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

🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Subtropical

Spottail tonguefish

Symphurus urospilus Ginsburg, 1951
Max Length
16.6 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.3
Depth
5–324 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
22.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Spottail tonguefish (Symphurus urospilus) 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 16.6 cm. It occurs at depths between 5 and 324 metres. With a trophic level of 3.3, 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 urospilus
Authority
Ginsburg, 1951
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
16.6 cm
Depth Range
5–324 m
Trophic Level
3.3
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
22.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for Spottail tonguefish is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Spottail tonguefish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Spottail tonguefish is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Spottail tonguefish is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 5 - 324 m , usually 5 - 40 m . Subtropical; 35°N - 15°N, 94°W - 65°W North Carolina, USA through the Gulf of Mexico to the Campeche Bank region off the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.3±0.4

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00912 × L3.13 (TL)
Max TL
16.6cm

🌡️ 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
22.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.3
Predator
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Ginsburg, 1951

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 10 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 Spottail 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.