Opistognathidae, the jawfishes, are a family of fishes which have been classified within the order Perciformes, suborder Percoidei but many authorities now classify this family within the cladeOvalentaria and consider that its affinities within that clade are uncertain, i.e. it is incertae sedis.[1] The family includes about 80 species. They are native to warmer parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, where found from the shallows to depths of a few hundred meters. The species level taxonomy is complex and the family includes several undescribed species.
Physically similar to blennies, most jawfish species are small fish (up to 10 cm or 3.9 in) with an elongated body plan. A few species, for example the aptly named giant jawfish (O. rhomaleus), reaches about 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in). Their heads, mouths, and eyes are large in size relative to the rest of their bodies. Jawfishes possess a single, long dorsal fin with 9–12 spines and a caudal fin that can be either rounded or pointed.
Jawfishes typically reside in burrows they construct in sandy substrate. They will stuff their mouths with sand and spit it out elsewhere, slowly creating a tunnel. Using the protection of these burrows, these fish will hover, feeding on plankton or other small organisms, ready to dart back in at the first sign of danger. They are territorial of the area around their burrows.
With the exception of the blue-spotted jawfish O. rosenblatti,[2] Jawfishes are mouthbrooders, meaning their eggs hatch in their mouths, where the newborn fry are protected from predators.
The gestation period varies between species. Gold-specs jawfish (Opistognathus randalli) typically keep their clutch of eggs for 8–10 days before hatching.
Timelineedit
Generaedit
The following four genera are classified under the family:[3]
^J. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Wiley. p. 752. ISBN978-1-118-34233-6.
^Contreras, M., Anguas, B., Gonzalez, P. G., & Martinez, R. E. (2012). Comportamiento reproductivo del pez opistognathus rosenblatti en cautiverio. Revista de Biología Tropical, 60(3), 1303-1315.
^Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2018). "Opistognathidae" in FishBase. November 2018 version.
April 10, 2024
opistognathidae, jawfishes, family, fishes, which, have, been, classified, within, order, perciformes, suborder, percoidei, many, authorities, classify, this, family, within, clade, ovalentaria, consider, that, affinities, within, that, clade, uncertain, incer. Opistognathidae the jawfishes are a family of fishes which have been classified within the order Perciformes suborder Percoidei but many authorities now classify this family within the clade Ovalentaria and consider that its affinities within that clade are uncertain i e it is incertae sedis 1 The family includes about 80 species They are native to warmer parts of the Atlantic Pacific and Indian Oceans where found from the shallows to depths of a few hundred meters The species level taxonomy is complex and the family includes several undescribed species OpistognathidaeYellow headed jawfish Opistognathus aurifronsScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass Actinopterygii unranked OvalentariaFamily OpistognathidaeBonaparte 1835Physically similar to blennies most jawfish species are small fish up to 10 cm or 3 9 in with an elongated body plan A few species for example the aptly named giant jawfish O rhomaleus reaches about 0 5 m 1 ft 8 in Their heads mouths and eyes are large in size relative to the rest of their bodies Jawfishes possess a single long dorsal fin with 9 12 spines and a caudal fin that can be either rounded or pointed Jawfishes typically reside in burrows they construct in sandy substrate They will stuff their mouths with sand and spit it out elsewhere slowly creating a tunnel Using the protection of these burrows these fish will hover feeding on plankton or other small organisms ready to dart back in at the first sign of danger They are territorial of the area around their burrows With the exception of the blue spotted jawfish O rosenblatti 2 Jawfishes are mouthbrooders meaning their eggs hatch in their mouths where the newborn fry are protected from predators The gestation period varies between species Gold specs jawfish Opistognathus randalli typically keep their clutch of eggs for 8 10 days before hatching Timeline editGenera editThe following four genera are classified under the family 3 Anoptoplacus Smith Vaniz 2017 Lonchopisthus T N Gill 1862 Opistognathus Cuvier 1816 Stalix D S Jordan amp Snyder 1902References edit J S Nelson T C Grande M V H Wilson 2016 Fishes of the World 5th ed Wiley p 752 ISBN 978 1 118 34233 6 Contreras M Anguas B Gonzalez P G amp Martinez R E 2012 Comportamiento reproductivo del pez opistognathus rosenblatti en cautiverio Revista de Biologia Tropical 60 3 1303 1315 Froese Rainer and Daniel Pauly eds 2018 Opistognathidae in FishBase November 2018 version Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Opistognathidae amp oldid 1196297045, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
