Banded jawfish (Opistognathus macrognathus)

Scientific name: Opistognathus macrognathus Poey, 1860

The Banded jawfish (Opistognathus macrognathus) is a marine fish of the family Opistognathidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, southern Florida, USA and Bahamas to northern South America. Including Antilles but absent in Jamaica.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-17; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 14 - 16. Black spot on upper half of dorsal fin from sixth or seventh to ninth spines. Males have long, upcurved extension of maxillary bone marked with black bands. Females appear to lack the long double-banded maxilla, and there is only a single blackish band at the corner of the mouth.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Opistognathus macrognathus
Family: Opistognathidae (Jawfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 20.0
Depth range: 0–44 m (0–144 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 44 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Western Atlantic: southern Florida, USA and Bahamas to northern South America. Including Antilles but absent in Jamaica.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Aquarium: commercial