Malabar Sole

Inhabits shallow muddy and sandy bottoms of the continental self, down to 25 m. Also found in midwaters in certain seasons of the year. Enters estuaries (Ref. 4833). Feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates, especially worms.

Inhabits shallow muddy and sandy bottoms of the continental self, down to 25 m. Also found in midwaters in certain seasons of the year. Enters estuaries (Ref. 4833). Feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates, especially worms.

fisheries: commercial

Cynoglossus macrostomus Norman

Cynoglossus hamiltonii [not Günther].—Day, 1877:436, pl. 95: fig. 3 [“Hooghly at Calcutta”]; 1889:458.

Cynoglossus macrostomus Norman, 1928:204 [type-locality: Hooghly Estuary, near Calcutta].

Cynoglossus luctuosus Chabanaud, 1947e:813 [type-locality: Madras].

Cynoglossus semifasciatus [not Day].—Seshappa and Bhimachar, 1955:183.—Saramma, 1963:77 [Kerala coast].

Cynoglossus cynoglossus [not Hamilton-Buchanan].—Saramma, 1963:77 [Kerala coast].

DESCRIPTION.—Based on 40 specimens, 90–138 mm SL, including the holotypes and paratypes of C. macrostomus and C. luctuosus.

Depth of body 23.11–28.11 (M = 25.89), length of head 23.97–30.83 (M = 26.39) percent of standard length. Eye diameter 5.56–10.34 (M = 7.59), interorbital space sometimes absent, 1.39–4.17 (M = 2.94) percent of length of head. Two nostrils on ocular side, anterior nostril tubular, in front of lower eye, posterior nostril simple, in the anterior half of interorbital space. Snout obtusely pointed, 20.59–30.0 (M = 25.80) percent of length of head, rostral hook short, extending to front of anterior nostril. Maxillary extending to well beyond posterior margin of fixed eye; angle of mouth extending to below vertical from posterior border of fixed eye or just beyond it, nearer to tip of snout to branchial opening, tip of snout to angle of mouth 35.29–47.50 (M = 40.49), angle of mouth to branchial opening 43.55–62.07 (M = 57.48) percent of length of head.

Scales: Ctenoid on both sides.

Lateral-Line System: Two lateral lines on ocular side, dorsolateral line curving onto dorsal fin at a short distance from caudal base, midlateral line with 80–92 (M = 83) scales; 14–16 (M = 15) scales between them. No lateral line on blind side.

Interlinear scale rows 14 15 16

Frequencies 13 17 10

Fins: Dorsal with 100–106 (M = 103) rays, anal with 78–84 (M = 80), caudal 10 in 23 specimens (radiographs).

Vertebrae: 48–51 comprising 9 abdominal and 38–42 caudal elements in 23 specimens (radiographs).

Coloration: Upper side light brownish with dark brown mottling on it, giving the appearance of several irregular transverse bands, lower whitish in preserved specimens.

Size: Largest specimen examined, 154 (138 + 18), is from Cochin.

DISTRIBUTION.—Seas and estuaries of India; recorded from a depth of 8–12 fans.

DIAGNOSIS AND