Species: Symphurus elongatus, Elongate tonguefish, Small-eyed tonguefish

Symphurus elongatus (Günther, 1868)

Elongate tonguefish, Small-eyed tonguefish

Body highly compressed, very elongate, oval, tapers to pointed tail; eyes on left side, tiny, very close-set, pupils without covers; snout rounded; mouth small, reaches past eye, curved, strongly so on blind side, eye-side lower jaw with large fleshy crest; margin of preoperculum concealed by skin and scales; dorsal origin ~ above upper eye; dorsal rays 99-107; anal rays 83-90; dorsal and anal fins confluent with the pointed tail fin; only left pelvic fin present, 4 rays, on body midline, joined to anal fin by delicate membrane; pectoral fins absent, represented by a fine membrane; tail with 12 rays; no lateral line; scales rough, on both sides of body.