Symphurus plagiusa (Linnaeus, 1766)
Blackcheek tonguefish
Symphurus plagiusa
photo by Howell, W.M./Jenkins, R.L.

 Family:  Cynoglossidae (Tonguefishes), subfamily: Symphurinae
 Max. size:  21 cm TL (male/unsexed)
 Environment:  demersal; depth range 0 - 183 m
 Distribution:  Western Atlantic: New York south through the Florida Keys (USA), through the northern Gulf of Mexico to the Campeche Peninsula, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Cuba.
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 85-92; Anal soft rays: 69-72. Eyed side dark brown, sometimes with narrow bars; large blackish patch on opercle.
 Biology:  Very abundant in shallow coastal waters and estuaries. Found on soft muddy bottoms. Feeds mainly on small benthic invertebrates, principally small crabs, polychaetes, copepods, amphipods and ostracods.
 IUCN Red List Status:   (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Luna, Susan M. - 17.10.90
 Modified by: Binohlan, Crispina B. - 24.04.13
 Checked by: Torres, Armi G. - 01.09.94

Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.


Page created by Jen, 05.08.02, php script by kbanasihan 06/09/2010 ,  last modified by dsantos, 20/08/10