Ashmore jawfish
📖 Overview
Ashmore jawfish (Opistognathus asper), first described by Vaniz, 2023 is a small fish in the family Opistognathidae (order Perciformes). Adults typically reach 5.00 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. 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 Data Deficient.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 10; Vertebrae: 26. This species is distinguished by the following characters: rigid upper jaw lacking flexible lamina posteriorly and extending about 0.7 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; infraorbitals are relatively slender and tubular, third infraorbital with short posterolateral projecting arm ending with large sensory canal opening, no suborbital shelf; D XI,11-12; A II,10; vertebrae 10+16; total gill rakers 32-34; tips of the dorsal-fin spines with conspicuous pale tabs; dorsum with a row of 5 dark blotches that extend distinctly onto the dorsal fin; the last blotch on dorsal fin at least as wide as anterior blotches; scale rows on the body appear to form series of narrow dark stripes .Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Ashmore jawfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range ? - 95 m . Tropical Indian Ocean: Australia.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Ashmore jawfish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.