30 
Fishery Bulletin 96(1 ), 1998 
Figure II 2 
Symphurus arawak Robins and Randall, USNM 267784, 29.3 mm SL, off Belize 16°48'N, 88°04'W. 
Symphurus arawak Robins and Randall, 1 965 
(Figs. 6A, 12, 1 3; Tables 1-10, 12J 
Caribbean tonguefish 
Symphurus arawak Robins and Randall, 1965:331 
(original description with photograph; Curasao). 
Bohlke and Chaplin, 1968:223 (Bahamas; diagno- 
sis, counts, figure, distribution). Randall, 1968:166 
(Caribbean distribution). Starck, 1968:31 (Alliga- 
tor Reef, Florida). Topp and Hoff, 1972:107 (distri- 
bution). Garzon and Acero, 1983:106 (Caribbean 
Sea, Colombia; counts, measurements, photo- 
graph). Munroe, 1990:509 (maximum size and size 
at maturity). Munroe, 1992:368, 377 (IB pattern; 
geographic, bathymetric distributions). Cervigon 
et al., 1993:306 (Venezuela). 
Diagnosis Symphurus arawak is a distinctive spe- 
cies characterized by a predominant 1-3-2 ID pat- 
tern; 12 caudal-fin rays; 39-42 total vertebrae; 70- 
76 dorsal-fin rays; 55-61 anal-fin rays (the lowest 
vertebral and fin-ray counts of any species in the 
genus); 55-65 scales in longitudinal series; unpig- 
mented peritoneum; teeth along entire margin of 
ocular-side jaws; without pupillary operculum; with- 
out scales on blind sides of dorsal- and anal-fin rays; 
without fleshy ridge on ocular-side lower jaw; with- 
out membrane ostia in dorsal and anal fins; ocular 
surface pigmentation consisting of crossbands and, 
in some adults, of a darkly pigmented caudal blotch; 
with pepper-dots (Fig. 5B, number 8) on blind side of 
body (especially prominent on larger adults); dorsal, 
anal, and caudal fins without spots, but some adults 
with darkly pigmented blotch on posterior dorsal and 
anal fins; and small adult size (usually <50 mm). 
Description Symphurus arawak is a dwarf species 
reaching maximum sizes of only ca. 50 mm SL. ID 
pattern usually 1-3-2 (35/41 specimens), rarely 1-2-2 
or 1-3-3 (Table 2). Caudal-fin rays usually 12 (38/ 
43), rarely 11, 13, or 14 (Table 3). Dorsal-fin rays 70- 
76 (Table 4). Anal-fin rays 55-61 (Table 5). Total ver- 
tebrae 39-42, usually 40-41 (38/45) (Table 6). 
Hypurals 4 (45/45). Longitudinal scale rows 55-65, 
usually 58-64 (Table 7). Scale rows on head poste- 
rior to lower orbit 12-15, usually 14-15 (Table 8). 
Transverse scales 27-36, usually 32-36 (Table 9). 
Proportions of morphometric features presented in 
Table 12. Body relatively deep, of stocky build with 
greatest depth in anterior one-third of body; body 
depth tapering rapidly posterior to midpoint. Prea- 
nal length slightly smaller than body depth. Head 
long and wide; somewhat shorter than body depth. 
Head length usually slightly shorter than head width 
(HW:HL 0.9-1. 3, 3c = 1 . 1 ). Postorbital length consid- 
erably smaller than body depth. Lower head lobe 
width nearly equalling postorbital length; slightly 
smaller than width of upper head lobe. Lower oper- 
cular lobe of ocular side considerably wider than 
upper opercular lobe. Snout long and pointed; cov- 
