Hook jawfish

📖 Overview

Hook jawfish (Lonchopisthus ancistrus) is a ray-finned fish of the family Opistognathidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in pelagic, deep-water environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 8.9 cm. It occurs at depths between 110 and 220 metres. With a trophic level of 3.5, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms. It is assessed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12; Vertebrae: 26 - 27. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: posterior end of maxilla is strongly hooked; membranes connecting maxilla and premaxilla and covering inner posterior part of dentary pale; D X-XI,12-13; A III,11-12; branched caudal-fin rays 11-13 (exceptionally 5); cheek and opercle are naked; oblique body-scale rows in longitudinal series 33-39; has a very long pelvic fins, 39.4-75.3% SL; with L. lemur, differs from congeners in lacking an inner premaxillary dark stripe and having fewer numbers of segmented dorsal and anal-fin rays and associated unbranched rays .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Hook jawfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Hook jawfish is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Hook jawfish is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 110 - 220 m . Deep-water Central Atlantic: only from the Gulf of Mexico and off Honduras.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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