Knysna Estuary Fish Species
Scientific Name | Common Name |
Elopidae Elops machnata | Ten pounder |
Anguillidae Anguilla mossambica | Longfin eel |
Clupeidae Gilchristella aestuaria | Estuarine roundherring |
Ariidae Galeichthys feliceps | White sea catfish |
Synodontidae Trachinocephalus myops | Painted lizard fish |
Gobiesocidae Apletodon pellegrini Chorisochismus dentex Diplecogaster megalops | Chubby clingfish Rocksucker Bigeye clingfish |
Atherinidae Atherina breviceps | Cape Silverside |
Hemiramphidae Hemiramphus far Hyporhamphus capensis | Spotted halfbeak Cape halfbeak |
Belonidae Petalichthys capensis | Cape Needlefish |
Sygnathidae Hippocampus capensis Sygnathus acus | Knysna seahorse Longsnout pipefish |
Platycephalidae Platycephalus indicus | Bartail flathead |
Triglidae Chelidonichthys kumu | Bluefin gurnard |
Pomatomidae Pomatomus saltatrix | Elf / Shad |
Haemulidae Pomadasys commersonnii | Spotted grunter |
Gymnura natalensis | Backwater butterfly ray |
Dasyatidae Dasyatis marmoratus capensis | Blue stingray |
Rhinobatidae Rhinobatos annulatus | Lesser guitarfish |
Torpedinidae Torpedo fuscomaculata | Blackspotted electric ray |
Pomadasys olivaceum | Piggy |
Sparidae Cheimerius nufar (juveniles only) Diplodus cervinus hottentotus Diplodus sargus capensis Lithognathus lithognathus Lithognathus mormyrus Rhabdosargus holubi Sarna salpa Sparodon durbanensis | Santer Zebra Blacktail White steenbras Sand steenbras Cape stumpnose Strepie White musselcracker |
Monodactylidae Monodactylus falciformis | Oval moony |
Sciaenidae Argyrosomus japonicus | Dusky kob |
Chaetodontidae Chaetodon marleyi | Doublesash butterflyfish |
Carangidae Lichia amia | Garrick/Leervis |
Cheilodactylidae Chirodactylus brachydactylus | Twotone fingerfin |
Mugilidae Liza dumerilii Liza macrolepis Liza richardsonii Liza tricuspidens Mugil cephalusi Myxus capensis | Groovy mullet Largescale mullet Southern mullet Striped mullet Flathead mullet Freshwater mullet |
Congrogadidae Halidesmus scapularis | Snakelet |
Blenniidae Various species of blenny including: Omobranchus woodii Chaloroderma ocellata Parablennius cornutus Parablennius pilicornis Plagiotremus tapeinosoma Scartella emarginata Xiphasia setifer | Kappie blenny Two-eyed blenny Horned blenny Ringneck blenny Piano blenny Maned blenny Snakeblenny |
Clinidae Various species of clinid including Clinus superciliosus Pavoclinus graminis | Super klipfish Grass klipfish |
Gobiidae Various species of goby including Caffrogobius multifasciatus Glossogobius callidus Psammogobius knysnaensis Redigobius dewaali | Prison goby River goby Knysna sandgoby Checked goby |
Soleidae Austroglossus pectoralis Heteromycteris capensis Solea bleekeri* | East Cape sole Cape sole Blackhand sole |
Monacanthidae Aluterus monoceros | Unicorn leatherjacket |
Tetraodontidae Amblyrhynchotes honckenii | Evileye blaasop |