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.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 September 2005
Symphurus ocellaris, a new shallow-water symphurine tonguefish collected off Pacific Panama (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae)
Thomas A. Munroe,
D. Ross Robertson
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
It is not available for individual sale.
This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
It is not available for individual sale.
Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington
Vol. 118 • No. 3
September 2005
Vol. 118 • No. 3
September 2005