Munroe: Western Atlantic tonguefishes of the Symphurus plagusia complex 



277 



terior margin of upper eye; predorsal length 32-47 

 SL, * 39. Length of anal fin base 765-837 SL, x 794. 

 Scales absent from distal two-thirds of blind-side dorsal 

 and anal fin rays. Occasionally with one or two scales 

 occurring sporadically on some blind-side dorsal and 

 anal fin-ray bases. Pelvic fin relatively short, 40-64 SL, 

 x 54; longest pelvic fin ray extending posteriorly to 

 base of first or occasionally second anal fin ray; pelvic 

 to anal fin distance 20-60 SL, x 41. Posteriormost 

 pelvic fin ray connected to body by delicate membrane 

 terminating immediately anterior to anus or occasional- 

 ly extending posteriorly to origin of anal fin base (mem- 

 brane torn in most specimens). Caudal fin relatively 

 short, 80-99 SL, x 89. 



Teeth well developed on blind-side jaws. Dentary on 

 ocular side usually with single, mostly incomplete row 

 of slender teeth; premaxilla on ocular side either lack- 

 ing teeth altogether, or with very short row of teeth 

 covering no more than one-third of premaxilla anterior 

 to the vertical equal with the anterior nostril. 



Scales large, ctenoid on both sides of body. 



Pigmentation Ocular surface ranging from dark- to 

 light-brown with 10-14 (usually 10-12) well-developed, 

 sharply contrasting, somewhat narrow, dark-brown 

 crossbands on head and trunk. Anteriormost crossband 

 on head immediately posterior to eyes; second band 

 situated short distance (usually only 3-4 scales) pos- 

 teriorly. Throughout most of their vertical extent, two 

 anteriormost bands separate; several specimens with 

 first two crossbands coalesced on ventral portion of 

 opercle forming wide, somewhat circular spot. Cross- 

 bands on head somewhat narrower than those on mid- 

 and posterior portions of body. Number of crossbands 



on trunk variable, differing in degree of completeness, 

 especially in region between opercular opening to point 

 about two-thirds of trunk length. Some bands on body 

 complete, continuous on dorsal and anal fins as dark- 

 brown blotches. Posteriormost crossband situated 

 short distance from caudal fin base, somewhat ex- 

 panded and slightly arched. Blind side creamy-white. 

 Peritoneum unpigmented. Membrane on blind-side 

 ovary with diffuse pattern of small melanophores (visi- 

 ble only by dissection). 



Outer surface of ocular-side opercle with dark mela- 

 nophores in diffuse pattern or with melanophores 

 sometimes coalesced into somewhat rounded pigment 

 spot. Inner lining of opercle and isthmus more heavily 

 pigmented on ocular surface; blind-side inner opercle 

 with pigmentation restricted to small band of pepper- 

 dot melanophores along ventral margin. Isthmus on 

 blind side not heavily pigmented, but often with pepper- 

 dot pattern of melanophores. Pigment band well devel- 

 oped on ocular-side upper lip; ocular-side lower lip fre- 

 quently spotted but without well-defined pigment band. 



Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins with alternating series 

 of blotches and unpigmented areas. Dorsal fin scarce- 

 ly pigmented in anterior one-half of body; with series 

 of alternating blotches and unpigmented areas begin- 

 ning at approximately body mid-point and continuing 

 to posteriormost extent of fin. Anterior one-fourth of 

 anal fin without blotches; posterior three-fourths with 

 pattern of alternating blotches and unpigmented areas 

 as in dorsal fin. Blotches on dorsal and anal fins 3-5 

 fin rays wide including adjoining membrane. Both 

 dorsal and anal fins with blotches coalescing in pos- 

 terior one-sixth of fins and forming continuous pigmen- 

 tation band on fins. Posterior portions of fins becom- 

 ing gradually darker; blotches, although still present, 

 much more difficult to discern. Distal two-thirds of 

 caudal fin heavily pigmented; proximal one-third rela- 

 tively lightly pigmented. Caudal fin of most specimens 

 not uniformly pigmented; small cluster of rays (usual- 

 ly 2-4) more lightly pigmented giving appearance of 

 alternating darkly- and lightly-pigmented areas. 

 Smaller number of specimens with entire caudal fin 

 heavily pigmented without pattern of alternating dark 

 and light pigmentation. 



Size and sexual maturity Among material exam- 

 ined, there were 39 males, 23 females, and five speci- 

 mens of unknown sex. No significant differences were 

 found between the sexes in overall size; males ranged 

 from 82.2 to 189mm SL, females were 75.8-180 mm 

 SL. Based on reproductive stages of females, this 

 species attains sexual maturity at about 110 mm SL 

 (Fig. 2). All females larger than 111mm SL had elon- 

 gate ovaries. The smallest female, an immature fish of 

 75.8mm SL, had only partially elongate ovaries. The 



