Watchful Jawfish, Opistognathus vigilax Smith-Vaniz 2023



Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2023, Opistognathus vigilax in Fishes of Australia, accessed 28 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/5709

Watchful Jawfish, Opistognathus vigilax Smith-Vaniz 2023

More Info


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.

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. 

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.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2023

Resources

Atlas of Living Australia

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