Opistognathus latitabundus (Whitley, 1937)
Blotched jawfish
Opistognathus latitabundus
photo by CSIRO

Family:  Opistognathidae (Jawfishes)
Max. size:  30 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 15 - 60 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Papua New Guinea (Ref. 6192) and northwestern Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-18; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 14-15. Description: Characterized by rosy-brown color above and cream below with six large black to deep red blotches along upper side; grey dorsal fin with five large black basal blotches; yellowish pelvic and pectoral fins; oblique scale rows 63-80; length of upper jaw 61-73% of head length, extending about 0.6-1.6 eye diameter behind rear margin of orbit; depth of body 3.6-4.9 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Found in coastal waters, usually on rubble or soft bottoms.
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.