Cephalapholis nigri (GÜNTHER, 1859)

Fig. 2

Serranus nigri GÜNTHER, 1859: 112 (type locality, mouth of the River Niger; holotype at the BMNH). STEINDACHNER, 1867: 517; 1879: 172; 1882: 21.

Serranas lineo-ocellatus GUICHENOT, in DUMÉRIL., 1861: 244 (type locality, Gabon, Gorée; syntypes MNHN 7370 (118 mm.) Gabon, MNHN 7371 (159 mm.) Goreé); STEINDACHNER, 1870: 582.

Epinephelus nigri BLEEICER, 1863: 45; BOULENGER, 1895: 178, Pl. 3, Fig. A; PELLEGRIN, 1914: 38; MONOD, 1927: 686; CADENAT, 1935: 391, Fig. 6 (copied from BOULENGER, 1895); Serranus cruentatus (non LACEPÈDE): PETERS: 1877: 244, Pl. 1, Fig. 1.

Petrometopon nigri: FOWLER, 1936: 747, POLL, 1954. 45, Fig. 11.

Diagnosis: Dorsal fin IX, 14- 15; anal fin III,8-9; pectoral fin rays 17- 18; lateral--line scales 45 -50; lateral scale series 73-80; gill-rakers 8- 10 + 14- 17; 5 or 6 rudiments on each limb. Body depth distinctly less than head length, contained 2.8-3.0 times in SL (for fish 11 - 15 cm. SL); head length 2.5 -2.6 times in SL; pectoral fins 1.4- 1.7 times in head length; pelvic fins reach anus, 1.6 - 1.9 times in head length. Caudal fm rounded; dorsal fin membranes distinctly indented between the spines. Eye diameter greater than interorbital width, 4.6-5.5 times in head length. Interorbital area flat; preopercle rounded, finely serrate, the lower edge fleshy; subopercle and interopercle smooth; upper edge of operculum convex. Maxilla scaly, reaching well past eye. Lateral body scales ctenoid, without auxiliary scales.

Colour: Dark brownish, with 3 or 4 indistinct dark bars on body (extending onto dorsal fin) and 2 more on caudal peduncle; belly reddish; sides of head with close-set reddish spots forming a reticulated pattern of dark lines; pelvic and anal fins dusky, with small pale (silvery?) spots; tips of interspinous dorsal fin membranes black.

Maximum total length: 30 cm.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

Tropical eastern Atlantic from Sénégal to Lobito, Angola.

REMARKS

Cephalopholis nigri occurs on mud, sand and rock bottoms from shore to depths of 50 (?) m. It is occasionally found in estuaries.

MATERIAL EXAMINED

LIBERIA: CAS/SU 15900 (2, 110- 152 mm.). CAMEROUN: CAS/SU 55618 (111 mm.). GABON: MNHN 7370 (116 mm., holotype of Serranus lineo-acellatus GUICHENOT). ANGOLA: Lobito: RUSI 2704 (156 mm.); SAM 24988 (3, 101- 185 mm.); UMML 30494 (2, 78- 116 mm.); Baia Farta: MB 154 (233 mm.).