Munroe: Systematics of western Atlantic Symphurus 
87 
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Figure 44 
Symphurus ommaspilus Bohlke, FMNH 94820, 53.6 mm SL, Belize, Glovers Reef. 
Symphurus ommaspilus Bohlke, 1961 
(Figs. 6F, 44-45; Tables 1-10, 26) 
Ocellated tomguefish 
ISymphurus pusillus (not of Goode and Bean, 1885). 
Kyle, 1913:145 (symmetrical larva with figure, 
possibly this species). 
Symphurus marginatus (not of Goode and Bean, 
1886). Metzelaar, 1919:134 (St. Eustatius Island). 
Symphurus ommaspilus Bohlke, 1961:2 (original 
description with photograph; west side of south- 
ern of two Long Bay Cays, Andros Island, Baha- 
mas). Robins and Randall, 1965:334 (Bahamas; 
counts, measurements). Bohlke and Chaplin, 
1968:225 (Bahamas; in key, figure, comments). 
Munroe, 1992:370, 381 (ID pattern; geographic, 
bathymetric distributions). 
Diagnosis Symphurus ommaspilus is easily distin- 
guished from all congeners by the combination of 
1-4-2 ID pattern; 10 caudal-fin rays; membrane os- 
tia in dorsal and anal fins; 4 hypurals; 75-79 dorsal- 
fin rays; 60-64 anal-fin rays; 43-44 total vertebrae; 
58-64 scales in longitudinal series; unpigmented 
peritoneum; well-developed pupillary operculum; 
teeth usually along only anterior one-half (occasion- 
ally with teeth along nearly anterior three-fourths) 
of margin of ocular-side premaxilla; teeth usually 
along only anterior one-half to three-fourths of mar- 
gin of ocular-side dentary (less frequently teeth along 
entire margin of dentary); ocular surface pigmenta- 
tion uniformly whitish without caudal blotch; blind 
side without pepper-dot pigmentation; dorsal and 
anal fins each with single ocellated spot on posterior 
one-fifth of fin; and small body size (maximum size 
ca. 60 mm). 
Description A dwarf species attaining maximum 
lengths of ca. 60 mm SL. ID pattern 1-4-2 (Table 2). 
Caudal-fin rays 10 (Table 3). Dorsal-fin rays 75-79 
(Table 4). Anal-fin rays 60-64 (Table 5). Total verte- 
brae 43-44 (Table 6). Hypurals 4 (28/28 specimens). 
Longitudinal scale rows 58-64 (Table 7). Scale rows 
on head posterior to lower orbit 14-17 (Table 8). 
Transverse scales 27-33 (Table 9). 
Proportions of morphometric features presented in 
Table 26. Body moderately deep, maximum depth in 
anterior one-third of body; body depth tapering 
gradually beyond body midpoint. Preanal length 
shorter than body depth. Head relatively long and 
wide, considerably narrower than body depth. Head 
length shorter than head width (HW:HL 1.02-1.18, 
x =1.1). Lower head lobe width considerably less than 
postorbital length; narrower than upper head lobe. 
Lower opercular lobe on ocular side narrower than 
upper opercular lobe. Snout long and somewhat 
pointed; covered with small deciduous ctenoid scales. 
Dermal papillae well developed on blind side of snout; 
occasionally extending onto anterior portion of snout 
on ocular side of body. Anterior nostril on ocular side 
long, when depressed posteriorly, usually reaching 
anterior margin of lower eye. Jaws short; maxilla 
usually extending posteriorly to vertical through 
midpoint of lower eye; occasionally only reaching 
vertical through anterior margin of lower eye. Teeth 
well developed on blind-side jaws; usually only ante- 
rior one-half of margin of ocular-side premaxilla with 
single row of slender teeth; occasionally teeth along 
