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); dipharus: The specific name is derived from the Greek 'di' (two, double) and 'pharos' (beacon), in reference to the pair of conspicuous pale basicaudal spots against a dark background that characterize this species.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 3 - 23 m (Ref. 128653). Tropical
Western Indian Ocean: southern Red Sea.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 4.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 85161)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 16; Vertebrae: 29. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: with a rigid upper jaw lacking flexible lamina posteriorly, extending 0.9 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; infraorbitals are moderately robust with large sensory canal openings, the third infraorbital with moderate suborbital shelf; D XI,15; A III,16; vertebrae 10+19; scale rows in horizontal series about 63-64; lateral-line terminus is below segmented dorsal-fin rays 6 or 7. Colouration: caudal fin with a pair of conspicuous oblong, pale, basicaudal spots against dark background; inner lining of upper jaw and adjacent membranes with posterior black blotch that is externally visible; head and body various shades of brown, with darker mid-lateral stripe with irregular margins (Ref. 128653).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | 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: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00389 (0.00180 - 0.00842), b=3.12 (2.94 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
