Langue De Zanzibar

Cynoglossus zanzibarensis Norman

Cynoglossus (Trulla) zanzibarensis Norman, 1939:105, fig. 36 [type-locality: Zanzibar, 183–293 m].—Nielsen. 1961:226 [off Durban, 430–595 m]; 1964:132 [off Durban, 230 m].

DESCRIPTION.—Based on 15 specimens, 49.0–172.0 mm SL, including the lectotype and paralectotype of C. zanzibarensis.

Depth of body 21.78–28.19 (M = 25.60), length of head 20.72–24.10 (M = 21.98) percent of standard length. Diameter of eye 8.82–13.33 (M = 11.28), interorbital space absent or narrow, 0.31–4.76 (M = 2.75) percent of length of head. Anterior nostril on ocular side tubular, in front of lower eye, posterior nostril absent. Snout rounded, 27.27–35.0 (M = 32.55) percent of length of head; rostral hook very short, extending to front of anterior nostril. Maxillary extending to below posterior half of fixed eye; angle of mouth extending to below vertical from middle of fixed eye, nearer to tip of snout than to branchial opening; tip of snout to angle of mouth 37.33–47.06 (M = 41.93), angle of mouth to branchial opening 53.85–64.71 (M = 58.15) percent of length of head.

Scales: Ctenoid on both sides, those of head on blind side rather weakly ctenoid.

Lateral-Line System: Three lateral lines on ocular side, midlateral line with 72–76 scales, 13–15 scales between them. No lateral line on blind side.

Interlinear scale rows 13 14 15

Frequencies 2 4 4

Fins: Dorsal with 116–121 (M = 119) rays, anal with 94–99 (M = 96) rays, caudal 10 in 6 specimens (radiographs).

Vertebrae: 51–58, comprising 9 abdominal and 42–49 caudal elements in 6 specimens (radiographs).

Coloration: Upper side brownish, lower whitish in preserved specimens.

Size: Largest specimen examined, 185 mm, is from the Arabian Sea, lat. 21°23′N, long. 69°46′E.

DISTRIBUTION.—Durban through Zanzibar to Kenya.

DIAGNOSIS AND