Darkfin jawfish (Opistognathus brasiliensis)

Scientific name: Opistognathus brasiliensis Smith-Vaniz, 1997

The Darkfin jawfish (Opistognathus brasiliensis) is a marine fish of the family Opistognathidae. Native range: Southwest Atlantic, known only from southern Brazil.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 15 - 16; Vertebrae: 28. Anterior nostril a short tube with simple cirrus on posterior rim; posterior end of maxilla of adult males produced as a thin flexible lamina that usually extends beyond posterior margin of opercle; spinous dorsal fin with black spot encircled by a very narrow white ring; dorsal fin with 5 or 6 dusky bands that extend onto dorsum; adult males with inner lining of maxilla and adjacent membranes with 2 dark stripes, one stripe in females; pectoral fin uniformly pigmented, no black speckles proximally; buccal pigmentation consisting of a dark area widely surrounding esophageal opening except for a pale area posteriorly that continues between upper pharyngeal tooth patches; caudal vertebrae 8.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Opistognathus brasiliensis
Family
Opistognathidae (Jawfishes)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
12.9
Depth range
50–69 m (164–226 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range 50 - 69 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Southwest Atlantic: known only from southern Brazil.
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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