Tail beacon jawfish

📖 Overview

Tail beacon jawfish (Opistognathus dipharus), first described by Vaniz, 2010 is a tiny fish in the family Opistognathidae (order Perciformes). Adults typically reach 4.70 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 3 to 23 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 Data Deficient.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 16; Vertebrae: 29. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: with a rigid upper jaw lacking flexible lamina posteriorly, extending 0.9 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; infraorbitals are moderately robust with large sensory canal openings, the third infraorbital with moderate suborbital shelf; D XI,15; A III,16; vertebrae 10+19; scale rows in horizontal series about 63-64; lateral-line terminus is below segmented dorsal-fin rays 6 or 7. Colouration: caudal fin with a pair of conspicuous oblong, pale, basicaudal spots against dark background; inner lining of upper jaw and adjacent membranes with posterior black blotch that is externally visible; head and body various shades of brown, with darker mid-lateral stripe with irregular margins .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Tail beacon jawfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 3 - 23 m . Tropical Indian Ocean: southern Red Sea.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute