32 
Fishery Bulletin 96(1 ), 1998 
posterior one-third of body. Posteriorly progressive in- 
crease in density of melanophores on fin rays through- 
out length of dorsal and anal fins, sometimes forming 
small blotches in area of fins proximate to body regi ons 
with blotches or crossbands. Melanophores particularly 
dense on dorsal- and anal-fin rays in caudal one-third 
of body, making posterior fin rays usually strikingly 
darker than those in anterior regions of fins. Caudal 
fin dark brown or black throughout entire length. 
Size and sexual maturity (Fig. 6AJ Symphurus 
arawak attains a maximum size of only ca. 50 mm 
(Fig. 6A) and is among the smallest of flatfishes (see 
“Discussion” section below). Most individuals were 
25-40 mm, and only 3/42 exceeded 40 mm. Maximum 
size of females (49.3 mm) was somewhat larger than 
that of males (38.0 mm). Diminutive size is reflected 
in this species’ ontogeny, as juveniles 11.7, 13.2, and 
13.9 mm had already metamorphosed and assumed 
a benthic existence. 
Specimens examined included 7 immature fish (sex 
undetermined, 11.7-28.0 mm), 10 males (23.3-38.0 
mm), and 29 females (24.0-49.3 mm). Sexual matu- 
rity of females occurs at ca. 25-30 mm. Most females 
24-30 mm had elongate ovaries, but only some had 
developing ova. Females larger than 30 mm had elon- 
gate ovaries that were either gravid or contained 
developing ova. The smallest gravid female was 30 
mm. Nine females between 21-30 mm were imma- 
ture with ovaries undergoing posterior elongation 
without visible ova. 
Geographic distribution (Fig. 13) Throughout the 
Caribbean Sea, extending south and west to Isla de 
Tierra Bomba, Colombia; and a single capture at Al- 
ligator Reef, Florida (Starck, 1968). The majority of 
specimens were collected in the Bahamas and insu- 
lar Caribbean regions including Curasao, Dominica, 
Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Providencia Island, and 
Cayman Islands. Robins and Randall (1965) reported 
this species at St. John, Virgin Islands. In addition 
to capture at Alligator Reef, other specimens were 
collected at continental reef areas at Belize and Cabo 
de la Aguja (one specimen) and Bahia de Gayraca (three 
specimens), Colombia (Garzon and Acero, 1983). 
Bathymetric distribution The majority of S. arawak 
have been captured on sandy bottoms in clear wa- 
90° 85° 80° 75° 70° 65° 60° 
Figure 1 3 
Geographic distribution of Symphurus arawak based on material examined (discussion of 
geographic distribution appears in species account). 
