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Williams' tonguefish (Symphurus williamsi) — Cynoglossidae

Williams' tonguefish

Symphurus williamsi
Family: Cynoglossidae

The Williams' tonguefish (Symphurus williamsi) is a saltwater fish of the family Cynoglossidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
11.6 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–52.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Williams' tonguefish is a tonguefish (Cynoglossidae) from coastal and estuarine water of the eastern Pacific, from Mexico to Peru. The species grows to about 13 cm and has a flattened, elongate, leaf-shaped body tapering to a point at the rear, with both eyes on the left side and a down-curved snout. As a bottom-dweller it lies buried on sand and mud bottoms and snaps at small worms and crustaceans. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Williams' tonguefish?

The Williams' tonguefish has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Williams' tonguefish live?

The Williams' tonguefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Williams' tonguefish get?

The Williams' tonguefish grows to a maximum of about 12 cm. On average the species is around 8 cm.

Is the Williams' tonguefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Williams' tonguefish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Williams tongtong sourced
English name
Williams' tonguefish sourced
Scientific name
Symphurus williamsi
Family
Cynoglossidae
Other names
Yellow tonguefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.6 verified
Average length (cm)
7.5 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
52.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Symphurus

More from the family Cynoglossidae

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