| Opistognathidae (Jawfishes) |
| 12.2 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
|
reef-associated; marine; depth range 10 - 91 m |
| Western Atlantic: South Carolina, Gulf of Mexico, Greater Antilles and northern South America to Brazil. |
|
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-13; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 12-12. This species is distinguished by he following set of characters: anterior nostril is a short tube without a cirrus on posterior rim; posterior end of maxilla is rigid, not produced as a thin flexible lamina; with supramaxilla; subopercle without a broad, fan-like flap; most of nape without sensory pores; D XI,12-13, with spines thin and flexible, usually curved distally, the tips without pale, slightly swollen tabs, and anterior 5-8 soft rays unbranched; dorsal fin sexually dimorphic, fin rays distinctly higher in large males; A III, 12, with 7-10 anterior rays unbranched; outermost segmented pelvic-fin ray tightly bound to adjacent ray and interradial membrane not incised distally; body with 63-87 oblique scales in longitudinal series; vertebrae 10+16; supraneurals 1; gill rakers 13-17 + 22-28 = 35-45; dentary without large canines. Colouration: head and body brown to
greenish-tan; the upper lip blue; body with two narrow blue stripes on side; distal margins of dorsal and anal fins are with narrow blue stripe; outer margin of caudal fin and outer ray of pelvic fin blue (Ref. 129348). |
| Occur in rubble-sand bottoms near coral reefs and rocky areas. and it has been observed in burrows or resting on the bottom (Ref. 129348). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 23 August 2012 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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