List of marine animals of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay

The list of marine animals of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay is a list of marine and shore-based species that form a part of the fauna of South Africa. This list includes animals which either live entirely marine lives, or which spend critical parts of their lives at sea.

The geographical range is from Table Bay to Cape Hangklip, in the Western Cape province of South Africa and includes the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area and the Helderberg Marine Protected Area.

File:Topographical map Cape Peninsula and False Bay2.png

Map showing approximate extent of the range of the article and identifying key locations

Marine bioregions of the South African exclusive economic zone

File:Marine species distribution reference map Southern Africa.png

Map of the Southern African coastline.

Sponges

Main article: Porifera

Calcarea – Lime sponges

Main article: Calcarea

Order Leucosolenida

Family Sycettidae

• Hairy tube sponge Sycon spp. (Saldanha Bay to Kosi Bay)

Family Leucosoleniidae

• Branching ball sponge Leucosolenia sp. (Cape Peninsula to Cape Agulhas)
• Tube sponge Leucosolenia sp. (Port Nolloth to Sodwana Bay)

Demospongiae – fibre or horny sponges

Main article: Demospongiae

Order Astrophorida

Family Ancorinidae

• Grey wall sponge Stelletta agulhana Lendenfield, 1907 (Northern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal)

Order Hadromerida

Family Clionaidae

• Rosetted sponge Cliona aff. celata (Namibia to Cape Peninsula)
• Boring sponge Cliona celata Grant, 1826 (Luderitz to Durban)

Family Polymastiidae

• Teat-sponge Polymastia mamillaris (Müller, 1806) (Saldanha Bay to Port St. Johns)
• Atlantic teat-sponge Polymastia atlantica Samaai & Gibbons, 2005 (Luderitz to Cape Peninsula)

Family Trachycladidae

• Orange wall sponge Trachycladus spinispirulifera (Carter, 1879) (Cape Peninsula to Cape Agulhas)

Family Suberitidae

• Dusty sponge Suberites aff. ficus (both side of the Cape Peninsula, also southern Namibia, Mediterranean, Pacific and north Atlantic)

Family Tethyidae

• Golf ball sponge Tethya aurantium (Luderitz to Durban)

Order Halichondrida

Family Halichondriidae

• Crumb-of-bread-sponge Hymeniacidon perlevis (Montagu, 1818) (Northern Cape to Port St. Johns, also north Atlantic, Mediterranean and the Pacific)

Order Poecilosclerida

Family Chondropsidae

• Scroll sponge Chondropsis sp. (Olifants River to Cape Peninsula)

Family Crambeidae

• Stellar sponge Crambe acuata (Lévi, 1958) syn. Crambe chelastra (Luderitz to Cape Peninsula)

Family Latrunculiidae

• Vented sponge Latrunculia (Biannulata) spinispiraefera Brøndsted, 1924 (Angola to Durban)

Family Isodictyidae

• Brain sponge Isodictya elastica (Vosmaer, 1880) (West Coast to Port Elizabeth)(Luderitz to Cape Point)
• Flat leaf sponge Isodictya grandis (Ridley & Dendy, 1886) (West Coast to False Bay)
• Fanned kelp sponge Isodictya frondosa (Lévi, 1963) (Orange river to Cape Point)

Family Microcionidae

• Broad-bladed tree sponge Clathria (Clathria) dayi Levi, 1963 (West Coast to the Cape Peninsula)
• Red encrusting sponge Clathria (Isociella) oudekraalensis Samaai & Gibbons, 2005 (Cape Peninsula)
• Tree sponge Echinoclathria dichotoma (Levi, 1963) (West Coast to Cape Agulhas)
• Nodular sponge Clathria (Thalysias) hooperi Samaai & Gibbons, 2005 (Cape Peninsula)

Family Desmacellidae

• Yellow encrusting sponge Biemna anisotoxa Levi, 1963 (West Coast to Port Elizabeth)

Order Haplosclerida

Family Chalinidae

• Turret sponge Haliclona (Haliclona) anonyma (Stephens, 1915) (Cape Peninsula to Sodwana Bay)
• Encrusting turret sponge Haliclona (Haliclona) stilensis Burton, 1933 (West and South Coasts)

Order Dictyoceratida

Family Irciniidae

• Black stink sponge Ircinia arbuscula (Hyatt, 1877) (syn. Sarcotragus australis) (Cape Peninsula to Cape Agulhas, also Australia)
• Sand cup sponge Psammocinia cf. arenosa (Orange River to Cape Peninsula)

Cnidarians

Main article: Cnidaria

Anthozoa

Main article: Anthozoa

Hexacorallians

Main article: Hexacorallia

Order: Actiniaria – Anemones
Family Halcampidae

• Brooding anemone Halianthella annularis Carlgren, 1938 (Lamberts Bay to Cape Agulhas, endemic)

Family Sagartiidae

• Striped anemone Anthothoe chilensis(Lesson, 1830) (Luderitz to Richards Bay, also Argentina, Brazil, Chile and St. Helena)
• Square-mouth striped anemone Anthothoe sp. (False Bay) (still being described)

Family Actiniidae

• Violet-spotted anemone Anthostella stephensoni Carlgren, 1938 (Luderitz to Richards Bay, endemic)
• Dwarf-spotted anemone Anthostella n. sp. (Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth, possibly endemic) (still being described)
• Knobbly anemone Bunodosoma capensis (Lesson, 1830) (Luderitz to Durban)
• False plum anemone Pseudactinia flagellifera (Drayton in Dana, 1846) (Luderitz to Durban)
• Long-tentacled anemone Anthopleura michaelseni (Pax, 1920) (Luderitz to Durban)
• Spinnaker anemone Korsaranthus natalensis (Carlgren, 1938) (False Bay to Durban)
• Sandy anemone Bunodactis reynaudi (Milne-Edwards, 1857) (Luderitz to Durban) (syn. Aulactinia reynaudi)
• Clown anemone undescribed (False Bay)

Family Preactiidae

• Walking anemone, sock anemone Preactis millardae England in England & Robson, 1984 (Cape Peninsula)

Family Isanthidae

• Ring-tentacle anemone Isanthus capensis Carlgren, 1938 (South African Atlantic coast)

Order Corallimorpharia
Family Corallimorphidae

• Strawberry anemone Corynactis annulata (Verrill, 1867) (Port Nolloth to Mossel Bay)

Order Zoanthids
Family Parazoanthidae

• Cape zoanthid Isozoanthus capensis (Cape Peninsula to Port St Johns)
• Sponge zoanthid Parazoanthus sp. (False Bay)

Order Cerianthids
Family Cerianthidae

• Burrowing anemone Ceriantheopsis austroafricanus Molodtsova, Griffiths and Acuna 2012 (False Bay and Hermanus)
• White burrowing anemone Ceriantheopsis nikitai Molodtsova, 2001 (Table Bay)

Octocorallians

Main article: Octocorallia

Order Scleractinia
Family Dendrophylliidae

• Cup coral Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) bonaespei van der Horst, 1938 (Saldanha Bay to East London)

Family Caryophylliidae

• Large cup coral Caryophyllia sp. (False Bay)

Order Alcyonacea – soft corals
Family Alcyoniidae

• Purple soft coral Alcyonium fauri Studer, 1910 (Saldanha Bay to Richards Bay)
• Valdivian soft coral Alcyonium valdiviae Kukenthal, 1906 (Cape Peninsula to northern KwaZulu-Natal)
• Variable soft coral Eleutherobia variabile (J.S. Thomson, 1921) (Cape Peninsula to northern KwaZulu-Natal) (syn. Alcyonium variabile)
• Sun-burst soft coral Malacacanthus capensis (Hickson, 1900) (Cape Peninsula to southern KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Gorgoniidae

• Flagellar sea fan, whip fan Eunicella albicans (Kolliker, 1875) (Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth)
• Nippled sea fan Eunicella papillosa (Esper, 1797) (Luderitz to Sodwana)
• Sinuous sea fan Eunicella tricoronata Velimirov, 1971 (Cape Peninsula to East London)
• Palmate sea fan Leptogorgia palma (Pallas, 1766) (Cape Peninsula to Sodwana)

Family Nephtheidae

• Cauliflower soft coral Eunephthya thyrsoidea (Verrill, 1865) (Cape Peninsula to northern KwaZulu-Natal)

Order Pennatulacea – sea pens
Family Echinoptilidae

• Radial sea pen, purple sea pen Actinoptylum molle (Kukenthal, 1902) (whole South African coast)

Family Virgulariidae

• Feathery sea pen Virgularia schultzei Kukenthal, 1910 (Luderitz to central Mozambique)

Order Alcyonacea – sea fans
Family Anthothelidae

• Gorgonian twig coral Homophyton verrucosum (Mobius, 1861) (False Bay to Sodwana)

Family Melithaeidae

• Multicoloured sea fan Acabaria rubra Esper, 1789 (Bloubergstrand to East London)

Medusozoa

Main article: Medusozoa

Staurozoa

Main article: Staurozoa

Order Stauromedusae
family Depastridae

• Stalked trumpet jelly Depastromorpha africana Carlgren, 1935 (Cape Peninsula to Hermanus)

Family Lipkeidae

• Bell stalked jelly Lipkea stephensoni Carlgren, 1933 (Smitswinkel Bay)

Scyphozoa - True jellyfish

Main article: Scyphozoa

Order Semaeostomeae
Family Pelagiidae

• Compass jellyfish Chrysaora hysoscella (Linnaeus, 1767) (pelagic, Atlantic Ocean)
• Night-light jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca (Forsskal, 1775) (pelagic, Atlantic Ocean, also Mediterranean and Pacific)

Order Rhizostomeae
Family Rhizostomatidae

• Frilly-mouthed jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo Macri, 1778 (pelagic, Atlantic Ocean)
• Root-mouthed jellyfish Eupilema inexpectata Pages, Gili & Bouillon, 1992 (pelagic, Atlantic Ocean)

Order Carybdeida
Family Carybdeidae

• Box jellyfish, sea wasp Carybdea branchi (north of Namibia to Port Elizabeth)

Hydrozoans

Main article: Hydrozoa

Order Anthoathecata

Family Candelabridae

• Gnome's hat hydroid Candelabrum capensis (Manton, 1940) (Luderitz to East London) syn. Myriothela capensis
• Dreadlocks hydroid Candelabrum tentaculatum Millard, 1966 (Cape Peninsula and Port Elizabeth) syn. Myriothela tentaculata

Family Eudendriidae

• Bushy hydroids Eudendrium spp. (whole coast)

Family Hydractiniidae

• High-spined commensal hydroid Hydractinia altispina Millard, 1955 (Luderitz to False Bay)
• Shell-mimic hydroid Hydrocorella africana Stechow, 1921 (West Coast to Durban)

Family Porpitidae

• Blue button Porpita porpita (Port Nolloth to Mozambique, pelagic, warm waters.)
• By-the-wind sailor Velella velella (Port Nolloth to Mozambique, pelagic, warm waters.)

Family Solanderiidae

• Grey fan hydroid Solanderia procumbens (Carter, 1873) (Cape Peninsula to KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Stylasteridae

• Noble coral Stylaster nobilis (Saville Kent, 1871) (Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth) syn. Allopora nobilis

Family Tubulariidae

• Tubular hydroid Ectopleura crocea (Agassiz, 1862) (Saldanha Bay to Sodwana Bay)
• Tubular sponge hydroid Zyzzyzus warreni (Warren, 1906) (Saldanha Bay to Sodwana Bay) syn. Zyzzysus solitarius Calder, 1988

Order: Leptothecata
Family Aequoreidae

• Crystal jellyfish Aequorea sp. (pelagic, whole coast)

Family Aglaopheniidae

• Toothed feather hydroid Aglaophenia pluma (Linnaeus, 1767) (whole coast)
• Smoky feather hydroid Macrorhynchia filamentosa (Lamarck, 1816) syn. Lytocarpus filamentosus(Walvis Bay to Durban)

Family Campanulariidae

• Thin-walled obelia Obelia dichotoma (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cosmopolitan. Alien, introduced on ships)
• Obelia geniculata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Luderitz to Cape Agulhas)

Family Halopterididae

• Fine hydroid Corhiza scotiae (Ritchie, 1907) (whole coast)
• Snowdrop hydroid Gattya humilis Allman, 1886 (northern Namibia to KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Kirchenpaueriidae

• Feathery hydroid Pycnotheca mirabilis (Allman, 1883) (False Bay to KwaZulu-Natal)
• Kirchenpaueria pinnata (Linnaeus, 1758) *Namibia to KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Plumulariidae

• Plumed hydroid, little sea bristle Plumularia setacea (Linnaeus, 1758) (whole coast)

Family Sertulariidae

• Jointed hydroid Thuiaria articulata (Pallas, 1766) (whole coast) syn, Salacia articulata
• Planar hydroid Sertularella arbuscula (Lamouroux, 1816) (Saldanha Bay to southern Mozambique)
• Wiry hydroid Amphisbetia operculata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Luderitz to Durban)

Order Siphonophorae
Family Apolemiidae

• String jelly, barbed wire jellyfish Apolemia uvaria (Lesueur, 1815) (pelagic, worldwide)

Family Forskaliidae

• Net jelly Forskalia edwardsi (Kolliker, 1853) (pelagic, worldwide)

Family Physaliidae

• Bluebottle, Portuguese man-of-war Physalia utriculus (La Martiniere, 1787) (pelagic, whole coast)

Ctenophora - Comb jellies

Main article: Ctenophora

Order Beroida
Family Beroidae

• Cigar comb jelly Beroe cucumis spp. (pelagic, worldwide)

Order Cestida
Family Cestidae

• Venus' girdle Cestum veneris Lesueur, 1813 (pelagic, worldwide)

Order Cydippida
Family Pleurobrachiidae

• Sea gooseberry Pleurobrachia bachei Agassiz, 1860 (pelagic, worldwide)

Order Lobata
Family Bolinopsidae

• Lobed comb jelly Leucothea spp. (pelagic, worldwide)

Worms

Platyhelminthes - Flatworms

Main article: Platyhelminthes

Order Polycladida
Family Pseudocerotidae

• Carpet flatworm Thysanozoon brocchii (Risso, 1818) Grube, 1840 (Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth)

Incertae sedis

• Acoel flatworm, Sponge flatworm. Undescribed. (Both sides of the Cape Peninsula)
• Striped flatworm. Undescribed. (Cape Peninsula and Port Elizabeth)
• Freckled flatworm. Undescribed. (Both sides of the Cape Peninsula)

Polychaeta - Bristleworms, annelids

Main article: Polychaeta

Order Eunicida
Family Eunicidae

• Wonder worm, Bobbit worm Eunice aphroditois (Pallas, 1788) (Luderitz to Sodwana Bay)

Order Myzostomida
Family Myzostomidae

• Crinoid worm Myzostoma fuscomaculatum Lanterbeque, 2008 (False Bay)

Order Terebellida
Family Cirratulidae

• Black boring worm Dodecaceria pulchra Day, 1955 (Luderitz to Port Elizabeth)
• Orange thread-gilled worm Cirriformia capensis (Schmarda, 1861) syn. Timarete capensis, Cirratulus capensis, Cirratulus australis Stimpson, 1856 (Angola to Durban)

Family Terebellidae

• Sand mason, lollipop worm Lanice conchilega Pallas, 1766 (False Bay to Port Elizabeth, also northern oceans)
• Tangleworms Family Terebellidae Mamlgren, 1867 (whole coast)

Order Sabellida
Family Sabellidae

• Branchiomma natalensis (Kinberg, 1866), (Luderitz to Cape Point)
• Branchiomma violacea (Schmarda, 1861), (Walvis Bay to Durban)
• Feather-duster worm Pseudobranchiomma longa (Kinberg, 1866) syn. Sabellastarte longa (Cape Peninsula to Mozambique)
• Peacock fanworm, pencilworm Sabella spallanzanii (Gmelin, 1791) syn. Sabella penicillus (as S. penicillus, False Bay to southern KwaZulu-Natal)
• Gregarious fanworm Pseudopotamilla reniformis (Muller, 1771) (Port Nolloth to southern Mozambique)

Family Serpulidae

• Spiral fanworms Family Serpulidae Rafinesque, 1815 (whole coast)
• Red fanworm, mopworm Protula bispiralis (Savigny, 1822) (Cape Point to Durban)
• Operculate fanworm Serpula vermicularis Linnaeus, 1767 (Port Nolloth to southern Mozambique)
• Filigreed coral-worm Filograna implexa Berkeley, 1835 (Port Nolloth to Port Elizabeth)

Arthropods

Main article: Arthropoda

Pycnogonida - Sea spiders

Main article: Pycnogonida

Order Pantopoda
Family Ammotheidae

• Compact sea spider Tanystylum brevipes (Hoek, 1881) (Orange River mouth to Richards Bay)

Family Nymphonidae

• Scarlet sea spider Nymphon signatum Mobius, 1902 (Saldanha to East London)

Superfamily Ascorhynchoidea family incertae sedis

• Yellow sea spider Queubus jamesanus Barnard 1946 (Cape Peninsula to Port St. Johns)

Crustacea

Main article: Crustacea

Order Stomatopoda – mantis shrimps
Family Lysiosquillidae

• Cape mantis shrimp Lysiosquilla capensis Hansen, 1895 (Cape Point to Port Elizabeth)

Order Decapoda
Infraorder Achelata
Family Palinuridae

• West Coast rock lobster Jasus lalandii (H. Milne-Edwards, 1837) (Walvis Bay to Port Elizabeth)

Infraorder Caridea – benthic prawns
Family Alpheidae

• Cracker shrimp Alpheus crassimanus Heller, 1865(Saldanha Bay to Delagoa Bay)

Family Hippolytidae

• Crinoid shrimp, feather star shrimp Hippolyte catagrapha d'Udekem d'Acoz, 2007 (False Bay)
• Broken-backed shrimp Hippolyte kraussiana Stimpson, 1860 (Saldanha Bay to East London)

Family Palaemonidae

• Sand shrimp Palaemon peringueyi (Macpherson, 1990) (Walvis Bay to Port St Johns)

Infraorder Anomura – hermit crabs
Family Diogenidae

• Striated hermit crab Dardanus arrosor (Herbst, 1796) (False Bay to southern Mozambique)
• Pink hermit crab Paguristes gamianus (H. Milne-Edwards, 1836) (southern Namibia to Port Elizabeth)

Family Paguridae

• Blue-striped hermit crab Pagurus liochele (Barnard, 1947) (False Bay to Port Elizabeth)

Infraorder Brachyura – true crabs
Family Calappidae

• Masked crab Mursia cristiata H. Milne-Edwards, 1837 (Saldanha Bay to Sodwana Bay) synonym Mursia cristimanus

Family Plagusiidae

• Cape rock crab Guinusia chabrus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Luderitz to Sodwana Bay) synonym Plagusia chabrus

Family Portunidae

• Three-spot swimming crab Ovalipes trimaculatus (De Haan, 1833) (Luderitz to Durban)

Family Pilumnoididae

• Kelp crab Pilumnoides rubus Guinot & MacPherson, 1987 (Namibian border to Cape Peninsula)

Family Hymenosomatidae

• Crown crab Hymenosoma orbiculare Desmarest, 1825 (Namibian border to southern Mozambique)

Family Dromiidae

• Cryptic sponge crab Platydromia spongiosa (Stimpson, 1858) (Namibian border to Sodwana Bay) syn. Cryptodromiopsis spongiosa
• Furred sponge crab Pseudodromia latens Stimpson, 1858 (Saldanha Bay to East London)
• Sumo crab, scrubbing-brush crab Dromidia aegibotus Barnard, 1947 (Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth)
• Shaggy sponge crab Dromidia hirsutissima (Lamarck, 1818) (Southern Namibia to Mossel Bay)

Family Inachidae

• Cape long-legged spider crab Macropodia falcifera (Stimpson, 1857) (cape Peninsula to East London)
• Hotlips spider crab Achaeopsis spinulosa Stimpson, 1857 (False Bay to Durban)

Family Epialtidae

• Toothed decorator crab Dehaanius dentatus (Milne-Edwards, ?1862) (Saldanha Bay to Richards Bay)
• Agulhas spider crab Maja capensis (Ortmann, 1894) (False Bay to Port Elizabeth) syn. Mamaia capensis

Order Mysidacea – mysid shrimps
Family Mysidae

• Surf mysid Gastrosaccus psammodytes O. Tattersall, 1958 (Namibian border to Durban)
• Kelp mysid Mysidopsis major (Zimmer, 1928) (Luderitz to False Bay)

Order Amphipoda
Family Cyproideidae

• Ornate amphipod Cyproidea ornata Haswell, 1879 (Namibian coast to Kosi Bay)

Family Iphimediidae

• Hunchback amphipod Iphimedia gibba Barnard, 1940 (Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth)

Family Dexaminidae

• Sea squirt amphipod Polycheria atolli Walker, 1905 (whole coast)

Family Caprellidae

• Skeleton shrimp Caprella sp. (whole coast)

Order Isopoda
Family Idoteidae

• Reticulate kelp louse Paridotea reticulata Barnard, 1914 (Namibian border to Cape Peninsula)

Family Cymothoidae

• Fish louse Anilocra capensis Leach, 1818 (Walvis Bay to Durban)

Family Anthuridae

• Slender chequered isopod Mesanthura catenula (Stimpson, 1855) (Lamberts Bay to KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Sphaeromatidae

• Spherical isopod Exosphaeroma spp. (whole Namibian coast to cape Peninsula)

Infraclass Cirripedia – Barnacles
Order Pedunculata
Family Lepadidae

• Goose barnacle Lepas sp. (pelagic)

Order Sessilia
Family Balanidae

• Giant barnacle Austromegabalanus cylindricus (Gmelin, 1780) (Port Nolloth to Port Elizabeth)
• White dwarf barnacle Notomegabalanus algicola (Pilsbry, 1916) (Namibia to Port St Johns)
• Striped barnacle Balanus amphitrite Darwin, 1854 (Saldanha Bay to Mozambique)

Bryozoans - Moss animals, lace animals

Main article: Bryozoa

Order Cheilostomatida
Family Adeonellidae

• Forked false coral Adionella spp. (Namibian border to Durban)

Family Adeonidae

• Pore-plated false coral Laminopora jellyae (Levinsen, 1909) (Cape Peninsula to East London)

Family Beaniidae

• Magellanic lace animal Beania magellanica (Busk, 1852) (Cape Peninsula to East London)
• Beania vanhoeffeni Kluge, 1914 (Cape Peninsula)
• Beania minuspina Florence, Hayward & Gibbons, 2007 (Cape Peninsula)

Family Bugulidae

• Dentate moss animal Bugula dentata (Lamouroux, 1816) (Cape Peninsula to Sodwana Bay, Indo-Pacific and Brazil)
• Eyelash moss animal, bonsai bush Bicellariella bonsai Florence, Hayward & Gibbons, 2007 (Port Nolloth to Port St Johns)
• Tree moss animal Bugula plumosa (Pallas, 1766) (Both sides of the Cape Peninsula, Great Britain)
• Fouling moss animal Bugula neritina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Olifants River to Sodwana Bay, Almost worldwide)
• Bird's head moss animal Bugula avicularia (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cape Peninsula to Durban)
• Fan-shaped moss animal Bugula flabellata (Thompson, in Gray, 1848) (Namibian border to Algoa Bay)

Family Calwelliidae

• Busk's moss animal Onchoporella buskii (Harmer, 1923) (Port Nolloth to Algoa Bay, endemic)

Family Candidae

• Fern moss animal Menipea crispa (Pallas, 1766) (Lambert's Bay to Durban)
• Spiral moss animal Menipea triseriata Busk, 1852 (Namibian border to Port St Johns)

Family Celleporidae

• Cylindrical false coral Turbicellepora redoutei (Audouin, 1826) syn. Cellepora cylindriformis (Port Nolloth to Port St. Johns)

Family Chaperiidae

• Scrolled false coral Chaperia spp. (Namibian border to Sodwana Bay)

Family Electridae

• Verticellate lace animal Electra pilosa (Linnaeus, 1767) (Namibian border to East London)

Family Exochellidae

• Escharoides contorta (Busk, 1854) (Cape Town to KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Flustridae

• Leafy moss animal Flustra spp. (Both sides of Cape Peninsula. North Atlantic)

Family Gigantoporidae

• Staghorn false coral Gigantopora polymorpha (Busk, 1884) (Port Nolloth to Cape Infanta)

Family Lanceoporidae

• Calyptotheca nivea (Busk, 1884) (Cape Point to East London)

Family Lepraliellidae

• Spiny false coral Celleporaria capensis (O'Donoghue & de Watteville, 1935) (Cape Peninsula to Algoa Bay)

Family Margarettidae

• Cactus-bush brryozoan Margaretta levinseni (Canu & Bassler, 1930) (Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth)

Family Membraniporidae

• Membranous lace animal Jellyella tuberculata (Bosc, 1802) (Saldanha Bay to Durban) syn. Membranipora tuberculata
• Rectangular membranous lace animal Membranipora rustica Florence, Hayward & Gibbons, 2007 (Namibian border to Durban)

Family Phidoloporidae

• Lacy false coral Schizoretepora tessellata (Hincks, 1878) (Namibian border to Mossel Bay and Australia)

Family Steginoporellidae

• Steginoporella buskii Harmer, 1900 (Port Nolloth to Durban)

Family Watersiporidae

• Sub-ovoid bryozoan Watersipora subovoidea (d'Orbigny, 1852) (Namibian border to Sodwana Bay)
• Red-rust bryozoan Watersipora subtorquata (d'Orbigny, 1852) (Cape Columbine to Mossel Bay)

Order Ctenostomatida
Family Alcyonidiidae

• Nodular bryozoan Alcyonidium nodosum O'Donoghue & Watteville, 1944 (Port Nolloth to False Bay)
• Soft false coral Alcyonidium rhomboidale O'Donoghue, 1924 (Cape Columbine to Algoa Bay)

Order Cyclostomatida
Family Diaperoeciidae

• Beauteous bryozoan, Pore-tubed bryozoan Nevianipora pulcherrima (Kirkpatrick, 1890) syn. Tubulipora pulcherrima (Cape Peninsula to Mossel Bay, Indo-Pacific)

Molluscs

Main article: Mollusca

Gastropoda - Slugs and snails

Main article: Gastropoda

Patellogastropoda - True limpets

Main article: Patellogastropoda

Family Patellidae – true limpets

• Helcion dunkeri Krauss, 1848 (Namibia to KwaZulu-Natal)
• Prickly limpet Helcion pectunculus (Gmelin, 1791) (Namibia to central KwaZulu-Natal)
• Rayed limpet Helcion pruinosus Krauss, 1848 (Cape Columbine to central KwaZulu-Natal)
• Argenville's limpet Scutellastra argenvillei Krauss, 1848 (Namibia to KwaZulu-Natal south coast) (syn. Patella argenvillei)
• Bearded limpet Scutellastra barbara Linnaeus, 1758 (Orange River to central KwaZulu-Natal) (syn, Patella barbara)
• Pear limpet Scutellastra cochlear Born, 1778 (Orange River to KwaZulu-Natal south coast) (syn. Patella cochlear)
• Kelp limpet Patella compressa Linnaeus. 1758 (Namibia to Cape Point) (syn. Cymbula compressa)
• Granite limpet Patella granatina Linnaeus, 1758 (Namibia to Cape Agulhas) (syn. Cymbula granatina)
• Granular limpet Scutellastra granularis Linnaeus, 1758 (Namibia to KwaZulu-Natal north coast) (syn. Patella granularis)
• Duck's foot or Long-spined limpet Scutellastra longicosta Lamarck, 1819 (Cape Point to central KwaZulu-Natal) (syn. Patella longicosta)
• Pink rayed limpet Patella miniata Born, 1778 (Namibia to Eastern Cape) (syn. Cymbula miniata)
• Goat's eye limpet Patella oculus Born, 1778 (Cape Columbine to KwaZulu-Natal south coast) (syn. Cymbula oculus)
• Giant limpet Scutellastra tabularis Krauss, 1848 (Cape Point to KwaZulu-Natal south coast) (syn. Patella tabularis)

Vetigastropoda

Main article: Vetigastropoda

Family Haliotidae – Abalone

• Perlemoen or abalone Haliotis midae Linnaeus, 1758 (Cape Columbine to KwaZulu-Natal South coast)
• Spiral-ridged siffie Haliotis parva Linnaeus, 1758 (Cape Point to Eastern Cape)
• Siffie or Venus ear Haliotis spadicea Donovan, E., 1808 (Cape Point to KwaZulu-Natal north coast)

Family Fissurellidae – keyhole limpets

• Saddle-shaped keyhole limpet Amblychilepas scutella (Gmelin, 1791) (Namibia to northern KwaZulu-Natal) (syn. Dendrofissurella scutellum (Gmelin, 1791))
• Conical keyhole limpet Diodora parviforata (G.B. Sowerby III, 1889) (Orange River to Eastern Cape) (syn. Fissurella parviforata G.B. Sowerby III, 1889)
• Diodora elevata (Dunker, 1846) (Saldanha Bay to western Transkei)
• Diodora parviforata (Sowerby, 1889) (Saldanha Bay to Port Alfred, also south Atlantic islands)
• Cape keyhole limpet Fissurella mutabilis Sowerby, 1834 (Orange River to Eastern Cape)
• Mantled keyhole limpet Pupillaea aperta (G.B. Sowerby I, 1825) (Orange River to KwaZulu-Natal south coast) (syn. Fissurellidea aperta G.B. Sowerby, 1825)

Caenogastropoda

Main article: Caenogastropoda

Family Janthinidae

• Bubble raft shell or Violet snail Janthina janthina Linnaeus, 1758 (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)

Family Turritellidae

• Waxy screw shell Turritella capensis (Krauss, 1848)(Namibia to Eastern Cape) (syn. Protoma (Protomella) capensis)
• Turritella carinifera Lamarck, 1799 (Western Cape to southern Mozambique)
• Pale screw shell Turritella sanguinea Reeve, 1849 (Cape Point to Natal)

Littorinimorpha

Main article: Littorinimorpha

Family Aporrhaidae – pelican foot shells

• Aporrhais pesgallinae Barnard, 1963 (Namibia and Western Cape)

Family Assimineidae

• Globular mud snail Assiminea globulus Connoly, 1939 (Cape Columbine to Eastern Cape)

Family Calyptraeidae – slipper limpets

• Crepidula aculeata (Gmelin, 1791) (Namibia to KwaZulu-Natal)
• Crepidula dilatata Lamarck, 1822 (Lambert's Bay to Mossel Bay)
• Slipper limpet Crepidula porcellana (Linnaeus, 1758) (Namibia to KwaZulu-Natal north coast)
• Chinese hat Calyptraea chinensis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Namibia to Transkei)

Family Cassidae – helmet shells

• Helmet shell Semicassis labiata zeylanica (Lamarck, 1822) (Cape Point to northern KwaZulu-Natal) (syn. Phalium labiatum zeylanicum)

Family Cypraeidae – true cowries

• Dark toothed cowrie Cypraea fuscodentata Gray, 1825 (Cape Point to Tsitsikamma) (syn. Cypraeovula fuscodentata)
• Cypraea fuscorubra Shaw, 1909 (Namaqualand to Cape Agulhas) (syn. Cypraeovula fuscorubra)
• Cypraeovula iutsui Shikama, 1974 syn. Cypraea iutsui (as Cypraea iutsui Olifants River Mouth (West Coast) to Port Alfred))
• Cypraeovula castanea (Higgins, 1868) (False Bay to East London)

Family Hipponicidae – hoof limpets

• Horse's hoof Hipponix conicus (Schumacher, 1817) (Cape Point to Mozambique)

Family Littorinidae

• African periwinkle Nodilittorina africana (Philippi, 1847) (Namibia to northern KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Naticidae – Necklace shells

• Mottled necklace shell Natica tecta Anton, 1839 (Namibia to Eastern Cape)

Family Ranellidae

• Pustular triton Argobuccinum pustulosum Lightfoot, 1786 (Orange River to Eastern Cape)
• Pink lady Charonia lampas Linnaeus, 1758 (as Charonia lampas pustulata Cape Point to Mozambique)
• Ranella gemmifera Euthyme, 1889 (as Ranella australasia gemmifera Cape Point to Durban)
• Furry ridged triton Cabestana africana Adams A. 1855 (as Cabestana cutacea africana Namibia to southern Mozambique)

Family Triviidae – trivia

• Triviella magnidentata (Liltved, 1986) syn. Trivia magnidentata (Cape Town to East London)
• West coast baby's toes Triviella millardi (Cate, 1979) (as Trivia millardi Cape west coast)(Cape Agulhas and north)
• Triviella neglecta Schilder, 1930 (Cape Peninsula, Cape Agulhas and north (?))syn. Trivia neglecta
• Baby's toes Trivia ovulata (Cape Point to south Transkei)
• Triviella sanctispiritus (Shikama, 1974) (Cape Town to East London) syn. Trivia sanctispiritus

Family Velutinidae

• ?Marsenia (s.l.) capensis Bergh, 1907 (Cape Point and north (?))
• ?Marsenia (s.l.) leptoconcha Bergh, 1907 (Cape Point and north (?))
• Lamellaria perspicua Linnaeus, 1758 (Cape Point and north (?))

Family Vermetidae – worm shells

• Colonial worm shell Dendropoma corallinaceus (Tomlin, 1939) (Orange river to Transkei) (Keen & Morton listed as authors by WoRMS) (syn. Vermetus (Stoa) corallinaceus Tomlin, 1939)
• Solitary worm shell Serpulorbis natalensis Mörch, 1862 (Namaqualand to central Kwa-Zulu-Natal)

Neogastropoda

Main article: Neogastropoda

Family Babyloniidae

• Spotted babylon Zemiropsis papillaris (G.B. Sowerby I, 1825), (False Bay to eastern Transkei)

Family Buccinidae

• Flame-patterned burnupena Burnupena catarrhacta Gmelin, 1791 (Orange river to Agulhas)
• Ridged burnupena Burnupena cincta Röding, 1798 (Namibia to Transkei)
• Burnupena lagenaria Lamarck, 1822 (Saldanha to Zululand)
• Papery burnupena Burnupena papyracea Bruguière, 1792 (Orange river to Agulhas)
• Burnupena pubescens Küster, 1858 (North western Cape to Durban)

Family Conidae – cone shells

• Algoa cone Conus algoensis G. B. Sowerby II, 1834 (Cape Columbine to Cape Agulhas)
  • Conus algoensis algoensis (West Coast)
  • Yellow Algoa cone Conus algoensis simplex G. B. Sowerby II, 1858 (Cape Point to Hermanus)
• Elongate cone Conus mozambicus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 (Orange river to Eastern Cape)

Family Fasciolariidae

• Lugubrilaria lugubris (A. Adams & Reeve, 1847) (Saldanha to False Bay) (syn? Pleuroploca lugubris lugubris (Adams, A. & L.A. Reeve in Reeve, L.A., 1847)), Fasciolaria lugubris lugubris
• Long-siphoned whelk Fusinus ocelliferus Lamarck, 1816 (Namaqualand to central KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Marginellidae – marginellas

• Marginella musica Hinds, 1844 (Luderitz to Cape Agulhas)
• Cloudy marginella Marginella nebulosa Bolten in Röding, P.F., 1798 (Cape Point to Eastern Cape)
• Sandy marginella Marginella piperata Hinds, 1844 (Cape Point to KwaZulu-Natal north coast)
• Pinch lipped marginella Marginella rosea Lamarck, 1822 (Cape Columbine to Cape Agulhas)
• Cape marginella Volvarina capensis Krauss, 1848 (Namibia to Cape Hangklip)
• Banded volvarina or Banded marginella Volvarina zonata (Kiener, 1841) (Saldanha Bay to Port Elizabeth)

Family Mitridae – mitres

• Brown mitre Mitra picta Reeve, 1844 (Cape Columbine to KwaZulu-Natal south coast)

Family Muricidae

• Fenestrate oyster drill Ocenebra fenestrata Gould, 1833 (Cape Point to Transkei)
• Stag shell Pteropurpura (Poropteron) graagae (Coen, 1947) (Eastern Cape to northern KwaZulu-Natal)
• Pteropurpurea (Poropteron) uncinaria Lamarck, 1822 (Namibia to Port Alfred)
• Thais wahlbergi (Saldanha to False Bay)
• Girdled dogwhelk Nucella cingulata Linnaeus, 1771 (Orange river to Cape Point)
• Common dogwhelk Nucella dubia (Krauss, 1848) (Namibia to Transkei)
• Scaly dogwhelk Nucella squamosa (Lamarck, 1816) (Namibia to Transkei)

Family Nassariidae

Dogwhelks

• Cape dogwhelk Nassarius capensis R. W. Dunker, 1846 (Cape Columbine to Transkei)
• Tick shell Nassarius kraussianus (Dunker, R.W., 1846) (Namaqualand to Mozambique)
• Purple-lipped dogwhelk Nassarius speciosus (Adams, A., 1852) (Orange river to Transkei)

Plough shells

• Annulated plough shell 'Bullia annulata Lamarck, 1816 (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)
• Finger plough shell Bullia digitalis (Dillwyn, L.W., 1817) (Namibia to Transkei)
• Fat plough shell Bullia laevissima (Gmelin, 1791) (Namibia to Transkei)
• Pure plough shell Bullia pura Melvill, J.C., 1885 (Cape Point to central KwaZulu-Natal)
• Smooth plough shell Bullia rhodostoma Reeve, L.A., 1847 (Cape Point to North KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Turridae

• Ribbed turrid Clionella sinuata Born, 1778 (Namibia to Eastern Cape)
• Clionella rosaria (Cape Point to KwaZulu-Natal)

Heterobranchia

Main article: Heterobranchia

clade Cephalaspidea – head shield slugs
Family Cylichnidae

• Cylichna tubulosa Gould, 1859 (Angola to Durban)

Family Retusidae

• Retusa truncatula (Bruguiere, 1792) (False Bay to Durban, also northern Europe, Mediterranean, Canary Islands)

Family Philinidae

• Sand slug Philine aperta (Linnaeus, 1767) (eastern Atlantic Ocean, Northern Europe to southern Africa, also Pacific and Indian Oceans)

Family Aglajidae

• Slipper slug Philinopsis capensis (Bergh, 1907) (False Bay to East London)

Family Gastropteridae

• Gastropteron alboaurantium Gosliner, 1984 (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula)
• Gastropteron flavobrunneum Gosliner, 1984 (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula)

Family Haminoeidae

• Green bubble shell Haminoea alfredensis Bartsch, 1915 (Cape Peninsula to north of East London)

Family Bullidae

• Mottled bubble shell Bulla ampulla Linnaeus, 1758 (whole South African coast, Indo-Pacific)

clade Aplysiomorpha – sea hares
Family Aplysiidae

• Variable sea hare Aplysia juliana Quoy & Gaimard, 1832 (Blougbergstrand to Mozambique)
• Spotted sea hare Aplysia oculifera Adams & Reeve, 1850 (Cape Peninsula to KwaZulu-Natal north coast, Indo-Pacific)
• Dwarf sea hare Aplysia parvula Morch, 1863 (Cape Peninsula to northern KwaZulu-Natal, circumtropical)
• Shaggy sea hare Bursatella leachii (Blainville, 1817) (Saldanha Bay to Mozambique, Indo-Pacific)

clade Sacoglossa – sap-sucking slugs
Family Oxynoidae

• Oxynoe sp. (False Bay and Knynsa Lagoon)

Family Placobranchidae

• Plant-sucking nudibranch Elysia spp. (Orange River to northern KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Stiligeridae

• Dendritic nudibranch Placida dendritica (Alder & Hancock, 1843) (Elands Bay to Port Alfred, cosmopolitan)

Family Hermaeidae

• Table Bay nudibranch Aplysiopsis sinusmensalis (Macnae, 1954) (both sides of the Cape Peninsula)

clade Pleurobranchomorpha – sidegill slugs
Family Pleurobranchidae

• Mosaic pleurobranch Pleurobranchus albiguttatus (Bergh, 1905) (False Bay to Algoa Bay)
• Berthella plumula (Montagu, 1803) (Atlantic Coast of the Cape Peninsula at Kommetjie and McClear's Beach, Knysna, northern Europe and Mediterranean)
• Berthella sp. (Bakoven, Atlantic Coast Cape Peninsula)
• Lemon pleurobranch Berthellina granulata (Krauss, 1848) (Cape Peninsula at Kommetjie to Mozambique, Indo-Pacific)
• Warty pleurobranch Pleurobranchaea bubala Marcus and Gosliner, 1984 (Cape Peninsula to Jeffreys Bay)
• Dwarf warty pleurobranch Pleurobranchaea tarda Verrill, 1880 (Atlantic Coast Cape Peninsula to Knysna)

clade Nudibranchia – nudibranchs
subclade Doridacea – dorid nudibranchs
Family Dorididae

• Warty dorid Doris granosa (Bergh, 1907) (Luderitz in Namibia to Port Elizabeth, also Indian and Atlantic Oceans)
• Rugby-ball dorid Atagema rugosa Pruvot-Fol, 1951 (atlantioc Coast, Cape Peninsula, Mediterranean)
• Velvet dorid Jorunna tomentosa (Cuvier, 1804) (Elands Bay to Knysna, also Europe)
• Three-spot dorid Aldisa trimaculata Gosliner in Millen & Gosliner, 1985 (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula and Gordon's Bay)
• Aldisa benguelae Gosliner in Millen & Gosliner, 1985 (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula)

Family Discodorididae

• Small-spot dorid Discodoris sp. 1 (both sides of the Cape Peninsula)
• Blotchy dorid Geitodoris capensis Bergh, 1907 (Atlantic coast, Cape Peninsula and Port Alfred)
• Variable dorid Aphelodoris brunnea Bergh, 1907 (False Bay to East London)
• Chocolate-chip nudibranch Aphelodoris sp. 1 (both sides of the Cape Peninsula)
• Brown-spotted nudibranch Aphelodoris sp. 2 (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula)
• Spiky nudibranch Aphelodoris sp. 3 (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula)
• Ocellate dorid Gargamella sp. 1 (western False Bay)
• Gargamella sp. 2 (western False Bay)
• Red sponge nudibranch Rostanga elandsia Garovoy, Valdes & Gosliner, 2001 (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula to Rooi Els)
• Rostanga phepha Garovoy, Valdés & Gosliner, 2001 (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula)

Family Chromodorididae

• Red-spotted nudibranch Goniobranchus heatherae Gosliner, 1994 syn. Chromodoris heatherea (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth)
• Protea dorid Noumea protea Gosliner, 1994 (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula and Gordon's Bay)
• Cape dorid Hypselodoris capensis (Barnard, 1927) (Cape Point to the Wild Coast)
• Inkspot nudibranch Ceratosoma ingozi Gosliner, 1996 (False Bay)
• Saddled nudibranch Cadlina sp. 1 (False Bay)
• Brown-dotted nudibranch Cadlina sp. 2 (both sides of the Cape Peninsula)

Family Dendrodorididae

• Blue-speckled nudibranch Dendrodoris caesia (Bergh, 1907) (Cape Point to Port Elizabeth)
• Tan dorid Doriopsilla capensis (Bergh, 1907) (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula)
• Scribbled nudibranch Doriopsilla miniata (Alder and Hancock, 1864) (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula to Sodwana Bay, also Mediterranean, India, Australia and Japan)

Family Mandeliidae

• Mandela's nudibranch Mandelia mirocornata Valdés & Gosliner, 1999 (Cape Peninsula, False Bay and Algoa Bay)

Family Onchidorididae

• Fluffy nudibranch Acanthodoris planca Fahey & Valdes, 2005 9both sides Cape Peninsula)

Family Goniodorididae

• Fiery nudibranch Okenia amoenula (Bergh, 1907) (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth)
• Goniodoris castanea Alder & Hancock, 1845 syn. G. brunnea (Cape Peninsula to Port Alfred, also Europe, Mediterranean, Japan and New Zealand)
• Tugboat nudibranch Goniodoris mercurialis Macnae, 1958 (both sides of the Cape Peninsula)
• White-lined nudibranch Trapania sp. 1 (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula to Knysna)
• Giraffe spot nudibranch Ancula sp. (Cape Peninsula and False Bay)

Family Corambidae

• Crazed nudibranch Corambe sp. (False Bay)

Family Polyceridae

• Feather nudibranch Thecacera pennigera (Montagu, 1815) (Cape Peninsula to KwaZulu-Natal, cosmopolitan)
• Crowned nudibranch Polycera capensis Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 (Luderitz, Namibia to Port Alfred, also Sydney Harbour)
• Four lined nudibranch Polycera quadrilineata (Muller, 1776) (False Bay, Knysna Lagoon and Algoa Bay)
• Twin-crowned nudibranch Polycera sp. 1 (False Bay)
• Tasselled nudibranch Kaloplocamus ramosus (Cantraine, 1835) (Cape Peninsula to Wild Coast)
• Orange-clubbed nudibranch Limacia clavigera (Muller, 1776) (Saldanha Bay to Port Alfred)
• Black nudibranch Tambja capensis (Bergh, 1907) (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth)

Family Aegiretidae

• Knobbly nudibranch Aegires ninguis Fahey & Gosliner, 2004 (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth)

Family Gymnodorididae

• Ghost nudibranch Lecithophorus capensis Macnae, 1958 (both sides of the Cape Peninsula)

subclade Dendronotida
Family Scyllaeidae

• Iridescent nudibranch Notobryon sp. (Elands Bay to Jeffreys Bay)

Family Tethydidae

• Dinosaur nudibranch Melibe liltvedi Gosliner, 1987 (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula)
• Cowled nudibranch Melibe rosea Rang, 1829 (Port Nolloth to Port Alfred)

Family Dotidae

• Crowned doto Doto coronata (Gmelin, 1791) (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula to Knysna, also North Atlantic and Mediterranean)
• Feathered doto Doto pinnatifida (Montagu, 1804) (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula to Knysna, also English Channel)
• Doto rosea Trinchese, 1881 (False Bay)

Family Tritoniidae

• Whip-fan nudibranch Tritonia nilsodhneri Marcus, 1983 (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula, also Atlantic coasts of Britain, Ireland and France)
• Soft coral nudibranch Tritonia sp. 1 (False Bay to Port Elizabeth)
• Brush nudibranch Tritonia sp. 2 (both sides Cape Peninsula, Gordons Bay and Jeffreys Bay)

subclade Euarminida
Family Arminidae

• Gilchrist's armina Armina gilchristi (Bergh, 1907) (Cape Point to Jeffreys Bay)
  File:Gilchrist's armina DSC09772.jpg

  Gilchrist's armina
• Pierre's armina Armina sp. (False Bay)
• White-ridged nudibranch Dermatobranchus sp. 1 (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula and Port Elizabeth)
• Brown ridged nudibranch Dermatobranchus sp. 4 (both sides Cape Peninsula)

subclade Cladobranchia
Family Lemindidae

• Frilled nudibranch Leminda millecra Griffiths, 1985 (Cape Peninsula to KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Proctonotidae

• Cape silvertip nudibranch Janolus capensis Bergh, 1907 (Saldanha Bay to East London)
• Medallion silvertip nudibranch Janolus longidentatus Gosliner, 1981 (False Bay)
• Nippled nudibranch Janolus sp. (South Paw, off Clifton, Cape Peninsula)
  File:Nippled nudibranch at South Paw.jpg

  Nippled nudibranch at South Paw
• Gasflame nudibranch Bonisa nakaza Gosliner, 1981 (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth)

subclade Aeolidida – aeolid nudibranchs
Family Flabellinidae

• White-edged nudibranch Flabellina capensis (Thiele, 1925) (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth)
• Purple lady nudibranch Flabellina funeka Gosliner and Griffiths, 1981 (Cape Point to Port Elizabeth)
• Flabellina sp. 1 (both sides Cape Peninsula)
• Flabellina sp. 2 (western False Bay: Windmill and Dassie Point)

Family Eubranchidae

• Eubranchus sp. 1 (both sides Cape Peninsula)
• Eubranchus sp. 2 (False Bay to Knysna)
• Fireworks nudibranch Eubranchus sp. 4 (near Vulcan rock, south of Hout Bay)
• Candelabra nudibranch Eubranchus sp. 5 (False Bay)

Family Embletoniidae

• Embletonia gracilis Risbec, 1928 (western False Bay, also Japan, New Caledonia, Australia and Hawaii)

Family Tergipedidae

• Candy nudibranch Cuthona speciosa (Macnae, 1954) (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth)
• Cuthona sp. 1 (both sides Cape Peninsula)
• Cuthona sp. 2 (both sides Cape Peninsula)
• Tergipes tergipes Forskal, 1779 (both sides Cape Peninsula, widespread in the Atlantic Ocean)
• Catriona casha Gosliner & Griffiths, 1981 (Langebaan Lagoon to Knysna)
• Catriona columbiana (O'Donoghue, 1922) (Cape Town Harbour, Pacific coast of North America and Japan)

Family Facelinidae

• Olive nudibranch Facelina olivacea Macnae, 1954 (Saldanha Bay to Cape Town Harbour, Knysna and Jeffreys Bay)
• Black-dot nudibranch Caloria sp. 1 (both sides Cape Peninsula)
• Yellow-tipped nudibranch Caloria sp. 2 (both sides Cape Peninsula)
• Coral nudibranch Phyllodesmium horridum (Macnae, 1954) (False Bay to Sodwana Bay, also Japan and Australia)
• Night sky nudibranch Amanda armata Macnae, 1954 (both sides Cape Peninsula and False Bay)
• Orange-eyed nudibranch Cratena capensis Barnard, 1927 (Saldanha Bay to Port Alfred)
• Elegant nudibranch Cratena sp. 1 (False Bay to Plettenberg Bay)

Family Glaucidae

• Four-colour nudibranch Godiva quadricolor (Barnard, 1927) (Bloubergstrand to East London, also Ghana)

Family Aeolidiidae

• Indica nudibranch Anteaeolidiella foulisi (Bergh, 1888) syn. Anteaeolidiella indica, Aolidiella indica (Saldanha Bay to southern KwaZulu-Natal, circumtropical)
• Sea swallow Glaucus atlanticus Forster, 1777 (False Bay to KwaZulu-Natal, circumtropical)

Bivalvia

Main article: Bivalvia

Order Mytiloida
Family Mytilidae

• Ribbed mussel Aulacomya ater (Molina, 1782) (Namibia to Eastern Cape)
• Black mussel Choromytilus meridionalis (Krauss, 1848) (Namibia to Tsitsikamma)
• Half-hairy mussel Gregariella petagnae (Scacchi, 1832) (Namibia to central KwaZulu-Natal)
• Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819 (Orange River to Eastern Cape)
• Brown mussel Perna perna (Linne, 1758) (Cape Point to Mozambique)

Order Arcoida
Family Arcidae – ark clams

• Oblique ark shell Barbatia obliquata (Gray, 1837) (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)

Order Pterioida
Family Pinnidae – pen shells

• Horse mussel Atrina squamifera (Sowerby, 1835) (Cape Columbine to Eastern Cape)

Order Ostreoida
Family Ostreidae – true oysters

• Ostrea atherstonei Newton, 1913 (Saldanha Bay to KwaZulu-Natal south coast)
• Cape rock oyster Crassostrea margaritacea (Lamarck, 1819) (Cape Point to Mozambique)

Order Pectinoida
Family Pectinidae – scallops

• Dwarf fan shell Chlamys tincta (Reeve, 1853) (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)
• South African scallop Pecten sulcicostatus Sowerby II, 1842 (Cape Point to Eastern Cape)

Order Limoida
Family Limidae – File shells

• File shell Limaria tuberculata (Olivi, 1792) (Cape Columbine to KwaZulu-Natal south coast)

Order Veneroida
Family Mactridae – trough shells

• Otter shell Lutraria lutraria (Linne, 1758) (Namibia to Eastern Cape)
• Smooth trough shell Mactra glabrata Linne, 1767 (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)
• Angular surf clam Scissodesma spengleri (Linne, 1767) (Cape Point to Eastern Cape)

Order Carditoida
Family Carditidae

• Dead man's hands Thecalia concamerata (Gmelin, 1791) (Port Nolloth to Transkei)

Order unassigned, Euheterodonta
Family Solenidae

• Pencil bait Solen capensis P. Fischer, 1881 (Namaqualand to Eastern Cape)

Order Veneroida
Family Lasaeidae

• Dwarf rusty clam Lasaea adansoni turtoni Bartsch, 1915 (Cape Point to Mozambique)Gmelin 1791

Tellinidae

• Ridged tellin Gastrana matadoa (Gmelin, 1791) (Cape Point to northern KwaZulu-Natal)
• Port Alfred tellin Tellina alfredensisBartsch, 1915 Linnaeus 1758 (Cape Point to KwaZulu-Natal south coast)
• Gilchrist's tellin Tellina gilchristi Sowerby, 1904 (Cape Columbine to Eastern Cape)
• Tellina trilatera Gmelin, 1791 (Orange river to Transkei)

family Veneridae – Venus shells

• Heart clam Dosinia lupinus orbignyi Dunker, 1845 (Namibia to Eastern Cape)
• Zigzag clam Pitar abbreviatus Krauss, 1848 (Cape Point to Mozambique)
• Mottled venus Sunetta contempta bruggeni Fischer & Piette, 1974 (Cape Point to northern KwaZulu-Natal)
• Streaked sand clam Tivela compressa (Sowerby, 1851) (Cape Point to Eastern Cape)
• Corrugated venus Venerupis corrugatus (Gmelin, 1791) (Namibia to central KwaZulu-Natal) accepted as Venerupis senegalensis
• Warty venus Venus verrucosa Linnaeus, 1758 (Namibia to Mozambique)

Polyplacophora - Chitons

Main article: Polyplacophora

Order Chitonida
Family Ischnochitonidae

• Textile chiton Ischnochiton textilis (Gray, 1828) (Namibia to central KwaZulu-Natal)
• Dwarf chiton Ischnochiton oniscus (Krauss, 1848) (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)
• Ribbed scale chiton Ischnochiton bergoti (Velain, 1877) (Namibia to Cape Point)

Family Chitonidae

• Tulip chiton Chiton tulipa (Quoy & Gaimard, 1835) (Cape Columbine to KwaZulu-Natal south coast)
• Brooding chiton Chiton nigrovirescens de Blainville, 1825 (Namibia to Cape Agulhas) (accepted as Radsia nigrovirescens)
• Black chiton Onithochiton literatus (Krauss, 1848) (Cape Point to Mozambique)

Family Callochitonidae

• Broad chiton Callochiton castaneus (Wood, 1815) (Orange river to northern KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Acanthochitonidae

• Spiny chiton Acanthochitona garnoti de Blainville, 1825 (Cape Columbine to KwaZulu-Natal south coast)

Family Chaetopleuridae

• Giant chiton or armadillo Dinoplax gigas Gmelin, 1791 (Cape Point to KwaZulu-Natal south coast)
• Hairy chiton Chaetopleura papilio Spengler, 1797 (Namibia to Cape Point)
• Orange hairy chiton Chaetopleura pertusa Reeve, 1847 (Cape Columbine to northern KwaZulu-Natal)

Cephalopoda

Main article: Cephalopoda

Order Octopoda – Octopus
Family Octopodidae

• Common octopus Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797 (Namibia to northern KwaZulu-Natal)
• Brush-tipped octopus Eledone schultzei Hoyle, 1910 (Cape Columbine to Cape Point) (syn. Eledone thysanophora, Aphrodoctopus schultzei)

Family Argonautidae

• Paper nautilus Argonauta argo Linnaeus, 1758 (Cape Point to northern KwaZulu-Natal)

Order Teuthida – Squid
Family Loliginidae

• Chokka or calimari Loligo vulgaris reynaudi (Orbigny, 1845) (Orange River to Eastern Cape) (syn. Loligo reynaudi Orbigny, 1845)

Order Sepiolida – Bobtail squid

• Unidentified species (Cape Peninsula, both sides)

Order Sepiida – Cuttlefish

• Beautiful cuttlefish Sepia (Hemisepius) pulchra Roeleveld & Liltved, 1985
• Tuberculate cuttlefish Sepia tuberculata Lamarck, 1798 (Cape Columbine to Eastern Cape)
• Common cuttlefish Sepia vermiculata Quoy and Gaimard, 1832 (Orange River to Mozambique)

Brachiopoda - Lampshells

Main article: Brachiopoda

Order Terebratulida
Family Kraussinidae

• Kraussina crassicostata Jackson, 1952 (Cape Point to Mossel Bay)
• Ruby lamp shell Kraussina rubra (Pallas, 1766) (Luderitz to southern KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Cancellothyrididae

• Terebratulina meridionalis (Adams & Reeve) (Cape Peninsula)

Echinoderms

Main article: Echinodermata

Crinoidea - Feather stars

Main article: Crinoidea

Order Comatulida
Family Comasteridae

• Common feather star Comanthus wahlbergii (Muller, 1843) (False Bay to Mozambique)

Family Tropiometridae

• Elegant feather star Tropiometra carinata (Lamarck, 1816) (Cape Point to Mozambique)

Asteroidea - Starfish

Main article: Asteroidea

Order Paxillosida
Family Astropectinidae

• Sand starfish Astropecten irregularis pontoporeus Sladen, 1883 (Namibia to Port Elizabeth)

Order Valvatida
Family Goniasteridae

• Cobbled starfish Calliaster baccatus Sladen, 1889 (Lamberts Bay to Port Elizabeth)

Family Ophidiasteridae

• Granular starfish Austrofromia schultzei (Doderlein, 1910) (False Bay to Port Elizabeth)

Family Asterinidae

• Red starfish Callopatiria granifera (Gray, 1847) (Namibia to Durban) (syn. Patiria granifera)

Order Forcipulatida
Family Asteriidae

• Spiny starfish Marthasterias glacialis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Saldanha Bay to Port Elizabeth)
• Many-armed starfish Coscinasterias calamaria (Gray, 1840) (Saldanha Bay to False Bay)

Order Spinulosida
Family Asterinidae

• Subtidal cushion star Patiriella dyscrita (H.L. Clark, 1923) (Cape Point to Port Elizabeth)
• Dwarf cushion star Parvulastra exigua (Lamarck, 1816) (Namibia to Mozambique) syn. Patiriella exigua

Order Velatida
Family Pterasteridae

• Brooding cushion star Pteraster capensis Gray, 1847 (Luderitz to Durban)

Order Spinulosida
Family Echinasteridae

• Reticulated starfish Henricia ornata (Perrier, 1869) (Luderitz to Durban)

Ophiuroidea - Brittlestars

Main article: Ophiuroidea

Order Euryalida
Family Gorgonocephalidae

• Basket star, gorgon's head brittle star Astrocladus euryale (Retzius, 1783) (Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth)

Order Ophiurida
Family Ophiotrichidae

• Hairy brittle star Ophiothrix fragile (Abildgaard, 1789) (Luderitz to Durban)

Family Amphiuridae

• Equal-tailed brittle star Amphiura capensis Ljungman 1867 (whole coast)

Family Ophionereididae

• Striped brittle star Ophionereis dubia (Muller & Troschel, 1842) (False Bay to Mozambique)

Family Ophiodermatidae

• Banded brittle star Ophiarachnella capensis (Bell, 1888) (Saldanha Bay to Durban)
• Serpent-skinned brittle star Ophioderma wahlbergii Muller & Troschel, 1842 (Luderitz to Durban)

Echinoidea - Sea urchins

Main article: Echinoidea

Order Echinoida
Family Echinidae

• Deepwater urchin Echinus gilchristi Bell, 1904 (Luderitz to Port Elizabeth)
• Cape urchin Parechinus angulosus Leske, 1778 (Luderitz to Durban)

Order Cassiduloida
Family Echinolampadidae

• Lamp urchin Echinolampas crassa (Bell, 1880) (False Bay to Port Elizabeth)

Order Spatangoida
Family Brissidae

• Smooth-shelled urchin Spatagobrissus mirabilis H.L. Clark, 1923 (False Bay)

Family Loveniidae

• Heart urchin Echinocardium cordatum (Pennant, 1777) (Lamberts Bay to Mozambique)

Holothuroidea - Sea cucumbers

Main article: Holothuroidea

Order Dendrochirotida
Family Cucumariidae

• Mauve sea cucumber Pentacta doliolum (Pallas, 1766) (West African coast to Port Elizabeth)
• Horsehoe sea cucumber Roweia frauenfeldi (Ludwig, 1882) (Angola to East London)
• Stephenson's sea cucumber Roweia stephensoni (John, 1939) (False Bay to Wild Coast)
• Red-chested sea cucumber Pseudocnella insolens (Theel, 1886) (Port Nolloth to Durban)

Family Phyllophoridae

• Golden sea cucumber Thyone aurea (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834) (Luderitz to False Bay)

Tunicates

Main article: Tunicata

Order Aplousobranchia

Family Clavelinidae

• Bell ascidian Clavelina lepadiformis (Muller, 1776) (False Bay to Port Elizabeth)
• Choirboys Clavelina sp. syn Podoclavella sp. (Western Cape)
• Foam ascidian Polycitor porrecta (Millar, 1962) (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula)
• Sago pudding ascidian Cystodytes dellechiajei (Della Valle, 1877) (False Bay to Sodwana Bay, also Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean)
• Snowball ascidian Distaplia skoogi Michaelsen, 1934 (False Bay and Ibo Island Mozambique)
• Fan ascidian Sycozoa arborescens Hartmeyer, 1912 (Namibian border to Port Elizabeth)

Family Didemnidae

• Lattice ascidian Didemnum spp. (False Bay to Sodwana Bay)
• Brain ascidian Trididemnum cerebriforme Hartmeyer, 1913 (Cape Columbine to Durban)
• Gossamer ascidian Diplosoma listerianum (Milne-Edwards, 1841) (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)

Family Holozoidae

• Lobed ascidian, bulb ascidian Sigillina digitata (Millar, 1962) (Western Cape)

Family Polyclinidae

• Mushroom ascidian Aplidium circulatum (Hartmeyer, 1912) (False Bay to Jeffreys Bay)
• Aplidium crustatum F. Monniot, 2001 (Saldanha Bay to False Bay)
• Rosette sea squirt Aplidium flavolineatum (Sluiter, 1898a) (Saldanha Bay to Sodwana Bay)

Order Phlebobranchia

Family Ascidiidae

• Red-spotted ascidian Ascidia incrassata Heller, 1878 (Saldanha Bay to Mozambique)
• Crevice ascidian Ascidia caudata Heller, 1878 (Cape Peninsula)

Family Cionidae

• Transparent ascidian, sea vase Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) (whole coast, cosmopolitan)

Order Stolidobranchia

Family Pyuridae

• Red bait Pyura stolonifera (Heller, 1878) (Namibia to Durban)
• Herdman's redbait Pyura herdmani (Drasche, 1884) (Walvis Bay to Durban)

Family Styelidae

• Ladder ascidian Botrylloides leachi (Savigny, 1816) (West coast of Africa to southern KwaZulu-Natal)
• White-ringed ascidian Botrylloides magnicoecum (Hartmeyer, 1912) (Orange River to Durban) syn. Botryllus magnicoecus
• Fenced ascidian Botryllus closionis Monniot, Monniot, Griffiths & Schleyer, 2001 (Atlantic coast Cape Peninsula)
• Seaweed ascidian Botryllus elegans (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834) (Luderitz to Cape Agulhas)
• Variable ascidian Botryllus gregalis (Sluiter, 1898) (Cape Columbine to Durban)
• Golden star ascidian Botryllus schlosseri (Pallas, 1766) (Cape Columbine to Port St Johns (alien))
• Meandering ascidian Botryllus maeandrius (Sluiter, 1898) (Cape Peninsula to Mossel Bay)
• Angular ascidian Styela angularis (Stimpson, 1855) (Atlantic coast of Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth)
• Elephant's ears Gynandrocarpa placenta (Herdman, 1886) (Cape Peninsula to Algoa Bay)

Vertebrates

Main article: Vertebrate

Fishes

Main article: Fish

Agnatha – jawless fishes (Cyclostomes)

Main article: Agnatha

Order Myxiniformes – hagfishes
Family: Myxinidae

• Sixgill hagfish or snotslang Eptatretus hexatrema (Müller, 1834) (Walvis Bay to Durban)
• Fivegill hagfish Eptatretus profundus Barnard, 1923 (off Cape Point)
• Cape hagfish Myxine capensis Regan, 1913 (Cape of Good Hope)

Gnathostomata – jawed fishes

Main article: Gnathostomata

Chondrichthyes – cartilaginous fishes

Main article: Chondrichthyes

Elasmobranchii – Sharks and Rays
Order Myliobatiformes – stingrays
Family Myliobatidae – eagle rays

• Manta Manta birostris(Donndorff, 1798) (possibly circumtropical, from the Cape eastwards)
• Eagle ray Myliobatis aquila (Linnaeus, 1758) (Namibia to KwaZulu-Natal)
• Bullray Pteromylaeus bovinus (Saint-Hilaire, 1817) (south-western Cape to Zanzibar)

Order Rajiformes – rays, skates and guitarfish
Family Dasyatidae – stingrays

• Short tailed stingray Dasyatis brevicaudata (Hutton, 1875) (False Bay to Delagoa Bay)
• Blue stingray Dasyatis chrysonota (Smith, 1828) (Central Angola to Delagoa Bay) (syn. Dasyatis marmoratis)

Family Rajidae – skates

• Bathyraja smithii (Müller & Henle, 1841) (Agulhas bank and west of Cape Town)
• Cruriraja durbanensis (von Bonde and Swart, 1923) (off Western Cape province)
• Cruriraja parcomaculata von Bonde and Swart, 1923 (Lüderitz to Durban)
• Neoraja stehmanni (Hulley, 1972) (west of Cape Town to south of Agulhas Bank)
• Raja caudaspinosa von Bonde and Swart, 1923 (Luderitz to Cape Point)
• Thornback skate Raja clavata Linnaeus, 1758 (Walvis Bay to Durban)
• Raja confundens Hulley, 1970 (West coast from 19°S to east of Cape Point)
• Raja dissimilis Hulley, 1970 (west of Cape Town)
• Raja leopardus von Bonde and Swart, 1923 (west coast from 18°S to 35°S)
• Twineye skate Raja miraletus Linnaeus, 1758 (False Bay to Durban)
• Raja pullopunctata Smith, 1964 (Luderitz to Mozambique)
• Raja ravidula Hulley, 1970 (off Cape Town)
• Raja robertsi Hulley, 1970 (west of Cape Town)
• Raja spinacidermis Barnard, 1923 (off west coast)
• Biscuit skate or false thornback skate Raja straeleni Poll, 1951 (West Africa to East London)
• Blancmange skate Raja Wallacei Hulley, 1970 (Cape to Limpopo river mouth)
• Spearnose skate Rostroraja alba (Lacepède, 1803) (West Africa to Madagascar) (syn. Raja alba)

Family Rhinobatidae – guitarfish

• Lesser sandshark or lesser guitarfish Rhinobatos annulatus Smith in Müller & Henle, 1841 (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)
• Bluntnose guitarfish Rhinobatos blochii Müller & Henle, 1841 (Cape to Walvis Bay)

Order Torpediniformes – electric rays
Family Narkidae

• Onefin electric ray or Torpedo ray Narke capensis (Gmelin, 1789) (Atlantic coast of Cape Peninsula to Madagascar)

Family Torpedinidae

• Blackspotted electric ray Torpedo fuscomaculata Peters, 1855 (Cape Columbine to Mozambique)
• Atlantic electric ray Torpedo nobiliana Bonaparte, 1835 (Western Cape coast to Algoa Bay)

Order Carcharhiniformes – ground sharks
Family Carcharhinidae – requiem sharks

• Copper shark Carcharhinus brachyurus (Günther, 1870) (Namibia to Durban)
• Dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus (Lesueur, 1818) (Cape Point to Mozambique)
• Blue shark Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758) (off south-western Cape coast)

Family Scyliorhinidae – catsharks

• Apristurus microps (Gilchrist, 1922) (Western Cape to Agulhas)
• Apristurus saldanha (Barnard 1925) (Saldanha Bay)
• Tiger catshark Halaelurus natalensis (Regan, 1904) (Saldanha Bay to Algoa Bay)
• Puffadder shyshark or happy Eddie Haploblepharus edwardsii (Schinz, 1822) (Cape Point to central KwaZulu-Natal)
• Dark shyshark, dusky shyshark or skaamoog Haploblepharus pictus (Müller & Henle, 1838) (Namibia to Cape Agulhas)
• Holohalaelurus regani (Gilchrist, 1922) (south-western Cape to Zanzibar)
• Pyjama catshark or striped catshark Poroderma africanum (Gmelin, 1789) (Cape Columbine to central KwaZulu-Natal)
• Leopard catshark Poroderma pantherinum (Müller & Henle, 1838) (Cape Columbine to Durban)
• Yellowspotted catshark Scylliorhinus capensis (Smith, 1838) (south-western Cape to KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Sphyrnidae – hammerhead sharks

• Smooth hammerheadSphyrna zygaena (Linnaeus, 1758) (south Cape to southern Mozambique, occasionally on west coast. Warm temperate waters of both hemispheres)

Family Triakidae – houndsharks

• Soupfin shark Galeorhinus galeus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Angola to East London)
• Smooth-hound shark Mustelus mustelus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Namibia to KwaZulu-Natal)
• Whitespotted smooth-hound Mustelus palumbes Smith, 1957 (Walvis Bay to Algoa Bay)
• Spotted gully shark Triakis megalopterus (Smith, 1839) (Walvis Bay to East London)

Order Hexanchiformes – cow and frill sharks
Family Hexanchidae – cow sharks

• Sixgill shark Hexanchus griseus (Bonnaterre, 1788) (All oceans)
• Bigeye sixgill shark Hexanchus vitulus Springer and Waller, 1969 (Atlantic, south-west Indian ocean)
• Spotted sevengill cowshark or broadnose sevengill shark Notorynchus cepedianus (Péron, 1807) (Namibia to East London)

Order Lamniformes – mackerel sharks
Family Alopiidae – thresher sharks

• Thintail thresher Alopias vulpinus (Bonnaterre, 1788) (throughout SA waters, more common in southern part)

Family Cetorhinidae – basking sharks

• Basking shark Cetorhinus maximus (Gunnerus, 1765) (temperate waters of all oceans, a few records from south-western Cape)

Family Lamnidae – mackerel sharks

• Great white shark Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758) (Namibia to Mozambique)
• Shortfin makoIsurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810 (warm temperate and tropical waters of all oceans)
• Porbeagle Lamna nasus (Bonnaterre, 1788) (Temperate oceans, recorded from False Bay and possibly Knysna)

Family Mitsukurinidae – goblin sharks

• Goblin shark Mitsukurina owstoni Jordan, 1898 (west of Cape Town, and off Transkei coast)

Family Odontaspididae

• Ragged-tooth shark or spotted ragged-tooth shark Carcharias taurus Rafinesque, 1810 (Cape Point to Mozambique) (syn. Eugomphodus taurus)

Family Pseudocarchariidae – crocodile sharks

• Crocodile shark Pseudocarcharias kamoharai (Matsubara, 1936) (once found near Cape Town)

Order Orectolobiformes – carpet sharks
Family Rhincodontidae – whale sharks

• Whale shark Rhincodon typus Smith, 1828 (type specimen from Table Bay, normally northern KwaZulu-Natal)

Order Pristiophoriformes – sawsharks
Family Pristiophoridae

• Sixgill sawshark Pliotrema warreni Regan, 1906 (False Bay to southern Mozambique)

Order Squaliformes – dogfish sharks
Family Echinorhinidae – bramble sharks

• Bramble shark Echinorhinus brucus (Bonnaterre, 1788) (Namibia to southern KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Squalidae – dogfishes

• Centrophorus granulosus (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) (Western Cape)
• Centrophorus squamosis Bonnaterre, 1788 (Western Cape and Algoa Bay)
• Centroscyllium fabricii (Reinhardt, 1825) (Western Cape)
• Centroscymnus crepidater (Bocage and Capello, 1864) (Western Cape)
• Deania calcea (Lowe, 1839) (Cape Point and Algoa Bay)
• Deania profundorum (Smith and Radcliffe, 1912) (West coast and KwaZulu-Natal)
• Deania quadrispinosus (McCulloch, 1915) (northern Namibia to southern Mozambique)
• Etmopterus brachurus Smith and Radcliffe, 1912 (Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and southern Mozambique)
• Etmopterus granulosus (Günther, 1880) (Cape Point)
• Etmopterus sp. (off south-western Cape Province, northern KwaZulu-Natal)
• Euprotomicroides zantedeschia Hulley and Penrith, 1966 (west of Cape Town)
• Euprotomicrus bispinatus (Quoy and Gaimard, 1824) (all oceans)
• Flatiron shark Oxynotus centrina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Walvis Bay to Cape Town)
• Greenland shark Somniosus microcephalus (Schneider, 1801) (off Cape Columbine)
• Spotted spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias Linnaeus, 1758 (south-western Cape to Port Elizabeth)
• Bluntnose spiny dogfish Squalus megalops (MacLeay, 1882) (Namibia to southern Mozambique)
• Longnose spiny dogfish Squalus mitsukurii Jordan and Fowler, 1903 (Orange river to Beira)

Holocephali – Chimaeras

Main article: Chimaera

Order Chimaeriformes
Family Callorhinchidae – elephantfish

• St Joseph shark or elephant fish Callorhinchus capensis Duméril, 1865 (Namibia to central KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Chimaeridae – chimaeras

• Cape chimaera Chimaera sp. (Luderitz to Cape Point)

Family Rhinochimaeridae – longnose chimaeras

• Harriotta raleighana Goode and Bean, 1895 (off Western Cape)
• Rhinochimaera africana Compagno, Stehman and Ebert, 1990 (west coast off Doring Bay and Cape Columbine, Natal coast off Kosi Bay)
• Rhinochimaera atlantica Holt and Byrne, 1909 (Namibia to Plettenberg Bay)

Class Actinopterygii – ray finned fishes

Main article: Actinopterygii

Order Anguilliformes – eels

Family Anguillidae – freshwater eels

• Madagascar mottled eel Anguilla marmorata Quoy and Gaimard, 1824 (Western Cape to Kenya)
• Longfin eel Anguilla mossambica (Peters, 1852) (most waters from the Cape northwards)

Family Congridae – conger eels

• Hairy conger Bassanago albescens (Barnard, 1923) (Cape Point)
• Bathyuroconger vicinus (Vaillant, 1888) (off Cape Point)
• Cape conger Conger wilsoni (Bloch and Schneider 1801) (Cape to southern Mozambique)
• Southern conger Gnathophis capensis (Kaup, 1856) (False Bay to Plettenberg Bay)
• Strap conger Gnathophis habenatus (Richardson, 1848) (southern Cape to East London)

Family Derichthyidae – longneck eels

• Derichthys serpentinus Gill, 1884 (west of Cape Town; worldwide)
• Duckbill oceanic eel, spoonbill eel Nessorhamphus ingolfianus (Schmidt, 1912) (off the Cape, also worldwide)

Family Nemichthyidae – snipe eels

• Avocettina acuticeps (Regan, 1916) (offshore Cape to Natal)
• Nemichthys curvirostris (Strömman, 1896) (off the Cape)
• Slender snipe-eel Nemichthys scolopaceus (Richardson, 1848) (off the Cape to Natal)

Family: Nettastomatidae – witch eels

• Venefica proboscidea (Vaillant, 1888) (off the Cape)

Family Ophichthidae – snake-eels and worm-eels

• Slender snake-eel Ophichthus serpentinus Seale, 1917. syn. Ophichthus bennettai (Cape Province west coast)

Family Serrivomeridae – sawtooth eels

• Stout sawpalate Serrivomer beanii Gill and Ryder, 1883 (off Cape and Natal)

Family Synaphobranchidae – cutthroat eels

• Basketwork eel Diastobranchus capensis Barnard, 1923 (off Cape Point)
• Ilyophis brunneus Gilbert, 1892 (off the Cape)
• Snubnose eel Simenchelys parasitica Gill, 1879 (off the Cape)
• Northern cutthroat eel, slatjaw cutthroat eel Synaphobranchus kaupii Johnson, 1862 (off the Cape)

Order Ateleopodiformes

Family Ateleopodidae – tadpole fishes

• Ateleopus natalensis Regan, 1921 (Cape to Red Sea)
• Guentherus altivela Osorio, 1917 (West coast of Africa from Cabo Blanco to the Cape)
• Ijimaia loppei Roule, 1922 (Morocco to Cape Peninsula)

Order Atheriniformes
Family Atherinidae – silversides

• Cape silverside Atherina breviceps Valenciennes, 1835 (Luderitz to northern KwaZulu-Natal)

Order Aulopiformes
Family Alepisauridae – lancetfishes

• Longsnout lancetfish Alepisaurus ferox Lowe, 1833 (Walvis Bay to Sodwana Bay; in all major oceans)

Family Bathysauropsidae

• Bathysauropsis gracilis (Günther, 1878) (off Cape Point; circumglobal in southern oceans)

Family Chlorophthalmidae – greeneyes

• Chlorophthalmus punctatus Gilchrist, 1904 (both coasts of South Africa)

Family Evermannellidae – sabretooth fishes

• Coccorella atlantica (Parr, 1928) (central water areas of all 3 major oceans; off western and south-western Cape coast, 1 specimen from 31°34'S, 30°09'E)

Family Ipnopidae

• Bathypterois filiferus Gilchrist, 1906 (off Cape Point)
• Bathypterois phenax Parr, 1928 (off Cape Point)
• Ipnops agassizii Garman, 1899 (off Cape Point)

Family Notosudidae – notosudids

• Scopelosaurus ahlstromi Bertelsen, Krefft and Marshall, 1976 (all 3 oceans from about 32° to 45°S)
• Scopelosaurus hamiltoni (Waite, 1916) (southern oceans from about 30° to 60°S)
• Scopelosaurus herwigi Bertelson, Kreft and Marshall, 1976 (slope areas of Southern Africa)
• Scopelosaurus meadi Bertelson, Krefft and Marshall, 1976 (from about 19° to 43°S)

Family Paralepididae – barracudinas

• Lestidiops jayakari (Boulenger, 1889) (worldwide in tropical to temperate waters)
• Macroparalepis affinis Ege, 1933 (anti-tropical in Atlantic ocean)
• Magnisudis prionosa (Rofen, 1963) (circumglobal in southern oceans from 20°S to Antarctic)
• Arctozenus risso (Bonaparte, 1840) (syn, Notolepis rissoi) (worldwide in temperate and tropical waters)
• Sudis hyalina Rafinesque, 1810 (Atlantic ocean from 50°N to South Africa)

Family Scopelarchidae – pearleyes

• Benthalbella infans Zugmayer, 1911 (off south-western Cape; tropical/subtropical in all 3 major oceans)
• Benthalbella macropinna Bussing and Bussing, 1966 (off south-western Cape coast; circumpolar in subantarctic and Antarctic waters)
• Scopelarchus analis (Brauer, 1902) (common off southern Africa; tropical/subtropical all oceans)

Order Batrachoidiformes

Family Batrachoididae – toadfishes

• Snakehead toadfish Batrichthys apiatus (Valenciennes, 1837) (Saldanha Bay to Umtata River, Transkei)
• Pleated toadfish Chatrabus felinus (Smith, 1952). syn. Batrichthys felinus (Cape to Port Alfred)

Order Beloniformes

Family Exocoetidae – flyingfishes

• Smallhead flyingfish Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus altipinnis (Valenciennes, 1846) (Cape to Kosi Bay))
• 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)

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))
• Cape halfbeak Hyporhamphus capensis (Thominot, 1886) (False Bay to southern Mozambique))

Family Belonidae – needlefishes

• Cape needlefish Petalichthys capensis Regan, 1904 (False Bay to Pondoland)

Family Scomberesocidae – sauries

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

Order Beryciformes

Family Berycidae – 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) (False Bay and Storms River to Durban)

Family Monocentridae – 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 melanops (Weber, 1913) (Indo-West pacific from Indonesia to Natal, also off Namibia and Cape Town)

Order Clupeiformes

Family Clupeidae – herrings, sardines and pilchards

• Round sardinelle Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847 (Walvis Bay to Saldanha Bay)
• Pilchard or Sardine Sardinops sagax (Jenyns, 1842) (Namibia to Mozambique)

Family Dussumieriidae

• Roundherring Etrumeus whiteheadi Wongratana, 1983 (Walvis Bay to KwaZulu-Natal)

Family Engraulidae – anchovies

• Cape anchovy Engraulis japonicus Temminck & Schlegel, 1846 (Walvis Bay to Mozambique and Indo-Pacific)

Order Elopiformes
Family Elopidae – ladyfishes

• Atlantic ladyfish Elops lacerta Valenciennes, 1846 (Atlantic coast to 23°S)

Order Gadiformes
Family: Bregmacerotidae – codlets

• Antenna codlet Bregmaceros atlanticus Goode and Bean, 1886 (off south Cape and Natal coasts; circumtropical)
• Spotted codlet Bregmaceros mcclellandi Thompson, 1840 (from Cape eastwards; circumtropical but not known from east Pacific)
• Bregmaceros nectabanus Whitley, 1941 (Cape eastwards to tropical Indo-West Pacific; Tropical eastern Atlantic)

Family Gadidae – cods

• Cape rockling Gaidropsarus capensis (Kaup, 1858) (Cape Town to East London)
• Comb rockling Gaidropsaris insularum Sivertsen, 1945 (Cape Peninsula and West coast)

Family Macrouridae – grenadiers

• Bathygadus favosus Goode and Bean, 1886 (off Cape Town)
• Bathygadus melanobranchus Vaillant, 1888 (Table Bay and Natal coast. Unverified, specimens missing)
• Surgeon grenadier Coelorhinchus acanthiger Barnard, 1925 (off Namibia to Cape Point)
• Shovelnose grenadierCoelorhinchus braueri Barnard, 1925 (Saldanha and Table Bay, Cape Point, East London; Angola to Mozambique)
• Abyssal grenedier, armoured rat-tail, russet grenadier, smoothscale rattail Coryphaenoides armatus (Hector, 1875) (abyssal, all oceans except Arctic. One Atlantic record off South Africa)
• Coryphaenoides striaturus Barnard, 1925 (off Cape Point)
• Gadomus capensis (Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924) (Table Bay to Mozambique)
• Bigeye grenadier Macrourus holotrachys Günther, 1878 (Cape Point and Prince Edward Island; also off New Zealand and southwestern Australia)
• Softhead grenadier, softhead rat-tail Malacocephalus laevis (Lowe, 1843) (off South Africa; widespread in Atlantic and Indian oceans)
• Nezumia brevibarbata (Barnard, 1925) (Cape Point; known only off the Cape, where it is common)
• Kuronezumia leonis (Barnard, 1925), sun. Nezumia leonis (off Cape Point, Namibia, southwestern Atlantic)
• Roughsnout grenadier, roughsnout rat-tail Trachyrincus scabrus (Rafinesque, 1810) (Namibia, west coast of South Africa; eastern North Atlantic and Mediterranean sea)

Family Melanonidae – melanonids

• Pelagic cod Melanonus gracilis Günther, 1878 (circum-Antarctic south of Subtropical convergence; off Cape Peninsula)

Family Merlucciidae – hakes

• Lyconodes argenteus (Gilchrist, 1922) (west of Cape of Good Hope)
• Cape hake, shallow water hake, stockfish, South African whiting Merluccius capensis Castelnau, 1861 (Namibia to East London)
• Deep water hake, deep-water Cape hake Merluccius paradoxus Franca, 1960 (Cape Frio to East London)

Family Moridae – deepsea cods

• Blackcod, blue antimora, blue hake Antimora rostrata (Günther, 1878) (locally abundant, found in most oceans)
• Guttigadus globiceps (Gilchrist, 1906), syn. Laemonema globiceps (off south-western Cape coast)
• Lepidion capensis Gilchrist, 1922 (Cape to East London)
• Physiculus capensis Gilchrist, 1922 (Cape Peninsula to East London)
• Tripterophycis gilchristi Boulenger, 1902 (upper slope off the Cape and Durban)

Order Gonorynchiformes

Family Gonorynchidae – beaked sandfish

• Beaked sandfish Gonorynchus gonorynchus (Linnaeus 1766) (Cape of Good Hope)

Order Lampriformes

Family Lampridae – opahs

• Spotted opah, Jerusalem haddock, moonfish Lampris guttatus (Brünnich, 1788) (all oceans but not in polar waters, occurs throughout South African waters, usually well offshore)
• Southern opah Lampris immaculatus Gilchrist, 1904 (circumglobal south of 30°S)

Family Lophotidae – crestfishes

• Unicorn crestfish Eumecichthys fiski (Günther, 1890) (1 specimen, Kalk Bay in False Bay)
• Crestfish Lophotus lacepede Giorna, 1809 (Cape to Plettenberg Bay, rare but widely distributed in all oceans)

Family Radiicephalidae – tapertails

• Tapertail Radiicephalus elongatus Osorio, 1917 (70 miles SW of Cape Point)

Family Regalecidae – oarfishes

• Streamer fish Agrostichthys parkeri (Benham 1904) (southeast Atlantic, New Zealand and Tasmania)
• Oarfish Regalescus glesne Ascanius, 1772 (worldwide distribution)

Family Trachipteridae – ribbonfishes

• Polka-dot ribbonfish Desmodema polysticum (Ogilby, 1897) (1 juvenile washed ashore at Xora river and 1 found at Simon's Town, False Bay)
• Blacktail ribbonfish Trachipterus jacksonensis (Ramsay, 1881) (East London and off Cape Town)
• Peregrine ribbonfish Trachipterus trachypterus (Gmelin, 1789) (off Table Bay)
• Taper tail ribbonfish Zu elongatus (Heemstra and Kannemeyer, 1984) (4 specimens trawled off the western Cape coast)

Family Lophiidae – monks

• Blackmouth anglerLophiomus setigerus (Vahl, 1797) (Indo-West Pacific south to False Bay)
• Monkfish, devil anglerfish Lophius vomerinus (Valenciennes, 1837), syn. Lophius upsicephalus (off Cape of Good Hope; eastern South Atlantic and south western Indian ocean off South Africa; Bay of Bengal off Burma)

Family Ceratiidae – seadevils

• Deepsea angler, twoclub angler Ceratias holboelli Krøyer, 1845 (single specimen off Cape Town at 34°12'S, 16°35'E; nearly cosmopolitan in the world's oceans)
• Ceratias tentaculatus (Norman, 1930) (off Saldanha Bay, off southern Natal, off Delagoa Bay and throughout southern oceans)
• Triplewart seadevil Cryptopsaras couesii Gill, 1883 (off Cape of Good Hope, all major oceans)

Family Himantolophidae – footballfish

• Atlantic footballfish Himantolophus groenlandicus Reinhardt, 1837 (all major oceans)

Family Melanocetidae – devil-anglers

• Melanocetus johnsonii Günther, 1864 (off all coasts of South Africa; all major oceans)

Order Lophiiformes – anglerfishes
Family Antennariidae – anglers

• Sargassum fish Histrio histrio (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cape Point to Mozambique)

Order Myctophiformes

Family Myctophidae – lanternfishes

• Bolinichthys supralateralis (Parr, 1928) (off Cape Peninsula and in Agulgas current; Atlantic (40°N – 02°S and 32° to 40°S); Indian ocean (21° – 30°S); west coast of Australia and near Hawaii)
• Diaphus effulgens (Goode and Bean, 1896) (off all SA coasts)
• Diaphus mollis Tåning, 1928 (off all SA coasts, broadly tropical distribution in all major oceans)
• Diaphus taaningi Norman, 1930 (over west coast continental shelf/slope southward to 24°S. Amphitropical species in Atlantic (western sector); tropical waters to 42°N; eastern sector: southward from Mauretanian upwelling region to South African region)
• Electrona risso (Cocco, 1829) (off east and west coasts of South Africa. Widespread in Atlantic (55°N – 40°S), Mediterranean, Indian ocean (0° – 40°S), Tasman sea and Cook Strait, and eastern Pacific (42°N – 20°S))
• Gonichthys barnesi Whitley, 1943 (off east and west coasts, south of 30°S. Convergence species in all 3 oceans (30° – 40°S))
• Gymnoscopelus braueri (Lönnberg, 1905) (circumglobal between Subtropical convergence and Antarctica)
• Hygophum hanseni (Tåning, 1932) (from 30°S on west coast to 33°S on east coast. Convergence species (30° to 43°S) in all 3 oceans)
• Hygophum hygomii (Lütken, 1892) (west of Cape Peninsula and off east coast (25° – 37°S))
• Hygophum proximum Bekker, 1965) (south to about 37°S in Agulhas current; Indian ocean (25°N – 10°S))
• Lampadena notialis Nafpaktitis and Paxton, 1968 (Off east coast and Cape Peninsula; convergence species in all 3 oceans)
• Mirror lampfish, mirror lanternfish Lampadena speculigera Goode and Bean, 1896 (off west and southeast coasts. Atlantic (66° – 35°N and 35° – 45°S), Indian ocean (30° to 45°S) and Pacific ocean (30° – 45°S))
• Lampanyctus alatus Goode and Bean, 1896 (off all South African coasts; Atlantic (46°N – 38°S), Indian ocean (0° – 39°S)
• Southern lanternfish Lampanyctus australis Tåning, 1932 (off all South African coasts; circumglobal convergence species(33° – 43°S with northern extension to about 27°S in eastern boundary currents))
• Lampanyctus festivus Tåning, 1928 (off all South African coasts. Atlantic(53° – 18°N and 28° – 40°S with northern extension to 12°S in Benguela current and Indo-West Pacific.)
• Lampanyctus lepidolychnus Bekker, 1967 (off all South African coasts, circumglobal convergence species (23° – 48°S))
• Rakery beaconlamp Lampanyctus macdonaldi (Goode and Bean, 1896) (west of Cape Peninsula, circumglobal between subtropical convergence and Antarctic polar front)
• Lampanyctus pusillus (Johnson, 1890) (off all South African coasts. Bisubtropical species in all major oceans)
• Lampichthys procerus (Brauer, 1904) (off Cape Peninsula, circumglobal convergence species (32° – 48°S) with extensions into lower latitudes in eastern boundary currents)
• Lobianchia dofleini (Zugmayer, 1911) (off all South African coasts. Mediterranean, Atlantic (50°N – 40°S), Indian ocean (23° – 38°S), Tasman sea and south Pacific(region of subtropical convergence))
• Lobianchia gemellarii (Cocco, 1838) (off all South African coasts, worldwide in tropical/subtropical waters)
• Metelectrona ventralis (Bekker, 1063) (west of Cape Peninsula in southern Benguela upwelling region; circumglobal subantarctic species (36°-51°S))
• Myctophum phengodes (Lütken, 1892) (off all South African coasts)
• Myctophum selenops Tåning, 1928 (west of Cape peninsula in Agulhas water pockets)
• Nannobrachium atrum (Tåning, 1928), syn. Lampanyctus ater (off all South African coasts; Atlantic (58° – 17°N and 15° – 40°S) and Indian ocean (12° – 44°S))
• Notolychnus valdiviae (Brauer, 1904) (off all South African coasts)
• Patchwork lampfishNotoscopelus resplendens (Richardson, 1845) (off all South African coasts)
• Protomyctophum normani Tåning, 1932 (once west of Slangkop lighthouse; circumglobal convergence species (36° – 43°S))
• Scopelopsis multipunctatus Brauer, 1906 (off all South African coasts)
• Symbolophorus barnardi (Tåning, 1932) (off all South African coasts)

Order Notacanthiformes

Family Halosauridae – halosaurs

• Gilbert's halosaurid Aldrovandia affinis (Günther, 1877) (both coasts of SA; cicumglobal tropical and temperate)
• Hawaiian halosauridAldrovandia phalacra (Vaillant, 1888) (off Cape Point)
• Abyssal halosaurHalosauropsis macrochir (Günther, 1878) (off Cape Point)
• Halosaurus ovenii Johnson, 1863 (off Cape Point to Walvis Bay)

Family Notacanthidae – spiny eels

• Notacanthus sexspinis Richardson, 1846 (Walvis Bay to Durban)
• Polyacanthonotus africanus (Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924) (off Cape Point)
• Shortspine tapirfishPolyacanthonotus rissoanus (De Filippi & Verany, 1857) (off Cape Point to Table Bay)

Order Ophidiiformes

Family Aphyonidae – aphyonids

• Barathronus bicolor? Goode and Bean, 1886 (off Cape Point, specimen lost, identification dubious)

Family Bythitidae – bythitids or brotulas

• Cataetyx niki Cohen, 1981 (2 specimens from off the Cape)
• Lesser orange brotula Dermatopsoides talboti Cohen, 1966 (Saldanha Bay to Algoa Bay)

Family Ophidiidae – cuskeels

• Slender brotula Dicrolene multifilis (Alcock, 1889) (off Table Bay and east coast of South Africa)
• Kingklip Genypterus capensis (Smith, 1847) (Walvis Bay to Algoa Bay)
• Penopus microphthalmus (Vaillant, 1888) (one specimen off the Cape)
• Slender cuskeel Porogadus miles Goode and bean, 1886 (one specimen off the Cape; relatively common both sides of the Atlantic; also recorded from Indian ocean)
• Barbed brotula Selachophidium guentheri Gilchrist, 1903 (Angola to Mozambique)

Order Osmeriformes

Family Alepocephalidae – slickheads

• Alepocephalus australis Barnard 1923 (off Cape Point; apparently widely distributed in temperate waters of southern hemisphere)
• Atlantic gymnast, English bluntsnout smoothhead Xenodermichthys copei (Gill, 1884) (common off South Africa)

Family Opisthoproctidae – barreleyes

• Rhynchohyalus natalensis (Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924) (off Cape Town to Bermuda)

Family Microstomatidae

• Nansenia macrolepis (Gilchrist, 1922) (west of Cape Peninsula; off Natal)

Family Bathylagidae

• Bathylagus bericoides (Borodin, 1929) (off Cape Town, throughout tropical and subtropical seas)

Order Perciformes

Family Luvaridae – louvar

• Louvar Luvarus imperialis Rafinesque, 1810 (All oceans and Mediterranean sea, not reported in polar seas or near equator)

Family Blenniidae – blennies

• Looseskin blenny Chalaroderma capito (Valenciennes, 1836) (Saldanha Bay to East London)
• Two-eyed blenny Chalaroderma ocellata (Gilchrist and Thompson, 1908) ((Saldanha Bay to Port Elizabeth)
• Horned blenny Parablennius cornutus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Northern Namibia to Sodwana Bay, Endemic)
• Piano blenny Plagiotremus tapeinosoma (Bleeker, 1857) (Indo-Pacific south to False Bay)
• Maned blenny Scartella emarginata (Günther, 1861) (Southern Angola to India)
• Japanese snakeblenny Xiphasia matsubarai Okada & Suzuki, 1952 (Western Indian Ocean south to False Bay)
• Snakeblenny Xiphasia setifer Swainson, 1839 (Red Sea to False Bay)

Family Clinidae – klipfishes

• Lace klipfish Blennioclinus brachycephalus (Valenciennes, 1836) (Melkboschstrand to Kei River)
• Snaky klipfish Blenniophis anguillaris (Valenciennes, 1836) (Lüderitzbucht to East London)
• Striped klipfish Blenniophis striatus (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Saldanha Bay to East London)
• Slender platanna-klipfish Cancelloxus burrelli Smith, 1961 (Orange River to Algoa Bay)
• Elongated sand klipfish Cancelloxus longior Prochazka & Griffiths, 1991 (Both sides of the peninsula)
• Barbelled klipfish Cirrhibarbus capensis Valenciennes, 1836 (Lamberts Bay to East London)
• Fleet klipfish Climacoporus navalis Barnard, 1935 (Still Bay to Port St, Johns. Once from False Bay)
• Ladder klipfish Clinoporus biporosus (Gilchrist and Thompson, 1908) (Saldanha Bay to False Bay)
• Sad klipfish Clinus acuminatus (Schneider, 1801) (Lüderitzbucht to west of Algoa Bay)
• Agile klipfish Clinus agilis Smith, 1931 (Namibia (20°49'S) to Port Alfred)
• Onrust klipfish Clinus berrisfordi Penrith, 1967 (Weedy areas of False Bay to Skoenmakerskop, just west of Algoa Bay)
• Cape klipfish Clinus brevicristatus Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908 (Lamberts Bay to False Bay)
• Bluntnose klipfish Clinus cottoides Valenciennes, 1836 (Olifants River (Western Cape) to Kei River)
• West coast klipfish Clinus heterodon Valenciennes, 1836 (Orange River to Cape Agulhas)
• False Bay klipfish Clinus latipennis Valenciennes, 1836 (Table Bay to Cape Agulhas)
• Chinese klipfish Clinus nemopterus Günther, 1861 (False Bay and Algoa Bay)
• Robust klipfish Clinus robustus Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908 (Cape of Good Hope to East London)
• Kelp klipfish Clinus rotundifrons Barnard, 1937 (Lüderitzbucht to Cape of Good Hope)
• Super klipfish or highfin klipfish Clinus superciliosus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Namibia (18°59'S) to Kei River)
• Bull klipfish Clinus taurus Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908 (Möwe Point (Namibia) to Port Alfred)
• Speckled klipfish Clinus venustris Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908 (Orange River to East London)(Lüderitzbucht to Port Alfred)
• Mousey klipfish Fucomimus mus (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (False Bay to Coffee Bay)
• Nosestripe klipfish Muraenoclinus dorsalis (Bleeker, 1860) (Orange River to Durban)(Lüderitzbucht to southern Natal)
• Grass klipfish Pavoclinus graminis (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (False Bay to Inhambane)
• Slinky klipfish Pavoclinus litorafontis Penrith, 1965 (False Bay; Strandfontein and Onrust River mouth)
• Peacock klipfish Pavoclinus pavo (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Lüderitzbucht to Kei River)
• Deepwater klipfish Pavoclinus profundus Smith, 1961 (Cape Peninsula, off Knysna to Algoa Bay)
• Deep reef klipfish Pavoclinus smalei Heemstra & Wright, 1986 (False Bay, off Storm's River mouth)
• Leafy klipfish Smithichthys fucorum (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Cape Point to Bashee River)
• Platanna klipfish Xenopoclinus kochi Smith, 1948 (Lamberts Bay to Algoa Bay)
• Leprous platanna klipfish Xenopoclinus leprosus Smith, 1961 Orange River mouth to Algoa Bay)

Family Tripterygiidae – threefin blennies or triplefins

• Cape triplefin Cremnochorites capensis (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (False Bay to Port Alfred)

Family Callionymidae – dragonets

• Sand dragonet Callionymus marleyi Regan, 1919 (Cape of Good Hope eastward to Persian Gulf)
• Ladder dragonet Paracallionymus costatus (Boulenger, 1898) (Lüderitz Bay to Inhaca)

Family Gobiesocidae – clingfishes

• Chubby clingfish Apletodon pellegrini (Chabanaud, 1925) (Senegal (west Africa) to Port Alfred)
• Rocksucker Chorisochismus dentex (Pallas, 1769) (Port Nolloth to northern KwaZulu-Natal)
• Bigeye clingfish Diplecogaster megalops Briggs, 1955 (False Bay to Durban)
• Weedsucker Eckloniaichthys scylliorhiniceps Smith, 1943 (Lüderitz to Kei River mouth)

Family: Gobiidae — Gobies

Subfamily Gobiinae

• Agulhas goby Caffrogobius agulhensis (Barnard, 1927) (False Bay to East London)
• Banded goby Caffrogobius caffer (Günther, 1874) (Natal to False Bay)
• Prison goby Caffrogobius gilchristi (Boulenger, 1898) (Table Bay to Mozambique Island)(syn. Caffrogobius multifasciatus)
• Barehead goby Caffrogobius nudiceps (Valenciennes, 1827) (Walvis Bay to East London)
• Commafin goby Caffrogobius saldanha (Barnard, 1927) (Saldanha Bay to southern Transkei)
• Knysna sandgoby Psammogobius knysnaensis Smith, 1935 (Port Nolloth to northern KwaZulu-Natal)
• Pelagic goby Sufflogobius bibarbatus (von Bonde, 1923) (Port Nolloth to Saldanha Bay)

Suborder Percoidei

Superfamily: Cirrhitoidea

Family: Cheilodactylidae — Fingerfins

• Redfingers Cheilodactylus fasciatus Lacepède, 1803 (Kunene river, Namibia to Durban)
• Barred fingerfin Cheilodactylus pixi Smith, 1980 (Knysna to Coffee Bay)(False Bay to Coffee Bay)
• Twotone fingerfin Chirodactylus brachydactylus (Cuvier, 1830) (Walvis Bay to Delagoa Bay)
• Bank steenbras Chirodactylus grandis (Günther, 1860) (Walvis Bay to possibly Natal)

Superfamily: Percoidea Family: Acropomatidae — Lanternbellies

• Howella sherborni (Norman, 1930) (off Cape Town to Natal)

Family: Bramidae — Pomfrets

• Pomfret Brama brama (Bonnaterre, 1788) (Algoa Bay to Walvis Bay)
• Prickly fanfish Pterycombus petersii (Hilgendorff, 1878) (Mid Pacific to Africa, south round the Cape of good Hope to Cape Town)
• Sickle pomfret Taractichthys steindachneri (Döderlein, 1883) (Indo-Pacific from California to Zanzibar and south to False Bay)

Family: Callanthiidae — Goldies

• Goldie Callanthias legras Smith, 1947 (Dassen Island (Western Cape) to Natal)

Family: Carangidae — Kingfishes

• Leervis or Garrick Lichia amia (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mediterranean sea south along west coast of Africa and around Cape to Delagoa Bay)
• White kingfish Pseudocarymx dentex (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Durban southwards, anti-tropical on both sides of Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indo-West Pacific)
• Giant yellowtail Seriola lalandi Valenciennes, 1833 (Most common on Atlantic Cape waters, but follows the pilchard migration to Transkei and Natal. Circumglobal in subtropical waters)
• Maasbanker Trachurus trachurus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Norway south and round the Cape of Good Hope to Delagoa Bay

Family: Centracanthidae — Picarels

• Windtoy Spicara axillaris (Boulanger, 1900) (Known only from Cape Town to Natal)

Family: Chaetodontidae — Butterflyfishes

• Doublesash butterflyfish Chaetodon marleyii Regan, 1921 (Lamberts Bay to Maputo. Endemic)

Family: Coryphaenidae — Dolphinfish or Dorades

• Dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus,1758 (all tropical and subtropical waters to 35°S)

Family: Dichistiidae — Galjoens

• Galjoen Dichistius capensis (Cuvier, 1831) (Southern Angola to Sodwana Bay) (syn. Coracinus capensis)

Family: Echeneidae — Remoras

• Shark remora Echineis naucrates Linnaeus, 1758 (Namibia to Mozambique) (all warm waters except eastern Pacific)
• Whale remora Remora australis (Bennett, 1840) (Worldwide, pelagic: found only on cetaceans)
• Spearfish remora Remora brachyptera (Lowe, 1839) (Worldwide, prefers billfishes)
• Remora Remora remora (Linnaeus, 1758) (Worldwide, prefers sharks)
• White remora Remorina albescens (Temminck & Schlegel, 1845) (Worldwide, prefers Manta rays)

Family: Emmelichthyidae — Rovers

• Southern rover Emmelichthys nitidus nitidus Richardson 1845 (occasionally take off western Cape coast)

Family: Epigonidae — Cardinal fishes (see also Apogonidae)

• Pencil cardinal Epigonus denticulatus Dieuzeide, 1950 (Walvis Bay to Cape Point)
• Epigonus pandionus (Goode & Bean, 1881) (Gulf of Guinea to Agulhas Bank)
• Epigonus robustus (Barnard, 1927) (off west coast of South Africa)
• Telescope cardinal Epigonus telescopus (Risso, 1810) (Walvis Bay to Cape Town)

Family: Haemulidae — Rubberlips and grunters

• Spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonnii (Lacepède, 1801) (False Bay to India)

Family: Kyphosidae — Sea chubs

• Grey chub Kyphosus bigibbus Lacepède, 1801 (Red Sea to Cape Point)
• Stonebream Neoscorpis lithophilus (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (False Bay to southern Mozambique)

Family: Malacanthidae — Tilefishes

• Forktail tilefish Hoplolatilus fronticinctus (Günther, 1887) (Postlarvae collected off Cape Peninsula; India and Western Pacific)

Family: Monodactylidae — Moonies

• Cape moony Monodactylus falciformis Lacepède, 1801 (Red Sea to False Bay)

Family: Oplegnathidae — Knifejaws

• Cape knifejaw Oplegnathus conwayi Richardson, 1840 (False Bay to Durban)

Family: Parascorpididae — Jutjaw

• Jutjaw (Parascorpis typus) Bleeker, 1875 (Known only from False Bay to Maputo)

Family: Pentacerotidae — Armourheads

• Cape armourhead Pentaceros capensis Cuvier, 1829 (Port Nolloth to Southern Mozambique)
• Pelagic armourhead Pseudopentaceros (Smith, 1844) (Cape Town to Natal)

Family: Polyprionidae — Wreckfishes

• Wreckfish Polyprion americanus (Schneider, 1801) (Norway to South Africa)

Family: Pomatomidae — Elf

• Elf or Shad Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus, 1766)(Namibia to Maputo)

Family: Pseudochromidae — Dottybacks Subfamily: Congrogadinae — Snakelets

• Snakelet Halidesmus scapularis Günther, 1872 (Cape Columbine to Transkei)(False Bay to Coffee Bay)

Family: Rachycentridae — Cobia

• Prodigal son Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus, 1766) (Warm waters of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, occasionally reaching False Bay)

Family: Sciaenidae — Kobs

• Kob, Giant Kob or Kabeljou Argyrosomus japonicus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) (Namibia to Natal) previously misidentified as Argyrosomus hololepidotus (Lacepède, 1801)
• Geelbek Atractoscion aequidens (Cuvier, 1830) (Angola to northern KwaZulu-Natal)
• Baardman or Belman Umbrina canariensis Valenciennes, 1843 (Morocco to the Cape of Good Hope through to Pakistan)

Family: Scombropidae — Gnomefishes

• Gnomefish Scombrops boops (Houttuyn, 1782) (Cape of Good Hope to Delagoa Bay)

Family: Serranidae — Rockcods (groupers) and seabasses

Subfamily: Epinephelinae

• Yellowbelly rockcod Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe, 1834) (Namibia to Mozambique) Formerly identified as Epinephelus guaza (Linnaeus, 1758)

Subfamily: Serraninae

• Koester Acanthistius sebastoides (Castelnau, 1861) (Namibia to Mozambique)
• Comber Serranus knysnaensis Gilchrist, 1904 previously identified as serranus cabrilla (Linnaeus, 1758) (Endemic, False Bay to Durban)

Family: Sparidae — Seabreams

• Carpenter Argyrozona argyrozona (Valenciennes, 1830) (Cape Columbine to central KwaZulu-Natal)
• Fransmadam Boopsoidea inornata Castelnau, 1861 (Cape Columbine to central KwaZulu-Natal)
• Dageraad Chrysoblephus cristiceps (Valenciennes, 1830) (Cape Point to Durban)
• Red stumpnose or Miss Lucy Chrysoblephus gibbiceps (Valenciennes, 1830) (Cape Point to East London)
• Roman Chrysoblephus laticeps (Valenciennes, 1830) (Cape Point to southern KwaZulu-Natal)(Cape to Mauritius)
• Poenskop or Black musselcrackerCymatoceps nasutus (Castelnau, 1861) (Cape Columbine to Durban)
• Blacktail Diplodus capensis (Smith, 1844) (Angola to Madagascar) (syn. Diplodus sargus capensis)
• Zebra Diplodus cervinus hottentotus (Smith, 1844) (Cape Point to Sodwana Bay)
• Janbruin Gymnocrotaphus curvidens Günther, 1859 (Cape Point to Durban)
• West coast steenbras Lithognathus aureti Smith, 1962 (West coast; Cape Town to Angola)
• White steenbras Lithognathus lithognathus (Cuvier, 1829) (Orange River to Durban)
• Sand steenbras Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758)(Mediterranean to the Cape of Good Hope and round to Mozambique)
• Blue hottentot Pachymetopon aeneum (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Cape Point to Sodwana Bay)
• Hottentot Pachymetopon blochii (Valenciennes, 1830) (Angola to Cape Agulhas)
• Red steenbras Petrus rupestris (Valenciennes, 1830) (Cape Point to Durban)
• Panga Pterogymnus laniarius (Valenciennes, 1830) (Cape Point to Transkei)(Cape to Beira)
• White stumpnose Rhabdosargus globiceps (Valenciennes, 1830) (Namibia to East London)(Angola to Natal)
• Strepie Sarpa salpa (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cape Columbine to Maputo)(Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic round South Africa to southern Mozambique)
• Musselcracker Sparodon durbanensis (Castelnau, 1861) (Cape Columbine to Durban)
• Steentjie Spondyliosoma emarginatum (Valenciennes, 1830) (Saldanha Bay to Durban)

Suborder: Scombroidei

Family: Gempylidae — Snake mackerels

• Snake mackerel Gempylus serpens Cuvier, 1829 (Worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters, sometimes in temperate latitudes)
• Escolar Lepidocybium flavobrunneum (Smith, 1849) (Tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans)
• Sackfish Neoepinnula orientalis (Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924) (All oceans near edge of continental shelf and islands)
• Oilfish Ruvettus pretiosus Cocco, 1879 (Tropical and temperate parts of all oceans)
• Snoek Thyrsites atun (Euphrasen, 1791) (Namibia to Port Elizabeth)

Family: Istiophoridae — Sailfish, spearfishes and marlins

• Black marlin Makaira indica (Cuvier, 1832) (Primarily Indo-Pacific to off Cape of Good Hope)
• Blue marlin Makaira nigricans (Lacepèede, 1802) (Worldwide in all oceans)
• White marlin Tetrapturus albidus Poey, 1861 (Atlantic ocean)
• Shortbill spearfish Tetrapturus angustirostris Tanaka, 1914 (Off Cape Point and Durban northwards throughout Indo-Pacific)
• Striped marlin Tetrapturus audax (Philippi, 1887) (Primarily Indo-Pacific, but have been caught off Cape Town)
• Longbill spearfish Tetrapturus pfluegeri Robins & de Sylva, 1963 (Apparently restricted to the Atlantic ocean)

Family: Scombridae — Tunas, mackerels and bonitos Subfamily: Gasterochismatinae

• Bigscale mackerel Gasterochisma melampus Richardson, 1845 (Worldwide in southern ocean, mostly between 35° and 50° S, recorded from Table Bay)

Subfamily: Scombrinae

• Wahoo Acanthocybium solandri (Cuvier, 1831) (Worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters. From South Africa: Algoa Bay, off Durban, and Sodwana Bay. one record west of Cape Point)
• Slender Tuna Allothunnus fallai Serventy, 1948 (Worldwide between 20° and 50° S. From South Africa: Miller's Point and Rooikrans in False Bay)
• Bullet tuna Auxis rochei Risso, 1810 (Cosmopolitan in warm waters. From South Africa: Hout Bay, Mossel Bay and Natal)
• Frigate tuna Auxis thazard (Lacepède, 1800)
• Skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus, 1758) (False Bay, Algoa Bay to Delagoa Bay)
• Mackerel Scomber japonicus Houttuyn, 1782 (Namibia to Maputo)(Cape to Natal, cosmopolitan in warm waters)
• Albacore or Longfin tunnyThunnus alalunga (Bonnaterre, 1788) (Off Western Cape, Cosmopolitan between 45°-50°N and 30°-40°S)
• Yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788) (Angola to Natal)
• Southern bluefin tuna Thunnus maccoyii (Castelnau, 1872) (Off Cape region in winter, probably throughout southern oceans south of 30°S)
• Bigeye tuna Thunnus obesus (Lowe, 1839) (Off Cape region, Worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters)
• Bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Agulhas Bank and False Bay)

Family: Trichiuridae — Frostfishes

• Buttersnoek Lepidopus caudatus (Euphrasen, 1788) (Mediterranean, eastern Atlantic from Norway to South Africa, Australia and new Zealand)
• Cutlass fish Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus, 1758 (Cosmopolitan in tropical and temperate waters)

Family: Xiphiidae — Swordfishes

• Swordfish Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758 (Namibia to Natal)

Suborder: Stromateoidei

Family: Centrolophidae — Ruffs

• Black ruff Centrolophus niger (Gmelin, 1789) (Temperate waters of Australia, New Zealand, South America and South Africa, also North Atlantic and Mediterranean)
• Antarctic butterfish Hyperoglypha antarctica (Carmichael, 1818) (Temperate waters; islands of south Atlantic and southern Indian oceans; New Zealand, southern Australia and South Africa)
• Schedophilus huttoni (Waite, 1910) (Circumglobal in southern ocean, taken off Cape Town, common off Namibia)
• Black butterfish or Peregrine driftfishSchedophilus velaini (Sauvage, 1879) (Gulf of Guinea, to South Africa)(syn. Hyperoglypha moselii (Cunningham, 1910))
• Flabby driftfish Tubbia tasmanica Whitley, 1943 (Temperate waters of Southern Ocean; New Zealand, Tasmania and South Africa off Natal)

Family: Nomeidae — Driftfishes

• Black fathead Cubiceps baxteri McCulloch, 1923 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans)
• Blue fathead Cubiceps caeruleus Regan, 1914 (Southern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans)
• Cape fathead Cubiceps capensis (Smith, 1845) (Probably circumglobal in southern hemisphere)
• Longfin fathead Cubiceps pauciradiatus Günther, 1872 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans)
• Bluebottle fish Nomeus gronovi Gmelin, 1789 (Circumglobal in warm waters)
• Banded driftfish Psenes arafurensis Günther, 1889 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean)
• Freckled driftfish Psenes cyanophrys Valenciennes, 1883 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans)
• Silver driftfish Psenes maculatus Lütken, 1880 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans)
• Blackrag Psenes pellucidus Lütken, 1880 (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans)
• Shadow driftfish Psenes whiteleggi Waite, 1894 (Indian Ocean and Australia)

Family: Ariommatidae

• Indian driftfish Ariomma indica (Day, 1870) (Mossel Bay eastwards to Southern Japan)

Family: Tetragonuridae — Squaretails

• Bigeye squaretail Tetragonuris atlanticus Lowe, 1839 (Atlantic Pacific and Indian oceans)

Family: Stromateidae

• Blue butterfish Stromateus fiatola Linnaeus, 1758 (Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean round the Cape to Natal)

Suborder: Trachinoidei Family: Ammodytidae — Sandlances

• Cape sandlance Gymnammodytes capensis (Barnard, 1927) (Angola to Delagoa Bay)

Family: Champsodontidae — Gapers

• Gaper Champsodon capensis (Regan, 1908) (Cape of Good Hope to Durban)

Family: Chiasmodontidae — Swallowers

• Chiasmodon niger Johnson, 1863 (Tropical/subtropical in the three major oceans)
• Kali macrodon (Norman, 1929) (Tropical/subtropical in the three major oceans, taken off Cape Town and Natal)

Family: Uranoscopidae — Stargazers

• Spotted stargazer Pleuroscopus pseudodorsalis Barnard, 1927 (off Table Bay and Algoa Bay)

Suborder: Zoarcoidei

Family: Zoarcidae — Eelpouts

• Lycodes agulhensis Andriashev, 1959 (Cap Blanc, Mauretania to Agulhas Bank)
• Lycodonus vermiformis Barnard, 1927 (off Cape Point)
• Melanostigma gelatinosum Günther, 1881 (off Cape Town)

Order Saccopharyngiformes

Family Cyematidae – arrow eels

• Cyema atrum Günther, 1878 (Off southwest coast)
• Bobtail snipe eel Neocyema erythrosoma Castle, 1978 (west of Cape Town)

Order Scorpaeniformes

Suborder: Cottoidei

Family: Psychrolutidae — Fatheads

• Cottunculus spinosus Gilchrist, 1906 (off Cape Point)

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: Scorpaenoidei

Family: Congiopodidae — Horsefishes

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

Family: Scorpaenidae

• Bigscale scorpionfish Scorpaena scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 (Algoa Bay to Natal)(False Bay to KZN)

Family: Sebastidae

• Jacopever Helicolenus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809) (Walvis Bay to Natal)
• False jacopever Sebastes capensis (Gmelin, 1788) (Cape to Saldanha Bay)
• Cape scorpionfish Trachyscorpia capensis (Cape to St Helena Bay)

Family: Tetrarogidae — Waspfishes

• Smoothskin scorpionfish Coccotropsis gymnoderma (Gilchrist, 1906) (Cape to Algoa bay)(Cape Peninsula 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)(West coast of Cape Peninsula to Algoa Bay, also Indo-west Pacific)
• Lesser gurnard Chelidonichthys queketti (Regan, 1904) (Table Bay to Natal)

Order Siluriformes – catfishes

Family Ariidae – sea catfishes

• Black seacatfish Galeichthys ater Castelnau, 1861 (south coast to Port Alfred)
• White seacatfish Galeichthys feliceps Valenciennes, 1840 (Walvis Bay to Natal)

Order Stomiiformes

Family Gonostomatidae – bristlemouths

• Cyclothone acclinidens Garman, 1899 (off Cape Point; tropical/subtropical in all 3 major oceans)
• Veiled anglemouthCyclothone microdon (Günther, 1878) (Saldanha Bay to Mossel Bay; all 3 major oceans)
• Bicolored bristlemouth, tan bristlemouth Cyclothone pallida Brauer, 1902 (all 3 major oceans)
• Diplophos rebainsi Krefft and Parin, 1972 (off south western Cape coast; southern Atlantic and south-eastern Pacific Oceans)
• Diplophos taenia Günther, 1873 (all 3 major oceans; all around SA coast)
• Gonostoma denudatum Rafineque, 1810 (Temperate/subtropical Atlantic; off southern Africa to ca. 37°S)
• Sigmops bathyphilus (Vaillant, 1884), syn. Gonostoma bathyphilum (off Cape Point; temperate/subtropical Atlantic and Pacific oceans)

Family Phosichthyidae – lightfishes

• Ichthyococcus australis Mukhacheva, 1980 (circumglobal in subtropical convergence region of southern hemisphere with records between 30° and 40°S in Atlantic sector of our region)
• Slender lightfish Vinciguerria attenuata (Cocco, 1838) (off Cape Point; all 3 major oceans)

Family Sternoptychidae – hatchetfishes

• Muller's pearlsidesMaurolicus muelleri (Gmelin, 1788) (all oceans, more common in colder regions)
• Valenciennellus tripunctulatus (Esmark, 1871), syn. Valenciennellus tripunctatus (all oceans, tropical, subtropical and temperate waters)
• Atlantic silver hatchetfish, longspine silver hatchetfish, Argyropelecus aculeatus Valenciennes, 1849 (worldwide in tropical and temperate seas)
• Greater silver hatchetfish Argyropelecus gigas Norman, 1930 (southeast of Cape of Good Hope; Indian ocean to 40°S and south Atlantic to 38°S)
• Short silver hatchetfishArgyropelecus hemigymnus Cocco, 1829 (worldwide distribution, common in SA waters to 35°S)
• Transparent hatchetfishSternoptyx diaphana Hermann, 1781 (worldwide in tropical and temperate seas)
• Sternoptyx pseudodiaphana Borodulina, 1977 (Indian ocean south of 35°S; circumglobal in Southern Ocean; Benguela current)

Family: Stomiidae

• Astronesthes boulengeri Gilchrist, 1902 (southeast of Cape Point, circumpolar between 30° and 40°S)
• Astronesthes indicus Brauer, 1902 (circumglobal in tropical waters, taken between 33° and 35°S on Atlantic side)
• Bathophilus digitatus (Welsh, 1923) (single specimen from off Cape Town; North Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans)
• Bathophilus longipinnis (Pappenheim, 1914) (off Cape Town; occurs widely in all 3 major oceans)
• Bathophilus nigerrimus Giglioli, 1884 (off Cape Town and off Port Elizabeth to Mozambique Channel)
• Chauliodus sloani Bloch and Schneider, 1801 (offshore throughout southern Africa)
• Echiostoma barbatum Lowe, 1843 (off Cape Town, southeast of Algoa Bay; widespread in tropical/subtropical waters of all oceans)
• Eustomias bulbornatus Gibbs, 1960 (south and west of Cape of Good Hope; tropical Indian and Pacific oceans)
• Eustomias filifer (Gilchrist, 1906) (off Cape Point; tropical and subtropical Atlantic)
• Eustomias grandibulbus Gibbs, Clarke and Gomon, 1983 (off Cape Town)
• Eustomias lipochirus Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (2 specimens from south west of Cape of Good Hope; Tropical/subtropical Atlantic)
• Eustomias schmidti Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (off Cape Town; occurs widely in all 3 major oceans)
• Eustomias trewavasae Norman, 1930 (circumglobal between about 33° and 40°S)
• Leptostomias gladiator (Zugmayer, 1911) (tropical, subtropical and temperate Atlantic, also Indian and Pacific oceans)
• Melanostomias niger Gilchrist and von Bonde, 1924 (widespread in Atlantic between 20° and 50°S)
• Melanostomias valdiviae Brauer, 1902 (off Cape Town and northeast of Durban; all 3 major oceans)
• Opostomias micripnus (Günther, 1878) (northwest of Cape Town; occurs across the Atlantic, Pacific and possibly Indian Ocean south of about 33°S) (syn. Opostomias gibsonpacei Barnard, 1948)
• Pachystomias microdon (Günther, 1878) (off Western Cape coast; widespread in all 3 major oceans)(Günther, 1878)
• Photonectes braueri (Zugmayer, 1913) (off Cape Town; Atlantic and western Indian ocean)
• Photonectes parvimanus Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (off west coast; north Atlantic and central Pacific)
• Trigonolampa miriceps Regan and Trewavas, 1930 (off west coast; apparently circumglobal in Southern Ocean south of 30°S)
• Boa dragonfish, scaly dragonfish Stomias boa boa (Risso, 1810) (offshore throughout southern Africa)
• Stomias longibarbatus (Brauer, 1902), syn. Macrostomias longibarbatus (taken once off Cape of Good Hope, widespread in subtropical and tropical Atlantic and tropical Indian and Pacific oceans)

Order Syngnathiformes

Family Centriscidae – snipefishes and shrimpfishes

• Banded snipefish Centriscops obliquus Waite, 1911 (Cape Columbine to False Bay)
• Slender snipefish Macroramphosus scolopax (Linnaeus, 1758) (Table Bay to Durban)

Family Fistulariidae – flutemouths

• 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 Syngnathidae – seahorses and pipefishes

• Longsnout pipefish Syngnathus temminckii Kaup, 1856 (Namibia to northern KwaZulu-Natal)

Missing fish

Family Tetraodontidae - Puffers

• Evil-eye blaasop Amblyrhynchotes honckenii(Bloch, 1785)(False Bay to Delagoa Bay, Indo-West Pacific)

Family Soleidae - Soles

• Cape sole Heteromycteris capensis (Both sides of Cape Peninsula)
• Lace sole Synapturichthys kleini (Both sides of the Cape Peninsula)
• Lemon sole Barnardichthys fulvomarginata syn. Solea fulvomarginata (False Bay and eastwards)

Reptiles

Main article: Reptile

• Vagrant turtles

Birds

Main article: Bird

Class Aves – Birds
Order Sphenisciformes – Penguins
Family: Spheniscidae

• Jackass penguin or African penguin Spheniscus demersus (Linnaeus 1758),(Namibia to Algoa Bay)

Order Suliformes
Family Sulidae – gannets and boobies

• Cape gannet Morus capensis (Lichtenstein, 1823),(Breeding: three islands off Namibia and three islands off South Africa. Otherwise: coastal waters off the Gulf of Guinea to Mozambique)

Family: Phalacrocoracidae – Cormorants

• Crowned cormorant Microcarbo coronatus (Wahlberg, 1855), (Swakopmund to Cape Agulhas)
• Cape cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis Sparrman, 1788, (Breeding: Namibia to southern Cape Province, Otherwise: Mouth of the Congo to Mozambique)
• Bank cormorant Phalacrocorax neglectus (Wahlberg, 1855), (Namibia and the west coast of South Africa)

others?

Mammals

Main article: Mammal

Order Carnivora
Suborder Pinnipedia – seals
Family Otariidae – eared seals

• South African fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus (Schreber, 1775) (Northern Namibia to Port Elizabeth, subspecies endemic)

Family Phocidae – true seals

• Southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina Linnaeus, 1758 (Antarctica, occasionally washed north by storms)

Family Mustelidae – weasels and others
Subfamily Lutrinae – otters

• Cape clawless otter Aonyx capensis (Schinz, 1821) (most of Africa with access to fresh water)

Order Cetacea Suborder Mysticeti Family Balaenidae – right whales

• Southern right whale Eubalaena australis Desmoulins, 1822 (pelagic, Southern Ocean, winters along the South African coast from central Namibia to southern Mozambique )

Family Balaenopteridae – rorquals

• Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae Borowski, 1781 (pelagic open ocean, migrating from Antarctic waters to tropical waters in winter)
• Bryde's whale Balaenoptera edeni Anderson, 1879 (globally in tropics and sub-tropics)

Suborder Odontoceti – toothed whales
Superfamily Delphinoidea
Family Delphinidae – oceanic dolphins

• Long-beaked common dolphin Delphinus capensis Gray, 1828 (warm-temperate and tropical waters)
• Bottlenosed dolphin Tursiops truncatus Montagu, 1821 (pelagic open ocean though not polar seas)
• Dusky dolphin Lagenorhynchus obscurus Gray, 1828 (Namibian coast to the Cape Peninsula)
• Killer whale, orca Orcinus orca Linnaeus, 1758 (pelagic, all oceans)

Geographical position of places mentioned in species ranges

• Agulhas Bank, Western Cape
• Algoa Bay, Eastern Cape,
• Bashee River, Eastern Cape
• Beira, Mozambique
• Blaauwberg, Western Cape,
• Cape Agulhas, Western Cape,
• Cape Columbine, Western Cape,
• Cape Frio, Namibia,
• Cape of Good Hope, Western Cape, (sometimes used historically to refer to the Cape Province, or South Africa)
• Cape Peninsula, Western Cape
• Coffee Bay, Eastern Cape,
• Dassen Island, Western Cape,
• Dassie Point, False Bay,
• Delagoa Bay, Mozambique,
• Doring Bay (Doringbaai), Western Cape,
• Durban, KwaZulu-Natal,
• East London, Eastern Cape,
• Elands Bay, Western Cape,
• False Bay, Western Cape,
• Gordon's Bay Western Cape
• Hermanus, Western Cape,
• Hout Bay, Cape Peninsula, Western Cape,
• Inhaca, Mozambique,
• Jeffrey's Bay, Eastern Cape,
• Kei River, Eastern Cape,
• Knysna, Western Cape,
• Kommetjie, Western Cape,
• Kosi Bay, Kwa-Zulu-Natal,
• Lamberts Bay, Western Cape,
• Langebaan Lagoon, Western Cape,
• Limpopo River, Mozambique,
• Lüderitz, Namibia,
• Mabibi, (Mbibi) Kwa-Zulu-Natal,
• Melkbosstrand, Western Cape,
• Miller's Point, Cape Peninsula,
• Mossel Bay, Western Cape,
• Muizenberg, False Bay, Western Cape,
• Noordhoek, Cape Peninsula, Western Cape,
• Olifants River (Western Cape)
• Onrust River, Western Cape,
• Orange River, Northern Cape,
• Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape,
• Port Alfred, Eastern Cape,
• Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape,
• Port Nolloth, Northern Cape,
• Port St. Johns, KwaZulu-Natal,
• Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal,
• Rooikrans, Cape Peninsula
• Saldanha Bay, Western Cape,
• Slangkop, Cape Peninsula,
• Smitswinkel Bay, False Bay, Western Cape,
• Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu-Natal,
• Storms River, Eastern Cape,
• Strandfontein, False Bay, Western Cape,
• Strandfontein, Western Cape,
• Swakopmund, Namibia,
• Table Bay, Western Cape,
• Tsitsikamma, Eastern Cape,
• Umtata River
• Vulcan Rock, Cape Peninsula,
• Walvis Bay, Namibia,
• Windmill Beach Simon's Town, Cape Peninsula,
• Xora River, Eastern Cape,

See also

• List of echinoderms of South Africa
• List of marine arthropods of South Africa
• List of marine fishes of South Africa
• List of marine mammals of South Africa
• List of marine molluscs of Angola
• List of marine molluscs of Mozambique
• List of marine molluscs of South Africa
• List of non-marine molluscs of South Africa
• List of seaweeds of South Africa
• List of seaweeds of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay
• Marine geology of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay

Further reading

• Bergh, R. (1907) "The Opisthobranchiata of South Africa". Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society 17(1): 1–144.