Blotched Tongue Sole

Cynoglossus puncticeps (Richardson)

Plagusia puncticeps Richardson, 1846:280 [type-locality: China].—Whitehead, 1969:218, pl. 29c.

Cynoglossus puncticeps.—Günther. 1862:500.—Bleeker, 1875: 37, pl. 245: 15, fig. 7.—Day, 1877:437, pl. 97: fig. 1; 1889:459.—Alcock, 1889:289.—Jordan and Seale, 1907:46.—Jenkins. 1910:30.—Norman, 1928:205.—Weber and de Beaufort, 1929:198.—Chu, 1931:94.—Herre, 1932:433.—Wu, 1932:151 [Amoy, Pehai, Canton, Hong Kong, and Hainan].—Smith, 1933:84.—Fowler, 1934b:220. fig. 34.—Suvatti, 1950:328.—Herre, 1953:190.—Munro. 1955:265, pl. 51: fig. 771.—Fowler, 1956:137.—De Silva, 1956:198 [Panadura].—Munro, 1958:285 [Kau Kau].—Kuronuma, 1961:32.—Punpoka, 1964:69 [Thailand].—Pradhan, 1964: 458.—Chen and Weng, 1965:91, fig. 62 [Tainan and Tungkong].—Shen, 1967:214, figs. 138–141 [Lamma Island].

Plagusia nigrolabeculata Richardson, 1846:280 [coasts of China. Canton].—Kaup, 1858:110.—Whitehead, 1969:218, pl. 29b.

Cynoglossus nigrolabecutatus.—Bleeker, 1873:131 [reference].

Plagusia aurolimbata Richardson, 1846:280 [coasts of China].—Kaup, 1858:110.—Whitehead, 1969:218, pl. 28b.

Cynoglossus aurolineatus.—Bleeker, 1873:130.

Plagusia javanica Bleeker, 1851a:414 [type-locality: Batavia]; 1852:24.

Arelia javanica.—Bleeker, 1859:184.

Plagusia brachyrhynchos Bleeker, 1851a:414 [type-locality: Batavia]; 1852:24.

Arelia brachyrhynchos.—Bleeker, 1859:184.

Cynoglossus brachyrhynchus.—Günther, 1862:499.—Bleeker, 1875:37, pl. 243: fig. 4.—Day, 1877:435, pl. 96: fig. 4; 1839:457.—Johnstone, 1904:206.—Weber, 1913b:443.

Cynoglossus brevis Günther, 1862:500 [type-locality: Ganges].—Day, 1877:437, pl. 97: fig. 2.—Alcock, 1889:289.—Hora, 1923b:760,—Norman, 1928:206.

Cynoglossus lida [not Bleeker].—Jenkins, 1910a:31.

Cynoglossus lida var. punctatus.—Jenkins, 1910a:30.

Cynoglossus puncticeps immaculata Pellegrin and Chevey, 1940:154 [Vietnam].

DESCRIPTION: Based on 87 specimens, 35.0–166.0 mm SL, including the paralectotype of C. brevis.

Depth of body 12.05–45.16 (M = 28.43), length of head 11.45–30.65 (M = 22.22) percent of standard length. Diameter of eye 6.25–16.13 (M = 10.71), interorbital space rather narrow, 0.36–6.67 (M = 3.03) percent of length of head. Two nostrils on ocular side, anterior nostrils tubular, in front of lower eye, posterior nostril simple, immediately in front of interorbital space. Snout rounded or obtusely pointed, 24.39–41.18 (M = 32.67) percent of length of head, rostral hook short, usually ends in front of anterior nostril, rarely reaching below anterior border of fixed eye. Maxillary extending to below middle or posterior half of fixed eye; angle of mouth extending to below vertical from anterior half or middle of fixed eye, usually nearer to tip of snout than to branchial opening; tip of snout to angle of mouth 34.21–51.43 (M = 44.16), angle of mouth to branchial opening 41.67–72.73 (M = 55.62) percent of length of head.

Scales: Ctenoid on both sides, including those of lateral lines.

Lateral-Line System: Two lateral lines on ocular side, dorsolateral line slightly undulating, running backward and entering dorsal fin along 5th–6th ray, counted from the rear, midlateral line with 78–99 (M = 87) scales, 14–19 (M = 16) scales between them. No lateral line on blind side.

Interlinear scale rows 14 15 16 17 18 19

Frequencies 4 6 22 23 16 9

Fins: Dorsal with 90–100 (M = 96) rays, anal with 72–78 (M = 75) rays, caudal 10 in 57 specimens (radiographs).

Vertebrae: 44–49, comprising 9 abdominal and 35–40 caudal elements in 57 specimens (radiographs).

Coloration: Upper side brownish with dark blotches all over the body, appearing as somewhat irregular crossbands that disappear with age, lower whitish. Some of the rays of the vertical fins marked with dark brown.

Size: Largest specimen examined, 175 (161 + 14) mm, is from Sind, Pakistan.

DISTRIBUTION.—From northwest Australia, Malay Archipelago to Philippines, through South China Sea to Taiwan, and westward to seas of India; recorded from a depth of 7–75 fms and known from brackish waters as well.

DIAGNOSIS AND