Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Opistognathidae (Jawfishes)
Etymology: Opistognathus: Greek, opisthe = behind + Greek, gnathos = jaw (Ref. 45335); castelnaui: Named for the French diplomat and ichthyologist Francis-Louis de Castelnau (1812-1880).. More on author: Bleeker.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 20 - 100 m (Ref. 559). Tropical, preferred ?
Indo-West Pacific: widespread including the Ryukyu Islands, South China Sea and Indonesia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 25.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 559)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 11;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 14;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 14. This species is distinguished by the following characters: elongated supramaxilla and posterior end of maxilla produced as a thin flexible lamina; upper jaw's inner lining and adjacent membranes with one or two conspicuous black stripes; dorsal half of dorsal fin usually dark except for narrow pale margin, remainder of fin pale and often with 8 or 9 evenly spaced dark blotches that extend onto basal fourth to third of fin and slightly onto dorsum; D XI,14; body with about 90-11 0 oblique scale rows; total gill rakers 28-35 (Ref. 81517).
Inhabits open sand and rubble substrates in about 20-25 meters (Ref. 48637). May be found in depths greater than 100 m (Ref. 559). Mouthbrooders (Ref. 240).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Employ mouthbrooding to care for their young (Ref. 240).
Kailola, P.J., 1987. The fishes of Papua New Guinea: a revised and annotated checklist. Vol. II Scorpaenidae to Callionymidae. Research Bulletin No. 41, Research Section, Dept. of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Papua New Guinea. (Ref. 6192)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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