Munroe: Western Atlantic tonguefishes of the Symphurus plagusia complex 



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occasionally second anal fin ray; pelvic to anal fin 

 distance 35-63 SL, x 48. Posteriormost pelvic fin ray 

 connected to body by delicate membrane terminating 

 immediately anterior to anus or occasionally extending 

 posteriorly almost to origin of anal fin base (membrane 

 torn in most specimens). Caudal fin relatively short, 

 87-116 SL, x 102. 



Teeth well developed on blind-side jaws. Upper and 

 lower jaws on ocular side usually with small patch of 

 teeth covering only anterior one-third of jaw, or lack- 

 ing teeth altogether. 



Scales moderate in size, strongly ctenoid on both 

 sides of body. 



Pigmentation Pattern of body pigmentation general- 

 ly similar for both sexes at all sizes, but mature males 

 with more intense pigmentation on body and posterior 

 portions of dorsal and anal fins. Ocular surface dark- 

 brown to almost yellow; usually with 10-15 narrow, ir- 

 regularly complete, sharply contrasting, darker-brown 

 crossbands on head and trunk. Crossbands not con- 

 tinued onto dorsal and anal fins. Anteriormost band 

 on head immediately posterior to eyes. Second band 

 crossing head just anterior to opercular opening. Cross- 

 bands on trunk variable in number, usually 3-6 scale 

 rows in width. First band crossing body immediately 

 posterior to opercular opening. Posteriormost band 

 slightly anterior to caudal fin base, irregularly com- 

 plete. Blind side off-white. Peritoneum unpigmented. 

 Outer surface of ocular-side opercle with general back- 

 ground pigmentation. Dorsal margin of ocular-side 

 opercle sometimes with dusky blotch due to dark 

 pigmentation of inner lining of operculum showing 

 through to outer surface. Inner lining of opercle and 

 isthmus heavily pigmented on ocular side; unpigmented 



on blind side. Slight band of pigment on ocular-side 

 upper lip; ocular-side lower lip frequently spotted but 

 without definite band of pigment. 



Pigmentation of dorsal and anal fins generally similar 

 in both sexes, but usually more intense in males. Ex- 

 cept for anteriormost portion of dorsal fin, entire dor- 

 sal and anal fin with alternating series of dark blotches 

 and unpigmented areas. Blotches variable in shape, 

 most frequently nearly rectangular; extending from 

 base almost to distal tip of fin rays; blotches usually 

 covering 2-5 fin rays alternating with 2-4 lightly- 

 pigmented fin rays. Caudal fin either uniformly darkly- 

 pigmented, or with alternating series of pigmented 

 blotches and unpigmented areas throughout length of 

 fin. 



Size and sexual maturity Adult S. caribbeanus 

 range in size from approximately 71 to 122 mm SL, and 

 this species is one of the smallest members of the S. 

 plagusia complex. Size-related life-history information 

 is derived from data taken from 89 specimens. Males 

 and females attain similar sizes. The largest fish mea- 

 sured was a gravid female (122 mm SL); largest male 

 was (120 mm SL). 



There were 44 males (52.9-122mm SL), 39 females 

 (55.6-122 mm SL), and 6 immature fish (24.4-43.8 mm 

 SL) among material examined. Based on reproductive 

 stages of females, this species matures at 70-80 mm 

 SL (Fig. 2). There were 30 mature females ranging in 

 size from 71.8 to 122 mm SL. All females larger than 

 80 mm SL were mature. The smallest mature female 

 (71.8 mm SL) was unusual because six of seven others 

 in this size range had undeveloped gonads. 



Of 39 females, nine, ranging from 55.6 to 79.1mm 

 SL, were immature with only partially elongate ova- 

 ries. The smallest immature females (55.6, 56.9mm SL) 

 had only partially elongate ovaries, whereas some 

 larger immature females (58.1-79.1 mm SL) had more 

 developed ovaries but were without obviously develop- 

 ing ova. 



Etymology This species is named after its area of oc- 

 currence in reference to its common but apparently 

 restricted distribution to habitats within the Caribbean 

 Sea. 



Geographic distribution (Fig. 5) Widely distributed 

 in the Caribbean Sea. Symphurus caribbeanus has 

 been collected along coastal margins of central and 

 northern South America and off islands fringing the 

 Caribbean Sea. Islands where this species has been 

 collected include St. Martin and Cuba, but most spe- 

 cimens examined were taken at Puerto Rico and 

 Haiti. This species has been collected at coastal loca- 

 tions in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama along 



