List of marine bony fishes of South Africa

This is a sublist of the List of marine fishes of South Africa for bony fishes recorded from the oceans bordering South Africa. This list comprises locally used common names, scientific names with author citation and recorded ranges. Ranges specified may not be the entire known range for the species, but should include the known range within the waters surrounding the Republic of South Africa.
List ordering and taxonomy complies where possible with the current usage in World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), and may differ from the cited source, as listed citations are primarily for range or existence of records for the region. Sub-taxa within any given taxon are arranged alphabetically as a general rule. Details of each species may be available through the relevant internal links. Synonyms should be listed where relevant.
Osteichthyes (/ˌɒstiːˈɪkθiːz/ ost-ee-IK-theez; from Ancient Greek ὀστέον (ostéon) 'bone' and ἰχθύς (ikhthús) 'fish'), also known as osteichthyans or commonly referred to as the bony fish, is a diverse clade of vertebrate animals that have endoskeletons primarily composed of bone tissue. They can be contrasted with the Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) and the extinct placoderms and acanthodians, which have endoskeletons primarily composed of cartilage. The vast majority of extant fish are members of Osteichthyes, being an extremely diverse and abundant group consisting of 45 orders, over 435 families and 28,000 species. (Full article...)
All entries in this list are included in this infraphylum of Gnathostomata. There are two gigaclasses represented: Actinopterygii and Sarcopterygii.
Family: Acanthuridae – Surgeonfishes and unicornfishes.
Family: Antigoniidae – Boarfishes
Family: Chaetodontidae – Butterflyfishes
Family: Drepaneidae – Sicklefishes
Family: Ephippidae – Batfishes
Family: Leiognathidae – Soapies
Family: Lobotidae – Tripletails
Family: Luvaridae – Louvar
Family: Pomacanthidae – Angelfishes
Family: Scatophagidae – Scatties
Family: Siganidae – Rabbitfishes
Family: Zanclidae – Moorish idol
Family: Acropomatidae – Lanternbellies
Family: Bathyclupeidae – Bathyclupeids
Family: Champsodontidae – Gapers
Family: Creediidae – Sand burrowers
Family: Epigonidae – Cardinal fishes
Family: Howellidae
Family: Pempheridae – Sweepers
Family: Pentacerotidae – Armourheads
Family: Polyprionidae – Wreckfishes
Family: Scombropidae – Gnomefishes
Family: Albulidae
Family: Anguillidae – Freshwater eels
Family: Chlopsidae – False morays
Family: Moringuidae – Spaghetti eels
Family: Muraenidae – Moray eels
Family: Congridae – Conger eels
Family: Derichthyidae – Longneck eels
Family: Muraenesocidae – Pike congers
Family: Nettastomatidae – Witch eels
Family: Ophichthidae – Snake-eels and worm-eels
Family: Nemichthyidae – Snipe eels
Family: Serrivomeridae – Sawtooth eels
Family: Synaphobranchidae – Cutthroat eels
Family: Alepocephalidae – Slickheads
Family: Argentinidae – Argentines
Family: Opisthoproctidae – Barreleyes
Family: Microstomatidae
Subfamily: Bathylaginae – Deep sea smelts
Family: Ateleopodidae – Tadpole fishes
Family: Atherinidae – Silversides
Family: Notocheiridae – Surf sprites
Family: Alepisauridae – Lancetfishes
Family: Evermannellidae – Sabretooth fishes
Family Omosudidae
Family: Paralepididae – Barracudinas (incl. Anotopteridae – Daggertooths)
Family: Scopelarchidae – Pearleyes
Family: Ipnopidae
Family: Chlorophthalmidae – Greeneyes
Family: Ipnopidae
Family: Notosudidae – Notosudids
Family: Bathysauridae
Family: Giganturidae – Telescopefish
Family: Synodontidae – Lizardfishes
Family: Batrachoididae – Toadfishes
Family: Belonidae – Needlefishes
Family: Exocoetidae – Flyingfishes
Family: Hemiramphidae – Halfbeaks
Family: Scomberesocidae – Sauries
Family: Barbourisiidae – Red whalefish
Family: Berycidae – Berycids
Family: Cetomimidae – Whalefishes
Family: Melamphaidae – Bigscale fishes
Family: Rondeletiidae – Redmouth whalefish
Family: Stephanoberycidae – Pricklefishes
Family: Blenniidae – Blennies
Family: Clinidae – Klipfishes
Family: Tripterygiidae – Threefin blennies or Triplefins
Family: Callionymidae – Dragonets
Family: Menidae – Moonfish
Family: Polynemidae – Threadfins
Family: Sphyraenidae – Barracudas
Family: Carangidae – Kingfishes
Family: Coryphaenidae – Dolphinfish or Dorades
Family: Echeneidae – Remoras
Family: Istiophoridae – Sailfish, spearfishes and marlins
Family: Rachycentridae – Cobia
Family: Xiphiidae – Swordfishes
Family: Cheilodactylidae – Fingerfins
Family: Cirrhitidae – Hawkfishes
Family: Dichistiidae – Galjoens
Family: Kuhliidae – Flagtails
Family: Kyphosidae – Sea chubs
Family: Oplegnathidae – Knifejaws
Family: Parascorpididae – Jutjaw
Family: Terapontidae – Thornfishes
Family: Cichlidae – Cichlids
Family: Alosidae
Family: Chirocentridae – Wolfherrings
Family: Dorosomatidae
Family: Dussumieriidae – Round herrings
Family: Ehiravidae
Family: Engraulidae – Anchovies
Family: Pristigasteridae
Family: Spratelloididae
Family: Dactylopteridae – Helmet gurnards
Family: Pegasidae – Seamoths
Family: Elopidae – Ladyfishes
Family: Megalopidae – Tarpons
Family: Callanthiidae – Goldies
Family: Caesionidae – Fusiliers
Family: Cepolidae – Bandfishes
Family: Dinopercidae
Family: Emmelichthyidae – Rovers
Family: Gerreidae – Pursemouths
Family: Haemulidae – Rubberlips and grunters
Family: Labridae – Wrasses
Family: Lethrinidae – Emperors
Family: Lutjanidae – Snappers
Family: Malacanthidae – Tilefishes
Family: Monodactylidae – Moonies
Family: Nemipteridae – Butterfly breams, spinecheeks
Family: Priacanthidae – Bigeyes
Family: Scaridae – Parrotfishes
Family: Sciaenidae – Kobs
Family: Sillaginidae – Sillagos
Family: Sparidae – Seabreams
Family: Bregmacerotidae – Codlets
Family: Lotidae – Lings and rocklings
Family: Macrouridae – Grenadiers
Family: Melanonidae – Melanonids
Family: Merlucciidae – Hakes
Family: Moridae – Deepsea cods
Family: Gobiesocidae – Clingfishes
Family: Eleotridae – Sleepers
Family: Gobiidae – Gobies
Subfamily: Amblyopinae
Subfamily: Gobiinae
Subfamily: Gobionellinae
Subfamily: Oxudercinae
Family: Microdesmidae – Gobies
Subfamily: Ptereleotrinae
Family: Trichonotidae – Sand divers
Family: Chanidae
Family: Gonorynchidae – Beaked sandfish
Family: Holocentridae – Squirrelfishes and Soldierfishes
Subfamily: Holocentrinae – Squirrelfishes
Subfamily: Myripristinae – Soldierfishes
Family: Apogonidae – Cardinal fishes (see also Epigonidae)
Subfamily: Apogoninae
Subfamily: Pseudaminae
Family: Lamprididae – Opahs (Lampridae in Smiths)
Family: Lophotidae – Crestfishes
Family: Radiicephalidae – Tapertail
Family: Regalecidae – Oarfishes
Family: Trachipteridae – Ribbonfishes
Family: Antennariidae – Anglers
Family: Ceratiidae – Seadevils
Family: Chaunacidae – Coffinfishes
Family: Himantolophidae – Footballfish
Family: Linophrynidae – Dwarf anglers
Family: Lophiidae – Monks
Family: Melanocetidae – Devil-anglers
Family: Ogcocephalidae – Seabats
Family: Mugilidae – Mullets
Family: Mullidae – Goatfishes
Family: Myctophidae – Lanternfishes
Family: Neoscopelidae – Blackchins
Family: Halosauridae – Halosaurs
Family: Notacanthidae – Spiny eels
Family: Aphyonidae – Aphyonids
Family: Bythitidae – Bythitids or Brotulas
Family: Carapidae – Pearlfishes
Family: Ophidiidae – Cuskeels
Family: Parabrotulidae – False brotulas
Family Leptochilichthyidae
Family: Ambassidae – Glassies
Family: Opistognathidae – Jawfishes
Family: Plesiopidae – Longfins Subfamily: Acanthoclininae – Spiny basslets
Subfamily: Plesiopinae
Family: Pomacentridae – Damselfishes
Family: Pseudochromidae – Dottybacks
Subfamily: Congrogadinae – Snakelets
Subfamily: Pseudochrominae
Subfamily: Pseudoplesiopinae
6 suborders and 20 families are represented:
Family: Achiropsettidae
Family: Bothidae – Lefteye flounders
Family: Citharidae – Largescale flounders
Family: Paralichthyidae
Family: Pleuronectidae – Righteye flounders
Family: Cynoglossidae – Tonguefishes
Family: Soleidae – Soles
Family: Polymixiidae – Beardfishes
Family: Cyematidae – Arrow eels
Family: Ariommatidae
Family: Centrolophidae – Ruffs
Family: Chiasmodontidae – Swallowers
Family: Gempylidae – Snake mackerels
Family: Nomeidae – Driftfishes
Family: Pomatomidae – Elf
Family: Scombridae – Tunas, mackerels and bonitos
Subfamily: Gasterochismatinae
Subfamily: Scombrinae
Family: Stromateidae
Family: Tetragonuridae – Squaretails
Family: Trichiuridae – Frostfishes
Family: Ariidae – Sea catfishes
Family: Plotosidae – Eel catfishes
Family: Gonostomatidae – Bristlemouths
Family: Phosichthyidae – Lightfishes
Family: Sternoptychidae – Hatchetfishes
Subfamily: Maurolicinae
Subfamily: Sternoptychinae
Family: Stomiidae
Subfamily: Astronesthinae – Snaggletooths
Subfamily: Idiacanthinae – Sawtail-fishes
Subfamily: Malacosteinae – Loosejaws
Subfamily: Melanostomiinae – Scaleless dragonfishes
Subfamily: Stomiinae – Scaly dragonfishes
Family: Stylephoridae – Tube-eye
Family: Aulostomidae – Trumpetfishes
Family: Centriscidae – Snipefishes and shrimpfishes
Family: Fistulariidae – Flutemouths
Family: Solenostomidae – Ghost pipefishes
Family: Syngnathidae – Seahorses and pipefishes
Family: Balistidae – Triggerfishes
Family: Diodontidae – Burrfishes and porcupinefishes
Family: Molidae – Ocean sunfishes
Family: Monacanthidae – Filefishes
Family: Ostraciidae – Boxfishes
Subfamily: Aracaninae
Subfamily: Ostraciinae
Family: Tetraodontidae – Blaasops or Puffers
Family: Triacanthodidae – Spikefishes
Family: Anoplogastridae – Fangtooth
Family: Diretmidae – Spinyfins
Family: Monocentridae – Pineapple fishes
Family: Trachichthyidae – Slimeheads
Family: Grammicolepididae – Tinselfishes
Family: Oreosomatidae – Oreos
Family: Zeidae – Dories
Family: Zenionidae – Zeniontids
Family: Latimeriidae