Darwin jawfish

📖 Overview

Darwin jawfish (Opistognathus darwiniensis), first described by Macleay, 1878 is a large fish in the family Opistognathidae (order Perciformes). Adults typically reach 50.00 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 1 to 4 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 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17 - 18; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 14 - 15; Vertebrae: 30 - 32. This species is distinguished by the following characters: with a rigid upper jaw lacking flexible lamina posteriorly, in adults extending about 0.7-1.2 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; infraorbitals are relatively slender and tubular, the third infraorbital with small sensory canal opening and slender suborbital shelf; D X-XI,17-18, rarely X,18; vertebrae typically 12 + 18 or 19; body with two separate lateral lines, with the ventral one irregularly developed along lower side in region of anal-fin origin, often with one or more branches on belly; head covered with close-set, tiny, brown spots; pelvic and caudal fins usually strongly barred; anterior naris palmate .Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Darwin jawfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

Employ mouthbrooding to care for their young .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 4 m . Tropical West Pacific: northern Australia.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .

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