Ryan Photographic - Opistognathidae - Jawfish or smilers

The Opistognathidae are a family of mostly burrow-building fishes found in the Gulf of Mexico and coral reef areas of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They build their own burrows by taking a mouth full of sand and then depositing it elsewhere. They are quick to take refuge in their burrows if approached too closely. Typically they wait with just their head protruding and make short forays to pick off passing zooplankton. They are all mouth breeders (as far as we know) with the male keeping the eggs in their mouth until they hatch. The giant jawfish in one of the photographs below has eyed eggs in his mouth.

Fishbase lists 79 species in 3 genera.

Opistognathus aurifrons Yellowheaded jawfish

Opistognathus punctatus Finespotted jawfish

Opistognathus randalli Yellowbarred jawfish

Opistognathus rosenblatti Blue-spotted jawfish

Fishes

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