List of marine spiny-finned fishes of South Africa

Family: Barbourisiidae — Red whalefish

• Barbourisia rufa Parr, 1954 (occasionally trawled off West Coast. Atlantic Ocean (56°N- 35°S))[1]

Family: Cetomimidae — Whalefishes

• Cetomimus indagator Rofen, 1959 (1 specimen off Port St Johns, former Transkei)[1]
• Cetomimus picklei (Gilchrist, 1922) (1 specimen off Cape Town)[1]

Family: Rondeletiidae — Redmouth whalefish

• Rondeletia loricata Abe and Hotta, 1963 (3 specimens taken off Southern Cape coast of South Africa)[1]

Family: Aulostomidae — Trumpetfishes

• Trumpetfish Aulostomus chinensis (Linnaeus, 1766) (Ind-West Pacific south to East London)[1][2]

Family: Centriscidae — Snipefishes and shrimpfishes

• Razorfish or shrimpfish Aeoliscus punctulatus (Bianconi, 1855) (Port Elizabeth to Kenya)[1][2]
• Banded snipefish Centriscops obliquus Waite, 1911 (Cape Columbine to False Bay)[1]
• Slender snipefish Macroramphosus scolopax (Linnaeus, 1758) (Table Bay to Durban)[1]
• Round bellowsfish Notopogon lilliei Regan, 1914 (Single specimen off Natal)[1]
• Longsnout bellowsfish Notopogon macrosolen Barnard, 1925 (Northwest of Cape Town to Saldanha Bay)[1]
• Longspine bellowsfish Notopogon xenosoma Regan, 1914 (Algoa Bay to Natal)[1]

Family: Fistulariidae — Flutemouths

• Smooth flutemouth Fistularia commersonii Rüppell, 1938 (widespread Indo-Pacific south to Mossel Bay)[1]
• Serrate flutemouth 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)[1]

Family: Solenostomidae — Ghost pipefishes

• Ghost pipefish Solenostomus cyanopterus Bleeker 1854 (Indo-Pacific region including India, Japan and Australia, and south to East London)[1](one specimen reported from False Bay)

Family: Syngnathidae — Seahorses and pipefishes

• Roughridge pipefish Cosmocampus banneri (Herald and Randall, 1972) (Two specimens from Sodwana Bay)[1]
• Narrowstripe pipefish Doryrhamphus bicarinatus Dawson, 1981 (Sodwana Bay)[1]
• Banded pipefish Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus (Bleeker, 1853) (one specimen at Aliwal shoal)[1]
• Bluestripe pipefish Doryrhamphus excisus excisus Kaup, 1856 (Xora river mouth to Mozambique)[1]
• Many-banded pipefish Doryrhamphus multiannulatus (Regan, 1903) (one subadult taken at Sodwana bay)[1]
• Dusky pipefish Halicampus dunckeri (Chabanaud, 1929) (One specimen taken in Sodwana bay)[1]
• Brown pipefish Halicampus mataafae (Jordan and Seale, 1906) (one specimen taken in Sodwana Bay)[1]
• Belly pipefish Hippichthys heptagonus Bleeker, 1849 (Durban, St Lucia and 'nHtunga lakes, Natal)[1]
• Bellybarred pipefish Hippichthys spicifer (Rüppell, 1838) (Durban and Xora river mouth)[1]
• Giraffe seahorse or Crowned seahorse Hippocampus camelopardalis Bianconi, 1854 (Durban to Inhambane)[1][2]
• Knysna seahorse Hippocampus capensis Boulenger, 1900 (South coast estuaries: Knysna, Keurbooms, Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay)[1][2]
• Thorny seahorse Hippocampus histrix Kaup, 1853 (vicinity of Durban)[1]
• Yellow seahorse Hippocampus kuda Bleeker, 1852 (Mossel bay to Mozambique)[1]
• Longnose seahorse Hippocampus trimaculatus Leach, 1814 (Morgan Bay near kei river mouth)[1]
• Crowned seahorse Hippocampus whitei Bleeker, 1855 (Natal and southern Mozambique)[1]
• Shortnose pipefish Micrognathus andersonii Bleeker, 1858 (Knysna to Xora river)[1]
• Freshwater pipefish Microphis fluviatilis (Peters, 1852) (Coffee Bay and Mtata river)[1]
• Short-tail pipefish Microphis brachuris (Bleeker, 1853) (Durban and Sodwana estuary to Kenya)[1]
• Elegant pipefish Nannocampus elegans Smith, 1961 (Great Fish point to Inhaca, Mozambique)[1]
• Reef pipefish Nannocampus pictus (Duncker, 1915) (one specimen from Sodwana Bay)[1]
• Rock pipefish Phoxocampus belcheri (Kaup, 1856) (one specimen from Bizana coast (31.5°S), Transkei)[1]
• Alligator pipefish Syngnathoides biaculeatus (Bloch, 1785) (Knysna northwards; Northern Red sea to Japan, Guam and Samoa)[1]
• Longsnout pipefish Syngnathus temminckii Kaup, 1856 (Namibia to northern KwaZulu-Natal),[3][4]
• River pipefish Syngnathus watermeyeri Smith, 1963 (Tidal areas of Kariega, Kasouga and Bushmans rivers)[1]
• Double-ended pipefish Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus (Bleeker, 1857) (Durban northwards to Kenya)[1]

Family: Atherinidae — Silversides

• Cape silverside Atherina breviceps Valenciennes, 1835 (Luderitz to northern KwaZulu-Natal)[1][2]
• Hardyhead silverside Atherinomorus lacunosus (Forster, 1801) (East London to Indo-West Pacific)[1][2]
• Pricklenose silverside Atherion africanus Smith, 1965 (Natal to India)[1]
• Slender silverside Hypoatherina barnesi Schultz, 1953 (Natal to Comores)[1]

Family: Notocheiridae — Surf sprites

• Surf sprite Iso natalensisRegan, 1919 (Indian ocean south to Cape Agulgas)[1]

Family: Exocoetidae — Flyingfishes

• Blackwing flyingfish Cheilopogon cyanopterus (Valenciennes, 1846) (Tropical and subtropical Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. One juvenile from Port Alfred, another from Natal)[1]
• Spotfin flyingfish Cheilopogon furcatus (Mitchill, 1815) (offshore in all tropical seas. Off South African coast from the Cape eastwards)[1]
• Blackfin flyingfish Cheilopogon nigricans (Bennett, 1840) (Tropical eastern Atlantic to Indo-West Pacific. One specimen known from South African waters)[1]
• Smallhead flyingfish Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus altipinnis (Valenciennes, 1846) (Cape to Kosi Bay)[1]
• Two-wing flyingfish Exocoetus monocirrhus (Richardson, 1846) (Indo-West Pacific south to Durban)[1]
• Tropical two-wing flyingfish Exocoetus volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) (worldwide in tropical waters, occasionally seen in South African waters)[1]
• Subtropical flyingfish Hirundichthys rondeletii (Valenciennes, 1846) (widely distributed in subtropical waters of all oceans, common off the Cape)[1]
• Mirrorwing flyingfish Hirundichthys speculiger (Valenciennes, 1846) (worldwide in tropical waters, one juvenile from Mbibi, Zululand, another from False Bay)[1]
• Sailfin flyingfish Parexocoetus brachypterus (Richardson, 1846) (Tropical Indo-Pacific, south to Natal)[1]
• Shortfin flyingfish Prognichthys brevipinnis (Valenciennes, 1846) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific, recorded from Lake St. Lucia and Indian Ocean off South Africa)[1]
• Shortnose flyingfish Prognichthys sealei (Abe, 1955) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific; one adolescent off Cape St. Lucia and a small juvenile from Port Elizabeth)[1]

Family: Hemiramphidae — Halfbeaks

• 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)[1]
• Spotted halfbeak Hemiramphus far (Forsskål, 1775) (Knysna to Delagoa Bay. a few records west to False Bay)[1][2]
• Tropical halfbeak Hyporhamphus affinis (Günther, 1866) (Sodwana Bay to tropical west Indo-Pacific)[1][2]
• Cape halfbeak Hyporhamphus capensis (Thominot, 1886) (False Bay to southern Mozambique)[1][2]

Family: Belonidae — Needlefishes

• Barred needlefish Ablennes hians (Valenciennes, 1846) (Worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters, south to Algoa Bay)[1]
• Cape needlefish Petalichthys capensis Regan, 1904 (South African endemic, False Bay to Pondoland)[1]
• Garfish or Yellow needlefish or Banded needlefishStrongylura leiura (Bleeker, 1850) (Durban to Persian Gulf)[1][2]
• Crocodile needlefish Tylosurus crocodilus crocodilus (Peron and Lesueur, 1821) (Indo-West Pacific south to Knysna)[1]

Family: Scomberesocidae — Sauries

• Dwarf saury Nanichthys simulans Hubbs and Wisner, 1980 (Warm temperate waters of the Atlantic and southern Indian oceans; Off the Cape up the west coast)[1]

Family: Berycidae — Berycids

• Beryx Beryx decadactylus Cuvier, 1829 (Saldanha Bay to Natal)[1]
• Slender beryx Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834 (Saldanha Bay to Natal)[1]
• Short alfonsino Centroberyx spinosus (Gilchrist, 1903) (Storms river to Durban)[1] (also reported from False Bay)

Family: Holocentridae — Squirrelfishes and Soldierfishes Subfamily: Holocentrinae — Squirrelfishes

• Spotfin squirrelfish Neoniphon sammara (Forsskål, 1775) (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Durban)[1]
• Tailspot squirrelfish Sargocentron caudimaculatum (Rüppell, 1838) (Red sea and Indo-Pacific south to Xora river mouth, Transkei)[1]
• Crown squirrelfish Sargocentron diadema (Lacepède, 1802) (Durban to Mozambique)[2] (Indo-Pacific south to East London)[1]
• Dark-striped squirrelfish Sargocentron praslin (Lacepède, 1802) (Indo-West Pacific reported by Smith to reach Durban, but no specimens available from south of Mozambique)[1]
• Speckled squirrelfish Sargocentron punctatissimum (Cuvier, 1829) (Indo-Pacific south to Algoa Bay)[1]
• Sabre squirrelfish Sargocentron spiniferum (Forsskål, 1775) (Red sea and east coast of Africa south to Natal)[1]

Subfamily: Myripristinae — Soldierfishes

• Shadowfin soldier Myripristis adusta Bleeker, 1853 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)[1]
• Bigscale soldier Myripristis berndti Jordan and Evermann, 1903 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)[1]
• Yellowfin soldier Myripristis chryseres Jordan and Evermann, 1903 (Aliwal shoal)[1]
• Epaulette soldier Myripristis kuntee (Cuvier, 1831) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)[1]
• Pale soldier Myripristis melanosticta Bleeker, 1863 (Indian ocean (Sri Lanka, Maldives and Sodwana Bay) to Japan and New Hebrides)[1]
• Blotcheye soldier Myripristis murdjan (Forsskål, 1775) (Transkei to Mozambique)[2](Red Sea and Ind-Pacific south to Natal)[1]
• Lattice soldier Myripristis violacea Bleeker, 1851 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)[1]
• Shy soldier Plectrypops lima (Valenciennes, 1831) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)[1]

Family: Anoplogastridae — Fangtooth

• Fangtooth Anaplogaster cornuta (Valenciennes, 1839) (In Agulhas current to about 29°S; north of 35°S off west coast. Worldwide between 46&degN and 46°S)[1]

Family: Diretmidae — Diretmids

• Diretmoides parini Post and Quero, 1981 (Tropical to temperate in Atlantic ocean with gap between 7°N -17°S; probably curcumglobal in southern oceans)[1]

Family: Monocentridae — Pineapple fishes

• Pineapple fish Monocentris japonicus (Houttuyn, 1782) (Indo-West Pacific and Red Sea south to Mossel Bay)[1](Recorded from False Bay on at least two occasions)[3]

Family: Trachichthyidae — Slimeheads

• Gephyroberyx darwini (Johnson, 1866) (all round South African coast)[1]
• Hoplostethus atlanticus Collett, 1896 (From Iceland to Morocco and Walvis Bay to off Durban)[1]
• Black slimehead Hoplostethus cadenati Quero, 1974 (West coast of Africa from 36°N - 26°S, and off Transkei)[1]
• Hoplostethus mediterraneus Cuvier, 1829 (Namibia to Natal)[1]
• Hoplostethus melanopterus Fowler, 1938 (known from off Transkei, Somalia and the Philippines)[1]
• Hoplostethus melanops (Weber, 1913) (Indo-West pacific from Indonesia to Natal, also off Namibia and Cape Town)[1]

Family: Pegasidae — Seamoths

• Seamoth Eurypegasus draconis (Linnaeus, 1766) (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa Bay)[1]
• Longtail seamoth Pegasus volitans Linnaeus, 1758 (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Durban)[1]

See article List of marine Perciform fishes of South Africa

Suborder: Pleuronectoidei

Family: Achiropsettidae

• Neoachiropsetta milfordi (Penrith, 1965) (off Cape Town, Argentina, Falkland Islands and New Zealand)[1](syn. Mancopsetta milfordi Penrith, 1965)

Family: Bothidae — Lefteye flounders

• Cape flounder Arnoglossus capensis Boulenger, 1898 (Angola to Natal)[1]
• East coast flounder Arnoglossus dalgleishi (von Bonde, 1922) (Natal, Zanzibar, Mombasa and northern Indian Ocean)[1]
• Tropical flounder Bothus mancus (Broussonet, 1782) (Durban to Hawaii and Easter Island)[1][2]
• 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)[1]
• 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)[1]
• Pelican flounder Chascanopsetta lugubris Alcock, 1894 (Natal to Delagoa Bay, Indo-Pacific and Atlantic Oceans)[1]
• Broadbrow flounder Crossorhombus valderostratus (Alcock, 1890) (Durban to St. Lucia Bay, possibly reaches East London)[1]
• Warthog flounder Engyprosopon grandisquama (Temminck & Schlegel, 1848) (Indo-Pacific, Durban to Japan)[1]
• Natal flounder Engyprosopon natalensis (Regan, 1920) (Known only from off Amatikulu River, Natal)[1]
• Engyprosopon smithi Nielsen, 1964 (Known only from 3 specimens from off Durban and Kenya)[1]
• Khaki flounder Laeops natalensis Norman, 1931 (Known only from Natal)[1]
• Blackspotted flounder Laeops nigromaculatus von Bonde, 1922 (Natal, Delagoa Bay and Japan)[1]
• Longarm flounder Laeops pectoralis (von Bonde, 1922) (Natal, Delagoa Bay and Mombasa)[1]
• Crosseyed flounder Neolaeops microphthalmus (von Bonde, 1922) (One specimen from Natal, also known from Japan, Taiwan and Indo-Australian Archipelago)[1]
• Psettina brevirictis (Alcock, 1890) (Record from South Africa based on juvenile collected off Port St. Johns)

Family: Citharidae — Largescale flounders

• Largescale flounder Citharoides macrolepis (Gilchrist, 1905) (Known only from Natal to Kenya)[1]

Family: Paralichthyidae

• Largetooth flounder Preudorhombus arsius (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa Bay and possibly to Knysna)[1]
• Ringed flounder Pseudorhombus elevatus Ogilby, 1912 (Indian Ocean south to Algoa Bay)
• Smalltooth flounder Pseudorhombus natalensis Gilchrist, 1904 (Durban and off Tugela River)

Family: Pleuronectidae — Righteye flounders

• Comb flounder Marleyella bicolorata (von Bonde, 1922) (Natal to India)[1]
• Measles flounder Paralichthodes algoensis Gilchrist, 1902 (Known only from Mossel Bay to Delagoa Bay)[1]
• Poecilopsetta natalensis Norman, 1931 (Natal to Kenya)[1]
• Crested flounder Samaris cristatus Gray, 1831 (Natal to Red Sea and China)[1]
• Threespot flounder Samariscus triocellatus Woods, 1966 (Sodwana Bay)[1]

Family: Cynoglossidae — Tonguefishes

• Natal tongeufish Cynoglossus acaudatus Gilchrist, 1906 (Natal to Somalia)[1]
• Fourline tonguefish Cynoglossus attenuatus Gilhrist, 1904 (Durban to Delagoa Bay)[1]
• Sand tonguefish Cynoglossus capensis (Kaup, 1858)(Kunene River (Namibia) to Port Elizabeth)[2](to Natal)[1]
• Durban tonguefish Cynoglossus durbanensis Regan, 1921 (Natal to Kenya)[1]
• Ripplefin tonguefish Cynoglossus gilchristi Ogilby, 1910 (Natal and Delagoa Bay)[1]
• Roughscale tonguefish Cynoglossus lida (Bleeker, 1851) (Philippines to Mozambique, south to Durban)[1]
• Threeline tonguefish Cynoglossus marleyi Regan, 1921 (Durban to Delagoa Bay)[1]
• Redspotted tonguefish Cynoglossus zanzibarensis Norman, 1939 (Saldanha Bay to Kenya)[1][2]
• Fringelip tonguefish Paraplagusia bilineata (Bloch, 1787) (Tropical Indo-Pacific: East coast of Africa south to Durban)[1]
• 'Symphurus ocellatus von Bonde, 1922 (Durban to Mozambique)[1]
• Symphurus variegatus (Gilchrist, 1903) (Known only off East London)

Family: Soleidae — Soles

• Unicorn sole Aesopia cornuta Kaup, 1858 (Natal to Mozambique)[1]
• West coast sole Austroglossus microlepis (Bleeker, 1863)(Cape to KwaZulu-Natal)[2](Northern Namibia to False Bay)[1]
• East coast sole Austroglossus pectoralis (Kaup, 1858) (Cape Point to Durban)[1][2]
• Cape sole Heteromycteris capensis Kaup, 1858 (Walvis Bay to Maputo)[1][2]
• Foureye sole Monochirus ocellatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Natal)[1]
• Dwarf sole Parachirus xenicus Matsubara & Ochiai, 1963 (Sodwana Bay)[1]
• Speckled sole Pardachirus marmoratus (Lacepède, 1802) (Red Sea and western Indian Ocean from Sri Lanka and Persian Gulf to Durban)[1]
• Persian carpet sole Pardachirus morrowi (Chabanaud, 1954) (Kenya to Sodwana Bay)[1]
• Blackhand sole Solea bleekeri Boulenger, 1898 (Cape Columbine to Maputo)[2](False Bay to Maputo)[1]
• Lemon sole Solea fulvomarginata Gilchrist, 1904 (False Bay to Transkei)[1][2]
• Shallow-water sole Synaptura marginata Boulenger, 1900 (Knysna to Delagoa Bay)[1]
• Lace sole Synapturichthys kleini (Risso, 1833) (Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean to South Africa and round south coast to Durban)[1]
• Zebra sole Zebrias regani (Gilchrist, 1906) (Known only from Natal)[1]

Family: Psychrolutidae — Fatheads

• Cottunculus spinosus Gilchrist, 1906 (off Cape Point) [1]
• Ebinania costaecanarie (Cervigon, 1961) (off north western South Africa)[1]
• Psychrolutes inermis (Vaillant, 1888) (off western South Africa)[1]
• Psychrolutes macrocephalus (Gilchrist, 1904) (known only from South Africa)[1]

Family: Liparidae — Snailfishes

• Careproctus albescens Barnard, 1927 (off Cape Point)[1]
• Paraliparis australis Gilchrist, 1904 (off Cape Point)[1]
• Paraliparis copei Goode & Bean, 1896 (Northwest Atlantic, Azores and South Africa. off Cape Point)[1]
• Paraliparis micruris (Barnard, 1927) (Cape of Good Hope, southern Indian Ocean and South Pacific)[1]

Family: Dactylopteridae — Helmet gurnards

• Helmet gurnard Dactyloptena orientalis (Cuvier, 1829) (Port Elizabeth northwards; east to central Pacific)[1]
• Starry helmet gurnard Dactyloptena peterseni (Nyström, 1887) (East London and Delagoa Bay)[1]

Family: Hoplichthyidae — Spiny flatheads

• Spiny flathead Hoplichthys acanthopleurus Regan, 1908 (off Natal)[1]

Family: Parabembridae

• African deepwater flathead Parabembras robinsoni Regan, 1921 (Durban to southern Mozambique)[1]

Family: Platycephalidae — Flatheads

• Crocodile flathead Cociella crocodila (Tilesius, 1812) (Durban northwards and from Red sea to Japan and Guadalcanal)[1]
• Spotfin flathead Cociella sp. (East London north to Madagascar and Oman)[1]
• Thorny flathead Grammoplites portuguesus (Smith, 1953) (Durban to Beira)[1]
• Large-scale flathead Onigocia oligolepis (Regan, 1908) (three specimens known from Natal)[1]
• Madagascar flathead Papilloculiceps longiceps (Ehrenberg, 1829) (Widespread from Durban north to Red sea)[1]
• Bartail flathead Platycephalus indicus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cape Agulhas to Mozambique)[2](Widespread from Mossel bay northward to Red sea and Japan and Australia)[1]
• Sand flathead Thysanophrys arenicola Schultz, 1966 (Natal north to Seychelles; Chagos archipelago; Indonesia, Australia, Philippines and Marshall Islands)[1]
• Quarterspined flathead Thysanophrys celebica (Bleeker, 1854) (Durban north to Zanzibar)[1]
• Longsnout flathead Thysanophrys chiltonae Schultz, 1966 (Red sea and Indo-West Pacific from northern Natal to Australia)[1]
• Fringelip flathead Thysanophrys otaitensis (Parkinson, 1829) (Natal north to Seychelles, and throughout tropical Indo-Pacific)[1]

Family: Apistidae

• Bearded waspfish Apistus carinatus (Bloch, 1801) (Natal northwards, coastal areas of Indo-West Pacific)[1]

Family: Aploactinidae — Velvetfishes

• Roughskin scorpionfish Cocotropus monacanthus (Gilchrist, 1906) (4 specimens from off Natal)[1]
• Crested scorpionfish Ptarmus jubatus (Smith, 1935) (Natal coast north to Porto Amelia, Mozambique) [1]

Family: Caracanthidae — Coral crouchers

• Spotted croucher Caracanthus madagascariensis (Guichenot, 1869) (Tropical western and central Indian ocean, south to Sodwana Bay)[1]
• Coral croucher Caracanthus unipinna (Gray, 1831) (Tropical waters throughout Indo-Pacific; reaches Sodwana bay)[1]

Family: Congiopodidae — Horsefishes

• Spinenose horsefish Congiopodus spinifer (Smith, 1839) (Walvis Bay to Natal)[1]
• Smooth horsefish Congiopodus torvus (Gronovius, 1772) (Namibia to Pondoland)[1]

Family: Scorpaenidae
Subfamily: Choradactylinae

• Threestick stingfish Choridactylus natalensis (Gilchrist, 1902) (Durban to Mozambique)[1]

Subfamily: Minoinae

• Onestick stingfish Minous coccineus Alcock, 1890 (Durban, northwards; also in Red sea, Arabian sea and eastwards to gulf of Thailand)[1]

Subfamily: Pteroinae

• Shortfin turkeyfish Dendrochirus brachypterus (Cuvier, 1829) (Transkei north to Red sea and east to central Pacific)[1]
• Zebra turkeyfish Dendrochirus zebra (Cuvier, 1829) (off Durban; northwards to Red sea and eastwards to central Pacific)[1]
• Blackfoot firefish Parapterois heterurus (Bleeker, 1856) (Natal and northwards across Indian ocean to western Pacific)[1]
• Broadbarred firefish Pterois antennata (Bloch, 1787) (KwaZulu-Natal northwards and to central Pacific)[1][2]
• Devil Firefish Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828) (Port Elizabeth northwards)[2](Port Alfred northwards to Red sea and eastern Indian ocean)[1]
• Deepwater firefish Pterois mombasae (Smith, 1957) (off Durban, Sri Lanka and New Guinea)[1]
• Radial firefish Pterois radiata Cuvier, 1829 (KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)[2](Sodwana Bay northwards and to central Pacific)[1]
• Plaintail firefish Pterois russelii Bennett, 1831 (Kwa-Zulu-Natal northward and to western Pacific)[1][2]

Subfamily: Scorpaeninae

• Decoy scorpionfish Iracundus signifer Jordan and Evermann, 1903 (one taken off Sodwana Bay)[1]
• Spotfin scorpionfish Neomerinthe nielseni (Smith, 1964) (several specimens from off Durban)[1]
• Ocellated scorpionfish Parascorpaena mcadamsi (Fowler, 1938) (Sodwana Bay, Zululand, and Mozambique to Pacific)[1]
• Golden scorpionfish Parascorpaena mossambica (Peters, 1855) (Xora and Sodwana Bay northwards, east Africa to central Pacific)[1]
• Phenacoscorpius adenensis Norman, 1939 (near Buffalo River)[1]
• Speckled deepwater scorpionfish Pontinus leda Eschmeyer, 1969 (off west coast from gulf of Guinea to 18°45'S)[1]
• Blacklash scorpionfish Pontinus nigerimum Eschmeyer, 1983 (one specimen off Natal)[1]
• Popeyed scorpionfish Rhinopias frondosa (Günther, 1891) (Durban north along African coast and east to Japan and Caroline Islands)[1][2]
• Bigscale scorpionfish Scorpaena scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 (Algoa bay to Natal)[1]
• Guam scorpionfish Scorpaenodes guamensis Quoy and Gaimard, 1824 ((Transkei northwards and throughout Indo-West Pacific)[1]
• Hairy scorpionfish Scorpaenodes hirsutus (Smith, 1957) (Sodwana Bay northwards, scattered localities in Indo-West Pacific to Hawaii and Tahiti)[1]
• Dwarf scorpionfish Scorpaenodes kelloggi (Jenkins, 1903) (Sodwana bay and scattered localities in Indo-Pacific, east to Hawaii and Tahiti)[1]
• Cheekspot scorpionfish Scorpaenodes littoralis (Tanaka, 1917) (a few specimens from deep reefs off Natal; also scattered localities in Indo-West Pacific)[1]
• Coral scorpionfish Scorpaenodes parvipinnis (Garrett, 1863) (Durban northwards; widespread on coral reefs throughout Indo-West Pacific)[1]
• Blotchfin scorpionfish Scorpaenodes varipinnis Smith, 1957 (Sodwana bay and northwards in western Indian Ocean)[1]
• Bigmouth scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis brevifrons Eschmeyer and Randall, 1975 (Sodwana bay northward; also at scattered localities in the Indo-Pacific)[1]
• False stonefish Scorpaenopsis diabolus Cuvier, 1829 (Xora northwards, widespread in Indo-West Pacific.)[1]
• Humpback scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis gibbosa Bloch and Schneider, 1801 (Transkei northwards, Indian Ocean and Red sea)[1]
• Gilchrist's scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis gilchristi (Smith, 1957) (1 specimen off Tugela river)[1]
• Smallscale scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis oxycephala Bleeker, 1849 (Sodwana Bay and scattered localities in the Indo-Pacific)[1]
• Spinycrown scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis possi Randall & Eschmeyer, 2001(Sodwana Bay northwards, throughout Indo-Pacific))[5]
• Raggy scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis venosa (Cuvier, 1829) (Durban northwards and scattered localities in Indo-Pacific)[1][2]
• Yellowspotted scorpionfish Sebastapistes cyanostigma (Bleeker, 1856) (Port Alfred northwards to Red sea and east to central Pacific)[1]
• Spineblotch scorpionfish Sebastapistes mauritiana (Cuvier, 1829) (Transkei northwards, scattered Indo-Pacific localities)[1]
• Barchin scorpionfish Sebastapistes strongia (Cuvier, 1829) (Transkei northwards, widespread in Indo-Pacific)[1]
• Darkspotted scorpionfish Sebastapistes tinkhami (Fowler, 1946) (Sodwana bay, western and south Pacific)[1]
• Paperfish ir Leaf scorpionfish Taenianotus triacanthus Lacépède, 1802 (Durban northwards and to central Pacific)[1]

Family: Sebastidae

• Jacopever Helicolenus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809) (Walvis Bay to Natal)[1]
• False jacopever Sebastes capensis (Gmelin, 1788) (Cape to Saldanha Bay)[1]
• Cape scorpionfish Trachyscorpia capensis (Cape to St Helena Bay)[1]

Family: Setarchidae

• Setarches guentheri Johnson, 1862 (Natal, nearly worldwide in warm seas)[1]

Family: Synanceiidae — Stonefish

• Stonefish Synanceia verrucosa Bloch & Schneider, 1801(Red sea and Indo-Pacific south to Durban)[1][2]

Family: Tetrarogidae — Waspfishes

• Redskinfish Ablabys binotatus (Peters, 1855) (Xora river mouth to Zanzibar)[1]
• Smoothskin scorpionfish Coccotropsis gymnoderma (Gilchrist, 1906) (Cape to Algoa bay)[1]

Family: Triglidae — Gurnards

• Cape gurnard Chelidonichthys capensis (Cuvier, 1829) (Cape Fria to Maputo)[1][2]
• Bluefin Gurnard Chelidonichthys kumu (Cuvier, 1829)[6] (Cape Point to Delagoa Bay)[1][2]
• Lesser gurnard Chelidonichthys queketti (Regan, 1904) (Table bay to Natal)[1]
• Prickly gurnard Lepidotrigla faurei (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1914) (Durban northwards to India)[1]
• Spiny gurnard Lepidotrigla multispinosa Smith, 1934 (Natal to Kenya)[1]
• African gurnard Trigloporus lastoviza (Bonnaterre, 1788) (St. Sebastian Bay to Port Alfred)[1](syn. Trigloporus lastoviza africanus (Smith, 1934))

Family: Melamphaidae — Bigscale fishes

• Melamphaes eulepis Ebeling, 1962 (Atlantic south of 13°S, around Africa, in Indian Ocean, throughout Indonesia and in central equatorial Pacific)[1]
• Melamphaes microps (Günther, 1878) (off South Africa and New Zealand)[1]
• Melamphaes simus Ebeling, 1962 (Tropical/subtropical regions of Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans)[1]
• Poromitra crassiceps (Günther, 1878) (All oceans except Arctic and Mediterranean)[1]
• Poromitra megalops (Lütken, 1877) (Eastern Atlantic, Indo-Pacific and eastern equatorial Pacific)[1]
• Scopeloberyx robustus (Günther, 1887) (Tropical/subtropical regions of Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans)[1]
• Scopelogadus beanii (Günther, 1887) (Atlantic, southern Indian and western south Pacific oceans)[1]
• Sio nordenskjoldii (Lönnberg, 1905) (South Atlantic and Indian oceans south of 30°S; several records off South Africa)[1]

Family: Stephanoberycidae — Pricklefishes

• Acanthochaenus lutkeni Gill, 1884 (off mid Atlantic USA, Azores and off Durban (29°42'S, 33°19'E)[1]

Family: Balistidae — Triggerfishes

• Starry triggerfish Abalistes stellatus (Lacepède, 1798) (Red Sea to Mossel Bay)[1]
• Orangestriped triggerfish Balistapus undulatus (Mungo Park, 1797) (Red Sea south to Natal)[1]
• Queen triggerfish Balistes vetula Linnaeus, 1758 (Tropical Atlantic to southern Angola; recordef from"Cape of Good Hope by Günther. Doubtful records from Port Alfred and Durban)[1]
• Clown triggerfish Balistoides conspicillum (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Indo-West Pacific south to Durban)[1][2]
• Rough triggerfish Canthidermis maculatus (Bloch, 1786) (Orange River mouth to Natal)[1]
• Indian triggerfish Melichthys indicus Randall and Klausewitz, 1973 (Tropical Indian Ocean south to Sodwana Bay[1]
• Black triggerfish Melichthys niger (Bloch, 1786) ((Circumtropical, has been found at Durban)[1]
• Pinktail triggerfish Melichthys vidua (Solander, 1844) (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Durban)[1]
• Redfang triggerfish Odonus niger (Rüppell, 1836) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Durban and once to Port Alfred)[1][2]
• Yellowface triggerfish Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus (Rüppell, 1829) (Red Sea south to Natal)[1]
• Rippled triggerfish Pseudobalistes fuscus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Red Sea south to Durban)[1]
• Blackbar triggerfish Rhinecanthus aculeatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa Bay)[1]
• Patchy triggerfish Rhinecanthus rectangulus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Tropican Indo-West Pacific south to East London)[1]
• Boomerang triggerfish Sufflamen bursa (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana Bay))[1][2]
• Halfmoon triggerfish Sufflamen chrysopterus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) Indo-West Pacific south to Durban)[1]
• Bridle triggerfish Sufflamen fraenatus (Latrielle, 1804) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)[1]
• Striped triggerfish Xanthichthys lineopunctatus (Hollard, 1854) (Indo-West Pacific south to Port Alfred)[1]
• Outrigger triggerfish Xenobalistes punctatus Heemstra & Smith, 1983 (One specimen from west of Algoa Bay)[1]

Family: Diodontidae — Burrfishes and porcupinefishes

• Spotfin burrfish Chilomycterus reticulatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Only juveniles reported from Cape to Salt Vlei, worldwide in warm temperate waters)[1]
• Birdbeak burrfish Cyclichthys orbicularis (Bloch, 1785) (Knysna to South China Sea, Philippines and Australia))[1][2]
• Yellow-spotted burrfish Cyclichthys spilostylus (Leis & Randall, 1982) (Cape to Port Alfred and northwards to South China Sea, Philippines and Australia)[1]
• Pelagic porcupinefish Diodon eydouxii Brisout de Barneville, 1846 (Known from Algoa Bay. pelagic, circumtropical)[1]
• Balloon porcupinefish Diodon holocanthus Linnaeus, 1758 (Cape to Knysna and northward. Circumtropical)[1]
• Porcupinefish Diodon hystrix Linnaeus, 1758 (Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park to Umtata river, Circumtropical)[1]
• Shortspine porcupinefish Diodon liturosus Shaw, 1804 (Port Elizabeth to Japan, French Polynesia and Australia)[1][2]
• Fourbar porcupinefish Lophodiodon calori (Bianconi, 1855) (Continental shelf from the Cape to South China Sea and Australia)[1]

Family: Molidae — Ocean sunfishes

• Sharptail sunfish Masturus lanceolatus (Lienard, 1840) (Warm temperate waters of all oceans; recorded from the Cape to East London)[1]
• Ocean sunfish Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758) (All oceans but not polar seas)[1]
• Southern sunfish Mola ramsayi (Giglioli, 1883) (Known only from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Collected from near East London to Port St. Johns)[1]
• Trunkfish Ranzania laevis (Pennant, 1776) (Cape to Transkei; All oceans)[1]

Family: Monacanthidae — Filefishes

• Unicorn leatherjacket Aluterus monoceros Linnaeus, 1758 ((Saldanha Bay to Beira)[1]
• Scribbled leatherjacket Aluterus scriptus (Osbeck, 1765) (Worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas, south to Knysna)[1]
• White-spotted filefish Cantherhines dumerilii (Hollard, 1854) (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Algoa Bay)[1]
• Spectacled filefish Cantherhines fronticinctus (Günther, 1867) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Durban)[1]
• Honeycomb filefish Cantherhines pardalis (Rüppell, 1837) (Tropical/subtropical Indo-West Pacific, south to Mossel Bay)[1]
• Blacksaddle mimic Paraluteres prionurus (Bleeker, 1851) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Aliwal Shoal, Natal)[1]
• Wedgetail filefish Paramonacanthus barnardi Fraser-Brunner, 1941 (East coast of Africa south to Durban)[1]
• Blackstriped filefish Paramonacanthus cingalensis (Fraser-Brunner, 1941) (Tropical Indian Ocean south to Umgazi River, Transkei)[1]
• Redtail filefish Pervagor janthinosoma (Bleeker, 1854) (Indo-West Pacific, juveniles reach Algoa Bay)[1]
• Rhino leatherjacket Pseudalutarius nasicornis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1850) (Tropical/subtropical Indo-West Pacific; has been founs at Port Alfred, East London and Bazaruto)[1]
• Porky Stephanolepis auratus (Castelnau, 1861) (Known only from Knysna to Zanzibar)[2]
• Sandy filefish Thamnaconus arenaceus(Barnard, 1927) (Known from only 3 specimens, 1 possibly from Natal, 2 from Madagascar)[1]
• Modest filefish Thamnaconus modestoides (Barnard, 1927) (Indian Ocean south to Algoa Bay)[1]

Family: Ostraciidae — Boxfishes

Subfamily: Aracaninae

• Chubby basketfish Anoplocapros robustus (Fraser-Brunner, 1941) (one specimen from Algoa Bay)[1](syn. Strophiurichthys robustus Fraser-Brunner, 1941)

Subfamily: Ostraciinae

• Longhorn cowfish Lactoria cornuta (Linnaeus, 1758) (Indo-West Pacific to Mossel Bay)[1][2]
• Spiny cowfish Lactoria diaphana (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Indo-West Pacific south to the Cape)[1][2]
• Backspine cowfish Lactoria fornasini (Bianconi, 1846) (Indo-West pacific south to Algoa Bay)[1]
• Boxy Ostracion cubicus Linnaeus, 1758 (Indo-West Pacific south to Knysna))[1][2]
• Whitespotted boxfish Ostracion meleagris Shaw, 1796 (Indo-Pacific south to Algoa Bay)[1]
• Triangular boxfish Tetrosomus concatenatus (Bloch, 1786) (From the Cape eastwards through Indo-West Pacific)[1]
• Hunchback boxfish Tetrosomus gibbosus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Red Sea south to Durban)[1]

Family: Tetraodontidae — Blaasops or Puffers

• Evileye blaasop Amblyrhynchotes honckenii (Bloch, 1785) (Cape Point to Mozambique. Tropical Indo-West Pacific from South Africa to China)[1][2]
• Whitespotted blaasop Arothron hispidus Linnaeus, 1758 (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Knysna)[1]
• Blackedged blaasop Arothron immaculatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Indo-West Pacific south to Knysna)[1]
• Bellystriped blaasop Arothron inconditus (Smith, 1958) (Knysna to East London)[1]
• Map blaasop Arothron mappa (Lesson, 1827) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)[1]
• Guineafowl blaasop Arothron meleagris (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Indo-Pacific south to Durban)[1]
• Blackspotted blaasop Arothron nigropunctatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa bay[1]Mossel Bay[2])
• Star blaasop Arothron stellatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Indo-West Pacific, occasionally reaches Knysna)[1]
• Spotted toby Canthigaster amboinensis (Bleeker, 1864) (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Durban)[1][2]
• Exquisite toby Canthigaster bennetti (Bleeker, 1854) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Port Alfred)[1]
• Saddle toby Canthigaster coronata (Vaillant & Sauvage, 1875) (Red Sea to Sodwana Bay)[1]
• Honeycomb toby Canthigaster janthinoptera (Bleeker, 1855) (Indo-West Pacific south to Transkei)[1]
• Doubleline toby Canthigaster rivulata (Schlegel, 1850) (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa Bay)[1]
• Bicoloured toby Canthigaster smithae Allen & Randall, 1977 (Southwestern Indian Ocean south to Durban)[1]
• False-eye toby Canthigaster solandri (Richardson, 1844) (Indo-West Pacific south to Port Elizabeth)[1]
• Model toby Canthigaster valentini (Bleeker, 1853) (Indo-West Pacific south to Durban)[1]
• Bluespotted blaasop Chelonodon laticeps Smith, 1948 (6°S to Xora River mouth)[1]
  • Blaasop beauty Chelonodon pleurospilus Regan, 1919 (Xora River mouth to Durban)[1]
• Blackback blaasop Lagocephalus guentheri Miranda Ribeiro, 1915 (off Tugela River to Algoa Bay)[1]
• Smooth blaasop Lagocephalus inermis (Schlegel, 1850) (Indo-Pacific south to Algoa Bay)[1]
• Oceanic blaasop Lagocephalus lagocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Circumglobal in warm and temperate seas, Walvis Bay to Beira)[1]
• Moontail blaasop Lagocephalus lunaris (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)(Indo-West Pacific south to Knysna)[1]
• Silverstripe blaasop Lagocephalus scleratus (Forster, 1788) (Indo-West Pacific, occasional specimens occur between the Cape and Natal)[1]
• Rippled blaasop Pelagocephalus marki Heemstra & Smith 1981 (Port Alfred to Knysna)[1]
• Blunthead blaasop Sphoeroides pachygaster (Müller & Troschel, 1848) (Circumglobal, deep water from the Cape to Beira)[1]
• Lattice blaasop Takifugu oblongus (Bloch, 1786) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)[1]
• Dwarf blaasop Torquigener hypselogeneion (Bleeker, 1852) (Indo-West Pacific from Knysna to Samoa)[1]
• Slender Blaasop Torquigener sp. (known from South Africa only from 2 specimens collected off Durban)[1]
• Spiny blaasop Tylerius spinosissimus Regan, 1908 (Indo-West Pacific south to East London)[1]

Family: Triacanthodidae — Spikefishes

• Trumpetsnout Macrorhamphosodes uradoi (Kamohara, 1933) (1 record from off Port Elizabeth; Kenya to Japan)[1]
• Sawspine spikefish Paratriacanthodes retrospinis (Fowler, 1934) (Japan and China to Mozambique and Natal)[1]

Shortsnout spikefish Triacanthodes ethiops Alcock, 1894 (Japan to South Africa)[1]

• Fleshy lipped spikefish Tydemania navigatoris Weber, 1913 (Japan to east coast of Africa,; several records from South Africa)[1]

Family: Caproidae — Boarfishes

• Boarfish Antigonia rubescens (Günther, 1860) (Indo-West Pacific from Natal to Japan)[1]

Family: Grammicolepididae — Tinselfishes

• Thorny tinselfish Grammicolepis brachiusculus Poey, 1873 (Saldanha Bay to Durban)[1]
• Tinselfish Xenolepidichthys dalgleishi Gilchrist, 1922 (Walvis Bay to Natal)[1]

Family: Oreosomatidae — Oreos

• Allocyttus verrucosus (Gilchrist, 1906) (Walvis Bay to Mozambique channel)[1]
• Neocyttus rhomboidalis Gilchrist, 1906 (Walvis Bay to Cape)[1]
• Oxeye dory Oreosoma atlanticum Cuvier, 1829 (Around South Africa between 30° - 35°S)[1]
• Pseudocyttus maculatus Gilchrist, 1906 (Walvis Bay to the Cape)[1]

Family: Zeidae — Dories

• 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)[1]
• Cyttus traversi Hutton, 1872 (Walvis ridge and off cape town to Algoa bay, south coast of Australia and New Zealand)[1]
• Buckler dory Zenopsis conchifer (Lowe, 1850) (Walvis Bay to Natal and north to India)[1]
• Cape dory Zeus capensis Valenciennes, 1835 (St Helena Bay to Natal)[1]
• John dory Zeus faber Linnaeus, 1758 (common along whole SA coast)[1]

Family: Zenionidae — Zeniontids

• Zenion leptolepis (Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924) (Natal, Delagoa Bay and Kenya)[1]

Family: Mugilidae — Mullets

• Diamond mullet Liza alata (Steindachner, 1892) (Indo-West Pacific to Algoa bay)[1]
• Groovy mullet Liza dumerili (Steindachner, 1870) (Breede River to Bazaruto)[1][2]
• St. Lucia mullet Liza luciae (Penrith & Penrith, 1967) (Northern Transkei to southern Mozambique)[1]
• Large-scale mullet Liza macrolepis (Smith, 1846) (Indo-West Pacific to Port Alfred)[1]
• Giantscle mullet Liza melinoptera (Valenciennes, 1836) (Indo-West Pacific, occasional specimens reach Natal)
• Southern mullet Liza richardsonii (Smith, 1846) (Kunene River to St. Lucia estuary)[1][2]
• Striped mullet Liza tricuspidens (Smith, 1935) (Mossel Bay to northern Kosi estuary)[1][2]
• Squaretail mullet Liza vaigiensis (Quoy and Gaimard, 1825) (Indo-West Pacific, south to Durban)[1]
• Flathead mullet Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758 (All warm and temperate seas, estuaries and rivers)[1][2]
• Freshwater mullet Myxus capensis (Valenciennes, 1836) (Knysna to KwaZulu-Natal)[1][2]
• Bluetail mullet Valamugil buchanani (Bleeker, 1854) (Knysna to Indo-West Pacific)[1][2]
• Longarm mullet Valamugil cunnesius (Valenciennes, 1836) (Indo-West Pacific, occasionally reaches Natal)[1]
• Bluespot mullet Valamugil seheli (Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-West Pacific south to Transkei)[1]