Cheilodactylus Lacépède

Ludt, William B., Burridge, Christopher P. & Chakrabarty, Prosanta, 2019, A taxonomic revision of Cheilodactylidae and Latridae (Centrarchiformes: Cirrhitoidei) using morphological and genomic characters, Zootaxa 4585 (1), pp. 121-141 : 126-128

Genus Cheilodactylus Lacépède

( Fig. 3 )

Cheilodactylus Lacépède, 1803:5 [Type-species: Cheilodactylus fasciatus Lacépède, 1803 , by monotypy].

Chilodactylus Agassiz, 1846:78 , 80 [unjustified emendation of Cheilodactylus fasciatus Lacépède, 1803 ].

Trichopterus Gronow, 1854:162 [Type-species: Trichopterus indicus Gronow, 1854 , (= junior synonym of C. fasciatus Lacépède, 1803 ) by monotypy].

Pteronemus Van der Hoeven 1855:177 [Type-species: Cheilodactylus fasciatus Lacépède, 1803 (unneeded substitute for Cheilodactylus Lacépède, 1803 )].

Etymology. Gender masculine. Derived from the Greek cheilos (lip) for the fleshy lips of these species, and daktylos (finger) for the lower, unbranched pectoral fin rays.

Inclusive species. Cheilodactylus fasciatus Lacépède (type species), C. pixi Smith

Diagnosis. As per family diagnosis.

Habitat and distribution. Both C. fasciatus and C. pixi occur in cooler waters from Namibia, to Natal, South

Africa. These species can be found in shallow, coastal rocky habitats and are common to 30m depth. However, both C. fasciatus and C. pixi have been observed at 97m and 120m, respectively ( Smith & Heemstra 1986). These species generally stay close to the benthos where they hide among rocks and other rubble ( Smith 1980). Tidepools are thought to be an important nursery habitat for juvenile C. fasciatus in South Africa ( Beckley 1985).

Comments. These species range in size from 180mm for C. pixi , to 300mm for C. fasciatus ( Smith 1980) . Both species are primarily benthic invertivores ( Smith & Heemstra 1986, Griffiths & Lechanteur 2003).

Material examined. C. fasciatus , ROM 0 50995 [n=6, South Africa: Port Alfred]; C. pixi , AMS I.37729 [n=5, South Africa: Tsitsikama ] , ANSP 97464 [n=1, Mozambique: Maputo Bay], CAS 45331 [n=1 (paratype), South Africa: Algoa Bay ] , USNM 221144 [n=1 (paratype), South Africa: Algoa Bay ] , USNM 385232 [n=6, South Africa: Tsitsikama ] .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Cheilodactylus fasciatus, ROM 50995, 109mm SL. Photograph by E Holm.