Symphurus multimaculatus Lee, Munroe & Chen, 2009
Pepperdot tonguefish
Symphurus multimaculatus
photo by Lee, M.-Y.

Family:  Cynoglossidae (Tonguefishes), subfamily: Symphurinae
Max. size:  9.22 cm SL (male/unsexed); 10.38 cm SL (female)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 300 - 400 m
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: Taiwan.
Diagnosis:  Symphurus multimaculatus is distinguished from all congeners by the combination of: 1–2–2– 2–2 ID pattern, 14 caudal-fin rays, 9 abdominal vertebrae, 50–51 total vertebrae, 5 hypurals, 92–94 dorsal-fin rays, 79–82 anal-fin rays, 102–108 longitudinal scales, 45–48 scales in a transverse row, a small eye (9.1–10.1% HL), deep body (28.6–35.1% SL), and blind-side pigmentation featuring conspicuous, irregular, blackish-brown speckles especially conspicuous overlying pterygiophore regions of the dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 82202).
Biology:  Specimens were collected by trawlers operating in deep waters, on the continental shelf and/or continental slope. Landed catch also contained S. orientalisand other deep-sea fishes known to occur at depths of about 300-400 m (Ref. 82202).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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