Symphurus bathyspilus Krabbenhoft & Munroe, 2003

Family:  Cynoglossidae (Tonguefishes), subfamily: Symphurinae
Max. size:  12.1 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 248 - 500 m
Distribution:  Western Central Pacific: Philippines and southern Indonesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 91-100; Anal soft rays: 78-87; Vertebrae: 50-54. Characterized by the combination of a predominant 1-2-2 pattern of interdigitation of dorsal pterygiophores and neural spines; 14 caudal-fin rays; 91-100 dorsal-fin rays; 78-87 anal-fin rays; 50-54 vertebrae, a pointed snout, black peritoneum, and distinctive features of its ocular- and blind-side coloration (in alcohol) including ocular-side background coloration uniformly bright (freshly captured) to darker reddish-brown with some specimens having a series of faint, reddish-brown, incomplete crossbands; outer surface of ocular-side opercle yellowish with reddish-brown speckles; dorsal and anal fins darker reddish-brown anteriorly, fading to a pale reddish posteriorly; blind side uniformly yellowish to straw-colored, except proximal pterygiophore regions of dorsal and anal fins with dense covering of reddish-brown speckles; both sides of dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins covered with dense concentrations of small red speckles; speckling especially dense on blind-side body in region around anus and also on both sides of pelvic fin (Ref. 51120).
Biology:  Appears to feed on small fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 51120).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 08 October 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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