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

Family:  Cynoglossidae (Tonguefishes), subfamily: Symphurinae
Max. size:  21 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; 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: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 August 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Recorded from Laguna de TĂ©rminos (Ref. 79080) and CelestĂșn Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan (Ref. 74908). Museum: USNM 274481 - 274482. 30 mi NW of Campeche, IMS 554; west of Campeche, IMS 555; Punta Morros, IMS 553; UMML 35221 (Ref. 26268).


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