Scientific Name
Opistognathus leprocarus

Common Name
Roughcheek jawfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12; Vertebrae: 26. Anterior nostril a short tube without cirrus on posterior rim; posterior end of maxilla rigid, without thin flexible lamina; opercle with prominent wedge-shaped dark blotch; buccal cavity and inner lining of maxilla and adjacent membranes immaculate; dorsal fin spines slender, straight, with rigid sharp tip; nape completely scaled; cheeks with 4 or 5 rows of scales; segmented anal fin rays 11 or 12; caudal vertebrae 16; pelvic fins elongate in adults 39-49% SL with tip of depressed fin extending posteriorly well past anal fin origin (Ref. 26893).

Classification

Classified By

Smith-Vaniz, 1997

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Jawfishes (Opistognathidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Central Atlantic

Distribution

Western Central Atlantic: known only from the Bahamas and the Lesser Antilles, including Anegada Passage, between Virgin Islands and Anguilla (ANSP 138563).

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

165 m

Depth To - meters

308 m

Zone

bathydemersal

Environment

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 165 - 308 m (Ref. 26893)

Trophic Level

3.43 s.e. 0.53 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

8.1 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (10 of 100)

Resilience

Unknown

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated