Ripplefin Tonguefish

Upper side brown, with irregular dark spots and horizontal black lines following scale rows; dark streaks and blotches on fins; 2 lateral lines on eyed side; none on blind side (Ref. 4418).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 104 - 110; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 82 - 86

Feeds on small invertebrates.

Feeds on small invertebrates (Ref. 5213).

Cynoglossus gilchristi Regan

Cynoglossus brachycephalus [not Bleeker].—Gilchrist, 1905:12, pl. 30.—Bonde, 1922:25.—Gilchrist and Thompson, 1917:399.

Cynoglossus gilchristi Regan, 1920:222 [type-locality: Natal, off mouth of Umhlanga River].—Barnard, 1925:412.—Bonde, 1925:294.

Cynoglossoides gilchristi.—Smith, 1949:165, fig. 337.

DESCRIPTION.—Based on 4 specimens, 44.0–133.0 mm SL, including the holotype of C. gilchristi.

Depth of body 24.81–28.73 (M = 27.16), length of head 18.0–23.86 (M = 21.58) percent of standard length. Diameter of eye 8.0–18.18 (M = 11.56), interorbital space 4.55–7.89 (M = 6.22) percent of length of head. Two nostrils on ocular side, anterior nostril tubular, in front of lower eye, posterior nostril simple, in front of the interorbital space. Snout rounded, 26.0–31.82 (M = 28.84) percent of length of head, rostral hook rather short, ends below anterior nostril or just in front of it. 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, nearer to tip of snout than to branchial opening; tip of snout to angle of mouth 44.0–47.62 (M = 46.11), angle of mouth to branchial opening 54.55–57.89 (M = 56.40) 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 more or less undulated, generally stopping at four-fifths of length of the body and becoming obscure; midlateral line with 74–80 (M = 77) scales, 14–15 (M = 15) scales between them. No lateral line on blind side.

Interlinear scale rows 14 15

Frequencies 1 3

Fins: Dorsal with 104–110 (M = 106) rays, anal with 82–86 (M = 84) rays, caudal 8 in 3 specimens (radiographs).

Vertebrae: 50 comprising of 9 abdominal, 49 caudal elements in 3 specimens (radiographs).

Coloration: Upper side light brown with irregular darker blotches, lower whitish in preserved specimens.

Size: Largest specimen examined (holotype), 141 (133 + 8) mm, is from Natal.

DISTRIBUTION.—From Natal and Delagoa Bay to Nossi Be, Madagascar; recorded from depths of 4–30 fms.

DIAGNOSIS AND

Cynoglossus gilchristi, commonly known as the ripplefin tongue sole is a species of tonguefish. It is commonly found in the western Indian Ocean off Delagoa Bay, Mozambique, South Africa, and Madagascar.

Feeds on small invertebrates (Ref. 5213).