Thomas A. Munroe, D. Ross Robertson
Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 118 (3), 576-581, (1 September 2005) https://doi.org/10.2988/0006-324X(2005)118[576:SOANSS]2.0.CO;2
Symphurus ocellaris is described on the basis of a holotype (73.2 mm SL) and paratype (42.3 mm SL) collected in the environs of Coiba Island, Gulf of Chiriqui, Pacific Panama, at 24 m and 7.4 m, respectively. This species is distinguished from congeners by the combination of: a 1–3–4 pattern of interdigitation of dorsal-fin pterygiophores and neural spines (ID pattern), 12 caudal-fin rays, presence of an ocellated spot on the caudal fin in both sexes, 51 total vertebrae, 96–97 dorsal-fin rays, 80–81 anal-fin rays, 85–86 longitudinal scale rows, a pupillary operculum, unpigmented peritoneum, uniformly pigmented blind side, and ocular-side background coloration lacking prominent dark spots or conspicuous crossbands. Symphurus ocellaris is only the second known species in the genus characterized by a 1–3–4 ID pattern. Among eastern Pacific Symphurus, S. callopterus also has a 1–3–4 ID pattern and 12 caudal-fin rays, but lacks the ocellated caudal spot, has a different ocular-side pigmentation, and has higher, non-overlapping meristic features. The only other eastern Pacific tonguefish with an ocellated caudal-fin spot, S. fasciolaris, differs in having 10 caudal-fin rays, a 1–4–3 ID pattern, and ocular-side pigmentation featuring prominent spots and crossbands.