122 
Fishery Bulletin 96(1 ), 1998 
est male was 130 mm. There were 44 males (52.9- 
130 mm), 39 females (55.6-122 mm), and 6 imma- 
ture fish (24.4-43.8 mm) among material examined. 
On the basis of reproductive stages of females, this 
species matures at 70-80 mm. There were 30 ma- 
ture females ranging in size from 71.8 to 122 mm. 
All females larger than 80 mm were mature. The 
smallest mature female (71.8 mm) was unusual be- 
cause six of seven others in this size range (ca. 70- 
80 mm) had undeveloped gonads. Of 39 females, nine, 
ranging from 55.6 to 79.1 mm, were immature with 
only partially elongate ovaries. The smallest imma- 
ture females (55.6, 56.9 mm) had only partially elon- 
gate ovaries, whereas some larger immature females 
(58.1-79.1 mm) had more developed ovaries, but 
without obviously developing ova. 
Geographic distribution (Fig. 55{ Widely distrib- 
uted in the Caribbean Sea. Symphurus caribbeanus 
has been collected along coastal margins of Central 
and northern South America and off islands fring- 
ing the Caribbean Sea. This species has been col- 
lected at St. Martin and Cuba, but most specimens 
examined were taken at Puerto Rico and Haiti. This 
species has been collected at coastal locations in Nica- 
ragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia. 
Bathymetric distribution Symphurus caribbeanus 
inhabits sand and mud substrates in shallow water. 
Of 95 specimens for which depth information was 
available, the majority (79/95, 83%) were collected 
in 20 m or less (Table 10), and approximately half in 
waters less than 10 m. All life stages are represented 
in the shallowest collections. The deepest capture 
(29 m) is for one lot (UMML 34341) comprising 16 
individuals. 
Ecology Other than depth of occurrence and geo- 
graphic distribution, little is known about ecological 
requirements of this species. Austin and Austin 
(1971) included nine specimens of S. caribbeanus 
(identified as S. plagusia) in their survey of feeding 
habits of fishes inhabiting mangrove areas in south- 
western Puerto Rico. These specimens (30-104 mm) 
had fed mostly on polychaetes and small, benthic 
crustaceans, and individuals collected at night had 
undigested food in their stomachs, suggesting noc- 
turnal feeding. 
Figure 55 
Geographic distribution of Symphurus caribbeanus based on material examined (discussion of 
geographic distribution appears in species account). 
