54 
Fishery Bulletin 96( I ), 1 998 
Symphurus pelicanus Ginsburg, 1 95 1 
(Figs. 6D, 26-27; Tables 1-10, 18) 
Longtasl tonguefish 
Aphoristia diomedeana (not of Goode and Bean, 1885) 
(in part). Goode and Bean, 1896:460 (specimen of 
S. pelicanus included in account ofA. diomedeana). 
Symphurus pelicanus Ginsburg, 1951:193 (original 
description with photograph). Hildebrand, 1954:297 
(western Gulf of Mexico). Topp and Hoff, 1972:108 
(geographical distribution). Munroe, 1992:368, 377 
(ID pattern; geographic, bathymetric distribu- 
tions). Cervigon et al., 1993:306 (Venezuela). 
Diagnosis Symphurus pelicanus is distinguished 
from all congeners by the combination of predomi- 
nant 1-3-2 ID pattern; 12 caudal-fin rays; 4 hypurals; 
77-85 dorsal-fin rays; 64-70 anal-fin rays; 43-46 
total vertebrae; 9 abdominal vertebrae; 62-70 scales 
in longitudinal series; absence of pupillary opercu- 
lum; black peritoneum; teeth along entire margin of 
ocular-side jaws; absence of fleshy ridge on ocular- 
side lower jaw; absence of membrane ostia; ocular 
surface pigmentation uniformly light to medium 
brown, sometimes with faint crossbands, but with- 
out caudal blotch; blind side with pattern of pepper- 
dots (Fig. 5B, number 9); dorsal, anal, and caudal 
fins without spots or blotches. 
Description A dwarf species attaining maximum 
length of ca. 70 mm SL. ID pattern usually 1-3-2 (56/ 
60 specimens), rarely 1-2-3 or 1-3-3 (Table 2). Cau- 
dal-fin rays 12 (50/56), less frequently 11, rarely 10 
or 13 (Table 3). Dorsal-fin rays 77-85, usually 78-83 
(Table 4). Anal-fin rays 64-70 (Table 5). Total verte- 
brae 43-46, usually 45-46(52/60) (Table 6). Hypurals 
4 (60/60). Scales somewhat deciduous, most speci- 
mens usually missing most or all scales. Longitudi- 
nal scale rows 62-70 (Table 7). Scale rows on head 
posterior to lower orbit 14-17 (Table 8). Transverse 
scales 24-29 (Table 9). 
Proportions of morphometric features presented in 
Table 18. Body moderately slender, maximum depth 
almost at midpoint of standard length, or occasion- 
ally slightly anterior to midpoint of body; body with 
gradual taper posterior to midpoint. Preanal length 
shorter than body depth. Head long and moderately 
wide, shorter than body depth. Head length usually 
equal with, or less frequently slightly smaller than, 
head width (HW:HL 0.84-1.15, x =1.01). Lower head 
lobe width less than postorbital length; slightly nar- 
rower than upper head lobe. Lower opercular lobe of 
ocular side usually slightly wider than upper lobe. 
Snout moderately long and pointed; covered with 
small ctenoid scales. Dermal papillae well developed 
on both sides of snout, but less dense on snout on 
blind side. Anterior nostril on ocular side short, when 
extended posteriorly, usually not reaching anterior 
margin of lower eye. Jaws moderately long; maxilla 
extending posteriorly to vertical through midpoint 
of lower eye. Ocular-side lower jaw without fleshy 
ridge. Teeth well developed on blind-side jaws. Teeth 
