The Tstsikamma Marine Protected Area is a

marine protected area Marine protected areas (MPA) are protected areas of seas, oceans, estuaries or in the US, the Great Lakes. These marine areas can come in many forms ranging from wildlife refuges to research facilities. MPAs restrict human activity for a conserv ...

on the south coast of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

, in both the

Western Cape The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , and the third most populous, with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 2020 ...

and

Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...

. It is on the coast of the

Tsitsikamma National Park The Tsitsikamma National Park is a protected area on the Garden Route, Western Cape and Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is a coastal reserve well known for its indigenous forests, dramatic coastline, and the Otter Trail. On 6 March 2009 it was ama ...

, and is one of the oldest MPAs in the country. The MPA provides protection for marine habitat and wildlife, including birds and threatened and endangered fish species. The MPA is in near pristine condition, and is a suitable area for research on endangered fish species. It was designated as a Marine Protected Area in 1964. The length of the protected shoreline is 60 km, and the area of protected ocean is 186 km². The MPA is managed by

SANParks South African National Parks (SANParks) is the body responsible for managing South Africa's national parks. SANParks was formed in 1926, and currently manages 19 parks consisting of , over 3% of the total area of South Africa. Many parks offer ...

History

The MPA was proclaimed by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mohammed Valli Moosa, in Government Gazette No. 21948 of 29 December 2000 in terms section 43 of the Marine Natural Resources Act, 18 of 1998.

Purpose

A marine protected area is defined by the

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

as "A clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated

ecosystem service Ecosystem services are the many and varied benefits to humans provided by the natural environment and healthy ecosystems. Such ecosystems include, for example, agroecosystems, forest ecosystem, grassland ecosystems, and aquatic ecosystems. Th ...

s and cultural values".

Extent

The length of the protected shoreline is 60 km, and the area of protected ocean is 186 km².

Zonation

The entire MPA is zoned as a restricted (no-take) area.

Boundaries

*Northern boundary is the high-water mark between Die Punt, Nature's Valley, at S33°59.0' E023°34.561' (west), and the right bank of the Grootrivier at S34°03.6', E024°11.665, (east) *Eastern boundary is a line from the right bank of the Grootrivier at S34°03.6', E024°11.665, running due south to a point three nautical miles offshore at S34°06.6', E024°11.665 *Southern boundary is a straight line from S34°06.6', E024°11.665, approximately parallel to the shore, to a point three nautical miles from the high-water mark at S34°01.817', E023°38.857E measured along a line running due south from the right bank of the mouth of the Bloukrans River, and then due north to a point 0.5 nautical miles from the high-water mark at S33°59.317', E023°38.857', and then along a straight line roughly parallel to the shoreline to a point at S33°59.5', E023°34.561' due south of Die Punt, Nature's Valley. *The western boundary is a line from the high-water mark at Die Punt, Natures Valley, at S33°59.0' E023°34.561' due south to a point about 0.5 nautical miles offshore at S33°59.5', E023°34.561' The northern boundary of the MPA is the southern boundary of the

Restricted areas

The whole MPA is a restricted zone.

Management

The marine protected areas of South Africa are the responsibility of the national government, which has management agreements with a variety of MPA management authorities, in this case,

South African National Parks South African National Parks (SANParks) is the body responsible for managing South Africa's national parks. SANParks was formed in 1926, and currently manages 19 parks consisting of , over 3% of the total area of South Africa. Many parks offer ...

(SANParks), which manages the MPA with funding from the SA Government through the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is responsible for issuing permits, quotas and law enforcement.

Use

Activities requiring a permit

Scuba diving

A permit is required to scuba dive in any MPA in South Africa. These permits are valid for a year and are available at some branches of the Post Office. Temporary permits, valid for a month, may be available at dive shops or from dive boat operators who operate in an MPA. A personal recreational scuba diving permit is valid in all South African MPAs where recreational diving is allowed. The business permit to operate recreational scuba business operations in an MPA is restricted to a specific MPA. Diving for commercial or scientific purposes is also subject to permit. There is an office at the Storms River mouth slipway where dives can be organised.

= Named dive sites

= The MPA has several rocky reef recreational dive sites which have been identified by position and named. Some of them are listed here: * Storm's River Mouth, * The Knoll, just off the cliffs east of the Storms River mouth * Rheeders' Reef, * Middle Bank, offshore from Storms River mouth

Prohibited activities

Geography

General topography

The coastline is fairly straight, and is generally very steep from a relatively flat coastal region between the inland mountains and the sea. Much of the shoreline can best be described as cliffs. The Storms River gorge is roughly perpendicular to the coastline, and very narrow — the sides are approximately vertical. A boat trip or hike up the gorge will show a section through the coastal formations.

Geology

The rock formations are heavily folded sandstones and shales of the Table Mountain series. The coastline formation to the west of the river mouth is the Silurian Tchando formation, which is typically fine to coarse grained brown sandstone and shale, and inland and across the river to the east, mostly Ordovician Peninsula sandstone. Offshore formations may include Devonian Gydo shales and siltstones. Folding is roughly parallel to the coastline, and dip is frequently near vertical, even overfolded in places. Resistance to weathering is also very variable, with some extremely resistant quartzitic sandstone, and some very friable shales. As a result, there are areas with distinct ridges, often roughly parallel to the shoreline.

Hydrography

Bathymetry

Climate of the southern Cape

Seasonal variations in sea conditions

Ecology

Marine Bioregions of the South African EEZ

The MPA is in the warm temperate Agulhas inshore marine bioregion to the east of Cape Point which extends eastwards to the

Mbashe River Mbhashe River is one of the major rivers in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It flows in a southeastern direction and has a catchment area of 6,030 km. The river drains into the Indian Ocean through an estuary located near the light ...

. The Mbashe River was chosen as the most appropriate boundary between the subtropical Natal province to the north, and the warm temperate Agulhas region to the south, but change is gradual between these regions. Upwelling on the south coast of South Africa is largely driven by the Agulhas current and the continental shelf. This form of upwelling forces cold deep water up onto the continental shelf, but not necessarily above the thermocline. In the region east of the Agulhas bank, wind enhanced upwelling, occurring mainly in summer, augments the current driven upwelling bringing the colder deeper waters to the surface. This enhances biological productivity by supply of nutrients to the euphotic zone (where plants have sufficient light to flourish) which fuels phytoplankton production, and rocky shores that are supplied with the nutrient rich water support rich algal biomass. There are a large proportion of species endemic to South Africa along this coastline. Three major habitats exist in the sea in this region, distinguished by the nature of the substrate. The substrate, or base material, is important in that it provides a base to which an organism can anchor itself, which is vitally important for those organisms which need to stay in one particular kind of place. Rocky shores and reefs provide a firm fixed substrate for the attachment of plants and animals. Sandy beaches and bottoms are a relatively unstable substrate and cannot anchor kelp or many of the other benthic organisms. Finally there is open water, above the substrate and clear of the

kelp forest Kelp forests are underwater areas with a high density of kelp, which covers a large part of the world's coastlines. Smaller areas of anchored kelp are called kelp beds. They are recognized as one of the most productive and dynamic ecosystems on Ea ...

, where the organisms must drift or swim. Mixed habitats are also frequently found, which are a combination of those mentioned above. There are no significant estuarine habitats in the MPA. Rocky shores and reefs There are rocky reefs and mixed rocky and sandy bottoms. For many marine organisms the substrate is another type of marine organism, and it is common for several layers to co-exist. Examples of this are red bait pods, which are usually encrusted with sponges, ascidians, bryozoans, anemones, and gastropods, and abalone, which are usually covered by similar seaweeds to those found on the surrounding rocks, usually with a variety of other organisms living on the seaweeds. The type of rock of the reef is of some importance, as it influences the range of possibilities for the local topography, which in turn influences the range of habitats provided, and therefore the diversity of inhabitants. Sandstone and other sedimentary rocks erode and weather very differently, and depending on the direction of dip and strike, and steepness of the dip, may produce reefs which are relatively flat to very high profile and full of small crevices. These features may be at varying angles to the shoreline and wave fronts. There are fewer large holes, tunnels and crevices in sandstone reefs, but often many deep but low near-horizontal crevices. Sandy beaches and bottoms (including shelly, pebble and gravel bottoms) Sandy bottoms at first glance appear to be fairly barren areas, as they lack the stability to support many of the spectacular reef based species, and the variety of large organisms is relatively low. The sand is continually being moved around by wave action, to a greater or lesser degree depending on weather conditions and exposure of the area. This means that sessile organisms must be specifically adapted to areas of relatively loose substrate to thrive in them, and the variety of species found on a sandy or gravel bottom will depend on all these factors. Sandy bottoms have one important compensation for their instability, animals can burrow into the sand and move up and down within its layers, which can provide feeding opportunities and protection from predation. Other species can dig themselves holes in which to shelter, or may feed by filtering water drawn through the tunnel, or by extending body parts adapted to this function into the water above the sand. The open sea

Marine species diversity

Animals

Myxinidae *''

Eptatretus hexatrema ''Eptatretus hexatrema'', the sixgill hagfish or snotslang, is a species of marine fish in the hagfish family (family Myxinidae) of order Myxiniformes. It is native to the South Atlantic Ocean and southwestern Indian Ocean The Indian Ocea ...

'', (Müller, 1836), sixgill hagfish Hexanchidae *'' Notorynchus cepedianus'', (Péron, 1807), broadnose sevengill shark Squalidae *''

Squalus megalops The shortnose spurdog (''Squalus megalops)'' also known as the piked spurdog is a small shark located primarily off the coast of Southern Australia and South Africa.Braccini, J. M., et al. “Embryo Development and MaternalâEmbryo Nutriti ...

'', (W. J. Macleay, 1881), bluntnose spiny dogfish Rhincodontidae *''

Rhincodon typus The whale shark (''Rhincodon typus'') is a slow-moving, filter-feeding carpet shark and the largest known extant fish species. The largest confirmed individual had a length of .McClain CR, Balk MA, Benfield MC, Branch TA, Chen C, Cosgrove J, Do ...

'', (A. Smith, 1828), whale shark Carcharhinidae *'' Carcharhinus brachyurus'', (Günther, 1870), copper shark *''

Carcharhinus brevipinna The spinner shark (''Carcharhinus brevipinna'') is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae, named for the spinning leaps it makes as a part of its feeding strategy. This species occurs in tropical and warm temperate waters worldw ...

'', (J. P. Müller & Henle, 1839), spinner shark *'' Carcharhinus obscurus'', (Lesueur, 1818), dusky shark *''

Galeorhinus galeus The school shark (''Galeorhinus galeus'') is a houndshark of the family Triakidae, and the only member of the genus ''Galeorhinus''. Common names also include tope, tope shark, snapper shark, and soupfin shark. It is found worldwide in temperate ...

'', (Linnaeus, 1758), soupfin shark *''

Mustelus mustelus The common smooth-hound (''Mustelus mustelus'') is a houndshark of the family Triakidae. It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean from the British Isles to South Africa, and in the Mediterranean Sea, Madeira, and the Canary Islands at depths r ...

'', (Linnaeus, 1758), smooth-hound *''

Mustelus palumbes The whitespotted smooth-hound (''Mustelus palumbes'') is a houndshark of the family Triakidae. It is found on the continental shelves of the southeast Atlantic from Namibia around South Africa, between latitudes 17° S and 36° S, from the sur ...

'', J. L. B. Smith, 1957 ,whitespotted smooth-hound *''

Prionace glauca The blue shark (''Prionace glauca''), also known as the great blue shark, is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae, which inhabits deep waters in the world's temperate and tropical oceans. Averaging around and preferring co ...

'', (Linnaeus, 1758), blue shark *''

Triakis megalopterus The sharptooth houndshark, or spotted gully shark (''Triakis megalopterus'') is a species of houndshark in the family Triakidae found in shallow inshore waters from southern Angola to South Africa. Favoring sandy areas near rocky reefs and gulli ...

'', (A. Smith, 1839), spotted gullyshark (endemic) Scylioshinidae *''

Halaelurus natalensis The tiger catshark (''Halaelurus natalensis'') is a species of catshark, belonging to the family Scyliorhinidae. It is found over sandy areas and near reef peripheries off South Africa and perhaps Mozambique, from close to shore to usually no de ...

'', (Regan, 1904), tiger catshark (endemic) *''

Haploblepharus edwardsii The puffadder shyshark (''Haploblepharus edwardsii''), also known as the Happy Eddie, is a species of catshark, belonging to the family Scyliorhinidae, endemic to the temperate waters off the coast of South Africa. This common shark is found on ...

'', (Schinz, 1822), puffadder shyshark (endemic) *''

Haploblepharus fuscus The brown shyshark or plain happy (''Haploblepharus fuscus'') is a species of catshark, part of the family Scyliorhinidae. It is endemic to the shallow, coastal waters of South Africa from west of Cape Agulhas to KwaZulu-Natal. This benthic speci ...

'', J. L. B. Smith, 1950, brown shyshark (endemic) *''

Haploblepharus pictus The dark shyshark or pretty happy (''Haploblepharus pictus'') is a species of catshark, belonging to the family Scyliorhinidae, endemic to the temperate waters off southern Namibia and western South Africa. It is benthic in nature and inhabits ...

'', (J. P. Müller & Henle, 1838), dark shyshark (endemic) *'' Poroderma africanum'', (J. F. Gmelin, 1789), striped catshark (endemic) *'' Poroderma pantherinum'', (J. P. Müller & Henle, 1838), leopard catshark (endemic) *''

Scyliorhinus capensis The yellowspotted catshark (''Scyliorhinus capensis'') is a rare catshark of the family Scyliorhinidae. It is found in the southeast Atlantic, from Lüderitz, Namibia to central Natal, South Africa, between latitudes 0° and 37° S. It can gro ...

'', (J. P. Müller & Henle, 1838), yellowspotted catchark Sphrynidae *''

Sphyrna ''Sphyrna'' (from the Greek word σφῦρα, "hammer") is a genus of hammerhead sharks with a cosmopolitan distribution in the world's oceans. Members of ''Sphyrna'' have a tendency to inhabit coastal waters along the intertidal zone rather th ...

'' sp. hammerhead *''

Sphyrna zygaena The smooth hammerhead (''Sphyrna zygaena'') is a species of hammerhead shark, and part of the family Sphyrnidae. This species is named "smooth hammerhead" because of the distinctive shape of the head, which is flattened and laterally extended int ...

'', (Linnaeus, 1758), smooth hammerhead Lamnidae *'' Carcharodon carcharias'', (Linnaeus, 1758), great white shark *''

Isurus oxyrinchus The shortfin mako shark (; ; ''Isurus oxyrinchus''), also known as the blue pointer or bonito shark, is a large mackerel shark. It is commonly referred to as the mako shark, as is the longfin mako shark (''Isurus paucus''). The shortfin mako can ...

'', Rafinesque, 1810, short fin mako Odontaspididae *'' Carcharias taurus'', Rafinesque, 1810, spotted ragged-tooth Pristidae *''

Pristis pectinata ''Pristis'' is a genus of sawfish of the family Pristidae. These large fish are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions in coastal marine waters, estuaries, and freshwater lakes and rivers. Sawfish have declined drastically and all ...

'', Latham, 1794, largetooth sawfish Torpedinidae *''

Torpedo fuscomaculata The black-spotted torpedo (''Torpedo fuscomaculata'') is a poorly known, uncommon species of electric ray in the family Torpedinidae, known for being capable of generating an electric shock. It is endemism, endemic to southern Africa and possibly ...

'', W. K. H. Peters, 1855, blackspotted electric ray Rhinobatidae *''

Acroteriobatus annulatus The lesser guitarfish or lesser sandshark (''Acroteriobatus annulatus'') is a species of fish in the Rhinobatidae family. It is found in Angola, Namibia, South Africa, and possibly Mozambique. Its natural habitats are shallow seas and estuarine ...

'', (J. P. Müller & Henle, 1841), recorded as syn. ''Rhinobatos annulatus'', lesser guitarfish (endemic) Mylobatidae *''

Myliobatis aquila The common eagle ray (''Myliobatis aquila'') is a species of fish in the family Myliobatidae. It inhabits the eastern Atlantic Ocean (North Sea to South Africa), the Mediterranean Sea and the south-western Indian Ocean. Description The common e ...

'', (Linnaeus, 1758), eagleray *'' Aetomylaeus bovinus'', (É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817) recorded as syn. ''Pteromylaeus bovinus'' É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817, bullray Mobulidae *''

Mobula birostris The giant oceanic manta ray, giant manta ray, or oceanic manta ray (''Mobula birostris'') is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae, and the largest type of ray in the world. It is circumglobal and is typically found in tropical and subtropica ...

'', (Walbaum, 1792), recorded as syn,''Manta birostris'', (Walbaum, 1792), manta ray *''

Mobula mobular The devil fish or giant devil ray (''Mobula mobular'') is a species of ray in the family Mobulidae. It is currently listed as endangered, mostly due to bycatch mortality in unrelated fisheries. Description The devil fish is larger than its cl ...

'', (Bonnaterre, 1788) recorded as syn. ''Mobula diabolus'', (Shaw, 1804), devil ray Dasyatidae *''

Dasyatis marmorata ''Dasyatis marmorata'', the marbled stingray, is a species of stingray of the family Dasyatidae. Its geographic range covers the central and south-eastern Atlantic, from Morocco to South Africa. It is also present in the coastal waters of southe ...

capensis'', (Steindachner, 1892) blue stingray *''

Gymnura natalensis The backwater butterfly ray, butterfly ray, diamond ray, or short-tailed ray (''Gymnura natalensis'') is a species of fish in the family Gymnuridae. It is found in Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, possibly Kenya, and possibly Tanzania. Its natu ...

'', (Gilchrist & W. W. Thompson, 1911), backwater butterflyray (endemic) Eliopidae *''

Elops machnata ''Elops machnata'', the tenpounder, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Elopidae in the order Elopiformes (tarpons and tenpounders). This species is found in coastal regions of the Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-larges ...

'', (Forsskål, 1775), ten pounder Anguillidae *''

Anguilla mossambica The African longfin eel (''Anguilla mossambica''), also known simply as the longfin eel, is an eel in the family Anguillidae.

'', (Peters, 1852), longfin eel Congridae *'' Conger wilsoni'', (Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801), Cape conger Ophichthidae *''

Ophisurus serpens The serpent eel or sand snake-eel (''Ophisurus serpens'') is an eel found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, western Mediterranean Sea, western Indian Ocean, western Pacific Ocean and the north-east and west coast of North Island in New Zealand. It ...

'', (Linnaeus, 1758), sand snake-eel Clupeidae *''

Etrumeus whiteheadi ''Etrumeus'' is a genus of round herrings in the family, Dussumieriidae. Species There are currently seven recognized species in this genus: * '' Etrumeus acuminatus'' Gilbert, 1890 (Eastern Pacific red-eye round herring) * '' Etrumeus golanii' ...

'', Wongratana, 1983, redeye roundherring (endemic) *''

Gilchristella aestuaria ''Gilchristella aestuaria'', the Gilchrist's round herring or estuarine round-herring, is a member of the herring family Clupeidae that occurs off the coasts of Southern Africa. It is the only species in its genus, which was named for John Dow F ...

'', (Gilchrist, 1913), estuarine roundherring (endemic) *''

Sardinops sagax ''Sardinops'' is a monotypic genus of sardines of the family Clupeidae. The only member of the genus is ''Sardinops sagax''. It is found in the Indo-Pacific and East Pacific oceans. Its length is up to . It has numerous common or vernacular name ...

'', C. L. Hubbs, 1929, South African pilchard Engraulidae *''

Engraulis japonicus The Japanese anchovy (''Engraulis japonicus'') is a schooling fish of the family Engraulidae. It is common in the Pacific Ocean south from the Sea of Okhotsk, widespread in the Sea of Japan, Yellow Sea, and East China Sea, and near the coasts o ...

'', Temminck & Schlegel, 1846, Cape anchovy Gonorhynchidae *''

Gonorynchus gonorynchus ''Gonorynchus gonorynchus'' is a species of fish in the family Gonorynchidae, found on temperate continental shelves worldwide. Common names for this fish include mousefish, ratfish, sandfish, and sand eel.Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, ''Collins Gu ...

'', (Linnaeus, 1766), beaked sandfish Aritidae *''

Galeichthys ater ''Galeichthys ater'', the black sea catfish, is a species of sea catfish found in South Africa and Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shar ...

'', Castelnau, 1861, black seacatfish (endemic) *''

Galeichthys feliceps ''Galeichthys feliceps'', the white barbel, sea barbel, white baggar or white sea catfish, is a species of sea catfish found in coastal waters and estuaries over muddy bottoms at depths of from 1 – 120 metres where they gather in large shoals. ...

'', Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1840, white seacatfish (endemic) Plotosidae *''

Plotosus nkunga ''Plotosus'' is a genus of eeltail catfishes native to the Indian Ocean, the western Pacific Ocean and New Guinea. Species There are currently nine recognized species in this genus: * ''Plotosus abbreviatus'' Boulenger, 1895 * '' Plotosus canius ...

'', Gomon & Taylor, 1982, eel catfish Stomidae *''

Stomias boa boa ''Stomias boa boa'', also called the scaly dragonfish or boa dragonfish, is a subspecies of abyssal barbeled dragonfish of the family Stomiidae. It is found at great depths worldwide in tropical to temperate oceans but is absent from the northern ...

'', (A. Risso, 1810), scaly dragonfish Synodontidae *'' Trachinocephalus myops'', (J. R. Forster, 1801), painted lizard fish Myctophidae *'' Diogenichthys atlanticus'', lanternfish *''

Lampanyctodes hectoris Hector's lanternfish (''Lampanyctodes hectoris'') is a lanternfish in the family Myctophidae, the only species in the genus ''Lampanyctodes''. It is named after James Hector. It is a widespread marine fish, known from shallow tropical waters in ...

'', onderbaadjie *'' Symbolophorus barnardi'', (Tåning, 1932), lanternfish Gadidae *''

Gaidropsarus capensis ''Gaidropsarus'' is a genus of lotid fishes, with these currently recognized species: * '' Gaidropsarus argentatus'' ( J. C. H. Reinhardt, 1837) (Arctic rockling) * ''Gaidropsarus biscayensis'' ( Collett, 1890) (Mediterranean bigeye rockling) * ' ...

'', Cape rockling (endemic) Merlucciidae *''

Merluccius capensis ''Merluccius capensis'' (shallow-water Cape hake or South African hake) is a ray-finned fish in the genus ''Merluccius'', found in the south-eastern Atlantic Ocean, along the coast of South Africa. It is a long, lean fish with a large head, simil ...

'', Castelnau, 1861, shallow water hake Moridae *''

Physiculus capensis ''Physiculus'' is a genus of morid cods. Species The 42 currently recognized species in this genus are: * '' Physiculus andriashevi'' Shcherbachev, 1993 * '' Physiculus argyropastus'' Alcock, 1894 * '' Physiculus beckeri'' Shcherbachev, 1993 ...

'', Gilchrist, 1922, deepsea cod (endemic) Bregmacerotidae *''

Bregmaceros atlanticus The antenna codlet, ''Bregmaceros atlanticus'', is a species of codlet found in the subtropical zones of the oceans. This species grows to in total length Fish measurement is the measuring of individual fish and various parts of their anatomi ...

'', codlet *'' Bregmaceros nectabanus'', codlet Ophidiidae *''

Genypterus capensis ''Genypterus capensis'', commonly known as kingklip, is a species of cusk eel occurring along the Southern African coast from Walvis Bay in Namibia to Algoa Bay in South Africa. It is closely related to ''Genypterus blacodes'' from New Zealand. ...

'', kingklip (endemic) Bythitidae *'' Bidenichthys capensis'', Barnard, 1934, freetail brotula (endemic) *''

Dermatopsoides talboti ''Dermatopsoides'' is a genus of viviparous brotulas. Species There are currently four recognized species in this genus: * ''Dermatopsoides andersoni'' Møller & Schwarzhans, 2006 (Anderson's mudbrotula) * ''Dermatopsoides kasougae'' (J. L. B. ...

'', Cohen, 1966, lesser orange brotula *'' Grammonoides opisthodon'', bighead brotula (endemic) Batrachoididae *'' Batrichthys apiatus'', snakehead toadfish (endemic) *'' Chatrabus hendersoni'', chocolate toadfish (endemic) *'' Chatrabus melanurus'', humpback toadfish (endemic) Lophiidae *'' Lophius upsicephalus'', monk (endemic) Gobiesocidae *''

Apletodon pellegrini ''Apletodon pellegrini'', the chubby clingfish, is a species of clingfish of the family Gobiesocidae. The species is found in the Eastern Atlantic, from Madeira, Cape Verde, Canary Islands, Annobon Islands, mainland shore from Cape Blanco south t ...

'', chubby clingfish *'' Chorisochismus dentex'', rocksucker (endemic) *'' Diplecogaster megalops'', bigeye clingfish (endemic) Atherinidae *''

Atherina breviceps The Cape silverside (''Atherina breviceps'') is a species of marine fish of the family Atherinidae. It is a brackish, freshwater, pelagic-neritic subtropical fish up to 11.0 cm maximal length. It is widespread in the southeastern Atlantic fr ...

'', Cape silverside Notocheiridae *''

Iso natalensis ISO is the most common abbreviation for the International Organization for Standardization. ISO or Iso may also refer to: Business and finance * Iso (supermarket), a chain of Danish supermarkets incorporated into the SuperBest chain in 2007 * Iso ...

'', surf sprite Hemiramphidae *''

Hemiramphus far ''Hemiramphus far'', the halfbeak, black-barred halfbeak, black-barred garfish, barred halfbeak, barred garfish or spotted halfbeak, is a schooling marine fish in the family Hemiramphidae. It has an Indo-Pacific distribution and has invaded the ...

'', spotted halfbeak *'' Hyporhamphus capensis'', Cape halfbeak Belonidae *'' Petalichthys capensis'', Cape needlefish Berycidae *'' Centroberyx spinosus'', short alfonsino (endemic) Zeidae *''

Zeus capensis The Cape dory, Cape Dory, or Cape John Dory (''Zeus capensis'') is a fish of the family Zeidae. It occurs on the coast of Namibia, South Africa, and Mozambique in South Atlantic and Western Indian Oceans. It is a demersal fish that lives at the ...

'', Cape dory Syngnathidae *'' Hippichthys spicifer'', bellybarred pipefish *''

Hippocampus capensis The Knysna seahorse or Cape seahorse (''Hippocampus capensis'') is a species of fish in the family Syngnathidae. It is endemic to the south coast of South Africa, where it has been found in only three brackish water habitats: the estuary of the K ...

'', Knysna seahorse *''

Syngnathus acus The greater pipefish (''Syngnathus acus'') is a pipefish of the family Syngnathidae. It is a seawater fish and the type species of the genus ''Syngnathus''. Etymology The genus name ''Syngnathus'' derives from the Greek, ''syn'', ''symphysis'' m ...

'', longsnout pipefish Macroramphosidae *''

Macroramphosus scolopax ''Macroramphosus'', snipefishes or bellowfishes, is a genus of fishes found in tropical and subtropical oceans at depths down to . According to FishBase, they are part of the family Centriscidae, but Nelson (2016) split that family, in which case ...

'', slender snipefish Tetrarogidae *'' Coccotropsis gymnoderma'', smoothskin scorpionfish (Gilchrist, 1906), (endemic) Congiopodidae *'' Congiopodus spinifer'', spinenose horsefish (endemic) *''

Congiopodus torvus The smooth horsefish (''Congiopodus torvus'') is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Congiopodidae, the horsefishes or pigfishes. It is found in the waters off Southern Africa. Taxonomy The smooth horsefish was first forma ...

'', smooth horsefish (endemic) Platycephalidae *'' Platycephalus indicus'', bartail flathead Triglidae *'' Chelidonichthys capensis'', Cape gurnard (endemic) *'' Chelidonichthys kumu'', bluefin gurnard *'' Trigloporus lastoviza africanus'', African gurnard (endemic) Kuhliidae *''

Kuhlia mugil ''Kuhlia mugil'', the barred flagtail, the fiveband flagtail or the five-bar flagtail, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a flagtail belonging to the family Kuhliidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region. Description ''Kuhlia mugil'' ...

'', barred flagrail Serranidae *''

Acanthistius sebastoides ''Acanthistius'' is a genus of fish. Some authors place the genus in the family Serranidae, while some consider it to be ''incertae sedis'', where it is not clear which family it belongs to.Mansur, L. E. (2011)First record of partial albinism in ...

'', (Castelnau, 1861), koester *'' Epinephelus andersoni'', Boulenger, 1903, catface rockcod (endemic) *''

Epinephelus marginatus ''Epinephelus marginatus'' (), the dusky grouper, yellowbelly rock cod or yellowbelly grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the ant ...

'', (Lowe, 1834), yellowbelly rockcod recorded as ''Epinephilus emarginata'' *''

Serranus cabrilla The comber (; ''Serranus cabrilla'') is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the Family (biology), family Serranidae, the sea basses. It is widely distributed in the eastern North and South Atlantic Oceans and into the southwestern Indian Oce ...

'', (Linnaeus, 1758), comber Teraponidae *''

Terapon jarbua ''Terapon jarbua'', the jarbua terapon, crescent grunter, crescent banded grunter, crescent perch, spiky trumpeter, thornfish or tiger perch, is a species of ray-finned fish, a grunter of the family Terapontidae. It occurs in the Indo-Pacific. ...

'', (Fabricius

x Forsskål X, or x, is the twenty-fourth and third-to-last Letter (alphabet), letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the English alphabet, modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its English a ...

in Niebuhr, 1775), thornfish Scombropidae *''

Scombrops boops ''Scombrops boops'', the gnomefish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a gnomefish from the family Scombropidae. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific and marginally in the south eastern Atlantic. It occurs off South Africa and Mozambique an ...

'', (Houttuyn, 1782), gnomefish (endemic) Pomatomidae *'' Pomatomus saltatrix'', (Linnaeus, 1766), elf Haemulidae *'' Pomadasys commersonnii'', (Lacépède, 1801), spotted grunter *'' Pomadasys olivaceus'', (Day, 1875), piggy *'' Pomadasys striatus'', (Gilchrist & W. W. Thompson, 1908), striped grunter Sparidae *'' Argyrozona argyrozona'', carpenter (endemic) *'' Boopsoidea inornata'', Castelnau, 1861, fransmadam (endemic) *'' Cheimerius nufar'', (Valenciennes, 1830), Santer *'' Chrysoblephus cristiceps'' (Valenciennes , 1830 ), dageraad (endemic) *'' Chrysoblephus gibbiceps'' Valenciennes, 1830, red stumpnose (endemic) *'' Chrysoblephus laticeps'' (Valenciennes, 1830), roman (endemic) *'' Chrysoblephus puniceus'' (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908), slinger *'' Cymatoceps nasutus'' (Castelnau, 1861), black musselcracker (endemic) *'' Diplodus cervinus hottentotus'' (Lowe, 1838), zebra (endemic) *'' Diplodus sargus capensis'' Linnaeus, 1758, blacktail *'' Gymnocrotaphus curvidens'', janbruin (endemic) *'' Lithognathus lithognathus'', white steenbras (endemic) *'' Lithognathus mormyrus'', sand steenbras *'' Pachymetopon aeneum'', blue hottentot (endemic) *'' Pachymetopon blochii'', hottentot (endemic) *'' Pachymetopon grande'', bronze bream *'' Pagellus bellottii natalensis'', red tjor-tjor *'' Petrus rupestris'', red steenbras (endemic) *''

Polysteganus undulosus ''Polysteganus'' is a genus of fish in the family Sparidae. Species There are currently 8 recognized species in this genus: * '' Polysteganus baissaci'' M. M. Smith, 1978 (French-man seabream) * '' Polysteganus cerasinus'' Iwatsuki & Heemstr ...

'', seventy-four (endemic) *'' Porcostoma dentata'', dane (endemic) *'' Pterogymnus laniarius'', panga (endemic) *''

Rhabdosargus globiceps ''Rhabdosargus globiceps'', the white stumpnose, is an endemic fish found on the southern African coast, from Angola to the Qora River just south of Port St Johns. In Afrikaans it is known as . Description The fish is silver in color with 5 - ...

'', white stumpnose (endemic) *''

Rhabdosargus holubi ''Rhabdosargus holubi'', the Cape stumpnose, is a species of fish in the seabream family, Sparidae. It is native to southern Africa, where it can be found mainly along the eastern coast of South Africa.Blaber, S.J.M. (1974)The ecology of juvenil ...

'', Cape stumpnose (endemic) *''

Rhabdosargus sarba ''Rhabdosargus sarba'', also known as the goldlined seabream, silver bream, tarwhine, or yellowfin bream, is a species of fish in the seabream family, Sparidae. This species occurs Red Sea and the Persian Gulf to Eastern Cape, South Africa, east ...

'', Natal stumpnose *''

Sarpa salpa ''Sarpa salpa'', known commonly as the dreamfish, salema, salema porgy, cow bream or goldline, is a species of sea bream, recognisable by the golden stripes that run down the length of its body, and which can cause ichthyoallyeinotoxism when ea ...

'', Strepie *'' Sparodon durbanensis'', white musselcracker (endemic) *''

Spondyliosoma emarginatum ''Spondyliosoma emarginatum'', the steentjie seabream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This species is found in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean and the southwestern ...

'', steentjie (endemic) Centracanthidae *'' Spicara axillaris'', windtoy (endemic) Dichistidae *''

Dichistius capensis The galjoen, black bream, or blackfish (''Dichistius capensis'') is a species of marine fish found only along the coast of southern Africa from Angola to South Africa. Galjoen is the national fish of South Africa. Distribution and habitat Th ...

'', galjoen (endemic) *'' Dichistius multifasciatus'', banded galjoen Parascorpididae *'' Parascorpis typus'', jutjaw (endemic) Scorpididae *'' Neoscorpis lithophilus'', stonebream (endemic) Monodactylidae *''

Monodactylus falciformis ''Monodactylus'' is a genus of moonyfishes found in fresh, brackish and marine waters from the eastern Atlantic, through the Indian to the western Pacific oceans. Species There are currently four recognized species in this genus: * '' Monodactyl ...

'', Cape moony Mullidae *'' Parupeneus rubescens'', (Lacepède, 1801), blacksaddle goatfish Sciaenidae *''

Argyrosomus inodorus ''Argyrosomus'' is a genus of fish in the drum family, Sciaenidae. They are large fish, with the largest, '' A. regius'', growing up to 230 cm in length. They are commonly targeted as game fish. * Amoy croaker, ''Argyrosomus amoyensis'' (B ...

'', silver kob *''

Argyrosomus japonicus ''Argyrosomus japonicus'' is a silvery to bronze-green colored fish, a member of the family Sciaenidae, which may grow up to in length. It is known as Japanese meagre (FAO), mulloway or jewfish on the east coast of Australia, butterfish in South ...

'', dusky kob *''

Atractoscion aequidens The geelbeck croaker (''Atractoscion aequidens''), also known as the African weakfish or Cape salmon, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the southwestern India ...

'', geelbek *'' Umbrina canariensis'', baardman *''

Umbrina ronchus ''Umbrina ronchus'', the fusca drum, slender baardman, roncador, fusca croaker or slender tasselfish, is a species of croaker or drum from the family Sciaenidae which is found in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Description ...

'', slender baardman Pomacanthidae *'' Pomacanthus rhomboides'', old woman Chaetodontidae *''

Chaetodon blackburnii The brownburnie (''Chaetodon blackburnii''), also known as Blackburn's butterflyfish or the rayed butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the Family (biology), family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the ...

'', brownburnie *''

Chaetodon marleyi The doublesash butterflyfish, (''Chaetodon marleyi''), also known as the fourbanded butterflyfish or Marley’s butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the sout ...

'', doublesash butterflyfish (endemic) *'' Heniochus acuminatus'', coachman Oplegnathidae *'' Oplegnathus conwayi'', Natal knifejaw (endemic) Carangidae *'' Caranx sexfasciatus'', bigeye kingfish *''

Decapterus macrosoma ''Decapterus'' is a genus of marine fishes of jack family, Carangidae, commonly known as mackerel scads, round scads, or horse mackerel. They are found throughout the world. Species Currently, 10 or 12 recognized species are found in this genus: ...

'', slender scad *''

Lichia amia The leerfish or garrick (''Lichia amia'') is a species of marine fish in the family Carangidae, and is native to the Mediterranean and the coastal waters of western Africa to the coastal waters of eastern South Africa.Van Der Elst, R. (1993). '' ...

'', garrick *''

Seriola lalandi The yellowtail amberjack, yellowtail kingfish, hiramasa or great amberjack (''Seriola lalandi'') is a large fish found in the Southern Ocean. Although previously thought to be found in all oceans and seas, recent genetic analysis restricts ''S. ...

'', giant yellowtail *''

Trachurus trachurus The Atlantic horse mackerel (''Trachurus trachurus''), also known as the European horse mackerel or common scad, is a species of jack mackerel in the family Carangidae, the jacks, pompanos and trevallies. It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean ...

'', Maasbanker Coryphaenidae *''

Coryphaena hippurus The mahi-mahi () or common dolphinfish (''Coryphaena hippurus'') is a surface-dwelling ray-finned fish found in off-shore temperate, tropical, and subtropical waters worldwide. Also widely called dorado (not to be confused with ''Salminus brasil ...

'', dorado Cheilodactylidae *'' Cheilodactylus fasciatus'', redfingers (endemic) *'' Cheilodactylus pixi'', barred fingerfin (endemic) *'' Chirodactylus brachydactylus'', twotone fingerfin (endemic) *'' Chirodactylus grandis'', bank steenbras (endemic) Pomacentridae *''

Abudefduf sordidus ''Abudefduf sordidus'', commonly known as the Blackspot sergeant or kūpīpī in Hawaii, is a large solitaryDamselfish in the family Pomacentridae common in the tropical Indo-Pacific. Description Blackspot sergeant have a zebra stripe look (yel ...

'', spot damsel *'' Chromis dasygenys'', bluespotted chromis (endemic) Labridae *'' Coris caudimaucula'', spottail coris *'' Labriodes dimidiatus'', blue streak cleaner wrasse Mugilidae *'' Liza dumerilii'', groovy mullet *''

Liza macrolepis The largescale mullet (''Planiliza macrolepis'') is a species of fish in the family Mugilidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific. Description The largescale mullet is greenish-grey above and silvery grey beneath. The fins are bluish-grey with dark ...

'', largescale mullet *'' Liza richardsonii'', southern mullet (endemic) *'' Liza tricuspidens'', striped mullet (endemic) *'' Mugil cephalusi'', flathead mullet *''

Myxus capensis The freshwater mullet (''Pseudomyxus capensis'') is a species of fish in the family Mugilidae. It is endemic to South Africa. Distribution The freshwater mullet is endemic to South Africa where is distribution extends from Kwazulu-Natal, the Eas ...

'', freshwater mullet (endemic) *'' Valamugil buchanani'', bluetail mullet *'' Valamugil seheli'', bluespot mullet Sphyraenidae *''

Sphyraena jello The pickhandle barracuda (''Sphyraena jello'') is a species of barracuda found throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Its common name derives from the dark marks along its sides, which look like the thick ends of pickaxe handles.Froese, Rainer; Pauly ...

'', pickhandle barracuda Congrogadidae *'' Halidesmus scapularis'', snakelet (endemic) Champsodontidae *'' Champsodon capensis'', gaper Bleniidae *'' Omobranchus woodii'', kappie blenny *'' Chaloroderma ocellata'', two-eyed blenny (endemic) *'' Parablennius cornutus'', horned blenny (endemic) *'' Parablennius pilicornis'', ringneck blenny *'' Plagiotremus rhinorhynchus'', twostripe blennny *'' Plagiotremus tapeinosoma'', piano blennny *'' Scartella emarginata'', maned blenny *'' Xiphasia setifer'', snakeblenny Trypterygiidae *'' Trypterygiidae'', gen. nov. (new genus & species) *'' Cremnochorites capensis'', Cape triplefin (endemic) Clinidae *'' Blennioclinus brachycephalus'', lace klipfish (endemic) *'' Blennioclinus stella'', silverbubble klipfish (endemic) *''

Blennophis striatus ''Blennophis striatus'', the Striped klipfish, is a species of clinid found in the subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean from Saldanha Bay to East London, South Africa where it can be found in the subtidal zone as well as inhabiting tidepool ...

'', striped klipfish (endemic) *'' Cirrhibarbis capensis'', barbelled klipfish (endemic) *'' Climacoporus navalis'', fleet klipfish (endemic) *''

Clinus acuminatus ''Clinus acuminatus'', the sad klipfish, is a species of fish in the family Clinidae. It is endemic to Southern Africa, where it occurs along the coast of Namibia and South Africa. It can reach a maximum length of TL and is viviparous. The sad ...

'', sad klipfish (endemic) *''

Clinus agilis ''Clinus agilis'', the agile klipfish, is a species of clinid found in subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean from Namibia to South Africa where it is commonly found in estuaries and tide pools. This species can reach a maximum length of (to ...

'', agile klipfish (endemic) *''

Clinus berrisfordi ''Clinus berrisfordi'', the Onrust klipfish, is a species of clinid that occurs in subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean from False Bay to Skoenmakerskop, South Africa where it prefers marine and brackish habitats with plentiful growth of s ...

'', Onrust klipfish (endemic) *''

Clinus cottoides ''Clinus cottoides'', the bluntnose klipfish, is a species of clinid that occurs in subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean around South Africa where it is a denizen of tide pools. This species can reach a maximum length of TL. This specie ...

'', bluntnose klipfish (endemic) *''

Clinus nematopterus ''Clinus nematopterus'', the Chinese klipfish, that occurs in subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean where, despite its common name, it is endemic to South Africa, the common name having derived from a locality error in the original descriptio ...

'', Chinese klipfish (endemic) *'' Clinus robustus'', robust klipfish (endemic) *''

Clinus superciliosus ''Clinus superciliosus'', the Super klipfish or Highfin klipfish, is a species of clinid that occurs in subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean from northern Namibia to the Kei River in South Africa where it can be found in the subtidal and int ...

'', super klipfish (endemic) *'' Clinus taurus'', bull klipfish (endemic) *'' Clinus venustris'', speckled klipfish (endemic) *'' Pavoclinus graminis'', grass klipfish (endemic) *'' Pavoclinus laurentii'', rippled klipfish (endemic) *'' Pavoclinus pavo'', peacock klipfish (endemic) *'' Pavoclinus profundus'', deepwater klipfish (endemic) *'' Xenopoclinus kochi'', platanna klipfish (endemic) *'' Xenopoclinus leprosus'', leprous platanna-klipfish (endemic) Ammodytidae *''

Gymnammodytes capensis ''Gymnammodytes'' is a genus of sand lances native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the southwestern Indian Ocean along the coast of Africa. Species The currently recognized species in this genus are: * '' Gymnammodytes c ...

'', Cape sandlance (endemic) Callionymidae *'' Paracallionymus costatus'', ladder dragonet (endemic) Gobiidae *'' Caffrogobius agulhensis'', Agulhas goby (endemic) *'' Caffrogobius caffer'', banded goby (endemic) *'' Caffrogobius multifasciatus'', prison goby (endemic) *'' Caffrogobius natalensis'', baldy (endemic) *'' Caffrogobius nudiceps'', barehead goby *'' Caffrogobius saldanha'', commafin goby (endemic) *''

Glossogobius callidus ''Glossogobius'' is a genus of gobies native to fresh, brackish and marine waters from Africa to the coasts of the western Pacific Ocean. They are found in Madagascar, South Africa, Japan, Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, the Philippin ...

'', river goby *''

Glossogobius giuris ''Glossogobius giuris'', the tank goby, is a species of goby native to fresh, marine and brackish waters from the Red Sea and East Africa through South Asia and the Indian Ocean to China, Australia and the islands of the Pacific Ocean. This spe ...

'', tank goby *'' Psammogobius knysnaensis'', Knysna sandgoby (endemic) *'' Redigobius dewaali'', checked goby Zanclidae *'' Zanclus canescens'', Moorish idol Gempylidae *''

Thyrsites atun ''Thyrsites atun'' ( Euphrasén, 1791), the snoek, is a long, thin species of snake mackerel found in the seas of the Southern Hemisphere, and a popular food fish in South Africa, particularly along the west and southwest coast. This fish can ...

'', snoek Trichiuridae *''

Lepidopus caudatus The silver scabbardfish (''Lepidopus caudatus''), also known as the frostfish or beltfish is a benthopelagic cutlassfish of the family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or ...

'', buttersnoek Scombridae *''

Scomber japonicus The chub mackerel, Pacific mackerel, or Pacific chub mackerel (''Scomber japonicus'') is a species of fish in the tuna and mackerel family, Scombridae. This species of mackerel closely resembles the Atlantic chub mackerel. Characteristics The chu ...

'', mackerel Stromatidae *''

Centrolophus niger The black ruff (''Centrolophus niger'') is a medusafish, the only member of the genus ''Centrolophus''. It is a bathypelagic fish found in all tropical and temperate oceans at depths of . Its length is typically up to , but it may reach . Other ...

'', black ruff Bothidae *''

Arnoglossus capensis The scaldfishes comprise a genus, ''Arnoglossus'', of lefteye flounders. They are found in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans, including the Mediterranean and Black Sea. They are entirely absent from most of the Americas; the only exceptions ...

'', Cape flounder (endemic) Cynoglossidae *'' Cynoglossus capensis'', sand tongue fish (endemic) *'' Cynoglossus zanzibarensis'', redspotted tongue fish Soleidae *'' Austroglossus pectoralis'', East Cape sole (endemic) *'' Heteromycteris capensis'', Cape sole (endemic) *'' Monochirus ocellatus'', foureye sole *'' Solea bleekeri'', blackhand sole (endemic) *'' Solea fulvomarginata'', lemon sole (endemic) *'' Synaptura marginata'', shallow-water sole *'' Synapturichthys kleini'', lace sole Monacanthidae *''

Aluterus monoceros ''Aluterus'' is a genus of filefishes. Species There are currently 4 recognized species in this genus:Matsuura, K. (2014): Taxonomy and systematics of tetraodontiform fishes: a review focusing primarily on progress in the period from 1980 to 201 ...

'', unicorn leatherjacket Ostraciidae *''

Lactoria cornuta ''Lactoria'' is a genus of boxfishes. Species Three species in this genus are recognized:Matsuura, K. (2014): Taxonomy and systematics of tetraodontiform fishes: a review focusing primarily on progress in the period from 1980 to 2014. ''Ichthyol ...

'', longhorn cowfish *'' Tetrosomus concatenatus'', triangular boxfish Tetraodontidae *''

Amblyrhynchotes honckenii ''Amblyrhynchotes honckenii'', known as the evileye pufferfish, evileye puffer or evileye blaasop, is a species of fish on the genus ''Amblyrhynchotes''. It is native to the Indo-West Pacific, from South Africa to China, and was first described ...

'', evileye blaasop *''

Arothron hispidus The white-spotted puffer fish (''Arothron hispidus'') is a medium to large-sized puffer fish, it can reach 50 cm length. It is light grey in color, or greyish or yellowish, and clearly covered with more or less regular white points, that b ...

'', whitespotted blaasop *''

Arothron immaculatus ''Arothron immaculatus'', the immaculate puffer or yellow-eyed puffer, is a pale greyish to brownish pufferfish from the Indo-West Pacific. It is a species of marine fish in the family Tetraodontidae. Description The immaculate puffer is a puff ...

'', blackedged blaasop Diodontidae *''

Diodon hystrix Porcupinefishes or balloonfishes, are any of the various species of the genus ''Diodon'', the type genus of Diodontidae. Distinguishing features Fish of the genus ''Diodon'' have: * two-rooted, movable spines (which are derived from modified s ...

'', porcupinefish *'' Lophodiodon calori'', fourbar porcupinefish Molidae *''

Mola mola The ocean sunfish or common mola (''Mola mola'') is one of the largest bony fish in the world. It was misidentified as the heaviest bony fish, which was actually a different species, ''Mola alexandrini''. Adults typically weigh between . The spe ...

'', ocean sunfish

Seaweeds

Endemism