Opistognathus pardus Smith-Vaniz, Bineesh & Akhilesh, 2012

Family:  Opistognathidae (Jawfishes)
Max. size:  9.88 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 110 - 220 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: India.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 11-11; Vertebrae: 26-26. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: rigid maxilla, no flexible lamina posteriorly; head mostly covered with small, irregular-shaped dark spots; D XI,11; total gill rakers 40-41; outermost segmented pelvic-fin ray is tightly bound to adjacent ray, with interradial membrane not incised distally (interradial membrane deeply incised in all other Indo-Pacific species except O. muscatensis Boulenger 1887) (Ref. 93143).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 20 July 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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