Description

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 14; Vertebrae: 28. This species is distinguished by the following characters: with an elongate supramaxilla and maxilla with flexible lamina posteriorly, widest before end and sword-shaped in adult males, extending to rear margin of opercle (2.2 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit); D XI,14; A III,14; vertebrae 10 + 18; scale rows in horizontal series about 48-52; the lateral-line terminus ending below segmented rays 6-7. Colouration: spinous dorsal fin with large ocellus between spines 3-6; the inner lining of upper jaw and adjacent membranes with a single dark stripe; unpigmented area above and below esophageal opening (Ref. 128946).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Ovalentaria/misc

Family: Opistognathidae

Genus: Opistognathus

Species: Opistognathus ensiferus Smith-Vaniz, 2016

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

It is found in reefs, on living and dead coral, sand and rubble (Ref. 128946).

Habitat

associated