Watchful Jawfish, Opistognathus vigilax Smith-Vaniz 2023
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2023, Opistognathus vigilax in Fishes of Australia, accessed 05 Dec 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/5709
Watchful Jawfish, Opistognathus vigilax Smith-Vaniz 2023
More Info
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Distribution |
North of Princess Charlotte Bay, Queensland, depth 47 m. Elsewhere the species occurs in the east Indo-west Pacific: Brunei, Philippines, Indonesia (Java, Bali and Raja Ampats), Timor–Leste. Inhabits burrows in relatively coarse calcium carbonate sand adjacent to reefs. |
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Etymology |
The specific name is from the Latin vigilax (= watchful), alluding to the day-time behavior of species of Opistognathus, and presumably O. vigilax, in maintaining an almost continuous lookout for potential food organisms passing in close vicinity of their burrows. |
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Species Citation |
Opistognathus vigilax Smith-Vaniz 2023, Zootaxa 5252(1): 99, figs 12C-D, 18j, 160-166. Type locality: Brunei, northeast Ampa, 4°58.412’N, 114°23.706’E, depth 30 m. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2023 |
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Resources |
Watchful Jawfish, Opistognathus vigilax Smith-Vaniz 2023
References
Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp. (as Opistognathus species 5, unnumbered colour photo from Brunei).
Smith-Vaniz, W.F. 2023. Review of Indo-West Pacific jawfishes (Opistognathus: Opistognathidae), with descriptions of 18 new species. Zootaxa 5252(1): 1-180. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5252.1.1
Quick Facts
CAAB Code:37388020
Biology:Mouth brooder (males)
Depth:16-70+ m
Habitat:Reef associated, in burrows
Species Maps
CAAB distribution map