Opistognathus albomaculatus Smith-Vaniz, 2023
Whitespotted jawfish

Family:  Opistognathidae (Jawfishes)
Max. size:  5.73 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 37 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Philippines, Indonesia, Solomon (Santa Cruz islands).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 19-21; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 18-20; Vertebrae: 29-29. This species is distinguished by the following characters: a rigid upper jaw lacking flexible lamina posteriorly, extending 0.4-0.6 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; infraorbitals are relatively robust, the third infraorbital with very large sensory canal openings and moderate suborbital shelf; D X,19-21; A II,18-20; vertebrae 10+19; body with about 35-38 scale rows in horizontal series, no scales anterolaterally forward of verticals from segmented dorsal-fin rays 5ā€“7; no vomerine teeth; body scale rows pigmented appearing to form a well-defined dark, horizontal rows that are separated by narrow pale interspaces; head and body are with large white blotches, and pale median fins with brown stripe on outer half of spinous dorsal fin and middle of soft dorsal and anal fins; pectoral-fin base with dark a crescent shaped like a reversed letter ā€œCā€ that extends from dorsal margin of opercle and curves downward opposite bases of pectoral rays to near ventral margin of fin; iris with dark bars radiating from pupil (Ref. 128653).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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