The list of marine invertebrates of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay is a list of marine and shore-based invertebrate animal species that form a part of the fauna of South Africa and that have been recorded from this geographical range. In some cases they are an important part of the ecological community, and others may have been passing through, or were carried out of their natural ranges by the vagaries of ocean currents or winds. Some of the animals are deep within their range of endemism, or near its borders, while others are cosmopolitan or recently arrived aliens. This list includes animals which live entirely marine lives, or which spend critical parts of their lives at sea, or rely on the sea or intertidal shore for the major part of their diet.
The region is near to several universities and research institutions in Cape Town and Stellenbosch, which has led to many studies of the organisms and of the marine ecology, particularly those organisms that are easily or incidentally collected. The popularity of these waters for recreational diving has led to an increase in reported underwater photographic observations in recent years.[2]
Black stink sponge, Ircinia arbuscula (Hyatt, 1877) (syn. Sarcotragus australis) (Cape Peninsula to Cape Agulhas, also Australia)[6] Note: Ircinia arbuscula (Lendenfeld, 1888) is syn. of Sarcotragus australis (Lendenfeld, 1888), so this needs to be clarified.
Plum anemone, Actinia ebhayiensis Schama, Mitchell & Solé-Cava, 2011. (TMNP MPA).[4][10] Recorded as Plum anemone Actinia mandelae from about Lüderitz to Durban[6]
Compass jellyfish, Benguela compass jelly, redbanded jellyfish, Chrysaora fulgida (Reynaud, 1830), recorded as Chrysaora hysoscella (Linnaeus, 1767), which is now known to be restricted to the north Atlantic. (pelagic, Atlantic Ocean).[3][4][33]
Night-light jellyfish, Pelagia noctiluca (Forsskal, 1775) (pelagic, Atlantic Ocean, also Mediterranean and Pacific)[3][4]
Box jellyfish, sea wasp, Carybdea murrayana Haeckel, 1880 recorded as syn. Carybdea branchi Gershwin & Gibbons, 2009 (north of Namibia to Port Elizabeth)[3][4][36]
Estuarine wonder-worm, Marphysa haemasona Quatrefages, 1866 recorded as syn. Marphysa elityeni Lewis & Karageorgopoulos, 2008, (TMNP MPA)[4][53] (Walvis Bay to Algoa Bay) [6]
Bar-toothed nereid, Perinereis vallata (Grube, 1857) recorded as syn. Perinereis nuntia vallata (Grube, 1857),(TMNP MPA)[4][59] (Walvis Bay to Mozambique)[6]
Cape reef worms Gunnarea gaimardi (Quatrefages, 1848), also recorded as syn. Gunnarea capensis (Schmarda, 1861), (TMNP MPA).[4][71] (North Namibia to North KZN)[6]
Peacock fanworm, pencilworm, Sabella spallanzanii (Gmelin, 1791) syn. Sabella penicillus (as S. penicillus, False Bay to southern KwaZulu-Natal)[76][4]
Blue coral worm, large hydroid worm, Spirobranchus kraussii (Baird, 1864), also recorded as syn. Pomatoleios kraussii (Baird, 1864), (TMNP MPA).[4][77]
Beach hopper, louse amphipod, Capeorchestia capensis (Dana, 1853). also recorded as syn. Talorchestia capensis (Dana, 1853), (Orange river to Wild Coast)[6] (TMNP MPA).[4][100]
Toothed decorator crab, Acanthonyx dentatus H. Milne Edwards, 1834 recorded as syn. Dehaanius dentatus (H. Milne-Edwards, 1834) (Saldanha Bay to Richards Bay)[3][119][4]
Agulhas spider crab, Maja capensis (Ortmann, 1894) (False Bay to Port Elizabeth)[114] syn. Mamaia capensis (not listed on WoRMS, possibly Maja cornuta (Linnaeus,[4] 1758) reported as syn. Maja squinado var. capensis Ortmann, 1894)[4]
Pea crab, Afropinnotheres dofleini (Lenz in Lenz & Strunck, 1914) recorded as syn. Pinnotheres dofleini Lenz in Lenz & Strunck, 1914, (TMNP MPA).[4][127]
Dentate moss animal, Virididentula dentata (Lamouroux, 1816) (Cape Peninsula to Sodwana Bay, Indo-Pacific and Brazil), recorded as syn. Bugula dentata[14][4][199]
Busk's moss animal, Onchoporella bombycina Busk, 1884, recorded as syn. Onchoporella buskii (Harmer, 1923) (Port Nolloth to Algoa Bay, endemic)[14][4][200]
Rayed limpet, broad-rayed limpet, Helcion pruinosus Krauss, 1848 (Cape Columbine to central KwaZulu-Natal)[3][4]
Argenville's limpet, Scutellastra argenvillei Krauss, 1848 (Namibia to KwaZulu-Natal south coast)[3] (syn. Patella argenvillei)[4]
Bearded limpet, Scutellastra barbara Linnaeus, 1758 (Orange River to central KwaZulu-Natal)[3] (syn, Patella barbara).[4]
Pear limpet, spoon limpet, Scutellastra cochlear Born, 1778 (Orange River to KwaZulu-Natal south coast)[3] recorded as syn. Patella cochlear[4]
Granular limpet, Scutellastra granularis Linnaeus, 1758 (Namibia to KwaZulu-Natal north coast)[3] (syn. Patella granularis)[4]
Duck's foot or Long-spined limpet, Scutellastra longicosta Lamarck, 1819 (Cape Point to central KwaZulu-Natal)[3] also recorded as syn. Patella longicosta.[4]
Giant limpet, Scutellastra tabularis Krauss, 1848 (Cape Point to KwaZulu-Natal south coast)[3] (syn. Patella tabularis).[4]
Saddle-shaped keyhole limpet, Dendrofissurella scutellum (Gmelin, 1791) also recorded as syn. Amblychilepas scutella (Gmelin, 1791) (Namibia to northern KwaZulu-Natal)[3][222][4]
Conical keyhole limpet, Diodora parviforata (G.B. Sowerby III, 1889) (Orange River to Eastern Cape)[3] also recorded as syn. Fissurella parviforata G.B. Sowerby III, 1889.[4]
Mantled keyhole limpet, Pupillaea aperta (G.B. Sowerby I, 1825) (Orange River to KwaZulu-Natal south coast)[3][4] also recorded as syn. Fissurellidea aperta G.B. Sowerby, 1825.
Helmet shell, Semicassis labiata zeylanica (Lamarck, 1822) (Cape Point to northern KwaZulu-Natal)[3] also recorded as syn. Phalium labiatum zeylanicum.[229][4]
African periwinkle, Afrolittorina africana (R. A. Philippi, 1847), recorded as syn. Nodilittorina africana (Philippi, 1847), (Namibia to northern KwaZulu-Natal)[3][238]
West coast baby's toes, Triviella millardi (C. N. Cate, 1979), nomen dubium (recorded as Trivia millardi Cape west coast)[3] (Cape Agulhas and north)[229][234][4]
Colonial worm shell, Dendropoma corallinaceum (Tomlin, 1939) (Orange river to Transkei)[3] also recorded as syn. Vermetus (Stoa) corallinaceus Tomlin, 1939.[4]
Solitary worm shell, Thylacodes natalensis Mörch, 1862, recorded as syn. Serpulorbis natalensis (Mörch, 1862), (Namaqualand to central Kwa-Zulu-Natal)[3][242][4]
Short-siphoned whelk, Lugubrilaria lugubris (A. Adams & Reeve, 1847) (Saldanha to False Bay)[3][4] (syn? Pleuroploca lugubris lugubris (Adams, A. & L.A. Reeve in Reeve, L.A., 1847)), Fasciolaria lugubris lugubris
Long-siphoned whelk, Africofusus ocelliferus (Lamarck, 1816), recorded as syn. Fusinus ocelliferus Lamarck, 1816 (Namaqualand to central KwaZulu-Natal)[3][246][4]
Nucella wahlbergi (Krauss, 1848), recorded as syn. Thais wahlbergi (Krauss 1848). (Saldanha to False Bay)[3][250]
Stag shell, Poropteron graagae (Coen, 1947), recorded as syn. Pteropurpura (Poropteron) graagae (Coen, 1947) (Eastern Cape to northern KwaZulu-Natal)[3][251]
Hooked murex, Poropteron uncinarius (Lamarck, 1822), recorded as syn. Pteropurpurea (Poropteron) uncinaria (Lamarck, 1822), and Pteropurpura uncinaria (Lamarck, 1822), (Namibia to Port Alfred)[3][252][4]
Girdled dogwhelk, Trochia cingulata (Linnaeus, 1771), recorded as syn. Nucella cingulata Linnaeus, 1771 (Orange river to Cape Point)[3][253][4]
Fenestrate oyster drill, Vaughtia fenestrata (A. Gould, 1860), recorded as syn. Ocenebra fenestrata Gould, 1833 (Cape Point to Transkei)[3][254][4]
Sand slug, shelled sand slug, Philine aperta (Linnaeus, 1767) (eastern Atlantic Ocean, Northern Europe to southern Africa, also Pacific and Indian Oceans)[3][257][258][4]
Green bubble shell, Haminoea alfredensis Bartsch, 1915 (Cape Peninsula to north of East London)[3][257][4][260] probable syn. for Haminoea natalensis (Krauss, 1848)
Berthella plumula (Montagu, 1803) (Atlantic Coast of the Cape Peninsula at Kommetjie and McClear's Beach, Knysna, northern Europe and Mediterranean)[257]
Giant pleurobranch, Pleurobranchus grandis Pease, 1868, Western False Bay, Knysna lagoon, KwaZulu-Natal, Indo-Pacific, Also reported as Pleurobranchus peroni[263]
Mosaic pleurobranch, Pleurobranchus nigropunctatus (Bergh, 1907), also reported as P. albiguttatus (Bergh, 1905), Atlantic side of Cape Peninsula to southern Wild Coast, endemic. (TMNP MPA).[4][257][258][263]
Warty dorid, Grainy true dorid, Doris granosa (Bergh, 1907) (Lüderitz in Namibia to Port Elizabeth, also Indian and Atlantic Oceans)[3][257][258][4](not listed on WoRMS)
Warty true dorid, Doris sp.1 in South African Sea Slugs, similar to, but genetically distinct from D. verrucosa.[263]
Scribbled nudibranch, Doriopsilla areolata Bergh, 1880, (TMNP MPA).[267] There has been some confusion or disagreement as to whether the local species are D. areolata or D. miniata or both.
Citrine nudibranch. Goniodoris castanea Alder & Hancock, 1845 syn. Goniodoris brunnea (Cape Peninsula to Port Alfred, also Europe, Mediterranean, Japan and New Zealand)[257][4]
Crowned doto, Doto africoronata Shipman & Gosliner, 2015,[4] previously reported as Doto coronata (Gmelin, 1791) (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula to Knysna, also North Atlantic and Mediterranean)[257][258] but now recognised as a different species.
Feathered doto, Doto pinnatifida (Montagu, 1804) (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula to Knysna, also English Channel)[257][258][4]
White-edged nudibranch, Coryphella capensis Thiele, 1925, also recorded as syn. Fjordia capensis (Thiele, 1925), and syn. Flabellina capensis (Thiele, 1925), (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth)[257][258][4][273]
Cape silvertip nudibranch, Antiopella capensis (Bergh, 1907) also recorded as syn. Janolus capensis Bergh, 1907 (Saldanha Bay to East London)[3][257][258][4]
Ridged tellin, Gastrana matadoa (Gmelin, 1791) (Cape Point to northern KwaZulu-Natal)[3][4]
Trilateral tellin Homalina trilatera (Gmelin, 1791), (TMNP MPA). recorded as Tellina trilatera Gmelin, 1791,[4][285]
Gilchrist's tellin, Moerella tulipa (Hanley, 1844) (Cape Columbine to Eastern Cape)[3] recorded as Tellina gilchristi Sowerby, 1904 (unaccepted)[286][4]
Port Alfred tellin, Pallidea palliderosea (Anton, 1838) (Cape Point to KwaZulu-Natal south coast)[3] reported as Tellina alfredensis Bartsch, 1915 Linnaeus 1758 (unaccepted)[287][4]
Trilateral tellin, Homalina trilatera (Gmelin, 1791) recorded as Tellina trilatera Gmelin, 1791 (Orange river to Transkei)[3][223][4][285]
Brooding chiton, Radsia nigrovirescens (de Blainville, 1825) recorded as syn. Chiton nigrovirescens de Blainville, 1825 (Namibia to Cape Agulhas)[3][291][292][4]
Chokka or calimari, Loligo reynaudii d'Orbigny [in Ferussac & d'Orbigny], 1839-1841, recorded as syn. Loligo vulgaris reynaudi (Orbigny, 1845) (Orange River to Eastern Cape)[3][294][4]
Granular starfish, Fromia schultzei Döderlein, 1910, recorded as syn. Austrofromia schultzei (Doderlein, 1910) (False Bay to Port Elizabeth)[3][302][4]
Spiny starfish, Marthasterias africana (Müller & Troschel, 1842), recorded as Marthasterias glacialis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Saldanha Bay to Port Elizabeth)[3][304]
Subtidal cushion star, Parvulastra dyscrita (H.L. Clark, 1923), recorded as syn. Patiriella dyscrita (H.L. Clark, 1923) (Cape Point to Port Elizabeth)[3][305][4]
Geology of Cape Town– Geological formations and their history in the vicinity of Cape Town
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↑ 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. Chapter 8: Research and monitoring.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Samaai, T. and Gibbons, M.J. 2005. Demospongiae taxonomy and biodiversity of the Benguela region on the west coast of South Africa. Afr. Nat. Hist. 1(1):1–96
1 2 Samaai, Toufiek, Gibbons, Mark J., Kelly, Michelle, Davies-Coleman, Mike (2003): South African Latrunculiidae (Porifera: Demospongiae: Poecilosclerida): descriptions of new species of Latrunculia du Bocage, Strongylodesma Lévi, and Tsitsikamma Samaai & Kelly. Zootaxa 371: 1-26, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.156901
1 2 Acuna F. & Griffiths C.L. 2004 Species richness, endemicity and distribution patterns of South African sea anemones (Cnidaria: Actiniaria and Corallimorpharia) Afr. Zoo.39(2):193–200
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Wrobel D. & Mills C. 2003 Pacific Coast Pelagic Invertebrates: a guide to the common gelatinous animals. Sea Challengers. ISBN0-930118-23-5
↑ McLaughlin P.A. & Forest, J. 1999. Hermit crabs of the genus Pagurus Fabricus (Crustacea, Decapoda, Paguridae) from south-eastern Africa Ann. S. Afr. Mus.105(7):297–344
↑ d'Udekem d'Acoz, C. 2007. New records of Atlantic Hippolyte, with the description of two new species, and a key to all Atlantic and Mediterranean species (Crustacea, Decapoda, Caridea). Zoosystema29:1183–207
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Liltved, William Rune. Cowries and their relatives of southern Africa: A study of the southern African Cypraeacean and Velutinacean gastropod fauna, Gordon Verhoef, Seacomber Publications, 2000. ISBN0908 42089 7
↑ Gosliner, T.M. 1996. Phylogeny of Ceratosoma (Nudibranchia:Chromorididae), with descriptions of two new species. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci.3 49:115–126
1 2 Gosliner, T.M. 1994. New species of Chromodoris and Noumea (Nudibranch: Chromodorididae) from the Western Indian Ocean and Southern Africa. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci.12 48:239–252
↑ Valdes, A. & Gosliner, T. M. 1999.Phylogeny of the radula-less dorids (Mollusca, Nudibranchia), with the description of a new genus and a new family.Zoologica Scripta28 3–4:315–360
↑ Fahey, S.J. and Valdes, A. 2005. Review of Acanthodoris Gray, 1850 with a phylogenetic analysis of Onchidorididae Alder and Hancock, 1845 (Mollusca, Nudibranchia). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences56(20): 213–272.
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