Whitespotted jawfish
📖 Overview
Whitespotted jawfish (Opistognathus albomaculatus), first described by Vaniz, 2023 is a small fish in the family Opistognathidae (order Perciformes). Adults typically reach 5.70 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 0 to 37 metres. It occurs in Tropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Least Concern.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 19 - 21; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 18 - 20; Vertebrae: 29. This species is distinguished by the following characters: a rigid upper jaw lacking flexible lamina posteriorly, extending 0.4-0.6 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; infraorbitals are relatively robust, the third infraorbital with very large sensory canal openings and moderate suborbital shelf; D X,19-21; A II,18-20; vertebrae 10+19; body with about 35-38 scale rows in horizontal series, no scales anterolaterally forward of verticals from segmented dorsal-fin rays 5–7; no vomerine teeth; body scale rows pigmented appearing to form a well-defined dark, horizontal rows that are separated by narrow pale interspaces; head and body are with large white blotches, and pale median fins with brown stripe on outer half of spinous dorsal fin and middle of soft dorsal and anal fins; pectoral-fin base with dark a crescent shaped like a reversed letter “C” that extends from dorsal margin of opercle and curves downward opposite bases of pectoral rays to near ventral margin of fin; iris with dark bars radiating from pupil .Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Whitespotted jawfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 37 m . Tropical
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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