| Family: |
Opistognathidae (Jawfishes) |
| Max. size: |
14 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 12 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: southern Florida, USA and Bahamas to northern South America. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 13-14. The dark spot (deep greenish blue in life) of the dorsal fin usually found between the 2nd and 4th or 5th dorsal spines; body densely mottled with dark brown and flecked with blackish; caudal fin and posterior part of dorsal fin are yellow with rows of small blackish spots (Ref. 13442). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits rock and sand bottoms or the eroding edges of weed beds. Egg mass incubated in mouth of males (Ref. 5521). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 23 August 2012 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
