| Family | Scientific Name | Author | Year | Common Name |
| Cynoglossidae | Symphurus minor | Ginsburg | 1951 | Largescale Tonguefish |
Symphurus minor
Unique Characters: Scales large, in only 55-66 rows. No distinctive markings, but generally mottled. Peritoneum unpigmented. Pupillary operculum present. Caudal-fin rays usually 10. Dorsal-fin rays usually less than 104. Anal-fin rays less than 91. Body usually deeper in anterior 1/3 of length and tapering noticeably posteriorly. Teeth present or absent over entire margins of both ocular-side jaws. Brown blotch on caudal region of ocular surface of body or single ocellated spot on posterior dorsal and anal fins. No fleshy ridge on ocular-side lower jaw. Ostia present in bases of membranes of dorsal and anal fins.
Similar Species:
Spottail Tonguefish
Symphurus urospilus
Spottedfin Tonguefish
Symphurus diomedeanus
Photo Credit: G.W. Link
Spottail Tonguefish Symphurus urospilus. Large ocellated spot on caudal fin. Dorsal and anal fins without spots. Peritoneum unpigmented. Pupillary operculum well developed. Caudal-fin rays usually 11. Dorsal-fin rays usually less than 104. Anal-fin rays less than 91. Body usually deeper in anterior 1/3 of length and tapering noticeably posteriorly. Teeth present or absent over entire margins of both ocular-side jaws. Large ocellated spot on caudal fin. Dorsal and anal fins without spots.
Spottedfin Tonguefish Symphurus diomedeanus. One to five large black spots toward rear of dorsal and anal fins. Mo spots on caudal fin. Peritoneum unpigmented. Pupillary operculum and fleshy ridge on ocular-side lower jaw present. Caudal-fin rays usually 10-12. Dorsal-fin rays usually less than 104. Anal-fin rays less than 91. Body usually deeper in anterior 1/3 of length and tapering noticeably posteriorly. Teeth present or absent over entire margins of both ocular-side jaws. No ocellated spot on caudal fin; if spot present on caudal fin, then spots also present on posterior dorsal and anal fins. No dark brown blotch on caudal region of ocular surface of body. No ocellated spots on posterior dorsal and anal fins. No ostia in membranes at bases of dorsal and anal fins. Posterior dorsal and anal fins spotted (usually).
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