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); elizabethensis: Named for its type locality, Elizabeth Reef (Australia).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 18 m (Ref. 76827). Subtropical
Southwest Pacific: Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 76827)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18 - 19; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 17 - 19; Vertebrae: 33. This species possess the following characters: with a rigid upper jaw lacking flexible lamina posteriorly, extending about 0.6-0.9 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; infraorbitals are moderately wide, the third infraorbital largest with large sensory canal openings, no suborbital shelf; D XI,18-19; A II,17-19; vertebrae 10 + 23; scale rows in horizontal series about 47-51; no scales anterolaterally forward of verticals from 6th or 7th dorsal-fin spine; vomerine teeth 2 or 3. Colouration: an oblong black spot (partially encircled by white border) between spines 3-6 of dorsal fin, and this extends slightly onto dorsum; when alive, yellowish-brown with pale blue markings in dorsal fin; when preserved, head and body uniformly tan, except largest specimen with pair of pale basicaudal spots (Ref. 76827, 128653).
Benthic species which occurs inshore; inhabits coral reef (Ref. 75154).
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 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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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): 3.4 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
