Cargados jawfish (Opistognathus simus)

Scientific name: Opistognathus simus Smith-Vaniz, 2010

Cargados jawfish (Opistognathus simus)

The Cargados jawfish (Opistognathus simus) is a marine fish of the family Opistognathidae. Native range: Western Indian Ocean, known only from Cargados Carajos [= St. Brandon Shoals].

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 15 - 16; Vertebrae: 29. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: rigid maxilla without flexible lamina posteriorly; D XI,15; body with about 53-62 oblique scale rows in longitudinal series; no scales anterolaterally forward of verticals from 5th or 6th segmented dorsal-fin rays; no pale basicaudal spots on caudal fin; no vomerine teeth.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Opistognathus simus
Family
Opistognathidae (Jawfishes)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
5.5
Depth range
1 m (3 ft)
Environment
Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 1 - ? m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: known only from Cargados Carajos [= St. Brandon Shoals].
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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