Birdled jawfish (Opistognathus nigromarginatus)

Scientific name: Opistognathus nigromarginatus R?ppell, 1830

Birdled jawfish (Opistognathus nigromarginatus)

The Birdled jawfish (Opistognathus nigromarginatus) is a marine fish of the family Opistognathidae. Native range: Indo-Pacific, Red Sea and eastern Africa to the South China Sea.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 14 - 15. This species is distinguished by the following characters: elongate supramaxilla and posterior end of maxilla produced as a thin flexible lamina, in adults it usually extends almost to or beyond rear margin of opercle; dorsal fin with an ocellated spot between third or fourth and eighth spines; inner lining of upper jaw and adjacent membranes with a single conspicuous black stripe that touches ventral margin of maxilla for most of its length; D Xl,14 or 15 (exceptionally 15); body with about 68-95 oblique scale rows; total gill rakers 36-45, usually 39-45.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Opistognathus nigromarginatus
Family
Opistognathidae (Jawfishes)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
18.6
Environment
Marine; demersal
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and eastern Africa to the South China Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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