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).
More on author: Poey.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory (Ref. 52884); depth range 1 - 8 m (Ref. 89891). Tropical; 29°N - 10°N, 98°W - 59°W
Western Atlantic: southern Florida, USA and Bahamas to Central America, West Indies and Caribbean Islands.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 13.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7251)
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 15. Black spot in the dorsal fin is in the lower half of the fin and is usually located between the 6th and 9th spines; there is some brown pigment at the corner of the mouth but no black and white bands inside the maxilla (Ref. 13442).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Adults inhabit an elaborate burrow, often fairly deep (12 inches), and with a terminal chamber; the vertical shaft lined with coral and shell fragments. Males are oral brooders (Ref. 5521). Monogamous and always in home-ranging pairs, that is they do not defend an exclusive territory (Ref. 52884).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Males incubate the eggs in the mouth (Ref. 33037, 39363).
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray, 1986. A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p. (Ref. 7251)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2 (Global))
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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