Dusky jawfish (Opistognathus whitehursti)

Image source: Jo's Animal Database
General data
- Main name: Dusky jawfish
- Climates: Tropical, Subtropical
- Habitat: Saltwater
- Native: North America, South America
- Distribution: Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea
Classification
- Genus: Opistognathus - Opistognathus
- Family: Opistognathidae - Jawfishes
- Order: Perciformes - Perches
- Class: Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes
- Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes
Description
The dusky jawfish (Opistognathus whitehursti) is a species of jawfish native to the western Atlantic Ocean including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea where it is an inhabitant of reefs at depths of from 1 to 12 metres (3.3 to 39.4 ft). It can reach a length of 14 centimetres (5.5 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade. Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 13 - 14. The dark spot (deep greenish blue in life) of the dorsal fin usually found between the 2nd and 4th or 5th dorsal spines; body densely mottled with dark brown and flecked with blackish; caudal fin and posterior part of dorsal fin are yellow with rows of small blackish spots.