Fun Dusky Jawfish Facts For Kids
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Have you ever heard of a dusky jawfish? Of course, you have. A dusky jawfish is a diet carnivore that belongs to the Opistognathidae family.
They are fishes seen in the reef and are popular in the aquarium trade. They are easy to be taken care of in tanks with basic aquarium supplies.
These fishes are known for raising their eggs in the mouth and are so-called mouthbrooders. They are mostly seen in the Western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. There are some special characteristics about these fishes that will make you curious to known about their rating.
This diet carnivore can be a threat to small shrimps and other substrate-dwelling fishes. Here are some fun, engaging, and interesting facts on dusky jawfish that has a breathtaking body and loves enjoying every aquarium item. Afterward, do check our other animal fact files on toadfish and skate fish.
Dusky Jawfish Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a dusky jawfish?
A dusky jawfish, also known as jawfish opistognathus, is a small jawfish that belongs to the family Opistognathidae family. They are popular special fishes in the aquarium trade and enjoy a great rating from owners.
They can be grown in larger tanks with other fishes and are experts in creating burrows. They have to be provided with a thick substrate as these small fishes can sometimes jump from an open aquarium. They are called mouthbrooders as they are known for raising their eggs in the mouth.
This type of fish can be found in mall tanks as well. The only reason jawfish live near the substrate is due to danger from sharks and other big fishes.
What class of animal does a dusky jawfish belong to?
A dusky jawfish is a small jawfish that belongs to the Actinopterygii class. They come under the Opistognathus genus of the Opistognathidae family. The scientific name of this species from order Perciformes is Opistognathus whitehurstii. Other types of jawfishes include blue-spotted jawfish, yellowhead jawfish, and so on. The jawfish opistognathus are unique in terms of colors.
How many dusky jawfishes are there in the world?
There is no accurate and rough estimate of the total number of dusky jawfish in the world. They have a healthy population range in the reef near the substrate, and hence their conservation status is of Least Concern at present. These fishes have been divided into various subspecies based on their colors.
Where does a dusky jawfish live?
A dusky jawfish lives in the oceans as well as in aquarium tanks. Jawfish is found in the western Atlantic Ocean that includes the Gulf of Mexico.
They also are spotted in the reefs of the Caribbean Sea in reef safe. The aquarium supplies provide great protection of such species from human threats in the tank. The tank is cleaned up with aquarium supplies for cleaning regularly.
Their tank size is vast to accommodate such fish species. In the wild, most jawfishes are found at the depth of 6.5-98 ft (2-30 m).
What is a dusky jawfish's habitat?
A dusky jawfish from order Perciformes lives in an aquarium as well as in the oceans and is popular in the aquarium trade. They require a large aquarium with over 30 gal (113.3 l) of water with sand on the bottom for them to dwell.
The tank should contain rocks, shells, and coral rubble as well and be provided with a thick substrate. Their aquarium should be neatly closed on the top as they can jump out of an open aquarium.
A dusky jawfish is mainly found around the reef safe. In reefs, they are safe from predators and have a steady food supply.
Who do dusky jawfishes live with?
A dusky jawfish from order Perciformes usually are kept together with other tank mates with a tank size of 30 gal (113.3 l). This diet carnivore can be kept in groups in large aquariums as they are able to create their own territories.
They should be kept with peaceful tank mates. Any item that is recommended for the aquarium must be provided to this fish.
How long does a dusky jawfish live?
A dusky jawfish has an average lifespan of around three to five years. They very rarely live for more than five years. The lifespan may vary depending on the diet and habitat living in the burrow. The burrow size is also a special factor that affects their lifestyle.
How do they reproduce?
The spawning of dusky jawfish takes place in the morning or evening. Female lays a number of eggs, and they are incubated by the male dusky jawfish in its mouth as they are mouthbrooders.
The eggs are hatched within 7-10 days, and the young ones feed on tiny planktons. After three to four weeks, the fry starts digging burrows by themselves.
What is their conservation status?
Dusky jawfish is listed as a Least Concern fish species by the IUCN Red List. They have stable populations in the wild as well as in captivity. Hence they do not face any extinction threat.
Dusky Jawfish Fun Facts
What do dusky jawfishes look like?
Dusky jawfish is a small jawfish that is a popular item in the pet trade. They are brown in color with a mottled pattern and spots that are black in color.
The posterior part of the Jawfish dorsal fin, as well as the caudal fin, is yellow in color and has small black dots, and has a camouflage pattern. They have a large head and are semi-aggressive in nature.
*Please note that this is an image of a robust jawfish, not a dusky jawfish. If you have an image of a dusky jawfish, please let us know at hello@kidadl.com.
How cute are they?
Dusky jawfish are small jawfishes that are popular in the pet trade. They are not very attractive in appearance, whether in or tanks when seen in the aquarium. It is still a popular item in the pet trade.
How do they communicate?
Dusky jawfish communicate with each other using gestures. They are social animals and are usually kept together in large tanks so that they create their own territories. They should be kept with docile tank mates.
How big is a dusky jawfish?
Dusky jawfishes have a length of about 3.9 in (10 cm) and are small-sized fishes. Their size keeps increasing during the maturity of a good diet.
They swim in limited space if tank size while it's different in the reef near the head of the rock size. Because of limited tank size, these species enjoy more in reef sun and sand. They are about three to four times smaller than the drum fish.
How fast can a dusky jawfish swim?
A dusky jawfish swims at a decent speed. Though, the exact swimming speed is not yet known. The fastest fish in the ocean is the sailfish, which can move at a speed of around 70 mph (112 kph).
How much does a dusky jawfish weigh?
Dusky jawfish weight range is usually around 70 oz (2 kg). The weight range might vary between the individual specimen. They are about the same size as the barbs and weigh about 17 times more than the cuckoo catfish.
What are the male and female names of the species?
As dusky jawfish is a fish, its species is Opistognathus whitehurstii. A male and female dusky jawfish do not have any specific name and are called males and females, respectively. This fish is mainly found in its burrow near the substrate in the oceans. Males are more dominant than females.
What would you call a baby dusky jawfish?
A baby dusky jawfish is called a fry.
What do they eat?
A dusky jawfish is a diet carnivore in terms of food habits. They mainly feed on crustacean flesh, marine fishes, Mysis shrimps, or brine shrimps. They can eat any food item of their choice depending on their hunger. In captivity, brine shrimp is their favorite food item.
Are they rare?
Dusky jawfish are not a rare species in terms of size and are often located near rock reef safe. They have a healthy population size in captivity as well as in the wild. They are popular aquarium fish in the pet trade.
Would they make a good pet?
A dusky jawfish makes a good pet fish and is popular in the pet trade. They do not have any special requirements in terms of diet and are easy to be taken care of.
They are kept in large aquariums with more than 30 gallons (113.3 ltr) of water.
The aquarium should be provided with a thick substrate, shells, and coral rubbles along with sand in the bottom for them to make burrows. Before you decide to get this fish as a pet, acquire complete knowledge regarding dusky jawfish care, diet, suitable items for aquarium, and several other aspects.
Did you know...
A dusky jawfish is known for getting scared easily and can jump out of an open aquarium. They should be kept alone if suitable tankmates are unavailable.
Dusky jawfish is a great entertainer for divers, who love watching it while creating the burrows.
What survival mechanism does the dusky jawfish have?
A dusky jawfish has an amazing defense mechanism. They protect their eggs in the mouth. They also create burrows and hide in the burrows in the reef.
How did the dusky jawfish get its name?
Dusky jawfish got its name because of its dusky-colored body patterns that are different from other jawfish species.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these rockfish facts or longnose hawkfish facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable dusky jawfish coloring pages.
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