| Family: |
Opistognathidae (Jawfishes) |
| Max. size: |
13 cm TL (male/unsexed); 11.6 cm SL (female) |
| Environment: |
pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 12 - 30 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Indian Ocean: Thailand (Andman Sea) and Indonesia (Sumatra). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 15-15; Vertebrae: 29-29. This species is distinguished by the following characters: moderately elongate supramaxilla and mostly rigid maxilla with only a slight flexible lamina posteriorly extending about 0.9-1.2 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; D XI,15-16; A III,15; vertebrae 10+19; gill rakers 11-12+21-23; infraorbitals are moderately robust, the second and third with large sensory canal openings, third infraorbital with large suborbital shelf; lateral-line ends below verticals between sixth to eighth segmented dorsal-fin rays; caudal vertebrae 19. Colouration: upper jaw's inner lining and adjacent membranes with a black blotch; when alive, the opercle, cheeks and upper jaw with prominent blue spots or blotches; no dark blotches on body and dorsal fin (Ref. 81517, 128653). |
| Biology: |
Found in sand/rubble bottoms among reefs in 12-30 m (Ref 90102). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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