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); longinaris: The specific name is derived from a combination of the Latin longus (long) and naris (nostril) in reference to the length of the nasal tentacle.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 65 - ? m (Ref. 85161). Tropical
Western Indian Ocean: known only from off kwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 4.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 85161)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 19; Vertebrae: 34. This species is characterized by the following set of characters: maxilla rigid without flexible lamina posteriorly; D X,20; tentacle on anterior nostril at least 4 times maximum diameter of posterior nostril; oral membrane between dentaries and ‘tongue’ dark brown (Ref. 85161).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Smith-Vaniz, W.F., 2010. New species of Indo-Pacific jawfishes (Opistognathus: Opistognathidae) from the Western Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Smithiana Bull. 12:39-54. (Ref. 85161)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources