| Opistognathidae (Jawfishes) |
| 3.88 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
|
reef-associated; marine; depth range 7 - 18 m |
| Northwest Pacific: Japan (Ryukyu Is.). |
|
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 11-11. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D 11; pectoral fin 22-23; longitudinal scale rows 45-46; gill rakers on first gill arch of adults 15-16 + 25-26 = 40-42; orbit diameter 10.0-10.4 % of SL; sensory pores 2 (I4 and I5) present on the posterior half of the interorbital space; first 2 mandibular pores (M1 and M2) well-spaced, fifth pore (M5) with single opening;
lateral line terminating below the 2nd or 3rd dorsal-fin soft ray base (dorsal fin element 13 or 14); distal incision of 3rd to 5th dorsal-fin spines is moderate; anteroventral margin of upper lip crenulate. Colouration: body grayish-yellow, with fine brown and white vermiculations; lateral surface of the head grayish green, with rough gray vermiculation; dorsal-fin membrane is grayish-yellow, with several irregular white blotches when fresh; anterior gular region not pigmented (chin and area adjacent to anterior two mandibular pores with a few scattered melanophores (Ref. 137491). |
| Specimens were collected by handnet in an inner bay of the type locality with silty sand bottom. The paratype was also observed with five gobioids, Myersina nigrivirgata, Oplopomus oplopomus, Oxyurichthys papuensis, Taenioides kentalleni, and unidentified Tomiyamichthys species (Ref. 137491). |
|
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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