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Ovalentaria/misc (Various families in series Ovalentaria) >
Opistognathidae (Jawfishes)
Etymology: Opistognathus: Greek, opisthe = behind + Greek, gnathos = jaw (Ref. 45335); to the very elongate upper jaw of the type species of the genus, Opistognathus nigromarginatus (Ref. 128653).
More on author: Macleay.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 4 m (Ref. 128653). Tropical
Indo-West Pacific: northern Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 36661)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17 - 18; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 14 - 15; Vertebrae: 30 - 32. This species is distinguished by the following characters: with a rigid upper jaw lacking flexible lamina posteriorly, in adults extending about 0.7-1.2 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; infraorbitals are relatively slender and tubular, the third infraorbital with small sensory canal opening and slender suborbital shelf; D X-XI,17-18, rarely X,18; vertebrae typically 12 + 18 or 19; body with two separate lateral lines, with the ventral one irregularly developed along lower side in region of anal-fin origin, often with one or more branches on belly; head covered with close-set, tiny, brown spots; pelvic and caudal fins usually strongly barred; anterior naris palmate (Ref. 128653).
Cross section: compressed.
Found in shallow reefs, in sand or rubble areas. Mouthbrooders (Ref. 240).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Employ mouthbrooding to care for their young (Ref. 240).
Smith-Vaniz, W.F., 2023. Review of Indo-West Pacific jawfishes (Opistognathus: Opistognathidae), with descriptions of 18 new species. Zootaxa 5252(1):1-180. (Ref. 128653)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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