Teleostei (teleosts) >
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); trimaculatus: From the Latin 'tri' for three and 'macula' for spot, referring to the three large blotches on the dorsal fin of the holotype..
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 120 - 250 m (Ref. 128653). Subtropical
Northwest Pacific: Japan.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.2 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 128653)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 10; Vertebrae: 26. This species is distinguished by the following characters: a rigid upper jaw lacking a flexible lamina posteriorly, extending about 0.7 eye diameter behind posterior margin of orbit; D XI-XII,10; A II,10; vertebrae 10+16; body with about 47-50 scale rows in horizontal series; gill rakers 11-13 + 21-23 = 34; the dorsal fin with 4 dark blotches on proximal half to two-thirds of fin that are superimposed on a light brown stripe extending entire length of fin, the first blotch between bases of dorsal-fin spines 2-3 or 4-5 is small and faint in contrast to the other three which are much larger, darker and oval; when alive, anterior half of caudal fin with broad white band and posterior half yellow (Ref. 128653).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
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)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = No PD50 data [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
