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LABR Anch 1 1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: LABRIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Anchichoerops natalensis (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None
VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Natal wrasse Fr - pourceau du Natal Sp - Vieja de Natal NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body of moderate depth, greatest depth about equal to length of head. Dorsal profile of head with a slight convex curve in front of dorsal fin, then mostly straight to tip of snout; head forming an acute angle; jaws prominent, lips thick; 2 prominent canines situated anteriorly in each jaw; no enlarged tooth at rear of upper jaw. Dorsal fin continuous, with 13 spines and 9 soft; rays; first 3 spines longer than succeeding spines; anal fin with 3 spines and 11 soft rays; pectoral fins with 2 unbranched and 15 branched rays; pelvic fins not filamentous; caudal fin rounded. Lateral line smoothly curved, uninterrupted, with 50 to 52 pored scales. Scales reaching well onto bases of dorsal and anal fins; scales in front of dorsal fin reaching forward to above centre of eye; cheek and opercle scaled; lower jaw without scales. Colour: red to yellowish orange; sides with numerous dark spots or with several bluish vertical bands on back and about 3 bluish horizontal stripes on belly; head with numerous bluish and yellowish spots; dorsal and anal fins with blue spots; caudal fin red to yellowish with bluish stripes or spots. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
All other labrid genera: fewer than 13 dorsal-fin spines; no others have a smoothly curved, uninterrupted lateral line with 50 to 52 scales.
SIZE:
Maximum: 75 cm.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
Restricted to the Natal coast of South Africa, ranging from Natal to southern Zululand.
Found in somewhat rocky areas to depths of about 60 m.
Feeds primarily on hard-shelled prey including molluscs, crusta- ceans and sea urchins, but will take other flesh as well.
PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS: No special fishery. Although this species is not commercially sought, it reaches a sufficiently large size to be marketed when taken.
CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:
Separate statistics are not reported for this species.
Taken by hook and line.
Consumed primarily fresh.
LABR Bod 6
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: LABRIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Bodianus bilunulatus bilunulatus (Lacepède, 1801)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE : Lepidaplois bilunulatus; Lepidaplois hirsutus (Lacepède, 1801)*
VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Tarry hogfish Fr - Vieille á selle Sp - Vieja ensillada NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: (juvenile) Body moderately deep, greatest depth about equal to length of head. Dorsal profile of head gently curved, the anterior tip of head forming an acute angle; jaws prominent, 4 strong canines situated anteriorly in each jaw; a large, curved canine present on each side of rear of upper jaw; roof of mouth toothless. Dorsal fin continuous, with 12 spines and 10 soft rays; the spines and anterior soft rays of similar length; anal fin with 3 spines and 12 soft rays; pectoral fins with 2 unbranched and 14 (rarely 15) branched rays; pelvic fins somewhat filamentous in adults; upper and lower corners of caudal fin forming filamentous lobes in adults. Lateral line smoothly curved, uninterrupted, with 30 to 32 pored scales. Scales reaching onto bases of dorsal and anal fins; scales in front of dorsal fin extending forward no farther than above posterior extent of eye; cheek and opercle scaled; lower jaw without scales. Colour: pink above and white below, with numerous very narrow, horizontal, red stripes on sides, and a large, black saddle-shaped spot below posterior end of dorsal fin, extending onto upper side of caudal peduncle; head with a red stripe before eye and 2 similar stripes radiating from orbit posteriorly; a broad grey stripe directed posteriorly from mouth; dorsal fin transparent to pink with a prominent black spot between the first 4 or 5 spines; anal fin mostly white; caudal fin pink to reddish; pectoral fins transparent to pinkish white; pelvic fins white or pinkish white. Very large individuals are much redder and with the saddle-shaped spot reduced to a grey area below posterior end of dorsal fin. Very small individuals are white with numerous narrow, reddish brown horizontal stripes on sides, and a broad, black band extending from outer edge of dorsal fin to outer edge of anal fin posteriorly; upper portion of head and back yellowish.
*This name properly applies to a similar species also occurring in this fishing area, see LABR Bod 10, Bodianus macrourus DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Bodianus anthioides: scales on top of head reaching forward in advance of anterior nostril; posterior half of lower jaw scaled; profile of snout bluntly rounded; angled black stripes following upper and lower margins of caudal fin and continued forward onto body; body bicolored, red anteriorly and white posteriorly, the areas separated by a diagonal black line. B. macrognathos: branched pectoral fin rays 15 (usually 14 in B. b. bilunulatus); pored lateral-line scales B. anthioides 40 or 41 (30 to 32 in B. b. bilunulatus); snout in large individuals bluntly curved; sides with two prominent dark lateral stripes or without distinct markings. B. macrourus: branched pectoral fin rays 15; scales present, though often embedded, on hind portion of lower jaw; body encircled by a prominent black band posteriorly, this band preceded in small individuals by a distinct white bar dorsally on sides. B. perditio: branched pectoral fin rays 15; head spotted, but without stripes; a broad pale bar situated on upper portion of side below centre of dorsal fin, followed B. macrognathos by a large black spot or smudge that does not extend onto caudal peduncle; small individuals with a large black spot below posterior half of dorsal fin that does not extend onto lower third of side; a black spot present at front of dorsal fin extending posteriorly to about seventh spine in very large individuals. Remaining species of Bodianus: lack the lobe-like extensions at the corners of the caudal fin in large individuals and saddle-like black spots or broad black vertical bands posteriorly on the sides. B. macrourus Other labrid genera: lack the combination of 12 spines and 10 soft rays in the dorsal fin and 3 spines and 12 soft rays in the anal fin.
SIZE:
Maximum: 50 cm.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: Occurs at least from Mombasa to Durban along the coast of Africa and has been taken in Mauritius, the Seychelles, Chagos Archipelago and Sri Lanka elsewhere B. perditio in this fishing area. Outside the region, it ranges eastward to western Australia and the western edge of the Pacific.
Found mostly on offshore reefs and coral dropoffs in depths from 8 to 160 m. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS: No special fishery. Although this species is not commercially exploited, it reaches a sufficiently large size to be marketed when taken.
CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Taken primarily by hook and line. Marketable fresh.
LABR Bod 7
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: LABRIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Bodianus diana (Lacepède,1801)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Lepidaplois diana Lacepède, 1801 Lepidaplois aldabrensis Smith, 1955
VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Diana's hogfish Fr - Labre diane Sp - Vieja diana
NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: (juvenile)
Body moderately slender, greatest depth slightly less than length of head. Dorsal profile of head nearly straight, the anterior tip of head forming an acute angle; jaws prominent; 4 strong canines situated anteriorly in each jaw; a large curved canine present on each side at rear of upper jaw; roof of mouth toothless. Dorsal fin continuous, with 12 spines and 10 soft rays, the spines and anterior soft rays of similar length; anal fin with 3 spines and 12 soft rays; pectoral fins with 2 unbranched and 14 (rarely 13 or 15) branched rays; pelvic fins not filamentous; caudal fin slightly rounded to square off, posterior corners not produced into lobes. Lateral line smoothly curved, uninterrupted, with 30 pored scales. Scales reaching onto bases of dorsal and anal fins; scales in front of dorsal fin extending forward to above centre of eye; cheek and opercle scaled; scales on lower side of head reaching forward only slightly in advance o f corner of mouth. Colour: red above, creamy white on sides and below, with occasional tinges of red; numerous small black spots posteriorly on back and on upper sides of caudal peduncle; 3 or 4 horizontally aligned small, white spots situated on sides just below dorsal fin; unpaired fins red or pinkish, dorsal fin with a black spot at forward end; 3 additional black spots variably present or absent;, one posteriorly on dorsal fin and 2 on anal fin; a small black spot present centrally on scaly caudal-fin base; pelvic fins white with a prominent black spot in small individuals. Very small individuals reticulated with brown and white, head with a prominent brown stripe directed posteriorly from corner of mouth; dorsal, anal and pelvic fins with prominent large black spots. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Bodianus axillaris: scales in front of dorsal fin and on lower jaw reaching forward to level of anterior nostril; body bicolored, red in front and whitish to yellowish behind, the two areas separated by a diagonal dark band; small individuals black with prominent large, white spots on sides and fins.
B. neilli: scales in front of dorsal fin reaching forward to posterior nostril, although sometimes embedded above eyes; scales present on posterior half of B. axillaris lower jaw; body reddish above and white below, with yellow on sides; fins without black spots in large indivi- duals; small individuals dark brown with irregular white spots and with large black spots on dorsal, anal and pelvic fins, as well as on pectoral fin base. Other species of Bodianus: either with prominent black vertical bands or bars on sides, or with prominent red to black broken horizontal stripes on sides, or with a prominent black spot on opercle, or with prolonged lobe- like extensions at the rear corners of caudal fin. B. neilli Other labrid genera: lack the combination of 12 spines and 10 soft rays in the dorsal fin and 3 spines and 12 soft rays in the anal fin.
SIZE:
Maximum: 25 cm.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
Occurs throughout most of this fishing area where proper ecological conditions are found. It ranges into the western portion of the Pacific outside the region. Almost always associated with living coral reefs, in depths from 9 to 50 m.
PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:
No special fishery. Although this species is not commercially exploited, it reaches a sufficiently large size to be marketed when taken.
CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:
Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Taken mostly in fish traps. Marketable fresh.
LABR Bod 8
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: LABRIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Bodianus leucostictus (Bennett, 1831)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Lepidaplois luteopunctatus Smith, 1957
VERNACULAR NAMES:
FAO : En - Fourline hogfish Fr - Labre pointillé Sp - Vieja estriada
NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body moderately deep, greatest depth slightly less than length of head. Dorsal profile of head rather straight, the anterior tip of head forming an acute angle; jaws prominent; 4 strong canines situated anteriorly in each jaw; a large, curved canine present on each side at rear of upper jaw; roof of mouth with 1 or more canines. Dorsal fin continuous, with 12 spines and 10 soft rays, the spines and anterior soft rays of similar length; anal fin with 3 spines and 12 soft rays; pectoral fins with 2 unbranched and 14 branched rays; pelvic fins not filamentous in adults; caudal fin slightly rounded to squared off, posterior corners not produced into lobes. Lateral line smoothly curved, uninterrupted, with 30 pored scales. Scales reaching slightly onto bases of dorsal and anal fins; scales in front of dorsal fin extending forward to above nostrils; cheek and opercle scaled; rear half of lower jaw scaled. Colour: yellowish to pinkish with 5 narrow reddish horizontal stripes and intervening rows of small spots on sides; stripes and spots superimposed with black in small individuals, reddish stripes broken in larger ones; a large black spot present on fleshy pectoral-fin base in small individuals, base with a reddish band in larger ones. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Bodianus trilineatus: sides with 3 narrow black stripes but without intervening rows of black or red spots; spot on fleshy pectoral-fin base very small when present.
Remaining species of Bodianus: scales in front of dorsal fin not reaching forward beyond a point above centres of eyes, or a single diagonal black strip on sides in large individuals (very small ones in some species dark brown or black with large white spots), or no teeth on roof of mouth. Other labrid genera: lack the combination of 12 spines and 10 soft rays in the dorsal fin and 3 spines and B. trilineatus 12 soft rays in the anal fin.
SIZE:
Maximum: 28 cm.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
This apparently uncommon deep-water species has been taken off Mozambique and Mauritius in this fishing area. Elsewhere, it is known from Japan.
It is found in depths of at least 50 m, probably occurring around rock or coral dropoffs.
PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:
No special fishery. Although this species is not commercially exploited, it reaches a sufficiently large size to be marketed when taken.
CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:
Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Taken solely by hook and line.
Marketable fresh.
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