Blackcheek tonguefish (Symphurus plagiusa)

Scientific name: Symphurus plagiusa Linnaeus, 1766

Blackcheek tonguefish (Symphurus plagiusa)

The Blackcheek tonguefish (Symphurus plagiusa) is a brackish-water fish of the family Cynoglossidae.

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.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Symphurus plagiusa
Family
Cynoglossidae (Tonguefishes)
Order
Pleuronectiformes (Flatfishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
21.0
Depth range
0–183 m (0–600 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 0 - 183 m, usually 1 - 30 m
Climate
Subtropical
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.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=5)

Sources

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

Last updated