Cynoglossus monopus (Bleeker 1849)

Eyes small, pedunculate (Ref 9895).

Cynoglossus monopus (Bleeker)

Plagusia monopus Bleeker, 1849:11 [type-locality: Bali].

Cynoglossus monopus.—Bleeker, 1875:38, pl. 245: fig. 4.— Alcock, 1896:330.—Norman, 1928:204.—Weber and de Beaufort, 1929:197.—Chu, 1931:94.—Smith, 1933:84.—Fowler, 1934b:219.—Suvatti, 1936:94; 1950:326.—Kuronuma, 1961:32.—Punpoka, 1964:66 [Sumat Prakarn Province, Thailand].

Plagusia melanopterus Bleeker, 1851a:415; 1852:25.

Arelia melanopterus.—Bleeker, 1859:184.

Cynoglossus melanopterus.—Günther, 1862:502.—Alcock, 1889: 289.—Seale, 1914:78 [Hong Kong].—Chu, 1931:94.

Arelia ceratophrys Kaup, 1858:108.

DESCRIPTION.—Based on 11 specimens, 94.0–153.0 mm SL.

Depth of body 21.90–26.12 (M = 23.58), length of head 19.46–21.57 (M = 20.37) percent of standard length. Eyes small, close together and pedunculate; diameter of eye 4.0–6.78 (M = 5.80) percent of length of head, interorbital space almost absent Two nostrils on ocular side, close together in front of the anterior border of fixed eye, anterior nostril tubular, posterior simple. Snout obtusely pointed, 26.32–37.29 (M = 31.82) percent of head, rostral hook rather short, ending just in front of anterior nostril. Maxillary extending to below posterior border of fixed eye or just behind it; angle of mouth extending to below vertical from posterior half of fixed eye, nearer to tip of snout than to branchial opening; tip of snout to angle of mouth 39.39–47.62 (M = 44.06), angle of mouth to branchial opening 53.06–64.41 (M = 57.76) percent of length of head.

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

Lateral-Line System: Two lateral lines on ocular side, dorsolateral line undulated, entering dorsal fin along 3rd to 5th ray, counted from the rear, midlateral line with 108–125 (M = 117) scales, 16–20 (M = 17) scales between them. No lateral line on blind side.

Interlinear scale rows 16 17 18 19 20

Frequencies 5 2 1 2 1

Fins: Dorsal with 115–120 (M = 117) rays, anal with 92–96 (M = 94), caudal 10 in 6 specimens (radiographs).

Vertebrae: 53–56, comprising 9 abdominal and 44–47 caudal elements in 6 specimens (radiographs).

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

Size: Largest specimen examined, 188.5 mm in SL, is from Bangkok.

DISTRIBUTION: From Malay Archipelago to Hong Kong and to northern part of Bay of Bengal; recorded from a depth of 7–10 fms.

DIAGNOSIS AND