Symphurus pusillus

FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
CynoglossidaeSymphurus pusillus(Goode and Bean)1885Northern Tonguefish

Symphurus pusillus

Unique Characters: Body with alternating narrow and broad bands. Caudal-fin rays usually 12. Peritoneum black, usually visible through abdominal wall on both sides of body. Body usually deeper in anterior 1/3 of length and tapering noticeably posteriorly Pupillary operculum absent. Teeth present on entire margins of ocular-side jaws. Ocular-surface of body without dark brown, diamond-shaped blotch on caudal region, with or without distinct pattern of crossbands; dorsal and anal fins with or without pigmented blotches. Dorsal-fin rays 83-88. Anal-fin rays 71-75. Scales in longitudinal series 77-87. Ocular surface usually yellowish or lightly straw-colored, with 1 or 2 prominent, complete, crossbands immediately posterior to opercular opening. Dorsal and anal fins without stripe along basal margin. Adult size relatively small, usually not exceeding 80 mm standard length.

Similar Species:

Freckled Tonguefish
Symphurus nebulosus

Margined Tonguefish Symphurus marginatus

Chocolatebanded Tonguefish Symphurus billykrietei

Freckled Tonguefish Symphurus nebulosus. Caudal-fin rays 14 (rarely 13). Body covered with blotches. Peritoneum black, usually visible through abdominal wall on both sides of body. Dorsal-fin rays more than 104. Anal-fin rays 91-98. Body elongate, of nearly uniform width throughout most of length.

Margined Tonguefish Symphurus marginatus. Ocular-surface usually with a large, dark brown diamond-shaped blotch on caudal region of body, but otherwise uniformly pigmented and without pattern of distinct crossbands. Basal margins of dorsal and anal fins with dark brown stripe, but without blotches. Caudal-fin rays usually 12.Peritoneum black, usually visible through abdominal wall on both sides of body. Body usually deeper in anterior 1/3 of length and tapering noticeably posteriorly. Pupillary operculum absent. Teeth present on entire margins of ocular-side jaws. Dorsal-fin rays 93-104. Anal-fin rays 80-89.

Chocolatebanded Tonguefish Symphurus billykrietei. Dorsal and anal fins frequently with dark brown stripe along basal margins, sometimes in combination with series of large, pigmented blotches alternating with unpigmented areas on dorsal and anal fins. Ocular surface usually dark brown, straw-colored or yellowish, with series of mostly incomplete crossbands posterior to opercular opening, or ocular surface uniformly pigmented without crossbands. Caudal-fin rays usually 12. Peritoneum black, usually visible through abdominal wall on both sides of body. Body usually deeper in anterior 1/3 of length and tapering noticeably posteriorly. Pupillary operculum absent. Teeth present on entire margins of ocular-side jaws. Ocular-surface of body without dark brown, diamond-shaped blotch on caudal region, with or without distinct pattern of crossbands; dorsal and anal fins with or without pigmented blotches. Dorsal-fin rays 87-95. Anal-fin rays 74-84. Scales in longitudinal series 85-99.

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