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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); robinsi: Named after Dr. C. Richard Robins in recognition of his many and varied contributions to ichthyology (Ref. 26893).
Eponymy: Dr Charles Richard ‘Dick’ Robins (1928–2020) was an American systematic ichthyologist whom one etymology honoured as an ‘eelologist’; as well as a colleague, advisor and friend, for his contributions to the knowledge of fishes (including [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 46 m (Ref. 26893), usually ? - 20 m (Ref. 26893). Tropical
Western Central Atlantic: USA and the Bahamas.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 13.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26893); 11.0 cm SL (female)
Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 18; Anal spines: 2 - 3; Anal soft rays: 16 - 18; Vertebrae: 29 - 31. Anterior nostril a short tube with simple cirrus on posterior rim; posterior end of maxilla of adult males produced as a thin flexible lamina that usually extends beyond posterior margin of opercle; spinous dorsal fin with black spot encircled by broad white ring; adult males with inner lining of maxilla and adjacent membranes with prominent black stripe (stripe usually absent or light brown and poorly developed in females; buccal pigmentation consisting of a large dark area widely surrounding esophageal opening, including medial area between upper pharyngeal tooth patches; caudal vertebrae typically 20 (Ref. 26893).
Continental species (Ref. 26893).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Smith-Vaniz, W.F., 1997. Five new species of jawfishes (Opistognathus: Opistognathidae) from the western Atlantic ocean. Bull. Mar. Sci. 60(3):1074-1128. (Ref. 26893)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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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): 3.5 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).