Papuan Jawfish, Opistognathus papuensis Bleeker 1868


Other Names: Speckled Pug

A Papuan Jawfish, Opistognathus papuensis, from Melville Bay, Gove, Northern Territory, March 2018, depth 12 m. Source: Chris & Dow Green. License: All rights reserved

Summary:
A pale brown to tan coloured jawfish with dark spots, blotches and dashes on the head, body and fins, dark radiating spoke-like markings on the iris, and sometimes a large dark blotch below and above the pectoral fin.

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2018, Opistognathus papuensis in Fishes of Australia, accessed 08 Dec 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/3493

Papuan Jawfish, Opistognathus papuensis Bleeker 1868

More Info


Distribution

Dampier, Western Australia, to Magnetic Island, Queensland. Elsewhere the species occurs in Papua New Guinea. Constructs burrows in sandy areas near coastal reefs.

Species Citation

Opisthognathus papuensis Bleeker 1868, Verslagen en Mededeelingen der Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen (Afdeeling Natuurjunde). Amsterdam 2 2: 333. Type locality: Waigeo, Indonesia.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2018

Resources

Australian Faunal Directory

Papuan Jawfish, Opistognathus papuensis Bleeker 1868

References


Alleyne, H.G. & Macleay, W.J. 1877. The ichthyology of the Chevert Expedition. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 1(3–4): 261-281, 321-359, pls 3-9, 10-17 [pp. 261-281, pls 3-9 published Feb 1877; pp. 321-359, pls 10-17 published Mar 1877] (as Opisthognathus maculatus) See ref. at BHL

Bleeker, P. 1868. Description de trois espèces inédites de poissons des îles d'Amboine et de Waigiou. Verslagen en Mededeelingen der Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen (Afdeeling Natuurjunde). Amsterdam 2 2: 331-335 

Larson, H.K. & Williams, R.S. 1997. Darwin Harbour fishes: a survey and annotated checklist. pp. 339-380 in Hanley, H.R., Caswell, G., Megirian, D. & Larson, H.K. (eds). The Marine Flora and Fauna of Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory, Australia. Proceedings of the Sixth International Marine Biology Workshop. Darwin : Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory 466 pp.

Larson, H.K., Williams, R.S. & Hammer, M.P. 2013. An annotated checklist of the fishes of the Northern Territory, Australia. Zootaxa 3696(1): 1-293

Marshall, T.C. 1964. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coastal Waters of Queensland. Sydney : Angus & Robertson 566 pp. 136 pls. 

Ramsay, E.P. 1883. Description of some new Australian fishes. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 1 8(1): 177-179 (as Batrachus punctatulus) See ref. at BHL

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 507 pp. figs. 

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 557 pp. figs.

Smith-Vaniz 1999. Family Opistognathidae. pp. 2588-2589 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 4 pp. 2069-2790.

Smith-Vaniz, W.F. 2004. Descriptions of Six New Species of Jawfishes (Opistognathidae: Opistognathus) from Australia. Records of the Australian Museum 56: 209-224 DOI:10.3853/j.0067-1975.56.2004.1422 PDF available, open access

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37388006

Behaviour:Constructs burrows

Depth:10-30 m

Habitat:Reef associated, sandy areas

Max Size:40 cm TL

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Species Maps

CAAB distribution map