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

Summary:

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.


Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray, Opistognathus reticeps in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3881

Reticulated Jawfish, Opistognathus reticeps Smith-Vaniz 2004

More Info


Distribution

Recorded in northern Australia from Broome, Western Australia, to North Oxley Island, Northern Territory. All jawfishes inhabit burrows. 

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.

Biology

The sexes are separate and fertilization is external. Females produce demersal eggs that the male parent broods in his mouth.

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.

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. 

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 

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37388018

Behaviour:Males incubate eggs in mouth

Depth:0.5-29 m

Habitat:Soft bottoms - in burrows

Max Size:11.7 cm SL

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CAAB distribution map