Symphurus ommaspilus Böhlke, 1961
Ocellated tonguefish

Family:  Cynoglossidae (Tonguefishes), subfamily: Symphurinae
Max. size:  4.3 cm SL (male/unsexed); 5.7 cm SL (female)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 1 - 27 m
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: Widespread through insular regions of the Caribbean Sea, including Glover's Reef, St. Eustatius, St. Barthelemy, and the French West Indies. Rarely captured along the continental margins of the Caribbean.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 76-77; Anal soft rays: 61-62. Slender, small; pale with distinct, dark ocellated spots near rear of dorsal and anal fins.
Biology:  Inhabits sandy substrates, also those submerged beds of aquatic vegetation, in clear shallow waters near coral reefs. Little is known of its biology since its captured infrequently and generally in small numbers; most captures were a single fish (Ref. 26268).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 23 August 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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