Obscure jawfish (Opistognathus adelus)

Scientific name: Opistognathus adelus Smith-Vaniz, 2010

The Obscure jawfish (Opistognathus adelus) is a marine fish of the family Opistognathidae. Native range: Western Indian Ocean, South Africa and northwest Madagascar.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 13 - 14; Vertebrae: 27 - 28. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: upper jaw is broadly rounded with a large oval-shaped supramaxilla, and maxilla with a flexible lamina posteriorly; D XI,13-14; dark blotch on posterior angle of jaws, including inner lining of maxilla and adjacent membranes; no ocellus or large dark blotches on dorsal fin; no vomerine teeth.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Opistognathus adelus
Family
Opistognathidae (Jawfishes)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
4.9
Depth range
5–65 m (16–213 ft)
Environment
Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 5 - 65 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: South Africa and northwest Madagascar.
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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