Robust Tonguefish

Inhabits sand and mud bottoms (Ref. 11230).

Inhabits sand and mud bottoms (Ref. 11230).

fisheries: commercial

Cynoglossus robustus Günther

Cynoglossus robustus Günther, 1873a:243 [type-locality: Shanghai].—Steindachner, 1896:219 [Japan].—Jordan and Snyder, 1901:123.—Jordan and Starks, 1906a:239 [Japan, China].—Fowler and Bean, 1922:68 [Tokyo]. Jordan and Hubbs, 1925:302 [Kobe].—Fowler, 1930:616 [Hong Kong].— Wu, 1931:169 [Chi-Pou].—Chu, 1931:95 [Shanghai, Hong Kong].—Wu, 1932:147 [Tehou-San].—Wu and Wang, 1933:304 [Amoy].—Fowler, 1934b:221 [China].—Okada and Matsubara, 1938:437 [Chinese sea].—Mori. 1952:183 [Quelpar Is.].—Kamohara, 1952:86 [Tosa].—Matsubara, 1955:1285 [S Japan, S China Sea].—Tchang, 1955:297. fig. 183.—Chen, 1956:106 [Kaohsiung].—Ochiai, 1959:213.—Chu, 1963:539. fig. 405.—Chen and Weng, 1965:96, fig. 67 [Kulung].—Shen, 1967:213, figs. 130–133 [Kowloon].

Cynoglossus brunneus Regan, 1905a:26 [inland Sea of Japan]. —Jordan and Starks, 1906a:239 [Inland Sea of Japan].—Jordan, Tanaka and Snyder, 1913:336 [listed].

Cynoglossus inusita Jordan, Tanaka, and Snyder, 1913:335 [type-locality: Tokyo, Nagasaki].—Hubbs, 1915:494 [Kobe].

DESCRIPTION.—Based on 16 specimens, 100.0–388.0 mm SL, including the holotype of C. robustus.

Depth of body 21.03–29.25 (M = 25.09), length of head 20.16–24.46 (M = 22.46) percent of standard length. Diameter of eye 6.52–9.88 (M = 7.84), interorbital width 3.70–7.64 (M = 5.37) percent of length of head. Anterior nostril tubular, in front of lower eye, posterior nostril simple, in the anterior half of the interorbital space. Snout obtusely pointed 33.58–44.83 (M = 39.36) percent of length of head, rostral hook short, extending only to front of anterior nostril. Maxillary extending to beyond fixed eye; angle of mouth extending to just vertical from below posterior border of fixed eye, nearer to branchial opening than to tip of snout; tip of snout to angle of mouth 48.91–56.32 (M = 53.64) angle of mouth to branchial opening 45.00–57.94 (M = 47.99) percent of length of head.

Scales: Ctenoid on ocular side with the lateral-line scales cycloid anteriorly, ctenoid posteriorly; scales on blind side cycloid.

Lateral-Line System: Two lateral lines on eyed side, midlateral line with 70–82 scales, 10 scales between. No lateral line on blind side.

Interlinear scale rows 10

Frequencies 8

Fins: Dorsal with 125–134 (M = 129) rays, anal with 90–104 (M = 100) rays, caudal 10 in 8 specimens (radiographs).

Vertebrae: 56–61 comprising 10 (rarely 9) abdominal and 47–51 caudal elements in 8 specimens (radiographs).

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

Size: Largest specimen examined, 413 mm, is from Onomichi, Japan.

DISTRIBUTION.—From South China Sea through Taiwan, Tung-hai, Yellow Sea, Po-hai to Korea and Japan.

DIAGNOSIS AND

分布於西太平洋區，自日本至南中國海。台灣分布於北部、東北部、西部、南部、澎湖及小琉球海域。

中大型魚類，通常以底拖網捕獲，以煎食、紅燒或加工製品食之，具食用經濟價值。

體長舌形，極側扁；兩眼均位於左側，互相分開。口小，下位，口裂弧形；上頜向後延伸超越下眼後緣；眼側無齒，盲側具細小絨毛狀齒；鋤骨與腭骨無齒。鼻孔兩個。眼側唇緣無觸鬚。鰓膜與峽部分離。眼側被櫛鱗，盲側被圓鱗；僅眼側具側線二條，側線鱗數71-77；兩側線間鱗數10-11。背鰭、臀鰭與尾鰭相連；無胸鰭；腹鰭與臀鰭相連；尾鰭尖形； 背鰭軟條數 124-134；臀鰭軟條數100-106；腹鰭軟條數 4；尾鰭軟條數 10；脊椎骨數60-65。眼側一致褐色，鰓蓋處具一暗色區域；盲側體白色。

棲息於近海大陸棚泥沙底質海域。以底棲之無脊椎動物為食。