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Lee's tonguefish (Symphurus leei) — Cynoglossidae

Lee's tonguefish

Symphurus leei
Family: Cynoglossidae

The Lee's tonguefish (Symphurus leei) is a fish of the family Cynoglossidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

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Description

Lee's tonguefish is a tonguefish (Cynoglossidae) from coastal and estuarine water of the western Pacific. The species grows to about 10 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 Lee's tonguefish?

The Lee's tonguefish is mainly brown.

Where does the Lee's tonguefish live?

The Lee's tonguefish is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Lee's tonguefish get?

The Lee's tonguefish grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Lee's tonguefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Lee's tonguefish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

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All data

Identification

English name
Lee's tonguefish sourced
Scientific name
Symphurus leei
Family
Cynoglossidae
Other names
Blacktail tonguefish

Appearance

Size class
Small
Max length (cm)
10 sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. 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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