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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Tropical

Thiony's jawfish

Opistognathus thionyi Vaniz, Tornabene & Macieira, 2018
Max Length
5.4 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.3
Depth
10–65 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
-
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Found solitarily, always in small constructed burrows on sandy rubble bottoms. It feeds on small benthic organisms that live near the bottom (e.g., small shrimps) .

Scientific Name
Opistognathus thionyi
Authority
Vaniz, Tornabene & Macieira, 2018
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
5.4 cm
Depth Range
10–65 m
Trophic Level
3.3
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 14 - 15; Vertebrae: 28. This species is distinguished by the following set characters: anterior nostril is a short tube with simple cirrus on posterior rim; maxilla rigid, not produced as a thin flexible lamina posteriorly; no supramaxilla; subopercle with a broad, fan-like flap; vomer with one tooth; pale buccal area surrounding esophageal opening; body with 45-52 oblique body scale rows in longitudinal series; vertebrae 10 + 18; spinous dorsal fin with black blotch, when present, between spines 2-5. Colouration: body with five poorly defined irregular bands and sides sometimes with diagonal rows of pale spots smaller than eye diameter; when present, a black blotch in spinous dorsal fin between spines 2-5; buccal area surrounding esophageal opening pale. Also easily distinguished from its congeners by the divergence in the mitochondrial gene COI, as specimens form a monophyletic group that differs from its closest relative (O. maxillosus) by an average of 9% (654 bp analyzed) .Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Thiony's jawfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 10 - 65 m . Tropical Southwest Atlantic: Brazil.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
3.3±0.5
Food Items

small benthic organisms that live near the bottom (e

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00389 × L3.12 (TL)
Max TL
5.4cm
Dorsal Spines
11
Dorsal Rays
16
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
15
Vertebrae
28

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2024

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Fishing Vulnerability
10.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.3
Predator
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Vaniz, Tornabene & Macieira, 2018

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