• DOI:10.1007/BF02678697
• Corpus ID: 46661658

Taxonomic status of three nominal species of Indo-Pacific symphurine tonguefishes (Symphurus: Cynoglossidae: Pleuronectiformes)

@article{Munroe2007TaxonomicSO,
  title={Taxonomic status of three nominal species of Indo-Pacific symphurine tonguefishes (Symphurus: Cynoglossidae: Pleuronectiformes)},
  author={Thomas A. Munroe and Barnaby Marsh},
  journal={Ichthyological Research},
  year={2007},
  volume={44},
  pages={189-200}
}

• T. Munroe, Barnaby Marsh
• Published 26 May 1997
• Biology
• Ichthyological Research

The taxonomic status of three rarely captured, nominal species of Indo-Pacific symphurine tonguefishes,Symphurus trifasciatus (Alcock, 1894),S. microrhynchus (Weber, 1913), andS. holothuriae Chabanaud, 1948, is resolved.Symphurus microrhynchus, previously known only from three specimens, is redescribed based on 12 specimens.Symphurus holothuriae, previously reported only from the holotype, is a junior subjective synonym ofS. microrhynchus. Symphurus trifasciatus is redescribed based on six specimens, including the lectotype designated in this study.Symphurus microrhynchus is distinguished from congeners by a combination of meristic features, head and opercle shape, dorsalfin position, and features of its pigmentation. The species occurs in relatively shallow tropical waters from Zanzibar through French Polynesia (the only reported occurrence of a shallow-waterSymphurus from a locality on the Pacific Plate), including Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, and northwestern Australia.Symphurus trifasciatus, known from deep waters along both coasts of the Indian subcontinent and adjacent waters, has an overall similarity in body shape and meristic features reminiscent of those inS. microrhynchus, but differs notably in having a longer and wider head, a distinctive opercle shape, number of scale rows on the head, and pigmentation pattern.