64 
Fishery Bulletin 96(1), 1998 
Figure 33 
Geographic distribution of Symphurus marginatus based on material exam- 
ined (discussion of geographic distribution appears in species account). 
examined for size-related life history in- 
formation were 100-120 mm, whereas 
another 22% were 80-100 mm. Females 
attain somewhat larger sizes. The largest 
S. marginatus examined in this study was 
a female of 146.1 mm; the largest male 
measured 130.5 mm. Specimens <80 mm 
are generally rare in collections; only 10 
in this size range were available for study. 
Of specimens examined, 43 were males 
(56.9-130.5 mm) and 51 females (58.7- 
146.1 mm), with 49 females being mature 
(79-146 mm). Sexual maturity in females 
occurs at a relatively large size (ca. 79-90 
mm). The smallest female with elongate 
ovaries was 78.6 mm, and all but one fe- 
male larger than 80 mm had elongate ova- 
ries. Most females 85-105 mm, although 
having elongate ovaries, lacked evident 
mature ova. The smallest gravid female was 
87.5 mm, but this size is apparently unusual, 
because only three of 20 other females 
smaller than 105 mm were gravid. Two fe- 
males, 58.7 and 80.1 mm, were immature 
with ovaries scarcely elongate. 
Geographic distribution (Fig. 33 J Prima- 
rily in deepwater outer continental shelf 
habitats from off New Jersey (39°55'N) 
southward along the eastern United States, 
in eastern and central regions of the Gulf of 
Mexico (to Louisiana, 91°18'W), off the Ba- 
hamas, the Greater Antilles at Puerto 
Rico, widespread throughout the southern 
Caribbean Sea from Honduras to Venezu- 
ela, and from Trinidad and Tobago to southeastern 
Brazil (21°34'S) (Seret and Andreata, 1992). Although 
S. marginatus has occasionally been collected as far 
north as southern New Jersey (39°N) and Virginia 
(36°N), the majority of specimens were taken farther 
south, primarily off southern Florida, in eastern and 
central regions of the Gulf of Mexico, and throughout 
the southern Caribbean Sea. Southernmost records for 
this species (Seret and Andreata, 1992) are for speci- 
mens from off southeastern Brazil (ca. 21°S). 
Bathymetric distribution This species usually in- 
habits deepwater soft mud substrates on the outer 
continental shelf and upper continental slope. 
Symphurus marginatus has been collected at depths 
of 37-750 m (Table 10), but its center of abundance 
occurs between 320 and 550 m, where the majority 
of specimens (88/108 or 81%) were collected. Of 108 
specimens with available depth information, only 
nine were collected at depths shallower than 300 m. 
Single specimens were collected at 37 m (UMML 
17440, east coast of Florida), 66 m (UMML 35237, 
Nicaragua), and 72 m (MCZ 58657, Nicaragua); 
whereas three specimens (UMML 30106) collected 
at 10-1 1°N off Costa Rica were taken at 45 m. Two 
specimens were collected between 280 and 290 m 
(UMML 35240; Colombia) and one (UMML 35231; 
Florida) was taken at 293 m. Only 11 specimens were 
taken deeper than 550 m. The two deepest captures 
(three specimens at 713 m, USU 1371; and one speci- 
men at 750 m, FMNH 47908) were taken off Brazil 
and in the Gulf of Mexico, respectively. Potts and 
Ramsey (1987) reported a depth range of 333-832 m 
for this species in the Gulf of Mexico. Little is known 
concerning life history of this species. 
Remarks In the original description, Goode and 
Bean ( 1886: 154) mistakenly identified a specimen of 
S. nebulosus as their new species, Aphoristia 
marginata. This specimen, however, was not designated 
