Reticulated Jawfish, Opistognathus reticeps Smith-Vaniz 2004
A Reticulated Jawfish, Opistognathus reticeps, from Darwin, Northern Territory. Source: Michael Hammer / Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
A pale greyish jawfish with four dark blotches on the dorsal fin that extend onto the body as indistinct bars, and a reticulated pattern of brownish lines on the top of the head; dorsal, anal, caudal and pectoral fins yellow.
Jawfishes inhabit burrows and the males incubate the developing eggs in their mouths.
Reticulated Jawfish, Opistognathus reticeps Smith-Vaniz 2004
More Info
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Distribution |
Recorded in northern Australia from Broome, Western Australia, to North Oxley Island, Northern Territory. All jawfishes inhabit burrows. |
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Features |
Meristic features: Dorsal fin XII, 15-16; Anal fin II, 13-14; Pectoral fin 22-23; Caudal fin procurrent rays 3–4+3–4, segmented rays 8+8, middle 12 branched, total elements 22–24; hypural 5 present; Vertebrae 12+19; last pleural rib on vertebra 12; epineural ribs 15. Supraneurals absent, insertion pattern 0/0/1/1+1/1/. Gill rakers 9–10+17–19 = 26–29. |
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Biology |
The sexes are separate and fertilization is external. Females produce demersal eggs that the male parent broods in his mouth. |
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Etymology |
The specific name reticeps is from the Latin rete meaning 'net', and ceps meaning 'head', in reference to the reticulated pattern on the top of the head that is a distinguishing feature of this species. |
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Species Citation |
Opistognathus reticeps Smith-Vaniz, 2004, Rec. Aust. Mus. 56: 220, figs 2D, 3F, 11. Type locality: East arm of Darwin Harbour, 12°29'S, 130°53'E, Northern Territory, Australia, depth 0-1 m. |
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Author |
Dianne J. Bray |
Reticulated Jawfish, Opistognathus reticeps Smith-Vaniz 2004
References
Smith-Vaniz, W.F. 2004. Descriptions of six new species of jawfishes (Opistognathidae: Opistognathus) from Australia. Records of the Australian Museum 56: 209-224. PDF
