South Africa country information

Common names: Elephantfish, Josef
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: minor commercial | Ref: Compagno, L.J.V., 1986
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: no regulations | Ref: van der Elst, R., 1993
Uses: live export: yes;
Comments: Abundant off the west coast and the southeastern Cape but uncommon off Natal. Target species of a gillnet fishery operating in St. Helena Bay. Marketed locally. Angling record: 6 kg; spearfishing record: 3.6 kg (Ref. 12484). Also Ref. 3180, 27363, 58304.
National Checklist:
Country Information: httpss://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Compagno, L.J.V., D.A. Ebert and M.J. Smale, 1989
National Database:

Classification / Names

Holocephali (chimaeras) > Chimaeriformes (Chimaeras) > Callorhinchidae (Plownose chimaeras)
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Common names from other countries

Masca du Cap, Pejegallo del Cabo, St. Joseph, ... more

Main reference

Krefft, G. 1990. (Ref. 7403)
References | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 122 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3180); max. published weight: 5.3 kg (Ref. 40637)

Length at first maturity
L_m 49.6 range ? - ? cm

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 10 - 374 m (Ref. 5578), usually 10 - 200 m (Ref. 3180)

Climate / Range

Subtropical, preferred 21°C (Ref. 107945); 16°S - 35°S

Distribution

Southeast Atlantic: Namibia to the Cape and Natal in South Africa (Ref. 5578, 58304).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 1. An elephant fish with a hoe-like snout and arched caudal fin (Ref. 5578). Silvery or bronzy with brown markings on flanks and head; fin webs brown (Ref. 5578).

Found from close inshore and shallow bays to the slope (Ref. 5578). Feeds on small fish and a wide variety of invertebrates (Ref. 27121). Sold commercially as 'silver trumpeter' (Ref. 3180) and considered a delicacy in southern Africa (Ref. 27121). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Produces egg-cases that are spindle shaped, with broad horizontal flanges (Ref. 36731). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 7403.

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

Threat to humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 12484)

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes

More information

Countries
FAO areas
Ecosystems
Occurrences
Introductions
Stocks
Ecology
Diet
Food items
Food consumption
Ration

Common names
Synonyms
Metabolism
Predators
Ecotoxicology
Reproduction
Maturity
Spawning
Fecundity
Eggs
Egg development

Age/Size
Growth
Length-weight
Length-length
Length-frequencies
Morphometrics
Morphology
Larvae
Larval dynamics
Recruitment
Abundance

References
Aquaculture
Aquaculture profile
Strains
Genetics
Allele frequencies
Heritability
Diseases
Processing
Mass conversion

Collaborators
Pictures
Stamps, Coins
Sounds
Ciguatera
Speed
Swim. type
Gill area
Otoliths
Brains
Vision

Tools

Special reports

Check for Aquarium maintenance | Check for Species Fact Sheets | Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

Download XML

Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)
PD₅₀ = 0.7500 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278)
3.5 ±0.52 se; Based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 69278)
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be <100)

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)
High vulnerability (60 of 100)

Price category (Ref. 80766)
Low

Callorhinchus capensis Duméril, 1865