Cynoglossus lingua Hamilton, 1822
Long tongue sole
Dapang tsinelas,  Long tongue sole,  Dadali,  Dali-dali,  Kulampira,  Kulampirah-istah,  Long tounge sole,  Maladpalad,  Pad-pad,  Pahot,  Palad,  Ticung
photo by Devarapalli, P.

Family:  Cynoglossidae (Tonguefishes), subfamily: Cynoglossinae
Max. size:  45 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 10 - 961 m, amphidromous
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Malay Archipelago including Thailand, Viet Nam, the Philippines and Indonesia westward to seas and estuaries of India and Pakistan to the Red Sea (Ref. 9895).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 126-138; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 97-114; Vertebrae: 57-66. Description: Body very elongate, its depth 17-22% of standard length; eyes with a small interorbital space; snout obtusely pointed; rostral hook short; corner of mouth reaching well beyond vertical through posterior margin of lower eye, much nearer to gill opening than to tip of snout (Ref. 9895). Dorsal-fin rays 126-138; anal-fin rays 97-114; caudal-fin rays 10 (Ref. 9895). Two lateral lines on eyed side of body, none on blind side; midlateral-line scales 90-101; scales comparatively large, ctenoid on eyed side of body; cycloid (smooth) scales on blind side; only 11 or 12 scale rows between lateral lines on eyed side of body (Ref 9895). Total vertebrae 57-66 (Ref. 9895).

Colouration: Eyed sidereddish brown, sometimes with irregular brown-black patches, with a large black blotch on gill cover (Ref. 9895).

Biology:  Adults live mainly in shallow muddy and sandy bottoms of the continental shelf, sometimes entering estuaries and tidal rivers (Ref. 1479, 48637). Usually deeply buried in the substrate during the day, but out and hunting at night (Ref. 48637). They feed mainly on benthic invertebrates. Marketed mostly fresh and frozen; also dried-salted (Ref. 9895).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Museum: China Sea, off s. Luzon, 17.5 miles from Malavatuan I., 525 fathoms (961m), Stn. D.5274, USNM 137410 (Ref. 11790).


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