Opistognathus lonchurus
Moustache Jawfish
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Opistognathidae (Jawfishes)
Opistognathus
Opistognathus lonchurus (Moustache Jawfish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Outermost pelvic fin ray largely free of remainder of fin and dusky markings on snout and upper jaw. Anterior naris is at end of short tube and lacks cirrus. Maxilla extends more than one eye diameter behind posterior margin of orbit. Outer jaw teeth are moderately large, conical, recurved, and arranged in a single row. Inner jaw teeth are filiform and arranged in bands that narrow posteriorly. Vomer has two to eight pointed and recurved teeth, and number increases with size. Gill rakers on lower limb of first arch number 34 to 45, with number increasing with growth. Measurements are expressed as percent of SL: head length 30%–31%, snout length 4%–5%, eye diameter about 8%, upper jaw length 21%–23%, pectoral fin length 14%–15%, body depth 20%–22%. Pectoral fin has 18 to 20 rays. Dorsal fin has 11 spines and 12 or 13 rays. Anal fin has 3 (rarely 2) spines and 12 or 13 rays. Caudal fin is rounded to slightly pointed. Body is covered with cycloid scales. Scales in lateral series number 67 to 86. Anterior section of lateral line is very near dorsal fin base. Vertebrae number 26: 10 precaudal and 16 caudal.
Color is pale olive gray, with dusky pigment on snout and upper jaw forming moustachelike marking. Dorsal fin has yellow stripe that is occasionally divided distally. Inside of upper jaw is pale.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from South Carolina to Guyana, including the northeastern and northwestern Gulf of Mexico and the Greater Antilles.
Habitat Associations
To a depth of 91 m. Associated with silty sand mixed with rubble.
Silty sand mixed with rubble.
Biology
Maximum known size is 122 mm SL.
Occur in rubble-sand bottoms near coral reefs and rocky areas. and it has been observed in burrows or resting on the bottom (Ref. 129348).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2012-08-23.
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial.
References
Jordan and Evermann 1898
Longley and Hildebrand 1941
Böhlke and Thomas 1961
Böhlke 1967
Robins and Ray 1986
Dennis and Bright 1988a
Boschung 1992
Smith-Vaniz 2002b
Smith-Vaniz, W.F,, L. Tornabene and R.M. Macieira (2018) Review of Brazilian jawfishes of the genus Opistognathus with descriptions of two new species (Teleostei, Opistognathidae). ZooKeys No. 794: 95-133.
Comments On Opistognathus lonchurus