S. J. de Groot & H. Nijssen. and. Museum), University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. stations 2 to 10 a herring. time given.

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1 Notes on the fishes collected by the R.V. TRIDENS on the North West African shelf, 1925 January 1969 by S. J. de Groot & H. Nijssen Netherlands Institute for Fishery Investigations, IJmuiden, The Netherlands and Institute of Taxonomie Zoology (Zoölogisch Museum), University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands Abstract stations 2 to 10 a herring trawl was used. The On the North West African shelf 98 species of fishes time given is local time. were collected a classification is given. Three species have hitherto been recorded only farther South. The status of Platophrys podas africanus (Nielsen, 1961) is discussed. LIST OF STATIONS (fig. 1) Station 1: 20969; time h.; pelagic 9100 fms.; 25 '26 'N, INTRODUCTION 15 21'15 22'W. Two specimens of the Scabbard Fish During a voyage of the Dutch fishery research vessel "Tridens", of the Ministery of Agriculture (Lepidopus caudatus) and one John Dory (Zeus faber) and about 0 kg of the pelagic ascidian and Fisheries, fishes were collected in the waters Pyrosoma atlanticum were caught. of the North West African shelf from Cape Bojador to Cape Blanc in the period 1925 January Station 2: 20969; time h.; herring Initially the voyage was intended to study the use of different types of pelagic fishing gear 5 fms.; 25 01'2 59'N, 16 25' 16 28'W. in deep waters, deprived of any fish if possible, as they would disturb the technical mearurements. However, at the time our ship was due to sail, Dutch trawler owners asked the Ministery for information about the fishery possibilities of Dutch vessels in North West African waters for the months January and February, when in European We fished in the centre of a small fleet of Spanish cutters to investigate the species they were fishing for; these proved to be mainly cephalopods. Total catch about 100 kg 0 kg Loligo species, 0 kg Sepia species, 10 kg Octopus species, 15 kg Weevers (Trachinus), 10 kg flatfish, mainly Soles (Dicologoglossa azevia waters fishery possibilities are rather poor. The and D. cuneata), 5 kg sea perches (Dentex, Spon area in which the technical experiments would be carried out being the waters around the Canary Islands, it was decided to extend the voyage by a dyliosoma). Station : 21969; time h.; herring week to obtain an impression of the fauna of this fms.; 2 09'2 06'N, 17 0' area at that time. We thought it justifiable to re 17 02'W. port here upon the results of our short survey, Total catch about 00 kg because data on the fish and fisheries in waters of 160 kg Horse Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus), northwestern Africa are rather scarce. In addition 5 kg small Gurnards ( Aspitrigla obscura), 0 kg to data on the composition of the trawl catches at the different stations (fig. 1), the classification of the 98 species collected (specimens sea perches, 20 kg Spanish Mackerel (Scomber japonicus), 15 kg sharks and rays, 15 kg Stargazers (Uranoscopus), 5 kg flatfish, 15 kg others. are deposited at the Institute of Taxonomie Zoology, Zoölogisch Museum, Amsterdam) is provided. Station numbers 5 to 9 refer to the. At stations 1 and II a pelagic trawl, at Station : 21969; time h.; herring 750 fms.; 22 2'22 15'N, 17 15' 17 1'W.

2 We Total NORTH Total Total We Net About S. J. DE GROOT & H. NIJSSEN WEST AFRICAN FISHES Station ; time h.; herring 225 fms.; 20 6'20 18' N, 17 22' 17 27' W. catch about 1600 kg, 1200 kg sea perches, 150 kg Anchovy, 100 kg carangids (Decapterus), 0 kg sciaenids, 0 kg cephalopods, 0 kg Hairtail (Trichiurus), 5 kg flatfish (Soles), 0 kg others. Station 7: 22969; time h.; herring 9 fms.; 20 12'20 07' N, 17 15' 17 18' W. catch about 750 kg 50 kg sea perches {Dentex) 100 kg Anchovy, 50 kg sea Catfish (Arius), 0 kg sciaenids, 0 kg cephalopods, 0 kg sharks, 0 kg rays, 0 kg Hairtail, 0 kg others. Station 8: 22969; time h.; herring 10 fms.; 20 10'20 1' N, 17 12' 17 IC W. fished along a fleet of thirteen large Japanese trawlers, who were presumably fishing for shrimp (Penaeus) and sea perches. Total catch about 200 kg 100 kg sea perches, 50 kg sciaenids, 50 kg others. Among the crustaceans we found three forms of Penaeidae, Penaeus kurathurus (Forskâl), Penaeus duorarum Fig. 1. Map of North West African shelf with position Perez Farfante, and Melapenaeopsis miersi (Holt of stations 1 to 10. huis). Station 9: 22969; time h.; herring 10 fms.; 20 '20 05' N, 17 1' fished along trawling Russian 17 15'W. and Bulgarian vessels which were mainly fishing was damaged, but still we caught for Horse Mackerel as our trawlcatch showed. Horse Mackerel, sea perches, and Stromateus. Total catch about 1000 kg 800 kg Horse Mackerel, 100 kg sea perches, 20 kg Gurnards, 20 kg Stargazers, 20 kg Octopus, 5 kg Loligo, 15 kg flatfish 10 kg large Soles, 10 kg Station 10: 2969; time h.; herring trawl; 058 fms.; 21 5'21 58' N, 17 22' 17 19' W. Spanish Mackerel. Total catch about 700 kg 00 kg Horse Mackerel, 150 kg Station 5: 21969; time h.; her sea perches (Dentex. Spondyliosoma), 50 kg Spanish Mackerel, 80 ring 222 fms.; 20 5'20 7'N, kg other fishes (Stargazer, Angler fish). 17 2'17 22'W. catch about 00 kg Station : 25969; time h.; pelagic 900 kg sea perches (700 kg Plectorhynchus me 50 fms.; 27 8' N, 15 12'W. diterraneus, 200 kg Epinephelus aeneus). 80 kg 20 species of salmonid fishes large carangids (Caesiomorus vadigo, Decapterus punctatus), 90 kg sciaenids (60 kg Atractoscion (myctophids, Hatched Fishes and others). aequidens, 0 kg Umbrina), 50 kg rays, 0 kg Gurnards, 0 kg Congereels, 10 kg flatfish, 0 kg others.

3 BIJDRAGEN TOT DE DIERKUNDE, 1 (1) Fig. 2. Argyropelecus gigas Norman, 190, 87. mm s1, from station (ZMA ). Fig.. Opisthoproctus grimaldii ). Zugmayer, 19, 50.1 mm s1, from station (ZMA Fig.. Opisth oproctus soleatus Vaillant, 1888, 50.6 mm s1, from station (ZMA ).

4 6 S. J. DE GROOT & H. NIJSSEN NORTH WEST AFRICAN FISHES CLASSIFICATION OF THE FISHES COLLECTED Lamniformes Triakidae Mustelus mustelus (Linnaeus) Scyliorhinidae Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus) Scyliorhinus stellaris (Linnaeus) Rajiformes Rhinobatidae Rhinobatos rhinobatos (Linnaeus) Zanobalus schoenleinii (Muller & Henle) Rajidae Raja naevus Muller & Henle Raja cf. radula Delaroche Raja picta Lacépède Dasyatidae Dasyatis pastinaca (Linnaeus) Torpediniformes Torpedinidae Torpedo torpedo (Linnaeus) Anguilliformes Congridae Bathycongrus mystax (Delaroche) Conger conger (Linnaeus) 2 Clupeiformes Clupeidae Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum) Engraulidae Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus) 10 Salmoniformes Opisthoproctidae Opisthoproctus soleatus Vaillant O pis tho proctus grimaldii Zugmayer Gonostomidae Gonostoma denudatum Rafinesque Margrethia obtusirostra Jespersen & Tâning Sternoptychidae Sternoptyx diaphana Hermann Argyropelecus aculeatus Valenciennes Argyropelecus intermedius Clarke Argyropelecus gigas Norman Astronesthidae Astronesthes niger Richardson Melanostomiatidae Melanostomias spilorhynchus Regan & Trewavas Chauliodontidae Chauliodus schmidti Ege Stomiatidae Stomias boa (Risso) Alepocephalidae Maulisia mauli Parr Paralepididae Lestidium spec. Myctophidae Diaphus spec. 1. Piaphus 2 spec. Hygophum spec. Lampanyctus spec. Ceratoscopelus cf. townsendi Eigenmann & Eigenmann Myctophum selenops Tâning Lampadena spec. Lobanchia cf. gemellari (Cocco)

5 BIJDRAGEN TOT DE 1971 DIERKUNDE, 1 (1) 7 Siluriformes Bagridae Arius heudeloti Valenciennes bank Batrachoidif ormes Batrachoididae Batrachoides didactylus (Bloch & Schneider) bank Lophiidae Lophius piscatorius Linnaeus 10 Atheriniformes Belonidae Belone belone (Linnaeus) Beryciformes A noplogasteridae Anoplogaster cornutus Valenciennes Melamphaeidae Melamphaes spec. Zeif ormes Zeidae Zeus faber Linnaeus 1, Caproidae Capros aper (Linnaeus) Gasterosteif ormes Macrorhamphosidae Macrorhamphosus scolopax (Linnaeus) Macrorhamph osus gracilis (Lowe) 10 Scorpaenif ormes Scorpaenidae Scorpaena elongata Cadenat Scorpaena notata Rafinesque Triglidae Trigloporus lastoviza (Bonnaterre) Chelidonichthys lucernus (Linnaeus) Aspitrigla obscura (Bloch & Schneider) Peristedion cataphractum (Linnaeus) 2 2,, Platycephalidae Thysanophrys gruveli (Pellegrin) Perci formes Serranidac Epinephelus aeneus (Geoffroy Hilaire) Epinephelus gigas (Giinther) Serranus cabrilla (Linnaeus) Apogonidae Apogon imberbis (Linnaeus) Pomatomidae Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus) Carangidae Caesiomorus vadigo (Risso) Decapterus punctatus (Agassiz) Trachurus trachurus (Linnaeus),,, 10 Pomadasyidae Plect orhynchus mediterraneus (Guichenot) Pomadasys incisus (Bowdich) Sparidae Boops boops (Linnaeus) Dentex filosus Valenciennes Dentex canariensis Steindachner 2,,, Diplodus rondeleti Pagrus pagrus (Linnaeus) (Cuvier & Valenciennes) Pagrus ehrenbergi Valenciennes Pagrus auriga Valenciennes Spondyliosoma cantharus (Linnaeus) Dicuz Pagellus coupei Pagellus bogaraveo (Brünnich) 2,,. 10,

6 Nielsen 8 S. J. DE GROOT & H. NIJSSEN NORTH WEST AFRICAN FISHES Sciaenidae Atractoscion aequidens (Cuvier & Valenciennes) Umbrina valida (Jordan & Gunn) Umbrina spec. Mullidae Pseudupeneus prayensis (Cuvier) Trachinidae Trachinus draco Linnaeus 2,,,, 10 Trachinus radiatus Cuvier Trachinus collignoni Roux 2 Uranoscopidae Uranoscopus polli Cadenat 2,, Gobiidae Bathygobius paganellus (Linnaeus) Trichiuridae Lepidopus caudatus (Euphrasen) 1, Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus Scombridae Sarda sarda (Bloch) Orcynopsis unicolor (Geoffroy Hilaire) Scomber japonicus (Houttuyn),, 10 Stromateidae Stromateus fiatola Linnaeus Pleuronectif ormes Bothidae Arnoglossus imperialis (Rafinesque) 2,,,, 10 Eucitharus linguatula (Linnaeus) 2,,,, 10 Platophrys podas (Delaroche) Syacium micrurum (Ranzani) 2,,,. 10 Soleidae Dicologoglossa azevia (Capello) 2,,,, 10 Dicologoglossa cuneata (Moreau) 2,,,, 10 Monochirus hispidus (Rafinesque), 10 Cynoglossidae Cynoglossus canariensis (Steindachner) Cynoglossus goreensis Steindachner Tetraodontif ormes Diodontidae Chilomycterus spinosus (Linnaeus) DISCUSSION Although there was only little time to spend oil Although this species is recorded from Mediterranean and adjacent parts of Atlantic, westwards this preliminary survey, and though most species to the Azores and southwards to Angola" (Norman, 19: 225), the material from station seems listed here are well known from this area, we to contradict the existence of the subspecies P.p. should like to mention some species which, as far as we know, have hitherto been recorded only farther South. aequidens (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Station 5: 2 specimens (ZMA /96); africanus (Nielsen, 1961). Apart from the subspecies P.p. maderiensis (Lowe, 18), which is a well distinguishable population off Madeira and the Canary Islands with 8891 lateral line scales, and 2021 scales in the lateral line curve station 7: specimens (ZMA ); station 8: separated his subspecies africanus from specimens (ZMA /9). Northernmost the nominate subspecies as follows: P. p. podas record from 12 5'S, 52'E (Poll, 195: 218). (Delaroche, 1809), Mediterranean, with 808 lateral line scales and 1720 scales in the lateral Uranoscopus polli Cadenat. Station 2: 1 specimen (ZMA ); station 10: 1 specimen line curve. P. p. africanus along the West African (ZMA ). Northernmost record from 06 07'S, 12 12'E (Poll, 1959: 7). coast from Cape Blanc to Angola, with 7582 lateral line scales and 117 scales in the lateral Platophrys podas (Delaroche). Syn.: Bothus line curve. Nielsen obviously did not see Dollfus' podas. Station : 8 specimens (ZMA ). paper (1955: 10), because he states "Going

7 BIJDRAGEN TOT DE DIERKUNDE, 1 (1) thoroughly through the literature, I never saw any Chilomycterus spinosus (Linnaeus). Station 6: 1 record of B. podas from the coast between Gibraltar and Cape Blanc". specimen (ZMA ). The northernmost record from the literature seems to be 00 ' S, Our eight specimens from 2 09'N, 17 0'W 08 50' E (Poll, 1959: 50). Another specimen of were collected just between Gibraltar (6 N, 06 this species was caught during the "Guinean W) and the type locality of Nielsen's subspecies africanus (09 27' N, 1 8' W). Our specimens Trawling Survey" off Liberia in 196 (ZMA ). have 7686 lateral line scales (mean = 79.25), and 1619 scales in the lateral line curve (mean ACKNOWLEDGEMENT = 18.25). It seems likely that the number of scales along the lateral line shows gradual (clinical) changes from North to South along the West African coast, and that P. p. africanus should not be regarded a subspecies. The authors are much indebted to the late Mr. Wout E. Pronk of the Technical Research Department of the Fisheries Directorate IJmuiden for his zeal in helping us collecting. REFERENCES Aldebert, Y., Répartition bathymetrique et géo Maurin, C., F. Lozano & M. Bonnet, Inventaire graphique des poissons hétérosomes récoltés la par Thalassa" en 1962 au Rio de Oro et en Mauritanie. CIEM. Symposium sur les ressources vivantes du plateau continental africain du Détroit de Gibraltar au Section Cap Vert, Poissons, 10 : 17. faunistique des principales espèces ichthyologiques fréquentant les côtes nordouest africaine. Ibid., Section Poissons, :. Metzelaar, J., Report on the fishes collected by Dr. J. Boeke in the Dutch West Indies Blache, J., J. Cadenat & A. Stauch, Clés de déter With comparative notes on marine fishes of tropical mination des poissons de mer signalés dans l'atlantique oriental (entre le 20e parallèle N. et le 15e parallèle S.). O.R.S.T.O.M. Faune Tropicale, 18: 179. Dollfus, R. P., Première contribution à l'établissement d'un fichier ichthyologique du Maroc Atlantique de Tanger à l'embouchure de l'oued Dra. Trav. West Africa, 1 1 (The Hague). Nielsen, J., Psettodoidea and Pleuronectoidea (Pisces, Heterosomata). Atlantide Rep., 6 : Norman, J. R., 19. A systematic monograph of the Flatfishes (Heterosomata), 1. Psettodidae, Bothidae, Pleuronectidae: 159 (London). Inst. sci. Chérifien, (Zool.) 6 : Poll, M., 199. Résultats scientifiques des croisières du Fowler, H. W., 196. The marine fishes of WestAfrica, navireécole belge Mercator",. Poissons. Mém. Inst, based on the collection of the American Museum Congo Expedition, Bull. Am. Mus. nat. Hist.. 70 : 12, ivii, 9. Lozano Cabo, F., Relation des espèces de poissons de la région côtière du plateau continental Sahara espagnol et Mauritanie, récueillies de Maroc, durant les campagnes d'investigation faunistique espagnoles. Avec des indications zoogéographiques. CIEM. Symposium sur les ressources vivantes du plateau continental du Détroit de Gibraltar au Cap Vert, Section roy. Sci. nat. Belg., (2) : , 195. Expédition océanographique belge dans les eaux côtières africaines de l'atlantique sud (198199). Poissons,. Téléostéens Acanthoptérygiens, 1. Mém. Inst. roy. Sci. nat. Belg., (a) : Ibid., Poissons, 5: Téléostéens Acanthoptérygiens,, 2. Mém. Inst. Sci. nat. Belg., (b) : roy. 7. Richards, W. J., Eastern Atlantic Triglidae (Pisces, Poissons, 9 : 7. Scorpaeniformes). Atlantide Rep., 10 : 77. Received: December 1970