Roughcheek jawfish (Opistognathus leprocarus)

Scientific name: Opistognathus leprocarus Smith-Vaniz, 1997

Roughcheek jawfish (Opistognathus leprocarus)

The Roughcheek jawfish (Opistognathus leprocarus) is a marine fish of the family Opistognathidae. Native range: Western Central Atlantic, known only from the Bahamas and the Lesser Antilles, including Anegada Passage, between Virgin Islands and Anguilla (ANSP 138563).

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12; Vertebrae: 26. Anterior nostril a short tube without cirrus on posterior rim; posterior end of maxilla rigid, without thin flexible lamina; opercle with prominent wedge-shaped dark blotch; buccal cavity and inner lining of maxilla and adjacent membranes immaculate; dorsal fin spines slender, straight, with rigid sharp tip; nape completely scaled; cheeks with 4 or 5 rows of scales; segmented anal fin rays 11 or 12; caudal vertebrae 16; pelvic fins elongate in adults 39-49% SL with tip of depressed fin extending posteriorly well past anal fin origin.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Opistognathus leprocarus
Family
Opistognathidae (Jawfishes)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
8.1
Depth range
165–308 m (541–1010 ft)
Environment
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 165 - 308 m
Climate
Deep-water
Distribution
Western Central Atlantic: known only from the Bahamas and the Lesser Antilles, including Anegada Passage, between Virgin Islands and Anguilla (ANSP 138563).
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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