Symphurus oxyrhynchus Lee, 2022
Sharpnose tonguefish

Family:  Cynoglossidae (Tonguefishes), subfamily: Symphurinae
Max. size:  10.13 cm (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 718 - 852 m
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: Japan and Taiwan.
Diagnosis:  This new species is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: predominant 1–2–2–1–2 pattern of interdigitation of dorsal pterygiophores and neural spines, 14 caudal-fin rays, 93 dorsal-fin rays, 80–81 anal-fin rays, 9 abdominal and 52 total vertebrae, 5 hypurals, small eye (7.5–8.0 % HL) with relatively large pupil (78–85% ED), moderately large scales (87–89 scales in longitudinal series, 31 scales in transverse row), snout square and projecting anteriorly, ocular side uniformly yellow to dark brown with intense pigmentation on body areas overlying dorsal- and anal-fin pterygiophores, outer surface of opercle on both sides bluish black, general background coloration shared the same coloration in blind side, including more intense on body areas overlying dorsal and anal pterygiophores (Ref. 127475).
Biology:  Only two specimens were collected from the deep waters, but It is expected to have wider distributions, horizontally and vertically. Stomach contents include small crustaceans, snails and bivalves. Little else is known about the biology of this species (Ref. 127475).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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