Variable jawfish (Opistognathus variabilis)

Scientific name: Opistognathus variabilis Smith-Vaniz, 2009

Variable jawfish (Opistognathus variabilis)

The Variable jawfish (Opistognathus variabilis) is a marine fish of the family Opistognathidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 14 - 16; Vertebrae: 28 - 30. This species is distinguished by the following characters: elongate supramaxilla and posterior end of maxilla produced as a thin flexible lamina, varying from moderate to well-developed; usually a single black stripe (well-developed in fish with elongate jaws but only slightly in those with relatively short jaws) at the inner lining of upper jaw and adjacent membranes; lateral-line ends below verticals between segmented dorsal-fin rays 3-6 (typically fourth or fifth); body with about 68-83 oblique scale rows; caudal vertebrae 19-20 (rarely 20), except only 18 in fish from northern Palawan. There are several color morphs that exist (geographic variations).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Opistognathus variabilis
Family
Opistognathidae (Jawfishes)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
9.6
Depth range
0–37 m (0–121 ft)
Environment
Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 37 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: from the eastern Indian Ocean (Maldive Islands and Sri Lanka) and throughout most of the central western Pacific, including the Ruykyu Islands and Palau.
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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