Banded tongue-fish (Symphurus fasciolaris)

Scientific name: Symphurus fasciolaris Gilbert, 1892

The Banded tongue-fish (Symphurus fasciolaris) is a brackish-water fish of the family Cynoglossidae. Native range: Eastern Central Pacific, Bah?a Magdalena, Mexico and the Gulf of California to Panama.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 90-97; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 75 - 80; Vertebrae: 48 - 52. Body flat and somewhat elongated, with a rounded anterior border; both eyes on the left side; dorsal fin with 90 to 97 rays; anal fin with 75 to 80 rays; caudal fin with 10 rays; body light to dark brown, usually with 5 to 7 dark transverse bars and sometimes with small, scattered blotches on the eyed side; caudal fin with a very dark stain.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Symphurus fasciolaris
Family: Cynoglossidae (Tonguefishes)
Order: Pleuronectiformes (Flatfishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 16.2
Common length: 15.0
Depth range: 1–50 m (3–164 ft)
Environment: Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 1 - 50 m, usually 1 - 25 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Eastern Central Pacific: Bah?a Magdalena, Mexico and the Gulf of California to Panama.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of no interest
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026