Cynoglossus attenuatus Gilchrist 1904

Cynoglossus attenuatus Gilchrist

Cynoglossus attenuatus Gilchrist, 1905:11, pl. 29 [type-locality: Tugela R. mouth, 4½ miles northwest. South Africa].

Arelia attenuata.—Gilchrist and Thompson, 1917:398.—Regan, 1920:221 [Natal].—Barnard. 1925:413 [Natal and Zululand to Delagoa Bay].—Bonde, 1925:292.—Fowler, 1925:187; 1935:405.—Barnard, 1937:41.

Cynoglossoides attenuatus.—Bonde, 1922:23.

Arelia bilineata.—[not Lacépède], Smith, 1949 [in part]:166, pl. 2: fig. 341.

DESCRIPTION.—Based on 3 specimens, 158.0–244.0 mm SL, including the holotype.

Depth of body 21.20–25.59 (M = 23.36), length of head 20.89–21.95 (M = 21.12) percent of standard length. Diameter of eye 8.57–12.12 (M = 9.93), interorbital width 4.55–6.06 (M = 5.44) percent of length of head. Anterior nostril on eyed side in front of lower eye, at a level with its lower margin, posterior nostril in anterior half of interorbital space. Snout obtusely pointed 36.36–43.94 (M = 40.10) percent of length of head, rostral hook reaching below anterior nostril. Maxillary extending beyond fixed eye; angle of mouth extending to below vertical from posterior border of fixed eye, nearer to branchial opening than to tip of snout; snout to angle of mouth 52.27–57.58 (M = 54.08), angle of mouth branchial opening 47.73–50.48 (M = 49.04) percent of length of head.

Scales: Ctenoid on ocular side, cycloid on blind side; scales on lateral lines of ocular side ctenoid anteriorly and cycloid posteriorly.

Lateral-Line System: Two lateral lines on ocular side, median lateral line with 70–76 scales, 10–11 scales between them. Two lateral lines on blind side with 11–12 scales between them.

Interlinear scale rows 10 11

Frequencies 1 1

Fins: Dorsal with 114–118 rays; anal with 90–91 rays, caudal 10 in 2 specimens (radiographs).

Vertebrae: 54–55, comprising 9 abdominal and 45–46 caudal elements in 2 specimens (radiographs).

Coloration: Upper side uniformly brown, lower whitish in preserved specimens.

Size: The largest specimen examined, 310 (290 + 10) mm, is from Durban, South Africa.

DISTRIBUTION.—South Africa: Natal and Zululand to Delagoa Bay.

DIAGNOSIS AND