# Kingklip

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{{short description|Species of fish from the South African coast}}
{{Speciesbox 
| image = Genypterus capensis03.jpg
| taxon = Genypterus capensis
| authority = ([A. Smith](/source/Andrew_Smith_(zoologist)), 1847)
| synonyms = *''Xiphiurus capensis'' <small>Smith, 1847</small> 
*''Hoplophycis lalandi'' <small>[Kaup](/source/Johann_Jakob_Kaup), 1858</small> 
}}

'''''Genypterus capensis''''', commonly known as '''kingklip''', is a species of [cusk eel](/source/cusk_eel) occurring along the [Southern African](/source/Southern_African) coast from [Walvis Bay](/source/Walvis_Bay) in [Namibia](/source/Namibia) to [Algoa Bay](/source/Algoa_Bay) in [South Africa](/source/South_Africa).<ref name=FishBase/> It is closely related to ''[Genypterus blacodes](/source/Genypterus_blacodes)'' from [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand). The species grows to a maximum length of 180&nbsp;cm and a weight of 15.0&nbsp;kg.<ref name=FishBase/> It is one of the most popular fish items on South African menus. Despite appearances, it is not closely related to the eels of the order [Anguilliformes](/source/Anguilliformes).

Kingklip occur at depths of 50–500 m, but usually in the range of 250–350 m. They are bottom-dwelling and inhabit rocky localities on the shelf and upper [continental slope](/source/continental_slope). Juveniles are more often found in shallow waters. They feed on [dragonets](/source/dragonets), [mantis shrimps](/source/mantis_shrimps), [hake](/source/Merlucciidae), [squid](/source/squid), and various fish species. Spawning usually takes place from August to October. The species is [oviparous](/source/oviparous), with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass. Their dorsal soft rays number 150, while the anal soft rays number 110. The head and body are normally pink to orange in colour, with dark blotches dorsally.<ref name=FishBase/>

[Andrew Smith](/source/Andrew_Smith_(zoologist)), the redoubtable Scots explorer and zoologist, first described the kingklip species in 1847 from a specimen caught near the entrance to [Table Bay](/source/Table_Bay) and named it ''Xiphiurus capensis'' ('xiphos'=sword, 'oura'=tail). His description was published in "Illustrations of the zoology of South Africa", an account of the natural history objects he collected during his expedition into the interior of South Africa in 1834-36. It was also described by the German naturalist [Johann Jakob Kaup](/source/Johann_Jakob_Kaup) in 1858 and named ''Hoplophycis lalandi''.<ref>[http://www.fishwise.co.za/Default.aspx?TabID=110&GenusSpecies=Genypterus_capensis&SpecieConfigId=205877 Fishwise]</ref>

Kingklip were heavily exploited in the 1980s, and populations have not yet recovered so that some precautions are in place. Being relatively slow-growing and long-lived, stocks cannot sustain the pressure of targeted fishing, and are taken only as a bycatch species. It is one of the economically important species to South African fisheries. The related species from New Zealand, ''[Genypterus blacodes](/source/Genypterus_blacodes)'', has made its way to South African markets and is retailed as kingklip. Kingklip's lack of obvious scales has sparked lively and ongoing debate in Jewish circles as to whether it qualifies as [kosher](/source/kosher) or [treif](/source/treif).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cook |first1=Julia |title=On Scale of Probabilities, Kingklip Should Be Kosher |url=http://www.uos.co.za/kashrut/kingklip.asp |website=UOS |publisher=Union of Orthodox Synagogues |accessdate=9 September 2019 |archive-date=26 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726115728/http://www.uos.co.za/kashrut/kingklip.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A 12-month study on larval development in the southern [Benguela Current](/source/Benguela_Current) suggested that there are different spawning strategies for the western [Agulhas Bank](/source/Agulhas_Bank) and the [West Coast](/source/West_Coast%2C_Western_Cape). On the Agulhas Bank, spawning is initiated by a decrease in [sea surface temperature](/source/sea_surface_temperature), whereas on the West Coast, spawning only occurs when upwelling has decreased, i.e., between June and December.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Olivar |first1=M-P. |last2=Sabatés |first2=A. |year=1989 | title=Early life history and spawning of ''Genypterus capensis'' (Smith, 1849) in the southern Benguela system | journal=South African Journal of Marine Science |doi=10.2989/02577618909504559 | volume=8 | pages=173–181}}</ref> Females grow larger than males in both areas, but are slower growing.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Japp |first1=D. W. |year=1990 | title=A new study on age and growth of kingklip ''Genypterus capensis'' off the south and west coasts of South Africa, with comments on its use for stock identification | journal=South African Journal of Marine Science |doi=10.2989/025776190784378754 | volume=9 | pages=223–237|doi-access=free }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=FishBase>{{FishBase |genus=Genypterus |species=capensis |month=August |year=2021}}</ref>
}}
*Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins. 1999.

{{Taxonbar|from=Q646058}}

Category:Ophidiidae
Category:Fish of the Atlantic Ocean
Category:Fish of the Indian Ocean
Category:Marine fish of South Africa
Category:Fish described in 1847
Category:Taxa named by Andrew Smith (zoologist)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kingklip](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingklip) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingklip?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.