Symphurus hernandezi (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae), a new deep-water tonguefish from the southern Caribbean Sea off Colombia

A new cynoglossid species, Symphurus hernandezi, is described from 83 specimens (50.9–126.9 mm SL) taken on the outer continental shelf (82 specimens collected between 148 and 301 m) off Caribbean Colombia. This species is distinguished from all congeners by its unique purplish pigmentation and pepperdot pattern of melanophores on the blind side of the body. Symphurus hernandezi has a 1-3-2 pattern of interdigitation of dorsal-fin pterygiophores and neural spines, 12 caudal-fin rays and a black peritoneum. Among congeners, S. hernandezi is most similar to the sympatrically occurring S. marginatus, but is easily distinguished from that species by differences in ocular- and blind-side pigmentation patterns, fewer longitudinal and head scales (77–86 and 13–16 in S. hernandezi vs 86–99 and 16–20 in S. marginatus, respectively), and by several morphometric features including shorter dorsal- and anal-fin rays, deeper body depth in the caudal region, longer head and postorbital lengths, and a smaller pupil diameter. Symphurus hernandezi has a restricted distribution on the outer continental shelf off Caribbean Colombia.