Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Opistognathidae (Jawfishes)
Etymology: Opistognathus: Greek, opisthe = behind + Greek, gnathos = jaw (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 40 m (Ref. 9710), usually 3 - 40 m (Ref. 27115). Tropical; 22°C - 28°C (Ref. 27115); - 23°S
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7251)
Short description
Morphology | Morphometrics
Western Central Atlantic: southern Florida, USA and Bahamas to Barbados and northern South America.
Inhabit burrows made of crushed coral or sand. Hovers vertically, above or near its hole. The male courts the female by swimming in an arched position with his fins spread towards her (Ref. 9710). Male broods the eggs orally (Ref. 5521). Has been reared in captivity (Ref. 35427).
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray, 1986. A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquarium: commercial
More information
Age/SizeGrowthLength-weightLength-lengthLength-frequenciesMorphometricsMorphologyLarvaeLarval dynamicsRecruitmentAbundance
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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00389 (-0.16711 - 0.17489), b=3.12 (3.03 - 3.21), based on all LWR estimates for this BS (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.2 se; Based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): .
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100) .