Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Ovalentaria/misc (Various families in series Ovalentaria) >
Opistognathidae (Jawfishes)
Etymology: Opistognathus: Greek, opisthe = behind + Greek, gnathos = jaw (Ref. 45335); to the very elongate upper jaw of the type species of the genus, Opistognathus nigromarginatus (Ref. 128653); megalops: Name 'megalops' from the Greek words 'mega' and 'ops', meaning 'large' and 'eye', in reference to the large bulging eyes of the new species.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 103 - 107 m (Ref. 128653). Subtropical
Northwest Pacific: Japan.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 8.8 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 128653)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 11; Vertebrae: 26. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: elongate upper jaw extending to rear margin of preopercle (about 1.1 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit) and with large oval supramaxilla and flexible lamina posteriorly; infraorbitals moderately slender and tubular, 3rd infraorbital with posterolateral projecting arm ending with large sensory canal opening, suborbital shelf absent; D XI, 11; A II, 11; vertebrae 10+16; scale rows in horizontal series about 52 or 56; gill rakers 12+26; anal, caudal and pelvic fins mostly yellow and body with three purple stripes (Ref. 128653).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated; Cross section: compressed.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Smith-Vaniz, W.F., 2023. Review of Indo-West Pacific jawfishes (Opistognathus: Opistognathidae), with descriptions of 18 new species. Zootaxa 5252(1):1-180. (Ref. 128653)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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