| Family: |
Cynoglossidae (Tonguefishes), subfamily: Cynoglossinae |
| Max. size: |
66.5 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 10 - 110 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Atlantic: Mauritania to Angola (Ref. 81291, 81682). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): -0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 119-125; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 93-99. Diagnosis: body flat and elongate; snout broadly rounded, its rostral hook rather short, extending to level of anterior nostril; angle of mouth extending backwards beyond level of lower eye (Ref. 81291). Eyes small and placed on left side of head and, unusual for cynoglossids, eyes well separated from each other, separated by wide interorbital space (Ref. 81291, 81682). Ctenoid scales on eyed side and cycloid scales on blind side; 12 caudal fin rays (Ref. 81291, 81682). 2, sometimes 3, lateral lines on eyed side and a single one on blind side (Ref. 81682). 89 (Ref. 81682) - 138 tubular (Ref. 81291) mid-lateral line scales. Generally 17-18, exceptionally 16 or 19, transversal scales between mid-lateral line and margino-dorsal lateral line (Ref. 81291, 81682).
Colouration: eyed side more or less uniformly brown, with greenish reflections in life; opercular region often blackish; blind side whitish (Ref. 81291, 81682). Sometimes black spot present at bases of posterior anal and dorsal fin rays; fins often spotted (Ref. 81682). |
| Biology: |
Found on sand and mud bottoms of coastal waters (Ref. 2683, 81682), including estuaries and fresh water lagoons (Ref. 81291). Feeds on (lamelibranch) mollusks, shrimps, crabs and fish (Ref. 28587, 81682). Sold as frozen filet under the name 'filets de sole' (Ref. 5377). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 15 May 2012 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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