List of the fishes of the Family Labridae in the Western Indian Ocean, with new records and five new species
- Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Authors: Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Wrasses -- Indian Ocean
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14983 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018950 , Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 7
- Description: Labrid fishes are primarily shore dwelling in tropical seas, few penetrating to cooler waters. An interesting distributional picture in the case of these fishes is observed along the coast of East and South Africa, for not only does the shore line stretch across the equator, but the warm and powerful westward current of the Indian Ocean divides south of the equator, one branch flowing north, the other, the powerful Mozambique current, southwards. As a result Labrid (and other) fishes, which in most parts are confined to a fairly narrow equatorial belt, are here spread out over an abnormally extensive area, many indeed living in surprising latitudes, e.g. the young of Thalassoma purpurem Forskal, have been found at 34°S x 24°E. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1957
- Authors: Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Wrasses -- Indian Ocean
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14983 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018950 , Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 7
- Description: Labrid fishes are primarily shore dwelling in tropical seas, few penetrating to cooler waters. An interesting distributional picture in the case of these fishes is observed along the coast of East and South Africa, for not only does the shore line stretch across the equator, but the warm and powerful westward current of the Indian Ocean divides south of the equator, one branch flowing north, the other, the powerful Mozambique current, southwards. As a result Labrid (and other) fishes, which in most parts are confined to a fairly narrow equatorial belt, are here spread out over an abnormally extensive area, many indeed living in surprising latitudes, e.g. the young of Thalassoma purpurem Forskal, have been found at 34°S x 24°E. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1957
Sharks of the Genus Isurus Rafinesque, 1810
- Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Authors: Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Mako sharks
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14969 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018543 , Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 6
- Description: Family Isuridae - This family embraces probably not more than 6 species of large swift wide-ranging sharks of the open sea, characterised by having a conical head, the snout sharply pointed, 5 wide gill-slits, vestigial spiracle, an anal fin, the caudal lunate, its axis steeply raised, the peduncle depressed and expanded to a lateral keel, the teeth powerful, triangular or lanceolate, the third upper tooth on each side smaller than its neighbours. No nictitating membrane or fin spines. , Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1957
- Authors: Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Mako sharks
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14969 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018543 , Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 6
- Description: Family Isuridae - This family embraces probably not more than 6 species of large swift wide-ranging sharks of the open sea, characterised by having a conical head, the snout sharply pointed, 5 wide gill-slits, vestigial spiracle, an anal fin, the caudal lunate, its axis steeply raised, the peduncle depressed and expanded to a lateral keel, the teeth powerful, triangular or lanceolate, the third upper tooth on each side smaller than its neighbours. No nictitating membrane or fin spines. , Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1957
The fishes of the Family Scorpaenidae; Part 1: The sub-family Scorpaeninae
- Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Authors: Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Scorpionfishes , Scorpaenid fishes , Scorpaenidae
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14967 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018541 , Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 4
- Description: Within the order Scleroparei, characterised by the well-developed suborbital stay, many systematists pack the typical family Scorpaenidae with an enormous assemblage of fishes, which while showing certain fundamental relationships are so divergent as to render such an arrangement out of keeping with the generally accepted range of a systematic family group. While this large group will eventually doubtless be divided into numerous families of a lesser range, there is adopted here the fairly well defined cleavage into two main groups, based chiefly on the nature of the dorsal fin. These with the closely related families Synanciidae and Caracanthidae form a natural sub-group in the order. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1957
- Authors: Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Scorpionfishes , Scorpaenid fishes , Scorpaenidae
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14967 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018541 , Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 4
- Description: Within the order Scleroparei, characterised by the well-developed suborbital stay, many systematists pack the typical family Scorpaenidae with an enormous assemblage of fishes, which while showing certain fundamental relationships are so divergent as to render such an arrangement out of keeping with the generally accepted range of a systematic family group. While this large group will eventually doubtless be divided into numerous families of a lesser range, there is adopted here the fairly well defined cleavage into two main groups, based chiefly on the nature of the dorsal fin. These with the closely related families Synanciidae and Caracanthidae form a natural sub-group in the order. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1957
The fishes of the Family Scorpaenidae; Part 2: The sub-families Pteroinae, Apistinae, Setarchinae and Sebastinae
- Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Authors: Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Scorpionfishes , Scorpaenid fishes , Scorpaenidae , Scorpaenids
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14968 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018542 , Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 5
- Description: Moderately compressed body with moderate to small cycloid or ctenoid scales, head partly scaly. 12-13 dorsal spines, usually elongate, separate, free from membrane. Anal usually with 3 spines, (rarely 2), the third longest. Pectoral elongate to very long, rays sometimes all simple, filamentous and free. In smallest stadia the pectoral is short, at first rapidly increases with growth, then shortens. The head with spines, variably single or multifid, spination usually increases with age, in some cases very markedly. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1957
- Authors: Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Scorpionfishes , Scorpaenid fishes , Scorpaenidae , Scorpaenids
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14968 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018542 , Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 5
- Description: Moderately compressed body with moderate to small cycloid or ctenoid scales, head partly scaly. 12-13 dorsal spines, usually elongate, separate, free from membrane. Anal usually with 3 spines, (rarely 2), the third longest. Pectoral elongate to very long, rays sometimes all simple, filamentous and free. In smallest stadia the pectoral is short, at first rapidly increases with growth, then shortens. The head with spines, variably single or multifid, spination usually increases with age, in some cases very markedly. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1957
The Labrid Fishes of the Subgenus Julis Cuvier, 1814 (In CORIS Lacepede, 1802), from South and East Africa
- Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Authors: Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Coris Lacepede , Labridae
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14970 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018544 , Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 8
- Description: Various subgenera have been proposed, among other features the absence of a canine in the angle of the mouth in the type species has been used to justify this, while the genus Julis Cuvier, 1814, generally assigned only sub-generic rank, covers a fairly well defined group with distinctly smaller scales. In this latter group the following Indo-Pacific species have been proposed: (1) gaimard Quoy & Gaimard, 1824, Hawaii. (2) greenovii Bennett, 1829, W. Pacific. (3) formosa Bennett, 1834, Ceylon. (4) pulcherrima Gunther, 1862, East Indies. (5) frerei Gunther, 1866, Zanzibar. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1957
- Authors: Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Date: 1957
- Subjects: Coris Lacepede , Labridae
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14970 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018544 , Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 8
- Description: Various subgenera have been proposed, among other features the absence of a canine in the angle of the mouth in the type species has been used to justify this, while the genus Julis Cuvier, 1814, generally assigned only sub-generic rank, covers a fairly well defined group with distinctly smaller scales. In this latter group the following Indo-Pacific species have been proposed: (1) gaimard Quoy & Gaimard, 1824, Hawaii. (2) greenovii Bennett, 1829, W. Pacific. (3) formosa Bennett, 1834, Ceylon. (4) pulcherrima Gunther, 1862, East Indies. (5) frerei Gunther, 1866, Zanzibar. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1957
Swordfish, marlins and sailfish in South and East Africa
- Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Authors: Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Date: 1956
- Subjects: Indian Ocean -- African coast , Xiphiidae Perciformes Billfishes Marlins Sailfish
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14965 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018537 , Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 2
- Description: Chiefly arising from their sporting potentialities in big game angling, the large “Bill-fishes”, or Marlin, and Sword-fishes have attracted considerable attention in recent times. Commercial fishermen of Japan and anglers of the United States have been most ardent in the pursuit of these peculiar creatures. While a good deal has been learnt about them, there still remains much to discover. In the case of the Marlins, for example, hardly anything is known of their reproduction, of the larval or postlarval early forms, and even those who have studied these fishes from ample material over a wide area are as yet uncertain of the absolute identity of the species, and are often unable to identify with any certainty the rare occasional reasonably small specimens that are encountered. In South Africa shore angling is so good throughout virtually the entire year that there has been little incentive to explore the possibilities further out, especially as quiet seas are a rare condition. Quite recently, however, big game angling at sea has developed almost explosively and increasingly large fishes are being captured. During our extensive travels in the tropical Western Indian Ocean it became obvious that great numbers of the larger angling fishes were present, including those treated here. Although that area is windy and storm-lashed for much of the year, remote from facilities, and barren, its potentialities are relatively unexplored, but are clearly so great that it will not be long before it becomes recognised as one of the chief big game angling areas of the world. These fishes are at present placed in the families Xiphiidae and Istiophoridae. The latter embraces the Sailfishes, the Marlins and the Spearfishes, usually granted distinction by only generic rank. In my opinion, however, they merit at least sub-family rank. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation) , The main funds for this work were provided by the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, who also made a special grant in February 1956 to cover considerable traveling that numerous Marlin catches rendered necessary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1956
- Authors: Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Date: 1956
- Subjects: Indian Ocean -- African coast , Xiphiidae Perciformes Billfishes Marlins Sailfish
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14965 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018537 , Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 2
- Description: Chiefly arising from their sporting potentialities in big game angling, the large “Bill-fishes”, or Marlin, and Sword-fishes have attracted considerable attention in recent times. Commercial fishermen of Japan and anglers of the United States have been most ardent in the pursuit of these peculiar creatures. While a good deal has been learnt about them, there still remains much to discover. In the case of the Marlins, for example, hardly anything is known of their reproduction, of the larval or postlarval early forms, and even those who have studied these fishes from ample material over a wide area are as yet uncertain of the absolute identity of the species, and are often unable to identify with any certainty the rare occasional reasonably small specimens that are encountered. In South Africa shore angling is so good throughout virtually the entire year that there has been little incentive to explore the possibilities further out, especially as quiet seas are a rare condition. Quite recently, however, big game angling at sea has developed almost explosively and increasingly large fishes are being captured. During our extensive travels in the tropical Western Indian Ocean it became obvious that great numbers of the larger angling fishes were present, including those treated here. Although that area is windy and storm-lashed for much of the year, remote from facilities, and barren, its potentialities are relatively unexplored, but are clearly so great that it will not be long before it becomes recognised as one of the chief big game angling areas of the world. These fishes are at present placed in the families Xiphiidae and Istiophoridae. The latter embraces the Sailfishes, the Marlins and the Spearfishes, usually granted distinction by only generic rank. In my opinion, however, they merit at least sub-family rank. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation) , The main funds for this work were provided by the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, who also made a special grant in February 1956 to cover considerable traveling that numerous Marlin catches rendered necessary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1956
The fishes of the Family Sphyraenidae in the Western Indian Ocean
- Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Authors: Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Date: 1956
- Subjects: Western Indian Ocean , Sphyraenidae , Sphyraena , Barracudas , Sphyraenoidei
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14966 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018540 , Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 3
- Description: Although the Sphyraenidae occur in all warm seas, there are probably less than twenty valid species, about twelve in the Indo-Pacific, one of which occurs in the Atlantic as well. The larger species are in most parts more of angling than commercial significance, but some of the smaller at times occur in great shoals in shallow water where they may be netted. The Sphyraenidae are of some importance as food, the flesh of all species being delicate and well flavoured. In some parts there have been reliable reports that the flesh of certain species may cause acute poisoning, but we found no evidence of this in the Western Indian Ocean. As may be deduced from the torpedo-like body and the huge mouth with formidable sabre-like teeth, the large species are fierce predators and much feared as they move with great speed and do not hesitate to attack man. They are not generally ranked very high as game fishes, for most are taken on heavy tackle put out for larger types such as Tunny and so are easily subdued. In South African seas only few species are known, and only rarely below about 32°S. They are a not uncommon catch in Natal waters, where they are known as “Sea Pike.” , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation) , The main funds which made possible the extensive traveling necessary for adequate investigation of these wide-ranging fishes came from the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. We acknowledge also extensive facilities and assistance received in the Western Indian Ocean from the authorities of Mozambique, Tanganyika, Kenya, Zanzibar, Pemba, Seychelles and all islands, excepting French territories, there. I am indebted to my wife, Margaret Mary Smith, for the illustrations. The publication of this bulletin has been made possible by a special grant from the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1956
- Authors: Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Date: 1956
- Subjects: Western Indian Ocean , Sphyraenidae , Sphyraena , Barracudas , Sphyraenoidei
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14966 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018540 , Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 3
- Description: Although the Sphyraenidae occur in all warm seas, there are probably less than twenty valid species, about twelve in the Indo-Pacific, one of which occurs in the Atlantic as well. The larger species are in most parts more of angling than commercial significance, but some of the smaller at times occur in great shoals in shallow water where they may be netted. The Sphyraenidae are of some importance as food, the flesh of all species being delicate and well flavoured. In some parts there have been reliable reports that the flesh of certain species may cause acute poisoning, but we found no evidence of this in the Western Indian Ocean. As may be deduced from the torpedo-like body and the huge mouth with formidable sabre-like teeth, the large species are fierce predators and much feared as they move with great speed and do not hesitate to attack man. They are not generally ranked very high as game fishes, for most are taken on heavy tackle put out for larger types such as Tunny and so are easily subdued. In South African seas only few species are known, and only rarely below about 32°S. They are a not uncommon catch in Natal waters, where they are known as “Sea Pike.” , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation) , The main funds which made possible the extensive traveling necessary for adequate investigation of these wide-ranging fishes came from the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. We acknowledge also extensive facilities and assistance received in the Western Indian Ocean from the authorities of Mozambique, Tanganyika, Kenya, Zanzibar, Pemba, Seychelles and all islands, excepting French territories, there. I am indebted to my wife, Margaret Mary Smith, for the illustrations. The publication of this bulletin has been made possible by a special grant from the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1956
The Parrot fishes of the Family Callyodontidae of the Western Indian Ocean
- Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Authors: Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Date: 1956
- Subjects: Western Indian Ocean , Parrotfishes , Callyodontidae , Parrot fishes , Scaridae
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14964 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018535 , Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 1
- Description: Parrot fishes are so abundant in the tropical parts of the Western Indian Ocean as to be of considerable economic significance. The majority are taken in traps and nets, some by spearing, fewer on lines. The flesh of even the largest is delicate and tasty, mostly eaten fresh as it is not easily preserved. It is esteemed by almost all races and classes, excepting only the Portuguese of Mozambique who do not regard these gaudy fishes with favour. In British territories, however, they are eagerly sought by the Whites. It has been stated that in some parts Parrot fishes are toxic, but as far as could be ascertained no species are ever unwholesome in East Africa or north of Madagascar to Seychelles. It is only in certain specific cases that laymen and even the native fishermen are able to distinguish individual species of Parrot fishes. Most species are more or less lumped together as “Parrots” with prefixes such as “Green” or “Red.” To the native fishermen they are known as follows: Red Sea to Suez, “Harid”; Somaliland, “Jello” or “Ponno”; Kenya to North Mozambique, “Pono”; Seychelles and vicinity, “KAKATOI”; Mauritius, “KAKATOI” or “GATEAU,” some species characterised more closely by descriptive adjectives. These fishes are commonly subject to what appears to be a parasitic infection of the nostrils, resulting in considerable swelling of the snout. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation) , The main funds were provided by the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, enabling expeditions to be made to Mozambique, Tanganyika, Zanzibar, Pemba, Kenya, Seychelles and the other islands north of Madagascar, whose authorities provided valuable aid and facilities in support. It had been intended to include French territories but this was unfortunately not possible. This publication and its ample colour illustration have been made possible by a generous special grant from the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1956
- Authors: Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Date: 1956
- Subjects: Western Indian Ocean , Parrotfishes , Callyodontidae , Parrot fishes , Scaridae
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:14964 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018535 , Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 1
- Description: Parrot fishes are so abundant in the tropical parts of the Western Indian Ocean as to be of considerable economic significance. The majority are taken in traps and nets, some by spearing, fewer on lines. The flesh of even the largest is delicate and tasty, mostly eaten fresh as it is not easily preserved. It is esteemed by almost all races and classes, excepting only the Portuguese of Mozambique who do not regard these gaudy fishes with favour. In British territories, however, they are eagerly sought by the Whites. It has been stated that in some parts Parrot fishes are toxic, but as far as could be ascertained no species are ever unwholesome in East Africa or north of Madagascar to Seychelles. It is only in certain specific cases that laymen and even the native fishermen are able to distinguish individual species of Parrot fishes. Most species are more or less lumped together as “Parrots” with prefixes such as “Green” or “Red.” To the native fishermen they are known as follows: Red Sea to Suez, “Harid”; Somaliland, “Jello” or “Ponno”; Kenya to North Mozambique, “Pono”; Seychelles and vicinity, “KAKATOI”; Mauritius, “KAKATOI” or “GATEAU,” some species characterised more closely by descriptive adjectives. These fishes are commonly subject to what appears to be a parasitic infection of the nostrils, resulting in considerable swelling of the snout. , Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation) , The main funds were provided by the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, enabling expeditions to be made to Mozambique, Tanganyika, Zanzibar, Pemba, Kenya, Seychelles and the other islands north of Madagascar, whose authorities provided valuable aid and facilities in support. It had been intended to include French territories but this was unfortunately not possible. This publication and its ample colour illustration have been made possible by a generous special grant from the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1956