Blue-spotted jawfish: Difference between revisions

| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite journaliucn |author1= McCosker, J.E. |author2= Acero, A. |author3= Espinosa, H. |lastname-authorlist-ampstyle= yesamp |year= 2010 |title= ''Opistognathus rosenblatti'' (|errata version published in =2017) |journal= [[The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species]] |volume=2010 |page= e.T155269A115294092 |doi= 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T155269A4762175.en }}</ref>

The '''blue-spotted jawfish''' (''Opistognathus rosenblatti'') is a [[species]] of [[jawfish]] native to the [[Gulf of California]]. It is an inhabitant of [[reefs]] where it is found in large colonies at depths of around {{convert|12|m|ft}}. This species hides in its burrow at night, completely sealing the entrance. Every morning, it rebuilds the burrow entrance. It can reach a length of {{convert|10|cm|in}} [[fish measurement|TL]]. It can also be found in the [[aquarium]] trade.<ref name=tfh>{{Cite web |url = http://www.tfhmagazine.com/details/articles/a-cool-fish-in-more-than-one-sense-the-bluespotted-jawfish-opistognathus-rosenblatti-full-article.htm |title= A Cool Fish in More Than One Sense: The Blue-Spotted Jawfish ''Opistognathus rosenblatti'' (full article) |author= Bob Fenner |accessdateaccess-date= 25 October 2018 |date= January 2012 |publisher= Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine}}</ref>

The blue-spotted jawfish was first discovered in the Tropical Eastern Pacific by Gerald Allen and David R. Robertson in 1991.<ref name = tfh/> They belong to the class of Actinopterygii.

The blue-spotted jawfish have an electric-blue spotting over a yellow or orange body with an elegant yellow dorsal fin. They have large eyes that make them look as "alien".<ref name = saltwater>{{cite web |url= https://www.saltwaterfish.com/product-blue-spotted-jawfish |title= Blue Spotted Jawfish |accessdateaccess-date= 25 October 2018 |publisher= saltwaterfish.org}}</ref> The males have stark white in their anterior halves. The females and the non-courting males are dark brown and have larger blue spots. The younger jawfish are uniformly colored yellow with blue spots.

Jawfish are named for their large mouths, which allow them to catch food. Their large mouths also allow them to dig their burrows by taking big mouthfuls of sand and spitting them out in order to create their hideaways.<ref name=bz>{{cite web |url= https://www.bluezooaquatics.com/resources.asp?show=385 |title= ''Opistognathus rosenblatti'' - Blue-Spotted Jawfish |accessdateaccess-date= 25 October 2018 |publisher= Blue Zoo Aquatics}}</ref> Some jawfish consume worms, crustaceans, and invertebrates, but the blue-spotted jawfish feeds on tiny animals: [[benthic]] and [[planktonic]] invertebrates. They are colonial species and can be found in quite large colonies.<ref name = FishBase>{{FishBase|Opistognathus|rosenblatti|month=June|year=2018}}</ref>

There are two diseases that can affect the blue-spotted jawfish. First of all, the [[Brooklynellosis]] and blue-spotted jawfish disease.<ref name= aquanerd>{{cite web |url= http://aquanerd.com/2009/09/better-left-in-ocean-blue-spot-jawfish.html |title= Better Left in the Ocean – Blue Spot Jawfish |accessdateaccess-date= 25 October 2018 |date= Sep 2009 |publisher= AquaNerd}}</ref> When the blue-spotted jawfish are affected by the ''[[Brooklynella]]'', it is likely that they will deteriorate and die within approximately 24 hours. The symptoms of Brooklynellosis include: peeling skin and color loss all over the body, or no appetite. They may leave their burrow and list around until they eventually die.

The [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]] honours [[Richard H. Rosenblatt]] (1930-2014), an [[Ichthyology|ichthyologist]] at the [[Scripps Institution of Oceanography]], who made many contributions to the study of the fishes of the eastern Pacific.<ref name = ETYFish>{{cite web |url= http://www.etyfish.org/ovalentaria/ |title= Subseries OVALENTARIA: ''Incertae sedis'' |accessdateaccess-date= 25 October 2018 |author1= Christopher Scharpf |author2= Kenneth J. Lazara |lastname-authorlist-ampstyle= yesamp |work= The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database |publisher= Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara |date= 29 March 2018}}</ref>

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