Symphurus pusillus

Symphurus pusillus

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Pleuronectiformes
Family:	Cynoglossidae
Genus:	Symphurus
Species:	S. pusillus
Binomial name
*Symphurus pusillus* Goode & T. H. Bean, 1885

The northern tonguefish (Symphurus pusillus) is a species of fish belonging to the family Cynoglossidae.

Description

The body of the northern tonguefish has alternating narrow and broad bands spanning the length of it. It has 12 caudal fin rays. It has a slender body with a small, rounded, oblique mouth. Its eyes are small and very close together. It has scaled jaws and snout, and its scales are quite small. The dorsal fin begins immediately above the center of the species’ eyes. It is light brown in color, and has 6 to 7 cross bars on its body of a slightly darker hue.

Distribution and habitat

The northern tonguefish can be found as deep as 44 meters. It ranges from Massachusetts to North Carolina in the United States in water from 9 to 12oC.

References

"Symphurus Pusillus." Smithsonian Bulletin 3.47 (98): 2910. Print.

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