Home · Cynoglossidae · Shortnose tongue sole
Shortnose tongue sole (Cynoglossus abbreviatus) — Cynoglossidae

Shortnose tongue sole

Cynoglossus abbreviatus
Family: Cynoglossidae
LC · Least Concern

The Shortnose tongue sole (Cynoglossus abbreviatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Cynoglossidae that grows up to 38 cm.

Length
37.9 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
20.0–85.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The shortnose tonguesole is a tonguefish from the northwest Pacific, along China, Korea and Japan. The species grows to about 38 cm and has the elongate, tongue-shaped, strongly asymmetric flatfish body with both eyes on the left side and a continuous fin fringe. As a bottom-dweller it lies buried on sandy and muddy bottoms of the coastal shelf and feeds on small bottom animals. It is a local food fish and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Shortnose tongue sole?

The Shortnose tongue sole has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Shortnose tongue sole live?

The Shortnose tongue sole lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Shortnose tongue sole get?

The Shortnose tongue sole grows to a maximum of about 38 cm.

Is the Shortnose tongue sole dangerous to humans?

No, the Shortnose tongue sole is harmless to humans.

Is the Shortnose tongue sole edible?

Yes, the Shortnose tongue sole is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kortsnuit-tongschar verified
English name
Shortnose tongue sole verified
Scientific name
Cynoglossus abbreviatus
Family
Cynoglossidae
Other names
Three-lined tongue sole; Three-lined tounge sole verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
37.9 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
85.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Cynoglossus

More from the family Cynoglossidae

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