus Guichenot, 1866 (Madagascar and east African coast south to southern Natal)[3][144]
Blacktail chromis, Pycnochromis nigrurus (Smith, 1960), recorded at syn. Chromis nigrura (Smith, 1960) (Tropical western Indian Ocean south to Transkei)[3][148]
Disc flounder, Bothus myriaster (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) (Definitely known from Inhambane, juveniles and larvae possibly occur south to Cape St. Blaize. Southeast Africa to Taiwan and Japan)[3]
Leopard flounder, Bothus pantherinus (Rüppell, 1830) (Confirmed records from Port Alfred northward, juveniles possibly south to Cape St. Blaize. Indo-West Pacific from South Africa to Hawaii)[3]
Crosseyed flounder, Neolaeops microphthalmus (von Bonde, 1922) (One specimen from Natal, also known from Japan, Taiwan and Indo-Australian Archipelago)[3]
Black ruff, Centrolophus niger (Gmelin, 1789) (Temperate waters of Australia, New Zealand, South America and South Africa, also North Atlantic and Mediterranean)[3]
Antarctic butterfish, Hyperoglyphe antarctica (Carmichael, 1818) (Temperate waters; islands of south Atlantic and southern Indian oceans; New Zealand, southern Australia and South Africa)[3]
New Zealand ruffe, Schedophilus huttoni (Waite, 1910) (Circumglobal in southern ocean, taken off Cape Town, common off Namibia)[3]
Black butterfish or Peregrine driftfish, Schedophilus velaini (Sauvage, 1879) (Gulf of Guinea, to South Africa)[3](syn. Hyperoglypha moselii (Cunningham, 1910))
Flabby driftfish or Tasmanian ruffe, Tubbia tasmanica Whitley, 1943 (Temperate waters of Southern Ocean; New Zealand, Tasmania and South Africa off Natal)[3]
Bigscale mackerel or butterfly kingfish, Gasterochisma melampus Richardson, 1845 (Worldwide in southern ocean, mostly between 35° and 50° S, recorded from Table Bay)[3]
Mackerel or chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus Houttuyn, 1782 (Namibia to Maputo)[4](Cape to Natal, cosmopolitan in warm waters)[3]
King mackerel or narrow-barred Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus commerson (Lacepède, 1800) (Indo-West Pacific to Mossel Bay. Once recorded from False Bay)[3][4]
Slender frostfish, Benthodesmus elongatus (Clarke, 1879), recorded as syn. Benthodesmus elongatus elongatus (Clarke, 1879) (New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, once found off Natal)[3][157]
Buttersnoek or silver scabbardfish, Lepidopus caudatus (Euphrasen, 1788) (Mediterranean, eastern Atlantic from Norway to South Africa, Australia and new Zealand)[3]
Cutlass fish, Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus, 1758 (Cosmopolitan in tropical and temperate waters)[3]
Sigmops bathyphilus (Vaillant, 1884), recorded as syn. Gonostoma bathyphilum (Vaillant, 1884) (off Cape Point; temperate/subtropical Atlantic and Pacific oceans)[3][158]
Elongated bristlemouth fish, Sigmops elongatus (Günther, 1878), recorded as syn. Gonostoma elongatum Günther, 1878 (off Saldanha; all three major oceans)[3][159]
Ichthyococcus australis Mukhacheva, 1980 (Circumglobal in subtropical convergence region of southern hemisphere with records between 30° and 40°S in Atlantic sector of our region)[3]
Phosichthys argenteus Hutton, 1873 (South-east Atlantic, south-east of Cape Agulhas and off Natal coast)[3]
Oceanic lightfish, Vinciguerria nimbaria (Jordan and Williams, 1896) (tropical/subtropical waters in all three major oceans; East London to Delagoa Bay)[3]
Borostomias mononema (Regan and Trewavas, 1929) (mainly in tropical waters of Atlantic and Indian oceans, Reported from Atlantic side at about 28°S and from Indian Ocean to about 25°S)[3]
Neonesthes capensis (Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924) (off South Africa, Subtropical/temperate waters of all oceans)[3]
Aristostomias polydactylus Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (Taken once on Atlantic side, once on Indian Ocean side of the area, occurs in all three major oceans)[3]
Malacosteus niger Ayres, 1848 (Tropical and subtropical in all three major oceans)[3]
Opostomias micripnus (Günther, 1878) (northwest of Cape Town; occurs across the Atlantic, Pacific and possibly Indian Ocean south of about 33°S)[3] (syn. Opostomias gibsonpacei Barnard, 1948)
Pachystomias microdon (Günther, 1878) (off Western Cape coast; widespread in all three major oceans)(Günther, 1878)[3]
Photonectes braueri (Zugmayer, 1913) (off Cape Town; Atlantic and western Indian Ocean)[3]
Photonectes parvimanus Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (off west coast; north Atlantic and central Pacific)[3]
Trigonolampa miriceps Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (off west coast; apparently circumglobal in Southern Ocean south of 30°S)[3]
Stomias longibarbatus (Brauer, 1902), recorded as syn. Macrostomias longibarbatus Brauer, 1902 (Taken once off Cape of Good Hope, Widespread in subtropical and tropical Atlantic and tropical Indian and Pacific oceans)[3][160]
Smooth flutemouth or bluespotted cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii Rüppell, 1938 (widespread Indo-Pacific south to Mossel Bay)[3]
Serrate flutemouth or red cornetfish, Fistularia petimba Lacepède, 1803 (Atlantic, Indian and western Pacific oceans; east coast of Africa south to Mossel bay; also reported from Walvis Bay and False Bay)[3]
Ghost pipefish or robust ghost pipefish, Solenostomus cyanopterus Bleeker 1854 (Indo-Pacific region including India, Japan and Australia, and south to East London)[3](one specimen reported from False Bay)
Bluestripe pipefish, Doryrhamphus excisus Kaup, 1856, recorded as syn. Doryrhamphus excisus excisus Kaup, 1856 (Xora river mouth to Mozambique)[3][163]
Banded pipefish, Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus (Bleeker, 1853), recorded as syn. Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus (Bleeker, 1853) (one specimen at Aliwal shoal)[3][164]
Many-banded pipefish, Dunckerocampus multiannulatus (Regan, 1903, recorded as syn. Doryrhamphus multiannulatus (Regan, 1903), (one subadult taken at Sodwana bay)[3][165]
Dusky pipefish, Halicampus dunckeri (Chabanaud, 1929) (One specimen taken in Sodwana bay)[3]
Brown pipefish, Halicampus mataafae (Jordan and Seale, 1906) (one specimen taken in Sodwana Bay)[3]
Belly pipefish, Hippichthys heptagonus Bleeker, 1849 (Durban, St Lucia and 'nHtunga lakes, Natal)[3]
Orangestriped triggerfish or orange-lined triggerfish, Balistapus undulatus (Mungo Park, 1797) (Red Sea south to Natal)[3]
Queen triggerfish, Balistes vetula Linnaeus, 1758 (Tropical Atlantic to southern Angola; recorded from Cape of Good Hope by Günther. Doubtful records from Port Alfred and Durban)[3]
Redfang triggerfish or redtoothed triggerfish, Odonus niger (Rüppell, 1836), (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Durban and once to Port Alfred)[3][4]
Outrigger triggerfish, Xanthichthys caeruleolineatus Randall, Matsuura & Zama, 1978, recorded as syn. Xenobalistes punctatus Heemstra & Smith, 1983, (One specimen from west of Algoa Bay)[3][167]
Family: Diodontidae– Burrfishes and porcupinefishes
Spotfin burrfish, Chilomycterus reticulatus (Linnaeus, 1758), (Only juveniles reported from Cape to Salt Vlei, worldwide in warm temperate waters)[3]
Yellow-spotted burrfish or spotbase burrfish, Cyclichthys spilostylus (Leis & Randall, 1982), (Cape to Port Alfred and northwards to South China Sea, Philippines and Australia)[3]
Pelagic porcupinefish, Diodon eydouxii Brisout de Barneville, 1846 (Known from Algoa Bay. pelagic, circumtropical)[3]
Balloon porcupinefish or long-spine porcupinefish, Diodon holocanthus Linnaeus, 1758, (Cape to Knysna and northward. Circumtropical)[3]
Porcupinefish or spot-fin porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix Linnaeus, 1758, (Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park to Umtata river, Circumtropical)[3]
Shortspine porcupinefish or black-blotched porcupinefish, Diodon liturosus Shaw, 1804, (Port Elizabeth to Japan, French Polynesia and Australia)[3][4]
Fourbar porcupinefish, Lophodiodon calori (Bianconi, 1855), (Continental shelf from the Cape to South China Sea and Australia)[3]
Sharptail sunfish or sharptail mola, Masturus lanceolatus (Lienard, 1840), (Warm temperate waters of all oceans; recorded from the Cape to East London)[3]
Ocean sunfish, Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758), (All oceans but not polar seas)[3]
Southern sunfish or giant sunfish, Mola alexandrini (Ranzani, 1839), recorded as syn. Mola ramsayi (Giglioli, 1883), (Known only from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Collected from near East London to Port St. Johns)[3][168]
Trunkfish or slender sunfish, Ranzania laevis (Pennant, 1776), (Cape to Transkei; All oceans)[3]
Wedgetail filefish, Paramonacanthus frenatus (Peters, 1855), recorded as syn. Paramonacanthus barnardi Fraser-Brunner, 1941, (East coast of Africa south to Durban)[3][169]
Blackstriped filefish, Paramonacanthus pusillus (Rüppell, 1829), recorded as syn. Paramonacanthus cingalensis (Fraser-Brunner, 1941), (Tropical Indian Ocean south to Umgazi River, Transkei)[3][170]
Fangtooth, Anoplogaster cornuta (Valenciennes, 1839) (In Agulhas current to about 29°S; north of 35°S off west coast. Worldwide between 46°N and 46°S)[3]
Diretmichthys parini (Post & Quéro, 1981), recorded as syn. Diretmoides parini Post and Quéro, 1981 (Tropical to temperate in Atlantic ocean with gap between 7°N -17°S; probably curcumglobal in southern oceans)[3][176]
Pineapple fish, Monocentris japonica (Houttuyn, 1782) (Indo-West Pacific and Red Sea south to Mossel Bay)[3](Recorded from False Bay on at least two occasions)[99]
Cyttopsis rosea (Lowe, 1843) (off Natal, Eastern Atlantic from France to Southern Angola, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, Southwest coast of India, Maldives and Japan)[3]
King dory, Cyttus traversi Hutton, 1872 (Walvis ridge and off cape town to Algoa bay, south coast of Australia and New Zealand)[3]
Buckler dory, Zenopsis conchifer (Lowe, 1850) (Walvis Bay to Natal and north to India)[3]
Cape dory, Zeus capensis Valenciennes, 1835 (St Helena Bay to Natal)[3]
John Dory, Zeus faber Linnaeus, 1758 (common along whole SA coast)[3]
↑ Prochazka, K.; Griffiths, C.L. (1991). Cancelloxus longior, a new species of xenopoclinin fish (Perciformes: Clinidae) from South Africa. Spec. Publ (Report). Vol.51. J.L.B. Smith Inst. Ichthyol. pp.1–5.
1 2 3 4 Kock, Alison; Stanbridge, Debbie; Brink, Rene; Holness, Stephen; Harris, Linda; Gardner, Kathryn; van Wilgen-Bredenkamp, Nicola; Mayekiso, Sisanda; Jones, Georgina. Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area – State of Knowledge Report March 2022(PDF). Internal Report 01 / 2022 (Report). Pretoria: Scientific Services, South African National Parks. Appendix II, Table 4: Fish.
↑ Ribbink, A.J. and Roberts, M. "African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme: An overview of the conference contributions" in South African Journal of Science September/October 2006 - Volume 102 No. 9/10, Academy of Science of South Africa, ISSN 0038-2353
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