Republic of South Africa
Checklist of Endemic Marine Fish Species
This list of marine fish species found exclusively in the Republic of South Africa is based on the taxonomy used in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes (2023). For further details on possible inaccuracies in the list see Sources & Caveats.
Fricke, R., Eschmeyer, W. N. & Van der Laan, R. (eds) 2023 Catalog of Fishes: Genera, Species, References. Version downloaded 9 February 2023 https://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp
The current version can be accessed here
Marine fishes known only from the deep-sea (below 200 m) are listed at the bottom of the page and are not included in species totals
Argyrosomus beccus
(Acanthuriformes Sciaenidae) Beck Meagre
Atrobucca marleyi
(Acanthuriformes Sciaenidae) African Blackmouth Croaker
Argyrozona argyrozona
(Acanthuriformes Sparidae) Carpenter Seabream
Boopsoidea inornata
(Acanthuriformes Sparidae) Fransmadam
Chrysoblephus cristiceps
(Acanthuriformes Sparidae) Daggerhead Seabream
Chrysoblephus gibbiceps
(Acanthuriformes Sparidae) Red Stumpnose Seabream
Gymnocrotaphus curvidens
(Acanthuriformes Sparidae) Janbruin
Pachymetopon aeneum
(Acanthuriformes Sparidae) Blue Hottentot
Petrus rupestris
(Acanthuriformes Sparidae) Red Steenbras
Spicara axillare
(Acanthuriformes Sparidae) Windtoy
Spondyliosoma emarginatum
(Acanthuriformes Sparidae) Steentjie Seabream
Pteropsaron heemstrai
(Acropomatiformes Hemerocoetidae)
Parapriacanthus kwazulu
(Acropomatiformes Pempheridae) Kwazulu Sweeper
Pempheris connelli
(Acropomatiformes Pempheridae) Natal Sweeper
Enchelycore nycturanus
(Anguilliformes Muraenidae) Nightsky Moray
Gymnothorax
elaineheemstrae (Anguilliformes
Muraenidae) Marbled Leopard Moray
Ichthyapus acuticeps
(Anguilliformes Ophichthidae) Sharpnose Snake Eel
Ophichthus unicolor
(Anguilliformes Ophichthidae) Plain Snake Eel
Yirrkala ori (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)
Durban Sand Eel
Austrobatrachus foedus
(Batrachoidiformes Batrachoididae) Puzzled Toadfish
Austrobatrachus iselesele
(Batrachoidiformes Batrachoididae) Zulu Toadfish
Batrichthys albofasciatus
(Batrachoidiformes Batrachoididae) Whiteribbed Toadfish
Batrichthys apiatus
(Batrachoidiformes Batrachoididae) Snakehead Toadfish
Chatrabus felinus
(Batrachoidiformes Batrachoididae) Bigeye Toadfish
Chatrabus hendersoni
(Batrachoidiformes Batrachoididae) Chocolate Toadfish
Perulibatrachus kilburni
(Batrachoidiformes Batrachoididae) Kilburn's Toadfish
Riekertia ellisi
(Batrachoidiformes Batrachoididae) Broadbodied Toadfish
Petalichthys capensis
(Beloniformes Belonidae) Cape Needlefish
Centroberyx spinosus
(Beryciformes Berycidae) Short Alfonsino
Antennablennius
sexfasciatus (Blenniiformes Blenniidae)
Chalaroderma capito
(Blenniiformes Blenniidae) Looseskin Blenny
Chalaroderma ocellata
(Blenniiformes Blenniidae) Twoeyed Blenny
Blennioclinus stella
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Silverbubble Klipfish
Blennophis striatus
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Striped Klipfish
Cancelloxus elongatus
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Whiteblotched Klipfish
Cancelloxus longior
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Elongate Sand Klipfish
Cirrhibarbis capensis
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Barbelled Klipfish
Climacoporus navalis
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Fleet Klipfish
Clinoporus biporosus
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Ladder Klipfish
Clinus arborescens
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Autumn Klipfish
Clinus berrisfordi
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Onrust Klipfish
Clinus brevicristatus
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Cape Klipfish
Clinus cottoides
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Bluntnose Klipfish
Clinus exasperatus
(Blenniiformes Clinidae)
Clinus helenae
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Helen's Klipfish
Clinus latipennis
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) False Bay Klipfish
Clinus musaicus
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Mosaic Klipfish
Clinus nematopterus
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Chinese Klipfish
Clinus ornatus
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Ornate Klipfish
Clinus robustus
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Robust Klipfish
Clinus spatulatus
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Estuarine Klipfish
Fucomimus mus (Blenniiformes Clinidae)
Mousey Klipfish
Pavoclinus
caeruleopunctatus (Blenniiformes
Clinidae) Bluespot Klipfish
Pavoclinus litorafontis
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Slinky Klipfish
Pavoclinus mentalis
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Bearded Klipfish
Pavoclinus myae
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Mya's Klipfish
Pavoclinus profundus
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Deepwater Klipfish
Pavoclinus smalei
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Deepreef Klipfish
Smithichthys fucorum
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Leafy Klipfish
Xenopoclinus kochi
(Blenniiformes Clinidae) Platanna Klipfish
Acanthanectes hystrix
(Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae) Prickly Triplefin
Acanthanectes rufus
(Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae) Redhead Triplefin
Cremnochorites capensis
(Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae) Cape Triplefin
Enneapterygius kosiensis
(Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae) Kosi Bay
Triplefin
Engyprosopon natalense
(Carangiformes Bothidae) Natal Flounder
Cynoglossus microphthalmus
(Carangiformes Cynoglossidae)
Symphurus monostigmus
(Carangiformes Cynoglossidae) Onespot Tonguefish
Aseraggodes heemstrai
(Carangiformes Soleidae) Natal Sole
Barnardichthys
fulvomarginata (Carangiformes Soleidae) Lemon
Sole
Cheilodactylus pixi
(Centrarchiformes Cheilodactylidae) Barred
Fingerfin
Chirodactylus jessicalenorum
(Centrarchiformes Latridae) Natal Fingerfin
Oplegnathus conwayi
(Centrarchiformes Oplegnathidae) Cape Knifejaw
Opistognathus longinaris
(Cichliformes Opistognathidae) Longnostril
Jawfish
Plesiops multisquamata
(Cichliformes Plesiopidae) Bluespotted Longfin
Abudefduf natalensis
(Cichliformes Pomacentridae) Natal Sergeant
Halidesmus scapularis
(Cichliformes Pseudochromidae)
Natalichthys leptus
(Cichliformes Pseudochromidae) Pencil Snakelet
Natalichthys ori
(Cichliformes Pseudochromidae) Natal Snakelet
Natalichthys sam
(Cichliformes Pseudochromidae) Nail Snakelet
Diplecogaster megalops
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Bigeye Clingfish
Propherallodus smithi
(Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae) Miniclingfish
Caffrogobius agulhensis
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Alguhas Goby
Caffrogobius natalensis
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Baldy
Eviota sodwanaensis
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Sodwana Dwarfgoby
Myersina pretoriusi
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Pondoland Sailfin Goby
Bidenichthys capensis
(Ophidiiformes Bythitidae) Freetail Brotula
Grammonus opisthodon
(Ophidiiformes Bythitidae) Bighead Brotula
Dermatopsoides andersoni
(Ophidiiformes Dinematichthyidae) Anderson's
Mudbrotula
Dermatopsoides kasougae
(Ophidiiformes Dinematichthyidae) Orange Brotula
Dermatopsoides talboti
(Ophidiiformes Dinematichthyidae) Lesser Orange
Brotula
Mascarenichthys
microphthalmus (Ophidiiformes Dinematichthyidae)
Harpagifer marionensis
(Perciformes Harpagiferidae) Marion Spiny
Plunderfish
Anchichoerops natalensis
(Perciformes Labridae) Natal Wrasse
Coccotropsis gymnoderma
(Perciformes Synanceiidae) Smoothskin
Scorpionfish
Galeichthys troworum
(Siluriformes Ariidae) Natal Sea Catfish
Eustomias grandibulbus
(Stomiiformes Stomiidae)
Hippocampus capensis
(Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae) Knysna Seahorse
Hippocampus nalu
(Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae) Sodwana Pygmy
Seahorse
Torquigener marleyi
(Tetraodontiformes Tetraodontidae) Slender Puffer
Halaelurus natalensis
(Carcharhiniformes Pentanchidae) Tiger Catshark
Haploblepharus edwardsii
(Carcharhiniformes Pentanchidae) Happy Eddie
Haploblepharus fuscus
(Carcharhiniformes Pentanchidae) Brown Shyshark
Poroderma africanum
(Carcharhiniformes Scyliorhinidae) Pyjama Catshark
Poroderma pantherinum
(Carcharhiniformes Scyliorhinidae) Leopard Catshark
Scylliogaleus quecketti
(Carcharhiniformes Triakidae) Flapnose
Houndshark
Raja ocellifera
(Rajiformes Rajidae) Twineye Skate
Electrolux addisoni
(Torpediniformes Narkidae) Ornate Sleeper Ray
Eptatretus octatrema (Myxiniformes Myxinidae) Eightgill Hagfish
Additional deep-sea species (below 200 m) recorded only from the Republic of South Africa:Luthulenchelys
heemstraorum (Anguilliformes Ophichthidae) Bigeye Snake Eel
Symphurus variegatus
(Carangiformes Cynoglossidae)
Lyconodes argenteus
(Gadiformes Merlucciidae)
Guttigadus squamirostris
(Gadiformes Moridae)
Diplacanthopoma
nigripinnis (Ophidiiformes Bythitidae)
Paraphyonus brevidorsalis
(Ophidiiformes Bythitidae)
Cottunculus spinosus
(Perciformes Psychrolutidae)
Lycodonus vermiformis
(Perciformes Zoarcidae)
Caristius litvinovi
(Scombriformes Caristiidae)
Cruriraja durbanensis
(Rajiformes Gurgesiellidae) Smoothnose Pygmy
Skate
Leucoraja compagnoi
(Rajiformes Rajidae) Tigertail Skate
Eptatretus profundus
(Myxiniformes Myxinidae) Fivegill Hagfish