| Family: |
Opistognathidae (Jawfishes) |
| Max. size: |
28.5 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 6 - 35 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Pacific: Australia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-13; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 12-12; Vertebrae: 26-26. This species is distinguished by the following characters: with a rigid upper jaw lacking flexible lamina posteriorly, extending about 0.7 to 0.9 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; infraorbitals are very slender and tubular, the third infraorbital very elongate with large suborbital shelf; D XI,13; A II,12; vertebrae 10+16; scales on the belly minute and distinctly embedded; body with about 80-99 scale rows in horizontal series; vomerine teeth 1-3. Colouration: opercle with a conspicuous dark spot; color of sides and anal blue with large yellow spots (Ref. 128653). |
| Biology: |
Occur over sand bottom of the continental shelf (Ref. 75154). Mouthbrooders (Ref. 240). Eggs which are clumped together in a sticky egg ball inside the parent's mouth are sometimes released in a burrow during brief feeding periods (Ref. 40511). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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