New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Subtropical

Pygmy tonguefish

Symphurus parvus Ginsburg, 1951
Max Length
9 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.2
Depth
20–110 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Pygmy tonguefish (Symphurus parvus) is a ray-finned fish of the family Cynoglossidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in benthic environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 9 cm. It occurs at depths between 20 and 110 metres. With a trophic level of 3.2, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Scientific Name
Symphurus parvus
Authority
Ginsburg, 1951
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
9 cm
Depth Range
20–110 m
Trophic Level
3.2
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for Pygmy tonguefish is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Pygmy tonguefish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 20 - 110 m , usually 31 - 110 m . Subtropical; 35°N - 2°N, 95°W - 60°W North Carolina and northern Gulf of Mexico in USA to Yucatan.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.2±0.4

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00912 × L3.13 (TL)
Max TL
9cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2012

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
10.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.2
Predator
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Ginsburg, 1951

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Pygmy Tonguefish
🇪🇸Spanish lengua pigmea

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 19 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Pygmy tonguefish ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.