This is a sub-list of the List of marine bony fishes of South Africa for spiny-finned fishes

Acanthopterygii

Acanthopterygii is a superorder of bony fishes in the class Actinopterygii. Members of this superorder are also known as the ray-finned fishes for the characteristic sharp, bony rays in their fins; however this name is also often given to the class Actinopterygii as a whole.Orders:* Order...

 recorded from the oceans bordering South Africa.
This list comprises locally used common names, scientific names

Binomial nomenclature

Binomial nomenclature is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, although they can be based on words from other languages...

 with author citation

Author citation (zoology)

In zoological nomenclature, author citation refers to listing the person who first makes a scientific name of a taxon available. This is done in a scientific publication while fulfilling the formal requirements under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, hereinafter termed "the Code"...

 and recorded ranges

Range (biology)

In biology, the range or distribution of a species is the geographical area within which that species can be found. Within that range, dispersion is variation in local density.The term is often qualified:...

. Ranges specified may not be the entire known range for the species, but should include the known range within the waters surrounding the Republic of South Africa.

List ordering and taxonomy

Biological classification

Biological classification, or scientific classification in biology, is a method to group and categorize organisms by biological type, such as genus or species. Biological classification is part of scientific taxonomy....

 complies where possible with the current usage in Wikispecies

Wikispecies

Wikispecies is a wiki-based online project supported by the Wikimedia Foundation. Its aim is to create a comprehensive free content catalogue of all species and is directed at scientists, rather than at the general public...

 and may differ from the cited source, as listed citations are primarily for range or existence of records for the region.

Sub-taxa within any given Taxon

Taxon

|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...

 are arranged alphabetically as a general rule.

Details of each species may be available through the relevant internal links.

Synonyms

Synonym (taxonomy)

In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...

 may be listed where useful.

Order Cetomimiformes

Cetomimiformes

The Cetomimiformes or whalefishes are an order of small, deep-sea ray-finned fish. Some authorities include the whalefishes as part of the order Stephanoberyciformes, within the superfamily Cetomimoidea. Their sister order, the Beryciformes, includes the flashlight fish and squirrelfish.Within this...

 — Whalefishes

Family: Barbourisiidae — Red whalefish

• Barbourisia rufa Parr, 1954 (occasionally trawled off west coast. Atlantic ocean (56°N- 35°S))

Family: Cetomimidae — Whalefishes

• Cetomimus indagator Rofen, 1959 (1 specimen off Port St Johns, Transkei)
• Cetomimus picklei (Gilchrist, 1922) (1 specimen off cape Town)

Family: Rondeletiidae — Redmouth whalefish

• Rondeletia loricata Abe and Hotta, 1963 (3 specimens taken off south coast of South Africa)

Order Syngnathiformes

Syngnathiformes

Syngnathiformes is an order of ray-finned fishes that includes the pipefishes and seahorses.These fishes have elongate, narrow, bodies surrounded by a series of bony rings, and small, tubular mouths. Several groups live among seaweed and swim with the body aligned vertically, to blend in with the...

Family: Aulostomidae

Aulostomidae

The family Aulostomidae is a monogeneric family of highly specialized, tubularly-elongated marine fishes commonly known as trumpetfishes. Aulostomids belong to the order Syngnathiformes, along with the seahorses and the similarly built cornetfishes...

 — Trumpetfishes

• Trumpetfish Aulostomus chinensis
  Aulostomus chinensis
  The Chinese Trumpetfish is a species of reef-dwelling fish in the family Aulostomidae. They occur on protected reefs from the eastern coast of Africa, through the Indian Ocean, Australasia, and the Pacific Ocean from Japan and China to the coast of the Americas. They feed on small fishes and...
  
  (Linnaeus, 1766) (Ind-West Pacific south to East London)

Family: Centriscidae

Centriscidae

Centriscidae is the family of snipefishes, shrimpfishes, and bellowfishes. A small family, consisting of only about a dozen marine species, they are of an unusual appearance, as reflected by the common names...

 — Snipefishes and shrimpfishes

• Razorfish or shrimpfish Aeoliscus punctulatus (Bianconi, 1855) (Port Elizabeth to Kenya)
• Banded snipefish Centriscops obliquus Waite, 1911 (Cape Columbine to False Bay)
• Slender snipefish Macroramphosus scolopax (Linnaeus, 1758) (Table Bay to Durban)
• Round bellowsfish Notopogon lilliei Regan, 1914 (Single specimen off Natal)
• Longsnout bellowsfish Notopogon macrosolen Barnard, 1925 (Northwest of Cape Town to Saldanha Bay)
• Longspine bellowsfish Notopogon xenosoma Regan, 1914 (Algoa Bay to Natal)

Family: Fistulariidae — Flutemouths

• Smooth flutemouth Fistularia commersonii Rüppell, 1938 (widespread Indo-Pacific south to Mossel Bay)
• Serrate flutemouth Fistularia petimba Lacepède, 1803 (Atlantic, Indian and western Pacific oceans; east coast of Africa south to Mossel bay; also reported from Walvis Bay and False Bay)

Family: Solenostomidae — Ghost pipefishes

• Ghost pipefish Solenostomus cyanopterus Bleeker 1854 (Indo-Pacific region including India, Japan and Australia, and south to East London)(one specimen reported from False Bay)

Family: Syngnathidae

Syngnathidae

Syngnathidae is a family of fish which includes the seahorses, the pipefishes, and the weedy and leafy sea dragons. The name is derived from Greek, meaning "fused jaw" - syn meaning fused or together, and gnathus meaning jaws. This fused jaw trait is something the entire family has in common...

 — Seahorses and pipefishes

• Roughridge pipefish Cosmocampus banneri (Herald and Randall, 1972) (Two specimens from Sodwana Bay)
• Narrowstripe pipefish Doryrhamphus bicarinatus Dawson, 1981 (Sodwana Bay)
• Banded pipefish Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus (Bleeker, 1853) (one specimen at Aliwal shoal)
• Bluestripe pipefish Doryrhamphus excisus excisus Kaup, 1856 (Xora river mouth to Mozambique)
• Many-banded pipefish Doryrhamphus multiannulatus (Regan, 1903) (one subadult taken at Sodwana bay)
• Dusky pipefish Halicampus dunckeri (Chabanaud, 1929) (One specimen taken in Sodwana bay)
• Brown pipefish Halicampus mataafae (Jordan and Seale, 1906) (one specimen taken in Sodwana Bay)
• Belly pipefish Hippichthys heptagonus Bleeker, 1849 (Durban, St Lucia and 'nHtunga lakes, Natal)
• Bellybarred pipefish Hippichthys spicifer (Rüppell, 1838) (Durban and Xora river mouth)
• Giraffe seahorse or Crowned seahorse Hippocampus camelopardalis Bianconi, 1854 (Durban to Inhambane)
• Knysna seahorse Hippocampus capensis Boulenger, 1900 (South coast estuaries: Knysna, Keurbooms, Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay)
• Thorny seahorse Hippocampus histrix
  Hippocampus histrix
  Hippocampus histrix, commonly known as the Thorny or Spiny seahorse or, is a Seahorse from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 17cm in length....
  
  Kaup, 1853 (vicinity of Durban)
• Yellow seahorse Hippocampus kuda
  Hippocampus kuda
  Hippocampus kuda, also known as the common seahorse, is a member of the family Syngnathidae of the order Syngnathiformes. The common sea horse is a small, equine-like fish, with extraordinary breeding methods. Greeks and Romans believed the seahorse was an attribute of the sea god Poseidon/Neptune,...
  
  Bleeker, 1852 (Mossel bay to Mozambique)
• Longnose seahorse Hippocampus trimaculatus Leach, 1814 (Morgan Bay near kei river mouth)
• Crowned seahorse Hippocampus whitei Bleeker, 1855 (Natal and southern Mozambique)
• Shortnose pipefish Micrognathus andersonii Bleeker, 1858 (Knysna to Xora river)
• Freshwater pipefish Microphis fluviatilis (Peters, 1852) (Coffee Bay and Mtata river)
• Short-tail pipefish Microphis brachuris (Bleeker, 1853) (Durban and Sodwana estuary to Kenya)
• Elegant pipefish Nannocampus elegans Smith, 1961 (Great Fish point to Inhaca, Mozambique)
• Reef pipefish Nannocampus pictus (Duncker, 1915) (one specimen from Sodwana Bay)
• Rock pipefish Phoxocampus belcheri (Kaup, 1856) (one specimen from Bizana coast (31.5°S), Transkei)
• Alligator pipefish Syngnathoides biaculeatus (Bloch, 1785) (Knysna northwards; Northern Red sea to Japan, Guam and Samoa)
• Longsnout pipefish Syngnathus temminckii Kaup, 1856 (Namibia to northern KwaZulu-Natal),
• River pipefish Syngnathus watermeyeri Smith, 1963 (Tidal areas of Kariega, Kasouga and Bushmans rivers)
• Double-ended pipefish Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus (Bleeker, 1857) (Durban northwards to Kenya)

Suborder: Atherinoidei

Family: Atherinidae — Silversides

• Cape silverside Atherina breviceps Valenciennes, 1835 (Luderitz to northern KwaZulu-Natal)
• Hardyhead silverside Atherinomorus lacunosus (Forster, 1801) (East London to Indo-West Pacific)
• Pricklenose silverside Atherion africanus Smith, 1965 (Natal to India)
• Slender silverside Hypoatherina barnesi Schultz, 1953 ((Natal to Comores)

Family: Notocheiridae

Notocheiridae

The surf silversides are a small family, Notocheiridae, of salt water atheriniform fish found in tropical and temperate seas.They are small fish, typically less than in length, with silver stripes and a keel-shaped underside...

 — Surf sprites

• Surf sprite Iso natalensisRegan, 1919 (Indian ocean south to Cape Agulgas)

Superfamily: Exocoetoidea

Family: Exocoetidae — Flyingfishes

• Blackwing flyingfish Cheilopogon cyanopterus (Valenciennes, 1846) (Tropical and subtropical Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. One juvenile from Port Alfred, another from Natal))
• Spotfin flyingfish Cheilopogon furcatus (Mitchill, 1815) (offshore in all tropical seas. Off South African coast from the Cape eastwards)
• Blackfin flyingfish Cheilopogon nigricans (Bennett, 1840) (Tropical eastern Atlantic to Indo-West Pacific. One specimen known from South African waters)
• Smallhead flyingfish Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus altipinnis (Valenciennes, 1846) (Cape to Kosi Bay)
• Two-wing flyingfish Exocoetus monocirrhus (Richardson, 1846) (Indo-West Pacific south to Durban)
• Tropical two-wing flyingfish Exocoetus volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) (worldwide in tropical waters, occasionally seen in South African waters)
• Subtropical flyingfish Hirundichthys rondeletii (Valenciennes, 1846) (widely distributed in subtropical waters of all oceans, common off the Cape)
• Mirrorwing flyingfish Hirundichthys speculiger (Valenciennes, 1846) (worldwide in tropical waters, one juvenile from Mbibi, Zululand, another from False Bay)
• Sailfin flyingfish Parexocoetus brachypterus (Richardson, 1846) (Tropical Indo-Pacific, south to Natal)
• Shortfin flyingfish Prognichthys brevipinnis (Valenciennes, 1846) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific, recorded from Lake St. Lucia and Indian Ocean off South Africa)
• Shortnose flyingfish Prognichthys sealei (Abe, 1955) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific; one adolescent off Cape St. Lucia and a small juvenile from Port Elizabeth)

Family: Hemiramphidae — Halfbeaks

• Ribbon halfbeak Euleptorhamphus viridis (van Hasselt, 1823) (reported from Table Bay, also known from Algoa bay and Kei river Mouth. Tropical and temperate waters of Indo-Pacific)
• Spotted halfbeak Hemiramphus far (Forsskål, 1775) (Knysna to Delagoa Bay. a few records west to False Bay)
• Tropical halfbeak Hyporhamphus affinis (Günther, 1866) (Sodwana Bay to tropical west Indo-Pacific)
• Cape halfbeak Hyporhamphus capensis (Thominot, 1886) (False Bay to southern Mozambique)

Superfamily: Scomberesocoidea

Family: Belonidae — Needlefishes

• Barred needlefish Ablennes hians (Valenciennes, 1846) (Worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters, south to Algoa Bay)
• Cape needlefish Petalichthys capensis Regan, 1904 (South African endemic, False Bay to Pondoland)
• Garfish or Yellow needlefish or Banded needlefishStrongylura leiura (Bleeker, 1850) (Durban to Persian Gulf)
• Crocodile needlefish Tylosurus crocodilus crocodilus (Peron and Lesueur, 1821) (Indo-West Pacific south to Knysna)

Family: Scomberesocidae — Sauries

• Dwarf saury Nanichthys simulans Hubbs and Wisner, 1980 (Warm temperate waters of the Atlantic and southern Indian oceans; Off the Cape up the west coast)

Suborder: Berycoidei

Family: Berycidae

Berycidae

The Berycidae is a small family of deep sea fishes, related to the squirrelfishes. The family includes the alfonsinos and the nannygais.Berycids are found in both temperate and tropical waters around the world, between in depth, though mainly greater than . They are typically red in colour, and...

 — Berycids

• Beryx Beryx decadactylus Cuvier, 1829 (Saldanha Bay to Natal)
• Slender beryx Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834 (Saldanha Bay to Natal)
• Short alfonsino Centroberyx spinosus (Gilchrist, 1903) (Storms river to Durban) (also reported from False Bay)

Suborder: Holocentroidei

Family: Holocentridae

Holocentridae

The Holocentridae is a family of ray-finned fish, belonging to the order Beryciformes with the members of the subfamily Holocentrinae typically known as squirrelfish, while the members of Myripristinae typically are known as soldierfish...

 — Squirrelfishes and Soldierfishes
Subfamily: Holocentrinae — Squirrelfishes

• Spotfin squirrelfish Neoniphon sammara (Forsskål, 1775) (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Durban)
• Tailspot squirrelfish Sargocentron caudimaculatum (Rüppell, 1838) (Red sea and Indo-Pacific south to Xora river mouth, Transkei)
• Crown squirrelfish Sargocentron diadema
  Sargocentron diadema
  Sargocentron diadema, also known as the crowned squirrelfish, is a member of the family Holocentridae of the order Beryciformes. Squirrelfish in general are large, active, nocturnal fish which are usually red in color....
  
  (Lacepède, 1802) (Durban to Mozambique) (Indo-Pacific south to East London)
• Dark-striped squirrelfish Sargocentron praslin (Lacepède, 1802) (Indo-West Pacific reported by Smith to reach Durban, but no specimens available from south of Mozambique)
• Speckled squirrelfish Sargocentron punctatissimum (Cuvier, 1829) (Indo-Pacific south to Algoa Bay)
• Sabre squirrelfish Sargocentron spiniferum (Forsskål, 1775) (Red sea and east coast of Africa south to Natal)

Subfamily: Myripristinae — Soldierfishes

• Shadowfin soldier Myripristis adusta Bleeker, 1853 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
• Bigscale soldier Myripristis berndti Jordan and Evermann, 1903 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
• Yellowfin soldier Myripristis chryseres Jordan and Evermann, 1903 (Aliwal shoal)
• Epaulette soldier Myripristis kuntee (Cuvier, 1831) (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
• Pale soldier Myripristis melanosticta Bleeker, 1863 (Indian ocean (Sri Lanka, Maldives and Sodwana Bay) to Japan and New Hebrides)
• Blotcheye soldier Myripristis murdjan (Forsskål, 1775) (Transkei to Mozambique)(Red Sea and Ind-Pacific south to Natal)
• Lattice soldier Myripristis violacea Bleeker, 1851 (Indo-Pacific south to Natal)
• Shy soldier Plectrypops lima (Valenciennes, 1831) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)

Suborder: Trachichthyoidei

Family: Anoplogastridae — Fangtooth

• Fangtooth Anaplogaster cornuta (Valenciennes, 1839) (In Agulhas current to about 29°S; north of 35°S off west coast. Worldwide between 46°N and 46°S)

Family: Diretmidae — Diretmids

• Diretmoides parini Post and Quero, 1981 (Tropical to temperate in Atlantic ocean with gap between 7°N -17°S; probably curcumglobal in southern oceans)

Family: Monocentridae

Monocentridae

Pinecone fishes are small and unusual beryciform marine fish of the family Monocentridae. The family contains just four species in two genera, one of which is monotypic. Their distribution is limited to tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific...

 — Pineapple fishes

• Pineapple fish Monocentris japonicus (Houttuyn, 1782) (Indo-West Pacific and Red Sea south to Mossel Bay)(Recorded from False Bay on at least two occasions)

Family: Trachichthyidae — Slimeheads

• Gephyroberyx darwini (Johnson, 1866) (all round South African coast)
• Hoplostethus atlanticus Collett, 1896 (From Iceland to Morocco and Walvis Bay to off Durban)
• Black slimehead Hoplostethus cadenati Quero, 1974 (West coast of Africa from 36°N - 26°S, and off Transkei)
• Hoplostethus mediterraneus Cuvier, 1829 (Namibia to Natal)
• Hoplostethus melanopterus Fowler, 1938 (known from off Transkei, Somalia and the Philippines)
• Hoplostethus melanops (Weber, 1913) (Indo-West pacific from Indonesia to Natal, also off Namibia and Cape Town)

Order Gasterosteiformes

Gasterosteiformes

Gasterosteiformes is an order of ray-finned fishes that includes the sticklebacks and relatives.In the Gasterosteiformes, the pelvic girdle is never attached to the cleithra directly, and the supramaxillary, orbitosphenoid, and basisphenoid bones are absent. The body is often partly or completely...

Family: Pegasidae

Pegasidae

The seamoths are a family, the Pegasidae, of fish found in coastal tropical waters.They are distinguished by flattened bodies, the presence of large, wing-like, pectoral fins, and a body encased in thick, bony plates. Most species also have an elongated snout in front of their jaws...

 — Seamoths

• Seamoth Eurypegasus draconis (Linnaeus, 1766) (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa Bay)
• Longtail seamoth Pegasus volitans
  Pegasus volitans
  The longtail seamoth, Pegasus volitans. is a species of fish in the Pegasidae family. It is found in Australia, Bahrain, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Tanzania, and Thailand....
  
  Linnaeus, 1758 (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Durban)

Order Perciformes

Perciformes

The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, is one of the largest orders of vertebrates, containing about 40% of all bony fish. Perciformes means perch-like. They belong to the class of ray-finned fish and comprise over 7,000 species found in almost all aquatic environments...

 — Perciform (perch-like) fishes

See article List of marine Perciform fishes of South Africa

Order Pleuronectiformes — Flatfishes

Suborder: Pleuronectoidei

Family: Achiropsettidae

• Neoachiropsetta milfordi (Penrith, 1965) (off Cape Town, Argentina, Falkland Islands and New Zealand)(syn. Mancopsetta milfordi Penrith, 1965)

Family: Bothidae

Bothidae

Lefteye flounders are a family, Bothidae, of flounders. They are called "lefteye flounders" because most species lie on the sea bottom on their right side, with both eyes on the left side...

 — Lefteye flounders

• Cape flounder Arnoglossus capensis Boulenger, 1898 (Angola to Natal)
• East coast flounder Arnoglossus dalgleishi (von Bonde, 1922) (Natal, Zanzibar, Mombasa and northern Indian Ocean)
• Tropical flounder Bothus mancus (Broussonet, 1782) (Durban to Hawaii and Easter Island)
• Disc flounder Bothus myriaster (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) (Definitely known from Inhambane
  Inhambane
  Inhambane, Terra de Boa Gente is a city located in southern Mozambique, lying on Inhambane Bay, 470 km northeast of Maputo. It is the capital of the Inhambane Province and according to the 2008 census has a population of 65,837, growing from the 1997 census of 54,157...
  
  , juveniles and larvae possibly occur south to Cape St. Blaize. Southeast Africa to Taiwan and Japan)
• Leopard flounder Bothus pantherinus (Rüppell, 1830) (Confirmed records from Port Alfred
  Port Alfred
  Port Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
  
   northward, juveniles possibly south to Cape St. Blaize. Indo-West Pacific from South Africa to Hawaii)
• Pelican flounder Chascanopsetta lugubris Alcock, 1894 (Natal to Delagoa Bay, Indo-Pacific and Atlantic Oceans)
• Broadbrow flounder Crossorhombus valderostratus (Alcock, 1890) (Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
   to St. Lucia Bay, possibly reaches East London)
• Warthog flounder Engyprosopon grandisquama (Temminck & Schlegel, 1848) (Indo-Pacific, Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
   to Japan)
• Natal flounder Engyprosopon natalensis (Regan, 1920) (Known only from off Amatikulu River, Natal)
• Engyprosopon smithi Nielsen, 1964 (Known only from 3 specimens from off Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
   and Kenya)
• Khaki flounder Laeops natalensis Norman, 1931 (Known only from Natal)
• Blackspotted flounder Laeops nigromaculatus von Bonde, 1922 (Natal, Delagoa Bay and Japan)
• Longarm flounder Laeops pectoralis (von Bonde, 1922) (Natal, Delagoa Bay and Mombasa)
• Crosseyed flounder Neolaeops microphthalmus (von Bonde, 1922) (One specimen from Natal, also known from Japan, Taiwan and Indo-Australian Archipelago)
• Psettina brevirictis (Alcock, 1890) (Record from South Africa based on juvenile collected off Port St. Johns
  Port St. Johns
  Port St. Johns is a town situated at the mouth of the Umzimvubu River in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is thought to have been named after a Portuguese ship , which was actually wrecked at Port Edward. Later seafarers mistakenly identified the mouth of the Umzimvubu River as the site of this...
  
  )

Family: Citharidae

Citharidae

The Citharidae are a small family of flounders. They are found in the Mediterranean Sea, the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific from Japan to Australia.Species reach lengths ranging between14 to 36 cm.-Species:* Genus Brachypleura...

 — Largescale flounders

• Largescale flounder Citharoides macrolepis (Gilchrist, 1905) (Known only from Natal to Kenya)

Family: Paralichthyidae

Paralichthyidae

Large-tooth flounders are a family, Paralichthyidae, of flounders. They lie on the sea bed on their right side; both eyes are on the left side of the head, while the Pleuronectidae are the opposite with their eyes on the right side....

• Largetooth flounder Preudorhombus arsius (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
  
   and possibly to Knysna
  Knysna
  Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
  
  )
• Ringed flounder Pseudorhombus elevatus Ogilby, 1912 (Indian Ocean south to Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
  
  )
• Smalltooth flounder Pseudorhombus natalensis Gilchrist, 1904 (Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
   and off Tugela River
  Tugela River
  The Tugela River is the largest river in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The river originates in the Drakensberg Mountains, Mont-aux-Sources, and plunges 947 metres down the Tugela Falls...
  
  )

Family: Pleuronectidae

Pleuronectidae

Righteye flounders are a family, Pleuronectidae, of flounders. They are called "righteye flounders" because most species lie on the sea bottom on their left side, with both eyes on the right side. The Paralichthyidae are the opposite, with their eyes on the left side.Their dorsal and anal fins are...

 — Righteye flounders

• Comb flounder Marleyella bicolorata (von Bonde, 1922) (Natal to India)
• Measles flounder Paralichthodes algoensis Gilchrist, 1902 ((Known only from Mossel Bay
  Mossel Bay
  Mossel Bay is a harbour town of about 130,000 people on the Southern Cape of South Africa. It is an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province...
  
   to Delagoa Bay)
• Poecilopsetta natalensis Norman, 1931 (Natal to Kenya)
• Crested flounder Samaris cristatus Gray, 1831 (Natal to Red Sea and China)
• Threespot flounder Samariscus triocellatus Woods, 1966 (Sodwana Bay
  Sodwana Bay
  Sodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
  
  )

Suborder: Soleoidei

Family: Cynoglossidae — Tonguefishes

• Natal tongeufish Cynoglossus acaudatus
  Cynoglossus acaudatus
  Cynoglossus acaudatus, commonly known as the Natal tongue fish is a species of tonguefish. It is commonly found in shallow muddy or sandy waters along the coast of the Western Indian Ocean, Somalia down to South Africa, including Seychelles. It was first described by Gilchrist in 1906....
  
  Gilchrist, 1906 (Natal to Somalia)
• Fourline tonguefish Cynoglossus attenuatus
  Cynoglossus attenuatus
  Cynoglossus attenuatus, commonly known as the Fourline tonguesole is a species of tonguefish. It is commonly found in the western Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa, from Delagoa Bay, Mozambique to Durban in South Africa. It was first described by Gilchrist and Thompson in 1917....
  
  Gilhrist, 1904 (Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
   to Delagoa Bay)
• Sand tonguefish Cynoglossus capensis
  Cynoglossus capensis
  Cynoglossus capensis, commonly known as the Sand tonguesole is a species of tonguefish. It is commonly found in southeastern Atlantic Ocean off Namibia....
  
  (Kaup, 1858)(Kunene River (Namibia) to Port Elizabeth)(to Natal)
• Durban tonguefish Cynoglossus durbanensis
  Cynoglossus durbanensis
  Cynoglossus durbanensis, commonly known as the Durban tonguesole is a species of tonguefish. It is commonly found in the western Indian Ocean off the coast of Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa....
  
  Regan, 1921 (Natal to Kenya)
• Ripplefin tonguefish Cynoglossus gilchristi
  Cynoglossus gilchristi
  Cynoglossus gilchristi, commonly known as the Ripplefin tonguesole is a species of tonguefish. It is commonly found in the western Indian Ocean off Delagoa Bay, Mozambique, South Africa and Madagascar....
  
  Ogilby, 1910 (Natal and Delagoa Bay)
• Roughscale tonguefish Cynoglossus lida (Bleeker, 1851) (Philippines to Mozambique, south to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• Threeline tonguefish Cynoglossus marleyi Regan, 1921 (Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
   to Delagoa Bay)
• Redspotted tonguefish Cynoglossus zanzibarensis Norman, 1939 (Saldanha Bay
  Saldanha Bay
  Saldanha Bay is a natural harbour on the south-western coast of South Africa, north west of Cape Town. The town that developed on the northern shore of the bay, also called Saldanha, was incorporated with five other towns into the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality in 2000. The current population of...
  
   to Kenya)
• Fringelip tonguefish Paraplagusia bilineata (Bloch, 1787) (Tropical Indo-Pacific: East coast of Africa south to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• 'Symphurus ocellatus von Bonde, 1922 (Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
   to Mozambique)
• Symphurus variegatus (Gilchrist, 1903) (Known only off East London)

Family: Soleidae

Soleidae

The true soles are a family, Soleidae, of flatfishes, and include species that live in salt water and fresh water. They are bottom-dwelling fishes feeding on small crustaceans and other invertebrates. Other flatfishes are also known as soles....

 — Soles

• Unicorn sole Aesopia cornuta Kaup, 1858 (Natal to Mozambique)
• West coast sole Austroglossus microlepis (Bleeker, 1863)(Cape to KwaZulu-Natal)(Northern Namibia to False Bay
  False Bay
  False Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
  
  )
• East coast sole Austroglossus pectoralis (Kaup, 1858) (Cape Point
  Cape Point
  Cape Point is a promontory at the southeast corner of the Cape Peninsula, which is a mountainous and scenic landform that runs north-south for about thirty kilometres at the extreme southwestern tip of the African continent in the Republic of South Africa. Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town...
  
   to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• Cape sole Heteromycteris capensis Kaup, 1858 (Walvis Bay
  Walvis Bay
  Walvis Bay , is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies...
  
   to Maputo
  Maputo
  Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
  
  )
• Foureye sole Monochirus ocellatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Natal)
• Dwarf sole Parachirus xenicus Matsubara & Ochiai, 1963 (Sodwana Bay
  Sodwana Bay
  Sodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
  
  )
• Speckled sole Pardachirus marmoratus
  Pardachirus marmoratus
  Pardachirus marmoratus, also known as the finless sole or the Red Sea Moses sole is a small fish from the Red Sea that secretes an ichthyotoxic milky substance from the base of its dorsal and anal fins. This secretion contains pardaxin, a lipophillic peptide that causes severe plasma membrane...
  
  (Lacepède, 1802) (Red Sea and western Indian Ocean from Sri Lanka and Persian Gulf to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• Persian carpet sole Pardachirus morrowi (Chabanaud, 1954) (Kenya to Sodwana Bay
  Sodwana Bay
  Sodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
  
  )
• Blackhand sole Solea bleekeri Boulenger, 1898 (Cape Columbine
  Cape Columbine
  Cape Columbine is well known for its lighthouse, the last manned lighthouse built on the South African coast. . The Cape Columbine Lighthouse was commissioned on October 1, 1936...
  
   to Maputo
  Maputo
  Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
  
  )(False Bay
  False Bay
  False Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
  
   to Maputo
  Maputo
  Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
  
  )
• Lemon sole Solea fulvomarginata Gilchrist, 1904 (False Bay
  False Bay
  False Bay is a body of water defined by Cape Hangklip and the Cape Peninsula in the extreme South-West of South Africa.- Description and location :...
  
   to Transkei)
• Shallow-water sole Synaptura marginata Boulenger, 1900 ((Knysna
  Knysna
  Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
  
   to Delagoa Bay)
• Lace sole Synapturichthys kleini (Risso, 1833) (Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean to South Africa and round south coast to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• Zebra sole Zebrias regani (Gilchrist, 1906) (Known only from Natal)

Superfamily: Cottoidea

Family: Psychrolutidae

Psychrolutidae

The fish family Psychrolutidae contains the fatheads or fathead sculpins, including the blobfishes. There are 9 genera and about 30 species. This poorly known family consists of bottom-dwelling marine sculpins shaped like tadpoles, with large heads and bodies that taper back into small, flat tails...

 — Fatheads

• Cottunculus spinosus Gilchrist, 1906 (off Cape Point)
• Ebinania costaecanarie (Cervigon, 1961) (off north western South Africa)
• Psychrolutes inermis (Vaillant, 1888) (off western South Africa)
• Psychrolutes macrocephalus (Gilchrist, 1904) (known only from South Africa)

Superfamily: Cyclopteroidea

Family: Liparidae — Snailfishes

• Careproctus albescens Barnard, 1927 (off Cape Point)
• Paraliparis australis Gilchrist, 1904 (off Cape Point)
• Paraliparis copei Goode & Bean, 1896 (Northwest Atlantic, Azores and South Africa. off Cape Point)
• Paraliparis micruris (Barnard, 1927) (Cape of Good Hope, southern Indian Ocean and South Pacific)

Suborder: Dactylopteroidei

Family: Dactylopteridae

Dactylopteridae

The flying gurnards are a family, Dactylopteridae, of marine fish notable for their greatly enlarged pectoral fins. As they cannot literally fly, an alternative name preferred by some authors is helmet gurnards...

 — Helmet gurnards

• Helmet gurnard Dactyloptena orientalis (Cuvier, 1829) (Port Elizabeth northwards; east to central Pacific)
• Starry helmet gurnard Dactyloptena peterseni (Nyström, 1887) (East London and Delagoa Bay)

Suborder: Platycephaloidei

Family: Hoplichthyidae — Spiny flatheads

• Spiny flathead Hoplichthys acanthopleurus Regan, 1908 (off Natal)

Family: Parabembridae

• African deepwater flathead Parabembras robinsoni Regan, 1921 (Durban to southern Mozambique)

Family: Platycephalidae

Platycephalidae

Platycephalidae is a family of marine fishes, most commonly referred to as flatheads. They are relatives of the popular lionfishes, belonging to the order Scorpaeniformes....

 — Flatheads

• Crocodile flathead Cociella crocodila (Tilesius, 1812) (Durban northwards and from Red sea to Japan and Guadalcanal)
• Spotfin flathead Cociella sp. (East London north to Madagascar and Oman)
• Thorny flathead Grammoplites portuguesus (Smith, 1953) (Durban to Beira)
• Large-scale flathead Onigocia oligolepis (Regan, 1908) (three specimens known from Natal)
• Madagascar flathead Papilloculiceps longiceps (Ehrenberg, 1829) (Widespread from Durban north to Red sea)
• Bartail flathead Platycephalus indicus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cape Agulhas to Mozambique)(Widespread from Mossel bay northward to Red sea and Japan and Australia)
• Sand flathead Thysanophrys arenicola Schultz, 1966 (Natal north to Seychelles; Chagos archipelago; Indonesia, Australia, Philippines and Marshall Islands)
• Quarterspined flathead Thysanophrys celebica (Bleeker, 1854) (Durban north to Zanzibar)
• Longsnout flathead Thysanophrys chiltonae Schultz, 1966 (Red sea and Indo-West Pacific from northern Natal to Australia)
• Fringelip flathead Thysanophrys otaitensis (Parkinson, 1829) (Natal north to Seychelles, and throughout tropical Indo-Pacific)

Suborder: Scorpaenoidei

Family: Apistidae

Apistidae

Apistidae is a family of fish that includes the waspfishes. They are 19 – 20 cm in length.-Species:* Genus Apistops** Short-armed Waspfish, Apistops caloundra * Genus Apistus...

• Bearded waspfish Apistus carinatus (Bloch, 1801) (Natal northwards, coastal areas of Indo-West Pacific)

Family: Aploactinidae — Velvetfishes

• Roughskin scorpionfish Cocotropus monacanthus (Gilchrist, 1906) (4 specimens from off Natal)
• Crested scorpionfish Ptarmus jubatus (Smith, 1935) (Natal coast north to Porto Amelia, Mozambique)

Family: Caracanthidae

Caracanthidae

The coral crouchers, or orbicular velvetfishes, are a family, the Caracanthidae, of Scorpaeniform fishes. They live in coral reefs of the tropical Indo-Pacific. Only four species are known....

 — Coral crouchers

• Spotted croucher Caracanthus madagascariensis (Guichenot, 1869) (Tropical western and central Indian ocean, south to Sodwana Bay)
• Coral croucher Caracanthus unipinna (Gray, 1831) (Tropical waters throughout Indo-Pacific; reaches Sodwana bay)

Family: Congiopodidae

Congiopodidae

Congiopodidae is a family of scorpaeniform fishes native to the southern hemisphere, commonly known as pigfishes, horsefishes and racehorses.Congiopids live on the bottom of shallow temperate and sub-Antarctic seas, at depths of up to...

 — Horsefishes

• Spinenose horsefish Congiopodus spinifer (Smith, 1839) (Walvis Bay to Natal)
• Smooth horsefish Congiopodus torvus (Gronovius, 1772) (Namibia to Pondoland)

Family: Scorpaenidae

Subfamily: Choradactylinae

• Threestick stingfish Choridactylus natalensis (Gilchrist, 1902) (Durban to Mozambique)

Subfamily: Minoinae

• Onestick stingfish Minous coccineus Alcock, 1890 (Durban, northwards; also in Red sea, Arabian sea and eastwards to gulf of Thailand)

Subfamily: Pteroinae

• Shortfin turkeyfish Dendrochirus brachypterus
  Dendrochirus brachypterus
  Dendrochirus brachypterus or the Hawaiian lionfish is a lionfish endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It has been found as far away as Johnston Atoll. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 17cm in length....
  
  (Cuvier, 1829) (Transkei north to Red sea and east to central Pacific)
• Zebra turkeyfish Dendrochirus zebra (Cuvier, 1829) (off Durban; northwards to Red sea and eastwards to central Pacific)
• Blackfoot firefish Parapterois heterurus (Bleeker, 1856) (Natal and northwards across Indian ocean to western Pacific)
• Broadbarred firefish Pterois antennata
  Pterois antennata
  Pterois antennata or Broadbarred firefish is a fish of the genus Pterois. Found in the tropical Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, it grows to a maximum of and packs a venomous sting. The typical habitat of a broadbarred firefish is in lagoons and reefs, where it hides during the day and hunts...
  
  (Bloch, 1787) (KwaZulu-Natal northwards and to central Pacific)
• Devil Firefish Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828) (Port Elizabeth northwards)(Port Alfred northwards to Red sea and eastern Indian ocean)
• Deepwater firefish Pterois mombasae (Smith, 1957) (off Durban, Sri Lanka and New Guinea)
• Radial firefish Pterois radiata Cuvier, 1829 (KwaZulu-Natal to Mozambique)(Sodwana Bay northwards and to central Pacific)
• Plaintail firefish Pterois russelii Bennett, 1831 (Kwa-Zulu-Natal northward and to western Pacific)

Subfamily: Scorpaeninae

• Decoy scorpionfish Iracundus signifer
  Iracundus signifer
  Iracundus signifer is the only member of the genus Iracundus of marine fish in the family Scorpaenidae....
  
  Jordan and Evermann, 1903 (one taken off Sodwana Bay)
• Spotfin scorpionfish Neomerinthe nielseni (Smith, 1964) (several specimens from off Durban)
• Ocellated scorpionfish Parascorpaena mcadamsi (Fowler, 1938) (Sodwana Bay, Zululand, and Mozambique to Pacific)
• Golden scorpionfish Parascorpaena mossambica
  Parascorpaena mossambica
  Parascorpaena mossambica is a Scorpionfish from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 10 cm in length....
  
  (Peters, 1855) (Xora and Sodwana Bay northwards, east Africa to central Pacific)
• Phenacoscorpius adenensis Norman, 1939 (near Buffalo River)
• Speckled deepwater scorpionfish Pontinus leda Eschmeyer, 1969 (off west coast from gulf of Guinea to 18°45'S)
• Blacklash scorpionfish Pontinus nigerimum Eschmeyer, 1983 (one specimen off Natal)
• Popeyed scorpionfish Rhinopias frondosa (Günther, 1891) (Durban north along African coast and east to Japan and Caroline Islands)
• Bigscale scorpionfish Scorpaena scrofa
  Scorpaena scrofa
  Scorpaena scrofa, common name the red scorpionfish or large-scaled scorpion fish is a venomous marine species of fish in the family Scorpaenidae, the "scorpionfish".-Description:...
  
  Linnaeus, 1758 (Algoa bay to Natal)
• Guam scorpionfish Scorpaenodes guamensis Quoy and Gaimard, 1824 ((Transkei northwards and throughout Indo-West Pacific)
• Hairy scorpionfish Scorpaenodes hirsutus (Smith, 1957) (Sodwana Bay northwards, scattered localities in Indo-West Pacific to Hawaii and Tahiti)
• Dwarf scorpionfish Scorpaenodes kelloggi (Jenkins, 1903) (Sodwana bay and scattered localities in Indo-Pacific, east to Hawaii and Tahiti)
• Cheekspot scorpionfish Scorpaenodes littoralis
  Scorpaenodes littoralis
  Scorpaenodes littoralis is a species of marine spiny-finned fish of South Africa and the Indo-Pacific, from the genus Scorpaenodes....
  
  (Tanaka, 1917) (a few specimens from deep reefs off Natal; also scattered localities in Indo-West Pacific)
• Coral scorpionfish Scorpaenodes parvipinnis (Garrett, 1863) (Durban northwards; widespread on coral reefs throughout Indo-West Pacific)
• Blotchfin scorpionfish Scorpaenodes varipinnis Smith, 1957 (Sodwana bay and northwards in western Indian ocean)
• Bigmouth scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis brevifrons Eschmeyer and Randall, 1975 (Sodwana bay northward; also at scattered localities in the Indo-Pacific)
• False stonefish Scorpaenopsis diabolus Cuvier, 1829 (Xora northwards, widespread in Indo-West Pacific.)
• Humpback scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis gibbosa Bloch and Schneider, 1801 (Transkei northwards, Indian ocean and Red sea)
• Gilchrist's scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis gilchristi (Smith, 1957) (1 specimen off Tugela river)
• Smallscale scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis oxycephala Bleeker, 1849 (Sodwana Bay and scattered localities in the Indo-Pacific)
• Spinycrown scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis possi
  Scorpaenopsis possi
  Scorpaenopsis possi is a Scorpionfish from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 19.4 cm in length....
  
  Randall & Eschmeyer, 2001(Sodwana Bay northwards, throughout Indo-Pacific))
• Raggy scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis venosa (Cuvier, 1829) (Durban northwards and scattered localities in Indo-Pacific)
• Yellowspotted scorpionfish Sabastapistes cyanostigma (Bleeker, 1856) (Port Alfred northwards to Red sea and east to central Pacific)
• Spineblotch scorpionfish Sebastapistes mauritiana (Cuvier, 1829) (Transkei northwards, scattered Indo-Pacific localities)
• Barchin scorpionfish Sebastapistes strongia (Cuvier, 1829) (Transkei northwards, widespread in Indo-Pacific)
• Darkspotted scorpionfish Sebastapistes tinkhami (Fowler, 1946) (Sodwana bay, western and south Pacific)
• Paperfish ir Leaf scorpionfish Taenianotus triacanthus
  Taenianotus triacanthus
  Taenianotus triacanthus is a species of marine fish which is the sole member of the genus Taenianotus. It is commonly known as leaf scorpionfish or paperfish....
  
  Lacépède, 1802 (Durban northwards and to central Pacific)

Family: Sebastidae

Sebastidae

Sebastidae is a family of marine fish in the order Scorpaeniformes. Their common names include rockfishes, thornyheads and rockcods. Despite the latter name, they are not closely related to the cods in the genus Gadus, nor the rock cod, Lotella rhacina.Not all authorities recognise this family as...

• Jacopever Helicolenus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809) (Walvis Bay to Natal)
• False jacopever Sebastes capensis
  Sebastes capensis
  The false jacopever or Cape redfish is a marine fish belonging to the family Sebastidae. Found only in waters off the western coast of South Africa, Tristan da Cunha and southern South America, S. capensis lives in depths of . It reaches up to in length, and is reddish or brownish with 5-6 pale...
  
  (Gmelin, 1788) (Cape to Saldanha Bay)
• Cape scorpionfish Trachyscorpia capensis (Cape to St Helena Bay)

Family: Setarchidae

Setarchidae

Setarchidae is a small family of scorpionfishes.Not all classifications recognise this family; Nelson and ITIS include it in the family Scorpaenidae....

• Setarches guentheri Johnson, 1862 (Natal, nearly worldwide in warm seas)

Family: Synanceiidae — Stonefish

• Stonefish Synanceia verrucosa
  Synanceia verrucosa
  Synanceia verrucosa is a fish species, sometimes lethal to humans, which is known as the reef stonefish or simply stonefish. They are carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives on reef bottoms, camouflaged as a rock...
  
  Bloch & Schneider, 1801(Red sea and Indo-Pacific south to Durban)

Family: Tetrarogidae

Tetrarogidae

The waspfishes are a family, the Tetrarogidae, of scorpaeniform fishes native to the Indian Ocean and the West Pacific. They are closely related to the scorpionfishes. As their name suggests, waspfishes are often venomous...

 — Waspfishes

• Redskinfish Ablabys binotatus (Peters, 1855) (Xora river mouth to Zanzibar)
• Smoothskin scorpionfish Coccotropsis gymnoderma (Gilchrist, 1906) (Cape to Algoa bay)

Family: Triglidae — Gurnards

• Cape gurnard Chelidonichthys capensis (Cuvier, 1829) (Cape Fria to Maputo)
• Bluefin Gurnard Chelidonichthys kumu (Cuvier, 1829) (Cape Point to Delagoa Bay)
• Lesser gurnard Chelidonichthys queketti (Regan, 1904) (Table bay to Natal)
• Prickly gurnard Lepidotrigla faurei (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1914) (Durban northwards to India)
• Spiny gurnard Lepidotrigla multispinosa Smith, 1934 (Natal to Kenya)
• African gurnard Trigloporus lastoviza (Bonnaterre, 1788) (St. Sebastian Bay to Port Alfred)(syn. Trigloporus lastoviza africanus (Smith, 1934))

Order Stephanoberyciformes

Stephanoberyciformes

The Stephanoberyciformes are an order of marine ray-finned fishes, consisting of about 45 species, the majority of which belong to the ridgehead family . The Stephanoberyciformes are mostly uncommon deep-sea species with little, if any, importance to commercial fishery...

Family: Melamphaidae — Bigscale fishes

• Melamphaes eulepis Ebeling, 1962 (Atlantic south of 13°S, around Africa, in Indian ocean, throughout Indonesia and in central equatorial Pacific)
• Melamphaes microps
  Melamphaes microps
  Melamphaes microps is a fish of the genus Melamphaes, found in the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, southern Indian Ocean, and the south west Pacific including New Zealand, at depths of from 1,000 to 3,000 m...
  
  (Günther, 1878) (off South Africa and New Zealand)
• Melamphaes simus Ebeling, 1962 (Tropical/subtropical regions of Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans)
• Poromitra crassiceps (Günther, 1878) (All oceans except Arctic and Mediterranean)
• Poromitra megalops (Lütken, 1877) (Eastern Atlantic, Indo-Pacific and eastern equatorial Pacific)
• Scopeloberyx robustus (Günther, 1887) (Tropical/subtropical regions of Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans)
• Scopelogadus beanii (Günther, 1887) (Atlantic, southern Indian and western south Pacific oceans)
• Sio nordenskjoldii (Lönnberg, 1905) (South Atlantic and Indian oceans south of 30°S; several records off South Africa)

Family: Stephanoberycidae — Pricklefishes

• Acanthochaenus lutkeni Gill, 1884 (off mid Atlantic USA, Azores and off Durban (29°42'S, 33°19'E)

Order Tetraodontiformes

Tetraodontiformes

The Tetraodontiformes are an order of highly derived ray-finned fish, also called the Plectognathi. Sometimes these are classified as a suborder of the Perciformes...

Family: Balistidae — Triggerfishes

• Starry triggerfish Abalistes stellatus
  Abalistes stellatus
  Abalistes stellatus is a member of the triggerfish family that occurs along the coasts of the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and along the western edge of the Pacific Ocean....
  
  (Lacepède, 1798) (Red Sea to Mossel Bay
  Mossel Bay
  Mossel Bay is a harbour town of about 130,000 people on the Southern Cape of South Africa. It is an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province...
  
  )
• Orangestriped triggerfish Balistapus undulatus (Mungo Park, 1797) (Red Sea south to Natal)
• Queen triggerfish Balistes vetula
  Balistes vetula
  Balistes vetula, also known as the queen triggerfish, is a reef dwelling fish of the Atlantic Ocean. It is occasionally caught as a gamefish, and sometimes kept in marine aquaria.-Appearance:...
  
  Linnaeus, 1758 (Tropical Atlantic to southern Angola; recordef from"Cape of Good Hope by Günther. Doubtful records from Port Alfred
  Port Alfred
  Port Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
  
   and Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• Clown triggerfish Balistoides conspicillum (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Indo-West Pacific south to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• Rough triggerfish Canthidermis maculatus (Bloch, 1786) (Orange River
  Orange River
  The Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean...
  
   mouth to Natal)
• Indian triggerfish Melichthys indicus Randall and Klausewitz, 1973 (Tropical Indian Ocean south to Sodwana Bay
  Sodwana Bay
  Sodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
  
  
• Black triggerfish Melichthys niger (Bloch, 1786) ((Circumtropical, has been found at Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• Pinktail triggerfish Melichthys vidua (Solander, 1844) (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• Redfang triggerfish Odonus niger (Rüppell, 1836) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
   and once to Port Alfred
  Port Alfred
  Port Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
  
  )
• Yellowface triggerfish Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus (Rüppell, 1829) (Red Sea south to Natal)
• Rippled triggerfish Pseudobalistes fuscus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Red Sea south to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• Blackbar triggerfish Rhinecanthus aculeatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
  
  )
• Patchy triggerfish Rhinecanthus rectangulus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Tropican Indo-West Pacific south to East London)
• Boomerang triggerfish Sufflamen bursa
  Sufflamen bursa
  Sufflamen bursa is a Triggerfish from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 25 cm in length. "Scythe" markings on the lei triggerfish contain pigments which may change hue from light yellow to dark brown depending on mood of the fish....
  
  (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Sodwana Bay
  Sodwana Bay
  Sodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
  
  ))
• Halfmoon triggerfish Sufflamen chrysopterus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) Indo-West Pacific south to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• Bridle triggerfish Sufflamen fraenatus (Latrielle, 1804) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
• Striped triggerfish Xanthichthys lineopunctatus (Hollard, 1854) (Indo-West Pacific south to Port Alfred
  Port Alfred
  Port Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
  
  )
• Outrigger triggerfish Xenobalistes punctatus Heemstra & Smith, 1983 (One specimen from west of Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
  
  )

Family: Diodontidae — Burrfishes and porcupinefishes

• Spotfin burrfish Chilomycterus reticulatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Only juveniles reported from Cape to Salt Vlei, worldwide in warm temperate waters)
• Birdbeak burrfish Cyclichthys orbicularis (Bloch, 1785) (Knysna
  Knysna
  Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
  
   to South China Sea, Philippines and Australia))
• Yellow-spotted burrfish Cyclichthys spilostylus (Leis & Randall, 1982) (Cape to Port Alfred
  Port Alfred
  Port Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
  
   and northwards to South China Sea, Philippines and Australia)
• Pelagic porcupinefish Diodon eydouxii Brisout de Barneville, 1846 (Known fron Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
  
  . pelagic, circumtropical)
• Balloon porcupinefish Diodon holocanthus Linnaeus, 1758 (Cape to Knysna
  Knysna
  Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
  
   and northward. Circumtropical)
• Porcupinefish Diodon hystrix Linnaeus, 1758 (Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park to Umtata river, Circumtropical)
• Shortspine porcupinefish Diodon liturosus Shaw, 1804 (Port Elizabeth to Japan, French Polynesia and Australia)
• Fourbar porcupinefish Lophodiodon calori (Bianconi, 1855) (Continental shelf from the Cape to South China Sea and Australia)

Family: Molidae

Molidae

Molidae is the family of the molas or ocean sunfishes, unique fish whose bodies come to an end just behind the dorsal and anal fins, giving them a "half-a-fish" appearance...

 — Ocean sunfishes

• Sharptail sunfish Masturus lanceolatus (Lienard, 1840) (Warm temperate waters of all oceans; recorded from the Cape to East London)
• Ocean sunfish Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758) (All oceans but not polar seas)
• Southern sunfish Mola ramsayi
  Mola ramsayi
  Mola ramsayi, known commonly as the southern ocean sunfish or southern sunfish, is a fish belonging to the family Molidae. It is closely related to its cogener, the large Mola mola, and is found in the Southern Hemisphere.-Description:...
  
  (Giglioli, 1883) (Known only from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Collected from near East London to Port St. Johns
  Port St. Johns
  Port St. Johns is a town situated at the mouth of the Umzimvubu River in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is thought to have been named after a Portuguese ship , which was actually wrecked at Port Edward. Later seafarers mistakenly identified the mouth of the Umzimvubu River as the site of this...
  
  )
• Trunkfish Ranzania laevis Pennant, 1776) (Cape to Transkei; All oceans)

Family: Monacanthidae — Filefishes

• Unicorn leatherjacket Aluterus monoceros Linnaeus, 1758 ((Saldanha Bay
  Saldanha Bay
  Saldanha Bay is a natural harbour on the south-western coast of South Africa, north west of Cape Town. The town that developed on the northern shore of the bay, also called Saldanha, was incorporated with five other towns into the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality in 2000. The current population of...
  
   to Beira
  Beira, Mozambique
  Beira is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. Beira had a population of 412,588 in 1997, which grew to an estimated 546,000 in 2006...
  
  )
• Scribbled leatherjacket Aluterus scriptus (Osbeck, 1765) (Worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas, south to Knysna
  Knysna
  Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
  
  )
• White-spotted filefish Cantherhines dumerilii (Hollard, 1854) (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
  
  )
• Spectacled filefish Cantherhines fronticinctus (Günther, 1867) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• Honeycomb filefish Cantherhines pardalis (Rüppell, 1837) (Tropical/subtropical Indo-West Pacific, south to Mossel Bay
  Mossel Bay
  Mossel Bay is a harbour town of about 130,000 people on the Southern Cape of South Africa. It is an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province...
  
  )
• Blacksaddle mimic Paraluteres prionurus (Bleeker, 1851) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Aliwal Shoal
  Aliwal Shoal
  The Aliwal Shoal is a rocky reef which is the remains of an ancient sand dune approximately 5 km off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The reef plays host to many kinds of hard and soft corals and a variety of tropical and subtropical fish species. Aliwal Shoal was named after the...
  
  , Natal)
• Wedgetail filefish Paramonacanthus barnardi Fraser-Brunner, 1941 (East coast of Africa south to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• Blackstriped filefish Paramonacanthus cingalensis (Fraser-Brunner, 1941) (Tropical Indian Ocean south to Umgazi River, Transkei)
• Redtail filefish Pervagor janthinosoma
  Pervagor janthinosoma
  The Blackbar filefish is a fish in the Monacanthidae family. It is found in the tropical Indo-Pacific from the coast of east Africa to Samoa, north to southern Japan and south to New South Wales and Tonga....
  
  (Bleeker, 1854) (Indo-West Pacific, juveniles reach Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
  
  )
• Rhino leatherjacket Pseudalutarius nasicornis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1850) (Tropical/subtropical Indo-West Pacific; has been founs at Port Alfred
  Port Alfred
  Port Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
  
  , East London and Bazaruto
  Bazaruto Archipelago
  The Bazaruto Archipelago is a group of six islands in Mozambique, near the mainland city of Vilankulo. It comprises the islands of Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Banque, Santa Carolina and Shell....
  
  )
• Porky Stephanolepis auratus (Castelnau, 1861) (Known only from Knysna
  Knysna
  Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
  
   to Zanzibar)
• Sandy filefish Thamnaconus arenaceus(Barnard, 1927) (Known from only 3 specimens, 1 possibly from Natal, 2 from Madagascar)
• Modest filefish Thamnaconus modestoides (Barnard, 1927) (Indian Ocean south to Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
  
  )

Family: Ostraciidae — Boxfishes

Subfamily: Aracaninae

• Chubby basketfish Anoplocapros robustus (Fraser-Brunner, 1941) (one specimen from Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
  
  )(syn. Strophiurichthys robustus Fraser-Brunner, 1941)

Subfamily: Ostraciinae

• Longhorn cowfish Lactoria cornuta (Linnaeus, 1758) (Indo-West Pacific to Mossel Bay
  Mossel Bay
  Mossel Bay is a harbour town of about 130,000 people on the Southern Cape of South Africa. It is an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province...
  
  )
• Spiny cowfish Lactoria diaphana (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Indo-West Pacific south to the Cape)
• Backspine cowfish Lactoria fornasini (Bianconi, 1846) (Indo-West pacific south to Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
  
  )
• Boxy Ostracion cubicus Linnaeus, 1758 (Indo-West Pacific south to Knysna
  Knysna
  Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
  
  ))
• Whitespotted boxfish Ostracion meleagris Shaw, 1796 (Indo-Pacific south to Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
  
  )
• Triangular boxfish Tetrasomus concatenatus (Bloch, 1786) (From the Cape eastwards through Indo-West Pacific)
• Hunchback boxfish Tetrasomus gibbosus
  Tetrasomus gibbosus
  Tetrosomus gibbosus , the Humpback Turretfish, is a Boxfish from the Indo-West Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 30 centimeter in length....
  
  (Linnaeus, 1758) (Red Sea south to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )

Family: Tetraodontidae — Blaasops or Puffers

• Evileye blaasop Amblyrhynchotes honckenii (Bloch, 1785) (Cape Point
  Cape Point
  Cape Point is a promontory at the southeast corner of the Cape Peninsula, which is a mountainous and scenic landform that runs north-south for about thirty kilometres at the extreme southwestern tip of the African continent in the Republic of South Africa. Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town...
  
   to Mozambique. Tropical Indo-West Pacific from South Africa to China)
• Whitespotted blaasop Arothron hispidus Linnaeus, 1758 (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Knysna
  Knysna
  Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
  
  )
• Blackedged blaasop Arothron immaculatus
  Arothron immaculatus
  Arothron immaculatus, or the immaculate puffer, is a pufferfish from the Indo-West Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It reaches 30 cm in length....
  
  (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Indo-West Pacific south to Knysna
  Knysna
  Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
  
  )
• Bellystriped blaasop Arothron inconditus (Smith, 1958) (Knysna
  Knysna
  Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
  
   to East London)
• Map blaasop Arothron mappa (Lesson, 1827) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
• Guineafowl blaasop Arothron meleagris
  Arothron meleagris
  Arothron meleagris, or the guineafowl puffer, is a pufferfish from the Indo, and Eastern Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It reaches 50 cm in length....
  
  (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Indo-Pacific south to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• Blackspotted blaasop Arothron nigropunctatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa bay
  Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
  
  Mossel Bay
  Mossel Bay
  Mossel Bay is a harbour town of about 130,000 people on the Southern Cape of South Africa. It is an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province...
  
  )
• Star blaasop Arothron stellatus
  Arothron stellatus
  Arothron stellatus, the star puffer or starry toadfish, is a pufferfish from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It reaches 120 cm in length....
  
  (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Indo-West Pacific, occasionally reaches Knysna
  Knysna
  Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
  
  )
• Spotted toby Canthigaster amboinensis (Bleeker, 1864) (Tropical Indo-Pacific south to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  ))
• Exquisite toby Canthigaster bennetti
  Canthigaster bennetti
  Canthigaster bennetti is a Pufferfish from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 10cm in length....
  
  (Bleeker, 1854) (Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Port Alfred
  Port Alfred
  Port Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
  
  )
• Saddle toby Canthigaster coronata
  Canthigaster coronata
  Canthigaster coronata is a Pufferfish from the Indo-West Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 14cm in length....
  
  (Vaillant & Sauvage, 1875) (Red Sea to Sodwana Bay
  Sodwana Bay
  Sodwana Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi.Sodwana Bay National Park is a narrow strip of forested sand dunes located along the KwaZulu Natal coast...
  
  )
• Honeycomb toby Canthigaster janthinoptera (Bleeker, 1855) (Indo-West Pacific south to Transkei)
• Doubleline toby Canthigaster rivulata (Schlegel, 1850) (Indo-West Pacific south to Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
  
  )
• Bicoloured toby Canthigaster smithae Allen & Randall, 1977 (Southwestern Indian Ocean south to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• False-eye toby Canthigaster solandri (Richardson, 1844) (Indo-West Pacific south to Port Elizabeth)
• Model toby Canthigaster valentini (Bleeker, 1853) (Indo-West Pacific south to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• Bluespotted blaasop Chelonodon laticeps Smith, 1948 (6°S to Xora River mouth)
  • Blaasop beauty Chelonodon pleurospilus Regan, 1919 (Xora River mouth to Durban
    Durban
    Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
    
    )
• Blackback blaasop Lagocephalus guentheri Miranda Ribeiro, 1915 (off Tugela River
  Tugela River
  The Tugela River is the largest river in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The river originates in the Drakensberg Mountains, Mont-aux-Sources, and plunges 947 metres down the Tugela Falls...
  
   to Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
  
  )
• Smooth blaasop Lagocephalus inermis (Schlegel, 1850) (Indo-Pacific south to Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
  
  )
• Oceanic blaasop Lagocephalus lagocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Circumglobal in warm and temperate seas, Walvis Bay
  Walvis Bay
  Walvis Bay , is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies...
  
   to Beira
  Beira, Mozambique
  Beira is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. Beira had a population of 412,588 in 1997, which grew to an estimated 546,000 in 2006...
  
  )
• Moontail blaasop Lagocephalus lunaris (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)(Indo-West Pacific south to Knysna
  Knysna
  Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
  
  )
• Silverstripe blaasop Lagocephalus scleratus (Forster, 1788) (Indo-West Pacific, occasional specimens occur between the Cape and Natal)
• Rippled blaasop Pelagocephalus marki
  Pelagocephalus marki
  Pelagocephalus marki is a genus of Tetraodontidae....
  
  Heemstra & Smith 1981 (Port Alfred
  Port Alfred
  Port Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
  
   to Knysna
  Knysna
  Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
  
  )
• Blunthead blaasop Sphoeroides pachygaster (Müller & Troschel, 1848) (Circumglobal, deep water from the Cape to Beira
  Beira, Mozambique
  Beira is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. Beira had a population of 412,588 in 1997, which grew to an estimated 546,000 in 2006...
  
  )
• Lattice blaasop Takifugu oblongus (Bloch, 1786) (Indo-West Pacific south to Natal)
• Dwarf blaasop Torquigener hypselogeneion (Bleeker, 1852) (Indo-West Pacific from Knysna
  Knysna
  Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
  
   to Samoa)
• Slender Blaasop Torquigener sp. (known from South Africa only from 2 specimens collected off Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• Spiny blaasop Tylerius spinosissimus
  Tylerius spinosissimus
  Tylerius spinosissimus is a genus of Tetraodontidae....
  
  Regan, 1908 (Indo-West Pacific south to East London)

Family: Triacanthodidae — Spikefishes

• Trumpetsnout Macrorhamphosodes uradoi (Kamohara, 1933) (1 record from off Port Elizabeth; Kenya to Japan)
• Sawspine spikefish Paratriacanthodes retrospinis (Fowler, 1934) (Japan and China to Mozambique and Natal)

Shortsnout spikefish Triacanthodes ethiops Alcock, 1894 (Japan to South Africa)

• Fleshy lipped spikefish Tydemania navigatoris Weber, 1913 (Japan to east coast of Africa,; several records from South Africa)

Suborder: Caproidei

Family: Caproidae

Caproidae

Boarfishes are a small family, Caproidae, of marine fishes comprising two genera and twelve species. They are usually placed in the order Zeiformes with the dories, but this placement is uncertain, since boarfishes have many perciform characters, for instance in the caudal skeleton...

 — Boarfishes

• Boarfish Antigonia rubescens (Günther, 1860) (Indo-West Pacific from Natal to Japan)

Suborder: Zeioidei

Family: Grammicolepididae — Tinselfishes

• Thorny tinselfish Grammicolepis brachiusculus Poey, 1873 (Saldanha Bay to Durban)
• Tinselfish Xenolepidichthys dalgleishi Gilchrist, 1922 (Walvis Bay to Natal)

Family: Oreosomatidae

Oreosomatidae

The Oreos are a family, the Oreosomatidae, of marine fish. Most species are found in the southern hemisphere, inhabiting continental slopes down to about depth.- Species :The family is relatively small, containing nine species in four genera:...

 — Oreos

• Allocyttus verrucosus (Gilchrist, 1906) (Walvis Bay to Mozambique channel)
• Neocyttus rhomboidalis Gilchrist, 1906 (Walvis Bay to Cape)
• Oxeye dory Oreosoma atlanticum Cuvier, 1829 (Around South Africa between 30° - 35°S)
• Pseudocyttus maculatus Gilchrist, 1906 (Walvis Bay to the Cape)

Family: Zeidae

Zeidae

The Zeidae are a family of large, showy, deep-bodied zeiform marine fish—the "true dories". Found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Ocean, the family contains just six species in two genera...

 — Dories

• Cyttopsis rosea (Lowe, 1843) (off Natal, Eastrn Atlantic from France to Southern Angola, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, Southwest coast of India, Maldives and Japan)
• Cyttus traversi Hutton, 1872 (Walvis ridge and off cape town to Algoa bay, south coast of Australia and New Zealand)
• Buckler dory Zenopsis conchifer (Lowe, 1850) (Walvis Bay to Natal and north to India)
• Cape dory Zeus capensis Valenciennes, 1835 (St Helena Bay to Natal)
• John dory Zeus faber Linnaeus, 1758 (common along whole SA coast)

Family: Zenionidae

Zenionidae

The Zenionidae are a family of large, showy, deep-bodied zeiform marine fish. Found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Ocean, the family contains just seven species in three genera.The family was formerly known as Macrurocyttidae.- Species :...

 — Zeniontids

• Zenion leptolepis (Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924) (Natal, Delagoa Bay and Kenya)

Order Mugiliformes

Family: Mugilidae — Mullets

• Diamond mullet Liza alata (Steindachner, 1892) (Indo-West Pacific to Algoa bay
  Algoa Bay
  Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...
  
  )
• Groovy mullet Liza dumerili (Steindachner, 1870) (Breede River
  Breede River
  The Breede River , is a river in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Travelling inland north from Cape Town, the river runs in a west to east direction, the surrounding western mountains thus forming the first continental divide experienced by European settlers in the 18th century...
  
   to Bazaruto
  Bazaruto Archipelago
  The Bazaruto Archipelago is a group of six islands in Mozambique, near the mainland city of Vilankulo. It comprises the islands of Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Banque, Santa Carolina and Shell....
  
  )
• St. Lucia mullet Liza luciae (Penrith & Penrith, 1967) (Northern Transkei to southern Mozambique)
• Large-scale mullet Liza macrolepis (Smith, 1846) (Indo-West Pacific to Port Alfred
  Port Alfred
  Port Alfred is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km...
  
  )
• Giantscle mullet Liza melinoptera (Valenciennes, 1836) (Indo-West Pacific, occasional specimens reach Natal)
• Southern mullet Liza richardsonii (Smith, 1846) (Kunene River to St. Lucia estuary)
• Striped mullet Liza tricuspidens (Smith, 1935) (Mossel Bay
  Mossel Bay
  Mossel Bay is a harbour town of about 130,000 people on the Southern Cape of South Africa. It is an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province...
  
   to northern Kosi estuary
  Kosi Bay
  Kosi Bay is a series of four interlinked lakes in the Maputuland area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The lakes form part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site....
  
  )
• Squaretail mullet Liza vaigiensis (Quoy and Gaimard, 1825) (Indo-West Pacific, south to Durban
  Durban
  Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
  
  )
• Flathead mullet Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758 (All warm and temperate seas, estuaries and rivers)
• Freshwater mullet Myxus capensis (Valenciennes, 1836) (Knysna to KwaZulu-Natal)
• Bluetail mullet Valamugil buchanani (Bleeker, 1854) (Knysna to Indo-West Pacific)
• Longarm mullet Valamugil cunnesius (Valenciennes, 1836) (Indo-West Pacific, occasionally reaches Natal)
• Bluespot mullet Valamugil seheli (Forsskål, 1775) (Indo-West Pacific south to Transkei)