© Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia Full citation Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia: Volume 1 - Bony and Cartilaginous Fishes. Report for the South Australian Working Group for Marine Species of Conservation Concern. J. Baker (consultant); Science and Conservation Division, and Coast and Marine Conservation branches of S.A. Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH); Marine and Coastal Community Network of S.A. (MCCN), and Threatened Species Network (TSN). Web version published by Reef Watch, South Australia.

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CYNOGLOSSIDAE: TONGUE SOLES

Tongue sole, © Bernard Yau

Globally, this family of mainly tropical and sub-tropical fishes comprises at least 137 named species, in the genera Cynoglossus, Symphurus and Paraplagusia (Munroe, 2000, 2001b, 2003, 2006; Froese and Pauly, 2007). Tongue soles are distributed in marine, brackish and (rarely) freshwater environments (Menon, 1977, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2006; Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994). Most species occur in shallow water or estuaries; however members of the Symphurinae sub-family are found in deep water (e.g. 300m -1900m).  Some species in the Cynoglossidae are of commercial importance (Froese and Pauly, 2007).
Like the members of the Bothidae, adult tongue soles have both eyes on the left side of head (Menon, 1977, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2007; Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994). Cynoglossid fishes in southern Australia have no pectoral fins, and the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are interconnected (Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994), giving the fish a leaf-like shape (Edgar, 2000).
During the 1990s, only 1 genus (Cynoglossus) was known from the south coast of Australia. A member of a second genus, previously called “Paraplagusia unicolor” (Macleay, 1881) Lemon Tongue Sole but not currently recognised under that binomial (CSIRO, 2007), occurs along the east and west coasts of Australia (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986), and might also extend to the edge of the south coast (Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994). 

Associated taxa

Southern Tongue Sole / Broadhurst’s Tongue Sole

Cynoglossus broadhursti Waite, 1905