Watchful jawfish

📖 Overview

Watchful jawfish (Opistognathus vigilax) is a ray-finned fish of the family Opistognathidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in benthic environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 4.5 cm. It occurs at depths between 16 and 70 metres. With a trophic level of 3.3, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 10 - 11; Vertebrae: 26. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: rigid upper jaw with no flexible lamina posteriorly, extending 0.5-0.9 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit in specimens 32.0-45.0 mm SL; infraorbitals relatively slender and tubular, all except lacrimal open laterally, 3rd infraorbital with short posterolateral projecting arm, no suborbital shelf; D X-XI, 11-12 (exceptionally 10); A II, 10-11; vertebrae 10+16; total gill rakers 26-30; shoulder above pectoral-fin base with dark spot approximately equal pupil diameter; small dark blotch on inner surface of pale mouth behind dark part of each dentary; dorsal fin with a prominent partial ocellus with inner dark spot beginning at spine 2 or 3 and ending between spines 3-5. .: elongated; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Watchful jawfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 16 - 70 m . Tropical Central Pacific: Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and Australia.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute