| Yellowhead jawfish | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Blenniiformes |
| Family: | Opistognathidae |
| Genus: | Opistognathus |
| Species: | O. aurifrons
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| Binomial name | |
| Opistognathus aurifrons (D. S. Jordan & J. C. Thompson, 1905)
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| Synonyms | |
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The yellowhead jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons) is a species of jawfish native to coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea. They can be found at depths of from 3 to 40 metres (9.8 to 131.2 ft). The head and upper body are a light, but brilliant, yellow color slowly fading to a pearlescent blue hue. They can reach a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) TL.[2] Yellowhead jawfishes are common in Florida. The Jawfishes live in rubble areas and sand in groups of up to 70 individuals.[3]
Yellowhead jawfishes are usually found in shallows where materials are available for burrow construction. They remain near their relatively small territories, and are typically seen with only the head and upper section of their bodies protruding from their burrows, although they sometimes can be found hovering nearby. They are able to arrange material using their mouths, carrying sand, shells, or small rocks from one location to another.
O. aurifrons are mouthbrooders, with the male carrying the eggs in his mouth until they hatch.
Yellowhead jawfish have two different types of responses to intruders, flight or fight. The type of response depends on the type of incoming fish. During flight, the fish will swim away from the intruder and in go into their burrow, covering the opening with a large rock. During fight, the fish will spit sand or rocks at the intruder. [4]
In captivity
In the aquarium they feed on planktonic matter, commonly taking brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and prepared frozen and pelleted fish food. When other fish come near their territories, they will open their jaws wide and try to warn them off, but they rarely attack. They are one of the most docile jawfish towards fish of their kind, and can be kept in small groups of 1 individual per 10 gallons.
References
- ^ Smith-Vaniz, W.F.; Williams, J.T.; Curtis, M.; Pina Amargos, F.; Brown, J. (2015). "Opistognathus aurifrons". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015 e.T190079A16510687. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T190079A16510687.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Opistognathus aurifrons". FishBase. February 2014 version.
- ^ Robinson, Mary (2017-08-21). "Marine Fishes of FloridaRR 2017/170 Marine Fishes of Florida David B. Snyder and George H. Burgess Johns Hopkins University Press Baltimore, MD 2016 ix + 373 pp. ISBN 978 1 4214 1872 8 (print); ISBN 978 1 4214 1873 5 (e-book) £26 $39.95". Reference Reviews. 31 (6): 30–31. doi:10.1108/rr-04-2017-0087. ISSN 0950-4125.
- ^ Colin, P. (1971). Interspecific relationships of yellowhead jawfish, opistognathus-aurifrons(pisces, opistognathidae). Copeia., 3, 469.
External links
- Photos of Yellowhead jawfish in the Sealife Collection
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