''Symphurus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

fish Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% of li ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Cynoglossidae found in the

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

and

Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...

. Most

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

mainly occur in relatively shallow water, including

estuaries An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime environment ...

. Some species are also found in

deeper water ''Deeper Water'', the tenth studio album by Paul Kelly, was released on 12 September 1995 on White Label Records Mushroom Records was an Australian flagship record label, founded in 1972 in Melbourne. It published and distributed many succ ...

, including '' S. thermophilus'' that lives at

hydrothermal vent A hydrothermal vent is a fissure on the seabed from which geothermally heated water discharges. They are commonly found near volcanically active places, areas where tectonic plates are moving apart at mid-ocean ridges, ocean basins, and hotspot ...

s (the only

flatfish A flatfish is a member of the Ray-finned fish, ray-finned demersal fish order (biology), order Pleuronectiformes, also called the Heterosomata, sometimes classified as a suborder of Perciformes. In many species, both eyes lie on one side of the ...

known from this habitat).Tyler, J. (2005): Distribution, population characteristics and trophic ecology of a sulphophilic hydrothermal vent tonguefish (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae). ''Master of Science. Thesis. University of Victoria: Canada.''Munroe, T.A. & Hashimoto, J. (2008): A new Western Pacific Tonguefish (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae): The first Pleuronectiform discovered at active Hydrothermal Vents. ''Zootaxa, 1839: 43–59.'' These species are distinguished by merged dorsal,

caudal Caudal may refer to: Anatomy * Caudal (anatomical term) (from Latin ''cauda''; tail), used to describe how close something is to the trailing end of an organism * Caudal artery, the portion of the dorsal aorta of a vertebrate that passes into the ...

and

anal fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as se ...

s, the absence of a

lateral line The lateral line, also called the lateral line organ (LLO), is a system of sensory organs found in fish, used to detect movement, vibration, and pressure gradients in the surrounding water. The sensory ability is achieved via modified epithelial ...

and

pectoral fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as ...

s, and the presence of only one

pelvic fin Pelvic fins or ventral fins are paired fins located on the ventral surface of fish. The paired pelvic fins are homologous to the hindlimbs of tetrapods. Structure and function Structure In actinopterygians, the pelvic fin consists of two en ...

. They are sinistral flatfishes, meaning that as

adult An adult is a human or other animal that has reached full growth. In human context, the term ''adult'' has meanings associated with social and legal concepts. In contrast to a " minor", a legal adult is a person who has attained the age of major ...

s, their crania are asymmetrical, with both

eye Eyes are organs of the visual system. They provide living organisms with vision, the ability to receive and process visual detail, as well as enabling several photo response functions that are independent of vision. Eyes detect light and conv ...

s on the left side. The largest species grows to about long.

Species

There are currently 78 recognized species in this genus: * ''

Symphurus arawak ''Symphurus'' is a genus of fish in the family Cynoglossidae found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. Most species mainly occur in relatively shallow water, including estuaries. Some species are also found in deeper water, including '' ...

'' C. R. Robins & J. E. Randall, 1965 (Caribbean tonguefish) * ''

Symphurus atramentatus ''Symphurus'' is a genus of fish in the family Cynoglossidae found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. Most species mainly occur in relatively shallow water, including estuaries. Some species are also found in deeper water, including '' ...

'' D. S. Jordan & Bollman, 1890 (Ink-spot tonguefish) * ''

Symphurus atricaudus ''Symphurus'' is a genus of fish in the family Cynoglossidae found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. Most species mainly occur in relatively shallow water, including estuaries. Some species are also found in deeper water, including '' ...

'' ( D. S. Jordan & C. H. Gilbert, 1880) (California tonguefish) * ''

Symphurus australis ''Symphurus'' is a genus of fish in the family Cynoglossidae found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. Most species mainly occur in relatively shallow water, including estuaries. Some species are also found in deeper water, including '' ...

'' McCulloch, 1907 * '' Symphurus bathyspilus'' Krabbenhoft &

Munroe Munroe is a derivation of the Scottish surname Munro (surname), Munro, and may refer to: In politics * Allen Munroe (1819–1884), New York politician * Daniel Munroe Forney, Congressional Representative from North Carolina * George H. Munroe (18 ...

, 2003 * '' Symphurus billykrietei''

, 1998 (Kriete's tonguefish) * '' Symphurus callopterus''

Mahadeva Mahadeva may refer to: Religion *Mahadeva, a title of the Hindu god Shiva ** Parashiva, a form of Shiva ** Parameshwara (god), a form of Shiva *Para Brahman, a Hindu deity *Adi-Buddha, in Buddhism, the "First Buddha" or the "Primordial Buddha" *M ...

, 1989 (Chocolate tonguefish) * '' Symphurus caribbeanus''

, 1991 * '' Symphurus chabanaudi''

, 1990 (Chabanaud's tonguefish) * '' Symphurus civitatium'' Ginsburg, 1951 (Offshore tonguefish) * '' Symphurus diabolicus''

, 1990 (Devil's tonguefish) * '' Symphurus diomedeanus'' (

Goode Goode ( or , depending on family) is a surname. Notable people Notable people with the surname include: * Alex Goode (Born 1988), British rugby union player * Alexander D. Goode (1911-1943), US Army chaplain * Andy Goode (born 1980), British ru ...

& T. H. Bean, 1885) (Spotted-fin tonguefish) * '' Symphurus elongatus'' ( Günther, 1868) (Elongated tonguefish) * '' Symphurus fasciolaris'' C. H. Gilbert, 1892 (Banded tonguefish) * '' Symphurus fuscus'' A. B. Brauer, 1906 * '' Symphurus gilesii'' ( Alcock, 1889) * '' Symphurus ginsburgi'' Menezes & Benvegnú, 1976 (Ginsburg's tonguefish) * '' Symphurus gorgonae'' Chabanaud, 1948 (Gorgonian tonguefish) * '' Symphurus holothuriae'' Chabanaud, 1948 * '' Symphurus hondoensis'' C. L. Hubbs, 1915 * '' Symphurus insularis''

, Brito & C. Hernández, 2000 * '' Symphurus jenynsi'' Evermann & Kendall, 1906 (Jenyn's tonguefish) * '' Symphurus kyaropterygium'' Menezes & Benvegnú, 1976 * '' Symphurus leei'' D. S. Jordan & Bollman, 1890 (Lee's tonguefish) * '' Symphurus leucochilus'' M. Y. Lee,

& K. T. Shao, 2014 Lee, M.-Y., Munroe, T.A. & Shao, K.-T. (2014): Description of a new cryptic, shallow-water tonguefish (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae: ''Symphurus'') from the western North Pacific Ocean. ''Journal of Fish Biology, 85 (3): 563–585.'' * '' Symphurus ligulatus'' ( Cocco, 1844) * '' Symphurus longirostris'' M. Y. Lee,

& Y. Kai, 2016 (Long-snout tonguefish) Lee, M.-Y., Munroe, T.A. & Kai, Y. (2016): Description of a new cryptic species of tonguefish (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae: ''Symphurus'') from shallow waters off Japan. ''Ichthyological Research, 64 (1): 71–83.'' * ''

Symphurus lubbocki ''Symphurus'' is a genus of fish in the family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain ...

, 1990 * '' Symphurus luzonensis'' Chabanaud, 1955 * '' Symphurus macrophthalmus''

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

, 1939 * '' Symphurus maculopinnis''

, J. Tyler & Tunnicliffe, 2011 Munroe, T.A., Tyler, J. & Tunnicliffe, V. (2011): Description and biological observations on a new species of deepwater symphurine tonguefish (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae: ''Symphurus'') collected at Volcano–19, Tonga Arc, West Pacific Ocean. ''Zootaxa, 3061: 53-66.'' * '' Symphurus maldivensis'' Chabanaud, 1955 * '' Symphurus marginatus'' (

& T. H. Bean, 1886) (Margined tonguefish) * '' Symphurus marmoratus'' Fowler, 1934 * '' Symphurus megasomus'' M. Y. Lee, H. M. Chen & K. T. Shao, 2009 (Giant tonguefish) * '' Symphurus melanurus'' H. W. Clark, 1936 (Drab tonguefish) * '' Symphurus melasmatotheca''

& Nizinski, 1990 (Black-stripe tonguefish) * '' Symphurus microlepis''

Garman Garman is a surname or first name. Notable people with the name include: Sports * Ann Garman, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player * Judi Garman (born 1954), American softball coach * Mike Garman (born 1949), American baseball pla ...

, 1899 (Small-fin tonguefish) * ''

Symphurus microrhynchus ''Symphurus'' is a genus of fish in the family Cynoglossidae found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. Most species mainly occur in relatively shallow water, including estuaries. Some species are also found in deeper water, including '' ...

'' ( M. C. W. Weber, 1913) * '' Symphurus minor'' Ginsburg, 1951 (Large-scale tonguefish) * '' Symphurus monostigmus''

, 2006 * '' Symphurus multimaculatus'' M. Y. Lee,

& H. M. Chen, 2009 (Pepper-dot tonguefish) * '' Symphurus nebulosus'' (

& T. H. Bean, 1883) (Freckled tonguefish) * '' Symphurus nigrescens'' Rafinesque, 1810 (Tonguefish) * '' Symphurus normani'' Chabanaud, 1950 (Norman's tonguefish) * '' Symphurus novemfasciatus'' S. C. Shen & W. W. Lin, 1984 * '' Symphurus ocellaris''

& D. R. Robertson, 2005 (Ring-tail tonguefish) * '' Symphurus ocellatus'' von Bonde, 1922 (Double-spot tonguefish) * '' Symphurus oculellus''

, 1991 * '' Symphurus oligomerus''

, 1990 (Spot-fin tonguefish) * '' Symphurus ommaspilus'' J. E. Böhlke, 1961 (Ocellated tonguefish) * '' Symphurus orientalis'' (

Bleeker Bleeker is a Dutch occupational surname. Bleeker is an old spelling of ''(linnen)bleker'' ("linen bleacher").Symphurus parvus'' Ginsburg, 1951 (Pygmy tonguefish) * '' Symphurus pelicanus'' Ginsburg, 1951 (Long-tail tonguefish) * '' Symphurus piger'' (

& T. H. Bean, 1886) (Deep-water tonguefish) * '' Symphurus plagiusa'' ( Linnaeus, 1766) (Black-cheek tonguefish) * '' Symphurus plagusia'' (

Bloch Bloch is a surname of German origin. Notable people with this surname include: A–F * (1859-1914), French rabbi *Adele Bloch-Bauer (1881-1925), Austrian entrepreneur *Albert Bloch (1882–1961), American painter * (born 1972), German motor journal ...

& J. G. Schneider, 1801) (Dusky-cheek tonguefish) * '' Symphurus prolatinaris''

, Nizinski &

, 1991 (Half-striped tonguefish) * '' Symphurus pusillus'' (

& T. H. Bean, 1885) (Northern tonguefish) * '' Symphurus regani'' M. C. W. Weber & de Beaufort, 1929 * '' Symphurus reticulatus''

, 1990 * '' Symphurus rhytisma'' J. E. Böhlke, 1961 (Patch-tail tonguefish) * '' Symphurus schultzi'' Chabanaud, 1955 * '' Symphurus septemstriatus'' ( Alcock, 1891) (Seven-band tonguefish) * '' Symphurus stigmosus''

, 1998 (Blotch-fin tonguefish) * '' Symphurus strictus'' C. H. Gilbert, 1905 (Black-belly tonguefish) * '' Symphurus tessellatus'' ( Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) * ''

Symphurus thermophilus ''Symphurus thermophilus'' is a species of tonguefish notable for being the only flatfish known to be an obligate inhabitant of hydrothermal vents. It is known from several widely dispersed locations in the western Pacific Ocean and occurs in gre ...

& Hashimoto, 2008 (Western Pacific tonguefish) * '' Symphurus trewavasae'' Chabanaud, 1948 (Trewavas' tonguefish) * '' Symphurus trifasciatus'' ( Alcock, 1894) (Three-band tonguefish) * '' Symphurus undatus'' C. H. Gilbert, 1905 * '' Symphurus undecimplerus''

& Nizinski, 1990 (Dark-cheek tonguefish) * '' Symphurus urospilus'' Ginsburg, 1951 (Spot-tail tonguefish) * '' Symphurus vanmelleae'' Chabanaud, 1952 (Vanmelle's tonguefish) * ''

Symphurus variegatus ''Symphurus'' is a genus of fish in the family (biology), family Cynoglossidae found in the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean. Most species mainly occur in relatively shallow water, including estuaries. Some species ...

'' ( Gilchrist, 1903) * '' Symphurus varius''

, 1899 (Mottled tonguefish) * '' Symphurus williamsi'' D. S. Jordan & Culver, 1895 (William's tonguefish) * '' Symphurus woodmasoni'' ( Alcock, 1889)

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2785579 Cynoglossidae Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque Marine fish genera