Munroe: Western Atlantic tonguefishes of the Symphurus plagusia complex 



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2). Dorsal fin rays 89-97 (Table 3). Anal fin rays 73-81 

 (Table 4). Total vertebrae 47-51, usually 49-50 (32/42 

 specimens) (Table 5); abdominal vertebrae 3 + 6. 

 Hypurals 4. Longitudinal scale rows 79-89 (Table 6). 

 Scale rows on head posterior to lower orbit 18-22, 

 usually 18-20 (Table 7). Transverse scales 35-43 

 (Table 8). 



Proportional measurements appear in Tables 9 and 

 10. Body relatively deep (278-319 SL, x 292); max- 

 imum depth in anterior one-third of body. Preanal 

 length 166-244 SL, x 209; shorter than body depth. 

 Head relatively short (174-216 SL, x 190) and wide 

 (HW 218-256 SL, x 236); usually much wider than 

 long (HW/HL 1.2-1.3, * 1.2); lower head lobe rela- 

 tively narrow (81-115 SL, x 97) considerably narrow- 

 er than upper head lobe (125-186 SL, x 160). Lower 

 opercular lobe of ocular side considerably wider (250- 

 346 HL, x 297) than upper opercular lobe (169-272 

 HL, x 212). Postorbital length 110-143 SL, x 126. 

 Snout moderately long (205-250 HL, x 229), some- 

 what square (Fig. 4a), covered with small ctenoid 

 scales. Anterior nostril not reaching anterior margin 

 of lower eye when depressed posteriorly. Dermal papil- 

 lae well developed on blind side of snout and chin 

 regions. Jaws moderately long, upper jaw length 200- 

 250 HL, x 228; posterior extension of maxilla usually 

 reaching to vertical line through posterior margin of 

 lower eye, less frequently only to vertical through rear 

 margin of pupil or slightly posterior to rear margin of 



lower eye. Ocular-side lower jaw with distinct, fleshy 

 ridge near posterior margin (Fig. 4a). Chin depth 

 222-374 HL, x 275. Lower eye small (64-95 HL, x 

 82), spherical; upper eye usually anterior to lower eye; 

 eyes not covered with scales; usually 1-2 small ctenoid 

 scales in narrow interorbital space. Pupillary oper- 

 culum absent. Length of dorsal fin base 950-977 SL, 

 x 967. Dorsal fin origin placed far forward (Fig. 4a), 

 usually at vertical through anterior margin of upper 

 eye or with first and sometimes second fin rays insert- 

 ing anterior to vertical through anterior margin of 

 upper eye; predorsal length 23-50 SL, x 33. Length 

 of anal fin base 758-802 SL, x 786. Scales absent on 

 blind sides of dorsal and anal fin rays. Pelvic fin length 

 51-73 SL, x 64; longest pelvic fin ray reaching base 

 of first or occasionally second anal fin ray; pelvic to anal 

 fin distance 38-60 SL, x 50. Posterior 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 many specimens). Caudal fin length moderate 

 (88-111 SL, x 100). 



Teeth well developed on blind-side jaws. Ocular-side 

 dentary without teeth or with short row of small teeth 

 developed only on anterior one-half to one-third; pre- 

 maxilla on ocular side usually with small, single, mostly 

 incomplete row of slender teeth anterior to vertical 

 equal with anterior nostril. 



Scales large, ctenoid on both sides of body. 



Pigmentation Ocular surface usually uniformly light- 

 brown or yellowish, occasionally with 8-14 narrow, 

 faint crossbands. Crossbands not continued onto dorsal 

 and anal fins; mostly complete in anterior trunk region; 

 on remainder of body obvious only as vertical mark- 

 ings at body margin along dorsal and anal fin bases. 



