Blackcheek tonguefish (Symphurus plagiusa) fish species and information / pictures of Blackcheek tonguefish - Symphurus plagiusa

Blackcheek tonguefish (Symphurus plagiusa) fish species information

Scientific Name
Symphurus plagiusa

Common Name
Blackcheek tonguefish

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.

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1766

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes)

Family

Tonguefishes (Cynoglossidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

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. Allopatric from Symphurus plagusia Schneider 1801 (Ref. 10879).

Range

41°N - 9°N

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

183 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 0 - 183 m (Ref. 26268), usually 1 - 30 m (Ref. 26268)

Trophic Level

2.99 s.e. 0.37 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

21.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (32 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=5)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated