Western Pacific tonguefish

Symphurus thermophilus

Dark crossbands on brown side

Tropical
Island endemic
Island endemic species
Local endemic species
Restricted distribution
Marine fish
Pacific Ocean
East Asia
Oceania
Small
Tropical fish

Symphurus thermophilus is a species of tonguefish notable for being the only flatfish known to be an obligate inhabitant of hydrothermal vents. It is known to inhabit several widely dispersed locations in the western Pacific Ocean and occurs in great numbers. These flatfish are distinguished by the prominent dark crossbands on their brown eyed side, black abdominal cavity membrane lining known as the peritoneum, and white blind side.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Flatfishes
Family: Cynoglossidae
Genus: Symphurus
Maximum length: 8.7 cm
Water: Marine
Distribution: Pacific: an endemic species in the western Pacific Ocean collected at several active hydrothermal vent sites with a disjunct distribution over a wide geographic range from Kaikata Seamount (26°42.30'N, 141°04.70'E; near Bonin Island, off southeastern Japan) to the Rumble 3 Submarine Volcano (35°44'S, 178°72-79'W) on the Kermadec Ridge, northern New Zealand (Ref. 78522 ).

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