Opistognathus ensiferus: A new species of Jawfish from the Gulf of Mannar.

Jawfish, Opistognathidae, are small (generally less than 10 cm) Perciform Fish found in warm, shallow waters across the world. They resemble Blenies, with large heads and elongate bodies, and dwell in burrows in sandy or gravely sediments, emergi from these to feed on plankton and other small prey. The eggs and young of Jawfish are brooded in the mouths of the males, giving them protection against potential predators. Jawfish are popular in the aquarium trade.

In a paper published in the journal Zootaxa on 22 November 2016, William Smith-Vaniz of the Division of Ichthyology at the Florida Museum of Natural History describes a new species of Jawfish from the Gulf of Mannar (the body of water that separates India from Sri Lanka).

The new species is placed in the genus Opistognathus, and given the specific name ensiferus, meaning 'sword-bearing', in reference to the upper jaw, which is long and resembles a scimitar. It is described from a single male specimen collected from Manauli Reef off Musal Tivu Island (an island in the Gulf of Mannar belonging to Tamil Nadu State, India) in February 1964 by ichthyologist Loren Woods of the Field Museum of Natural History and stored on the collection of that body. The specimen is 61.5 mm in length and has lost its colour in preservative.

Opistognathus ensiferus, male, 61.5 mm SL, India, Gulf of Mannar, Manauli Reef. Jack Schroeder in Smith-Vaniz (2016).

 

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A new species of Jawfish from the coast of Kerala State, India.

Jawfish (Opistognathidae) are small members of the Perch Order that dwell on shallow tropical reefs. They are small elongate fish resembling Blennies. Jawfish dwell in burrows on sandy substrates, emerging to feed on plankton and other small prey, and defending the burrow by spitting sand at interloping fish. They are mouthbrooders, with the eggs and fry being kept safe in the mouth of their father.

In a paper published in the journal Zootaxa on 23 October 2012, William Smith-Vaniz of the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida and K.K. Bineesh and K. V. Akhilesh of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in Cochin describe a new species of Jawfish from a single specimen caught by a trawler of the Kerala coast.

The new species is placed in the widespread genus Opistognathus, and given the specific name pardus, meaning Leopard, due to a distinctive pattern of spots on its head. The only known specimen is a 10 cm male fish caught at a depth of between 110 and 220 m off the coast of Quilon in southern Kerala. It is pinkish with a distinctive pattern on its head and sulphur-yellow fins.

The only known specimen of Opistognathus pardus, the Leopard Jawfish. Smith-Vaniz et al. (2012).

See also Two new species of Cichlid Fish from Lake Victoria, Two new species of Sandperch from the South China Sea, Two new species of Asian Sea Bass from South Asia, New species of Deepwater Tilefish from the Philippines and Boney Fish on Sciency Thoughts YouTube.

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