| Family: |
Opistognathidae (Jawfishes) |
| Max. size: |
5.35 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 10 - 65 m |
| Distribution: |
Southwest Atlantic: Brazil. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 14-15; Vertebrae: 28-28. 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) (Ref. 129348). |
| Biology: |
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) (Ref. 128653). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.