82 
Fishery Bulletin 96(1 ), 1998 
Symphurus parvus Gsnsburg, 1 95 1 
(Figs. 7 A, 42-43; Tables 1-10, 25 J 
Pygmy tonguefish 
Aphoristia pigra (not of Goode and Bean, 1886). 
Goode and Bean, 1886:154 (in part) (specimens 
from Albatross Station 2318 and Station 2405 may 
be this species). 
Aphoristia diomedeana (not of Goode and Bean, 
1885). Goode and Bean, 1896:460 (in part) (speci- 
men from Blake Station XXV examined). 
ISymphurus pusillus (not of Goode and Bean, 1885). 
Kyle, 1913:145 (description and figure of symmetri- 
cal larva possibly this species). 
Symphurus parvus Ginsburg, 1951:192 (original de- 
scription, photograph). Briggs, 1958:298 (listed, 
Florida). Topp and Hoff, 1972:85 (occurrence, dis- 
tribution and ecology on west Florida shelf; lim- 
ited ecological information). Munroe, 1992:370, 381 
(ID pattern; geographic and bathymetric distribu- 
tions). Darovec, 1995:89 (distribution on west 
Florida Shelf). 
Misidentification Gaspar-Dillanes and Espinosa- 
Perez, 1989:252 (inner continental shelf, Quintana 
Roo, Mexico; specimen actually S. diomedeanus). 
Diagnosis Symph urus parvus is distinguished from 
all congeners by the combination of 1-4-2 or 1-5-2 ID 
pattern; 10 caudal-fin rays; 4 hypurals; membrane 
ostia in dorsal and anal fins; 75-86 dorsal-fin rays; 
60-70 anal-fin rays; 43-47 total vertebrae; 59-78 
scales in longitudinal series; well-developed pupil- 
lary operculum; unpigmented peritoneum; absence 
of scales on blind sides of dorsal- and anal-fin rays; 
absence of fleshy ridge on ocular-side lower jaw; teeth 
on anterior one-half to three-fourths of margin of 
ocular-side premaxilla (rarely along entire margin 
of jaw); teeth extending over entire length, or less 
frequently, along only anterior three-fourths of mar- 
gin of ocular-side dentary; ocular surface pigmenta- 
tion featuring dark brown blotch on caudal region of 
body; blind side without pattern of pepper-dots; dor- 
sal, anal, and caudal fins without spots or blotches; 
and relatively small adult size (usually <90 mm). 
Description A diminutive species attaining maxi- 
mum lengths of about 88 mm SL. ID pattern 1-5-2 
(35/82 specimens) or 1-4-2 (33/82), rarely 1-4-3 or 1- 
3-2 (Table 2). Caudal-fin rays 10 (70/76), rarely 9 or 
11 (Table 3). Dorsal-fin rays 75-86, usually 77-84 
(Table 4). Anal-fin rays 60-70, usually 62-68 (Table 
5). Total vertebrae 43-47, usually 44-46 (70/78) 
(Table 6). Hypurals 4 (78/78). Longitudinal scale rows 
59-78 (Table 7). Scale rows on head posterior to lower 
orbit 13-18, usually 14-17 (Table 8). Transverse 
scales 26-35 (Table 9). 
Proportions of morphometric features are pre- 
sented in Table 25. Body moderately deep, maximum 
depth in anterior one-third of body; body depth ta- 
pering fairly rapidly in posterior two-thirds of body. 
Preanal length smaller than body depth. Head rela- 
tively long and wide, narrower than body depth. Head 
length slightly less than head width (HW:HL 0.97- 
