Munroe: Systematics of western Atlantic Symphurus 
133 
somewhat circular spot. Crossbands on head some- 
what narrower than those on mid- and posterior por- 
tions of body. Number of crossbands on trunk vari- 
able, differing in degree of completeness, especially 
in region between opercular opening to point about 
two-thirds of trunk length. Some bands on body com- 
plete, continuous on dorsal and anal fins as dark 
brown blotches. Posteriormost crossband situated 
short distance from caudal-fin base, somewhat ex- 
panded and slightly arched. Blind side creamy white. 
Peritoneum unpigmented. Blind-side ovarian mem- 
brane (visible only by dissection) spotted with small 
melanophores. Outer surface of ocular-side opercle 
with dark melanophores in diffuse pattern or with 
melanophores sometimes coalesced into somewhat 
rounded pigment spot. Inner lining of opercle and 
isthmus more heavily pigmented on ocular surface; 
blind-side inner opercle with pigmentation restricted 
to small band of pepper-dot melanophores along ven- 
tral margin. Isthmus on blind side not heavily pig- 
mented, but often with pepper-dot pattern of mel- 
anophores. Pigment band well developed on ocular- 
side upper lip; lower lip frequently spotted, but with- 
out well-defined pigment band. 
Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins with alternating se- 
ries of blotches and unpigmented areas. Dorsal fin 
scarcely pigmented in anterior one-half of body; with 
series of alternating blotches and unpigmented ar- 
eas beginning at approximately body midpoint and 
continuing to posterior of fin. Anterior one-fourth of 
anal fin without blotches; posterior three-fourths 
with pattern of alternating blotches and unpig- 
mented areas as in dorsal fin. Blotches in dorsal and 
anal fins are 3-5 finrays wide (including adjoining 
membrane). Both dorsal and anal fins with blotches 
coalescing in posterior one-sixth of fins and forming 
continuous pigmentation band on fins. Posterior por- 
tions of fins becoming gradually darker; blotches, 
although still present, much more difficult to discern. 
Distal two-thirds of caudal fin heavily pigmented; 
proximal one-third relatively lightly pigmented. Cau- 
dal fin of most specimens not uniformly pigmented; 
small cluster of rays (usually 2-4) in middle of fin 
more lightly pigmented giving appearance of alter- 
nating darkly and lightly pigmented areas. Smaller 
number of specimens with entire caudal fin heavily 
pigmented without pattern of alternating darkly and 
lightly pigmented areas. 
Size and sexual maturity (Fig. 9E) Symphurus 
oculellus is a relatively large tonguefish, attaining 
sizes of about 190 mm. Most specimens were between 
130 and 160 mm. No significant differences were 
found between the sexes in overall size. The largest 
specimen examined (sex not determined) was 189 
mm; the largest male and female measured were 181 
and 180 mm. Among 76 specimens examined for life 
history information, 39 were males (82.2-181 mm), 
32 females (75.8-180 mm), and 5 specimens were of 
unknown sex. On the basis of reproductive stages of 
females, this species attains sexual maturity at about 
110 mm. All females larger than 111 mm had elon- 
gate ovaries. The smallest female, an immature fish 
of 75.8 mm, had only partially elongate ovaries. The 
next smallest female was 111 mm and had small de- 
veloping ova in the gonads. All other females were 
larger than 130 mm, had elongate ovaries, and were 
considered sexually mature. 
Geographic distribution (Fig. 59) A tropical spe- 
cies with a fairly restricted distribution along the 
inner continental shelf of northeastern South 
America from Guyana (57°W) to northeastern Bra- 
zil (2°S, 40°W) where the majority of specimens have 
been collected. All but one specimen (UMML 12265; 
2°20'S) were collected north of the Amazon outflow. 
Because little systematic sampling has been con- 
ducted on the inner continental shelf off equatorial 
Brazil, it is not known whether <S. oculellus occurs 
more frequently in areas immediately south of the 
mouth of the Amazon. 
Bathymetric distribution Symphurus oculellus oc- 
curs on mud substrates at moderate shelf depths (7— 
110 m) and does not appear to use nearshore habi- 
tats or estuarine environments as nursery areas. 
Most specimens (76/81; 94%) were collected between 
11 and 70 m (Table 10); only three specimens (76- 
Figure 59 
Geographic distribution of Symphurus oculellus based on 
material examined (discussion of geographic distribution 
appears in species account). 
