Description and osteology of a new eel of the genus Bathymyrus from off Mozambique
- Authors: Castle, P H J (Peter Henry John) , Rhodes University. Department of Ichthyology
- Date: 1968-05
- Subjects: Eels , Bathymyrus smithi , Marine fishes -- Mozambique
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69552 , vital:29548 , Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)) Periodicals Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB))
- Description: Online version of original print edition of the Special Publication of the Rhodes University, Department of Ichthyology, No. 4 , A commercial haul off the Limpopo River mouth in 260 - 270 fathoms collected 35 eels of the genus Bathymyrus Alcock, 1889, described here as B. smithi sp. nov. This has a shorter head and pectoral and a more posterior dorsal origin relative to the pectoral fin than in B.echinorhynchus Alcock, 1889 from the Bay of Bengal and B.simus Smith, 1965 from the South China Sea. B.smithi is also distinct in having extra-oral rostral teeth present but less conspicuously developed, more numerous vertebrae (150 — 155, compared with about 125 — 130 in the other species) and drab coloration. An osteological study shows that, although it has certain unique features, B.smithi is very closely similar to congrids of the subfamily Anagoinae. There are valid reasons for using the term Bathymyrinae for this group of congrid eels.
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- Date Issued: 1968-05
A contribution to a revision of the moringuid eels
- Authors: Castle, P H J (Peter Henry John) , Rhodes University. Department of Ichthyology
- Date: 1968-03
- Subjects: Eels , Moringua , Marine fishes -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69541 , vital:29547 , Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)) Periodicals Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB))
- Description: Online version of original print edition of the Special Publication of the Rhodes University, Department of Ichthyology, No. 3 , An examination of vertebral numbers in a series of eels of the genus Moringua Gray, 1831 from the western Indian Ocean clearly indicates three species, with about 105—113, 115—125 and 153—160 vertebrae respectively. These counts are matched by proportionately shorter head and greater slenderness of body, which are not correlated with total length in each group. Lateral line pore counts and position of heart confirm the presence of three species. A study of the moringuid literature and of certain type material shows that the names Moringua microchir Bleeker, M.ferruginea Bliss and M.javanica (Kaup) may be applied to these. Aphthalmichthys abbreviatus Bleeker is almost certainly based on immature females of M.microchir and is considered a synonym. A vertebral count on the holotype of M.bicolor Kaup suggests that it may be the male form of M.javanica. Aphthal— michthys macrocephalus Bleeker is probably a synonym of M.macrochir Bleeker and the latter shows close similarities to M.raitaborua Hamilton—Buchanan. Growth in moringuids appears to be most rapid at a point a few segments in advance of the vent.
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- Date Issued: 1968-03
Taxonomic notes on the eel, Muraenesox cinereus (Forsskål, 1775), in the western Indian Ocean
- Authors: Castle, P H J (Peter Henry John) , Rhodes University. Department of Ichthyology
- Date: 1967-12
- Subjects: Eels , Marine fishes -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69530 , vital:29546 , Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)) Periodicals Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB))
- Description: Online version of original print edition of the Special Publication of the Rhodes University, Department of Ichthyology, No. 2 , Specimens from the southeast African coast conform well in essential characters with those displayed in radiographs of Muraena tota cinerea Forsskål from the Red Sea. In contrast, Japanese specimens which have been assigned to M.cinereus have more precaudal vertebrae, a higher total number of vertebrae, more numerous dorsal rays, a broader interorbital and a larger eye. They should therefore be set aside as distinct from Forsskål’s species. An available name for these is possibly M.singaporensis (Bleeker, 1853) although insufficient is known about M.cinereus - type eels in the Indo-Malayan region for this name to be confidently applied to the Japanese form. In many features western Indian Ocean M.cinereus closely resembles M.yamaguchiensis Katayama & Takai, 1954, also from Japan.
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- Date Issued: 1967-12
Two remarkable eel-larvae from off Southern Africa
- Authors: Castle, P H J (Peter Henry John) , Rhodes University. Department of Ichthyology
- Date: 1967-08
- Subjects: Eels , Fishes -- Larvae , Marine fishes -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69251 , vital:29465 , Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)) Periodicals Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB))
- Description: Online version of original print edition of the Special Publication of the Rhodes University, Department of Ichthyology, No.1 , Ascomana gen. nov., based on A. eximia sp. nov. is described from a single 700mm leptocephalus collected off Cape Town. It displays the following characters which in combination distinguish it from known eel genera: — Jaws moderately produced, hyomandibula essentialy vertical, short postocular region, occipital crest present, slender upwardly-curved lower jaw, pectoral fin with very numerous rays (23-24); larva reaching at least 700mm, eye not telescopic, caudal not attenuated or rounded, very numerous teeth, intestine a straight tube, pigment mainly as a series of large melanophores along the ventral body wall from throat to vent. The new genus and species shows some resemblances to the nessorhamphid eels. An elongate (565mm) leptocephalus, also collected from off Cape Town (that is, in the locality of the Dana "giant" eel-larvae), is identified with Leptocephalus giganteus Castle and is the second undoubted specimen of this species.
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- Date Issued: 1967-08